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Wednesday, March 04, 2009

JVC's new Everio X GZ-X900 does 1080p video, 9 megapixel stills, 600 fps slow motion

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/jvcs-new-everio-x-gz-x900-does-1080p-video-9-megapixel-stills/

JVC's new "Everio X" GZ-X900 camcorder is just what we like in a flagship device: incredible style, crazy specs, and awesome slow motion video of us slapping people. The GZ-X900 reworks the Everio line into a new brick-like form factor that's bordering on the shape of camcorders of yore, but JVC puts a nice twist to it, and the camera is obviously very compact. JVC used some "premium materials" in the construction and it really shows, but what's more exciting is the high-end 1080p resolution, with 1000 "TV lines" to sample from (it's not upscaling from a completely bum source like many compact camcorders). The unit also works as a fast-action still camera, for 9 megapixel shots at 15 fps, and 5.3 megapixel shots at 60 fps. What we're really wild about is the 600 fps slow motion, which operates at a 640 x 72 resolution -- you can get more pixels at slower frame rates. Unfortunately, none of this good stuff comes cheap: the camera hits retail in June for an even $1000.

Gallery: JVC's new Everio X GZ-X900 does 1080p video, 9 megapixel stills, 600 fps slow motion

Filed under: Digital Cameras, HDTV

JVC's new Everio X GZ-X900 does 1080p video, 9 megapixel stills, 600 fps slow motion originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS Eee Top now available for pre-order at Amazon

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/asus-eee-top-now-available-for-pre-order-at-amazon/

ASUS Eee Top now available for pre-order at Amazon

Been looking for an inexpensive all-in-one to unify your life, something that your zombie slave Fido could use in the kitchen to look up recipes yet would also look equally good perched on a minimalist desk? ASUS's first Eee Top could fit the bill, and it looks to be very close to US availability with the appearance of a pre-order page on Amazon.com. The 15.6-inch touchscreen model has the standard 1.6GHz Atom processor, 1GB of memory, and XP installed on a 160GB drive. Right now it's available in either black or white, and whether you're choosing the presence or absence of all colors you'll be asked to pay $599.99 -- naturally with free shipping available if you're not in too much of a hurry.

[Via Eee PC - Blog]

Filed under: Desktops

ASUS Eee Top now available for pre-order at Amazon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS debuts the Eee PC 1008HA "Shell" 10-inch ultraportable

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/asus-debuts-the-eee-pc-1008ha-shell-10-inch-ultraportable/

ASUS has taken the wraps off its latest Eee PC, the 1008HA we heard was on the way to follow up on the S101. As far as anyone can tell -- ASUS is a little coy on specs so far -- the laptop harbors fairly traditional netbook specs and a netbook pricepoint, but the exterior is all new and rather attractive. The computer is 1-inch thick and weighs 2.4 pounds, with a curved, shiny plastic "shell" (ASUS calls it "pearlescent") to give a bit more luster than the average Eee PC. ASUS is including 802.11n, Bluetooth, 3G and WiMAX options, and packing in it Eee Sharing and Eee Arena software. We'll be looking to dig up more specs and some hands-on time with this unit this week at CeBIT.

[Via UMPCPortal]

Gallery: ASUS Eee PC 1008HA press shots

Filed u nder: Laptops

ASUS debuts the Eee PC 1008HA "Shell" 10-inch ultraportable originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS announces stylish U/UX series ultra-thin laptops

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/asus-announces-stylish-u-ux-series-ultra-thin-laptops/

Looking to add some allure to its portable lineup -- as if a model named Lamborghini wasn't enough -- ASUS has announced the U and UX series of ultra-thin laptops, expected to launch sometime in Q2. Both feature an illuminated chiclet keyboard and auto-adjusting LED backlit display. The U series also features a 15.6-inch glossy LCD and a touchpad that uses progressively fading lights to follow your fingertips. Under the hood, there's an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, NVIDIA GeForce G105M, up to 500GB HDD, and Altec Lansing speakers with SRS true surround sound. We don't have nearly as much information on the UX, unfortunately, but we do know it's sporting a slot-in optical disc drive. Full press release after the break.

