Monday, November 08, 2010

Indamixx 2 Atom-powered MeeGo tablet touts rockstar looks, $999 price tag

Indamixx 2 Atom-powered MeeGo tablet touts rockstar looks, $999 price tag

Indamixx -- get it?! -- may be a relative dark horse in the race to tablet supremacy, but those looking for something a touch outlandish can't possibly ignore the company's latest. The self-titled Indamixx 2 slate has just recently broke cover, with a prototype boasting Intel's single-core 1.66GHz Atom N450 (a dual-core chip is slated to hit the finalized version), 2GB of RAM, a trio of USB 2.0 ports, a VGA output, Ethernet socket and analog audio input / output jacks. There's no exact word on the screen size or resolution, but the kicker is the software -- this guy's loaded with Transmission 5.0, a music-centric OS that's actually built around MeeGo.

The creators say that they chose MeeGo due to its fondness of multitouch inputs, and based on the videos we've seen of it running, it definitely looks like a wise choice. Moreover, those looking to use this for more traditional tasks will be thrilled to know that they still can, and considering that it's Linux underneath, the limits are near-endless when it comes to tweaking options. For those in no position to wait for the final build, you can hit the source link in order to snag "beta hardware" for $999; we're hoping that those who wait will be treated to far more sensible pricing, but there's no question that we're intrigued either way. Hop on past the break to see this bad boy get down.

Continue reading Indamixx 2 Atom-powered MeeGo tablet touts rockstar looks, $999 price tag

Indamixx 2 Atom-powered MeeGo tablet touts rockstar looks, $999 price tag originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Nov 2010 12:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink MeeGo Forums  |  sourceCreate Digital Music, Indamixx  | Email this | Comments

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Verizon trials unlimited text and data cellular plans for preferred customers, starting at $70 a month

Verizon trials unlimited text and data cellular plans for preferred customers, starting at $70 a month

Sure, Verizon's pushing tiered data plans in public, but it's simultaneously expanding its unlimited offerings behind closed doors -- yesterday, the wireless carrier launched a promotional plan with 450 minutes, unlimited text and unlimited data for $70 a month. Before you jump at the chance to lower your monthly bill, however, we should warn you that this is very much a limited trial: Verizon will check its computers to verify that you were sent a promotional email before letting you into the deal. Furthermore, the offer doesn't ring up as a new plan in Verizon's computer system, but rather an amalgam of the company's existing $60 Talk and Text plan and its $30 unlimited data plan, with a $20 credit applied to your bill each and every month. The upside of that is that selected customers can basically add unlimited data to any Talk and Text plan they choose for an extra $10 monthly, but the downside is that it's far too early to call the promotion a portent of things to come. See the full offer at our source link... or in your inbox, we suppose.

[Thanks, Sam]

Verizon trials unlimited text and data cellular plans for preferred customers, starting at $70 a month originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Nov 2010 14:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Boy Genius Report  |  sourceVerizon Wireless  | Email this | Comments

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DIYer builds handsfree, Arduino-powered remote camera trigger (video)

DIYer builds handsfree, Arduino-powered remote camera trigger (video)

It takes a pretty radical hack to truly grab us, but we're fairly confident that Matt Richardson is now one of our most favorite dudes ever. He has put together a comprehensive video detailing the setup required to build your own Arduino-powered remote shutter trigger, and while it's certainly one of the more complicated setups out there, properly executing it can land you self-taken photos like the one above. You'll need a laptop, a solid DSLR, an Arduino, a DIYer toolkit (you know, tiny screwdrivers and the like) and a good bit of spare time. If you've already checked all five from your list, head on past the break and mash play -- your weekend project awaits.

