DIA Parrot digital photo frame by nodesign is not a digital photo frame

How do you a frame a digital photo without framing it? That's the mind-bending question considered by Parrot and the nodesign agency, and the "mysterious object" known as the DIA Parrot is their answer. Just what is it? We'll let Parrot explain.

What is striking is its 10x4 inch high resolution screen. Dismantled, deconstructed, disconnected from the frame as if there was nothing behind, this screen is transparency, is light. The picture, your photo, appears through this "light box" in a brand new aesthetic dimension...

"The photo frame designed by Jean-Louis Frechin is very mysterious," continues Henri Seydoux. "Jean-Louis was smart or 'crazy' enough to dismantle the LCD screen we get used to, and the result is quite simply magical. We don't see where the photo comes from... It is simply there, on this transparent and half-dismantled screen... It is prestidigitation!"

Look for it to set you back $500 when it launches in February. You didn't expect a brand new aesthetic dimension to come cheap, did you?

Continue reading DIA Parrot digital photo frame by nodesign is not a digital photo frame

DIA Parrot digital photo frame by nodesign is not a digital photo frame originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Dec 2010 10:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ExoPC now up for pre-order at Microsoft Store, shipping next week

Been waiting to order an ExoPC here in the US of A? Well, today is your day -- ExoPC has just announced that it's teamed up with Microsoft's very own store to bring you the 11.6-inch Windows 7 tablet. There's only one configuration at the moment, but $699 buys you a rather thin 0.5-inch slate with 64GB of flash storage, an Intel Atom N450 processor, 2GB of RAM, Windows 7 Home Premium with ExoPC's unique UI layer, and a front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera. As for that UI, ExoPC just told us that a major update should be coming next week and that it'll amend a number of issues we had with our early review unit. The slate is currently up for pre-order on the Microsoft Store website, but we're told it will start shipping out early next week. And if you're waiting to check it out in person before pulling out the plastic, we hear they should be arriving in all those Microsoft retail locations soon -- apparently, San Diego and Scottsdale already have 'em in stock. Hey, looks like Mr. Ballmer was right, we will have Win 7 tablets this "crucial holiday season."

ExoPC now up for pre-order at Microsoft Store, shipping next week originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Dec 2010 14:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First hand-machined RED EPIC ships, gets lovingly toyed with

This RED EPIC belongs to Mark Pederson -- the head of studio OffHollywood -- who was apparently the very first one to drop $58,000 for the pre-production 5K camera, not to mention the first to lay down money for the original one. In case you've arranged to find yourself with a similarly jawdropping Christmas present in the mail, you can find pictures of what to expect at our source links below. The links will also do quite nicely if you haven't experienced that feeling called "jealousy" in a while and would like a refresher course.

[Thanks, Charlie and Patrick]

First hand-machined RED EPIC ships, gets lovingly toyed with originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Multitouch Twitter wall to fascinate onlookers, Engadget staffers at #CES

CES is no stranger to larger-than-life display installations, but as this whole "social networking" thing continues to blossom, it looks as if next year's megawall will be integrating with none other than Twitter. Designed by Finland's own MultiTouch, the Multitouch Twitter Wall will consist of "at least" six MultiTouch Cell 46 displays, each of which checks in at 46-inches wide. The whole shebang will offer onlookers at the show the ability to open tweets, move them around and give them a perfect opportunity to blow off steam while having their minds blitzed by the sheer quantity of news associated with the #CES tag. We'll be sure to give it a look once we touch down in the great southwest next month, but till then, you can get a taste by mashing play below.

[Thanks, André]

Continue reading Multitouch Twitter wall to fascinate onlookers, Engadget staffers at #CES

Multitouch Twitter wall to fascinate onlookers, Engadget staffers at #CES originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Dec 2010 23:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy builds antenna into body of 2011 Camaro convertible, includes free bumpers for all (video)

We know all about the great woes that can befall a company when it tries to integrate an antenna into the body of its product, so we couldn't resist covering Chevrolet's latest attempt to do the same -- but on a larger scale. Early versions of the 2011 drop-top Camaro found themselves rolling out and about with a rather unsightly appendage hanging off the rear, a big whip antenna that was a little too genuinely retro to go with the machine's throwback styling cues. On hardtop Camaros the antenna is integrated into the rear windshield but, given the disappearing nature of this car's roof, that wasn't possible here. For help GM turned to two dedicated Antenna Engineers, Don Hibbard and Gregg Kittinger, who managed to find a way to bury the unsightly thing inside the svelte spoiler perched on the rear deck lid. Problem solved -- well, except that XM and OnStar require a separate shark fin that can sadly still be seen hanging out on the trunk. Maybe the 2012 model will be totally fresh and clean.

