Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Monday, December 08, 2008

SIM / hardware-unlocked Android Dev Phone 1 surfaces for $399

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/05/sim-hardware-unlocked-android-dev-phone-1-surfaces-for-399/

Oh, snap! Out of seemingly nowhere, Google has revealed the Android Dev Phone 1, a SIM- and hardware-unlocked G1 designed to be sold exclusively to hard working developers. The handset ships with a system image that's fully compatible with Android 1.0, and obviously, it complies with any SIM card and can "flash custom Android builds that will work with the unlocked bootloader." In other words, the mobile should seriously appeal to devs who live far, far away from areas blanketed with T-Mobile coverage. In order to get one, you must first register as an Android developer on the Android Market site (which involves a one-time $25 setup fee); once you're in, you simply surf over and nail the "Purchase" link. For $399 (including free shipping in the US of A), this swanky G1 -- custom back and all -- can be yours, and it's scheduled to ship in 18 international markets soon. Would it be too much to yell "snap!" again?

[Thanks, Ryan]

Gallery: SIM / hardware-unlocked Android Dev Phone 1 surfaces for $399

Filed under: Cellphones

SIM / hardware-unlocked Android Dev Phone 1 surfaces for $399 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 23:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sharp introduces PG-F255W 720p DLP projector for under $1,000

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/06/sharp-introduces-pg-f255w-720p-dlp-projector-for-under-1-000/

Nah, it's no 1080p, but if 720p will do ya, Sharp's got a new one you should consider. The PG-F255W DLP beamer packs a WXGA resolution (1,280 x 800), BrilliantColor technology, 2,500 ANSI lumens, a 2,200:1 contrast ratio, DVI / VGA inputs, integrated speakers, RS-232C / USB sockets, Ethernet and a variable audio line-out. The PJ is geared for more commercial applications (think education, churches, board rooms, etc.), but we don't see any reason why it won't handle your home cinema needs just fine. It's available this month for "under $1,000," which probably means $999.99 plus applicable sales tax.

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Sharp introduces PG-F255W 720p DLP projector for under $1,000 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Dec 2008 01:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer ships 22-inch B223 DisplayLink USB monitor in Europe

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/06/acer-ships-22-inch-b223-displaylink-usb-monitor-in-europe/

The whole DisplayLink thing still hasn't completely caught fire or anything, but it's getting there -- slowly, but surely. Now, Acer has a new USB-connected monitor that's shipping in Europe, the 22-inch B223. The unit is part of the outfit's B series of monitors and features a decidedly ho hum 1,680 x 1,050 resolution, a DL-160 network display chip that enables up to six of these to be connected to a single PC and a 5-millisecond response time. You should definitely expect a premium when getting all this USB-y functionality, but €339 ($430) just seems, how do you say... outrageous?

[Via Electronista]

Filed under: Displays

Acer ships 22-inch B223 DisplayLink USB monitor in Europe originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Dec 2008 07:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Moritz Waldemeyer's keyhole surgery box tests your nerves

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/06/moritz-waldemeyers-keyhole-surgery-box-tests-your-nerves/

Okay, so let's get on the same page here: Operation. Now that we're all focused on that goofy looking guy flat on a table before we all lost our innocence in this Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, let us introduce you to Moritz Waldemeyer's crafty little box. Simply dubbed keyhole surgery, the device is more or less a 3D version of the aforementioned board game, designed to see just how steady you can hold the key and complete the puzzle without brushing up against the wall. We get this idea this is one of those "easier said than done" thingamajigs, wouldn't you agree?

[Via Unplggd]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Moritz Waldemeyer's keyhole surgery box tests your nerves originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Dec 2008 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP Mini 1000 to get $40 price cut

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/06/hp-mini-1000-to-get-40-price-cut/

What's this? A $40 price cut on an item that's likely on at least one gift list that you're currently staring at? Huzzah! Unless, of course, you're one of those proactive individuals who went out and already nabbed one. In all seriousness, Laptoping has reportedly received an email notification from Hewlett-Packard that the sleek and sexy Mini 1000 netbook will stoop to $359.99 starting tomorrow. That'll net you a 10-inch panel, Atom N270 CPU (1.6GHz), 1GB of RAM, an 8GB SSD, 3-cell battery and Windows XP Home. There's no word on whether the stylish Vivienne Tam Edition will receive a drop of her own, but we wouldn't count on it (yet).