[Thanks, Matt]

Continue reading DIYer builds handsfree, Arduino-powered remote camera trigger (video)

DIYer builds handsfree, Arduino-powered remote camera trigger (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 07 Nov 2010 08:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceGithub (mrichardson23), YouTube (mrichardson23)  | Email this | Comments

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NVIDIA promises 'fastest DX11 GPU on the planet' very, very soon (video)

NVIDIA promises 'fastest DX11 GPU on the planet' very, very soon (video)

Nobody will be too shocked to hear NVIDIA expects its next flagship GPU to be the fastest that's ever been, but few will have guessed it'd also be one of the company's coolest and quietest. In the first public teasing of its next-gen graphics card (which is almost certain to bear the GeForce GTX 580 name tag), NVIDIA has revealed a new vapor chamber cooling system, which reminds us of Shuttle's ICE CPU cooler -- basically, water sealed within the chamber gets boiled by the hot elements (a copper plate in NVIDIA's case), which forces it to transfer heat away to the bits that are being cooled by the fan, where it chills out and recycles itself back to the boiling plate. The end result, according to NVIDIA, is about seven decibels less vroom relative to the GTX 480, along with lower operational temperatures. Besides that, the company's Tom Petersen also showed off an impressive tessellation demo and the first public display of Call of Duty: Black Ops gameplay, which was powered by this as yet unannounced GPU. Skip past the break to see it all on video.

[Thanks, Vygantas]

Continue reading NVIDIA promises 'fastest DX11 GPU on the planet' very, very soon (video)

NVIDIA promises 'fastest DX11 GPU on the planet' very, very soon (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 07 Nov 2010 09:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink RumorPedia.net  |  sourcenvidia (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments

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BlackBerry Torch now burns in red and white hues at AT&T stores

BlackBerry Torch now burns in red and white hues at AT&T stores

Right on schedule, a day before Windows Phone 7 hits its stores in force, AT&T is letting a couple of new BlackBerry Torch SKUs out to play. They're basic repaint jobs, described by the carrier as Sunset Red and Pure White, the latter of which almost lives up to its name by including a white keyboard but falters by sticking to the noir optical pad. Pricing is set at $499 if you never want to see AT&T again after purchasing one or $99 if you can commit to a two-year relationship. Same as with the "Charcoal" Torch.

[Thanks, Matthew]

BlackBerry Torch now burns in red and white hues at AT&T stores originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 07 Nov 2010 16:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS Eee PC 1215T with AMD Neo on sale now

ASUS Eee PC 1215T with AMD Neo on sale now

Been waiting on an Eee PC 1215N with an AMD Neo processor? Or how about an Eee PC 1015T with a 12.1-inch display? We know, you need a damn almanac to keep up with all of ASUS' netbooks, but if you have in fact been waiting on the respective strengths of those two Eee PC variants, the company's got you covered with its new 1215T. Forgoing the Intel Atom / NVIDIA Ion 2 combo for a single core 1.7GHz AMD Athlon K125 processor, the 12.1-inch notbook (our word for a machine that's not really a netbook anymore) packs 2GB of RAM, an 320GB hard drive and Windows 7 Home Premium. The system looks to have the same chassis as the $485 Eee PC 1215N we reviewed not too long ago, but instead rings up at around $436 on Amazon right now. We obviously haven't tested the AMD version nor have we seen any reviews, but we'd venture to guess that while you may save $50, you'll give up the better battery life of the Intel / Ion-powered 1215N -- the AMD Neo laptops we've tested haven't lasted longer than four hours on a charge. That's just our hunch, but hey, don't let us stop you from hitting that source link and ordering one right now.

[Thanks, Sal]

ASUS Eee PC 1215T with AMD Neo on sale now originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 07 Nov 2010 20:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Notebook Italia  |  sourceASUS, Amazon  | Email this | Comments

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Ben Heck modifies Toshiba Satellite for cramped flights, throws TSA the peace sign (video)

Ben Heck modifies Toshiba Satellite for cramped flights, throws TSA the peace sign (video)

So what has technology modder extraordinaire Benjamin J. Heckendorn come up with for his Ben Heck Show this week? Why, a laptop designed to fit on a airplane tray table, thanks to a special swiveling screen. The Coach Section Laptop is a modified Toshiba Satellite with aluminum arms affixed to either side, with slots down the middle upon which the screen's pegs slide. Thumbscrews then tighten to keep the display in place in either of two modes: the standard laptop configuration, or the floating display-over-keyboard setup you see immediately above. Ben himself admits that we're looking at a rough proof of concept for now, but we imagine he'll have a seamless variant on eBay before long -- just as soon as he can figure out where to put that precariously dangling display cord. Video after the break.

