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Monday, August 23, 2010

Stamp $50 Android tablet prototype raises eyebrows in India and beyond (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/23/stamp-50-android-tablet-prototype-raises-eyebrows-in-india-and/

Stamp (no relation to Terence) is an Android-powered tablet that's making waves mostly for its price: $50. AllGo Embedded Systems has been leaking information out since April, and while there's nothing incredible revolutionary here (Android 2.1, MPEG-4 / H.264 Video playback, USB mass storage support, WiFi connectivity, FM radio, NAND or SD-card boot), in light of the much-ballyhooed $35 tablet it's good to see a comparatively priced platform that you won't need to be either a student in India (or purchase a million units) to get your hands on. Of course, a lot can happen between now and... whenever the thing is released, but don't let that get you down. It looks like the age of low-powered Android tablets is coming closer every day. And that can only be a good thing, right? Video after the break.

Continue reading Stamp $50 Android tablet prototype raises eyebrows in India and beyond (video)

Stamp $50 Android tablet prototype raises eyebrows in India and beyond (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel debuts dual-core Atom N550 processor, 70 million Atom netbook chips shipped so far

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/23/intel-debuts-dual-core-atom-n550-processor-70-million-atom-netb/

Intel first made mention of its upcoming dual-core Atom for netbooks back at Computex, and now it's making good on its promise with the ready-to-ship Atom N550. The chip operates at 1.5GHz, with 1MB of cache and support for DDR3 memory, and "similar" battery life to the Atom N450. Intel is billing it as a more "responsive" experience, which will make sense as a selling point to anyone who has attempted any serious multitasking on a netbook. YouTube and Hulu also get first paragraph billing in Intel's press release, and we'll be happy to test out those claims once we get our hands on a netbook with the N550 under the hood. Unfortunately, while Intel claims that netbooks based on the processor are available "in stores today," we don't know of any shipping just yet -- naturally, we have our eyes peeled. MSI and Lenovo actually denied plans for the chip to us, despite their inclusion in Intel's PR, but we do know the upcoming ASUS 1015PN (which is also packing NVIDIA ION graphics) will pack the N550 when it hits. Hardly a landslide so far, but we're sure we'll eventually see enough N550 to be sick of it, in traditional netbook fashion. In semi-related news, Intel is also proud to announce that it's shipped over 70 million Atom netbook chips since it started on this crazy ultraportable journey back in 2008. PR is after the break.

Continue reading Intel debuts dual-core Atom N550 processor, 70 million Atom netbook chips shipped so far

Intel debuts dual-core Atom N550 processor, 70 million Atom netbook chips shipped so far originally appeared on Engadget on Mo! n, 23 Au g 2010 12:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MSI waiting on Intel Oak Trail for Win 7 tablet, Android version will hit before end of the year

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/23/msi-waiting-on-intel-oak-trail-for-win-7-tablet-android-version/

Remember MSI's Windows 7 WindPad that we went hands-on with back in June at Computex? Of course you do. Well even though it's been given a bit of Photoshop polish lately, MSI isn't planning on launching it until Intel releases its Oak Trail Atom platform for tablets and netbooks at CES 2011. MSI's Andy Tung told us that the current Atom platform just doesn't provide adequate battery life and power for the form factor, and that it's finding the Oak Trail platform to be much better in all areas with the Windows 7 OS. Tung also said it's still experimenting with the dualscreen Win 7 tablet, but similarly needs a better hardware platform. Oh don't worry, there's still some tablet love to come from MSI this year -- the company still plans to release its Tegra 2-powered, Android 2.2 WindPad 110 tablet in time for the holiday season. MSI is working with Google, and we were told that the Android tablet should have access to some sort of app store. It's clearly got the tablet bug, and Tung even told us that the company is minimizing the number of netbooks it has in its lineup. That sure seems to be a common trend these days.

MSI waiting on Intel Oak Trail for Win 7 tablet, Android version will hit before end of the year originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sunday, August 22, 2010

Virgin Mobile Bucks Trend with $40 Prepaid Mobile Broadband Plan [Mobile Broadband]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5618898/virgin-mobile-bucks-trend-with-40-prepaid-mobile-broadband-plan

Virgin Mobile Bucks Trend with Prepaid Mobile Broadband Plan So there's this trend with mobile carriers regarding unlimited data plans where they're dropping them in lieu of tiers. Perhaps you know of it already. Virgin Mobile USA has no such plans.

