Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Nokia finally comes clean with N97 mini: â¬450, ships in October

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/02/nokia-finally-comes-clean-with-n97-mini-at-nokia-world/


Nokia World 2009 just kicked off over in Stuttgart, and while the outfit's CEO didn't have much to say outside of a few nice teases, Mr. Anssi Vanjok did the honors of officially unveiling the N97 mini. Of course, we've already seen this not-so-minuscule handset previewed over in the wilds of Russia, but it's certainly nice to have Nokia's formal seal of approval on the device. Nokia's pushing the mobile's social networking capabilities, not to mention calling it the world's "slimmest travel companion" thanks to the built-in Lonely Planet guidebooks. As for price? Try €450 ($639), but Sir Anssi asserted that the phone should be available for free on contract in "many, many markets." As for specs, we're looking at a tilting 3.2-inch touchscreen and full QWERTY keyboard, with the first shipments starting in October.

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Nokia finally comes clean with N97 mini: €450, ships in October originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's Booklet 3G detailed further at Nokia World, priced at â¬570

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/02/nokias-booklet-3g-detailed-further-at-nokia-world-priced-at-5/

The news from Stuttgart just keeps on flowing, with Nokia also revealing the unashamedly long specifications list to its hotly-anticipated Booklet 3G. Moving forward, the company will focus on "phones, smartphones and mobile computers," with this here netbook being the first major entrant into that final category. The biggest news is probably the half-day (12 hours) battery life, though we're understandably curious to see how that holds up under real-world testing. The machine will also ship with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530 CPU, Windows 7, WiFi and a built-in, hot-swappable SIM card slot for 3G access.

The whole thing will measure just 0.78-inches thick and will ship in black, ice (white) and azure (blue) motifs, though we're most interested to see just how toasty this thing will get given its "fanless design." Other specs include 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 120GB hard drive (1.8-inch, 4200RPM), integrated Ovi Suite, a 10.1-inch LCD (1,280 x 720 resolution) and an almost unheard of 16-cell Li-ion battery that's user-removable. Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, Assisted-GPS, HDMI, USB 2.0 (x3), an SD card reader and a 1.3 megapixel camera will also be present, and the inbuilt accelerometer should make for some unique add-ons. We're still searching for an exact release date, but Anssi Vanjok made clear that the €570 ($810) asking price is apt to be heavily subsidized by carriers across the globe. Still, $810 for a netbook? Ouch.

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Nokia's Booklet 3G detailed further at Nokia World, priced at €570 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's X6 follows the 5800's footsteps, while the X3 brings Ovi Store to Series 40

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/02/nokias-x6-follows-the-5800s-footsteps-while-the-x3-brings-ov/

We'd be tempted to use the word "featurephone" on the X6 (pictured) if it wasn't Nokia behind the handset, pumping the relatively chubby 0.55-inch thick form factor with 32GB of storage, a 5 megapixel camera, a dual LED flash, TV-out, and a 3.2-inch touchscreen. The phone is also a Comes with Music only handset, so don't expect to get all boring and old with this phone in your pocket -- or to pay for a voice plan that doesn't include the service. Otherwise, the phone seems to be a slightly slimmed down Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, sporting the same OS, A-GPS (with Ovi Maps), and we suppose a similar resistive touchscreen. Nokia was kind enough to include a free copy of Spore along with the Ovi Store, and plans to ship the handset in Q4 2009 for 459 Euros (about $652 US) before subsidy.

The X3 is a much tamer affair than the X6, offering a 2.2 non-touchscreen, a slide-out keypad, and Series 40 for an OS. There's a 3.2 megapixel camera, but you'll have to spring for a microSD card if you need significant onboard storage. What's new is that the X3 is the first Series 40 handset to include the Ovi Store, which should help it edge out the competition when it comes to functionality. The price isn't bad either, at 115 Euros (about $163 US) before subsidy. It'll be out in Q4 as well.

Read - Nokia X6
Read - Nokia X3

Gallery: Nokia X6

Gallery: Nokia X3

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Nokia's X6 follows the 5800's footsteps, while the X3 brings Ovi Store to Series 40 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Touch2 launching October 6th with Windows Mobile 6.5

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/02/htc-touch2-launching-october-6th-with-windows-mobile-6-5/


Hey, HTC -- pull up a chair. Listen, we admire your tenacity and all, but did you realize that both Nokia World and IFA kicked off today? Cool, just making sure. Now that we're past that, we'd like to introduce you (as in, the audience) to one of the world's first "Windows phones," the Touch2. Packing a full touchscreen and an all-too-familiar design (remember the HTC Mega?), this here smartphone will launch with Windows Mobile 6.5, the outfit's TouchFLO interface, Microsoft Exchange support, a redesigned Internet Explorer Mobile and the new My Phone service to back up and sync photos, music, contacts and text messages for free from the Touch2 to the web. There's no word on exact pricing and availability, but it'll be available somewhere in this wide world October 6th, with broad availability in Europe and select Asian markets promised for early Q4.