Continue reading Ben Heck modifies Toshiba Satellite for cramped flights, throws TSA the peace sign (video)

Ben Heck modifies Toshiba Satellite for cramped flights, throws TSA the peace sign (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 07 Nov 2010 23:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba rolls out Blade X-gale SSD modules, makes MacBook Air storage look a little less proprietary

Toshiba rolls out Blade X-gale SSD modules, makes MacBook Air storage look a little less proprietary

One of the most impressive aspects of Apple's recent MacBook Air redesign was undeniably the shift to ultrathin flash storage modules that could cram your gigabytes of data into picoliters of space. Needless to say, that's the sort of storage we could all do with in our lives and today Toshiba's doing us a solid by introducing its Blade X-gale SSD line to the wider world. It's basically the same stuff as in the Airs, sans Apple's bombastic marketing, and while the new SSD modules are not yet readily available to buy by consumers (who wouldn't have anywhere to put them in their laptops anyhow), system integrators are all free to start building around them as of today. The 64GB and 128GB modules are only 2.2mm tall, while the double-stacked 256GB option is 3.7mm in height, and all three can reach speeds of 220MBps while reading or 180MBps when writing. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Toshiba rolls out Blade X-gale SSD modules, makes MacBook Air storage look a little less proprietary

Toshiba rolls out Blade X-gale SSD modules, makes MacBook Air storage look a little less proprietary originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 03:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Droid Pro official on Verizon: $179.99 after rebate, pre-sales begin November 9

Motorola Droid Pro official on Verizon: $179.99 after rebate, pre-sales begin November 9

Exactly as suspected, the Droid Pro will start its Verizon retail adventure tomorrow, with pre-sales at selected VZW stores and the carrier's online outlet, to be followed by its proper shelf debut on November 18. Price is set at $179.99 on a two-year contract, provided you're happy to take care of a $100 mail-in rebate. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Motorola Droid Pro official on Verizon: $179.99 after rebate, pre-sales begin November 9

Motorola Droid Pro official on Verizon: $179.99 after rebate, pre-sales begin November 9 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 08:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friday, November 05, 2010

Bluemind Is an Ultra-Lightweight Mind Mapping Application [Downloads]

Bluemind Is an Ultra-Lightweight Mind Mapping Application [Downloads]

Windows: If you're looking for a lightweight mind mapping tool to tuck on your flash drive, Bluemind is a speedy option with easy keyboard and GUI navigation, plenty of customization options, and support for multi-format exporting. More »


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There's Another 21:9 3DTV in Town [3Dtvs]

There's Another 21:9 3DTV in Town [3Dtvs]

There's Another 21:9 3DTV in TownUntil now it's only been Philips that's had truly-widescreen 21:9 TVs, but Taiwanese company AUO has got in on the action with what they're claiming is the world's largest 3DTV with that aspect ratio, at 71-inches.

Of course, when only one other company has taken a stab at 21:9 TVs (and invented the damn things), it's not much of a boast. Philips has done two now—a non-3D one last year, and a 58-inch 3D titanium one this year, which goes on sale in the UK this month for £3,999—around $6,500 in the States.)