Continue reading ASUS announces stylish U/UX series ultra-thin laptops

Filed under: Laptops

ASUS announces stylish U/UX series ultra-thin laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WD shoves four 2TB Caviar Green HDDs into ShareSpace NAS

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/wd-shoves-four-2tb-caviar-green-hdds-into-sharespace-nas/

Remember those absurdly capacious 2TB Caviar Green hard drives that Western Digital pumped out earlier this year? If not, WD's hoping to jar your memory by cramming no fewer than four of 'em into its newest, most spacious ShareSpace NAS ever. The four-bay device is now being offered in an 8TB flavor, and it promises to deliver up to 30 percent faster transfer speeds than prior models and to support DLNA media streaming. As with before, this one also doubles as an iTunes music server and comes bundled with the company's own Anywhere Backup software. Other specs include gigabit Ethernet, RAID 0/1/5 capabilities, an email alert system in case failure is imminent, a trio of USB 2.0 sockets and a built-in FTP server. It should be ready to house all of your, um, old tax documents later this week for $1,699.99.

Filed under: Storage

WD shoves four 2TB Caviar Green HDDs into ShareSpace NAS originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel intros specialized Atom for cars and other devices, outsources some Atom manufacturing

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/intel-intros-specialized-atom-for-cars-and-other-devices-outsou/

We've already seen the Atom used in a few somewhat surprising places, but Intel now looks to really be making an earnest push to expand its base, with it introducing four new specialized Atom processors (and two new system controllers to go along with 'em) that it hopes will find their way into in-car devices, internet phones, and a whole host of industrial-strength applications. Relying on the same 45nm manufacturing process, the new Atom Z5xx series processors expectedly aren't too radically different from the average Atom, with them clocking in between 1.1GHz and 1.6GHz, and boasting a TDP rating of 2.0 or 2.2 watts, although they do have some "embedded lifecycle support" thrown in for good measure. In related news, Intel has also announced that it'll be outsourcing "some" Atom manufacturing to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (or TSMC), which apparently marks the first time that Intel has licensed its CPU core to a foundry.

Read - Press Release, "New Specialized Intel Atom Processor Targets Cars, Internet Phones"
Read - Physorg / AP, "Intel outsourcing some Atom manufacturing to TSMC"

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Transportation

Intel intros specialized Atom for cars and other devices, outsources some Atom manufacturing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Olympus' Micro Four Thirds camera launching this summer

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/olympus-micro-four-thirds-camera-launching-this-summer/

We're not gonna get excited just yet, but Olympus has shown one of its cards at PMA , and it happens to indicate at least one of its Micro Four Thirds cameras will be hitting retail channels this summer. That jibes with a rumor we heard back in late January. From what we can tell, there's still a dearth of detail / specs on this hunk of retro hotness -- a shame, too, since it'd have pretty much every camera aficionado's attention right now. With several months to go, we get the feeling the company's gonna play this one close to the chest for a little while longer.

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Olympus' Micro Four Thirds camera launching this summer originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Elecom's new TK-FCP004 ultra-slim keyboard is minimalism at its finest

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/04/elecoms-new-tk-fcp004-ultra-slim-keyboard-is-minimalism-at-its/

Pining for a numeric keypad, which Apple has so unceremoniously discarded, but can't bring yourself to pick the numeric version off a list? Do you have other personality problems, but appreciate good design? Do you live in Japan? Then Elecom's got just the thing for you, the new TK-FCP004 series ultra-slim keyboards. Rising a mere 0.57-inches off the ground, and sporting incredibly minimal aesthetics, we'd say Elecom has hit a real nerve here. The keyboard comes in silver, white or black, and hits Japan mid-October for 5040 yen after tax (about $50 US).

