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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Google-branded phone coming early next year?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/google-branded-phone-coming-early-next-year/

We've been hearing talk of thoroughly Google-branded phones since before Android was announced -- and if you want to get really technical about it, you could argue that it's already happened twice in the form of the Dev Phone 1 and the Ion. Thing is, those are strictly developer-oriented one-offs based on existing models, and TechCrunch is reporting in a rather authoritative tone today that Google's just about to launch a consumer phone all its own designed to in-house, no-compromise specifications with signs suggesting that either Samsung or LG would be responsible for OEM duties. Allegedly, the device was supposed to be at retail in time for the holidays but ended up getting pushed back into early 2010, at which point we can expect a big marketing push -- but the question is, why? Google had a heavy hand in the design and development of the chunky, geeky HTC Dream, so we already know they're probably better off leaving the details of the industrial design to the guys who've been doing this for a while -- and with strong new partnerships with Verizon and Motorola just now bearing fruit, it's safe to say that Big Red wouldn't be a launch partner. Our most interesting theory here is that AT&T -- which has gone totally radio-silent for all things Android in the past six months -- is responding to the probable impending loss of its iPhone exclusivity by scoring a coup on a gorgeous, aspirational device with the Google logo all over it. Given the time frame that TC's suggesting, it sounds like we wouldn't have to wait long to find out what's what.

Filed under: Cellphones

Google-branded phone coming early next year? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony's 3G-enabled Reader Daily Edition up for pre-order, content deals coming next month

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/sonys-3g-enabled-reader-daily-edition-up-for-pre-order-content/

Amazon and Barnes & Noble may be swiping the limelight, but Sony's clearly playing for keeps with its $399 Reader Daily Edition. The 7-inch e-book reader has just been listed for pre-order over at SonyStyle, and with it will come wireless access (via AT&T) to the company's own eBookstore. We're told that the company will "announce newspaper and magazine content providers within the next month," and of course, no monthly fees will be tacked on from browsing and buying books. If plans stay on track, we should see the first shipments leave next month -- so, is Santa treating you with one, or what?

Filed under: Displays, Handhelds

Sony's 3G-enabled Reader Daily Edition up for pre-order, content deals coming next month originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Malata's R108T netvertible embraces touch, Windows 7

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/malatas-r108t-netvertible-embraces-touch-windows-7/

It's been nearly three full years since we've heard a peep from Malata, but the outfit has chosen an opportune time to reemerge into the spotlight. The R108T netbook is one of the convertible variety, boasting a swiveling 10-inch touchscreen (similar to ASUS' Eee PC T91) and Windows 7 to boot. Internally, things get a lot more boring -- there's a 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 160GB hard drive, 1.3 megapixel camera, WiFi, Ethernet, a pair of USB sockets, VGA output and a 3-in-1 card reader. We're told that the asking price on this one will hover around $439, though there's no clear indication that it'll ever head stateside.

[Via Slashgear]

Filed under: Laptops, Tablet PCs

Malata's R108T netvertible embraces touch, Windows 7 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's Maemo 5-equipped N900 on sale in America for $649

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/nokias-maemo-5-equipped-n900-on-sale-in-america-for-649/

We've already given you a glimpse at the N900, but as of today, you Yanks in the crowd can wrap your own limber paws around Nokia's hero device. Admittedly tailored for enthusiasts and developers to use while the company maneuvers Maemo into its product line, the N900 is now available through Nokia Flagship stores in New York and Chicago, the firm's website and "various independent retailers and e-tailers." A tidy sum of $649 (or $510 if you're smart enough to check Amazon) nabs you an unlocked version with a 5 megapixel camera, 32GB of internal storage and a bombastic, Flash-lovin' web browser. Ain't no shame in lusting after one, but tell us earnestly -- are you forking out nearly seven bills to bring one home?

Filed under: Cellphones

Nokia's Maemo 5-equipped N900 on sale in America for $649 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This Woman Will Make Our Walls Breathe [Designers]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/jdlo_pMU7Qw/this-woman-will-make-our-walls-breathe

Every single day we oooh and aahhh over the latest design concepts, but right now, let's focus on one of the minds behind such designs and smile in awe of her motivations and inspirations. Meet MIT designer, Neri Oxman.

Oxman went through medical school, but abandoned that career path for a "mishmash of design, architecture, art, and computer programming."

She works out of MIT's media lab and strives to bring about her vision of the future which consists of all objects living, breathing, and adapting as we interact with them. She imagines organic architecture designs, nanotube walls which change size, chairs that change shape as you sit, DNA-encoded clothing that grows with you. She explains that studying how human bones adjust, getting thicker when a woman is pregnant or thinner when individuals are in outer space, inspired that vision of hers.

