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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Netflix profit up 45% in Q4, nears 10 million total subscribers

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/26/netflix-profit-up-45-in-q4-nears-10-million-total-subscribers/

Analysts were already anticipating a killer Q4 for Netflix, and unlike practically every other company on the face of the planet, it delivered. The movie rental firm somehow managed to see net income rise to $22.7 million in the quarter, up from $15.7 million in Q4 2007. Revenue was also up by 19 percent, and subscriber growth was pegged at an amazing 26 percent. All told, the firm ended the quarter with 9.4 million subscribers, decimating its own forecast of ending Q4 with 9.15 million customers. Of course, some (Netflix included) are quick to assert that the recession has actually boosted business, with many consumers opting to stay home and rent versus taking the family out for a pricey night at the cinema. Netflix is now projecting to end 2009 with anywhere between 10.6 million to 11.3 million customers, and given all the hardware deals it keeps landing, we don't see a reason why it won't get there. Way to buck the trend, Netflix -- we needed some bright news today.

[Via AP]

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

N! etflix p rofit up 45% in Q4, nears 10 million total subscribers originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Emo Labs concocts its own invisible speaker technology

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/27/emo-labs-concocts-its-own-invisible-speaker-technology/

Emo Labs didn't stir up too much commotion while CES was going on, but apparently it did have a tiny presence in Vegas. The crew at Technologizer was able to listen to a sneak preview of the startup's Edge Motion technology, and if the demo is indicative of the end result, we could be onto something special. Much like NXT's SoundVu tech that seemed to fizzle out about as quickly as it hit the scene in 2005, this system creates a so-called invisible speaker by "using arrays of motors to wiggle the edges of a clear membrane." Gurus at the company are hoping to have it integrated into panels of TVs by the end of this year, though it'll be a bit longer before the same can happen on space-constrained laptops.

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Emo Labs concocts its own invisible speaker technology originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 02:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shelby's amazing Aero EV: 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds, 10 minute recharge

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/27/shelbys-amazing-aero-ev-0-to-60-in-2-5-seconds-10-minute-rech/

Man juices in a boil? No shame, that's Shelby Super Cars' Aero EV in pursuit of the "world's fastest production electric car" title. SSC just came clean with the details behind its All-Electric Scalable Powertrain (AESP) producing 1,000 horsepower and 800 lb-ft of torque that rips the Aero EV through 0 to 60 in just 2.5 seconds at a 208mph top speed. Compare that to the Tesla Roadster's 0-60 in 3.9 seconds (or 3.7 for the 2009 sport model) and you'll understand all the hubbub, bub. Better yet, the 150-220 mile battery can be refilled in just 10 minutes (Tesla takes 3.5 hours) from a 220V service thanks to what SSC calls its "Charge on the Run" onboard charging system -- something that nearly eliminates (or at least minimizes) the need for a battery swapping infrastructure. The first full-scale, pre-production Ultimate Aero EV should be on the streets before June with production deliveries expected in the fourth quarter. Now we just need a price.

Gallery: Shelby's amazing Aero EV: 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds, 10 minute recharge

[Via inhabitat]

Shelby's amazing Aero EV: 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds, 10 minute recharge originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 06:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Western Digital's 2TB Caviar Green hard drive launches, gets previewed

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/27/western-digitals-2tb-caviar-green-hard-drive-launches-gets-pre/

There's no veil of secrecy covering this one, but Western Digital has finally come clean with the industry's first 2TB internal hard drive. Launched today in the USA, the planet's highest capacity single HDD -- otherwise known as the 2TB Caviar Green ($299; available now) -- sits on a 3.5-inch platform, includes 32MB of cache and is based around WD's 500GB per platter technology (with 400Gb/in2 areal density). HotHardware was able to take a sneak peek at this here device (a pre-engineering sample, as it were), and was gracious enough to host up some juicy benchmark results for those eager to see how this capacious beast performed. Against the formidable Spinpoint F1 (Samsung) and Barracuda 7200.11 (Seagate), the WD managed to hold its own, which is saying a lot for a drive of this magnitude. Check the full release after the break.

Continue reading Western Digital's 2TB Caviar Green hard drive launches, gets previewed

Filed under: Storage

Western Digital's 2TB Caviar Green hard drive launches, gets previewed originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP's six-cell battery for Mini 1000 offers twice the battery life, a fraction of the value

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/27/hps-six-cell-battery-for-mini-1000-offers-twice-the-battery-lif/

$HP's six-cell battery for Mini 1000 offers twice the battery life, a fraction of the value$

Mr. Blurrycam never lies, so when he caught sight of a six-cell battery for HP's Mini 1000 we knew one would be coming soon. Sure enough, three weeks later it's up for sale on HP's site selling for a bargain (gulp) price of $153.90. That's almost half the cost of an entire machine (which currently start at $350) and as of now you can't pay the difference to upgrade from the stock three-cell when customizing a new netbook. That's an awful lot of bank for twice the battery life, but don't let us rain on your parade if you're looking to do your part to help the economy.