While not many of us will have heard of the brand AUO, they're claiming that their LED-backlit LCD has a 240Hz frame rate, and a very thin bezel, which you can see in the photo. Bizarrely, they're joining LG in the passive polarizing 3D camp, and while some people prefer passive 3D, the resolution is halved so most prefer active shutter 3DTV. [AUO via Akihabara News]

AU Optronics Corp. ("AUO" or the "Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO) announced today that it will soon showcase for the first time a series of the latest 3D display technologies: the world's largest 71" 21:9 Cinema Scope HD (CSHD) 3D TV LCD panel(*); a large, interactive 3D touch panel solution with video game applications; a leading 65" QFHD 4K2K lenticular lens 3D LCD TV panel; and an array of 3D displays for various applications at FPD International 2010 in Japan from November 10 to 12. These products highlight AUO's innovative efforts and breakthroughs in the home theater, entertainment and commercial markets, and demonstrate the Company's ability to provide 3D total solutions.

AUO announced the world's largest 71" 21:9 Cinema Scope HD (CSHD) 3D TV LCD panel with high quality 3D images
After putting on the polarized 3D glasses, audiences will enjoy a lifelike stereoscopic world with high image quality and brightness
AUO is presenting the world's largest 71" CSHD 3D TV panel for maximal visual enjoyment. The 21:9 ultra-wide screen offers a stunning, cutting-edge theatrical experience of high quality 3D images. The panel is designed with a 240Hz double frame rate, LED scanning backlight and optimized parameters for better motion flow. The new ultra-narrow border design presents the images in even more delightful proportions. Wearing polarized 3D glasses, audiences will be able to enter a lifelike stereoscopic world filled with images of extraordinary clarity and brightness.

AUO will also exhibit a naked eye 3D display solution: the 65" QFHD 4K2K lenticular lens 3D panel. Its proprietary technology has resolved the problem of uneven brightness that occurs with conventional 3D displays, raising the resolution of a single viewpoint to high definition. The 3D panel has brightness as high as 500 nits, with eight viewpoints. Its fine image quality is suitable for commercial use, making the panel the most eye-catching large-sized public information display currently available.

In response to the growing demand for interactive 3D multimedia, AUO has combined its 65" full HD 3D display with an advanced and accurate 3D interactive solution to provide a superlative gaming experience. The infrared video camera detects the player's movements as he or she interacts with the 3D images. Reacting in real time to lifelike 3D images, players can enjoy the most amazing gaming experience possible with today's technology. For audio-visual entertainment, gamers have no better option.

AUO will also showcase a 4" 3D interactive touch panel suitable for use with smartphones, video game consoles and tablet PCs. The light pen and touch panel are integrated for the first time so that users can move within three dimensions-horizontally, vertically and in depth. For players of interactive 3D games, a fun and interesting 3D world becomes readily accessible. Adding spice to the mobile life, the 4" portrait / landscape barrier 3D touch panel leads the industry by allowing users to freely move their fingers about on the touch panel and switch between 2D and 3D modes in portrait or landscape positions.

AUO works continuously and creatively to achieve innovations and breakthroughs in 3D technology. AUO aims to create products that provide consumers with audio-visual experiences of sensational quality and intense satisfaction. AUO also leverages both its complete production lines and mass production capabilities for more business opportunities in the 3D market, aiming to place itself in a leadership position.

*Based on market research information available as of Nov. 4, 2010.

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AUO showcases world's largest Cinema Scope 3D LCD TV, among other three-dee niceties

AUO showcases world's largest Cinema Scope 3D LCD TV, among other three-dee niceties

In case you haven't noticed, FPD International 2010 is just about ready to hit full-swing, and AUO is on hand with a stockpile of new kit. AUO Optronics just so happens to be a fairly substantial panel maker in the grand scheme of things, so people tend to pay attention when they roll out the planet's largest Cinema Scope (read: 21:9 aspect ratio) 3D LCD TV. A 71-inch version of the aforesaid device is on hand for the public to gawk at, as is a 65-inch QFHD 4K x 2K lenticular lens 3D TV. The former boasts a 240Hz double frame rate, LED scanning backlight and optimized parameters for better motion flow, and unlike most three-dee televisions these days, this one works with polarized glasses -- you know, the ones that are dirt cheap, don't require batteries and haven't been known to give people headaches. The latter is a glasses-free solution, but unlike the company's next generation 3D notebook panels, you'll need to be located in one of eight viewing spots to dig the effect. In related news, AUO is also trumpeting a 4-inch 3D interactive touch panel suitable for use with smartphones, portable game consoles and tablets, but unfortunately, no release information is being doled out for any of this stuff. A heartbreaker, really.

