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Thursday, March 19, 2009

UFO Spotted Over China [Ufo]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/30MdAawgzNs/ufo-spotted-over-china

Chinese officials have reported a UFO sighting while they were on an airplane and, in case anyone thought it was just a case of baijiu-induced hallucinations, they snapped pictures of it too.

In a report from Xinhua, the government-sponsored news agency, a group of journalists and officials were on a Southern Airlines flight in late February when one of them noticed an unusual luminous object traveling alongside their vessel.

After excitedly pointing it out to everyone around him, one journalist managed to snap a few photos before the object suddenly changed directions and swerved north east. The witnesses debated whether it had been a plane – but later, another plane did appear and everyone agreed that it looked nothing like the unidentified object they'd just seen.

Altogether, the alleged UFO sighting lasted about a minute. Any idea what it could have been? Aliens? Solar flares? AMERICAN SPIES?! [Xinhua]

Safari Cracked in Seconds at Pwn2Own Hacking Competition [Browsers]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/V0qu0SAkrIw/safari-cracked-in-seconds-at-pwn2own-hacking-competition

At the annual Pwn2Own competition, where hackers compete to crack software as fast as possible so you don't sleep at night, browsers were on the first day's menu. And Safari went down in seconds.

Security researcher Charlie Miller hacked Safari in just 10 seconds, then used a remote-execution exploit to take over the up-to-date MacBook and make it do his dirty bidding. Firefox and Internet Explorer 8 (which you can download at noon today) fell within a few hours to Nils, a master's student who busted all three browsers wide open. They each won $5000. Day 2 will offer more $5000 prizes for discovering new bugs in Firefox, Chrome and Safari.

Mobile phone OS's will also be part of the event, with $10,000 for cracking any of the five majors: iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Symbian and Android. Care to take bets on which one will go down first? [Pocket Lint]

BlackBerry Niagara 9630 Coming to Verizon in May [Rumor]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/lvf-roJsGN4/blackberry-niagara-9630-coming-to-verizon-in-may

The BlackBerry Niagra—son of the Bold and Curve—is coming to Verizon in May, according to analysts "familiar with the plan." Makes sense, given how much of it we've been peeking lately. Who's excited??? [TheStreet]

iPhone 3.0 OS Reveals New iPhones, iPods and the Mysterious "iProd" [IPhone]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/q15vWkLYYtw/iphone-30-os-reveals-new-iphones-ipods-and-the-mysterious-iprod

The iPhone 3.0 OS has references to brand new iPhone models (not just one, but two), a new iPod and the mysterious "iProd."

A quick rundown on Apple model naming conventions. The original iPhone is known as iPhone1,1 and the iPhone 3G is iPhone1,2. The first number refers to the overarching model, so when it changes, it indicates a a genuinely new product, not simply a bump in storage capacity (or even the mere addition of 3G). So that the models referenced in the iPhone 3.0's OS are iPhone3,1; iPod3,1; iFPGA; and iProd0,1 is is worth noting—we're talking significant hardware updates to the iPhone and iPod touch worthy of a new model number.

iPhone2,1 was first discovered back in October, though it's not the first mysterious Apple device to turn up in sites' traffic logs.

The iFPGA model is likely something never to be released, reckons Ars. But what of the mysterious iProd? The string 0,1 indicates it's a prototype or codename, since products are released at 1,1. Could this generic iProduct—if it's not in fact a touchscreen cattle prod, which would be excellent—be that long-fabled Mac tablet/netbook/wet dream? Or! maybe i t's something else altogether, like magic French toast. Mmmm. [Ars]

BeamBox Evolution R-1 pico available for pre-order, shipping April 1

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/18/beambox-evolution-r-1-pico-available-for-pre-order-shipping-apr/

BeamBox has just announced it's taking pre-orders for the Evolution R-1 pocket projector. If you've forgotten, the R-1 boasts an LCoS chip, with a brightness of 30 lumens, a 200:1 contrast ratio and VGA (640 x 480) resolution. The little guy has up to 4GB of onboard Flash memory, plus a microSD slot. It weighs in at about 175 grams, and will run you £260 (about $364), and is expected to ship on April 1st.