Late last night, by way of the always trendy "Facebook fan page reveal," Virgin Mobile informed the States that a $40 unlimited broadband offering was headed their way, and will replace the tiered $20, $40 and $60 per month offerings they've had to date.

If $40 is a bit steep, or if you're the kind of data user that only uses, say, 100MB/month, you can still opt for the $10 plan. [IntoMobile via Engadget]

The Most Dangerous Threat to U.S. National Parks: Idiots Armed with the Latest Gadgets [National Parks]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5618947/yellowstones-most-dangerous-threat-idiots-armed-with-the-latest-gadgets

July was an alarming, record-setting month for injuries at the Yellowstone National Park. It's not the park that's getting more dangerous, however—it's the technology that ignorant, inexperienced visitors are bringing in with them that's to blame:

But today, as an ever more wired and interconnected public visits the parks in rising numbers - July was a record month for visitors at Yellowstone - rangers say that technology often figures into such mishaps.
People with cellphones call rangers from mountaintops to request refreshments or a guide; in Jackson Hole, Wyo., one lost hiker even asked for hot chocolate. - New York Times

Actually, let me back for a moment. It's new technology in the hands of stupid, selfish people that's to blame, and it's to blame in National Parks beyond just Yellowstone.

Beyond calls for cocoa, there are more serious cases, like the French teen who fell 75 feet in the South Rim of the Grand Canyon after he "backed up while taking pictures."

It gets worse. Thanks in part to better-connected GPS units, a group of Canyon hikers managed to call a rescue helicopter three times with their satellite beacon. The reason? Water supply "tasted salty." They refused the helicopter rides home, all three of them, because they had only wanted better water.

Experts told the New York Times that hyperconnectivity has given people the impression that simple 911 button presses allow them to do more dangerous things. I mean, why bother to bring potable water on a multi-day hiking trip when the National Park Service is a mere button press away, right?

Thankfully, when stupid people do stupid things and get caught on the summit of a cliff for the night, sometimes it all works out in the end:

"Every once in a while we get a call from someone who has gone to the top of a peak, the weather has turned and they are confused about how to get down and they want someone to personally escort them," said Jackie Skaggs, spokeswoman for Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. "The answer is that you are up there for the night."

Even good new tech, like SPOT or GPS, is getting a bad rap because suburbanites think they can traipse of into the wild with it without thinking. SPOT, for instance, currently does not offer two-way communication, meaning rescuers cannot be entirely sure if the button press was for hot chocolate or severed limb. They must respond in either case, with the helicopter rides costing as much as $3,400/hour.

We constantly worry about pollution and global climate change negatively affecting our natural parks and resources. Those are all obviously still a threat, of course, but this article on human idiocy, selfishness and arrogance adds a bit more fuel to the fire.

Seriously, read the article and tell me if the last six or seven paragraphs don't get your blood boiling. [New York Times]

Pico projector camera concept is, as usual, better than the real thing

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/20/pico-projector-camera-concept-is-as-usual-better-than-the-real/

Oh, don't get us wrong, we rather enjoyed our time with Nikon's S1100pj projector camera, but this here Pico concept design is on a whole other level. We're talking both in terms of cuteness and inventiveness. You might have recognized by now that one of the Pico's "eyes" is the camera lens while the other is the projector, but what of the "smile?" Why, that's your microphone's sound intake port. And its little feet -- acting as a stabilizing stand when in projector mode -- also double up as covers for the external connection jacks. Masterful. Look for it to appear in your dreams some time very soon.

Pico projector camera concept is, as usual, better than the real thing originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A first hand look at NVIDIA 3DTV Play and PowerDVD 3D

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/20/a-first-hand-look-at-nvidia-3dtv-play-and-powerdvd-3d/

NVIDIA 3DTV Play and PowerDVD 10

Home theater PC fans will tell you that one of the reasons they do what they do is because of the flexibility that comes along with a roll your own home theater PC. And so of course the latest HTPCs need to be able to play 3D movies, games and broadcast content. Now NVIDIA has been bringing 3D to PCs for years but the latest 3DTVs don't share as much in common with 3D PC displays as you might think. Some think this is as simple as getting a video card with an HDMI 1.4 port, but in regards to 3D it is just a spec and your existing video card you've had for years might just work. In fact what HDMI 1.4 means to 3D is simply that a device is capable of outputting specific 3D formats (all common 3D formats used less bandwidth than 1080p60 2D). Sure the hardware must be physically capable of transmitting the signal, but what we're really talking about here is software, not hardware. That's where NVIDIA 3DTV Play comes in. This little piece of magic will be free for those who already own an NVIDIA 3D Vision kit, but for the rest of us with NVIDIA video cards, it'll be $40. What's interesting is that 3DTV Play doesn't really help those with the 3D Vision kits, because it is specifically for 3DTVs; which require their own 3D glasses. Now if you really want to know exactly what 3DTV Play does help with, and how well it works, well you'll just have to click on through for that part.

