Thursday, July 30, 2009

Windows 7 activation already cracked with Lenovo's OEM license key

Windows 7 activation already cracked with Lenovo's OEM license key

Sort of funny that Microsoft made a big show of handing over the Windows 7 RTM code to Lenovo and other manufacturers last week -- the first activation crack for the OS has just appeared, and it's based on Lenovo's OEM license key. Oops. The crack apparently works with 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows 7 Ultimate, and it apparently passes Genuine Advantage, so things are looking good for all you wannabe pirates out there. You did buy an upgrade disc, though, right?

[Via DownloadSquad]

Filed under: Software

Windows 7 activation already cracked with Lenovo's OEM license key originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pioneer's ultraslim DVR-XD09 burner is more jewel case than drive

Pioneer's ultraslim DVR-XD09 burner is more jewel case than drive

While ASUS is busy stuffing DVD burners into Eee PCs, Pioneer and others are working hard to make the integrated optical drive a thing of the past. The freshly announced XD09 measures in at 5.24 x 0.58 x 5.24-inches and 8 ounces, or slightly beefier than your average CD case. Pioneer claims that it's the most compact drive design yet. Essentially this means if you can carry your optical media around with you, then you can carry the player for it too. Power comes via the USB 2.0 connection, and all the usual DVD plus, minus, reading, writing, dual-layer mumbo jumbo is retained with top writing speeds of 8x on single-layer and 6x on double-layer media. This inspired minimalism can be yours for $79.99 in August.

[Via Hot Hardware]

Filed under: Peripherals, Storage

Pioneer's ultraslim DVR-XD09 burner is more jewel case than drive originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP reportedly beginning production of new 10.1-inch, 11.6-inch netbooks / ultralights

HP reportedly beginning production of new 10.1-inch, 11.6-inch netbooks / ultralights

This is about as early and unofficial as it gets, but DigiTimes is reporting that HP has contracted Quanta to begin production of an apparently all new 11.6-inch netbook in August, and another new 10.1-inch before the end of the year, which SlashGear rightly speculates could well be CULV ultralights rather than standard "netbooks." That's further bolstered by the fact that HP has separately contracted Inventec to build a revision to its current 10.1-inch netbook at the end of September. It's not all netbooks and ultralights for HP, however, as Quanta has also landed a deal to produce some new 15.6- and 17.3-inch laptops, while Compal will be handling HP's new 13.3- and 14-inch enterprise notebooks.

[Via SlashGear]

Filed under: Laptops

HP reportedly beginning production of new 10.1-inch, 11.6-inch netbooks / ultralights originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pre-ordered Viliv X70s delayed to August 11, new customers might have to wait till September

Pre-ordered Viliv X70s delayed to August 11, new customers might have to wait till September

The way we hear it, there are plenty of Viliv fans out there disappointed that Dynamism missed its promised delivery date for pre-ordered X70 units this week. The retailer says that component shortages are responsible for the delay and is now hoping to deliver by August 11, but there's worse news: new orders aren't expected to ship until September 2, turning what was once a fashionably late arrival to US shores into a rather embarrassing month-long delay.

[Via Pocketables]

Filed under: Handhelds, Tablet PCs

Pre-ordered Viliv X70s delayed to August 11, new customers might have to wait till September originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Creative Zii EGG 3D gaming demo

Video: Creative Zii EGG 3D gaming demo

Now that the gang at Creative have 'fessed up to the Zii EGG first seen at the FCC earlier this month, we imagine we'll be encountering this bad boy quite often over the coming months. If you need your StemCell Computing fix right now, we have a video that showcases the newest developer platform running a racing game in all of its accelerometer-packing, 3D OpenGL ES-enhanced glory. Peep for yourself after the break.

[Via EpiZENter, thanks Michael]

Continue reading Video: Creative Zii EGG 3D gaming demo

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Video: Creative Zii EGG 3D gaming demo originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kodak's 1080p Zi8 HD pocket camcorder in hand

Kodak's 1080p Zi8 HD pocket camcorder in hand

Yeah, you don't really need 1080p in a compact like this. You know it, we know it. Kodak probably knows it too. Still, it's always pretty wild to pick up a little piece like this and know it can shoot to a native resolution that our parents can't even pronounce. The new Zi8 is certainly bulky for a "pocket" camcorder, but makes up for it by sporting a rechargeable battery, line-in audio jack, HDMI out, 2.5-inch LCD and even keeping the pop-out USB plug around for old times sake. The perks of face recognition for improved exposure and gyroscope-based image stabilization are also pretty snazzy at this $180 pricepoint. We still aren't quite sold on the way this camera (like most of these compacts) processes video -- it seems to do a lot of damage to frame-to-frame motion, something that Apple fought off pretty well with the iPhone 3GS -- but we're going to take one home and test it out a little before we throw down a verdict.

Gallery: Kodak's 1080p Zi8 HD pocket camcorder in hand

Filed under: Digital Cameras, HDTV, Portable Video

Kodak's 1080p Zi8 HD pocket camcorder in hand originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sonic upgrading CinemaNow movie streaming to 1080p

Sonic upgrading CinemaNow movie streaming to 1080p

VUDU and Xbox Live, welcome your new competition in the 1080p movie streaming arena, now that Sonic Solutions has announced its CinemaNow service will offer "Blu-ray Disc resolution" (3D is already on the way) with buffer-free playback thanks to its new Cinevision Adaptive HD encoding and delivery system. Sonic claims to have a leg up since the system is already used for Blu-ray disc production, and it's teaming with Widevine for the adaptive streaming backend. As usual, even if you're not directly a CinemaNow user, its wide compatibility and position behind Blockbuster's store and upcoming ones from Best Buy and Zip.ca should mean 1080p streaming to an ethernet equipped home theater device will be available no matter where you are, whether you're ready to ditch the discs (and downloads) or not.

