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Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Barnes & Noble Nook's first close-up (now with video!)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/20/barnes-and-noble-nooks-first-close-up/

There she blows, we'll be getting hands-on and try to scrap together some impressions of the Nook if they let us touch it once this Q&A is done. The device is a bit thicker than some, and certainly looks minimal up front. The LCD is nice, but not overly bright, and that's about all we spotted before it was snatched away. Check out the gallery for a few more fleeting shots and a look at a non-functioning prototype for a better idea of the unit's shape.

Gallery: Barnes & Noble nook's first close-up

Update: We got a closer look at the device, though they still haven't let us touch it. The LCD seems very "passive," and has a shallow viewing angle -- obviously to gather more ambient light and save on battery. The interface appears relatively intuitive, but we're a little confused and doubtful about the highlighting features -- it brings up a software d-pad on screen, and seemed a little unwieldy, though we'll only find out for ourselves when they actually let us get our grubby paws on the thing.

Update 2: We've got some video! It's so very exciting, and can be found after the break.

Gallery: Barnes & Noble Nook in-depth

Continue reading Barnes & Noble Nook's first close-up (now with video!)

Filed under: Handhelds

Barnes & Noble Nook's first close-up (now with video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Physicists calculate the end of Moore's Law, clearly don't believe in Moore's Law

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/20/physicists-calculate-the-end-of-moores-law-clearly-dont-belie/

If you're looking for pundits with an end date for Moore's Law, you don't have to look far. You also don't have to look far to find a gaggle of loonies who just knew the world was ending in Y2K, so make of that what you will. The latest duo looking to call the demise of the processor mantra that has held true for two score comes from Boston University, with physicists Lev Levitin and Tommaso Toffoli asserting that a quantum limit would be achieved in around 75 to 80 years. Scott Aaronson, an attention-getter at MIT, expects that very same limit to be hit in just 20 years. Of course, there's plenty of technobabble to explain the what's and how's behind all this, but considering that the brainiacs of the world can't even agree with Gordon Moore's own doomsday date, we're choosing to plug our ears and keep on believin' for now. Bonus video after the break.

[Via Slashdot]

Continue reading Physicists calculate the end of Moore's Law, clearly don't believe in Moore's Law

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Science

Physicists calculate the end of Moore's Law, clearly don't believe in Moore's Law originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix, Best Buy deal brings Watch Instantly streaming to even cheaper Blu-ray players

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/20/netflix-best-buy-deal-brings-watch-instantly-streaming-to-even/

Though they've been floating around retail channels for a few weeks, Best Buy and Netflix have finally made official a partnership bringing streaming to the latest Insignia Blu-ray players. The NS-BRDVD3 runs $179, while the NS-WBRDVD edition tosses in WiFi for $20 more, while they won't stream out of the box, a firmware update just made available should add all the . These two keep the (we'll be nice and call it plain) styling of earlier models, and likely live up to the family reputation of "basic Blu-ray playback at a bargain" reported on the second generation of players. Of course, the BD-P1600 offers more features and a nicer reputation at about the same price, but Reward Zone members may want to think twice, with AVS Forum posters mentioning the NS-BRDVD3 can be had for just $99.99 through the 24th. Decisions, decisions.

Read - Best Buy and Netflix Announce Partnership to Instantly Stream Movies Over the Internet Via Latest Models of Insignia Blu-ray Disc Players
Read - Save $50 On Select INSIGNIA(R) Connected Blu-ray Disc[TM] Players with Netflix [Via AVS Forum]

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Netflix, Best Buy deal brings Watch Instantly streaming to even cheaper Blu-ray players originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday, October 19, 2009

Make Your Own Shake Shack Burgers [Recipes]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/xn46jT23X7Y/make-your-own-shake-shack-burgers

The cheeseburgers from New York City's Shake Shack are so beloved by burger aficionados that even 12-hour Manhattan visits demand a wait in the Shack's imposing line. One burger lover researched and reverse-engineered the burger's basics for making at home.

Photo by J. Kenji Lopez-Alt.