Filed under: Laptops

HP's six-cell battery for Mini 1000 offers twice the battery life, a fraction of the value originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday, January 26, 2009

Atom-powered MSI WindBOX nearly ready to ride your LCD

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/26/atom-powered-msi-windbox-nearly-ready-to-ride-your-lcd/

Finally, a nettop we can really support. Rather than forcing consumers to deal with yet another underpowered box on their desk, MSI is enabling Earthlings to totally conceal said underpowered box so long as they have an LCD monitor with a VESA-compatible mount. The WindBOX, which actually broke cover back in November, is now completely official, and within the slim slab will be a 1.6GHz Atom CPU, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, Intel's GMA 950 graphics set, 802.11b/g WiFi, audio in / out, three USB 2.0 sockets, a VGA port and a 3-in-1 multicard reader for good measure. There's no mention of a price, but it should start filtering out later this quarter. Better tell your LCD to start working out, don't you think?

Filed under: Desktops

Atom-powered MSI WindBOX nearly ready to ride your LCD originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Portable Wii mod renders this Wii portable, modded

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/26/portable-wii-mod-renders-this-wii-portable-modded/

Better keep an eye out, Mr. Heckendorn -- we know that the modding community is pretty cut throat -- just like the Ice Pirates in that movie, uh, Ice Pirates -- and now it looks like there's another young hotshot on the scene. Fifteen year old modista Xteaphn (that's pronounced Steven, folks) has a little sideline going on custom-made portable hardware, with several mods to his name -- including this pint-sized, battery-powered Wii. The thing is tiny -- it's dwarfed by a 13-inch notebook -- and a full charge will give it about an hour of play. Stunning video after the break.

Continue reading Portable Wii mod renders this Wii portable, modded

Filed under: Gaming

Portable Wii mod renders this Wii portable, modded originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Red Tape, Greed Blocking Widespread U.S. Cell Phone Credit Card Transactions [Cell Phones]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/MhEkPn5gQ9E/red-tape-greed-blocking-widespread-us-cell-phone-credit-card-transactions

In Japan, paying for things with a wave of a cell phone is old hat. Clothing, food, movies, loose women—you name it, they've bought it using a phone. Americans? Not so much. Here's why.

The short answer is "red tape." There are simply far too many entities, players, middlemen and suits that each want a piece of the pie to make such a system practical in the U.S., for now. Indeed, popular and proven programs already exist in some major cities, like Atlanta, New York and San Francisco, but the effect has yet to grow into anything we could seriously call "critical mass."

In Japan however, the New York Times reports that the major players simply said, "this is how it will be" in the early stages, and moved on from there. The result is that a single carrier, NTT DoCoMo, accounted for more than half of the Japanese market from the moment of inception. Their leverage as the majority player "motivated" the system to take off among the financial institutions and handset manufacturers, but I have a hard time believing such practices, anathema to U.S. capitalism, would ever take hold Stateside.

Still, the same technology driving drive-by Japanese cell phone purchases in Akihabara is still managing to leak into other countries, albeit in different form factors. In London, for example, the Times reports that "Oyster" cards used for transportation feature the same Near Field Communication (NFC) short-range tech as Japanese phones. In the U.S., MasterCard's PayPass terminals allow consumers to wave their card instead of swipe it.

But these outlets only allow on CC# per card. Japanese phones, the nirvana of drive-by transactions, allow users to select from several accounts, and use the one they want.

The obvious fraud and theft issue is also addressed in the article ("safe" say experts), although with all the big time ID theft stories we've seen t! his past year the stigma will remain regardless of how many Kevin Fu's there are saying cell phone transactions are A-OK.

Fu is an assistant professor of computer science at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. His claim to fame is discovering a huge security hole in PayPass-type credit card transactions in 2006. His research led card companies to overhaul the system and institute fixes over the past three years.

One upside of this discussion (if you're in the pro-cell phone CC camp) is that MasterCard has already come out and said there will be no additional fees for these transactions, should they see a massive deployment. Of course, we're in the middle of a huge global recession right now, so we'll see if the credit card industry, often criticized as synonymous with the phrase "hidden fees and finance charges" will keep their promise.

If you're a betting person, the magic date for cell phone credit card transactions is 2012, when Key Pousttchi, head of the Wi-mobile research group at the University of Augsburg in Germany, says NFC tech will be in pretty much every cell phone on the market (and netbooks? Or will they have converged with cell phone by then? The article doesn't say).

Now, call me a Luddite traditionalist all you want, but I still don't mind reaching for my wallet. The moths that fly out of it when opened, well, that's another story. [New York Times - Thanks, Matt!]

