Friday, September 19, 2008

iPhone 3G has a hidden data matrix code

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/396347040/

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fsjk85 at the Australian Whirlpool forums was playing around with his camcorder's NightShot function when he found something interesting -- a hidden data matrix code on the left side of the iPhone 3G. We're guessing that's where Apple imprints the serial and IMEI numbers of each handset since it can't exactly hide them under a removable battery (cough), but we'll leave it to the rest of you to decode this sneaky tag and solve the mystery once and for all.

Update:
We just got a much higher-res image of the code -- check it after the break. [Thanks Ben]

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Archos Generation 5 players cracked

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/396389291/

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Archos' Generation 5 players may have been left in the dust by the shiny new Generation 6 players, but they still have quite the fan following, some of whom have been busily doing their best to get around Archos' stock software offerings. Now it seems that one of them, a member of the ArchosFans forums, has finally managed to crack things open by hacking the bootloader, which opens up a number of possibilities including the ability to remove the hard drive volume limitation. It also seems to have had the "side effect" of revealing a few plug-ins that had been previously hidden, including "Screen," and "C" (for Core) above, although they don't appear to be of much use. The workaround apparently won't work on players with a firmware version higher than 1.7.13 though, and there aren't exactly any clear instructions for modding your own just yet, but those that really know what they're doing can try to follow along by hitting up the read link below.

[Via Archos Lounge]
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Ion Audio SLIDES 2 PC does what it promises

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/396466868/

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Ion Audio has already provided some means for transferring your tapes and records to your PC, and it's now doing the same for the stacks of 35mm slides collecting dust in your closet. Not exactly the most unique device, to be sure, but at just $100 its new SLIDES 2 PC unit is a good deal cheaper than your average slide scanner, and its 5-megapixel resolution should be more than adequate for the average user that'll likely burn through their entire slide collection and never lay eyes on the thing again. It also promises to get the job done fairly quickly, with it scanning each slide in one or two seconds at the push of a button, and employing some automatic exposure and color balance measures to cut down on the tweaking required afterwards.

[Via Everything USB]
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ASUS N Series: at long last, a laptop with a built in 'Air Ionizer'

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/396509440/

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Yesterday we finally got our hands on the N10 non-netbook, and today we'll be taking a look at the rest of the N Series lineup. There's a little something for everybody here, from the mobility-minded N10 to the higher-end N50. The models include Express Gate, and we're looking forward to finding out if the Super Hybrid Engine power management is all it's cracked up to be. All N Series models also include the SmartLogon facial recognition system (for those of you who are too busy to type a password), but so far the N50 is the only ASUS offering with a built in "Air Ionizer." Check out each machine in detail after the break.

[Thanks, Kunal]

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Sanyo's 120Hz PLV-Z3000 1080p projector: $3,295 for USers

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/396582132/

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Thanks to Sanyo's quick-fingered Japanese branch, you already know the basics on the PLV-Z3000. For those that missed out, it's being hailed as the industry's very first 5:5 pull down beamer with a 120Hz Full HD panel. Furthermore, it boasts a 65,000:1 contrast ratio, TopazReal HD 3D color management technology, a pair of HDMI 1.3 inputs and 1,200 ANSI lumens. The best news here is the US price -- the converted yen amount is actually a fair bit higher than what Sanyo plans on charging in greenbacks, though $3,295 will still be tough to part with come December.
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Thinkpad X200t and X200s announced

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/396642573/

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Lenonvo's ThinkPad X200t tablet finally made the trip Stateside after hiding out in Hong Kong for the past few weeks, and it's brought a little friend with it -- the X200s laptop. As expected, the X200t replaces the X61t, and specs for the new machines are right in line with that transition: available processors range from a 1.2GHz SU9300 Core 2 Duo to a 1.86GHz SL9400 chip, RAM maxes out a 4GB, there's a 128GB Samsung SSD option, graphics are integrated GMA 4500MHD, and WWAN, WiMAX and UWB are optional. Notable changes from the the X61t in particular include a dual swivel hinge, an LED backit 1280 x 800 screen, and claimed 50% improvement in battery life to 15 hours, reduced touch pressure with a Wacom digitizer, and built-in GPS when the WWAN option is ordered. Prices should start at $2325 when these start going out in October, less for the X200s -- we'll have a hands-on for you ASAP, but there's a vid after the break to hold you over.