[Via TechRadar]

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HTC Touch2 launching October 6th with Windows Mobile 6.5 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VUDU's 1080p movie streaming goes live on LG Netcast HDTVs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/02/vudus-1080p-movie-streaming-goes-live-on-lg-netcast-hdtvs/


You knew good and well it was coming, and come it has. Starting today, those fortunate enough to own an LG Broadband HDTV in the LH50 LCD series and PS80 plasma range can tap into VUDU's growing library of on-demand 1080p films. If you're still skeptical, we'll invite you to surf over to your set's Netcast interface; from there, you can either update your software to gain VUDU access or begin viewing right away (depending on when you purchased your tele). Oh, and if you're thinking of just lallygagging around while the rest of the world takes advantage, you should know that your first HD or HDX movie rental is gratis for a limited time, so there's some pretty obvious motivation to hop on it. Anyone given it a go? Impressed / unimpressed?

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VUDU's 1080p movie streaming goes live on LG Netcast HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 05:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SSD shootout, round III: OCZ, Corsair and PhotoFast butt heads

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/02/ssd-shootout-round-iii-ocz-corsair-and-photofast-butt-heads/


Like clockwork, we've stumbled upon yet another updated SSD shootout almost a year to the day since the last one, and nearly two years since the first. Since 2008, we've seen OCZ introduce a new "garbage collection" algorithm for its Vertex Series 120GB SSD, Corsair introduce its P64 and PhotoFast make waves with its supposedly speedy G-Monster-V5. The benchmarking gurus over at HotHardware had the patience to sit 'em all down and break out the rulers, and the long and short of it is this: the Vertex Turbo and G-Monster V5 bested the Corsair, with the PhotoFast drive in particular showing remarkably strong performance in read / write tests. Of course, all of the units were quite a bit quicker than traditional HDDs, but the folks at HH maintained that SSD pricing is still way out of reach for many consumers. But hey, if you've got the means to lay down $3 per gigabyte, feel free to tap that read link and ingest.

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SSD shootout, round III: OCZ, Corsair and PhotoFast butt heads originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Is the ROI of social media exactly zero or a rounding error to zero? - http://bit.ly/Lan2y - shout out in the comments.

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RT @geekstats 20% of watermelon crops left in field due to surface blemishes; juice = big ethanol biofuel feedstock (http://bit.ly/10iM1q)

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StayInvisible Catalogs Free Proxy Servers to Keep You Anonymous [Proxy]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/4yR_3zncIQw/stayinvisible-catalogs-free-proxy-servers-to-keep-you-anonymous

Looking to add a little more stealth and a little less "Here I am, world!" to your web browsing? StayInvisible not only catalogs free proxy servers but provides tools to test proxies and information about anonymity and encryption.

Many resources that provide proxy lists provide little else. StayInvisible has lists of proxy servers as well as online tools for testing just how anonymous your connection is: proxy checkers, IP verifiers, and email testers. In addition to the proxy tools, they also have a proxy encyclopedia to help you decipher the various terms used, and a basic text encryption tool.

Have a favorite proxy site or program? Sound off in the comments.



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Order Secret Menu Items at Fast Food Chains [Fast Food Hacks]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/w4Qp1GPgyDs/order-secret-menu-items-at-fast-food-chains

Is Starbucks' "tall" is actually too large for you, and Chipotle's minimalist menu too constraining? These chains and many more have secret menus, or at least margins for creativity, that can awesomely expand your cheap-eats repertoire.

Photo by cote.

Some chains have actual secret items for devoted customers, as the mental_floss blog proves with its revealing of McDonald's Neapolitan milkshake (just what it sounds like) and Taco Bell's green chile sauce. In other cases, it's just a simple request for the staff to do something creative with materials they already have on hand:

If you're at Starbucks and in need of just a little caffeine, don't worry – there's a tiny option for you. It's the Short size, and they don't advertise it. It's like a little baby cup of coffee. It also comes in handy when you're scrounging for change and don't have enough for a tall… not that that has ever happened to me.

Personally, I'm intrigued by the "store policy" that lets you order any combination of ingredients at Chipotle—hello, tomatillo-salsa-smothered enchiladas.

Have you found your own secret menus at chains, regional or national? Can you dream up your own great menu remix item? Make us hungry in the comments.

10 Secret Menu Items [mental_floss]


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Now Available [Now Available]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/jm0JssjZJ2A/now-available

There are great data storage solutions shipping out today. Be sure to take a look at Netgear's new wireless-N router capable of providing access to USB connected hard drives anywhere on the home network.

• Netgear's RangeMax Wireless-N Gigabit Router won the award for "Best of Innovations" at the 2009 CES, and is now set to win over your internet-loving heart. The RangeMax operates on the 2.4 and 5 GHz spectrum, effectively doubling the bandwidth while also avoiding some of the interference from other wireless devices.