Filed under: Displays

BeamBox Evolution R-1 pico available for pre-order, shipping April 1 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel SIMD Accelerator promises to boost MID performance

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/18/intel-simd-accelerator-promises-to-boost-mid-performance/

Intel isn't offering a whole lot of details on this one just yet, but the company has let out an early word of a new and improved SIMD Accelerator it's currently working on, which promises to boost the graphics performance of MIDs while also consuming ten times less power than the accelerators now used. The SIMD itself (or Single Instruction, Multiple Data) works by executing multiple computing instructions at once, while apparently allows for onscreen graphic images to be "done faster." Of course, Intel isn't saying at all about an actual release just yet, but it does say that the project is "aimed at enhancing future Intel products," so it seems reasonable to assume that it'll eventually find its way into a standard MID platform.

[Via SlashGear]

Filed under: Handhelds

Intel SIMD Accelerator promises to boost MID performance originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beta driver allows AMILO GraphicBooster to shed the external display

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/18/beta-driver-allows-amilo-graphicbooster-to-shed-the-external-dis/

Fujitsu Siemens's AMILO GraphicBooster has already proven itself to be pretty capable when hooked up to an external monitor, but a new beta driver now looks set to make the add-on even more convenient, and let you use it with the Sa 3650 laptops' own display. Better still, that apparently doesn't come at much, if any, expense to performance, but any other details (including word of availability) are unfortunately a bit light at the moment. You can draw your own conclusions from the video after the break, however, although Fujitsu Siemens' inability to produce a video in the proper aspect ratio may not inspire all that much confidence.

[Thanks, Max_P]

Continue reading Beta driver allows AMILO GraphicBooster to shed the external display

Filed under: Gaming, Laptops, Peripherals

Beta driver allows AMILO GraphicBooster to shed the external display originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beta driver allows AMILO GraphicBooster to shed the external display

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/18/beta-driver-allows-amilo-graphicbooster-to-shed-the-external-dis/

Fujitsu Siemens's AMILO GraphicBooster has already proven itself to be pretty capable when hooked up to an external monitor, but a new beta driver now looks set to make the add-on even more convenient, and let you use it with the Sa 3650 laptops' own display. Better still, that apparently doesn't come at much, if any, expense to performance, but any other details (including word of availability) are unfortunately a bit light at the moment. You can draw your own conclusions from the video after the break, however, although Fujitsu Siemens' inability to produce a video in the proper aspect ratio may not inspire all that much confidence.

[Thanks, Max_P]

Continue reading Beta driver allows AMILO GraphicBooster to shed the external display

Filed under: Gaming, Laptops, Peripherals

Beta driver allows AMILO GraphicBooster to shed the external display originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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USB tethering, Publish Video and Find my iPhone found in OS 3.0

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/18/usb-tethering-publish-video-and-find-my-iphone-found-in-os-3-0/

Apple touted quite a few new iPhone features at yesterday's OS 3.0 event, but now that the beta build is trickling out, there's been a bevy of unearthed discoveries to further pique our interests. First up, the gang at Boy Genius Report found an option to enable the "Find My iPhone" service in the MobileMe settings. Unfortunately, that's all we've got, but we wouldn't put it past Cupertino to build some me.com-linked location tracker that'd be the envy of Orwell himself -- hey, that'd be pretty useful if you accidentally left the mobile in a taxi. Also in the MobileMe section, it now says Publish Video when you go to publish an image. It's an odd typo, to be sure, and while video recording has been near the top of our wishlist for some time, we're not about to get our hopes up. Finally, Mac Rumors is reporting that a hacker has dug up and successfully activated the USB tethering capabilities. Apple's Scott Forstall had mentioned the devs were building it in, but were still in talks with the carriers. As to whether any or all of these functions will actually end up in the final OS 3.0 build, your guess is a good as ours. For now, check out more pics of the MobileMe additions after the break.

[Thanks everyone who sent this in!]

Read - Find My iPhone
Read - USB Tethering

Continue reading USB tethering, Publish Video and Find my iPhone found in OS 3.0!

Filed under: Cellphones

USB tethering, Publish Video and Find my iPhone found in OS 3.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Modistech unveils flexible, ultrathin OLED light in Korea

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/18/modistech-unveils-flexible-ultrathin-oled-light-in-korea/

We just heard that the OLED market was set to skyrocket in 2011, but don't tell Modistech. Said outfit has just revealed its own flexible, ultrathin OLED light module in South Korea, which honestly looks eerily similar to Samsung's "flapping" OLED panels from last fall. Details are pretty scant right now, but we're told to expect mass production within the next year, with public availability penciled in for -- you guessed it -- 2011. Hit the read link for a few more delightful looks.

