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Monday, September 29, 2008

Completely Test Your BlackBerry Phone for any Problems with this Secret Shortcut

Source: http://www.labnol.org/gadgets/completely-test-blackberry-phone-for-problems/4690/

If you own a BlackBerry mobile phone (or plan to buy one), here’s a very useful shortcut (or can we say Easter Egg) that enables you to perform a complete health checkup of your BlackBerry hardware.

You will be able to test the keys of your BlackBerry keyboard, trackball movements, audio volume, Bluetooth connection, handset, speakers, LED, LCD screen pixels, etc.

blackberry-test To begin the test, click "Options" icon on the home screen of your BlackBerry and then select "Status."

On the status screen, type the wor d "test" without quotes and from the menu on the Device Self Test Application screen, select Start.

If you have a BlackBerry Pearl or another model that supports SureType, use the multi-tap input method to type "test".

As you may have seen in the test report, it says "Fail" for the Keypad Backlight Test on my BlackBerry Curve – that looks like a false positive to me.

Thanks Crackberry and BBNews.

Completely Test Your BlackBerry Phone for any Problems with this Secret Shortcut - Digital Inspiration

1Gbps Fiber-Optic Service Arrives in Japan on October 1 [Intertubes]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/405505333/1gbps-fiber+optic-service-arrives-in-japan-on-october-1

Near-instantaneous porn downloads will soon be possible in Japan thanks to a speedy new, widely available, fiber-optic service from ISP KDDI. The service will offer upload and download speeds (each way) of up to one gigabit per second. The service goes online October 1 for single family homes and low-rise apartment buildings for about $56 a month, and will be considerably higher than the current 100 megabits per second norm most Japanese citizens already enjoy today. If the outcome of the 2008 election doesn't get me to move to another country, these currently untouchable download speeds just might. [Japan Today]

Apple Patent Filing Hints at Distance-Based Bluetooth Pairing [Bluetooth]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/405669478/apple-patent-filing-hints-at-distance+based-bluetooth-pairing

Like two dogs meeting for the first time, it may soon be the case that Apple wireless devices need only catch a whiff of each others' rear ends before they know everything they need to know about the other. All joking aside, Apple really did file a pair of patents recently that would let users pair wireless devices simply by bringing them together. A second patent would allow users to fill in missing address book data simply by making a request through e-mail.

As AppleInsider explains, when using Bluetooth devices together, the process often involves a PIN to prevent those awkward "accidental pairings" or unwanted rogue devices from getting on the peripheral network. PINs, as you may know, are difficult if the item is tiny, as is the case with headsets.

So, Apple proposes in the filing that they would solve this issue "by determining the range of the wireless link between the new device and its host." If the devices get, say, within a foot of each other and are looking for a new link, they'll automatically pair up and possibly exchange data, sans romantic music of any kind. If the devices broke their one-foot or so link, the data transfer would cease.

Bluetooth-o-philes will note that this arrangement is very similar to the 2.1 spec, aka Near Field Communications. With the Apple attempt, however, any standard capable of pairing would work with the device. Apple also introduces a few other new ideas, including a wireless dock or in-car adapter for connecting a cell to a PMP or equivalent.

And in other Apple-related news, the App Store changed its review policy so that only owners of each app could give it a revi! ew. Make s sense! [Apple Insider, Matt Legend]

Megapixel race hits the mobile realm

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/405404699/

Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras

When the megapixel race unofficially started in the point-and-shoot world, it didn't take long before every last camera manufacturer out there was cramming 14-megapixel sensors into any ole pocket cam. Now, it seems the same race is headed to the mobile realm. Of late, we've seen a new batch of 8-megapixel handsets and a 9-megapixel sensor, and a recent interview with LG's sales and marketing director John Barton points to even more of those in the near future. According to him, "the megapixel race that we saw amongst camera makers is now being battled out between mobile manufacturers," hinting that 10+ megapixel phones (not to mention handsets with HD video capability) are closer than we may have imagined. Mmm, the possibilities.