Serious Eats guest writer J. Kenji Lopez-Alt is an obvious fan of the Shack's signature creation. He took the time to actually examine his burger before devouring it, then ask foodie friends and even a Shake Shack manager about the components he was unsure of. He demonstrates the "smash and scrape technique" in a stove-stop skillet, and gets scientific about what kind of beef mixture goes into a Shack patty:

According to Adam's sources, the meat is a 50:25:25 blend of sirloin, chuck, and brisket. On the other hand, according to Ozersky, the mixture is actually mostly brisket, with chuck and short rib mixed in.

I did a side-by-side comparison of the two purported blends next to a Shack Burger, and found that Adam's mix is closer in flavor, offering the right level of tenderness from the sirloin, rich beef flavor from the chuck, and slight sour/metallic notes from the brisket.

If the higher potential for E. Coli contamination and single-source quality concerns aren't enough for you to take up grinding your own meat for hamburgers, this opportunity might just! tip the scales.

Visit Serious Eats for the full debriefing on ingredients, bun sources, griddle instructions, and sauce recipe, and share your own Shack remembrances—or competitors for burgers worthy of imitation (In-N-Out, anyone?)—in the comments.

The Burger Lab: The Fake Shack [Serious Eats]

Firefox Now Auto-Blocks Microsoft .NET Extensions [Security]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/O3z7LdiXQ3Q/firefox-now-auto+blocks-microsoft-net-extensions

Firefox users on Windows probably have the .NET Framework Assistant extension installed, even if they didn't try to install it. ~~Now~~ Mozilla is was blocking it for security reasons, but has let it back in (Update below).

Microsoft discovered a vulnerability in Internet Explorer and .NET-connected browsers that allowed a site with malicious code to, well, "own" your browser and install some other terrible stuff.

Microsoft issued a high-priority security patch for Windows systems and through Internet Explorer's update mechanism, but for Firefox users who haven't applied the patch, Mozilla has added the Microsoft .Net Framework Assistant and Windows Presentation Foundation extensions to its blocklist, noting that users should see the extensions disabled upon their next log-in.

Update: Mozilla security chief Mike Shaver writes in a blog post that Mozilla has removed .NET Framework Assistant from its blocklist, as the extension was determined not to be a vulnerability to the "browse once and own" code exploit. Shaver writes that a more thorough explanation, and tips on how to prevent and customize auto-blocking, will follow.

If you still see those extensions enabled on your Windows system, Mozilla's security chief has written about the special means of removing them, as they often can't be disabled by default. Better still, if you see extensions in your Firefox Add-Ons menu that you can't quite remember installing, or question what purpose they serve, take this as a lesson in why uninstalling them might be a good idea.

.NET Framework Assistant Blocked to Disarm Security Vulnerability [Mozilla Security Blog via Yahoo News]

LastPass Adds Auto-Fill Password Management to Google Chrome [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/TLd1pd_3vT0/lastpass-adds-auto+fill-password-management-to-google-chrome

Google Chrome (on Windows): Password saving and management webapp LastPass offers a single space to drop your web site passwords and quickly use them on any browser—now including Chrome, through an extension available to development channel users.

LastPass works on Chrome similarly to how it does on Firefox and Internet Explorer, and it's a bit more convenient and functional than its bookmarklet form filler. The concept remains the same: you only have to remember your LastPass login, and LastPass remembers all your other passwords and, if you want, credit card and form data, too. Before you ask, here's how LastPass justifies its safety and encryption.

The extension and its features worked as promised on a development channel version of Google Chrome on Windows. Testing it out on a daily build of extension-supporting Chromium on Ubuntu, however, led to consistent crashes, and I'd expect the same out of Mac OS X builds, at least until those platforms mature or LastPass gets around to addressing them.

LastPass' Chrome extension is a free download, works wherever Chrome does, and requires a LastPass account to use.

LastPass - Downloads [via MakeUseOf]

Turn Your PC into a Home Surveillance System [Security]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/uSevCRaXto4/turn-your-pc-into-a-home-surveillance-system

We've highlighted gobs of tools for turning your computer into a security camera, but if you're interested in building out a serious, multi-camera home surveillance system complete with wireless cameras, weblog MakeUseOf details how to do so.