Continue reading AUO showcases world's largest Cinema Scope 3D LCD TV, among other three-dee niceties

AUO showcases world's largest Cinema Scope 3D LCD TV, among other three-dee niceties originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 09:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes-Benz SLK gets Magic Sky Control roof, turns transparent at the touch of a button

Mercedes-Benz SLK gets Magic Sky Control roof, turns transparent at the touch of a button

Put down those iPads, Mercedes owners, and look to the sky. There's a word of wonder up there and, if you had yourself an SLK with the Magic Sky Control vario-roof, you could be looking at it. Well, of course, you could already be looking at the sky if you had an SLK because, you know, it's a convertible. But, let's say you want to do it without actually having to experience nature. Now we're talking. The vario-roof is a glass panel in the center of the SLK's retractable hardtop and now, if you tick the 2000 euro ($2,800) Magic Sky Control option, you can control that sky, tinting the glass panel at will by re-aligning the light-blocking crystals embedded within. It's like a big pixel on an LCD with the whole sun as your backlight and a truly awful dot pitch.

Mercedes-Benz SLK gets Magic Sky Control roof, turns transparent at the touch of a button originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 10:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Oh Gizmo!  |  sourceeMercedesBenz  | ! Email this | Comments

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Why is T-Mobile selling an iPhone cable?

Why is T-Mobile selling an iPhone cable?

T-Mobile USA has been an oft-rumored darkhorse to help kill off AT&T's iPhone exclusivity in the country -- and for the life of us, we can't think of a good reason that the carrier's corporate stores would be carrying iPhone charge / sync cables now other than in preparation for a launch. It's interesting to note that Deutsche Telekom boss Rene Obermann in part blamed the lack of the iPhone in the States as a driving factor in its third quarter churn rate... a meaningless musing, perhaps, but it could've been a little bit of foreshadowing, too. It's important to note that T-Mobile has carried Nexus One accessories this year, too, so it's not out of the realm of possibility to think that they're just trying to cater to the unlockers who are already using iPhones on T-Mobile -- but then again, we'd argue that the people savvy enough to do that probably aren't shopping for overpriced cables in carrier stores. It's also important to note that T-Mobile literally just took a dig at FaceTime (while blasting AT&T's network in the same breath), so it's hard to say what this means, if anything.

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

Why is T-Mobile selling an iPhone cable? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 11:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mold Sculptures On an iPad App, Then Print Them With a 3D Printer [Video]

Mold Sculptures On an iPad App, Then Print Them With a 3D Printer [Video]

Mold Sculptures On an iPad App, Then Print Them With a 3D PrinterWe've already ascertained that 3D printers are cool. But when connected to an iPad, running the Beautiful Modeler app? Consider our collective minds blown. You can mold digital clay into whatever you want, then print it with a 3D printer.

You'll need a 3D printer, obviously—MakerBot's Thing-O-Matic is the cheapest, at $1,225.

It's probably the easiest way to design 3D objects, without mucking around on CAD or other design programs. Actually using your fingertips to bend the lump of clay within the iPad app, turning it into a little object to print out—well, it sounds like a dream come true. Imagine your mom making Christmas tree ornaments this way, or being able to conjure up a little doohicky for sliding under a short table leg, within minutes?

Never have I wanted a 3D printer so much before.

The source code is available to grab from the Interactive Fabrication site now, and cleverly the program actually hooks up your laptop at the same time, so you can see your object's progress there, and model it on the iPad. [Interactive Fabrication via CreativeApplications via FastCo]

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