[Via OLED-Display]

Filed under: Displays

Modistech unveils flexible, ultrathin OLED light in Korea originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SwitchEasy's ThumbTacks are the cutest iPod mics you ever did see

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/18/switcheasys-thumbtacks-are-the-cutest-ipod-mics-you-ever-did-se/

SwitchEasy's ThumbTacks are far from being the first third-party microphones designed to function nicely with Apple's iPod nano 4G and second-generation iPod touch, but we'll be darned if they aren't the cutest. Clearly designed to mimic the iconic thumb tack, these itty-bitty microphones function with all third-party voice applications and can be selected in black, white or red. Not too shabby for $15.99 shipped, wouldn't you say?

[Via iLounge]

Gallery: SwitchEasy's ThumbTacks are the cutest iPod mics you ever did see

Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio

SwitchEasy's ThumbTacks are the cutest iPod mics you ever did see originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Talent ships decently priced UltraDrive ME / LE SSDs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/19/super-talent-ships-decently-priced-ultradrive-me-le-ssds/

In terms of affordability, solid state drives still have quite some ways to go before they can actually be considered as viable replacements for most consumers. That being true, Super Talent is still doing its best to narrow the gap with the lower-priced UltraDrive families. Both the ME and the LE crews began shipping today, with the former arriving in 32GB, 64GB, 128GB and 256GB flavors and the latter in 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB capacities. The LE lot rolls a touch faster at 230MB/sec (maximum read) and 170MB/sec (maximum write), while the ME editions are rated at 200MB/sec write and 160MB/sec read. There's no mention of the LE prices, but the UltraDrive ME drives can be snapped up now for $128 (32GB), $205 (64GB), $379 (128GB) and $645 (256GB) from NewEgg.

[Via HotHardware]

Filed under: Storage

Super Talent ships decently priced UltraDrive ME / LE SSDs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 01:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mamiya announces DL33 for those who need more than 28 megapixels

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/19/mamiya-announces-dl33-for-those-who-need-more-than-28-megapixels/

Mamiya announces DL33 for those who need more than 28 megapixels

Facing a little bit of competition from the hands of Nikon, and finding its earlier 28 megapixel DL28 to be something of a success (despite its $15,000 price tag), medium format master Mamiya is introducing a new model set to drive the megapixel wars to new heights. The DL33 sports similar specs to the DL28, including a 3.5-inch touchscreen on the back, but bests its successor with a 36 x 44-millimeter, 33 megapixel sensor. That means 16-bit capture, 12-stop dynamic range, and ISO settings from 50 to 800. Other tweaks include a faster autofocus motor and an improved UI, but with image files clocking in at 67 - 190MB you'll probably need some improved storage, too. The camera will be available starting next month for $19,999 including a 55mm f2.8 or 150mm f3.5 lens -- but only if you act now.

[Via Topix]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Mamiya announces DL33 for those who need more than 28 megapixels originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 08:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GIGABYTE BIOS hack subverts NVIDIA SLI certification, sticks it to the man

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/19/gigabyte-bios-hack-subverts-nvidia-sli-certification-sticks-i/

GIGABYTE BIOS hack subverts NVIDIA SLI certification, sticks it to the man

When NVIDIA announced support for SLI on motherboards sporting Intel's X58 chipset, there was something of a hidden catch -- manufacturers needed to pay to become "certified." Yes, you might have thought all you needed was a pair of parallel PCI-E slots and couple of matching video cards to get your SLI on, but non-certified boards find themselves shunned by NVIDIA graphics hardware. However, where there's a will there's usually a way, and for at least one of those woefully illegitimate mobos there's a workaround. GIGABYTE didn't bother to get certification for its EX58-UD4 motherboard, but it did for the EX58-UD4P, and it turns out the same BIOS works on both. Naturally it takes a little extra work to get the wrong version up in the right EEPROM, but the read link has all the details you need to re-flash with finesse.

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming

GIGABYTE BIOS hack subverts NVIDIA SLI certification, sticks it to the man originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 08:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget's recession antidote: win a 22-inch iZ3D 3D monitor!

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/19/engadgets-recession-antidote-win-a-22-inch-iz3d-3d-monitor/

This whole global economic crisis, and its resulting massive loss of jobs got us thinking. We here at Engadget didn't want to stand helplessly by, announcing every new round of misery without giving anything back -- so we decided to take the opportunity to spread a little positivity. We'll be handing out a new gadget every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff / companies stop sending things. Today we've got a 22-inch iZ3D 3D monitor on offer, ready to take you (and your mind) to a dimension rarely seen on typical computer LCDs. Read the rules below (no skimming -- we're omniscient and can tell when you've skimmed) and get commenting!

