Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Addonics Adapter Turns Any USB Storage Device Into a NAS Server [Storage]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Ml31nqRMDeA/addonics-adapter-turns-any-usb-storage-device-into-a-nas-server

For only $55, Addonics claims that this tiny gadget can easily turn any USB storage device into a full-fledged Network Attached Storage (NAS) server with support for both SMB and FTP access.

All you have to do is pop it into your USB storage drive (also works as a print server), attach an Ethernet line to your router and you are ready to start serving up media over the network. It even features Bit-Torrent compatibility, so you can send downloaded media files directly to your storage unit no matter where you are.

Features:

* Convert any USB 2.0 / 1.1 mass storage device into a Network Attached Storage device
* Great for adding Addonics Storage Tower, Storage Rack or any Addonics USB storage device onto the network
* Great for creating a custom Network Attached Storage appliance.
* USB port can be used to power most 2.5" USB hard drives or any low powered USB storage device.
* Support Fast Ethernet 10/100Mbps.
* Simple to install
* Small and light weight. Size slightly longer than a C size battery. Can be installed practically anywhere
* Can be set as DHCP server or client.
* Support Samba server for up to 64 concurrent clients.
* Support FTP server for up to 8 concurrent users.
* Can be set as a print server to attach any USB printer to the network
* Built-in Bit Torrent client for direct download to the attached USB storage device
* Can be set as a UPnP AV server to share photo/music files stored on the file server with XBOX 360 video game consoles connected to the LAN
* User management to allow read only or read/write access to folders
* Administrative management access via web browser with password security.
* Compatible with all Windows OS, Mac OS, Linux 2.6.x and above

[A ddonics via eHomeUpgrade via Crunchgear]

BlackBerry: $20, McCain-Palin's Contacts: Priceless [BlackBerry]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/KwaMc-RBdjw/blackberry-20-mccain+palins-contacts-priceless

In order to get back some of the money spent on the McCain-Palin campaign, items from the campaign were sold today at a yard sale, including a $20 BlackBerry, fully loaded with confidential information.

When reporters from Fox 5 stopped by the McCain-Palin headquarters today, they were excited to find BlackBerry phones being sold for $20 each. Because the phones came with dead batteries and no chargers, it was only after the reporters had returned to their office and had charged the phones when they realized what $20 actually bought them.

Hundreds of e-mails from early September through early November, and more than 50 phone numbers—including private cell phone numbers belonging to politicians, campaign leaders and journalists—had been left on one of the BlackBerry phones. Whoops! Not to worry though—after the McCain-Palin campaign had been notified, they assured everyone that procedures were being carried out to fix the situation. [MyFox]

Acer Aspire One goes official on AT&T's 3G network

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/11/acer-aspire-one-goes-official-on-atandts-3g-network/

Hey, remember that Acer Aspire One equipped with on-board 3G we spied in a Radio Shack ad the other day? Well guess what? It's real -- and we've got the PR to prove it. Just as expected, the netbook is being offered for the teensy price of $99.99 (coupled with a lengthy and expensive contract with AT&T). The diminutive laptop comes equipped with a single mind-blowing gigabyte of memory and a decently sizeable 160GB hard drive. Besides doing its mobile broadband thing, it also sports 802.11b/g, weighs in at 2.44 lbs., and will never, ever seem worth it in the long run.

Filed under: Laptops

Acer Aspire One goes official on AT&T's 3G network originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ThinkLogical debuts Velocity USB KVM -- with a 25-mile range

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/11/thinklogical-debuts-velocity-usb-kvm-with-a-25-mile-range/

Okay, we can't actually think of a single reason why you'd need a KVM switch with a max range of 25 freaking miles, but we do know it's pretty insane that such a product even exists. Built on top of an Icron ExtremeUSB chipset, the ThinkLogical VelocityKVM can pipe two 1920 x 1200 DVI signals, USB 1.1, serial, PS2 and stereo audio up to 40 kilometers over single-mode fiber with no loss in quality, and can be upgraded to support USB 2.0 as well. ThinkLogical doesn't even begin to list prices on its site, which probably means you'll need some deep pockets to get in on the action -- uh, yeah, we'll stick to VNC for now, thanks.

