Thursday, January 15, 2009

Daimler taps Tesla's battery know-how for electric Smart

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/14/daimler-taps-teslas-battery-know-how-for-electric-smart/

Daimler taps Tesla's battery know-how for electric Smart
Daimler has been talking about electric Smart cars for about 10 years now, but the closest you've ever been able to come to a production model has been to go all KIRF-style and buy a knock-off CMEC City Smart. At the North American International Auto Show this past week the company again confirmed that a little Smart that runs on little batteries is still in the works, announcing plans to release 1,000 electric fortwos on lease here in the States by the end of the year. Now that the show is over, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is letting everyone know that his company will be producing those little batteries, a partnership the likes of which he must surely be hoping to develop with other manufacturers as they jump on the EV bandwagon. 1,000 cars is disappointingly few, but it's better than the paltry 500 plug-in Prius models Toyota plans to pilot here.

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Daimler taps Tesla's battery know-how for electric Smart originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DisplayPort 1.2 adds Apple's mini connector, stereoscopic 3D

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/14/displayport-1-2-adds-apples-mini-connector-stereoscopic-3d/

If Apple's no-fee licensing wasn't enough to entice manufacturers, the Mini DisplayPort connector is now being added to VESA's DisplayPort 1.2 specifications. The update will also double the available bandwidth to 5.4Gbps, which can be used for 1920 x 1080 stereoscopic 3D imagery, four 1920 x 1200 screens, or one massive 3840 x 2160 display. According to Register Hardware, the 1.2 standard will be published by the middle of this year.

[Via Mac Rumors]

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DisplayPort 1.2 adds Apple's mini connector, stereoscopic 3D originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Details on Intel Atom N280 begin to surface, are short on excitement

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/14/details-on-intel-atom-n280-begin-to-surface-are-short-on-excite/


Sure, the Atom N270 has done great things for humanity during its brief tenure powering pretty much every netbook that comes down the pipes, but it's time for a change, and it looks like the N280 from Intel -- already slated for a couple Eee PCs -- could provide just the sort of marginal boost we're looking for. The single core chip bests the N270's 1.6GHz clock with blazing 1.66GHz speeds, and a 667MHz bus over the original's 533MHz. What could perhaps be much more interesting is the promised Intel GN40 chipset that accompanies the N280, which there's currently very little info on, but hopefully does a little bit towards competing with NVIDIA's ION -- or at least pepping up that game of solitaire we've been working on.

[Thanks, Jagslive]

Read - N280 shows up on some new Eee PC models
Read - N280 netbooks to hit the market between 2Q09 and 3Q09

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Details on Intel Atom N280 begin to surface, are short on excitement originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nikon D3x reviewed: unmatched image quality, steep price tag

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/14/nikon-d3x-reviewed-unmatched-image-quality-steep-price-tag/

While all of the Nikon D3x previews from December largely heaped praise on the camera, Thomas Hogan's recent review is decidedly more evenhanded. Though lauded for what he calls the best image quality of any DSLR on the market, its $8000 price tag receives some harsh criticism. Compared to its D3 predecessor, he says you're paying a $3600 premium for what is essentially just twice the pixel count (12.1 megapixels vs. 24.4). If you're the kind of person who needs the higher resolution, this is the camera for you. For everyone else, it might be worth a pass. Hit up the read link for an exhaustive analysis.

[Via 1001 Noisy Cameras]

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Nikon D3x reviewed: unmatched image quality, steep price tag originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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M&A Technology offering Intel's Classmate convertible online for $499

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/14/manda-technology-offering-intels-classmate-convertible-online-for/


Intel's latest and greatest Classmate convertible PC swung by the FCC in late November, and now it's time for the general populace to get their paws on one. M&A Technology has just announced that it is currently hosting the so-called Companion Touch up for sale to anyone who's interested, and packed within will be a 1.6GHz Atom CPU, 1GB of RAM, 60GB hard drive, an 8.9-inch touchscreen, Windows XP Home, 1.3 megapixel camera, Ethernet, WiFi and a 4-cell battery that'll last for around 3.3 hours. Optionally, you can downgrade to a 30GB hard drive, add in a 6-cell Li-ion (good for 5 hours of life) and opt for Linux over WinXP. It's yours for the taking at $499.

