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Sunday, November 15, 2009

ViewSonic heats up phone collection, V901 spotted on Microsoft China site

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/13/viewsonic-heats-up-phone-collection-v901-spotted-on-microsoft-c/

In just one week, ViewSonic has gone from a glint of a 3G phone maker to having two models prominently on display. We've already seen VPC08 Windows XP phone, and now up to bat is the V901, found in the pages of Microsoft China's official site. The Windows Mobile 6.5, apparently TouchWiz-skinned device has a 3.6-inch, 480 x 800 touchscreen, a Marvell PXA310 processor, 128MB RAM and 256MB ROM storage with microSD expansion, 5 megapixel camera, GPS, Bluetooth, all hailing to the wavelengths we call CDMA EV-DO Rev. A. Launch is Q4 2009, so sometime very soon -- but we get the feeling this is China-only, at least for now.

[Via iTech News Net]

Filed under: Cellphones

ViewSonic heats up phone collection, V901 spotted on Microsoft China site originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you change Garmin-Asus' nuvifone G60?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/14/how-would-you-change-garmin-asus-nuvifone-g60/

The nüvifone G60 took nearly two years to go from introduction to on sale at AT&T, and just weeks after its introduction, it has been nearly completely forgotten. Smartphones like Motorola's Droid and HTC's Droid Eris have already snagged the spotlight, and of course, that $300 (on contract) price tag that it debuted with didn't help attract any eyes, either. That said, we're sure at least a few (couple?) of you bit the bullet post-price drop, and now we're overly anxious to hear how you feel about it. After two years, does this thing really live up to the expectations? Are you satisfied with the navigation capabilities? Is the lackluster battery life worrying you yet? Should Garmin-Asus even bother with a second-gen device? Sound off in comments below!

Filed under: Cellphones

How would you change Garmin-Asus' nuvifone G60? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix hitting internet-capable Sony BRAVIA sets today

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/14/netflix-hitting-internet-capable-sony-bravia-sets-today/

Good news for folks who against all odds don't have a home theater Netflix streaming option yet, and yet inexplicably own an internet-connected Sony BRAVIA TV: Netflix just went live. It just takes applying the latest software update and you're in business. BRAVIA owners were promised the update back in July, and let us be the first to point and laugh insensitively at PS3 owners who have use a "DVD" to get Netflix working on their Cell-powered supermachines.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Netflix hitting internet-capable Sony BRAVIA sets today originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hallods F43 MP4 player packs a 4.3-inch 720p screen, outed in Japan

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/14/hallods-f43-mp4-player-packs-a-4-3-inch-720p-screen-outed-in-ja/

Looks like the wait for a real HD PMP is finally over: Hallods of Japan has just released their F43 MP4 player featuring a 4.3-inch 1280x720 screen, easily beating other sub-5-inch, 480p screens found on big names like the Archos 5 and Viewsonic's VPD400. Under that sharp screen is 8GB of internal storage and a hot-swappable microSD slot, along with a battery life of about four hours and ten hours for video and music, respectively. Like many PMPs out there the F43 supports videos encoded in MPEG4, FLV, RMVB and DivX-WVGA. Sure, there's the ironic lack of HDMI output, but for ¥16,800 ($188) this is still a pretty good deal. Let's just hope Hallods will send them over to the US soon.

[Via i4u]

Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Video

Hallods F43 MP4 player packs a 4.3-inch 720p screen, outed in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ITG's xpPhone gets options for larger screen and Windows 7, loses sense of identity

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/14/itgs-xpphone-gets-options-for-larger-screen-and-windows-7-lose/

It makes sense to release your mostly-theoretical (so far, anyway) desktop OS-based slider handset with the world's newest and best version of Windows, but when your slider handset is dubbed "xpPhone" things become a bit more muddled. But that's the word from Pocketables, who's been in touch with ITG and learned that the MID / phone will not only ship with a Windows 7 option, but also be available in 4.3-inch, 4.8-inch and 7-inch screen sizes. There's also rumors of price ranging from $500 to $700, but what we'd really like at this point is a bit of a demo of this thing in action -- especially now that there's a similar ViewSonic-branded device breathing down its neck.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

ITG's xpPhone gets options for larger screen and Windows 7, loses sense of identity originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CrunchPad is 'steamrolling along,' will cost between $300 and $400

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/15/crunchpad-is-steamrolling-along-will-cost-between-300-and-4/

Michael Arrington's CrunchPad still not available, maybe never will be?

We're not super familiar with the term "steamrolling along" as it applies to device launches, but apparently it's good news for Michael Arrington's CrunchPad tablet. Mike dropped the news on a recent episode of Steve Gillmor's "Gillmor Gang" podcast (like "Gilmore Girls," but with less inter-generational drama), saying that he's not sure where the rumor of cost being too high came from, since costs continue to come down. The "$300 to $400" price range he's quoting is a bit higher than we'd heard previously, but it still sounds pretty good for a 12-inch touchscreen device. He also made mention of "soft revenue" and "sponsorships" on the device, akin to the revenue Firefox gets from its Google search box, and added that it won't impact the user experience. Outside of those tidbits Mike says they're working on making it "perfect," and that there should be some big news about the device coming shortly. Video is after the break, CrunchPad discussion starts at the 39 minute mark.