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Sonic upgrading CinemaNow movie streaming to 1080p originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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T-Mobile myTouch 3G preorders now shipping, arriving, being touched

T-Mobile myTouch 3G preorders now shipping, arriving, being touched

If you've preordered one o' them fancy new myTouch 3Gs, check your mailbox, front porch, back door, administrative assistant, or dirty, thieving neighbor -- because it might be there. T-Mobile said that preorders would be shipping at the tail end of July, and sure enough, some folks are starting to get lucky; plebes without preorders will still need to wait until August 5, though, so, you know, either sit there and drool or shout nasty remarks about how you'd rather have a Hero in the meanwhile.

[Thanks, sun]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

T-Mobile myTouch 3G preorders now shipping, arriving, being touched originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unofficial Google Voice client for Palm Pre makes the scene

Unofficial Google Voice client for Palm Pre makes the scene

Google Voice might have just been unceremoniously thrown out of the iPhone App Store, but that doesn't mean development isn't racing forward on other platforms -- say hello to dkGoogleVoice, an unofficial client for the Palm Pre. Yeah, it's buggy and has a bare-bones feature set, but hey -- it exists, and it's only going to get better. Can't say that about your little phone, can you Steve?

[Via PreCentral]

Filed under: Cellphones

Unofficial Google Voice client for Palm Pre makes the scene originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Atom architecture Pine Trail on schedule for this year, says Intel's Eden

New Atom architecture Pine Trail on schedule for this year, says Intel's Eden

The ever-entertaining Mooley Eden, Intel's General Manager of Mobile Platform Group, wants you to know as succinctly as possible that the rumors of Atom evolution Pine Trail's delay have been greatly exaggerated. "Pine Trail is on schedule. You can quote me on that... The three chip solution down to two chip solution [is] coming this year." Now how about a hint as to where we'll first see this chip, eh Eden?

Filed under: Laptops

New Atom architecture Pine Trail on schedule for this year, says Intel's Eden originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 17:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WowWee Cinemin Swivel available for pre-order in U.S. and Europe

WowWee Cinemin Swivel available for pre-order in U.S. and Europe

Pico projector fans, the wait is over. WowWee -- the company with the wackiest name in the business (or at least the most fun to type) has just announced that the Cinemin Swivel is available for pre-order today -- as in right now -- both Stateside and in Europe. The press for this device sounds a little like wishful thinking (enjoy romantic flicks on the bedroom ceiling! foreign cinema in the backyard! YouTube on a subway wall! psychedelic graphics on the dance floor!) but if you've been in the market for a pocket-sized, iPhone-friendly multimedia projector, your choices just expanded by one. Yours for a song -- and $349.99. Gallery below.

Gallery: WowWee Cinemin Swivel available for pre-order in U.S. and Europe

Filed under: Displays

WowWee Cinemin Swivel available for pre-order in U.S. and Europe originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Sony brings over a million Google Books to the Reader

Sony brings over a million Google Books to the Reader

Cool move by Sony to bolster the number of titles in its Reader ebook store -- it's linked up with Google to provide over a million free public domain works from Google Books, just like those fun folks at Barnes and Noble. The books are in the EPUB format and will work with the PRS-505 or the PRS-700 in the US only for now -- different countries have different copyright terms, so we'd imagine the lawyers are busy sorting it all out. Sure, none of this will do much to shake the Kindle's market- and mindshare, but at least Sony won't be deleting this stuff off your device without your permission, right?

[Thanks, Tom]

Filed under: Handhelds

Sony brings over a million Google Books to the Reader originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG releases first official shots of BL40 "New Chocolate"

LG releases first official shots of BL40 "New Chocolate"

We've already got a pile of evidence taller than the BL40 itself that told us LG's latest Black Label device was that ultra-wide, glossy red and black slate we've seen floating around -- but now, for the very first time, it's totally official. The company has just released the first fully-revealed press photos of the phone that it's calling the "New Chocolate," an homage to one of the phones that brought it to the dominant industry position it enjoys today. So, is the BL40 going to help it continue that dominance? At a glance here, yeah, we'd say there's a pretty good chance.

Filed under: Cellphones

LG releases first official shots of BL40 "New Chocolate" originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How to SMS with Google Voice from Any Mobile Phone

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5316921/how-to-sms-with-google-voice-from-any-mobile-phone

By Gina Trapani, 2:00 PM on Fri Jul 17 2009, 29,586 views

Just because you don't have an Android phone or BlackBerry (or even, unofficially, an iPhone) doesn't mean you can't text from your cellphone using your Google Voicenumber. In fact, you can use Google Voice SMS capabilities on any phone.

Even if you do have an Android phone, BlackBerry, or iPhone, you can still use this method to use the native SMS app on it. It's an inconvenient kluge, but it works.

First, log into Google Voice and configure it to forward text messages to your cell phone. When someone sends a text message to your Google Voice number, you'll receive the text on your phone–but not from the recipient's phone number. Instead, it will be a 406 number you've never seen before, with the person's name preceding the message (as pictured here). Add that number to your recipient's address book entry as "Other" or a custom label (like "GV SMS"). Each one of your text recipients will have a different 406 number.

From there on in, if you SMS that 406 number, your recipient will receive text messages from you—and it will look like they're coming from your Google Voice number. Their replies to any messages you send to that number will go back to your Google Voice number and come to you via the 406–meaning, your recipient never sees the 406 number. Like I said, it's a kluge, but it works.

We already mentioned this tip in our guide to easing your transition to Google Voice, but it's an important feature worth repeating.

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.

accurate, descriptive page titles are in; creative, clever headlines are not-so-much -- http://bit.ly/nax2 -- well researched via @glenngabe

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