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Wednesday, August 12, 2009

T-Mobile Touch Pro2 review

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/t-mobile-touch-pro2-review/

Followers, fans, and casual observers of HTC alike all know that when the company launches a new landscape QWERTY model, it's a big deal. In fact, it's more than a big deal -- it's a Big Deal. Many describe it as the ultimate smartphone form factor, the perfect execution of everything a modern handset is capable of doing -- and realistically, no company has as much experience or know-how at making powerhouse landscape QWERTY sliders than HTC does.

That's why droves of subscribers on virtually every carrier are on the edge of their seats awaiting the Touch Pro2's release. Whether you love, hate, or feel nothing but pure, unadulterated ambivalence toward Windows Mobile, it's hard to argue that the Pro2 isn't a gorgeous smartphone at a distance, and T-Mobile USA's gently-tweaked version is no exception. Unless you're desperate for SLR-quality photography (which you're frankly not going to get regardless of what phone you buy), the spec sheet reads like a dream -- an expansive 3.6-inch WVGA display, full QWERTY, tilt-up display, all the 3G and WiFi you could ever want, and HTC's latest and greatest build of TouchFLO 3D constantly working to make sure that WinMo cleans up nice -- but is it true love or just lipstick on a pig? Let's have a look.

Continue reading T-Mobile Touch Pro2 review

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

T-Mobile Touch Pro2 review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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T-Mobile hits the sauce, demands $350 for HTC Touch Pro2

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/t-mobile-hits-the-sauce-demands-350-for-htc-touch-pro2/

Jumpin' Jehoshaphat! With Apple lowering the smartphone price bar with its last-gen iPhone 3G at $99, any well-specced phone hitting the airwaves these days for over a buck ninety-nine on contract just seems outrageous. And then, there's this. T-Mobile USA has somehow found it within its heart to charge a near-astronomical $349.99 (on a two-year agreement, no less) for HTC's latest WinMo-packin' powerhouse, the Touch Pro2. Look, we aren't saying the phone isn't worth its weight in gold, but a quick look around the marketplace shows just how out of place this obscenely large asking price really is. The silver lining? We're betting this slips beneath the $200 mark just as soon as the HTC fanboys have chipped in their early adopter fees (and it hits every other carrier in America).

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Cellphones

T-Mobile hits the sauce, demands $350 for HTC Touch Pro2 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 02:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Logitech Wireless Desktop MK700 'cradles your fingers,' caresses your soul

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/logitech-wireless-desktop-mk700-cradles-your-fingers-caresses/

There's just something about a keyboard that promises to "cradle our fingers" that gets us all hot and bothered, and right or wrong, we just can't stop thinking about what a joy it must be to bang out dissertations, love letters and Nigerian scam emails on one of the beauties shown above. Logitech's Wireless Desktop MK700 is a two-piece kit comprised of an LCD-equipped keyboard and an ergonomic mouse with built-in hyper-scrolling. Both devices seem to go easy on the juice, with the keyboard able to run for three years on a single set of AA cells and the mouse for 12 months. The included USB dongle certainly isn't as diminutive as the company's recently released Unifying Receiver, but need we remind your digits just how pleasured they'll be when pressing these keys? It'll be $99.99 to get in, and it ought to ship out this month. The full release is after the break.

Gallery: Logitech Wireless Desktop MK700 'cradles your fingers,' caresses your soul

Continue reading Logitech Wireless Desktop MK700 'cradles your fingers,' caresses your soul

Filed under: Peripherals

Logitech Wireless Desktop MK700 'cradles your fingers,' caresses your soul originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Invisible Hand Subtly Shows Best Web Prices [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/4_ivHqawO5w/invisible-hand-subtly-shows-best-web-prices

Firefox: Invisible Hand is an apt name for a deal-finding Firefox add-on. Visit a priced item page at more than 50 U.S. or UK retailer sites, and a subtle drop-down bar informs whether you've got the best price out there.

The drop-down tells you the price difference between the page you're on and the lowest price it could find, and offers a link to that retailer and other sites' prices in right-hand buttons. That's all it does, and it doesn't seem to slow down page rendering to do so. Price isn't everything online, of course, and the add-on doesn't factor in average shipping costs, but serious shoppers won't mind checking out a competitor if a real savings is in play.

Invisible Hand is a free download, works wherever Firefox does.

Invisible Hand [Mozilla Add-Ons via The Red Ferret Journal]

Try Out Google's New "Caffeine" Search Architecture [Search]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/yEhEuQtXO2o/try-out-googles-new-caffeine-search-architecture

Google's asking searchers to go ahead and kick the tires on its new search infrastructure, dubbed Caffeine. Most users won't notice a major difference in search results, but testers will help them speed up and diversify their algorithms.

