Friday, July 24, 2009

HP Mini 5101 netbook approved for use by mini executives

HP Mini 5101 netbook approved for use by mini executives

The Mini 5101, or Mini Executive as HP would have it, is now available to purchase, with prices starting at $399.99. While still a netbook at heart, the 5101 has an impressive array of accoutrements: aluminum and magnesium shell for lightweight (2.64 lbs) sturdiness, flat chiclet keyboard, 10.1-inch LED-backlit display, and at an extra cost, 128GB SSD and 1366 x 768 resolution upgrade options. The build quality and keyboard got high marks from us when we handled the machine back in June, and now a couple of online scribes have put together timely in-depth reviews of the device. They share the impression that HP has a strong business product on its hands, highlighted by a class-leading WiFi signal of 37.7 Mbps at 15 feet, though they were also concerned that neither pricing nor battery life (between 5 and 7 hours) are the best available. Hit up the read links for all the delectable details.

[Thanks, Knifex4]

Read - HP product page
Read - Laptop Mag review
Read - PC Mag review

Filed under: Laptops

HP Mini 5101 netbook approved for use by mini executives originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 04:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalin! k&nb sp;| Email this | Comments

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Wi-Fi MicroSD Card Makes Eye-Fi Look Obese [Kddi]

Wi-Fi MicroSD Card Makes Eye-Fi Look Obese [Kddi]

Japanese phone king KDDI is showing off a MicroSD card with built-in Wi-Fi, sorta like those photo-uploading Eye-Fi cards everyone loves so much. Actually, they're exactly like that, except, well, much smaller.

There's not much of a space for a product like this now, since cellphones account for most of the devices with MicroSD storage, and they generally have some kind of data connection anyway. But it's easy to imagine a (near) future where traditional SD cards are considered too bulky for smaller point-and-shoot cameras and camcorders, and a wireless MicroSD card would make sense. [Tech-on]

This Ring Is Actually a Real Bluetooth Headset [Headsets]

This Ring Is Actually a Real Bluetooth Headset [Headsets]

This is Orb, a ring that transforms into a beautiful Bluetooth headset. Looks like sci-fi material, but it's an actual product coming in 2010. Good, because it's probably the first Bluetooth headset that looks great on a woman's ear:

There will be three models of the class 2 Bluetooth Orb: A $130 basic model—coming in January—a $175 Deluxe edition with a minuscule FOLED display, and a limited edition with actual precious gems on it, both coming in April 2010. [Gizmag]

Casio EX-H10 point-and-shoot (and its superzoom pedigree) get reviewed

Casio EX-H10 point-and-shoot (and its superzoom pedigree) get reviewed

We covered this cam's full spec last month, but to refresh your memory, the major attractions are its 720/24p video recording and 10x optical zoom. In fact, the Photography Blog crew, who have a review unit sprawled on their test bench, reckon the H10 is both the thinnest and lightest shooter to ever pack that kind of zooming prowess. They've compared it to the Panasonic DMC-TZ7, their reigning champ in the compact superzoom category, and -- well, you'll have to read the review to find out. The impressions we can share with you include excellent battery life and a useful Anti-Shake system on the upside, but also noise issues at relatively low ISO speeds and only average image quality on the downslope. Still, hit up the read link for a full rundown -- trust us, it's worth it for the cliffhanger ending.

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Casio EX-H10 point-and-shoot (and its superzoom pedigree) get reviewed originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Em ail this | Comments

Intel's 34nm X25-M runs like a thoroughbred SSD, costs less

Intel's 34nm X25-M runs like a thoroughbred SSD, costs less

It was only two days ago that they finally became official, but already we've got a couple of reviews springing up to tell us all about the second generation X25-M SSDs from Intel. PC Perspective kick things off with a full examination of the new drive, finding plenty of good (improved random reads and writes), some bad (minor fragmentation issues under extreme use scenarios) and pretty much no ugly. Not to be outdone, Anandtech have dissected the drive and compared its innards with the older generation hardware, while also running a few benchmarks for good measure. The conclusion in both camps is that while Intel has improved the hardware side of things, it is the drastically reduced price that makes the X25-M G2 the best choice in the consumer SSD space. Navigate past the break for a pricing chart, but remember that retail cost will be a bit steeper, should you be able to snag one in the wild.

Read - PC Perspective review
Read - Anandtech preview

Continue reading Intel's 34nm X25-M runs like a thoroughbred SSD, costs less

Filed under: Storage

Intel's 34nm X25-M runs like a thoroughbred SSD, costs less originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

NEC VersaPro VS-7 netbook manhandled, makes one reviewer positively giddy

NEC VersaPro VS-7 netbook manhandled, makes one reviewer positively giddy

You know that new ultra-light, ultra-thin, and ultra-portable laptop from NEC you got an eyeful of way back in May? Of course you do. You've been obsessing, actually -- and frankly, we've been worried about you. Still, we'd be remiss in our duties if we didn't turn you on to this mini-review that Akihabara News scored of the VersaPro VS-7. And we must say, the kudos are flowing pretty freely over there: "freaking light," (that's right: freaking), "slim and robust." The reviewer is simply "amazed" at the netbook's performance. Even in full screen mode HD video plays "just fine," and 720p DivX video playback is characterized as "flawless." But that ain't all -- hit the read link for the full, unexpurgated tale. But not before peeping the video after the break.