Special thanks to iZ3D for providing the gear!

The rules:

Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share your proposal for "fixing" the world economy, that'd be sweet too.
You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine.
Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one (1) 22-inch iZ3D 3D LCD monitor. Approximate value is $399.
If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
Entries can be submitted until Thursday, March 19th, 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
Full rules can be found here.

Filed under: Announcements, Displays

Engadget's recession antidote: win a 22-inch iZ3D 3D monitor! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NVIDIA's PhysX SDK sashays onto Nintendo's Wii

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/19/nvidias-physx-sdk-sashays-onto-nintendos-wii/

Just two days after NVIDIA proudly announced that its PhysX technology was coming to Sony's potent PlayStation 3, the same can now be said in regards to Nintendo's decidedly less potent Wii. As the story goes, NVIDIA has just been approved as a third party tools solution provider for the Wii console, which inevitably means that the PhysX SDK is now available for registered Wii developers. Quite frankly, we're really interested to see where this goes; unlike Sony's SIXAXIS, Nintendo's Wiimote is highly based on physics already, so the possibilities here seem even more limitless. Get to work, devs!

[Via HotHardware]

Filed under: Gaming

NVIDIA's PhysX SDK sashays onto Nintendo's Wii originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Via announces Surfboard netbook with 1080p graphics

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/19/video-via-announces-surfboard-netbook-with-1080p-graphics/

Via Technologies has announced its new Surfboard C855 mainboard reference design directed at the netbook market. This guy is built around the company's new VX855 chipset and promises 1080p Full HD video playback, 8-channel HD audio, hardware decoding for H.264, MPEG-2/4, VC-1 and WMV9, and support for Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS and 3G connectivity. According to the company, the thing will play HD video with under 40 percent CPU use, supporting up to 1366 x 768 internal display resolution (1920 x 1440 external). What do you think? Are you a would-be netbook developer looking for "a complete, ready-to-build solution," that offers "a superior multimedia entertainment experience?" Be sure to check out that video after the break.

Continue reading Video: Via announces Surfboard netbook with 1080p graphics

Filed under: Laptops

Video: Via announces Surfboard netbook with 1080p graphics originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bang & Olufsen's 103-inch BeoVision 4-103 plasma is gorgeous, pricey

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/19/bang-and-olufsens-103-inch-beovision-4-103-plasma-is-gorgeous-pr/

Plasma's dying, huh? Go and tell that to Bang & Olufsen. Just in case the 50- and 65-inch versions of the BeoVision 4 HDTV weren't expansive enough, the high-end home cinema outfitter has just pushed out news of an all new addition: the 103-inch BeoVision 4-103. If that number immediately rings a bell, here's a cookie. The 103-inch Panasonic TH-103PF9 panel is indeed the exact one used here, but B&O has obviously spruced up the design, added an automatic rising stand and incorporated the BeoSystem 3 and the VisionClear technology that automatically adjusts colors and brightness. Oh, and it tossed in a B&O logo, which is darn near priceless. Speaking of stickers, the set should be available this July for around €100,000 ($136,220) pre-VAT. Check the demonstration vid after the break.

[Thanks, John]

Continue reading Bang & Olufsen's 103-inch BeoVision 4-103 plasma is gorgeous, pricey

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Bang & Olufsen's 103-inch BeoVision 4-103 plasma is gorgeous, pricey originally appeared on! Engadget on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Why iPhone In-App Transactions Could Be a Disaster [Bad News]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Q1Pn8YoRPKA/why-iphone-in+app-transactions-could-be-a-disaster

Apple made a big deal about allowing in-app transactions with the new iPhone 3.0 API. It's great news if you're a developer looking to make more scratch, but it's potentially terrible news for users.

Basically, this is opening the flood gates for nickel-and-diming microtransactions from the App Store. Before, when you spent $5 on a game, you knew you were getting the whole game—with free upgrades. Now, you'll spend $5 on a game and you'll need to spend another $5 to unlock all the levels and weapons. And that's on legit apps. Just wait for the novelty fart apps with one fart sound that want you to pay for extras, or a flashlight app that wants you to pay for different colors.

