Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Garmin-Asus nuvifone M20 launches in Taiwan, Windows Mobile and all

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/19/garmin-asus-nuvifone-m20-launches-in-taiwan-windows-mobile-and/

Following last month's launch of the proprietary OS'd G60, Taiwan's now playing host to the Windows Mobile-based M20 from Garmin-Asus, the joint venture's second model. Local carrier Chunghwa will be carrying the phone, which features HSDPA, a VGA display, 3 megapixel cam, and comprehensive navigation capabilities that earn it the Garmin name -- but it turns out they'll also be launching the iPhone 3GS and Hero in the next few days, a situation that effectively defines the phrase "hostile competitive landscape." Best of luck, Garmin-Asus -- given the Duke Nukem-esque delays you've encountered in your bumpy road to retail, you need all the luck you can get if you want to turn a profit any time soon.

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Garmin-Asus nuvifone M20 launches in Taiwan, Windows Mobile and all originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 05:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 6:24 AM

Fujitsu unleashes CELSIUS ULTRA specs, offers test drives at gamescom

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/19/fujitsu-unleashes-celsius-ultra-specs-offers-test-drives-at-gam/

And now we know what the "world's fastest" air-cooled gaming rig is made of -- a 3.33GHz Intel Core i7-975 and a pair of souped-up GeForce GTX 295s running in SLI. They're backed up by 12GB of DDR3 memory, a 150GB WD Raptor as an OS drive and two 1TB storage hangars, but you must be wondering where all that German ultra clocking is. Well, the motherboard is of Fujitsu's own making and a custom tweaker-ready BIOS is promised, but the truth is we really can't see anything overclocked especially for this rig. Which is not to say it won't be the most powerful pixel pusher in the world (this week), with hardware like that we're sure you'll be able to run Vista Business without a hitch... oh yea, that's the listed OS, and since we're spilling bad news, recommended price tag is €4,000. If you're anywhere near Cologne this week, head on down to gamescom, and if you ask really nicely, the Fujitsu people might even let you play on this fiery beast of a machine. See it undressed after the break.

[Via Netzwelt]

Continue reading Fujitsu unleashes CELSIUS ULTRA specs, offers test drives at gamescom

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Fujitsu unleashes CELSIUS ULTRA specs, offers test drives at gamescom originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 05:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 6:24 AM

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Casio's Exilim EX-Z450, EX-Z280 and EX-Z90 compacts invoke more Zzzs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/18/casios-exilim-ex-z450-ex-z280-and-ex-z90-compacts-invoke-more/

The EX-Z450 above is Casio's new Exilim Zoom flagship model, but you'll be forgiven for confusing it for its predecessor the Z400. Their spec sheets are almost identical: both come with 4x optical zoom, 12 megapixel sensor, 720p / 24 fps video, and Exilim Engine 4.0 -- hell, even the max ISO setting is identical at 3200, and you can upgrade that 'for free' since nobody expects your highest settings to be usable anyway. What's new? An autofocus for the ages, apparently, as the sole difference is a new Intelligent AF feature that automatically adjusts focus and exposure for photographic subjects, human or otherwise. The Z90 shrinks those innards into a more portable package, but drops to 3x zoom in the process. The two cameras are expected in early October for $199 and $149, respectively. They'll be joined by the unpriced Z280 shooter that misses out on the auto-detect magic, but gains a wide-angle 26mm lens. Full frontal shots of each camera after the break.