Continue reading A first hand look at NVIDIA 3DTV Play and PowerDVD 3D

A first hand look at NVIDIA 3DTV Play and PowerDVD 3D originally appeared on Engadget on F ri, 20 Aug 2010 17:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you change the HP TouchSmart tm2t?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/20/how-would-you-change-the-hp-touchsmart-tm2t/

If you're looking for the quintessential tablet experience, but aren't so fond of giving up the small luxuries that come with owning a laptop, HP's TouchSmart tm2t was probably high on your list once it was introduced earlier in the year. Boasting a 12.1-inch capacitive touchscreen, a swivel option for converting it into a tablet and plenty of power for the Average Joe / Jane, it looks -- on paper, at least -- that this guy is the definition of 'striking a balance.' For those that plopped down the coin to bring one home, we're interested to hear how it has or has not lived up to your expectations. Is the note-taking experience up to snuff? How's that touch response? Would you want to have resistive instead? Bumped up the CPU a notch or two? Don't be shy down in comments below -- we need more oddballs like this in the world, and we need 'em to be done right.

How would you change the HP TouchSmart tm2t? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 22:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pocketbook announces color touch screen Android powered e-reader and more

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/21/pocketbook-announces-color-touch-screen-android-powered-e-reader/

Manufacturing upstart PocketBook is clearly still gung ho about e-readers, judging by the five new models it has announced will be released at IFA in September, which include a pair of entry-level ProBook 602 and 902 units, as well as the ProBook 603 and 903 premium units. The 60x designated models sport 6-inch screens, while the 90x models have a bigger 9.7-inch. All models will feature 2GB of internal storage, a Linux-based OS, and include WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. However, the higher-end versions also gain 3G connectivity and a Wacom touchscreen. More interesting and genre-bending though is the so-called "entertainment model" PocketBook IQ that will be available in three case color options, feature a 7-inch TFT color touchscreen, WiFi, Bluetooth, and will run Android 2.0. Access to PocketBook's own Bookland.net e-book store unfortunately rounds out all the details we know so far, but we'll be sure to find out more once IFA gets going. Check out shots of the individual readers and get the full translated PR below.

Gallery: PocketBook Pro E-readers IFA 2010

PocketBook IQ 2

PocketBook IQ 1

PocketBook E-reader 1

PocketBook E-reader 2

PocketBook E-reader 3

Continue reading Pocketbook announces color touch screen Android powered e-reader and more

Pocketbook announces color touch screen Android powered e-reader and more originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Aug 2010 12:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thursday, August 19, 2010

Dealzmodo: T-Mobile's Samsung Vibrant For 1 Cent [Dealzmodo]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5617051/dealzmodo-t+mobiles-samsung-vibrant-for-1-cent

Dealzmodo: T-Mobile's Samsung Vibrant For 1 Cent I'm sorry. If you jumped on the $100 T-Mobile Samsung Vibrant deal yesterday, you might want to look into canceling. Amazon is offering the same phone today for a penny. [Amazon via TechDealDigger]

Nikon Coolpix S1100pj and S5100 hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/19/nikon-coolpix-s1100pj-and-s5100-hands-on/

Nikon's new projector-equipped camera has broken cover today and we've naturally had a little play around with it. Regrettably, the Japanese DSLR dominator had pretty early firmware on board and refused to let us take any sample pictures or video, but we were able to compile a few impressions anyhow. Firstly, as to the S1100pj's body, it's your typical compact affair -- feeling sturdy and light, it's basically fit for its intended purpose, but no more or less than that. We found accessing the compartment for the battery and memory card a pain, as it doesn't auto-lock when you close it, requiring an unnecessary bit of finger adroitness, and removing and replacing batteries can also be a fiddly affair. There's not much good to say about the built-in "tilt stand" at the bottom, either -- it only alters the angle of projection slightly and feels too plasticky -- but at least it gives you an extra option.