This could easily turn tons and tons of apps into crippled trialware without consumers knowing, and it's going to make developers hungry for the extra cash they can make by charging you for extra feature they would have included in the full version anyways. Like a game charging you $3 for fancy horse armor on the Xbox 360, but without the filter than comes from the huge budgetary requirements of Xbox 360 games, this is going to open the floodgates for the sleaziest app behaviors possible. The worst part of it is, there will be enough people willing to pay a little here and a little there to support this kind of behavior. But I for one, am out. Do not want. [Gizmodo's iPhone 3.0 Coverage]

Smith Optics I/OS Interchangeable Snow Goggles: Lightning Review [Snowmodo]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/L0DCenPMWvo/smith-optics-ios-interchangeable-snow-goggles-lightning-review

The Gadget: Rimless goggles with a locking lens plate for switching up the glass for sunny or cloudy days. A follow up to their I/O googles, but with improved foam sealing and shape.

The Price: $180

The Rundown: Smith Optics is my favorite goggle company. I usually use their sensor phenom lens on cloudy/storm days, and their full on mirror for sunny days. This goggle ships with both, in a clever zip up nylon box, so you're covered in all conditions. The original I/O had some seal issues around the nose (it, uh, didn't seal well on most people's faces, narrow or broad) but the IO/S (and the improved I/O) fixes that with a piece of foam slit above the nose, with more material for closure. (The S shape is for smaller faces, but is the same concept as the I/O) The shape of the original was also really round, so if you tried to put it on your face, the seal on the lens twisted off the frame. Less so with these, but try them on before you buy. Unlike old swappable lenses on cheap goggs, these lock into place by way of the strap holders and two switches on top. Very sturdy. And, Smith Optics almost never fog, unless you're a sweatball or in a swampy storm. I still prefer to run separate goggles for sunny and cloudy days, because I don't like handling my lenses any more than I have to, but if you can only have one set and these fit, I recommend them for their amazing versatility. [Smith Optics, Snowmodo]

Snowmodo is our snow sport winter meet up at Lake Tahoe, with prizes, discounts, tons of fun snow activities, a party and GADGETS. If you can make it (and people are! coming from TEXAS) please RSVP and find out more info by clicking on the banner below. I'll let you wear my hat (below).

Super Thin, Flexible OLED Lights to be Available in 2011 [Oled]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/A83NYAx2_Ng/super-thin-flexible-oled-lights-to-be-available-in-2011

We've seen ultra-skinny flexible OLED sheets before, but it looks like we now have a date for when they're coming out. Korean company Modistech says it'll debut its thin-and-flexy OLED lights in 2011.

According to Aving.net, the company will begin mass production of the sheets later next year. Each sheet is expected to retail for $212. It's kind of expensive, especially if that price is just for the sheet in the picture, but that's par for the course with new tech – I'm just excited OLED sheets are finally stepping out of the research lab. [OLED Display]

Google Chrome Passes into 2.0 Beta, Chromium For Linux Gets a Simple Install [Browsers]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/uYc5INIfuSw/google-chrome-passes-into-20-beta-chromium-for-linux-gets-a-simple-install

Removing Chrome's 'beta' label couldn't have been easy for Google, but it looks like they're bringing it right back. Chrome 2.0 beta is now available for Windows, along with a little treat for Linux users.

Chrome 2.0 isn't a total overhaul, and to end users very little will seem different—until they start browsing. Chrome's rendering is said to be between 25% and 35% faster than the last version, with most of the speed gains picked up by streamlined javascript engine. The rest of the enhancements—form autofill, new tab options and custom user script support, a la Greasemonkey—are welcome, but as it stands, this looks a little more like Chrome 1.5 than 2.0. Justifying an entirely new version number would require something interesting like, oh, I don't know, that rumored extension support.

For Ubuntu Linux users, the much rawer Chromium browser has always been a pain in the ass to install. Now the installation process has been dramatically simplified. Instead of all the previously-required downloading, compiling and terminal-delving, Ubuntu users can simply apt-get the 'chromium-browser' package and give it a whirl to confirm that, yes, it still sucks. Get well soon, Chromium. [Slashdot]

Dell Adamo to also come in $2,699 1.4GHz model with 3G

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/17/dell-adamo-to-also-come-in-2-699-1-4ghz-model-with-3g/

Dell's Adamo 13 might be a looker, but the 1.2GHz Core 2 Duo, X4500 graphics, and 2GB of RAM found in the $1,999 model announced last night are fairly underwhelming, and it doesn't seem like the $2,700 higher-end configuration reported by Laptop is going blow any minds either: Dell Australia has it listed with a 1.4GHz ULV Core 2 Duo, 4GB of RAM, and a built-in 3G card. That's a lot of money for integrated graphics in a four-pound machine -- anyone taken with Dell's artsy new image enough to shell out?