Who Needs Netbooks? Acer Plans Detail Mobile Internet Device [Acer]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/u4Z9LGqLUk8/who-needs-netbooks-acer-plans-detail-mobile-internet-device

Acer, makers of the 10-inch Aspire One netbook coming later this year, could be prepared to take business in a new direction, if a recent U.S. patent filing is to be believed.

Of course, tech companies file patents these days the way I go through squares of TP after a night out eating Mexican, so don't think an Acer MID or tablet or whatever is coming tomorrow. Still, we have some details about what such a hypothetical device might entail thanks to the filing (gleaned by Electronic Pulp):

Arif Maskatia is the person listed as its inventor, which I take as to mean that he was the one who designed this MID. I can't tell you what features this Acer MID will have exactly, but from what has been revealed in the design, it has a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, a pretty sizable screen (that I think supports touch), and a dock connector.

An Intel Atom chip powering the insides would also be a good guess. [Patent via Electronic Pulp

Get your hack on: unofficial multi-touch support released for Android

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/25/get-your-hack-on-unofficial-multi-touch-support-released-for-an/

We've been hearing for months now that both Android and the T-Mobile G1 hardware have some magical, top secret low-level support for multi-touch, but unless we can... you know, do something with it, it really isn't doing anyone any favors. That's where the lovely people in the ever-industrious dev community come into play, throwing together demos on their way to a full release that you -- yes, you -- can finally install on a G1 of your very own. It's still in the proof-of-concept phase, but the load does include a multi-touch version of Android's excellent browser, probably the single app that could use two fingertips more than any other. Needless to say, you should be installing this jazz at your own risk -- but considering the number of hoops you need to jump through to get it up and running (hint: you need to start by gaining root access), the whole process should be enough of a deterrent for the casual types who can't take a hiccup here and there. Video of the included multi-touch map browser app (among others) in action after the break.

[Thanks, Ryan G.]

Continue reading Get your hack on: unofficial multi-touch support released for Android

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Get your hack on: unofficial multi-touch support released for Android originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 02:12:00 EST. Please see! our terms for use of feeds.

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AMD sees distinction between netbooks and laptops vanishing

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/25/amd-sees-distinction-between-netbooks-and-laptops-vanishing/

Before you get all riled up, remember, this is just a man in a suit speaking his mind. Got it? Good. On AMD's most recent earnings call, CEO Dirk Meyer casually confessed that "the distinction between what is a netbook and what is a laptop is going to go away," and he continued by saying that there would be "a continuum of price points and form factors." Now, we're not about to believe that the whole netbook category will simply dry up and vanish in the near future -- much to the chagrin of Psion Teklogix, we assume -- but it's not like we haven't heard equally odd remarks from the CEOs of Intel and RIM. On second thought, shove a Core 2 Quad CPU, twin GPUs and 4GB of RAM into a Mini 10 chassis while nixing any and all heat issues, and you can call it whatever you damn well please.

Filed under: Laptops

AMD sees distinction between netbooks and laptops vanishing originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 08:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gigapan Imager used to craft 1,474 megapixel image of Obama's inauguration

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/25/gigapan-imager-used-to-craft-1-474-megapixel-image-of-obamas-in/

In theory, at least, we already knew that the Gigapan Imager was capable of some amazing things. This, friends, is proof. David Bergman strapped the device and his Canon G10 onto a rail at Barack Obama's inauguration and snapped 220 images. After giving his MacBook Pro 6.5 hours to compile a two gigabyte image, he hosted it up on his website for people to zoom around on. We'll caution you -- you can easy kill a few hours checking out faces and such if you end up visiting the read link, but it's totally worth it.

[Via Gadling]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Gigapan Imager used to craft 1,474 megapixel image of Obama's inauguration originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hack provides Liveview Canon EOS DSLRs with video recording

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/25/hack-provides-liveview-canon-eos-dslrs-with-video-recording/

If you're just now starting to come to grips with the fact that Canon's utterly succulent EOS 5D Mark II is just way, way out of reach, here's a little something to lessen the impact of your inferiority complex. An enterprising young buck with a passion to bring video capture abilities to other EOS cameras figured out a way to enable that very capability on all Liveview EOS DSLRs. Of course, there's still the whole "manual focus" requirement -- which means that the bulk of your captures will be way out of focus -- but it's a new feature for your existing camera nonetheless. Now that the cat's out of the bag, why don't you just push out an official update to add this into more cams, Canon? We mean, can you imagine the look on Nikon's face if you really came through?