As with many other designs that we see, Oxman's are stunning in their intricate plays with textures and materials, but to me the dreamy vision that pushes her to create them adds so much more to the way I view her works. I expect them to draw breath. Maybe we should start taking closer looks at the minds behind the eye-candy we so enjoy. Are there any objects, maybe even gadgets, that truly made you want to know how they were inspired? [Materialecology Blog via Materialecology via Esquire]

ATI Radeon HD 5970: The World's Fastest Graphics Card [Graphics Cards]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/kdZDfR0qrkU/ati-radeon-hd-5970-the-worlds-fastest-graphics-card

The ATI Radeon HD 5970 slaughters the competition in pretty much every benchmark thrown at it. It's outrageously fast. We're talking five teraflops here, people. Teraflops.

MaximumPC put the 5970 to the test, and found that it lives up to its promise. The 2GB dual-GPU card is the first to support DirectX 11, and basically doubles its wholly respectable predecessor (the 5870) in specs, capable of delivering nearly 5 teraflops of raw processing power. It's a massive card, about a foot long, designed mostly for heat dissipation, at which aim it apparently succeeds. It's also got easy access to overclocking via AMD's OverDrive, and can drive up to three displays simultaneously with a maximum resolution of 7680x1600. So it's pretty much the greatest thing ever, and it's got a pricetag to match: $600 upon its undisclosed release. Yow. [MaximumPC]

The True Google Phone We've Been Waiting for May Be Coming Soon [Google]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/17wA0uVlVRY/the-true-google-phone-weve-been-waiting-for-may-be-coming-soon

TechCrunch is hearing some veeeeeery interesting rumors about a true Google Phone: Not just an Android device, but a phone designed top-to-bottom by Google to fulfill their dream of exactly what Android can be.

We've heard rumors like this before, but this time there are a few distinct elements that seem credible. The rumblings are a bit vague, but point to an outsider-made but Google-dictated device, sort of like how Microsoft's first Zune was actually made by Toshiba—and in the case of the Google Phone, there are a couple options for the possible manufacturer. The obvious choice is HTC, who's been the major hardware manufacturer of Android devices, but TechCrunch hears that the source of the hardware will be Korean, not Taiwanese, which likely points to either Samsung or LG.

Samsung has a long-standing relationship with Apple, supplying tons of parts for the iPhone, so maybe LG would step up to the plate and develop this phantom device. LG's no stranger to Android, but has been a minor player up to this point—maybe they've been working on this mysterious Google Phone in the meantime, which is supposedly aiming for an early 2010 release.

Right now, we don't know much of anything, so we're reaching out to you guys—if you've heard anything about a possible Google Phone, please shoot us an email. [TechCrunch]

Motorola Droid camera autofocus fixed in secrecy? (Update: it's a date-related self-correction)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/motorola-droid-camera-autofocus-fixed-in-secrecy/

While we were busy looking into external speaker problems on the Droid, it would seem Moto was itself hard at work remedying a separate issue with the device. A number of users on support forums have complained of the Droid's camera failing to focus and giving them "red corners" when attempting to take pictures, but now -- suddenly and without warning -- their ailment has gone away as if touched by the hand of an omnipotent being (or, alternatively, a silent firmware update). This particular autofocus problem was mentioned in Verizon's 5-page treatise on known issues with the Droid, though the planned resolution was an official update by December 11. The fix seems to have been delivered early, as green corners are sprouting up all around, but this silent update conduit sounds a bit nefarious, no?

Update: Sure enough, we can confirm from testing one of our own Droids that the issue has been resolved. The endless quest for the green focus box is over, and you can now finally begin scanning all your discount cards into Key Ring.

Update 2: And things have turned surreal. Dan Morrill, from Google's Android team, has confirmed that there's a date-related bug in the Droid's camera software that leads to it having cycles of good and bad focus that depend on the date. Our own testing confirmed this, as backdating to the 11th of November returned those red bars of failure. Apparently, the cycles last 24.5 days, meaning that you'll have good focus all the way to December 11, when the real fix is expected to drop. So breathe easy, Gotham, there are no phantom updates, just an oddly date-sentient camera.

[Thanks, AlexL and Kaiser]

Read - Android Forums
Read - Howard Forums

Filed under: Cellphones

Motorola Droid camera autofocus fixed in secrecy? (Update: it's a date-related self-correction) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T's BlackBerry Bold 9700 starts shipping out to top bananas

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/atandts-blackberry-bold-9700-starts-shipping-out-to-top-bananas/

Got an AT&T Premier account at your disposal? Does your nine to five require you to wear a suit on every day that ends in "y?" If you're nodding your head and simultaneously thinking about just how tight that top button is around your neck, there's a decent chance that you can get AT&T's version of the BlackBerry Bold 9700 right now. 'Course, those on T-Mobile have already been enjoying the spoils for a few hours now, but judging by the unboxing shots in the read link, that window of US exclusivity looks to be all but shut. So, anyone jabbing the boss for an upgrade?