[Thanks, Ed]

Read - Dell Australia page with specs
Read - Laptop post with US pricing

Filed under: Laptops

Dell Adamo to also come in $2,699 1.4GHz model with 3G originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMS finally comes to Apple's iPhone 3G via OS 3.0

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/17/mms-finally-comes-to-apples-iphone/

Apple's done a decent job of implementing features that we've all been clamoring for into its forthcoming OS 3.0, and aside from copy and paste, there's probably no one single feature add bigger than this. You heard right -- multimedia messaging (MMS) is at long last coming to the iPhone 3G (sorry, first-gen iPhone owners) after years of dealing strictly with SMS. During the keynote, Apple was ~~pretty~~ remarkably short with details, simply noting that MMS "support" would be added. Frankly, we don't expect anything mind-blowing; it'll probably look a lot like the current SMS setup, and it'll definitely make AT&T happy when you start firing away picture messages without first subscribing to an unlimited messaging plan.

Update: Apple's official PR on the subject has given us just a bit more to chew on. We're told that MMS will enable iPhone 3G users to "send and receive photos, contacts, audio files and locations with the Messages app," hinting that Apple may just smash MMS and SMS together into a single 'Messages' app in OS 3.0. Also of note, owners will also be able to "forward and delete multiple messages."

Filed under: Cellphones

MMS finally comes to Apple's iPhone 3G via OS 3.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2G iPod touch to have Bluetooth capability unlocked by iPhone OS 3.0

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/17/2g-ipod-touch-to-have-bluetooth-capability-unlocked-by-iphone-os/

Looks like that Bluetooth chip in the iPod touch 2G we've always thought was for Nike+ suddenly got a lot more useful: Apple's Greg Joswiak said that Bluetooth can be "unlocked" on the device during the iPhone OS 3.0 Q&A session. That's two years of rumors put to rest, right there, and a solid move, seeing as three of the major 3.0 features are A2DP, wireless accessory control and peer-to-peer connections over Bluetooth. Any touch owners feeling more inclined to drop the $9.95 now?

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

2G iPod touch to have Bluetooth capability unlocked by iPhone OS 3.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NVIDIA licenses PhysX technology for Sony's PlayStation 3

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/17/nvidia-licenses-physx-technology-for-sonys-playstation-3/

After being on the tip of gamers' tongues last summer, NVIDIA's PhysX technology has cooled a bit in terms of sheer popularity. That said, we've no doubt that the buzz will be back in force after this one clears the airwaves. NVIDIA has just announced that it has nailed down a tools and middleware license agreement for Sony's PlayStation 3, effectively bringing the aforesaid physics tech to what's arguably the most potent game console on the market today. As a result of the deal, a PhysX software development kit (SDK) is now available to registered PS3 developers as a free download for use on the SCEI Developer Network. What exactly this means for future PS3 games remains to be seen, but one's things for sure: it's only up from here.

Filed under: Gaming

NVIDIA licenses PhysX technology for Sony's PlayStation 3 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon readying subsidized HP laptops, Hub 2

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/17/verizon-readying-subsidized-hp-laptops-hub-2/

We just got a pair of small-but-juicy Verizon rumors from a very reliable tipster: first, we hear that HP and Big Red are working together on subsidized WWAN-enabled laptops for launch in Q2. Exactly what machines will be involved can't be confirmed, but if we had our guess we'd say Big Red's got a cheap Mini 1000 on a two-year contract in the works, since these so-called "netbooks" are all the rage these days. Second, a updated version of the charming-but-questionably-useful Hub "landline killer" home phone is due out in the second half of the year, and VZW's apparently retargeting it a little: we're told it'll be more upscale and boast even more features. And here we thought that internet radio widget was gettin' all crazy. No word on pricing for any of this stuff, but we'd bet we'll find out more soon.

Filed under: Household, Laptops, Wireless

Verizon readying subsidized HP laptops, Hub 2 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIA's 1080p-lovin' VX855 chipset emerges in MacBook Air knockoff

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/17/vias-1080p-lovin-vx855-chipset-emerges-in-macbook-air-knockoff/

We've already seen one legitimate laptop maker botch up its specification sheet within the past 24 hours, so we certainly wouldn't put it past a KIRF-maker to pull a similar trick. At least on paper, Top Crown Technology Limited's simply-titled 3G Notebook includes a 1.3GHz VIA Nano CPU, the newfangled VX885 Media System Processor, a 10.1-inch LED-backlit display (1,024 x 576), Chrome9 graphics, a 2.5-inch HDD or SSD, 3-in-1 multicard reader, WiFi, Bluetooth, 3.5G WWAN and a pair of built-in speakers. The only problem is the backwards Apple logo and the absolute assurance that this thing will be just marginally less craptastic than the "world's cheapest laptop." For shame.