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M&A Technology offering Intel's Classmate convertible online for $499 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung publishes NC20 user manual, new images surface

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/14/samsung-publishes-nc20-user-manual-new-images-surface/


Eager to get your digits onto an NC20 keyboard? Sadly, we can't help you there, but we can point out something to whet your appetite until shipment day dawns. Samsung's UK branch has hosted up the NC20 user manual, and while it doesn't really offer too many nuggets that we weren't already aware of, it still proves that this here netbook will arrive with the oh-so-promising 1.3GHz VIA Nano U225 CPU. Additionally, you'll find a 12.1-inch WXGA display (1,280 x 800), VIA Chrome 9 HC3 graphics, a multicard reader, Ethernet / USB 2.0 ports, optional WiFi / Bluetooth and your choice of HDD or SSD. Check out the links below for more on the hardware details and a new load of press shots, and start saving you pennies now, 'cause early estimates put this one at around $500 or so.

[Via NotebookItalia]

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Samsung publishes NC20 user manual, new images surface originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Archos 10 netbook sits down for a photo shoot

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/14/archos-10-netbook-sits-down-for-a-photo-shoot/


The Archos 10 netbook was loosed into the crowds early this morning, and already Laptop has a hands-on up. Comically enough, this 10-inch machine is actually the largest product ever launched by the company, as it generally focuses on handheld PMPs and the like. Specs wise, it's about as vanilla as they come, and design wise, it's overwhelmingly simple. For those with a deep appreciation of matte black and a love for software geared towards multimedia freaks, head on down to the read link for a video and photo gallery.

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Archos 10 netbook sits down for a photo shoot originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba said to be nearing deal to buy Fujitsu's hard drive business

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/14/toshiba-said-to-be-nearing-deal-to-buy-fujitsus-hard-drive-busi/

Hitachi may be out of the picture (if it was ever actually in the picture to begin with), but it looks like Toshiba is now very close to buying Fujitsu's hard drive business in a deal that's reported to be worth between 30 and 40 billion yen, or anywhere from $335 to $447 million. That would make Toshiba the world's largest supplier of hard drives for laptops and, according to Reuters, it could be all but a done deal by the end of the month, if a supposed meeting between company execs planned for this week goes as expected. The deal wouldn't include Fujitsu's plant in Nagano Prefecture, however, or the hard drive operations of its Yamagata Fujitsu subsidiary -- those would apparently be sold off separately for some extra cash if Fujitsu decides to exit the hard drive business altogether.

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Toshiba said to be nearing deal to buy Fujitsu's hard drive business originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IBM concocts microscope with ultra-fine resolution, current MRI bows down

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/15/ibm-concocts-microscope-with-ultra-fine-resolution-current-mri/

The existing MRI has certainly been beneficial to humans everywhere, but IBM researchers are adamant on doing it one better. These gurus, working in tandem with the Center for Probing the Nanoscale at Stanford University, have demonstrated "magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with volume resolution 100 million times finer than conventional MRI." What it's all mean? In short, it could give scientists the ability to investigate complex 3D structures at the nanoscale level, and according to IBM, it may "ultimately be powerful enough to unravel the structure and interactions of proteins." We know, only the nerdiest of you are amazed -- nay, affected whatsoever -- by that statement, but even the layperson can appreciate advanced methods of studying viruses, bacteria and other biological elements. A certifiably riveting demonstration vid awaits you beyond the break.

[Via TG Daily, thanks Speedy]

Continue reading IBM concocts microscope with ultra-fine resolution, current MRI bows down

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IBM concocts microscope with ultra-fine resolution, current MRI bows down originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buffalo's 802.11n WiFi dongle: small in size, tiny in price

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/15/buffalos-802-11n-wifi-dongle-small-in-size-tiny-in-price/

Small, fast, and cheap... what could be better? Buffalo's WLI-UC-GN 802.11b/g/n dongle measures just 16 × 33 × 8-mm and costs a mere ¥2,100 (about $24). It supports both Buffalo's proprietary AOSS and the Wi-Fi Alliance's WPS to simplify the process of connecting to secure WiFi networks. Look for the USB 2.0 adapter to ship in Japan and beyond starting next month. Check the hot male-to-female USB bunging after the break.