The author uses an app called Active Webcam that's packed with features, and while it's not a free application, the trial version adds a small nag window to the corner of your webcam streams that the author thinks is completely tolerable for the price. Here's what you'll get when you're done:

I'm going to describe how you can set up a system of security webcams that will alert you to even the slightest intrusion into the space the camera is monitoring. We're going to create a remote surveillance system that could monitor your home, your camp, your apartment — or all of the above, all at the same time. In essence you can create a giant personal surveillance network without limitations.

If you've gone down the DIY route for putting together a home surveillance system using your PC, let's hear how you did it in the comments.

How To Build A WiFi Home Surveillance System With Your PC [MakeUseOf]

WSJ Confirms Barnes & Noble "Nook" Reader Price at $259 [Ebooks]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/RFbykqatkJk/wsj-confirms-barnes--noble-nook-reader-price-at-259

According to the WSJ, the Barnes & Noble reader will be announced tomorrow at $259. The descriptions match our exclusive photos exactly. They found the device through a premature ad shown on the NYTimes website! Who scooped who here?

Features of the Nook include a wireless connection to download books from the retailer's online e-bookstore and an e-paper display from E-Ink Corp. that is separate from the color controls.

The only discrepancy we've found with our original story is that B&N was not priced lower than the Kindle, as our sources said it might be. It's tied at $259. But given the lending feature and color screen, a price match may be more than enough to compete with.

They also reveal the name as "Nook". It's kind of a dumb name. [WSJ via Engadget]

Electrolux Brings Us One Step Closer To a Fireplace In a Can [Design]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/nZCVNHd1D4E/electrolux-brings-us-one-step-closer-to-a-fireplace-in-a-can

We like to put everything else in a can, so why not fire? That must be what designer Camillo Vanacore was thinking when he dreamed up this portable, capsule fireplace.

The concept involves some sort of magical ceramic from outer space that starts out opaque, but becomes transparent when exposed to the heat of a flame. The fireplace also seems like it would be small enough to fit in one hand. I wouldn't expect to go to the grocery store anytime soon to pick up a six-pack of fire—but it is an interesting design at least. [Six Different Ways via Apartment Therapy via DVICE]

Lenovo IdeaPad S12 gets ION powerup on October 22 in Japan

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/lenovo-ideapad-s12-gets-ion-powerup-on-october-22-in-japan/

At this point, we're not really sure which date has been discussed more in the history of humanity -- the Mayan doomsday prediction or Microsoft's October 22, 2009 launch of Windows 7. Lenovo's S12 was originally supposed to be the first ION-sporting netbook on the scene, but the Chinese company opted to hold back the NVIDIA infusion till Windows 7 showed up, and has been shipping a version of the 12-inch IdeaPad with only standard netbook specs so far. Well, come this Thursday it's out with the old and in with the HD video-decoding new in Japan, where the ION-powered S12 will be unleashed with 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, a 1280 x 800 glossy display, multicard reader and a HDMI port for company. Priced somewhere near ¥68,800 (about $757), the new machines (available only in white) are likely to dip below $600 when they make their inevitable journey Stateside.

[Via Netbooked]

Filed under: Laptops

Lenovo IdeaPad S12 gets ION powerup on October 22 in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon prepping HP Mini 311, Mini 110 for launch

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/verizon-prepping-hp-mini-311-mini-110-for-launch/

Wait, hold up -- before you sprint down to your Verizon store (sprint... Verizon... never mind) to pick up that catchily-named Gateway LT2016u that just launched, you might want to mull over the next batch of netbooks primed to hit the carrier's outlets in the coming days. Subsidized netbooks still haven't proven themselves as viable products -- at least, so long as they're not subsidized down to $0 -- but Verizon's ready to keep on trying with the launch of a global 3G-equipped HP Mini 311 on October 22. Sickeningly, they want a full $249.99 on contract after $100 mail-in rebate -- but in exchange, you'll be getting ION, Windows 7, 1366 x 768 resolution on a 11.6-inch display, and a 1.6GHz Atom N270. Moving on, the carrier's current Mini 1151 will ride off into the sunset and be replaced by a Windows XP-equipped Mini 110 featuring a 160GB hard drive and 1GB of RAM; it'll launch once 1151 stock is depleted for $199.99 after rebate with a new two-year deal. Follow the break for details and specs on the 110 (spoiler: it's like pretty much every other 110, but with more voodoo subsidy math).