Read - The hack
Read - Video capture from a Canon EOS 40D

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Hack provides Liveview Canon EOS DSLRs with video recording originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 21:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Details on AT&T's 3G MicroCell: everything but the date and price

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/25/details-on-atandts-3g-microcell-everything-but-the-date-and-pric/

T-Mobile has HotSpot @Home, Sprint has AIRAVE, and Verizon has its Wireless Network Extender, leaving just AT&T among the States' big four carriers without a launched WiFi or femtocell solution for extending signals into the home -- but it looks like that's finally getting close to changing. We know that they've been in the process of trialing some units recently, and tipsters have observed that there's now a pretty slick site launched on AT&T's domain for its 3G MicroCell, an indication that they might be looking to go retail eventually. There's quite a bit of detail here; from the picture, we can make out that the unit comes from Cisco (versus Samsung for Sprint and Verizon), and like its competitors, the MicroCell will require a broadband connection to operate. It'll cover up to 5,000 square feet, allow up to four simultaneous voice or data connections (locked down so that your neighbors can't pilfer the signal), and most interestingly, will only work with 3G phones. We've heard that femtocells are more difficult to manage in a 2G GSM environment than in CDMA and WCDMA -- hence the 3G requirement -- but the cells offered by Sprint and Samsung only offer 2G coverage, so AT&T's arguably got an advantage here. We still don't know exactly when this is coming or for how much dough, but the site makes mention of a "3G MicroCell service plan," so we'd count on a fee for the pleasure of extending AT&T's network on their behalf. Follow the break for AT&T's full rundown of the device.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Details on AT&T's 3G MicroCell: everything but the date and price

Filed under: Cellphones

Details on AT&T's 3G MicroCell: everything but the date and price originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 22:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Visenta V1 multitouch wireless keyboard gets the hands-on treatment

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/26/visenta-v1-multitouch-wireless-keyboard-gets-the-hands-on-treatm/

It may not exactly boast the HTPC-friendly looks of something like the diNovo Edge, but if you're looking for a basic wireless keyboard with a bit of added multitouch, you may want to keep an eye out for this V1 model from Visenta, which the folks at Engadget Chinese recently managed to get their hands on. This one makes use of the tried-and-true 2.4GHz band to give you a range of up to 20 meters (hence the dongle), and includes ten dedicated Vista Media Center buttons, plus all the usual energy saving measures you'd expect to help you get the most from the required four AAA batteries. What's more, while there's no official word on a release 'round here just yet, it looks like some are already turning up on eBay for $130 (plus shipping from China, naturally). Be sure to hit up the link below for a closer look.

Filed under: Peripherals

Visenta V1 multitouch wireless keyboard gets the hands-on treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 04:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMD's Phenom II pushed to 6.5GHz, 3DMark record demolished

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/26/amds-phenom-ii-pushed-to-6-5ghz-3dmark-record-demolished/

Ha, and you thought a 3DMark06 score of 5,086 was intense when AMD's Phenom II was overclocked to a blistering 3.85GHz. Just after CES, a team of hardcore speed freaks with access to liquid nitrogen and liquid helium created an environment for OC'ing one of AMD's latest Phenom II X4 chips in -232 degrees Celsius weather. Once the silicon was appropriately chilled, they proceeded to push the clock speed to a staggering 6.5GHz, which proved nimble enough to deliver a patently absurd 45,474 3DMark05 score. The best part? The adoring public was there to bear witness, and every nail-biting second of it is hosted up in the video just past the break.

[Via Digg]

Continue reading AMD's Phenom II pushed to 6.5GHz, 3DMark record demolished

Filed under: Gaming

AMD's Phenom II pushed to 6.5GHz, 3DMark record demolished originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 05:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer's 10-inch netbook gets model numbers, release date

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/26/acers-10-inch-netbook-gets-model-numbers-release-date/

The world's been waiting for details on Acer's up and coming 10-inch Aspire, and we just got 'em in our hot little hands. The Aspire One D150 lineup hits the streets of France beginning in February with the D150-0B. This €329 ($425) netbook sports a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB memory, 160GB hard drive, a 10.1-inch (1024 x 600) display, and a 3-cell battery. Then in March, the D150-1B makes its appearance. An enhanced version of the D150, this device is otherwise identical, save a 6-cell battery that should be good for up to 7 hours -- the battery upgrade will set you back a cool €349 ($450). Lastly, the D150-2BG will be rocking an Intel Atom 1.66GHz N280 processor and sports integrated 3G quadband UMTS/HSDPA mobile broadband, and the 6-cell battery. Also available in March, this one has a price tag of €449 ($575). No word on a domestic street date, but you'll know as soon as we do.

Continue reading Acer's 10-inch netbook gets model numbers, release date

Filed under: Laptops

Acer's 10-inch netbook gets model numbers, release date originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LP960 UAV flies around, shoots high def photography of its journey

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/26/lp960-uav-flies-around-shoots-high-def-photography-of-its-journ/

We've seen drones that do all kinds of things, but this one is on the special side. Lehman Aviation's just debuted its LP960 UAV -- a winged flyer that's just over three feet long, weighing under two pounds. The bot is equipped with a 12 megapixel camera, and its job is to zoom around snapping high resolution aeriel photographs and video of the area, while being controlled remotely. The man on the ground pulling the strings can also see what it looks like up above, making adjustments to the flight path accordingly. Check the video ater the break for a demo of the bird, and some examples of its work -- plus a stunning, moody soundtrack to boot. Oh, and if you were wondering, the LP 960 is priced at around $17,000.