Continue reading NEC VersaPro VS-7 netbook manhandled, makes one reviewer positively giddy

Filed under: Laptops

NEC VersaPro VS-7 netbook manhandled, makes one reviewer positively giddy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: MIT working on rapid recharging for electric vehicles

Video: MIT working on rapid recharging for electric vehicles

MIT's electric vehicle prototype may be a long way off from being completed, but if we let that stop us from discussing EVs, we might never talk about them. The headline ambition of this project is a full recharge within 10 minutes, which would eliminate somewhere between four and ten hours of waiting. Speedwise, the Electric Vehicle Team is aiming for a 100 mph top speed from a 250-horsepower / 187 kilowatt AC induction motor, and a not unheard of 200-mile cruising range. To achieve their rapid juicing ambition, the students will strap 7,905 lithium iron-phosphate cell batteries from A123Systems to a gutted 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid body. The batteries' low internal resistance is what makes things possible, but further hurdles, such as finding a sufficiently powerful energy source, would have to be overcome before any sort of widespread use may occur. Video after the break.

[Via PC World]

Continue reading Video: MIT working on rapid recharging for electric vehicles

Filed under: Transportation

Video: MIT working on rapid recharging for electric vehicles originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Viliv X70 EX Premium 3G on sale now in Hong Kong

Viliv X70 EX Premium 3G on sale now in Hong Kong

The folks behind the Viliv brand of consumer electronics don't ever stop swinging, it seems. They hit us with the beloved X70, the keyboard-sportin' S7, and before we have a chance to blink they're back in the ring with the X70 EX Premium. Currently on sale in Hong Kong, this bad boy features optional 3G (in which case you should ask for the X70 EX Premium 3G) and sports a 1.3GHz Intel Atom Z520 processor, 1GB RAM, a 32GB SSD, and an SDHC slot for extra storage. As you've probably guessed, the display is your standard 7-inch with 1024 x 600 resolution. Throw in Windows XP, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, and a GPS, and this guy is yours for $6,898 in Hong Kong bucks (roughly $890 US). No word yet on a Stateside release.

[Via Gadget Mix]

Filed under: Handhelds

Viliv X70 EX Premium 3G on sale now in Hong Kong originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

AspireRevo rebranded as the Atom 330-based Gateway QX2800

AspireRevo rebranded as the Atom 330-based Gateway QX2800

Looks like the kids in Taiwan will be able to take everyone's favorite Ion-based nettop for a spin sometime soon. Except, instead of being known as the Acer AspireRevo, its been rebranded as a Gateway QX2800. Actually, that isn't the only difference -- the CPU on this new guy has been upgraded to an Atom 330 dual core, and storage is now 500GB. But besides that, its the same kid: NVIDIA Ion 9400M graphics chipset, 4-in-1 card reader, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, HDMI output, and six USB 2.0 ports. According to PCADV, the dual core processor could give this machine a 40% performance increase over the AspireRevo. To ship with Windows Vista Home Premium with SP1 at some vague point in the not too distant future.

[Via iTech News Net]

AspireRevo rebranded as the Atom 330-based Gateway QX2800 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

If advertising creates demand, shouldn't we see more noticeable lifts in movie box office $s versus normal seasonality? http://bit.ly/1tWlvj

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Occasions/Holidays Drive Movie Box Office Sales, Not Advertising - http://bit.ly/1tWlvj - Ads don't create demand; they only share-shift it

RT @Cherylguerin: Wow - two of my favorites together -- Amazon and Zappos. http://ping.fm/ABk4i

Starbucks credits McD's launch drawing more customers to coffee category - http://bit.ly/zI8S2 - do your ads drive customers to competitors?

A new-old source of trust: others. Despite bad critics' reviews Trnsfrmrs2 is still tops at box office and #13 on all-time grossing list.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Intel's 34nm SSDs go official, no 320GB model in sight

Intel's 34nm SSDs go official, no 320GB model in sight

Ugh, seriously Intel? While we've been waiting for 34nm-based SSDs for what feels like ages now, it's not so much the new process technology that had our interest piqued. Instead, it was the hope of a 320GB model from the outfit. Today, Intel got official with a new pair of 34nm SSDs, though neither of 'em are any larger than the previous 50nm X25-M (2.5-inch) and X18-M (1.8-inch). In fact, the new units even boast the same model names. The newcomers arrive in 80GB and 160GB sizes, and while actual hard drive benchmarking tools are apt to show a marginal increase in performance, even Intel admits that most folks won't see "noticeable gains" in real-world use. So, what's the point of popping out 34nm SSDs that are silver instead of black? Lower prices, or so the company says. If the market reacts to the cost savings that are being passed forward, you can expect the 80GB model to run $225, while the 160GB edition gets marked at $440, both in quantities of 1,000. Call us spoiled, but we're still longing for more.

[Thanks, Joseph]

Continue reading Intel's 34nm SSDs go official, no 320GB model in sight

Filed under: Storage

Intel's 34nm SSDs go official, no 320GB model in sight originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jul 20! 09 12:12 :00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)