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Toshiba launches three XDE upscaling DVRs

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/396642572/

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Toshiba's going to have to eventually wake up and realize that consumers want to watch actual HD content on their HD displays instead of just upscaled SD, but until that happens we'd better get used to seeing a lot more devices featuring the company's Super Resolution Technology / XDE upscaling tech -- we've already got REGZA HDTVs and the XD-E500 DVD player, and now it's three new Vardia DVRs. The ¥140,000 ($1,339) RD-X8 (pictured) is the top of the line unit with Deep Color HDMI output, a 1TB drive, dual-layer burner, and MPEG-4 / H.264 support, while the ¥100,000 ($956) RD-S503 and ¥80,000 ($765) RD-S303 are 500GB / 320GB models that drop the Deep Color outputs. No word on whether these will make the jump to the States, but without CableCARD slots we doubt they'll be in huge demand.

[Via Electronista]
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Acoustic Research doles out ARNC01 noise-canceling earbuds

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/396661158/

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Audiovox's extravaganza is closing up with the introduction of the Acoustic Research ARNC01 ($59.99) earbuds, which promise to use whiz-bang active processing to reduce noise for airline addicts and those with a crib full of rambunctious youngsters. The circuitry is housed in an in-line module with an On / Off button and a compartment for a single AAAA (yes, AAAA) battery, which should last you around 50 hours. You know, plenty of time to head off to Akihabara and back for a few new Japanese exclusives.
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RCA unveils 4GB / 8GB Lyra Slider PMP

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/396661162/

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Whoa, wait up. You're telling us Audiovox hasn't abandoned the RCA Lyra moniker entirely? Storming back from the grave the unknown is the Lyra Slider, a PMP that could definitely go for $29.99 on contract from any major carrier with just a dial-pad and a CDMA radio. As it stands, this media player arrives with 4GB or 8GB of capacity and plays back audio, video, FM radio and photo slideshows. Furthermore, you'll find an integrated voice / media recorder, USB 2.0 port and a rechargeable battery good for up to 50 hours of music playback or 8 hours of video playback. Look for this to show up later in the fall for $79.99 (4GB) / $99.99 (8GB).
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RCA takes EZ300HD Small Wonder camcorder to 720p

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/396661163/

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We won't front -- we weren't, how do you say, blown away with RCA's Small Wonder trio announced earlier this year, but we'll give this one a fighting chance. The EZ300HD can capture clips at 720p on the 2GB of internal storage or on any spare SD card you've laying around. You'll also find a 2.4-inch LCD, a low-res YouTube recording mode and a sure-to-be-awesome 4x digital zoom. Operation is supposedly dead-simple, and there's a USB port and video output just in case you feel like blowin' it up on the big screen. Grab it real soon for $159.99.

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ASUS AiGuru SV1 Skype videophone hands-on

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/396834494/

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Sure, it's frumpy, overpriced and rather pointless for anyone who owns a computer with a webcam and knows how to use it, but ASUS and Skype are after the grandma / grandpa / computerphobic set with this here AiGuru SV1 videophone, and aren't doing horrible job of it. The screen is great, the icons are ginormous, and operation couldn't be much simpler. Unfortunately, the video quality is pretty inexcusable for a dedicated box like this: the VGA image is crap, and the framerate is totally weak -- it could've been a problem with the network we were on, but it looked like a straight-up wired router to us. What gives, ASUS?
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Lenovo X200t swivel tablet hands-on