[Via Cell Phone Feeds]

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Press shots of Verizon's BlackBerry Storm surface

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/405899305/

Filed under: Cellphones

So you've already seen what RIM's BlackBerry Storm looks like in Vodafone garb, but if your feeble mind just can't envision what it'd look like with a Verizon logo on there, feast your retinas on this. A few new press shots of the VZW Storm have swooped in, though there's nary a surprise to be found. Still, we know you enjoy gawking, so hit the read link for a few more angles. As for a hard release date? Puhlease.

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Nero LiquidTV / TiVo PC brings TiVo interface to the PC

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/405977326/

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Rejoice, HTPC fans -- that partnership between Nero and TiVo has finally borne fruit in the form of Nero's new LiquidTV / TiVo PC DVR package, which brings the TiVo interface and featureset to Windows. The $199 package comes with a year of TiVo service, a Hauppage USB ATSC tuner, an IR receiver, and a Nero-branded TiVo remote, and does exactly as you'd expect -- it's TiVo on your PC. There are some interesting PC-specific features bolted on the usual kit -- you can navigate using the keyboard and mouse (there are even some nifty contextual menus) and you can export directly to iPod and PSP-compatible .mp4 from within the interface -- but for the most part it's the same TiVo experience you're used to, including streaming shows to and from other TiVos and TiVo PCs. If you're already running an HTPC setup, you can get the TiVo PC software and a year of service for $99, but your Media Center remote might be a little wonky without a remap, and Nero reps didn't make any promises about CableCARD compatibility apart from "it should work if Windows recognizes it." Obviously we'd like to see that firmed up a bit -- and maybe get some tru2way support in the deal -- but it's definitely a start. Should be available now.

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iriver's SPINN up for pre-sale, shipping October 3rd

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/406020585/

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

If you've been seriously jonesing for a viable and attractive alternative to Apple's iPod offerings, you may just be in luck. According to iriver, the geek-lust SPINN PMP will be available -- and shipping -- on October 3rd in both 4GB ($249.99) and 8GB ($289.99) varieties. In case you're unclear on the specs, the unique widescreen device sports a 3.3-inch, 480 x 272 AMOLED display, support for MP3, WMA, OGG, APE, FLAC, AVI, and WMV (amongst other) files, FM tuner, and Bluetooth 2.0. Of course, the devices are destined for XP / Vista setups, and don't feature any of that fancy wireless connectivity users are likely getting used to -- but then again, they certainly don't look like other players on the market.

[Via Pocketables]

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Toshiba's Dynabook NX laptop is sleek, not terribly cheap

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/406100038/

Filed under: Laptops

Hot on the heels of its NB100 netbook, Toshiba is launching another little new laptop -- a 12.1-incher known as the Dynabook NX. The diminutive model comes equipped with a 1280 x 800 display, a 1.2GHz Core 2 Duo CPU, up to 3GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD or 160GB standard hard drive, 802.11b/g/n, and a handful of the expected ports. No solid word on price, though Akihabara News is speculating the HDD version will run you about €1200 (or around $1736), while the SSD model will clock in at a hefty €1930 ($2793). The laptop is due out in late October, so if this sounds like your cup of tea, you might start saving the pennies right now.

[Via Akihabara News]

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Sunday, September 28, 2008

SimpleTech Duo Pro: 4 Interfaces, 3 Terabytes, 2 Drives, 1 Happy Nerd [Storage]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/404304049/simpletech-duo-pro-4-interfaces-3-terabytes-2-drives-1-happy-nerd

There are plenty of dual-hard-drive outboard storage systems on the market, but SimpleTech's Duo Pro struck me as particularly brimming with awesomeness. It's not a NAS—it's totally local—but you have a choice of USB 2.0, FireWire 400 and 800, and eSATA, which clocks a max transfer speed of 3Gb per second. (That's gigabits, not gigabytes.) You can naturally do RAID 0 or 1, and though the current options are a 1TB total for $280, a 1.5TB total for $420 and a 2TB version for $550, you will be able to choose a 3TB config when the winter winds start to blow. Have a look at the back of this in the photo below the jump. [SimpleTech]