[Via Impress]

Read - Exilim Zoom EX-Z450
Read - Exilim Zoom EX-Z280
Read - Exilim Zoom EX-Z90

Continue reading Casio's Exilim EX-Z450, EX-Z280 and EX-Z90 compacts invoke more Zzzs

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Casio's Exilim EX-Z450, EX-Z280 and EX-Z90 compacts invoke more Zzzs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 6:03 PM

Dell's 11.6-inch Inspiron 11z thin-and-light now on sale for $399

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/18/dells-11-6-inch-inspiron-11z-thin-and-light-now-on-sale/


Dell may have ditched the 12-inch Mini netbook, but for those still looking for something a touch larger than 10-inches, there's the all-new Inspiron 11z. Strictly classified as a "thin-and-light," this three-pound machine measures in at just one-inch thick and ships with a 1.2GHz Celeron 723 processor, a 1,366 x 768 LED-backlit panel, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, a 250GB (5400RPM) SATA hard drive, GS45 integrated graphics, WiFi, a 3-cell battery and nary an optical drive to speak of. There's also a 1.3 megapixel camera, twin stereo speakers, an Ethernet port, three USB sockets, a 3-in-1 multicard reader and an HDMI output, though we get the feeling Windows Vista won't be too happy with the hardware. Thankfully, you can drop your $399 now and snag Windows 7 on the cheap here in just a few months.

[Thanks, Joe]

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Dell's 11.6-inch Inspiron 11z thin-and-light now on sale for $399 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 6:03 PM

WD TV Mini loses Full HD, but remains a handy Media Player

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/18/wd-tv-mini-loses-full-hd-but-remains-a-handy-media-player/

While we wait excitedly for Western Digital to update its HD Media Player, the company has decided to add another, value-minded product to its media player range. Working along the same lines as the HD unit, The WD TV Mini serves as a conduit between your TV set and USB-connected storage -- whether it be a camcorder, an external HDD or a humble flash drive -- and plays back a vast array of digital media formats. The Mini part to its name refers to its diminutive 91 x 91 x 22 mm footprint, but being the younger sibling also means it loses a couple of the premium features, namely HDMI and full 1080p, though that drop-off isn't too steep with 1080i and composite plus component outputs serving as alternatives. It's available now for $99.

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WD TV Mini loses Full HD, but remains a handy Media Player originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 6:02 PM

PlayStation 3 Slim unboxing and hands-on!

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/18/playstation-3-slim-unboxing-and-hands-on/

Yes, we can hardly believe it ourselves, but Sony came a-knockin' at our door today, and we were more than willing to answer. The PlayStation 3 Slim is now official in-house, and it's a matte-laden beaut. Enough chitchat -- live vicariously through our unboxing and hands-on pics below!

Update: Some details for clarification. The buttons in the front are now physical and actually "click" in to function. The PS logo above the disc drive does not rotate for vertical use, and yes, the hard drive is swappable -- as you can see from the pictures, there's a screw on the bottom, hidden by a panel, that lets you take off part of the front for access. We've also lined it up against our standard, fatty PS3, and we gotta say, it's noticeably lighter. More details to come!

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PlayStation 3 Slim unboxing and hands-on! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 6:01 PM

10 Extreme Cameras for Taking Impossible Shots [Cameras]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/D56DnRdwlTY/10-extreme-cameras-for-taking-impossible-shots

Modern consumer cameras can manage almost anything you throw at them, but sometimes even the swankest DSLR just won't do. In photography, when the conditions get crazy, the cameras get crazier.

Here are ten cameras designed to capture the kinds of images that humans by all means shouldn't be able to see, and that you and I will probably never have the opportunity—or need—to shoot.




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Posted by Augustine at 8:18 AM

iPhone Is Now the Most Popular Camera In Flickr [IPhone]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Xn9Dpf4jes0/iphone-is-now-the-most-popular-camera-in-flickr

Despite all of them being counted as a single model, this fact is still impressive: The iPhone is now the number one camera in Flickr, the most popular image network. It's also the only cellphone in the top 5.

I've to admit that I used to tote my DSLR or a point-n-shoot everywhere, and now I don't thanks to the iPhone. Whenever I need a snap, I just take out the iPhone and fire away. I miss the quality and flexibility of my real cameras. And I really wish the iPhone had a camera as fast and good as a nice point-n-shot. And I really really REALLY wish for instant camera access and a physical shutter button. But even with all those missing features, it's oh-so-much more convenient. And most of the time—I hate it sometimes—I just care about the moment.