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/396854130/

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We're torn. Lenovo kicks ass in the tablet space, and the X200t is no exception to that rule, but we were hoping for a little more "X200" and a little less traditional Lenovo tablet action. Compared to its straight-up X200 namesake, the X200t is mega heavy, due to a different battery, screen and internals. It's not that it's bad, it's just a letdown compared to the insanely great engineering that Lenovo poured into the X300 and X200. We're also a little miffed that Lenovo hasn't worked out a capacitive touch option yet, though they claim that the X200t's dual-purpose touchscreen has been improved, including a method for switching off touch automatically when the pen is in close proximity to the screen, to allow for some palm resting. They were just showing pen-only units this evening, so we didn't get to test that out. Everything else is traditional love-it-or-hate-it ThinkPad design, quality and touchpad-freeness.
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Lexar's "Shoot-n-Sync" Eye-Fi card in the flesh

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/396899685/

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We know, it's so exciting.
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Thursday, September 18, 2008

Phone Jacks, Be Gone! One In Five May Go Mobile-Only

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.san&s=90844&Nid=47414&p=958345

by Mark Walsh, Thursday, Sep 18, 2008 7:00 AM ET
phone jack being cutHard-wired phones may increasingly become a victim of the tightening U.S. economy as consumers look for new ways to cut spending.

A new Nielsen Mobile study indicates that one in five U.S. wireless households could be wireless-only by the end of 2008. Already 20 million households, or 17%, are abandoning land-line phones in favor of mobile ones. That's up from only 8.5% in 2005.

With landline connections costing $40 monthly on average, Nielsen surmises the downturn is likely to turn more consumers into "cord-cutters."

"As wireless network quality improves and unlimited calling becomes increasingly pervasive, we expect the trend toward wireless substitution to continue," said Alison LeBreton, vice president of client services for Nielsen Mobile, in a statement. "In a tightening economy every dollar counts, and consumers are more and more comfortable with the idea of ditching their landline connection."

Underlying that assumption is that the majority of cord-cutters are at the lower end of the economic scale. Nearly 60% have household incomes of $40,000 or less, and 55% are renters rather than homeowners. They also skew younger, with 64% in the 18- to-34-year-old age range.

Not surprisingly, wireless-only adopters use their mobile phones 45% more than wireline subscribers. But they still save an average of $33 a month.

Among the biggest benefactors of the wireless-only migration have been regional service providers such as Cricket and Metro PCS, which began offering fixed-price, unlimited calling plans well before the major carriers joined that trend this year.

But the spread of all-you-can-eat plans will only further encourage people to give up their land lines. Among four the major U.S. carriers, Sprint and T-Mobile are more likely to count cord-cutters among their customers.

Nielsen points out, however, that opting out of traditional phone service doesn't always work out. The study found that 10% of land-line phone users said they were previous cord-cutters who had reconnected. These "cord-menders" came back because they needed the land line for another service, bundled it with other services, or because it was too costly or unsatisfactory to go mobile-only.

Beyond phone lines, what's the next cord to be cut? Nielsen found that wireless-only users are less likely to have satellite TV than average households (16% to 27%) and more likely to have broadcast TV (15% to 12%). They also represent the same demographic that reports watching TV on their PCs.

"Some wireless substitutors may, therefore, also forego the costs of cable or satellite TV by plugging their PC directly into a television to stream video, although the vast majority of all households continue to subscribe to some form of television service," the report concluded.

Mark Walsh can be reached at walsh@mediapost.com

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Turn Gmail into a Tagged Knowledge Base [Gmail]

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/394594817/turn-gmail-into-a-tagged-knowledge-base

Blogger and information junkie Steve Rubel details how he uses Gmail as a taggable, searchable knowledge base using previously mentioned tricks and tools like Gmail plus addresses, the Ubiquity Firefox extension, and Gmail Labs Quick Links. It's a fantastic system, not only because it works perfectly with apps you already live in (namely Gmail), but also because you can save and tag an entire web page in a few keystrokes. Likewise, you can access the information quickly and easily with Gmail's excellent search. I recently detailed how you can expand your brain with Evernote, a free, cross-platform note-taking application, but if you live and breath Gmail, Rubel's methods (which improve on similar Gmail solutions we've seen before) are worth a try.


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