Continue reading Verizon prepping HP Mini 311, Mini 110 for launch

Filed under: Laptops, Wireless

Verizon prepping HP Mini 311, Mini 110 for launch origina! lly appe ared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Casio Exilim CA003 and CA004 uncloaked in KDDI au's winter lineup

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/casio-exilim-ca003-and-ca004-uncloaked-in-kddi-aus-winter-lineu/

KDDI au's unleashing its winter lineup, and among them sits Casio's latest cameras phone, the 12.17 megapixel Exilim CA003 and 8 megapixel CA004. The higher-tier former boasts a 28mm wide angle lens with 3x optical zoom and autofocus, and a 3.3-inch WVGA OLED screen. It'll also shoot a quick burst of 20 pics per second when you need to capture the exact moment and aren't exactly sure when that is. Other amenities include microSDHC card slot, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM radio, and a handful of color options. Not wanting all that horsepower? The CA004 has smaller resolution shots, support up to 2GB microSD, and a 3.1-inch WVGA OLED screen, but is otherwise touting the same features. Akihabara News has some hands-on shots of the beaut you might wanna check out, unless you're the type who gets violently jealous by phones that aren't hitting American soil.

[Via Engadget Japan]

Read - KDDI au lineup
Read - CA003 / CA004 hands-on

Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras

Casio Exilim CA003 and CA004 uncloaked in KDDI au's winter lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Onkyo's tiny ION-based P3 nettop has an even tinier removable DVD-ROM

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/onkyos-tiny-ion-based-p3-nettop-has-an-even-tinier-removable-dv/

Onkyo's tiny ION-based P3 nettop has an even tinier removable DVD-ROM

If you're concerned about the future obsolescence of your miniscule Atom-based nettop, chances are its choice of optical storage is not what's bothering you. But, if that's what keeps you up at nights, Onkyo's P3 is your Ambien. Its ION platform sports the usual 1.6GHz Atom 230 proc, 2GB of memory, and 160GB hard drive. The DVD-ROM is a separate module that clips into a groove on the side and, while details are slim, that doesn't look like a standard form-factor to us, so if a Blu-ray upgrade or the like ever surfaces don't expect it to be cheap. The P3 itself (pictured again below with an LCD friend) isn't exactly a bargain to start, with an estimated MSRP of ¥69,800 (about $770) when it ships in March of next year. That's the price you pay for modular design.

[Via PC Watch]

Continue reading Onkyo's tiny ION-based P3 nettop has an even tinier removable DVD-ROM

Filed under: Desktops

Onkyo's tiny ION-based P3 nettop has an even tinier removable DVD-ROM originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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QNAP's NAS lineup sacrifices another bay, creates TS-110

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/qnaps-nas-lineup-sacrifices-another-bay-creates-ts-110/

QNAP's NAS lineup sacrifices another bay, creates TS-110

For many, four bays is a bit excessive. Two bays? Nice and cozy. One bay? Maybe a bit too snug for some, but QNAP is hoping its mono-bay TS-110 will be just right for others. It features the same 800MHz Marvell processor and 256MB of DDR2 RAM on the TS-410 and TS-210, with the discretely vanilla styling of the latter but at roughly half the girth. It keeps the same DLNA, FTP, file serving, and MySQL support of the other two, all configured through a fancy AJAXy web interface. No word on price yet, but we'll find out soon enough as it's set to ship by the end of the month. Meanwhile, we eagerly await the TS-010 announcement, which should rely entirely on theoretical storage.