[Via Akihabara News]

Gallery: Elecom's new TK-FCP004 ultra-slim keyboard is minimalism at its finest

Filed under: Peripherals

Elecom's new TK-FCP004 ultra-slim keyboard is minimalism at its finest originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZillionTV brings ad-based streaming content to the television

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/04/zilliontv-brings-ad-based-streaming-content-to-the-television/

Just in case hooking up ZeeVee's ZvBox and getting access to all available online media is too difficult, there's ZillionTV. This admittedly interesting startup is looking to pick up where Hulu, ZeeVee, Netflix Watch Instantly and all the rest have left off by bringing true on-demand content to one's television (read: not PC or mobile device) for almost nothing. For a one-time fee of "under $100," users will be given a ZBar and a ZRemote, both of which enable interaction with the VUI interface. Put as simply as possible, ZillionTV is hooking up with ISPs, content producers and advertisers in order to bring loads of popular material to the TV sans a subscription, though you will have to watch ads (which are optionally customizable to preferences) in order to play along. The company asserts that SD quality content can be achieved with a 3Mbps connection, while HD material will need upwards of 7Mbps. Currently, a beta program is ongoing, but a nationwide launch is expected by Q4. To be frank, this whole setup is rather complicated, so we'll point you past the break for a more detailed breakdown.

Continue reading ZillionTV brings ad-based streaming content to the television

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

ZillionTV brings ad-based streaming content to the television originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 04:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS K Series laptops hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/04/asus-k-series-laptops-hands-on/

Hope you're still hungry for even more new machines from the kids at ASUS, 'cause we've got let another lineup to share. The recently launched K Series is aimed at those looking for a portable PC that can handle the basics, particularly ones who won't much mind how the thing looks. Don't get us wrong, the K Series is a perfectly fine looking machine, but it is pretty far left on the drab-to-exciting scale. That said, the 15- and 17-inch variants we saw seemed ideal for multimedia duties and the occasional bout with Microsoft Office, with the keyboard being extra spacious and ripe for typing at length. Of note, the K Series is the first laptop family to get equipped with AMD's ultra-fresh ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4860 graphics set, so yeah, there's that. Click around below for looks from every angle.

Gallery: ASUS K Series laptops hands-on

Filed under: Laptops

ASUS K Series laptops hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 06:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS Eee PC 1008HA hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/04/asus-eee-pc-1008ha-hands-on/

While we initially assumed that ASUS' Lamborghini VX5 would be its sexiest laptop at CeBIT, now we're having second thoughts. After taking the wraps off of its downright stunning 10-inch Eee PC 1008HA yesterday, we spotted the bugger sittin' pretty today at the outfit's booth. Needless to say, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to snag a few snapshots and share 'em all with you. Much like the S101, the so-called "Shell" has very little "Eee" in its blood. In fact, you'd barely know it was part of the family without that descriptive placard sitting there beside it. ASUS engineered this one for fashionistas who'd like a little PC with their next style accessory, and everything from the glorious paint job to the ultra-clean lines screamed "gorgeous." Really, take a look below and see for yourself.

Gallery: ASUS Eee PC 1008HA hands-on

Filed under: Laptops

ASUS Eee PC 1008HA hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 05:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xandros announces Presto! instant-on Linux distro

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/04/xandros-announces-presto-instant-on-linux-distro/

We've always had a thing for instant-on OS environments like SplashTop, and now Xandros is looking to bring that concept to every laptop with Presto!, a new Linux distro that's said to boot in "seconds." The idea isn't so much to replace Windows as it is to supplement it -- you select between Windows and Presto at boot, you'll still have access to all your files, and you can even uninstall Presto from Add / Remove programs. Not a bad way to get your Linux feet wet, and Presto seems like it's pretty functional as well: Xandros already powers the Linux Eee PCs, and it sounds like Presto will run decently on similarly low-powered / older hardware. The stock install comes with Firefox, Skype, a media player and office suite, but Xandros is working on an app store, so you should have lots of other options soon. Sounds promising -- we'll see how it goes when the beta's released on March 16.