[Via Wired]

Filed under: Peripherals

ThinkLogical debuts Velocity USB KVM -- with a 25-mile range originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grasshopper-inspired Jollbot rolls, collapses, jumps, won't mutate and attack Chicago

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/12/grasshopper-inspired-jollbot-rolls-collapses-jumps-wont-muta/

You know how the saying goes: "You've seen one grasshopper robot, you've seen 'em all." Well, actually, the one pictured above, called the Jollbot, is something kind of off the beaten path, even for grasshopper bots. The creation of PhD student Rhodri Armour at the University of Bath (yeah, the resort town with the natural hot springs), this robot is pretty multi-talented. Designed to be adept at handling multiple types of terrain, the Jollbot can jump up to a half meter in the air to avoid obstacles, but its spherical "cage" shape also allows it to roll in any direction. The robot uses electrical motors and stores energy in its skeleton. Just before a jump, the Jollbot collapses in on itself, then releases its energy in the jump. Armour theorizes that future versions of the machine could be solar powered. To see the robot in all of its glory, you'll probably want to check out the video after the break.

[Via TFOT]

Continue reading Grasshopper-inspired Jollbot rolls, collapses, jumps, won't mutate and attack Chicago

Filed under: Robots

Grasshopper-inspired Jollbot rolls, collapses, jumps, won't mutate and attack Chicago originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 01:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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$249 CherryPal cloud PC taken for a listless spin

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/12/249-cherrypal-cloud-pc-taken-for-a-spin/

Well what do you know, a real live CherryPal has finally made it into the wilds. TGDaily has the honors of having a first look at the $249 cloud computer. While impressed by the small size and fanless design, the build quality was "flimsy" making the device feel very much like pre-production product. The Xubuntu-based PC with Xfce desktop instantly recognized and connected to the reviewers WiFi network for quick login to the CherryPal cloud. Great, but things fell apart when loading Firefox onto the 400MHz Freescale processor -- the sluggish response experienced is a critical fail for a PC whose applications are stored in the cloud. Something that might be sorted out in future builds of Firefox... or not.

Filed under: Desktops

$249 CherryPal cloud PC taken for a listless spin originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: First look at Netgear's EVA9000 streaming YouTube in HD

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/12/video-first-look-at-netgears-eva9000-streaming-youtube-in-hd/

Now that the FCC has forced its hand, Netgear has become rather forthcoming with information about its new EVA9000-series Digital Entertainer Elite box set to be launched at CES. Today we get a first (brief) look at the rather svelte user interface driving YouTube 720p video over an 802.11n dual-band WiFi network. That's a good start, but there'd better be more content than just YouTube and Flickr before we lay down $400 for yet another living room box. Video after the break.

[Via eHomeUpgrade]

Continue reading Video: First look at Netgear's EVA9000 streaming YouTube in HD

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Video: First look at Netgear's EVA9000 streaming YouTube in HD originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 06:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia to launch HSPA modems in early 2009 -- take that Intel

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/12/nokia-to-launch-hspa-modems-in-early-2009-take-that-intel/

After failing to reach terms with Intel to put Nokia's HSDPA data chip inside Santa Rosa laptops back in early 2007, Nokia is going it alone. Tapio Markki, Nokia's vice president for hardware platform components, told Reuters that Nokia will ship its first HSPA "Internet stick" (we presume that means USB and PC Card formats) in early 2009. Nokia would not provide price, only that its modems would be primarily sold through operators or bundled with services. More data is more better as they say in Espoo. No, really.

Update: It looks like the stick in question is the CS-10 announced last week at Nokia World which you can check out on the Nokia site.