Gallery: QNAP TS-110 NAS

Filed under: Storage, Networking

QNAP's NAS lineup sacrifices another bay, creates TS-110 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft's life-blogging SenseCam becomes the ViconRevue, coming to a lanyard near you in 2010

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/microsofts-life-blogging-sensecam-becomes-the-viconrevue-comin/

Microsoft's life-blogging SenseCam becomes the ViconRevue, coming to a lanyard near you in 2010

The months of 2004 were halcyon days for those hoping to capture their entire existences digitally. Nokia was talking up Lifeblog as a way to chronicle every action of every day, while Microsoft had a few SenseCams floating around, snapping random images twice a minute to create a sort of slideshow of your daily tedium. Neither went mainstream, but Microsoft's option still has some legs, getting licensed by a company called Vicon and re-dubbed the ViconRevue. It now has 1GB of internal storage backing what seems to be a VGA camera sensor that can snap a picture every 30 seconds. At £500 ($820) they're currently intended for those studying Alzheimers and dementia, but a consumer model is due next year, and hopefully it will be affordable enough for those with memories but no government grants.

[Via Engadget Polish]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Microsoft's life-blogging SenseCam becomes the ViconRevue, coming to a lanyard near you in 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Voice voicemails appearing in public search results

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/google-voice-voicemails-appearing-in-public-search-results/

We're not exactly sure what's going on here, but it certainly seems like at least some Google Voice voicemails are being indexed and made publicly available somehow. If you punch in "site:https://www.google.com/voice/fm/*" as a search string you get a few pages of what appear to be test messages, with a couple eye-opening obvious non-tests scattered in there as well. Dates on these messages range from a couple months ago all the way until yesterday, so this is clearly an ongoing issue -- hopefully Google patches this up awful fast.

P.S. - Google Voice transcription accuracy really falls off a cliff when it's listening to muffled audio, doesn't it?

Update: Google says it's changed how shared messages are indexed and made available to public searches, so we're hoping this was just a one-time thing.

[Via Boy Genius Report]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Google Voice voicemails appearing in public search results originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gateway intros 15.6 and 11.6-inch EC Series laptops: EC58, EC54 and EC14

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/gateway-intros-15-6-and-11-6-inch-ec-series-laptops-ec58-ec54/

It's quite possible that you've missed the memo, but Microsoft's next major operating system launches this week. Along with pretty much every other PC maker on the planet, Gateway is also announcing new laptops that hum along on Windows 7. Starting things off is the 11.6-inch EC14, which gets going at $549.99 and includes a 1.3GHz Pentium Dual Core SU1400 CPU, 1,366 x 768 resolution LED-backlit panel, Intel's GMA 4500MHD graphics, 4GB of DDR2 RAM, a built-in webcam and multicard reader, 320GB HDD, WiFi, gigabit Ethernet, a trio of USB 2.0 sockets, HDMI output, multi-gesture trackpad and a battery good for around "six to eight hours" of life. The EC58 and EC54 models are 15.6-inchers, with a base model starting at $649.99 and featuring most of the same specs in a larger enclosure. Naturally, the gang will ship on October 22nd, complete with bundles of "Wow!" in tow. Er, wait.

Filed under: Laptops

Gateway intros 15.6 and 11.6-inch EC Series laptops: EC58, EC54 and EC14 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS working up BR-HD3 wireless HDMI streamer

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/asus-working-up-br-hd3-wireless-hdmi-streamer/

ASUS has been toying around with wireless transmissions to displays for a hot minute now, and it sure looks as if the outfit is fixing to pick up where the Belkin FlyWire left off by introducing the BR-HD3. Currently in testing, the wireless HDMI streamer is said to pass along 1080p content "with no lag," though there's currently no official range to speak of. The real kicker, however, is the price. The aforesaid FlyWire -- which worked amazingly in the trade show demos that we saw -- was priced at $1,499, which is obviously far too much for most consumers. This box? £399 ($654), and it could be out as early as next month. Unfortunately, the device only supports a single HDMI input (so you can forget about connecting your Blu-ray player and Xbox 360 at the same time), but ASUS is planning to introduce a three-port version in June 2010 as well as a niche spinoff in Q1 that'll wirelessly stream one source to three HDTVs.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Wireless

ASUS working up BR-HD3 wireless HDMI streamer originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bang & Olufsen's BeoVision 10: something awesome in the state of Denmark (update: video!)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/bang-and-olufsens-beovision-10-something-awesome-in-the-state-of/