[Via GadgetMix]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Xandros announces Presto! instant-on Linux distro originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 06:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MSI teases Winki, the internet device without an operating system -- that runs Linux

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/04/msi-teases-winki-the-internet-device-without-an-operating-syste/

MSI teases Winki, the internet device without an operating system -- that runs Linux

Okay, see if you can wrap your head around this one: MSI has announced a new device designed to simplify peoples' internet experiences by cutting out all the extraneous stuff, presenting a clean, decidedly OS X-like interface to commonly used apps. It's the same sort of skin we've seen applied many a Linux-powered device before, but MSI has taken the unusual decision to call this a "new internet interactive device without an operating system." We're not sure if that's supposed to be a subtle dig to the Linux community or just marketing misinformation, but, regardless, the device (which MSI has yet to reveal) will ship with a number of web-related tools like Firefox for browsing, Pidgin and Skype for chatting, and other apps for browsing media and whatnot. No word on whether users will be able to install their own apps, and if so what happens when they run out of room on that not-a-dock, but we are certain of one thing: this is clearly the cutest name for a non-OS device of all time.

[Via I4U News]

Filed under: Desktops

MSI teases Winki, the internet device without an operating system -- that runs Linux originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 07:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shops Seek Control in Social-Media Space

Source: http://adage.com/mediaagencyoftheyear09/article?article_id=134881

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Who owns social media? Agencies of all stripes want to lay claim, but for media agencies, the best answer might come in scaling social campaigns.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

PadMapper Puts Craigslist Rentals on a Google Map [Apartments]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/nLFQB9uRVho/padmapper-puts-craigslist-rentals-on-a-google-map

The two most important things to look for when shopping for a new apartment on Craigslist are price and location. PadMapper maps Craigslist's apartment listings on a Google Map for an at-a-glance look at available offerings.

Previously mentioned MapsKrieg covers the same basic territory, but PadMapper goes one step further, offering advanced filtering based on price, bedrooms, bathrooms, pets, and—if you live in New York—subway commute. When you click on a pushpin, PadMapper displays the Craigslist post complete with photos.

Making a move soon and want to bone up on your skills? Check out our apartment hunting 101 course and get an edge on the competition.

PadMapper [via MakeUseOf]

[Sponsored]

Kingdom of the Blue Whale – Sun Mar 8 8P

Blue whales are the planet's largest creatures, yet we hardly ever see them. Their calls travel thousands of miles, but we can barely hear them. Now, National Geographic embarks on a mission to witness what nobody ever has in these waters; blue whales eating and giving birth.
Click to Learn More natgeotv.com/bluewhale

Flickr Video Now Available to All Members, Goes HD [Flickr]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/O7LALA7vn_I/flickr-video-now-available-to-all-members-goes-hd

Previously a feature available to Flickr Pro users only, Yahoo's popular photo sharing site, Flickr, now supports video uploads for all members.

Now anyone can upload two videos/month, in addition to the 100MB monthly photo upload limit, according to Yahoo's post. Flickr has also enabled HD uploading and viewing. Only Pro members can upload in HD, but everybody can enjoy them. Can't argue with the crisp look of those HD Flickr videos.

More videos for everyone! [Yodel Anecdotal Yahoo Blog]

DisplayFusion 3.0 Manages Everything Across Multi-Monitor Setups [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/CjVHkNz5ws8/displayfusion-30-manages-everything-across-multi+monitor-setups

If you're looking to manage windows and wallpapers on multiple monitors, it's tough to go wrong with the reasonably priced, and recently updated, DisplayFusion.

We've sung praises for the excellent multi-monitor tool DisplayFusion before, for it's ability customize your dual monitors and help you make the most of your dual monitors. DisplayFusion has recently been revamped to include even more features including the ability to grab wallpapers from not only your computer and Flickr, but from the excellent wallpaper collection at Vladstudio—a popular wallpaper site based on responses to where you found your favorite multi-monitor wallpaper.