Continue reading Chevy builds antenna into body of 2011 Camaro convertible, includes free bumpers for all (video)

Chevy builds antenna into body of 2011 Camaro convertible, includes free bumpers for all (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Dec 2010 03:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic's new LCD TVs record video to SDXC

Panasonic's plasma sets get most of the attention, and perhaps rightfully so, but it's actually the company's new LCD lineup for Japan that can help you make use of your woefully neglected SDXC cards. In addition to compiling terrestrial HDTV footage on a standard external hard drive, the Panasonic Viera G3 and X3 can record to a new SD card slot as well, archiving up to five hours of 1080p footage on a 'standard' 64GB SDXC card. We put 'standard' in quotes because while that's presently the typical capacity for that particular designation of flash, it'll still cost you upwards of $200 to get in on the ground floor, and that's a pittance compared to what Panasonic's charging for its own. Who said magnetic storage was dead? If Tokyo's where you hang your hat, expect both the G3 and X3 series to hit stores near you in February of next year.

Panasonic's new LCD TVs record video to SDXC originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Dec 2010 06:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung nabs Tegra 2 for Galaxy Tab 2, Google makes Tegra the Honeycomb reference platform?

It sounds like all of NVIDIA's wrangling and cajoling finally paid off, if a couple of analysts are to be believed -- both say the company's dual-core Tegra 2 chipset is racking up wins in the tablet space. We've seen it seemingly raise the bar for smartphone silicon in the LG Star and tease us in slate after slate, but Citigroup's Glen Yeung says that Samsung has "placed a sizeable order with Nvidia for Tegra 2 chips in the first half of 2011, geared for both tablets and smartphones," and BMO Capital Markets analyst Ambrish Srivastava anticipates the next Galaxy Tab will be one of the devices that use it. If that sounds obvious, remember that Samsung was supposed to be producing a dual-core chip of its own. What could cause companies to embrace Tegra 2, if that's indeed what's happening? Any number of reasons, to be sure, but Glen Yeung also says that Google has made Tegra the reference design for Honeycomb, aka Android 3.0, and so Tegra 2 may sound like a fast track to victory in the budding tablet space. Here's hoping it's a good choice for consumers, too.

Samsung nabs Tegra 2 for Galaxy Tab 2, Google makes Tegra the Honeycomb reference platform? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Dec 2010 14:13:00! EDT. P lease see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG 'B' Android phone caught in the wild, looking thin and ready to spank S-AMOLED (update: confirmed)

We're still coming down from that rush of adrenaline that accompanied the launch of the dual-core Optimus 2X last night, but we've had a hunch lately that LG is planning on taking Android very seriously in 2011 -- seriously enough to have something even sexier than the 2X up its sleeve. Looks like that sexiness could be delivered in the form of a device codenamed "B," shots of which have been delivered to Phandroid in a direct comparison with the iPhone 4 and the Galaxy S -- two handsets we're sure LG would love to embarrass. As you can see up there, the screen's looking pretty insane, especially when you consider that those other two phones in the picture have arguably the best displays in the mobile business right now; it's claimed to offer 700 nits of brightness, a 40 percent improvement over the Galaxy S. Oh, and if that doesn't impress you, Phandroid's tipster has also sent in a shot of the edge that appears to make the 9.3mm iPhone 4 look downright chubby. No word on a release date for the B just yet.

Update: LG's decided to dispense with the mystery and has shot out a tweet confirming the B's existence and inviting us all to come check it out at CES 2011. We'll be sure to do just that.

Continue reading LG 'B' Android phone caught in the wild, looking thin and ready to spank S-AMOLED (update: confirmed)

LG 'B' Android phone caught in the wild, looking thin and ready to spank S-AMOLED (update: confirmed) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 19:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Casio Exilim EX-H20G (with Hybrid GPS) camera review

Three months from introduction to on sale ain't too shabby in the camera world, and that's exactly what Casio has managed to accomplish with the intriguing new Exilim EX-H20G. We first spotted this point-and-shoot at Photokina in Germany, and now we've had a solid week to put it through its paces. Naturally, the inclusion of Hybrid GPS (read: engineered to find a location indoors as well as outdoors) is the standout feature and key differentiator, but the 14.1 megapixel sensor, 10x optical zoom and 720p movie mode are all fine additions. It certainly isn't the slimmest compact on the market, nor the cheapest at $349.99, but do the unique aspects of this thing make the price easier to stand? Join us after the break for our thoughts.

