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Friday, September 11, 2009

Video: ultra-sleek ASUS UL50 laptop gets hands-on treatment

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/10/video-ultra-sleek-asus-ul50-laptop-gets-hands-on-treatment/

ASUS vice chairman Jonathan Tsang stated back in June that his company's goal was to "provide products that are better than Apple's," and golly gee, it looks as if the company is actually attempting to reach that bar. The UL series is undoubtedly a good looking bunch, which makes us even more excited to see a near-final UL50 show up on video. The good folks over at Mobile Computer have spent a few qualities minutes with the CULV-based machine, and they definitely dug the brushed aluminum lid, crisp display and full-size keyboard with numeric pad. But look, we're not here to spoil any surprises, so why not click on through and peek the vid yourself?

Continue reading Video: ultra-sleek ASUS UL50 laptop gets hands-on treatment

Filed under: Laptops

Video: ultra-sleek ASUS UL50 laptop gets hands-on treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG launches XD3 Slim portable HDDs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/10/lg-launches-xd3-slim-portable-hdds/

Brushed aluminum exterior filed down to a minimalist 13mm in thickness with rubber-padded sides for impact protection. This is not just a portable hard drive, this is an LG XD3 Slim portable hard drive. It seems like LG has decided to differentiate its products on aesthetics alone, as the XD3 has the same USB and SATA II connectivity that have been on offer since the XD1, and storage is no greater than the max 500GB on the XD2. Even so, if the Korean price of 110,000 Won ($90) for the 320GB model shows up unaltered in Western lands, we know what we'll be buying our imaginary girlfriends come Christmas.

Continue reading LG launches XD3 Slim portable HDDs

Filed under: Storage

LG launches XD3 Slim portable HDDs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Walkman S740 spied in Japan

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/sony-walkman-s740-spied-in-japan/

Sony has a new Walkman S-series device in the chute as demonstrated by this S740 model seen hanging out at the Sony Dealer Convention in Japan. Hard data is scarce but visually we can see a slightly tweaked industrial design with beefier earbuds and a lack of stereo speakers -- at least on the front. Otherwise, we're told that these will ship in 8GB and 16GB capacities.

Update: Looks like a few more images have leaked out -- it must be true, right? Thanks, Glenn!

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Sony Walkman S740 spied in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer Ferrari One hands-on, and more from AMD's VISION event

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/acer-ferrari-one-hands-on-and-more-from-amds-vision-event/

Despite the infamous logo and hot red lid, Acer's Congo-based Ferrari One "ultrathin notebook" (read: netbook) managed to blend in rather well among a number of other laptops (at least 15, by our count) on display at AMD's VISION event yesterday. The chassis felt pretty sturdy and the keys had the right amount of bounce... and we'd love to tell you more, but like all but a handful of portables on display, it was resolved to play the same video over and over again, refusing to acknowledge our key-pressed directives. We also decided to take snapshots of the entire display lineup, although more than a few here are previously-seen models -- it was pretty much just a rebranding, after all. See them all for yourself in the galleries below!

Gallery: Acer Ferrari One hands-on

More Galleries
Acer	ASUS	HP	MSI	Toshiba

Filed under: Laptops

Acer Ferrari One hands-on, and more from AMD's VISION event originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thursday, September 10, 2009

How NOT to design a web page - http://bit.ly/WcdCp

JVC's ultraslim 32-inch LT-32WX50 HDTV landing in November for $3,000

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/10/jvcs-ultraslim-32-inch-lt-32wx50-hdtv-landing-in-november-for/

Hey, remember that ultra skinny, LED-backlit HDTV that JVC showed off at CEDIA UK earlier this year? The seven millimeter-thin LT-32WX50? Yeah, that very panel is making a second debut here in Atlanta, but it has somehow managed to slim down to 6.4 millimeters (at its thinnest point) and get a November ship date in the US. Weighing just 12.5 pounds, the 32-inch set packs a 4,000:1 contrast ratio, edged-light LED backlight system, a super wide color gamut (100 percent of sRGB and 90 percent of Adobe RGB), a 1080p native resolution, two HDMI sockets, VGA input and an RS-232c control port. The pain? Just under $3,000, or in other words, a small fortune.

Gallery: JVC's ultraslim 32-inch LT-32WX50 HDTV

Filed under: Displays, HDTV

JV! C's ultr aslim 32-inch LT-32WX50 HDTV landing in November for $3,000 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JVC brings 46-inch GD-463D10 3D LCD HDTV to America: shipping now for $9,200

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/10/jvc-brings-46-inch-gd-463d10-3d-lcd-hdtv-to-america-shipping-no/

Jumpin' Jehosaphat! We know exchange rates have been sort of crazy of late, but we can say with a good deal of certainty that the in-home 3D revolution isn't going anywhere with MSRPs like this. After introducing the 46-inch GD-463D10 3D LCD HDTV in various overseas markets, JVC is announcing here at CEDIA that its flagship 3D panel is now available on US soil for a solid chunk of change. The 1080p display touts a 2,000:1 contrast ratio, three HDMI sockets, 178-degree viewing angles, a depth of 1.5-inches and two incredibly awesome sets of 3D goggles. If you're not concerned that actual 3D content is all but nonexistent for home users, you can snag this now for $9,153 (and not a penny more).