On top of that, once I started using the iPhone like a Lomo or a Holga—having CameraBag helps—and just catch whatever was going on, I stopped worrying about megapixels, aperture, and ISO settings. So I'm not surprised about the Flickr phenomenon. [LA Times via PocketLint]




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Posted by Augustine at 8:17 AM

World's Smallest Laser Paves Way for 100 Terahertz CPUs [Science]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/jY-RpUWqCEI/worlds-smallest-laser-paves-way-for-100-terahertz-cpus

Technically, it's not a laser, but something called spaser. Instead of photons, it uses plasmons, a particle only 44 nanometers across. It could push CPUs' speeds to hundreds of terahertz, according to Mark Stockman, professor of physics at Georgia State:

The spaser works about a thousand times faster than the fastest transistor, while having the same nanoscale size. This opens up the possibility to build ultrafast amplifiers, logic elements, and microprocessors working about a thousand times faster than conventional silicon-based microprocessors.

This new method treats light in a different way than traditional optical CPUs, which are "difficult to miniaturize because you can't contain photons in areas smaller than half their wavelenght." In other words: Optical CPUs won't fit in current electronics. Plasmonic devices, on the other side, can concentrate these nanoparticles in spaces similar to current processors. [Technology Review]




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Posted by Augustine at 8:17 AM

The Thousand and One Drinking Straw Lamp [Lighting]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/PT9jIbepWtY/the-thousand-and-one-drinking-straw-lamp

Scott Jarvie has created this beautiful lamp, made of hundreds of striped drinking straws. The result is a gently colored light. Now we only need a thousand Mojitos and a lot of sucking power. [Mocoloco]




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Posted by Augustine at 8:17 AM

Lenovo teases IdeaCentre Q100 / Q110 nettops, D400 home server

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/lenovo-teases-ideacentre-d400-home-server-q100-q110-nettops/

There's not a lot to go on here, but Lenovo's official Twitter account posted pictures of two products that are purportedly being revealed in more detail later this week. The IdeaCentre Q100 / Q110 nettops are said to be "some of the thinnest nettops in the world," and while the teaser image is certainly a looker, for better and for worse we can already smell the Atom processor from here. Also on the menu is the IdeaCentre D400, the company's first home server. We Got Served did a little digging, and as it turns out, the D400 was released in Asia at the beginning of this month, with four hot swappable bays, four USB ports, and an eSATA port. It'd be nice to know when this week Lenovo was planning to lift the veil of secrecy, but at least we won't be worrying about it come Saturday.

[Via ThinkPad; thanks, Mark]

Read - Q100 / Q110 nettops
Read - D400 home server
Read - More details on the D400

Continue reading Lenovo teases IdeaCentre Q100 / Q110 nettops, D400 home server

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Lenovo teases IdeaCentre Q100 / Q110 nettops, D400 home server originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 8:14 AM

Layar augmented reality app now available globally, lets you hunt down tweeps with cold, calculated precision

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/18/layar-now-available-globally-lets-you-hunt-down-tweeps-with-col/

Following a Netherlands-exclusive release back in June, SPRXmobile has now taken its so-called Layar "Reality Browser" for Android to the global stage and advanced it to version 2.0 in the process. Perhaps the first commercial augmented reality app to launch on a large scale, Layar's got a good amount of momentum behind it -- the company claims that 100 developers are already hard at work developing reality layers that users can toggle, and an additional 500 developers are being added into the mix with the latest release. Version 2.0 adds favorite layers (because we're sure you'll be stalking friends and foes all too often using the Tweetmondo layer), map and list views, and enhanced search capabilities, but the real secret to Layar's power might ultimately lie in the third-party ecosystem if they can get enough content providers on board.