In a blog post, Google says its new system works "under the hood," and marks an attempt to improve "size, indexing speed, accuracy, comprehensiveness and other dimensions." Google Operating System finds that the results are sometimes more related to recent events, while Search Engine Watch blog offers side-by-side screens, noting that the SearchWiki icons are gone, and a few in-house promotion links are moved around. In our own tests, a few results for "lifehacker" came out different, but it wasn't immediately clear if they were actually better. If you try out Google's new code base, tell us what you find and what you like (or don't) in the comments.

Help test some next-generation infrastructure [Official Google Webmaster Central Blog]

Web Sites Using Flash Instead of Browser Cookies to Track Your Activity [Privacy]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/jDYcJ8zUrP4/web-sites-using-flash-instead-of-browser-cookies-to-track-your-activity

Wired reports that over half of the web's most popular sites are using Flash to track users who block traditional browser cookies.

Photo by i y e r s.

The findings come from a UC Berkeley study, which also found that only four of these top web sites using Flash cookies mention them in their privacy policies. From Wired:

Unlike traditional browser cookies, Flash cookies are relatively unknown to web users, and they are not controlled through the cookie privacy controls in a browser. That means even if a user thinks they have cleared their computer of tracking objects, they most likely have not.

We've shown you how to get around these sorts of "super cookies" in the past, most notably with the previously mentioned BetterPrivacy Firefox extension, but Wired also points readers to the always popular CCleaner and Flush.app, a Flash cookie removal app for OS X.

If you're serious about your online privacy and thought blocking traditional browser cookies was doing the job, you may want to consider trying one of the tools above and hitting up the Wired post for the full rundown.

You Deleted Your Cookies? Think Again [Wired]

Surprise! Zune HD Will Have Integrated Bing Search [Zune Hd]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/kzu3aFS_N1E/surprise-zune-hd-will-have-integrated-bing-search

After gushing over the Zune HD last week, CNet has now posted some pics of its self-rotating, pinch-able Web browser in action, including a shot that reveals a "Search with Bing" branded query box.

Not a major leap in logic, perhaps—it is a Microsoft device with a browser designed by the Internet Explorer team—but still new info on a player that we've come to learn a lot about recently, including likely pricing: 16GB ($220), 32GB ($290).

In the photo above you can see how the on-screen keyboard letters will bulge when pressed, and CNet also has pics of the browser showing Favorites (bookmarks), and running Facebook in landscape mode. [CNet]

Samsung N510 Ion Netbook Arriving Next Month for $599 [NetBooks]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/w-VNq6EuLdM/samsung-n510-ion-netbook-arriving-next-month-for-599

NVIDIA's Ion platform is pretty snazzy, welding an Atom and a 9400M graphics chip (the same found in Macbooks, fanboys) to handle high def content with ease. Samsung's N510 is an 11.6-inch netbook built on this platform, arriving next month.

According to Lilliputing, the 1366 x 768, HDMI-equipped N510 will make its way to the States in September for an introductory price of $599. Even for the extra power, that's more than we want to pay for anything loaded with a puny Atom processor—especially if it's loaded with but 1GB of RAM as we suspect. [lilliputing and image]

World's First Wireless, Internet-Connected Pacemaker Installed [Medicine]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/JUW4RLOIEhA/worlds-first-wireless-internet+connected-pacemaker-installed

Bionic people of the world rejoice, for your heart ticks and booms booms will be transmitted through the internet from now on. A New York woman has got the world's first wireless pacemaker, which allows constant remote monitoring via web:

If there is anything abnormal, and we have a very intricate system set up, it will literally call the physician responsible at two in the morning if need be. It is a tremendous convenience for the patient from even interacting with a telephone to call the doctor. On a larger scale it enhances our ability to pick up and evaluate any problems with their pacemaker and certain other rhythm disorders that could be potentially dangerous or life threatening in ways we really could not do before.

That's what Dr. Steven Greenberg —director of St. Francis' Arrhythmia and Pacemaker Center—says, predicting that this will change the way people with heart problems manage their condition, and interact with their doctors. Happy news indeed. [PC Magazine]

Impossible-to-Steal-or-Puncture Bicycle Won't Last a Day In NY [Bicycle]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/98qzn7CnlzE/impossible+to+steal+or+puncture-bicycle-wont-last-a-day-in-ny

Olympic cyclist Chris Boardman thinks that his beautiful Tron-like dream bicycle will never get stolen—even if it looks so cool that nobody would be able to resist. Fortunately, he says that they will be common in 20 years.

The new bike design has a built-in locking system that can only be activated and opened by the owner's fingerprint. The computer-equipped machine can also monitor the amount of calories burned. Made of carbon fiber, it will even have a battery that will assist you when going up a steep hill, as well as puncture-proof, self-inflating tires.