[Via Akihabara News]

Continue reading Buffalo's 802.11n WiFi dongle: small in size, tiny in price

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Buffalo's 802.11n WiFi dongle: small in size, tiny in price originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 03:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friday, January 09, 2009

Logic Bolt: The US's First Projecting Cellphone [Cellphones]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/zJbFpcw2dVY/logic-bolt-the-uss-first-projecting-cellphone

We've seen plenty of units from overseas manufacturers, but the Logic Bolt will be the first US cellphone on the market with a tiny projector squeezed inside.

Scheduled for release next month at a pre-contract price between $400 and $500 (or $100 w/contract), the Logic Bolt is a GSM handset with a 320x240 touchscreen, 3MP camera, 4GB storage and MicroSD expansion. Using a bundled adapter, the phone can accept VGA and RCA inputs, passing the signal on for built-in 640x480 projection (or it can obviously play any preloaded media straight from the phone). The battery can only last 2 hours in projection mode, so a second battery comes bundled with the phone.
As you can see, the projection quality doesn't exactly dazzle, but in all fairness, these shots were taken under the less ideal bright conditions of the show floor.
Manufacturer Logic Wireless hopes to release a CDMA/WinMO version of the phone in the next four months, and they're planning a 2.0 version of the product with QWERTY and possibly Android by the end of 2009.



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SanDisk's G3 SSDs Deliver 40,000 RPM Speeds Without Breaking the Bank [Ssd]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/BoGlUDqD7Zs/sandisks-g3-ssds-deliver-40000-rpm-speeds-without-breaking-the-bank

SanDisk's new G3 SSD drives are set to offer read speeds equivalent to a 40,000RPM platter drive at prices that won't make you queasy. The age of SSD laptops is looking imminent.

Coming in 60GB, 120GB and 240GB flavors, the new SSDs offer up speeds of 200MB/s read and 140MB/s write, which is nothing to scoff at. And the prices? Not too bad, with the MSRPs at $149, $249 and $499, respectively. I, for one, would very much like my next laptop to have one of those 240GB (or larger) SSDs in it, and I might just wait another generation in order to ensure that that happens. You've got to think that by next year's CES these things will be pretty damned close to regular HDD prices.

SANDISK UNLEASHES WORLD'S FASTEST MLC SOLID-STATE DRIVE (SSD) FAMILY

Affordable Third-Generation SSDs Based on Multi-Level Cell (MLC) Flash Technology, Equivalent to a 40,000 rpm Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

CES 2009, South Hall, Booth # 30659, LAS VEGAS– —Jan. 8, 2009 – SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) today unveiled its third-generation family of solid-state drives (SSDs). Using multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash memory technology, SanDisk's G3 Series establishes new benchmarks in performance and price-performance leadership in the SSD industry.

Designed as drop-in replacements for hard-disk drives (HDDs) in notebook PCs, the initial members in the SanDisk G3 family are SSD C25-G3 and SSD C18-G3 in the standard 2.5" and 1.8" form factors respectively, each available with a SATA-II interface. Available in capacities of 60, 120 and 240GB*, the unit MSRPs are $149, $249 and $499, respectively.

The G3 SSDs are more than five times faster than the fastest 7,200 RPM HDDs and more than twice as fast as SSDs shipping in 2008, clocking in at 40,000 vRPM1 and anticipated sequential performance of 200MB/s read and 140MB/s write3. The G3 SSDs prov! ide a Lo ngterm Data Endurance (LDE) of 160 terabytes written (TBW) for the 240GB version, sufficient for over 100 years of typical user usage. (2,3)

"SanDisk's G3 SSD has met the demand of a 120GB SSD at less than $250 with an exceptional user experience" said Rich Heye, sr. vp and general manager, Solid State Drives (SSD) business unit, SanDisk. "Three key features developed by SanDisk enable this new design: a new SSD algorithm called ExtremeFFSTM allows random write performance to potentially improve by as much as 100 times over conventional algorithms; reliable 43nm multi-level cell (MLC) all bit-line (ABL) NAND flash; and SanDisk's new SSD controller, which ties together the NAND and the algorithm."

"With large capacities and aggressive pricing, SSDs are poised to enter mainstream corporate notebooks in 2009." Heye explained, "Given the current economic environment, corporate IT managers have also described a desire to extend the service life of existing notebooks. These notebooks are already maxed out on DRAM, and struggle to meet users' performance expectations. These existing WinXP notebooks can be upgraded to a 60GB SSD for $149, resulting in a system that frequently outperforms a new notebook with a HDD, thereby delaying the need for large capital purchases."