Continue reading LP960 UAV flies around, shoots high def photography of its journey

Filed under: Robots

LP960 UAV flies around, shoots high def photography of its journey originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friday, January 23, 2009

Video: iFrame tablet PC in action

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/23/video-iframe-tablet-pc-in-action/

Oliver Seres has developed a tablet PC prototype that he's calling the iFrame (groan) -- which is somewhat similar to that CrunchPad we've been following -- and runs on a custom install of Ubuntu. It's built from an Amtek T10L UMPC, and looks like it's pretty snappy, with a really slick interface. We don't know a ton about the specs of the custom device, but the Amtek boasts an Intel Atom N270 processor, up to 2GB of RAM, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, an 80GB hard drive, and a 10.2-inch 1,024 x 600 resolution display, plus a 1.3-megapixel camera, dual speakers, and WiFi. There's no word on cost of the prototype, nor if and when it'll head into production. Check the sweet video of Oliver demoing after the break.

[Via 01Blog]

Continue reading Video: iFrame tablet PC in action

Filed under: Tablet PCs

Video: iFrame tablet PC in action originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Researchers tout new 60GHz RF chip for high-speed wireless transfers

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/23/researchers-tout-new-60ghz-rf-chip-for-high-speed-wireless-trans/

It's not the only group toying around in the 60GHz frequency range, but a team of researchers from Georgia Tech's Georgia Electronic Design Center seem to be a bit further along than most, and they say that their new 60GHz RF chip could pave the way into a whole host of new, speedier wireless devices. Apparently, the chip is the first 60GHz embedded chip designed for multi-gigabit wireless use, and the researchers have already pushed it to some pretty impressive lengths, reaching speeds of 15Gbps at a distance of 1 meter, 10Gbps at 2 meters, and 5Gbps at 5 meters, while also maintaining the lowest "energy per bit" to date. What's more, while it's been flying a bit under the radar, the industry group Ecma International has already announced a new standard for chips capable of sending RF signals in the 60GHz range, which is apparently expected to be published as an ISO standard later this year.

[Via Electronista]

Filed under: Wireless

Researchers tout new 60GHz RF chip for high-speed wireless transfers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aptera rolls out first pre-production vehicle, promises shipments in October

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/23/aptera-rolls-out-first-pre-production-vehicle-promises-shipment/

Although the swoopy Aptera electric went up for pre-orders back in October of 2007, we haven't really seen much of the futuristic car outside of the odd Star Trek cameo. Hopefully that's about to change, though -- the company just rolled out the first pre-production example its flagship model, the 2e. The three-wheeled car gets the equivalent of 200mpg, and the company claims the lithium-ion battery pack will last for 100 miles on a single charge. Aptera isn't giving out final pricing information apart from "between $25,000 and $45,000" but it says over 4,000 potential customers have already signed up for a planned California-only October release. We'll see how it goes -- and we'd bet the folks at the Automotive X-Prize are keeping a sharp eye as well.

Filed under: Transportation

Aptera rolls out first pre-production vehicle, promises shipments in October originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Beautiful Sunset, Painted in Fluorescent Bacteria [Science]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/ljEZUDWhjc8/a-beautiful-sunset-painted-in-fluorescent-bacteria

This beach is awash in bacteria colonies that express eight different colors through fluorescent protein modification. And yes, that canvas is a petri dish. [Andrew Hires via MAKE]

Android Cupcake OS Update Screenshots Show Virtual Keyboard, New Applications [Android]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/X-MdnVQWOGA/android-cupcake-os-update-screenshots-show-virtual-keyboard-new-applications

While Google's Android "Cupcake" updates may not be available just yet, detailed screenshots of the platform update show new applications in addition to the highly-anticipated virtual keyboard.

Developer Arron La was able to test the most recent batch of Cupcake and make his own observations about the changes. According to him, there will be a new Notes and Global Time application, along with various other fixes. Since February is almost here, I wouldn't be surprised to find most of these coming to the G1 soon.

1. New Local Setting Page - Gives you option to pick different locales and pick different text inputs.
2. New Option to view running and third party applications - An option to view running and third party applications from the normal application list. Does not provide a way to terminate them.
3. New windows opening/closing animation effect - a new popping effect when windows are opened/closed.
4. New default notepad - a very simple and ugly default notepad.
5. New Global Time application - not sure if it will be provided by T-Mobile but it's just a rotating Earth and I couldn't get it to do anything else.
6. New Spare Parts Application - Once again not sure if the official version will have this, but it provides a number of extra settings such as setting windows animation and transition animation speed, font size, end button behavior and etc. It also has a "display rotation" option which supposedly should allow auto-rotate base on orientation across the entire os, but it is not currently working.
7. New Virtual Keyboard (as seen on video -ed.)- The virtual keyboard will pop up on every edit box. I didn't feel any haptic feedback but I am thinking that it's just not there on the example ke! yboard. Because the phone does not auto-rotate (an option exists but it doesn't work), it's very hard to type on it. The sample keyboard also does not provide auto-corrections.
8. Slightly better looking buttons with more shadow.