On the plus side of things, the battery is a generous 1,050 mAh unit, and there's a pleasingly instant access scheme for the camera's most regularly used functions. Video recording has a dedicated button, as does switching to projector mode. Both seem to work quite well too, with the 720p video looking smooth and buttery, but then on-camera playback can be deceiving. We got to check out those 14 lumens of projection power in a dimly lit room, and came away with a pair of impressions. Firstly, you should be able to squeeze out a decent-ish 40-inch image out of this shooter if you set the right mood with your lighting, and secondly, focusing is a relative cinch with the included controls on top. All in all, given that it's intended as a quickie display station at parties, we think the S1100pj does what it promises. We rarely praise compact camera software here, but we'd be remiss not to note the saturation adjustment tool on this touchscreen shooter. It was a particular highlight for us and something we could definitely see ourselves getting creative with.

We also spent some time with the S5100, which surprised us with its quick autofocus and generally snappy execution of instructions. Its 720p movie mode also looked competent, but bear in mind that it doesn't allow you to zoom while recording video. Ah well, such is the fate of budget shooters, we suppose. Hit up the galleries for the hands-on imagery.

Gallery: Nikon Coolpix S1100pj hands-on

Gallery: Nikon Coolpix S5100 hands-on

Nikon Coolpix S1100pj and S5100 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exclusive: Droid Pro is the global version of the Droid 2, LG enV Touch 2 will be Android-powered

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/19/exclusive-droid-pro-is-the-global-version-of-the-droid-2-lg-en/

We've learned from a source close to the situation that the rumored global version of the Droid 2 with GSM and CDMA radios is actually the same phone as the also-rumored Droid Pro -- although Verizon apparently has a tendency to fiddle with branding right up until the last minute, so the retail name could still change. It's identical to the current Droid 2 in every way except for the fact that it houses a GSM / HSPA radio for global roaming, though we're not able to confirm previous rumors that it'll be available in a white version; presumably, you'll pay a bit more than the Droid 2's $200 on contract for the privilege of being able to take your buddy overseas. Barring any last-minute delays, we should see it launch within weeks.

If you're sick and tired of Motorolas, let's switch gears a bit and talk about the follow-up to LG's enV Touch. Interestingly, LG will be switching from a proprietary featurephone platform to Android for this one -- called the enV Touch 2 -- and will give it dual touchscreens: one on the outside, and another on the inside for when you flip open the clamshell. As you might expect for an enV-branded device, there's also a full QWERTY keyboard. It's currently running Android 2.1, though it's not clear whether that'll be upgraded to 2.2 by the time we see a release toward the holidays. It's said to be pretty big and heavy, which could be a disadvantage for some -- but on the flipside, it's apparently a global device, so that's a plus. enVs historically haven't been the most exciting things in Verizon's stable, but we'll admit, we're curious to see this one get fleshed out.

Exclusive: Droid Pro is the global version of the Droid 2, LG enV Touch 2 will be Android-powered originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When NOT to use Groupon (as an advertiser) - http://bit.ly/98xbKV

31-Inch OLED TV Will Be Shown Off by LG [Oled]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5616825/31-oled-tv-will-be-shown-off-by-lg

31-Inch OLED TV Will Be Shown Off by LG Not content with having the largest production OLED model on the market today (pictured), LG is doubling its size in time for the IFA electronics show next month, where it'll show off a 31-inch panel.

A couple of years ago, Samsung showed off a 31-inch OLED at CES, which was just 4.3mm thick and could output 1080p. However, it never made it to the sale yards—so their South Korean rival is certainly in with a chance. [Electronista]

I Want To Teach in a School of the Future With Sharp's 60-inch LCD Blackboard [Blackboards]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5616868/sharps-60-lcd-blackboard-makes-me-want-to-teach-in-a-school-of-the-future

I Want To Teach in a School of the Future With Sharp's 60-inch LCD Blackboard Sharp's 60" PN-L601B Blackboard, announced today in Japan, ditches the SMART Board's projector in lieu of a 1,920×1,080, LED-backlit LCD display. It's almost awesome enough to make me want to draw sentence diagrams for Catcher In the Rye.

Teaching once seemed like a potentially-noble, probably-miserable future profession, before the allure of high tech blog world drew me in. But Sharp's new LCD Blackboard, a step beyond the SMART Boards of yesteryear, soups up the classroom enough to make me feel a faint yearning to instruct.

The PN-L601B, which will go on sale in Japan at the end of the month for $11,700, lets educators or businesspeople or whoever else write on top of scanned images with highly accurate handwriting recognition. All of the work done on the display, which can be erased at any time, is recorded on a PC via USB, so your classroom's painstaking diagramming and doodling will be preserved for posterity. [Crunchgear]

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