"Web-Feet Research has tested the replacement of the HDDs in three year old Notebooks with SSDs and has found an improvement in boot times, application loading and general user responsiveness that, in many cases, exceeds what a new notebook with an HDD can deliver," said Alan Niebel, Principal at Web-feet Research. "In these challenging economic times, IT managers are looking for ways to reduce IT spending without adversely affecting their user base and the SanDisk G3 SSD solution extends the notebook replacement cycle an additional two years at minimal cost."

The SanDisk G3 SSDs will be available to this market in mid 2009, in a 2.5" PATA configuration expressly for this purpose. In addi! tion, th e SanDisk G3 SSDs will be available on sandisk.com for do-it-yourself (DIY) enthusiasts. "An SSD upgrade improves the user experience like nothing else you can do to a computer." Heye concluded.

SanDisk's flash technology is produced at fabrication plants in Yokkaichi, Japan, where SanDisk and its partner, Toshiba Corporation, share the output. The SSD controller and firmware were designed by SanDisk expressly for the G3 SSD.

If you would like to learn more about flash and the significant role that it plays inside laptops and other consumer electronic devices, please visit SanDisk's SSD Academy at http://www.sandisk.com/ssd. Here you can learn about solid state drives and the great promise they present to the computing market



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Vocaloid 3: Japanese Synthesized Singing Sensation Now Knows English [Vocaloid]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/EKjKthVe8zQ/vocaloid-3-japanese-synthesized-singing-sensation-now-knows-english

Vocaloid, the super-popular singing synthesizer from Japan has now gotten an update—and it (she) is bilingual! Meet Megurine Luka, who's "moody and husky" voice is now yours to command in both Japanese and English.

Vocaloids 1 and 2, featuring much higher-pitched robotic singers became the #1 selling software on Amazon Japan. I think the fact that they had pretty, doe-eyed, teenage anime android girls (complete with "personalities" and "back stories") as mascots probably helped their appeal.


That's Luka-chan trying out her synthesized vocal chords in English—singing Amazing Grace. Previously, Western vocaloid fans had to enter all the text in katakana... like this admittedly adorable version of Miku (Vocaloid 2) singing The Proclaimer's 500 Miles.


[ Gizmodo Japan]



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ASUS D200 Is a Media Server, Touchscreen Nettop, Router, Box [Eeeeeeeeeeee!]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/DfebRVaR2JE/asus-d200-is-a-media-server-touchscreen-nettop-router-box

Somewhere between the first EeePC and their awesome media-center-in-a-keyboard, ASUS became the Chuck Bukowksi of the gadget world: Drunk, unpredictable, prolific and occasionally brilliant. Then what of the Eee PC D200 touchscreen NAS-cum-router?

I'd say it falls under the drunk/brilliant category. According to Einfach Eee website (Varning! German!) the box will include an Atom processor, 2GB of RAM, a 1-4TB HDD, and 802.11n MIMO, and slot-loading DVD burner, a router and a touchscreen.

The intent of including the touchscreen is simple: it negates the need to either pipe into the NAS over the network or connection an external display, mouse and keyboard. Simple tasks, such as configuring the access point, moving files, setting permissions and burning DVDs (and hopefully direct media playback and torrent controls—with its DVI port, this could make a pretty amazing media PC) should all be manageable through the touchscreen.

To top it off, the $600 reported price is surprisingly low. ASUS says the D200 will ship in Q1 '09. For more pics and specs, head over to [Einfach Eee.—Thanks, Johannes]



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Inside the Rocket-Proof Obamamobile [Cars]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Us81MpbDi-k/inside-the-rocket+proof-obamamobile

I love this cutaway illustration of the new Cadillac One by John Lawson, Obama included. Specially things like "Doors: eight-inch thick and the weight of a 757 door". Other highlights:

• It can withstand rocket impacts and it's perfectly sealed against biochemical attacks.
• The petrol tank can withstand a direct hit thanks to a special foam and armor-plating.
• Its body is made of dual hardness steel, aluminum, titanium, and ceramics to "break up posible projectiles".
• The tyres are Kevlar-reinforced with steel rims underneath so it can run away no matter what.
• "Defense" accessories include: Night vision cameras, pump-action shotguns, tear gas cannons.
• It comes with bottles of blood compatible with the President's blood.

The only thing I don't get is this: It has a ten-CD changer. A CD changer? What is this? 1994? [Daily Mail]



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