Gallery: Casio Exilim EX-H20G (with Hybrid GPS) unboxing

Continue reading Casio Exilim EX-H20G (with Hybrid GPS) camera review

Casio Exilim EX-H20G (with Hybrid GPS) camera review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 18:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Synology introduces DiskStation DS211+, review finds the plus stands for performance

If you're not down with this whole "careless computing" craze you still need somewhere to stuff your files, and Synology has introduced a new high-performance and (relatively) low-cost option. It's the DS211+, a dual-bay, hot-swappable NAS with an integrated card reader and software providing easy security administration, remote access, and even surveillance storage duties. It's priced at "around $400" and, according to an early review at KitGuru, it's well worth the cost, delivering "stunning levels of bandwidth" and leading to various other hyperbolic conclusions that make us think you might want to wait for a second, less euphemistic opinion before clicking the buy button.

Gallery: Synology DiskStation DS211+

Continue reading Synology introduces DiskStation DS211+, review finds the plus stands for performance

Synology introduces DiskStation DS211+, review finds the plus stands for performance originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 01:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hitachi's 7mm-thick hard drives grow to 500GB, keep slimline profile

If you can't beat SSDs (and you can't, we've checked), you might as well try and dress like them by squeezing into the unreasonably low profile of just 7mm. Such must be the reasoning behind Hitachi's svelte 7mm-thick HDD series, which today gets augmented with a new top-of-the-line drive boasting 500GB of storage room. This single-platter archivist measure 2.5 inches diagonally, but as its Z5K500 product name suggests, it only spins at the tame rate of 5400RPM. The less generously proportioned Z7K320 offers 7200RPM if you're after more oomph, but it's most likely that your first real contact with either of these drives will be when you see them built into whatever larger device you're buying. Like, say, an ultrathin netbook or a PMP that's eager to swallow your music collection whole.

Continue reading Hitachi's 7mm-thick hard drives grow to 500GB, keep slimline profile

Hitachi's 7mm-thick hard drives grow to 500GB, keep slimline profile originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 02:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vizio's New 65-inch 3DTV Promises Flicker-Free Picture on a Huger Screen [3dTv]

The mammoth 65-inch XVT3D650SV is more than just super big. Vizio claims the set's 3D display, forgoing battery-powered, active shutter glasses, looks better and is nicer to eyeballs. They're also boasting less ghosting, a brighter image, and superior edge backlighting.

In addition to the picture improvements (always nice to see companies doing away with bulky glasses), the XVT3D650SV will pack a suite of internet apps (Amazon VoD, Facebook, Flickr, Netflix, Rhapsody, Pandora, and Twitter, most notably) via 802.11n Wi-Fi. Look for the sets to arrive at Costco and Sam's Club this month for $3500. All this being said, we've yet to actually lay eyes on a passive 3D set that hasn't looked terrible, so we're going to reserve judgment until we can see for ourselves at CES—though CNET's HDTV guru had a peek and says it fared well. [Vizio]

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You Will Not Believe This Is Just a Powerpoint [Video]

"The most awesome 450 page presentation ever." That's how the authors call this slide show—and I agree. It is awesome. But knowing that it was made using only Google Docs and no extra software whatsoever, makes it truly unbelievable.

You can see part of the creation process—which took three days by three animators—in the complete YouTube Video. If you are really curious, you can access—and playback—the gigantic Google Doc that was submitted to Google's Demo Slam.

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Android Skype update brings ability to run to SD, Galaxy S compatibility, but with a big catch

Sick of seeing that little hard disk with an exclamation point popping up on your Android handset? Yeah, us too. Thankfully we can now count Skype among the apps that can be moved to external storage. This new release also adds compatibility with the Samsung Galaxy S -- but there's a catch. Android 2.2 is required, which many Galaxy S owners may or may not actually have yet and, while some are said to be getting a dollop of FroYo this very month, we've certainly heard that before.

Android Skype update brings ability to run to SD, Galaxy S compatibility, but with a big catch originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 11:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Maps 5.0 hits Android, includes new 3D map view and offline Navigation

Google's never been afraid to "blow it out" with Google Maps, most famously with its inclusion of Navigation, which knocked the legs out from under a lot of the GPS device and navigation app market. Google Maps 5.0 for Android might seem similarly earth shattering, but it marks a significant change to the basic technology of Google Maps. Most importantly, Google is now using vector graphics for its maps, which are scalable and much lighter weight than the traditional stitched together images used in most Google Maps incarnations. The vectors also enable something else a whole lot sexier: a two finger swipe can "tilt" the map and now you've got a 3D view of the landscape. It's not quite as flashy as Google Earth, but it looks a whole lot more useful. The other thing these low-bandwidth vector maps enables is offline caching of maps, specifically your most frequently visited locations, and entire trips that have been routed in Navigation, including potential reroutes. Anybody with an Android 1.6 or higher device can download 5.0 right now for free, but the 3D and offline features are 2.0+ only.

Continue reading Google Maps 5.0 hits Android, includes new 3D map view and offline Navigation

Google Maps 5.0 hits Android, includes new 3D map view and offline Navigation originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 13:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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