Filed under: Laptops

HP Mini 1000 to get $40 price cut originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Advent Eco PC gets photographed, tested

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/07/advent-eco-pc-gets-photographed-tested/

After the latest green PC (that'd be the Advent Eco PC, pictured above) launched in late September, we don't suspect too many Britons rushed out to get one. Why? 'Cause the £600 ($880) list price has already sunk to around £440 ($646). If that figure is a little more in your budget, you might want to give the read link a look. The critics over at Techcast Network found the design to be fairly attractive, the keyboard to be a touch cramped (and unnecessarily wireless) and the performance to be "nothing to write home about." Comically enough, they also point out that an Atom CPU would've probably increased the "greenness," and quite frankly, this machine lacks the raw horsepower necessary to adequately handle Windows Vista. But hey, there's lots of pretty pictures to glance at below even if you've no interest in bringing one home.

Filed under: Desktops

Advent Eco PC gets photographed, tested originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 07 Dec 2008 05:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel talks up self-powered sensors that do just about everything

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/07/intel-talks-up-self-powered-sensors-that-do-just-about-everythin/

If you're gonna dream, you might as well dream ~~big~~ huge, right? Intel's not only looking to blanket vast rural areas with WiFi, it's also looking to spread self-powered sensors, um, everywhere. Dubbed the wireless identification and sensing platform (WISP), the initiative could eventually place remarkably efficient microchips in human bodies, on mobile phones, public infrastructures, at airports and practically anywhere else where information needs to be gathered. The highly flexible solution is currently being perfected in the Intel labs and isn't apt to hit the commercial realm for at least three to five years; which is great, since we're still learning to deal with the world's obsession with CCTV.

[Image courtesy of Berkeley]

Filed under: Wireless, Networking

Intel talks up self-powered sensors that do just about everything originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 07 Dec 2008 10:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Inspiron 1545 outed on Dell's support site

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/07/inspiron-1545-outed-on-dells-support-site/

The kids over at Engadget Spanish ran some pics of a new Dell laptop a short while back, and now the company itself has leaked some stats and info on its support site. Apparently, the device -- dubbed the Inspiron 1545 -- will boast a 15.6-inch widescreen, a Core 2 Duo processor (max 2.53GHz), up to 4GB memory and will ship with either Vista or Ubuntu. There's more to it than that, of course -- hit the read link for some docs and make sure you check out the gallery for more info.

[Via Engadget Spanish; Thanks, AWWang]

Gallery: Dell Inspiron 1545

Filed under: Laptops

Inspiron 1545 outed on Dell's support site originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 07 Dec 2008 16:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is stripped user agent data pointing to a Google OS?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/07/is-stripped-user-agent-data-pointing-to-a-google-os/

Here we go again. It seems like just yesterday we heard the first whispers of a Google desktop OS, and products like Chrome stoke suspicions that the Mountain View-based company is setting itself up to invade the PC. Although Google insists that it's focusing on the cloud, since Android was announced, the feasibility of a Google-branded desktop OS has certainly increased. Now, market research firm Net Applications is reporting that it has seen a third of the traffic from Google's employees with intentionally blocked identification strings. This could be a real indicator that the big G is hard at work on a desktop OS -- or just a sign that folks at Google don't care to share their OS of choice. Hopefully, we'll be hearing more sooner rather than later, but feel free to chime in with your Google global domination theories and rabid speculation in the comments.

[Via Boy Genius Report]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Is stripped user agent data pointing to a Google OS? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 07 Dec 2008 20:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gennum develops in-wire technology for 100-foot DisplayPort cables

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/08/gennum-develops-in-wire-technology-for-100-foot-displayport-cabl/

Now that DisplayPort is becoming more of a household name (like it or not), we're thrilled to see someone making sure we can run an external monitor from more than a stone's throw away. Gennum has stepped in with its ActiveConnect DisplayPort solution, which embeds a small semiconductor within a DisplayPort cable to actively push signals up to 30-meters (around 100-feet) without the need for a costly, cumbersome extender box. There's no word yet on which interconnect companies have signed on to produce these sophisticated strands, but we'd expect to hear more by the time CES 2009 gets underway. Full release is after the break.

Continue reading Gennum develops in-wire technology for 100-foot DisplayPort cables

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals

Gennum develops in-wire technology for 100-foot DisplayPort cables originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix HD streaming comes to TiVo

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/08/netflix-hd-streaming-comes-to-tivo/

Man, if we aren't careful, Netflix is going to turn into a behemoth right before our very eyes. The company once known for taking physical discs right to your mailbox is now getting all sorts of attention for its workings in the online delivery space, and if you thought hooking up with Microsoft was hot stuff, have a listen at this. Starting today, Series 3, TiVo HD and TiVo HD XL owners can access thousands of Netflix movies on their set-top-box, and better still, these same owners can access a growing library of high-def titles. Of course, this new functionality comes at no additional cost, though you will need a Netflix account to take advantage. So Netflix, what's next? Infiltrating DirecTV / DISH Network boxes? Seeping inside of our actual TV sets? Breathing new life into the Atari Jaguar? Full release is after the break.