While the addition of new resources for new wallpaper is great, it isn't nearly as newsworthy as the addition of multi-monitor windows management. Like previously reviewed UltraMon, DisplayFusion now has the ability to span your taskbar across all of your monitors. You can switch windows between your monitors using hotkeys or by clicking on the title bar of the window with the middle mouse button. There is one small hiccup with the window management tool, though: if you're using multiple monitors, it doesn't allow you to select which monitor the window will move to like UltraMon does. Using the hotkey or middle mouse button sends the window to the next monitor in the sequence as Windows sees them. As you can see in the screen shot up top, my monitors are arranged in a 2-1-3 pattern, so to move a window from the center monitor to the far right one! require s two clicks. Not a deal breaker by any means, and not even an issue if you only have two monitors, but something to keep if you're sporting three or more monitors.

Here's a look at some of DisplayFusion 3.0's features and abilities (click for larger images):

If you can tolerate the loss of some of the tweaks available in UltraMon, like the multi-monitor screensaver tool, DisplayFusion costs less than half of UltraMon's $40 price at $16—technically $15.53, based on today's U.S./Canada currency exchange. I've used both over the last year with dual, and then triple, monitors and, dollar for dollar, DisplayFusion is a great value. The day DisplayFusion adds a handy titlebar button for tossing wi! ndows fr om one monitor to another, I'll stop using the two applications side by side and use DisplayFusion exclusively.

DisplayFusion has a limited-functionality free edition, and you can request a 30-day trial license to test out the full package before purchase. DisplayFusion is $16 for a lifetime license and is Windows only.

DisplayFusion 3.0 [Binary Fortress]

Samsung's NC20 gets hands-on treatment, US availability date

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/samsungs-nc20-gets-hands-on-treatment-us-availability-date/

We've already seen Samsung's borderline netbook unboxed and on sale across the pond, but up until now, us Yanks have had to sit and ponder whether waiting for this to come Stateside was a worthwhile use of time. For those that held off, kudos. Laptop has received word from Sammy itself that an Americanized version of the 12.1-inch, VIA-powered NC20 will ship here in the United States starting on March 6th. At least initially, the computer will be offered up exclusively through NewEgg.com, and we're told that the US version will be black in color and equipped with a 5900mAh battery. The only detail that wasn't disclosed was the price, so it seems we've a few hours yet to wait before that becomes clear. Check the read link for an unboxing of the white Korean model should you so desire.

Filed under: Laptops

Samsung's NC20 gets hands-on treatment, US availability date originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 07:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eye-Fi does video with new 4GB Explore Video and Share Video cards, launching an iPhone app

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/eye-fi-does-video-with-new-4gb-explore-video-and-share-video-car/

Just like Eye-Fi promised in January, the WiFi SD card maker is adding video sharing to its repertoire. The new Explore Video and Share Video cards bring video sharing and 4GB capacities to the existing photo sharing lineup. The new cards go for $99 and $79, respectively, while the old 2GB Eye-Fi Home and Eye-Fi Share cards have been marked down to $49 and $59 each. The cards can handle uploads to YouTube and Flickr, and are built for HD uploads, and naturally the Explore card adds the hotspot service and geotagging on top of regular service. You can pre-order the cards today, and they should be shipping by the end of the month. Eye-Fi is also releasing a free iPhone app (as promised) this week, which works with your existing Eye-Fi account (yeah, you need to own a card) and allows you to upload iPhone shots to the same 25 services the SD cards work with, along with the computer syncing Eye-Fi is known for.

Gallery: Eye-Fi does video with new 4GB Explore Video and Share Video cards, launching an iPhone app

Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras, Portable Video, Storage

Eye-Fi does video with new 4GB Explore Video and Share Video cards, launching an iPhone app originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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