Gallery: JVC's 1080p GD-463D10 3D LCD HDTV to America

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

JVC brings 46-inch GD-463D10 3D LCD HDTV to America: shipping now for $9,200 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG LH-series wireless HDTVs now available Stateside

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/10/lg-lh-series-wireless-hdtvs-now-available-stateside/

Seems like slim wireless HDTVs are the CEDIA special, and LG's joining in the fun by announcing official US availability of the wireless LH-series, first launched at CES. No surprises here apart from price, they're exactly as they were when they popped into the FCC: the high-end $4,799 55-inch 55LHX has a local-dimming LED backlight, an 80,000:1 contrast ratio with 240Hz motion ~~ruining~~ enhancement and is less than an inch thick, while the LH85 line offers both $2,399 47-inch and $3,199 55-inch models. Check out our demo from CES for some hands-on with the ASW1000 Media Box, which is where the wireless HD action goes down.

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

LG LH-series wireless HDTVs now available Stateside originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG debuts N2R1 NAS with built-in DVD burner, up to 2TB of storage

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/10/lg-debuts-n2r1-nas-with-built-in-dvd-burner-up-to-2tb-of-storag/

It may be a pretty crowded field to compete and stand out in, but it looks like LG is intent on angling for a bigger share of the NAS market nonetheless, and it's now taken advantage of CEDIA to debut its new N2R1 model. While this one doesn't pack a Blu-ray recorder like LG's earlier model, it does still include a somewhat uncommon built-in DVD burner to complement the two standard hard drives (for up to 2TB of storage). Otherwise, you can expect the usual Ethernet and WiFi connectivity (just 802.11g, unfortunately), DLNA support, and all the basic security measures you'd expect -- not to mention a stylish white enclosure. Look for this one to hit retailers sometime this Fall with a list price of $299 for the 1TB version or $399 for the 2TB model.

Filed under: Storage, Networking

LG debuts N2R1 NAS with built-in DVD burner, up to 2TB of storage originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola CLIQ runs Android, headed to T-Mobile

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/10/motorola-click-runs-android-headed-to-t-mobile/

Motorola just announced its first Android handset, the CLIQ, which is headed to T-Mobile by the fourth quarter, or in time for the holidays. As you'd expect, it runs the new MOTOBLUR Android skin, and Moto's calling it "the first phone with social skills" to highlight the social networking integration. It'll come in two colors, Winter White and Titanium, and have a 3.1-inch 320 x 480 screen, 3G, WiFi, and a five megapixel camera that'll also shoots 24fps video. Internationally, the CLIQ will be known as the DEXT, and it'll be on Orange, Telefonica, and America Movil. It will also be far less ugly than we all expected from those Morisson leaks.

Gallery: Motorola CLIQ

Filed under: Cellphones

Motorola CLIQ runs Android, headed to T-Mobile originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Save $100 on a T-Mobile myTouch 3G, thanks to Oprah

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/10/save-100-on-a-t-mobile-mytouch-3g-thanks-to-oprah/

What could possibly cause T-Mobile to knock a full $100 off a successful smartphone less than two months after it started shipping? A lapse in judgment? A freewheelin' new CEO? A brand new Android phone set for release? No, it's something far more momentous: a new season of Oprah. While it's not quite a new car, folks tuning into the show today will apparently be treated to one of the biggest celebrity android sightings to date, and be given the opportunity to snag a myTouch 3G of their own for just $99 (on a two-year contract with data, of course). Can't wait another minute? Then it looks like you're in luck, as the discount code is already up on T-Mobile's website, and is valid until September 24th.

[Thanks, Jeff]

Filed under: Cellphones

Save $100 on a T-Mobile myTouch 3G, thanks to Oprah originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows 7 to get a better version of Netflix than Vista

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/10/windows-7-to-get-a-better-version-of-netflix-than-vista/

No the Windows 7 version of the Netflix Watch Instantly still isn't going to work on Extenders for Media Center, but it will include a more seamless experience than the Vista version does, like the movie info image above. Microsoft really wasn't ready to share any more details with us, but we suspect the search is improved. The fact that they were so tight lipped leads us to believe that Microsoft is still holding back on some Windows 7 details -- at least in regards to internet content and Windows 7. At this point it appears we might have to wait until the official release of Windows 7 to truly figure out if all that work to bring internet content to Windows 7 pays off.