Continue reading Netflix HD streaming comes to TiVo

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Netflix HD streaming comes to TiVo originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zepto takes the wraps off its 12.1-inch Notus A12 ultraportable

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/08/zepto-takes-the-wraps-off-its-12-1-inch-notus-a12-ultraportable/

Zepto's been progressively taking its notebooks down in size for a little bit now, and while the 14-inch Nox A14 is certainly portable, the Notus A12 takes things a step or two further by squeezing a full-fledged computer into a chassis barely bigger than... an ink pen, or something like that. Anywho, the 12.1-inch machine packs a WXGA (1,280 x 800) panel, 800MHz Intel processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, an 80GB 4,200RPM hard drive, gigabit Ethernet, WiFi and the usual array of ports for €1068.59 ($1,360). Those scouting for a bit more oomph can certainly get that for a few more bills, but the real kicker here is the five to ten hours of battery life. 'Course, actually achieving those figures could be a challenge.

[Thanks, Jamil]

Filed under: Laptops

Zepto takes the wraps off its 12.1-inch Notus A12 ultraportable originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 07:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audioengine puts wires out of work with AW2 wireless iPod adapter

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/08/audioengine-puts-wires-out-of-work-with-aw2-wireless-ipod-adapte/

Earlier this year, Audioengine rolled out the practically universal AW1 wireless audio adapter, and we certainly enjoyed our time with it. Now, the outfit is making the anticipated leap to iPod-dom with the sequentially named AW2. Put simply, the kit contains two main pieces: a transmitter that plugs easily into your dock-connecting 'Pod and a USB-based receiver with a 3.5-millimeter auxiliary jack. The system operates on the WiFi frequency band and promises no dropouts, static or interference from CB radios whizzing by your domicile. We should mention, however, that you'll pay quite dearly for the privilege of beaming your tunes sans cables, though it's available now for those who don't mind at $169.

[Via GadgetReview]

Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio, Wireless

Audioengine puts wires out of work with AW2 wireless iPod adapter originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Chrome Extensions On the Way, Adblock Imminent [Google Chrome]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/pSiZJ47pLYQ/chrome-extensions-on-the-way-adblock-imminent

Google has published official documentation detailing their plans to bring extensions to their beta web browser Chrome. When we asked you a few months back whether Chrome with extensions would convince you to switch, 28% said yes, while a whopping 22% of you said that as long as an Adblock extension never reached Chrome, you wouldn't use it. A previous announcement should have already satisfied the first group, but if you were in the Adblock crowd, you'll be happy to know that one of the highlighted uses for Google Chrome extensions is content filtering, including "Adblock, Flashblock, Privacy control, and Parental control." Sounds like Google's moving in the right direction if they want to snag more early adopters. Now we just need to see more progress for the Mac and Linux crowd.

Extensions (Chromium Developer Documentation) [via CNET]

Songbird 1.0 Release Official, Fixes Bugs, Plays iTunes Purchases [Featured Download]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/Mosm8HqQgsU/songbird-10-release-official-fixes-bugs-plays-itunes-purchases

Windows/Mac/Linux: The long-awaited cross-platform media player Songbird officially reaches its 1.0 release today. The open-source application—built on the same platform as Firefox—promises to bring exciting new innovations to a software jukebox market that has become arguably quite stale. Like Firefox, Songbird is extensible, meaning that users can customize the look, feel, and features of Songbird to their heart's content. We took you on a screenshot tour of Songbird last month, and from a feature standpoint, not much has changed. From a functionality standpoint, Songbird has gotten much, much better.

The first release candidate had a lot to be excited about, but unfortunately it was rife with errors in my tests. The official 1.0 release fixes most if not all of the bugs I came across in my initial review, which is very promising. The footprint is still a little unwieldy, weighing in at just over 100MB of RAM on the Windows PC I tested it on.

The default installation also suggests installing a new add-on (new in the sense that it wasn't suggested in the release candidate I tested) called QuickTime Playback that supports playing back music you've purchased from the iTunes Music Store—a killer feature that, in conjunction with the iPod sync add-on, would allow even the hardcore iTunes user to switch.

If you want a closer look at what you can do with Songbird and what sets it apart from your stock media player, check out our previous screenshot tour and Songbir! d's demo screencasts. Whether you're a regular Songbird user or you're trying it out for the first time today, share your Songbird experience in the comments.

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