Unfortunately, for now it is just a concept, even while Boardman believes "it could be built now if there was a will. All the technologies are already there, it's just that nobody's put them all together before." The future is not coming soon enough. Heck, I would be glad if the weekend came already. [Daily Mail]

Best Buy Acknowledges the Obvious, Displays Hackintoshed Dell Mini 9 [Honesty]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/PBwIQGiBtPw/best-buy-acknowledges-the-obvious-displays-hackintoshed-dell-mini-9

Everyone involved knows exactly why Dell won't let the Mini 9 netbook die, but nobody can outright say it, officially. That didn't stop one Best Buy—or at least, a few of its employees—from coming clean.

That's a fully Mac-ified 16GB Dell Mini 9 on display there, boldly masquerading as a "Windows XP Home" model. It's easy to understand why Dell and Best Buy can't officially market the Mini 9 as a hackintosh machine, but come on, why else would there be such demand for this outdated, outspecced, outmoded netbook? The specific Best Buy location will not be included, so whoever did this—they were just being honest!—doesn't get immediately shitcanned. Our tipster even shot a bonus video, below, for the skeptics. —Thanks, Amin!

Kingston dials things up to 256GB with new SSDNow V+ line

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/11/kingston-dials-things-up-to-256gb-with-new-ssdnow-v-line/

Kingston is still a relative newcomer to the SSD game, but it looks like it's already well on its way to endless, somewhat confusing product refreshes, with it now rolling out three drives in its new SSDNow V+ line. Available in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB capacities, the new drives best the previous non-plus SSDNow V line with read and write speeds up to 220MB/sec and 180MB/sec, respectively, and pack some higher input and output operations per second (or IOPS) to boot, which should also help to deliver an overall boost in speed. As you might expect, however, while things start a somewhat reasonable $254 for the 64GB model, things get decidedly more out of reach from there, with the 128GB drive running $500 firm, and the 256GB drive setting you back a hefty $992.

Filed under: Storage

Kingston dials things up to 256GB with new SSDNow V+ line originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 03:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP to sell contract-free, WWAN-equipped PCs in Japan

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/11/hp-to-sell-contract-free-wwan-equipped-pcs-in-japan/

In a presumed effort to shake up the Japanese wireless industry and provide consumers with 3G-equipped PCs that aren't tied to multi-year contracts, Hewlett-Packard has quietly announced a deal with Japan Communications that will allow its machines to be sold with SIM cards that can be used on a pay-as-you-go basis. For those unaware, JCI leases network space from NTT DoCoMo, and as part of the agreement, HP will not only get to choose which devices can connect, but it'll get to keep a nice slice of the mobile data revenue as well. Here's the crazy part: the initial wave of netbooks will be sold for between $50 and $100 sans contract. That's about what users pay in America now for subsidized WWAN-ready netbooks, but there's a two-year contract tagging along. If all goes well, we could even see full-sized laptops, smartphones and digital cameras hop on the same bandwagon, but for now, we'll be keenly watching how brisk sales are when things kick off next month.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Tablet PCs, Wireless, Internet

HP to sell contract-free, WWAN-equipped PCs in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 06:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds! .

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Intel issues X25-M G2 SSD firmware fix for BIOS password conundrum

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/11/intel-issues-x25-m-g2-ssd-firmware-fix-for-bios-password-conundr/

Eagerly waiting to change that drive password within the system BIOS on your fancy new X25-M G2 solid state drive? Good news, storage junkies -- today you can. After Intel saw its next-gen SSD launch party hit a snag with an off-the-wall quirk that could cause data corruption for those who altered or disabled a drive password within the system BIOS, the company has finally come forward with a firmware update that solves the dilemma, along with world hunger, "the economy" and an undisclosed amount of other universal pains. Hit the read link for instructions on how to update your drive, but don't blame us if every precious memory you've ever collected goes down in flames during the process. Just kidding.

[Via HotHardware]

Filed under: Storage

Intel issues X25-M G2 SSD firmware fix for BIOS password conundrum originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ion-equipped Samsung N510 netbook shipping stateside next month

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/11/ion-equipped-samsung-n510-netbook-shipping-stateside-next-month/

Momma always said you had to pay to play, and it looks like those Europeans won't be the only ones coughing up dearly for the pleasure of having NVIDIA's Ion platform shoved within Samsung's forthcoming N510 netbook. According to the fine folks over at Liliputing, a Samsung rep has confirmed to them that said machine will begin shipping to US soil starting in September (far later than the "July" date we heard earlier in the year), bringing with it a sizable 11.6-inch display, HDMI output, GeForce 9400M GPU, Atom processor and the ability to handle high-def and Blu-ray content. Trouble is, all that multimedia prowess will demand a stiff premium, and by "stiff," we mean "$599." So, is anyone actually planning on laying down six bills for a netbook, or did you just convince yourself that a thin-and-light is the way to go?

Filed under: Laptops

Ion-equipped Samsung N510 netbook shipping stateside next month originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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