We grabbed Layar off the Market and took it for a quick spin; we're having trouble getting it to aim correctly, though Google Sky Map is having the same issues, so we're fairly certain that we're dealing with a phone or location problem rather than a Layar one. The key thing with an app like this is going to be speed and fluidity, and even on our Magic's relatively lightweight 528MHz core, it's plenty usable. The Google-powered Layar local search -- arguably the most important reality layer bundled with the software -- is a little annoying to use, primarily because the search box has no history or suggestion capability which means you've got to type out a full search every time you want to use it. Ultimately, though, the app's very young (as is this whole category of technology, for that matter) and we're stoked to see where this goes over the coming months.

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Layar augmented reality app now available globally, lets you hunt down tweeps with cold, calculated precision originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 8:14 AM

Microsoft's LifeCam Cinema HD webcam lets you film those YouTube confessionals in 720p

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/18/microsofts-lifecam-cinema-hd-webcam-lets-you-film-those-youtube/

For when the world needs to see with pristine detail your cat playing inside a paper bag in the middle of the kitchen, or every blemish on your face as you regale the exciting story of your day, Microsoft's unveiled the LifeCam Cinema HD webcam. The USB 2.0 device captures life in 1,280 x 720 HD resolution at 30 frames per second, with auto focus, 4x digital zoom, a noise-canceling mic on top, and something called ClearFrame for smoother video, somehow. It's not without caveats, of course, requiring a dual core processor (1.6GHz minimum, 3GHz recommended) and listing for $80, but it does happily tout its Windows 7 compatibility out of the box. Interests piqued? The webcam'll be popping up in stores on September 9th, which as it turns out, is becoming a rather busy day for tech enthusiasts.

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Microsoft's LifeCam Cinema HD webcam lets you film those YouTube confessionals in 720p originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 03:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 8:14 AM

Heathrow taxi pods become a glorious, driverless reality

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/18/heathrow-taxi-pods-become-a-glorious-driverless-reality/

Finally, we are in the future -- Heathrow Airport is rolling out those driverless pod taxis it announced two years ago, and they look just as adorable as ever. The ULTra Personal Pod cars are fully automated battery-powered pods that zoom around at up to 25mph on a special road network, and can transport four passengers and their luggage between Heathrow's Terminal 5 and its business car parks. If, like us, you have a thing for retro-futuristic design, you'll do well to check out the gallery below, complete with interior shots, and there's also a video after the break. Enjoy!

[Via BoingBoing Gadgets]

Continue reading Heathrow taxi pods become a glorious, driverless reality

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Heathrow taxi pods become a glorious, driverless reality originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 8:14 AM

Monday, August 17, 2009

Video: simulated 'quiet zone' cloaking hides an object in 2-D

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/17/video-simulated-quiet-zone-cloaking-hides-an-object-in-2-d/

Video: simulated 'quiet zone' cloaking hides an object in 2-D
You don't have to be able to pick a Romulan out of a crowd of Vulcans to be intrigued by the idea of cloaking, and indeed many non-trekkers have tried to hide things in plain sight using electromagnetism, accoustic superlenses, or light-bending materials. The latest attempt relies on devices that emit cancelling waves of the sort anyone who's ever seen a Bose commercial should quite familiar with, combining to negate any external, incoming waves. What's different here is that they also recombine on the other side of the object being cloaked, as shown in the video below, meaning that incoming surge is then re-generated and continues on undisturbed -- potentially even reflecting back through the object again should it hit something on the far side. It's part of research at the University of Utah and, for now, only works in a theoretical two-dimensional world where triangles and squares are ruled by pentagons, hexagons, and priestly polygons. Optical camoflage is sadly not believed to be possible using this technique, but sonar and radar are likely implementations, as well as mechanisms to subvert earthquakes, tsunamis, and maybe even neighboring speed metal fans.

Continue reading Video: simulated 'quiet zone' cloaking hides an object in 2-D

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Video: simulated 'quiet zone' cloaking hides an obje! ct in 2- D originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 09:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 7:22 PM

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