[Via UMPCPortal]

Continue reading CrunchPad is 'steamrolling along,' will cost between $300 and $400

Filed under: Handhelds, Tablet PCs

CrunchPad is 'steamrolling along,' will cost between $300 and $400 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 04:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friday, November 13, 2009

Sleek Vega Tablet with Android 2.0, Touchscreen, and 3G Arrives Next Year [Android]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/X5lRDq9Fl58/sleek-vega-tablet-with-android-20-touchscreen-and-3g-arrives-next-year

I'm psyched to see Android moving into tablets. Some of the first will be from Innovative Converged Devices (ICD), who say their Tegra-powered 7-, 11-, and 15-inch tablets will arrive through "tier one" carriers in the first half of 2010.

I hadn't heard of ICD before, either: they're actually based in the UK and Seattle. They say the Vega tablets are intended to be low cost, so it looks like some carrier subsidies may be in store, too.

The largest model has a 15.6-inch resistive screen (grr) that supports a resolution of 1366 x 768. It'll have a Tegra processor, 512MB DDR DRAM, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi (no N), and Bluetooth 2.1. The built-in 512MB NAND Flash storage can be expanded via MicroSD cards. It's expected this mode will weigh about 45 ounces and have a battery life of around 4 hours.

The 15-inch Vega also looks pretty similar to the stylish reference Tegra tablet that we spotted Nvidia's chief with earlier in the week. The good news is we'll be able to get a closer look at it come CES time in January. [Innovative Converged Devices]

xpPhone Runs Windows 7 and Has Several Screen Sizes [Cellphones]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/lb8h9G7NnGc/xpphone-runs-windows-7-and-has-several-screen-sizes

A new order page reveals some surprising new info on the netbook-like xpPhone. Looks like 4.3-, 4.8- and tablet-style 7-inch touchscreen versions will be available, and you'll be able to add a 5-megapixel camera, Windows 7, and dual GSM/CDMA support.

As you can see in the screen grab above, customized orders also include the choice of an 800 x 480 or 1024 x 600-pixel LCD. I've no idea why MS-DOS is listed; maybe it saves potential Linux modders from having to pay for Windows. And as for the 7-incher? A Bluetooth headset would avoid needing to hold the thing to your face.

A standard 4.8-inch screen on the xpPhone (aka XPInSide) never quite sat well with me. It seemed too big for a phone, yet too small for a tablet. I'm thinking a smaller, lighter 4.3-inch version sounds just about right. That'll be an "over 1GHz" AMD Super Mobile CPU for me, please. Still no word on pricing, but I'll let you know when I hear more. [ITG]

Standard Configuration
• CPU: AMD Super Mobile CPU
• Memory: 512M/1G
• SSD: 8G/16G/32G/64G
• HDD: 30G/60G/80G/120G
• LCD: 4.8' TFT Touch-screen LCD 800 x 480
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP
• Network: GSM/GPRS/EDGE/WCDMA (HSDPA/HSUPA)
• CDMA/CDMA2000 1X/CDMA1X EVDO,TD-SCDMA! , TD-HSD PA
• Wireless: WiFi 802.11b/g,WiMax (optional), Bluetooth, Stand-alone, GPS
• Camera Specifications: CMOS, 300k/1.3 Million/5 Million
• Ports: 1 x earphone jack, 1 x microphone jack,Docking Connector (includes VGA output signal ), 1 x USB 2.0, SIM Slot
• Battery: Removable Lithium-ion
• Talk time: about 5 hours,Stand by time: about 5 days
• Real life: about 7 hours(Standard), about 12 hours(Large)
• Weight: 400g (include battery)

ICD confirms Vega tablet, includes Android 2.0, Tegra processor, our hearts

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/13/icd-confirms-vega-tablet-includes-android-2-0-tegra-processor/

The CrunchPad may be dead, but with devices like this on the docket forgive us if we're not shedding any tears. The mystery tablet from earlier this week is the Vega from Innovative Converged Devices, or ICD. Available in 7-, 11-, and 15-inch sizes it's a simple but beautifully svelte design, and with that Tegra processor should have plenty of muscle. The resistive nature of those screens may be a bit of a bummer for some, but it'll naturally it'll do everything Android does -- though without a GPS sensor we're guessing Google Navigation is out. The only questions left left now are when, how much, and who will be pumping the bits to its cellular antennae? Those are answers we hope to bring you from Vegas in two months' time.