Star Wars Tilt-Shift Photos Convert Fanboys Into Their Beloved Action Figures [Star Wars]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/wDTYKe7OTRw/star-wars-tilt+shift-photos-convert-fanboys-into-their-beloved-action-figures

I find these Star Wars images fascinating. They are not special because of the technique: We have featured amazing tilt-shift photography before. What makes these special is the combination of technique and subject matter.

I just find it funny that these could actually be made with real action figures, as if someone broke into one of the biggest Star Wars figures collection in the galaxy and ran away with a thousand Imperial stormtroopers to make these shots.

[Star Wars Blog]

Giant Laser Cloud Takes Over Helsinki's Sky [Art]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/LP1w6xxUipk/giant-laser-cloud-takes-over-helsinkis-sky

They are here. With their lasers. And their clouds. And their secret tunnels that go 413 feet into the ground to extract energy. No, not the aliens. I mean the hippies with their art installations.

It's the Ga Green Cloud, in Helsinki, Finland. Designed by artists Helen Evans and Heiki Hansen, it paints a green laser cloud over the smoke plume of the Salmisaari power plant's chimney. The structure raises 508 feet and its tunnels dig 413 feet deep into the Earth's crust to feed coal directly into the plant's furnaces. According to them: ""No other space, network, grid, community could better represent a city and it's activity as a whole." Translation from Finnish: "Oh boy, this kicks ass." [The Contaminated]

Japanese Media Vehicle is Virtual Reality in a Capsule [Vr]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/XVyzNxuWMlg/japanese-media-vehicle-is-virtual-reality-in-a-capsule

This "media vehicle," recently shown at an IT exhibition in Tokyo, looks like something out of Ghost in the Shell and is the coolest thing I've seen all day.

Riders enter the vehicle by popping open the top and entering what looks like a futuristic cockpit. A large spherical display covers the upper body while a bottom area allows your legs to move freely on a special track.

The machine, which is a prototype, can only handle a weight of up to 60kg (132 pounds). According to the reporter, being inside felt like living in a large video game. Uh, where can I sign up to try this thing out? [Robot Impress]

1,474 Megapixel Inauguration Panorama is a Treasure Trove of Candid Captures [Photography]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/VHC0Tn2l0Eo/1474-megapixel-inauguration-panorama-is-a-treasure-trove-of-candid-captures

We've all seen the iconic imagery of the day again and again: the nervous smile as the oath went haywire, the rapt crowds, Aretha's hat. But what about everything else? It's all in here.

Containing over 2GB of photo data and comprised of over 220 images shot from a Canon G10 Bridge camera on a Gigapan robotic camera mount, David Bergman's incredibly detailed panorama is filled with pieces of information that you previously weren't able or bothered to see. Some are just obviously cool—nearly being able to read the sheet music on performers stands, seeing the comically varied expressions in the VIP area behind the President as he speaks—but others are more subtly awesome.

Take Yo-Yo Ma snapping a picture on his iPhone, the unreal number of personal digital cameras or the endless, imposing banks of photography equipment surrounding the event from every conceivable angle. Sorry CNN, this is cooler than Photosynth. Tell us what you find in the comments. Full screen view here. [David Bergman via Cult of Mac]

New Storm OS 4.7.0.90 leaked, includes QWERTY keyboard in portrait mode

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/new-storm-os-4-7-0-90-includes-keyboard-in-portrait-mode/

As you know, a new beta OS for the Storm has made its way into the wild. Although we haven't had a chance to give OS 4.7.0.90 the what-for ourselves, those of you who have certainly have a lot to say. The big news for both 9500 and 9530 users is that there is now a QWERTY keyboard in portrait mode -- no more flipping the phone around just for an ill-advised late night tweet! Besides that, users have noted an increase in overall stability (unless you're trying to listen to music -- more on that in a moment) and some visual enhancements (including the older-look application folder and fonts that are slightly larger). Additionally, when the device is locked, the screen doesn't light up every time you bump it -- good for battery life. And as one user noted, the charging issue "which plagued OS version 88" has been resolved. Unfortunately, there has also been plenty of chatter about buggy multimedia players -- at least on the Storm 9500. Users have complained about music and video playback crashing the phone, fast forward not working, and an overall video performance decrease. Brave Blackberry fans can hit the read link to browse the forums and maybe even download the new OS for themselves. More images after the break.