If you're an HDTV buff with style, taste, and money to burn (and if you're reading Engadget we have our doubts about at least two of the three) then you've probably been waiting impatiently for Bang & Olufsen to make this one official. The BeoVision 10 is a wall-mounted LCD flat screen that boasts 40-inches of real estate, a brushed aluminum frame, and bottom mounted speakers that are available in a variety of colors. As the company boasts, "every aspect of the design is thought through." It also said something about "vægplacering," the definition of which we will leave to your imagination. On sale now at the B & O store on Kongens Nytorv in central Copenhagen for 43,495 Danish Kroner (roughly $8,700) -- not shockingly expensive, as far as this company is concerned, but still far too dear for you. No word on stateside pricing or release date.

Update: As several astute readers pointed out, the translated source for this one listed the price in British Pounds when it should have been listed in Danish Kroner (DKK). The thing is far less expensive now -- so feel free to send us one for an early Christmas present! You have the address. Oh, and a vid is after the break!

Read - Here is the new B & O television
Read - B & O's new flat panel

Continue reading Bang & Olufsen's BeoVision 10: something awesome in the state of Denmark (update: video!)

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Bang & Olufsen's BeoVision 10: something awesome in the state of Denmark (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Roku XR adds 802.11n, USB port and a longing for something more

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/roku-xr-adds-802-11n-usb-port-and-a-longing-for-something-more/

Hard though it may be to believe, the Roku has been rockin' the lives of Netflix fanatics for nearly 1.5 years, and if you were thinking an updated version was in order, you'd be on the right train of thought. Images delivered to us today prove that a refreshed iteration is on the horizon, with the Roku XR (model number N1101) retaining the same overall look and feel as the original but adding in niceties like 802.11n wireless support, a USB socket (presumably for loading up media locally) and a 2.5A power input (as opposed to 1.5A). You can also see that the dedicated reset button has been yanked and the bundled remote is exactly the same; in fact, we're told that the old remote controls the Roku XR sans issue. There's no word yet on a price or release date, but we're guessing we'll know significantly more prior to Christmas. Oh, and yeah -- you're not the only one thinking this is quite the underwhelming update, but hey, maybe it'll street for $9.99.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Gallery: Roku XR adds 802.11n, USB port and a longing for something more

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Roku XR adds 802.11n, USB port and a longing for something more originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OCZ's Z-Drive PCI-Express SSD gets exhaustively reviewed

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/oczs-z-drive-pci-express-ssd-gets-exhaustively-reviewed/

Man, talk about a letdown. It's hard to put into mere words just how excited we were about the OCZ Z-Drive when we saw an early prototype shell way back at CeBIT, and now that it's shipping out to affluent users, we've got a remarkably thorough review explaining that it's probably not the dream device we were all hoping for. The good folks over at Hot Hardware managed to slam the Z-Drive m84 into their PCIe slot and run it through a battery of tests, and aside from larger file transfers, there just wasn't a mind-blowing amount of awesomeness to speak of. Critics expected this thing to rival at least an SSD RAID solution driven by a software RAID controller, but for whatever reason, that simply wasn't the case. Hit the read link for more benchmarks than you'd ever care to see on a weekend, and feel free to pocket that plastic.

Filed under: Storage

OCZ's Z-Drive PCI-Express SSD gets exhaustively reviewed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell Adamo Desire gets 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo SL9600, 256GB SSD

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/dell-adamo-desire-gets-2-1ghz-core-2-duo-sl9600-256gb-ssd/

Well, would you look at that? With Dell's 0.39-inch thick Adamo XPS just days from hitting virtual store shelves, the high-end Adamo Desire is undergoing a minor face lift... on the inside. Back in July, the Desire editions (available in Pearl and Onyx hues) stooped to $2,299 and shipped with a 1.4GHz CPU and a 128GB SSD. Today, those same machines are available with a 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo SL9600 processor, 256GB SSD, 4GB of DDR3 RAM and Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit). The best part? The MSRP has remained the same. Huzzah!

[Thanks, Billy]

Filed under: Laptops

Dell Adamo Desire gets 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo SL9600, 256GB SSD originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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