Filed under: Wireless

Nokia to launch HSPA modems in early 2009 -- take that Intel originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cellphone jammer crammed into key fob, ends texting / talking while driving

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/12/cellphone-jammer-crammed-into-key-fob-ends-texting-talking-wh/

Face it, kids. You missed the best time to be a teenager by around five or so years. As it stands now, technology is cutting into that adolescent fun, with device like Ford's MyKey and this one here ensuring that you're actually safe behind the wheel. In all seriousness, the terribly named Key2SafeDriving is a fine concept (at least in the parent's eye), as it fuses a cellphone jammer (of sorts) into a key fob in order to put the kibosh on freeway conversations. Essentially, the signal blocking kicks into action anytime the "key" portion is flicked out, connecting to a handset via Bluetooth or RFID and forcing it into "driving mode." No actual jamming, per se, is going on; it's more like a manual override of the ringer. Anyone who phones / texts you while you're safely driving will receive an automated response informing them of such, though we are told that handsfree devices can be utilized. Researchers at the University of Utah are hoping to see it on the market within six months via a private company "at a cost of less than $50 per key plus a yet-undetermined monthly service fee."

[Via Gadgets-Weblog]

Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation

Cellphone jammer crammed into key fob, ends texting / talking while driving originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use! of feed s.

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Toshiba goes bonkers with Qosmio laptop upgrades: GX, FX and SpursEngine G50

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/12/toshiba-goes-bonkers-with-qosmio-laptop-upgrades-gx-fx-and-spu/

Hang tight, kiddos -- Toshiba's about to take you on a wild, unpredictable ride through the untamed wilderness where Qosmios are born. The outfit has just unleashed some 20 new Dynabook models over in Japan, with the most notable additions coming in the gamer-oriented Qosmio FX (15.4-inch) and GX (18.4-inch) and the SpursEngine-equipped G50 (18.4-inch). The GX / FX models boast a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo P8600 CPU, NVIDIA's GeForce 9600M GT, 4GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive. As for the G50, you'll find most of the same specs, though the inclusion of a SpursEngine graphics system, an extra 250GB hard drive, a digital TV tuner, four USB ports, an eSATA socket, 1.3-megapixel camera, a fingerprint sensor and a dual-layer DVD burner makes it a touch more special. As for pricing on these three, expect 'em to cost between ¥210,000 ($2,327) and ¥340,000 ($3,767), and we're told the whole family will be available before the year's end.

[Via Impress]

Filed under: Laptops

Toshiba goes bonkers with Qosmio laptop upgrades: GX, FX and SpursEngine G50 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 10:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EFi-X USA decides to tempt Apple's lawyers, will start shipping OS X-capable machines

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/12/efi-x-decides-to-tempt-apples-lawyers-will-start-shipping-os-x/

We've always been intrigued by the EFI-X dongle that fools OS X into running on stock Intel machines, Software Update and all, and now it looks like ~~the company~~ a company called EFi-X USA is taking things one step further -- it's planning on shipping pre-built machines capable of running Apple's OS. The EFi-X Millennium 4 will sport an overclocked 3.8GHz Core 2 Quad, 4GB of RAM, and a GeForce 8800 GTS graphics card in an Antec P180 case, all for $1,899 plus the $199 EFi-X dongle. The idea is to avoid any Psystar-style legal troubles by leaving the purchase and installation of OS X up to the end user, but apparently no one at EFi-X USA has talked to a lawyer or even read our previous posts on the matter, since Apple's lawsuit against Psystar turns as much on contributory and induced copyright infringement as it does on Psystar's direct violation of Apple's OS X EULA. In other words, it's illegal to sell a product expressly designed to allow customers to infringe copyrights -- a principle Napster and Grokster made famous, you'll recall. Plus we're pretty certain there's a DMCA argument in there since the EFi-X dongle circumvents Apple's protections on OS X -- the validity of which Psystar is actually testing in its revised countersuit. We'll see how it goes -- we're seriously worried that these companies are doing far more harm to the OSx86 scene than good.

P.S.- Oh, and honestly, Apple, if you want this entire headache to go away,! all you have to do is produce a reasonably-priced, configurable midrange tower. Think about it.

Update: We've just been pinged by the original EFi-X team, who tell us that EFi-X USA has nothing to do with them, that they have no plans to sell actual machines, and that they strongly disapprove of EFi-X USA. Shades of Psystar's use of netkas's work on OSx86 without permission, we'd say -- shady shady.