Gallery: ICD Vega tablet

[Via Android France]

Filed under: Storage

ICD confirms Vega tablet, includes Android 2.0, Tegra processor, our hearts originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google's Chrome OS just a week away from launch?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/13/googles-chrome-os-just-a-week-away-from-launch/

We'd heard last month that this month was the month that Google would finally launch its highly-anticipated Chrome OS, and now we've got a "reliable source" over at TechCrunch asserting that the software is gearing up for launch "within a week." Granted, we can't ever be too certain when it comes to a rumor such as this, but if the system really does hit the wilds, we probably won't see it available for every machine on the face of the planet. The presumed Alpha build will likely only support a select few products that Google engineers have had a chance to specifically work with -- possibly something such as an Eee PC netbook, which has generally the same specifications regardless of design or model number. Either way, we'd go ahead and prepare ourselves for something new before the end of November -- but don't let it spoil your holidays should things get pushed back a bit, okay?

[Via SlashGear]

Filed under: Software

Google's Chrome OS just a week away from launch? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kivu's G-Five KTNO2 netbook sports ridiculous 'aerodynamic' design, could be the wind beneath your wings

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/13/kivus-g-five-ktno2-netbook-sports-ridiculous-aerodynamic-desi/

There are a lot of improvements we here at Engadget like to see in netbooks -- more SSD storage, higher-resolution screens, less flimsy construction -- but not a one of us put "greater aerodynamic lift" anywhere on our list. Someone at Kivu Technology Co. apparently did, as the company has launched this G-Five KTNO2 netbook, a machine that is at the same time boringly derivative and patently ludicrous. It was modeled after an aircraft's wing and, while it looks sophisticated enough with that titanium hue, you'll have a hard time taking it seriously after seeing the graphic after the break comparing it to a bird's wing. Specs? Everything you'd expect in an otherwise copycat 10-inch netbook, from the 1.6GHz Atom processor to the 160GB HDD. Fly away, little netbook, fly away.

[Via PMP Today]

Continue reading Kivu's G-Five KTNO2 netbook sports ridiculous 'aerodynamic' design, could be the wind beneath your wings

Filed under: Laptops

Kivu's G-Five KTNO2 netbook sports ridiculous 'aerodynamic' design, could be the wind beneath your wings originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NPD: Wii reclaims lead in US sales, but console gaming market shrinks by a fifth

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/13/npd-wii-reclaims-lead-in-us-sales-but-console-gaming-market-sh/

The NPD has released its US video game industry figures for October, which reveal that total monthly revenue from hardware, software and accessories among all manufacturers fell to $1.07 billion, constituting a 19 percent drop from what the American gamer spent over the same period last year. After being toppled from its chart-leading ways in September by a price cut-boosted PS3, the Wii has regained its sales throne by chopping $50 off its own entry fee, making itself buoyant in the US, if not the world. The PS3's own sales have suffered a slump after the September euphoria, while the 360 is still wearing the dunce cap in third place. Microsoft's response has been to keep banging that drum about being the only console to show year-to-date growth, but when you're selling less than half as many consoles as Nintendo, you have to grasp at whatever straws are nearby. Speaking of Nintendo, its DS sales so far this year have continued at such a rate as to threaten its own 2008 hardware sales record -- set by the Wii -- with ten million units sold. So there you have it: Sony fails to maintain its September lead, Nintendo keeps churning, and Microsoft keeps hoping for better times ahead. Full list of figures! after t he break.

Read - Wii regains hardware top spot following US price cut
Read - Xbox 360 leads in year-to-date growth
Read - DS poised to break US hardware records

Continue reading NPD: Wii reclaims lead in US sales, but console gaming market shrinks by a fifth

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

NPD: Wii reclaims lead in US sales, but console gaming market shrinks by a fifth originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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http://bit.ly/1DkNCE - ISO Interactive Account Ninja (m/f) w/ mad digital skillz - prereq: tweet me when I graduated from high school

Your Deteriorating Internal Organs, Reduced to an Xbox Game [Thiscyborglife]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/VTjelHempjc/your-deteriorating-internal-organs-reduced-to-an-xbox-game

3D medical imagery has always been fascinating to me: generating 3D models from film footage is still a fledgling tech, while medical professionals render guts on a daily basis. And sometimes, apparently, connected to Xbox controllers.

Researchers at Iowa State University have designed software that can quickly and simply render a detailed 3D model of a patient's MRI and CAT scan results. The software, called BodyViz, claims two core advantages over similar technologies: It's easier to use, and it's set up to use with an Xbox 360 controller out of the box because, let's face it, to the latest crop of med school grads, old-school mice and trackballs are lame, bro.

Add a couple of stock FPS weapons, hook this thing up to some robotic arms with knives, fire up the laparoscope and bam: surgery, revolutionized. [IA State via BoingBoing]

This week, Gizmodo is exploring the enhanced human future in a segment we call This Cyborg Life. It's about what happens when we treat our body less as a sacred object and more as what it is: Nature's ultimate machine.

Google's SPDY To Make Websites Load Faster [Google]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/rQ95iXtIQD4/googles-spdy-to-make-websites-load-faster

Google's working on a new application-layer protocol dubbed SPDY (pronounced "SPeeDY") which is intended to improve how content is transported over the web. In initial lab tests, they've already managed to speed up page loading times by 55%.

While the lab tests aren't the best reflection of how the protocol would work under real world conditions, they are an encouraging start to Google's project. [SPDY via Chromium Blog]

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