Continue reading New Storm OS 4.7.0.90 leaked, includes QWERTY keyboard in portrait mode

Filed under: Cellphones

New Storm OS 4.7.0.90 leaked, includes QWERTY keyboard in portrait mode originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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15.2 megapixel Sony Alpha A800 DSLR rumored

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/

At this point, it's remarkably tough to say how legitimate these claims are, and while we'd wholeheartedly recommend digesting these details with a dose of NaCl, we'd be shortchanging you to not pass 'em on. According to a curious post over at Photofan.jp, Sony is readying an Alpha A800 DSLR (mockup pictured) with a 15.2 megapixel sensor, an ISO range of 200 to 12,800, a new high-speed sync flash, 23 total AF sensors, a fresh metering / AF sensor tracking system and inbuilt WiFi. We're told that the camera will be officially unveiled at PMA 2009 alongside a trio of new lenses -- thankfully, March (and our answer) is less than two months out.

[Via Photography Bay]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

15.2 megapixel Sony Alpha A800 DSLR rumored originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Miu has big plans for the new HDPC, if only they had big money to make them come true

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/miu-has-big-plans-for-the-new-hdpc-if-only-they-had-big-money-t/

The economy is putting the hurt on everybody these days -- and while it's no less true for Miu, the company is working feverishly to release their everything-at-once handheld, despite some serious setbacks in the funding department. Ready to go into production at the drop of a hat (and a $500,000 check), there are currently two versions of the device in development -- the basic Atom-powered netbook / PMP / e-book reader will stay at the $500 price point, while the $900 version is a dual-boot Windows XP / CE device that includes a GPS and a mobile phone. As far as we can tell the thing is still a fist-full of ugly, but we hope these crazy kids make it, and we wish them the very best. We really do.

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Handhelds

Miu has big plans for the new HDPC, if only they had big money to make them come true originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Forget chocolates, Samsung offers pink NC10 for Valentine gifting

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/forget-chocolates-samsung-offers-pink-nc10-for-valentine-giftin/

If a pink MSI Wind isn't the way to your significant other's heart, Samsung has an alternative for you in the form of a rose-colored NC10. The similarly-spec'd 10.2-inch netbook sports a 1.6GHz Atom processor, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, and Windows XP Home. Additionally, it's got a suspiciously-long 7-hour battery life and anti-germ keyboard. UK retailer dabs has it listed for £316 ($434) with VAT and a February 9 release date. Let's just hope she doesn't lament the color choice come March.

[Via Portable Monkey]

Read - Overclockers product page
Read - Dabs product page

Filed under: Laptops

Forget chocolates, Samsung offers pink NC10 for Valentine gifting originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ontario Securities Commission seeks $100 million fine against RIM's co-CEOs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/ontario-securities-commission-seeks-100-million-fine-against-ri/

Uh oh. Remember that RIM backdating controversy from 2007? The Ontario Securities Commission sure does, and according to ReportonBusiness, it's seeking a record $100 million Canadian (that's about $79 million US) fine against co-CEOs Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis. If approved, that'll be the largest penalty ever to be paid by individuals to the OSC, with Balsillie expected to pay the bulk of the penalty. As usual, none of the parties involved are commenting on the case, but we reckon this won't be the last we hear about it.

[Via Mobile Syrup]

Filed under: Cellphones

Ontario Securities Commission seeks $100 million fine against RIM's co-CEOs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 16:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows 7 put up against Vista and XP in hardcore multicore benchmarks, XP wins

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/windows-7-put-up-against-vista-and-xp-in-hardcore-multicore-benc/

Now that the Windows 7 beta is out, the benchmarks are coming fast and furious, and while 7's been previously found to best XP and Vista during "real-world" tasks, it looks like XP is still the outright speed champ on current hardware. That's at least the word according to InfoWorld, which pitted all three systems against each other in a suite of tests designed to suss out how each performed on modern multicore systems, and while we won't pretend to grok all the data, there's nothing complicated about the final results, which showed that "any illusions about Windows 7 somehow being leaner or more efficient than Vista can now be thrown out the window." Sure, there was some speedup -- 7 was 60 percent faster than Vista during the dual-core workflow tests -- but overall, 7's just slower on dual- and quad-core hardware than XP. However, there's a silver lining here: InfoWorld says the slowdown is in large part due to the extra code Vista and 7 use to manage multicore processors, and as the number of cores increase, the corresponding performance gains are much bigger than with XP since they can be used more efficiently. Of course, by the time we're all sitting pretty with 48-core Larrabee machines this all might be just a distant memory, so for right now we're just going to get back to installing the Windows 7 beta on anything we can find and reveling in the glory of perceived speedups.