[Thanks, Mark]

Filed under: Desktops

EFi-X USA decides to tempt Apple's lawyers, will start shipping OS X-capable machines originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony's long awaited touchscreen Walkman finally revealed?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/12/sonys-long-awaited-touchscreen-walkman-finally-revealed/

Sony's Walkman series of media players has done its best to keep stride, stuffing in new features and design refinements over the years, but touchscreen-dominated players are clearly in vogue, and it looks like the company is finally ready to break down and get touchable. According to the Sony stalkers over at Sony Insider, there will be 16 and 32GB touchscreen Walkman players at CES 2009 this coming January. The literal and figurative centerpiece is to be a 3-inch OLED display (possibly that 3.3-inch panel making the rounds, or something more Sony specific), running a touch interface with many similarities to the current Walkman players. Also slated for inclusion is WiFi, enabling a YouTube app, over the air podcast downloads, built-in access to Amazon's MP3 store and an unspecified web browser. The shots of the player above are obviously mockups, and the real hardware is supposed to have physical music control buttons -- and hopefully hold to some sort of reality-based conception of scale. All this info is exclusive to the Sony Insider ninjas, so we can't vouch for its veracity, but it's an obvious and welcome move from Sony, so we won't look a gift rumor in the mouth.

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Sony's long awaited touchscreen Walkman finally revealed? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS rolls out four new VH-series 16:9 LCD monitors

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/12/asus-rolls-out-four-new-vh-series-16-9-lcd-monitors/

It's sometimes easy to forget that ASUS actually makes a whole host of non-Eee branded products, but the company has reminded us of is roots today with four new VH-series LCD monitors, each of which boast the desirable-to-some 16:9 aspect ratio. Those include the 18.5-inch VH192 model, the 21.5-inch VH222 and VH226 models, and the 23.6-inch VH242, the first of which packs a 1366x768 resolution while the latter three all offer full 1080p. All four also boast ASUS' "Smart Contrast Ratio" technology to deliver numbers from 10,000:1 to 20,000:1, and all but the low-end VH192 include an HDMI port, along with built-in speakers and, of course, the usual VGA and DVI ports. The VH226 also distinguishes itself a bit further with a slightly better 2ms response rate and a glossy finish. No word on a price or release date for any of 'em just yet, but we'd expect to start seeing them show up any day now.

Filed under: Displays

ASUS rolls out four new VH-series 16:9 LCD monitors originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barbie P520 cellphone turns up in China

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/12/barbie-p520-cellphone-turns-up-in-china/

Now, it's entirely possible that this isn't an official Barbie cellphone (or even an actual cellphone) but, if you're looking for something that's more Barbie-ish and, well, less cellphone-like than your usual phone, you may want to consider this new P520 model that recently turned up in China. Apparently, this one includes 2-inch,176 x 220 display, a 1.3 megapixel camera, "up to 2GB of expandable memory" (we're guessing a microSD card slot), built-in Bluetooth, not one but two SIM card slots and, yes, an actual mirror. Sold? Then you can apparently pick one up now for 780 yuan (or $114), although getting one over here will likely take a bit more doing.

[Thanks, Daniel]

Filed under: Cellphones

Barbie P520 cellphone turns up in China originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EFi-X shuts down EFi-X USA, says it doesn't support Mac clones

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/12/efi-x-shuts-down-efi-x-usa-says-it-doesnt-support-mac-clones/

The Mac cloning soap opera just keeps taking crazy twists and turns -- Art Studios Entertainment, makers of the EFi-X dongle, have shut down EFi-X USA's plans to sell "Millennium" machines capable of running OS X just hours after they were announced. ASE CEO Davide Rutigliano sent us a statement saying that EFi-X USA was misinterpreting ASE's EFi-X certification program, that ASE will "NEVER sell machines or condone the sale of machines that compete with any brand," and that he personally ordered the project abandoned. Indeed, a visit to EFi-X USA's page confirms that the machines have been killed, although we're unsure what the terse statement "EFi-X USA LLC fights the clones and the clonemakers" is supposed to mean. All part of another strange chapter in the Hackintosh saga, we suppose. Check ASE's full statement after the break.

Continue reading EFi-X shuts down EFi-X USA, says it doesn't support Mac clones

Filed under: Desktops

EFi-X shuts down EFi-X USA, says it doesn't support Mac clones originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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