Filed under: Cellphones

AT&T's BlackBerry Bold 9700 starts shipping out to top bananas originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMIMON's WHDI wireless HD modules coming to netbooks and laptops

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/amimons-whdi-wireless-hd-modules-coming-to-netbooks-and-laptops/

For as long as we can remember, AMIMON's WHDI technology has been reserved for use in high-end AV components -- HDTVs, Blu-ray players, set-top-boxes, etc. Today, the outfit has finally figured out a way to break free from its current box and get all up in the grille of the mainstream market. As of now, WHDI modules are being made available for netbook and laptop manufacturers, enabling portable PCs to send or receive high-def signals from other WHDI-enabled devices sans cabling. The outfit expects lappies with their tech built-in to ship sometim! e in 201 0, and when we prodded for more information on who exactly would be taking 'em up on their offer, the company stated that specific partners wouldn't be announced for a few more months. Still, built-in support for beaming 1080p content from a laptop to an HD panel without a single cord? Major score.

Continue reading AMIMON's WHDI wireless HD modules coming to netbooks and laptops

Filed under: Laptops, Wireless

AMIMON's WHDI wireless HD modules coming to netbooks and laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google announcing Chrome OS launch plans this Thursday

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/google-announcing-chrome-os-launch-plans-this-thursday/

It's looking increasingly unlikely that Google's Chrome OS is really launching this week (not that we were really that convinced anyway). What is true, however, is that the company is hosting an event later this week at its Mountain View, CA headquarters to showcase its progress, provide an overview of the platform, and give information on its "launch plans for next year." Excited? Us, too.

Filed under: Laptops, Software

Google announcing Chrome OS launch plans this Thursday originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS G51J 3D sports NVIDIA 3D Vision with 120Hz display to bring 'real' 3D to laptops

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/asus-g51j-3d-sports-nvidia-3d-vision-with-120hz-display-to-bring/

No knock on Acer, who got here first with the Aspire 5738DG, but it sounds like the ASUS G51J 3D has the technology edge in the nascent 3D laptop category. We'll have to see it in action to be sure, but the laptop is using NVIDIA's 3D Vision tech for extensive game compatibility (around 400 games currently work with it), and a 120Hz, 15.6-inch screen paired with some active shutter glasses. We've found the shutter method to be typically a more enjoyable 3D experience than polarized solutions, with no knock on frame rate or resolution. The GeForce GTX 260M card with 1GB of DDR3 memory doesn't hurt either, but that hugegantic USB IR blaster that has to sit on the desk and sync up with the glasses could be a problem for 3D-on-the-go. Of course, the benchmark friendly Core i7-based G51J which this machine is based on (the only real difference is the screen) was never much of one for portability. The laptop will be out soon, with a starting price of $1,700.

Filed under: Gaming, Laptops

ASUS G51J 3D sports NVIDIA 3D Vision with 120Hz display to bring 'real' 3D to laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ATI Radeon HD 5970: world's fastest graphics card confirmed

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/ati-radeon-hd-5970-worlds-fastest-graphics-card-confirmed/

ATI just announced its latest greatest polygon cruncher on the planet: the previously leaked Radeon HD 5970. The new card card is also one of the first to support Microsoft DirectX 11 and Eyefinity multi-display (driving up to three displays at once for a 7680x1600 maximum resolution) with ripe potential for overclocking thanks to the card's Overdrive technology. Instead of relying upon a single GPU like the already scorching Radeon HD 5870, the 5970 brings a pair of Cypress GPUs linked on a single board by a PCI Express bridge for nearly 5 TeraFLOPS of computer power, or a mind boggling 10 TeraFLOPS when setup in CrossFireX. Naturally, the card's already been put to the test by all the usual benchmarking nerds who praise the card as the undisputed performance leader regardless of game or application. It even manages to keep power consumption in check until you start rolling on the voltage to ramp those clock speeds. As you'd expect then, ATI isn't going to offer any breaks on pricing so you can expect to pay the full $599 suggested retail price when these cards hit shelves today for retail or as part of your new gaming rig bundle.

Read -- Press Release
Read -- HotHardware review
Read -- MaximumPC
Read -- Tweaktown
Read -- PCPer

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming

ATI Radeon HD 5970: world's fastest graphics card confirmed originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fedora 12 'Constantine' launches with enhanced video codec and power management

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/fedora-12-constantine-launches-with-enhanced-video-codec-and-p/

Continuing in the time-honored tradition set by the likes of Fedora 10 and Fedora 11, Fedora 12 (codenamed "Constantine"). With this release comes improvements in the realms of webcam support, video codec, audio, security and power management, as well as "bluetooth on demand" and some virtualization enhancements. The only thing absent for the devout Linux fan? A fun alliteration like Karmic Koala. Missed opportunity, if you ask us.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Software

Fedora 12 'Constantine' launches with enhanced video codec and power management originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Google Earth 2.0 For iPhone Brings Custom Maps [Google]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/1dmZwOIyB28/google-earth-20-for-iphone-brings-custom-maps

Google is rolling out Google Earth 2.0 for the iPhone over the next 24 hours and it brings a long-awaited custom map feature by allowing you to sync your Google My Maps with the app.

Along with the custom maps, the update brings more languages and better performance. Anyone managed to get the update yet? [Google Lat Long Blog]

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