Read - Analysis I (against Vista alone)
Read - Analysis II (against Vista and XP! )

File d under: Desktops, Laptops

Windows 7 put up against Vista and XP in hardcore multicore benchmarks, XP wins originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple patents adaptive volume controls based on environment, not quality of your music

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/apple-patents-adaptive-volume-controls-based-on-environment-not/

Ever walk through a crowd with your headphones on, only to find your music drowned out by the uproar? A recent Apple patent proposes dynamic volume adjustment based on your local surroundings. According to the filing, a sound sensor would be used to detect ambient noise and adapt accordingly. It says user volume controls are accounted for, so passing by a construction site likely won't cause your jams to be pumped up to an ear-shattering 11. Although it sounds more likely than some of the company's other patents, don't get your hopes up for seeing this any time soon. Hit up the read link for more details.

[Via Electronista]

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Apple patents adaptive volume controls based on environment, not quality of your music originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Meizu M8 prepped for full-scale launch, IP battle with Apple

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/23/meizu-m8-prepped-for-full-scale-launch-ip-battle-with-apple/

Meizu's been on a tear since our last M8 update. Sitting atop a new 0.9.0.1 firmware release complete with working copy and paste, Outlook calendar synchronization, and a "full backup system," the M8 is now supported by a published SDK and licensed to ride the Chinese airwaves for what looks to be a March, mainland China release. With all the passion it could muster, Meizu posted the following announcement to its English website:

Let's bear witness together, to the great moment of MEIZU formally entering the big stage of mobile phone industry!

Currently, the M8 handset with its iPhone roots (but a WinCE core) is only available to an abiding Chinese press and die-hard Meizu fanatics -- a population said to rival the intensity of Apple's own sheeple elite. Having watched the M8 make the transition from art to part over the last few years, we're mighty stoked at the prospective launch to say the least. And while Meizu has clearly trumped Apple's spec sheet (not user experience) in terms of software (copy paste, background task management, video recording, and plenty more) and hardware (720 x 480 pixel display and beefier silicon), we'll bet there's still enough "inspiration" to get Tim Cook and Apple's legal counsel whipped up into a frenzy of Intellectual Property defense. Latest video after the break.

Read -- Mobile license approval
Read -- SDK release
Read -- firmware 0.9 release

Continue reading Video: Meizu M8 prepped for full-scale launch, IP battle with Apple

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Video: Meizu M8 prepped for full-scale launch, IP battle with Apple originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: 10-inch Acer Aspire One to replace 8.9-incher

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/23/rumor-10-inch-acer-aspire-one-to-replace-8-9-incher/

We're hearing some murmurings today that Acer's planning on replacing its current, 8.9-inch Aspire One with the previously seen 10.1-inch Aspire One (the 103), phasing out the former. The new model will pack a 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU, and 1GB of RAM, optional 3G, SDHC card slot, and 3 USB ports -- relatively standard fare, to be sure -- though it's going to come in a few sexy colors we sure do like the looks of Sure, Digitimes (the source of this rumor) isn't necessarily the most reliable paper we read in the morning with our coffee, but this particular tidbit doesn't strike us as terribly far-fetched. We'll have to (reportedly) wait until sometime in the second quarter to find out for sure, though. In the meantime: calm down.

Update: This worst-kept secret is now official, with Acer confirming plans to release its rumored 10-incher, but not saying just when or for how much. The confirmed specs are exactly what we expected -- go figure.

[Via Electronista]

Filed under: Laptops

Rumor: 10-inch Acer Aspire One to replace 8.9-incher originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia ships half a million 5800 XpressMusic handsets in 30 days

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/23/nokia-ships-half-a-million-5800-xpressmusic-handsets-in-30-days/

If this were coming from any other mouth, we'd definitely second guess it. As it stands, though, it's hard to dispute the words of Nokia's CEO when it comes to matters involving Nokia. Mr. Olli Pekka Kallasvuo stated rather proudly during the firm's Q4 results call that it had shipped just over 500,000 5800 XpressMusic mobiles (better known as the Tube) in just 30 days. That figure becomes even more impressive when you realize that shipments only occurred in select markets, though it should be noted that "units shipped" and "units sold to end users" could indeed be very different things. Still, half a million in just a month ain't too shabby in today's economy, so here's the kudos you're clearly due, Nokia.

Filed under: Cellphones

Nokia ships half a million 5800 XpressMusic handsets in 30 days originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thursday, January 22, 2009

Second Bulb, Insects Beware!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/yankodesign/~3/mSLXT6XPr40/

If you still have incandescent bulbs, then I will now beat you with a silly stick. Fortunately for you here’s one more way to get use out of those archaic bulbs. The Bulb Hugger is a thermally charged light that wraps around any incandescent. Whenever your incandescent turns off or if the power goes out, the secondary light automatically turns on for up to 5 hours. If you’ve got these bulbs outdoors, an upper ring containing insect repellent vaporizes from heat, keeping bugs away.

Designer: Arpan Maiti

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