[Via NetbookNews]

Filed under: Laptops

VIA's 1080p-lovin' VX855 chipset emerges in MacBook Air knockoff originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone OS 3.0 hands-on!

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/17/iphone-os-3-0-hands-on/

We're not saying how, but we got hooked up with the beta of iPhone OS 3.0. Overall, things feel about the same until you flick left that extra time and hit the Spotlight screen, which works just as advertised. It's definitely a beta, though: it's laggy all around and some things don't work, like taking a photo directly in the MMS app. We took some quick snaps, check 'em out below and let us know what you want to see in the video!

Update: Added a few snaps of the landscape keyboard in Messages and Mail, anything else?

Gallery: iPhone 3.0 hands-on

Filed under: Cellphones

iPhone OS 3.0 hands-on! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for us! e of fee ds.

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Fujitsu melts faces and wallets with FLEPia, the first color e-book for general consumption

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/18/fujitsu-melts-faces-and-wallets-with-flepia-the-first-color-e-b/

After years of teasing -- FLEPia was first announced in April of 2007, and first proven in 2006 -- Fujitsu has at last released its color e-book (or e-paper mobile terminal, as they'd like you to call it) to the masses. Featuring an 8-inch XGA screen capable of displaying 260,000 colors, along with Bluetooth, WiFi and up to 4GB of storage via SD card, and measuring less than half an inch thick, FLEPia's not just getting by on color alone. Fujitsu promises 40 hours of continuos use, and the unit can be operated by its touchscreen or the assortment of function buttons. Naturally you can do the regular e-book thing, but the Japanese version of the device also includes full-on Windows CE 5.0, which would probably be a bit of a chore to use with the relatively slow screen refresh times of e-ink (1.8 seconds for a single wipe), but undeniably retrofuturistic. FLEPia ships on April 20th in Japan for 99,750 Yen (about $1,010 US).

[Via Engadget Japanese]

Read - English press release
Read - Videos of FLEPia in action

Filed under: Handhelds

Fujitsu melts faces and wallets with FLEPia, the first color e-book for general consumption originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 02:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iBUYPOWER's Gamer Power 906 rig does Intel Quad-core for a bit over $700

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/18/ibuypowers-gamer-power-906-rig-does-intel-quad-core-for-a-bit-o/

Sure, there are endless desktop configurations out there and oodles of good deals, but we're still smitten with this particular setup from iBUYPOWER: the Gamer Power 906. Putting that name to good use, they've managed to toss together an Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300 processor, NVIDIA 9600GT graphics with 1GB of RAM, a 500GB SATA hard drive and 4GB of system memory. There was even enough change left over for interior lighting -- and we all know about the direct correlation between ground effects for nerds and frags per minute. Available now for $710.

[Via SlashGear]

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming

iBUYPOWER's Gamer Power 906 rig does Intel Quad-core for a bit over $700 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 05:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Psystar pushes its luck, launches new Open (3) Mac clone desktop

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/18/psystar-pushes-its-luck-launches-new-open-3-mac-clone-desktop/

Psystar pushes its luck, launches new Open (3) Mac clone desktop

Other Mac-cloners may know their time is limited, but good 'ol Psystar just keeps on forging straight ahead -- despite being locked in a nasty legal battle with Apple that could result in it getting shut down any moment now. Ignoring that (sophisticated looking) elephant in the corner for a moment, the company has released its latest model, called the Open(3). It sports your choice of processors ranging from a 2.8GHz Core2Duo E7400 up to a 2.53GHz Core2Quad Q8200, up to 4GB of memory, 1TB of storage, a 6x Blu-ray burner, and graphics from an NVIDIA GeForce 9500GT, all packaged in a slim case that, while not quite up to Cupertino standards, certainly looks a fair bit more visually appealing than its previous black boxes. Prices start at just $599, but tick all those option buttons and you'll be looking at something closer to $2,000 -- a lot, but close to $1,000 less than a comparably spec'd Mac Pro. Get 'em while you can.