Windows 7 to get a better version of Netflix than Vista originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola CLIQ: first hands-on impressions

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/10/motorola-cliq-first-hands-on-impressions/

The wait's killing us for a proper hands-on with this thing, but we just had a chance to very briefly touch -- yes, touch -- the CLIQ as we wandered the show (and ran into tnkgrl in the process). Here's what we can tell you:

Despite the MSM7201a core, the UI is definitely faster than any factory ROM we've used before on any Android device. A good test of this is to quickly swipe open the app drawer -- the action's smooth on the CLIQ, whereas most Magic ROMs would stutter.
The screen is glass capacitive, and it feels that way. There's no "give" like you've got on a G1 or Magic, for example.
Expanding on the glass screen, the device feels absolutely fantastic overall. Through Motorola's thick and thin, you've got to admit that the company has a reputation for building ridiculously rock-solid phones, and we're pleased to say that the trend is continuing with the CLIQ. Pictures don't do it justice -- the white model looks particularly cheap at a glance -- but in the hand, it feels like it's fashioned from a solid block of metal.
The camera button has a focus detent, which makes it a heck of a lot easier to properly harness the power of your 5 megapixel autofocus optics. The jury's still out on photo quality, but it seems promising and focusing is relatively quick (though our disappointment in QVGA 24fps video still runs pretty deep).
This probably blew Google's mind, but MOTOBLUR has five home screen panels along with a small indicator similar to the iPhone's to show you which one you're currently on. Who knew that someone might want more than three?
The keyboard feels great. Truly stellar, actually -- and we don't think there's much room for complaints about layout, unless you're really into the dedicated horizontal number row.

We'll have more thoughts this evening once we've spent more quality time... you know, "clicking" with the CLIQ. Sorry.

Gallery: Motorola CLIQ quick hands-on

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Motorola CLIQ: first hands-on impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPod nano unboxed, camera gets tested against the mean streets of Manhattan

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/10/ipod-nano-unboxed-camera-gets-tested-against-the-mean-streets-o/

We know you come here for the hard, gritty, "$2 slice" end of the gadget news spectrum, and we've got that in spades in our video hands-on of the new iPod nano. We start out shooting the iPod with our regular Sanyo Xacti rig, and then dive in to the nano's shot -- real movie magic at work. Granted, the nano's camera isn't that magical. Apple's piled on a huge complement of effects to disguise this fact, and in truth, some of the Photo Booth-style filters and distortions really do make the video more interesting (cyborg and kaleidoscope were a couple of our favorites), but the basic video mode is much lower quality than the recent crop of cheap pocket video cameras, and a far cry from the iPhone 3GS's quality. Motion is shaky, the video is pixelated and oversaturated, and the mic is horribly easy to distort, especially when you're talking into the back while shooting. But really, we suppose we couldn't expect much out of such an offering, and it certainly does spice up the traditional PMP formula. Video is after the break, with the second video offering up the few non-conformist videos that happened to be shot vertically (it's a little difficult to tell how the video is recording, or even if it's recording, since the indicator is pretty small). By the time they made it to Viddler they ended up stretched wide and inexplicably upside down. Magic, we tell you.

Gallery: iPod nano unboxing

Continue reading iPod nano unboxed, camera gets tested against the mean streets of Manhattan

iPod nano unboxed, camera gets tested against the mean streets of Manhattan originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Packard Bell debuts oneTwo line of all-in-one PCs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/10/packard-bell-debuts-onetwo-line-of-all-in-one-pcs/

It seems like a no-brainer, introducing small footprint, multitouch Windows machines to rooms usually off-limits to PCs. HP's certainly taking a stab at it, and now the "trendy lifestyle brand" (ugh) Packard Bell is going for the gold in Europe. First up, the oneTwo L sports a 23-inch (1600 x 900) display, an Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4670 graphics, E-SATA, and optional Blu-ray drive and DVB TV tuner. For the more budget-conscious touchscreen fiend, the oneTwo M comes in with a 20-inch (1920 x 1080) display, Intel Core 2 Duo T6600, and ATI Mobility Radeon HD series 4500. Both will ship with Windows 7, up to 8GB RAM, PacBell's TouchGadgets (including TouchFriends social networking integration for Flickr and Facebook, TouchMusic media player, TouchMemo, and TouchMediaShare), a 5-in-1 memory card reader, and a webcam. You can expect to pay €999 ($1,452) for the former, or €599 ($872) for the latter. On sale October 22. Video after the break.

Continue reading Packard Bell debuts oneTwo line of all-in-one PCs

Filed under: Desktops

Packard Bell debuts oneTwo line of all-in-one PCs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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