[Via Pocket-lint]

Filed under: Desktops

Psystar pushes its luck, launches new Open (3) Mac clone desktop originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 06:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, March 17, 2009

ASUS EeeBox PC B208 with dual-core Atom and HD 4350 graphics un-announced

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/17/asus-eeebox-pc-b208-with-dual-core-atom-and-hd-4350-graphics-un/

Funny. After making a brief appearance on ASUS' website, its top-end EeeBox PC B208 disappeared. Fortunately, there's Google cache. The B208 trumps ASUS' B206 by slapping a dual-core, 1.6GHz Atom 330 processor into the slim, monitor-riding slab as well as 256MB of ATI Radeon Hd 4350 graphics. That should help make the most of the built-in HDMI port and 320GB hard disk (plus 4x USB 2.0) should you like to use the little guy as a make-shift 802.11n / gigabit Ethernet media server (buzzing along at 26dB) on your home network. No price given but we expect it to pop for less than 500 bucks, eventually.

[Thanks, Brad]

Filed under: Desktops, Media PCs

ASUS EeeBox PC B208 with dual-core Atom and HD 4350 graphics un-announced originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sandalone Eye-Fi Server hack one-ups Eye-Fi Manager

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/17/sandalone-eye-fi-server-hack-one-ups-eye-fi-manager/

For those of you who love the concept of the Eye-Fi, but detest being forced to talk to its servers and send pictures precisely how it wants you to, take heart. A standalone Eye-Fi server has now been presented to the general public, and while it's written in a language that few understand these days (it's Python, and no, we're not joking), the functionality here is second to none. By tapping into this code, users can instruct their Eye-Fi cards to upload photos to different online galleries by running around the Eye-Fi Manager middleware. We know you're interested in giving this a go yourself, so feel free to slip on the Coke Bottle Glasses[TM] and hit that read link.

[Via Hack-A-Day]

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Wireless, Storage

Sandalone Eye-Fi Server hack one-ups Eye-Fi Manager originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Casio's high-speed EX-FS10 bursts into stores a little later and pricier than expected

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/17/casios-high-speed-ex-fs10-bursts-into-stores-a-little-later-and/

Casio's high-speed EX-FS10 bursts into stores a little later and pricier than expected

Looking to get some bodacious slow-mo shots of your latest kick-flip? Maybe fake a moon landing or two? Or, how about taking some blurry 9.1 megapixel pictures through a 3x non-stabilized zoom lens? All this can be yours, dear readers, later this month when Casio launches the EX-FS10 point-and-shoot, capable of capturing full-res video at 30fps or cut-rate 224 x 64 footage at a whopping 1000fps. If you don't mind pasty cameras (and live in Japan) you can buy yourself one in white on March 27. Red and gray versions will ship a few weeks later, on April 10, all for around $450.

[Via Impress]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Casio's high-speed EX-FS10 bursts into stores a little later and pricier than expected originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gazaro Logs Gadget Prices Over Time (So You Don't Get Screwed) [Dealzmodo]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/dYPK8uFXjHk/gazaro-logs-gadget-prices-over-time-so-you-dont-get-screwed

Comparison search engines only show you whose price is best in that instant. Now, at least one service finally has a tracker that lets you see what each retailer charged for gadgets over time.

After I read about Gazaro on Consumerist, I signed up (free) and looked up the Nikon D90 and Panasonic's 50" TH-50PZ80U, which you can see tracked below at both Amazon and NewEgg.

For the plasma, you'll notice that Amazon's pricing is better, but sadly, the historical data doesn't go back very far. It seems Amazon pricing only goes back to January 1, though NewEgg's goes back to last fall. As a new service, Gazaro will probably only get better as it accumulates more useful historical data. The prices do appear to include the low ones that are not always revealed on the page—Gazaro has up-to-date correct pricing on Amazon's merchandise despite the "click here to see price" obstacle.

As you see above, you view the pricing as a graph, with rollover data points that reveal prices on certain arbitrary dates. But look below—sticklers for raw data can view it all in a chart.

I know for a fact that I will hit up this site all the time when doing researching so-called good deals, because, like in the Amazon plasma-TV example above, even the "best" deals aren't as good some of the time as they are at other times.

This may not be the only comparative search engine that has price trac! king ove r time—we recently covered the sweet Zoetrope concept by Adobe that did something similar, but much broader. If you know of other actual running price trackers, please share them in comments below. It is my wish that all comparative shopping engines did it, and if none of them do it yet, all the more reason to sign up for Gazaro. [Gazaro via Consumerist]

UPDATE: I'd also like to point out ZooLert as another option in this field—I am happy to see that this movement is gaining steam. It's great news for smart shoppers.

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