One of the RangeMax's keenest features is ReadyServe which allows users to share and access their USB Hard Disks from anywhere on the network simply by plugging it in to one of several USB ports on the router. There is also a broadband monitoring feature that emits a warning if users are close to an ISP imposed data cap, useful for those who find themselves downloading a bit too much "media" every month. The router is capable of 500Mbps WAN to LAN and 350Mbps real-world max transfer rates, the RangeMax goes for $189.99. [PR Newswire]

• Reasonably priced 2TB hard disks have suffered from some awful read times due to the way data is spread out across the platters, but fret not—Western Digital is hoping to remedy the shortcomings with their new Caviar Black 7200RPM drive. The hard drive features a 64MB cache, dual processors and dual actuators to position the drive head more rapidly across four 500GB platters, and is compatible with both SATA I and II interfaces—the drive retails for $299. [Electronista]




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According to These Photographs, Superheroes Exist [Photography]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/0FfhuOkUZd8/according-to-these-photographs-superheroes-exist

Mark got some light art photographs before, but the new ones in this gallery are so spectacular that they look like frames from a sleekspanky superhero movie. Except that, instead of using computer effects, these are done in real time.

Like Picasso's light drawings, the photos by Lapp-Pro are created using a camera with an open shutter. But instead of just using a simple light, these people use a variety of lighting sources that make their photos look from another world. Another world where dorks fight with actual balls of plasma instead of just pretending to do it while making whishwhoosh sounds with their mouths. [Lapp-pro.de via Daily Mail]




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Reality-Augmenting Terminator Vision Contact Lenses Nearly Here (They're in This Bunny's Eye) [Augmented Reality]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/6XZrbT6k6UY/reality+augmenting-terminator-vision-contact-lenses-nearly-here-theyre-in-this-bunnys-eye

Amazing and terrifying all at once, reality augmenting contact lenses are nearly real. Like, they're almost here. Circuits and antennas and LEDs in a contact lens, generating virtual imagery, Predator style. In your eyeball. Or, this bunny's:

University of Washington Associate Professor of Biotechnology Babak A. Parviz describes the current state of the art, and it's pretty intense. They're trialing mockups of the lenses—which are sorta like older gas permeable lenses except with independently fabricated microcomponents like, biosensors and circuits—in bunnies' eyeballs right now, using lens with integrated metal circuits, with no problems for up to 20 minutes of wear. They're up to one LED for display now that's powered wirelessly by RF, but eventually, what's embedded in the lenses will include hundreds of LEDs to form images, and semi-transparent optoelectronics like antennas.

They've still got some challenges before they're embedded in everybody's eyeball, like the fact red LEDs contain toxic substances you don't want to shove in your eyeball. And figuring out whether to use an active display, like an array of LED pixels—which is the current main road forward—or a passive display using ambient light that would require less power. What's crazy is that for a truly vivid LED display, because of the way your eye focuses, they need t! o build another tiny array of lenses into the main lens so the virtual image would look visible a foot or so away. Or they use an array of microlasers. Power will come from RF or solar energy.

Bottom line says Parviz:

All the basic technologies needed to build functional contact lenses are in place. We've tested our first few prototypes on animals, proving that the platform can be safe. What we need to do now is show all the subsystems working together, shrink some of the components even more, and extend the RF power harvesting to higher efficiencies and to distances greater than the few centimeters we have now.

[IEEE Spectrum]




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Hitachi ships 500GB Travelstar 7K500: 7200RPMs in a 2.5-inch form factor

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/01/hitachi-ships-500gb-travelstar-7k500-7200rpms-in-2-5-inch-form/


Itching for a speedy and spacious new upgrade for your laptop? Ain't got the cheddar required to pop in a 512GB SSD? Then have a look at Hitachi's latest, a half-terabyte drive that spins at 7200RPMs yet draws just 0.69 watts when idle and 1.8 watts during read / write operations. The Travelstar 7K500 plays nice with the SATA interface and promises 16 percent better application performance than its predecessor, and for the paranoid in attendance, you can rest easy knowing that a BDE (Bulk Data Encryption) option enables users to have each and every byte encrypted as it's written. As of now, it's only shipping in "limited quantities" to top tier OEMs, but whenever it strolls into retail it'll land for $159.99.

Continue reading Hitachi ships 500GB Travelstar 7K500: 7200RPMs in a 2.5-inch form factor

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Hitachi ships 500GB Travelstar 7K500: 7200RPMs in a 2.5-inch form factor originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon EOS 7D now official, coming end of September for $1,899

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/01/canon-eos-7d-now-official-is-exactly-what-you-expected/

Now everyone pretend to be surprised here. Canon's gone official with what everyone has already seen and read about in detail, the EOS 7D. Specs look to be exactly what we heard, too: 18 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with 8 frames per second continuous shooting, 1080p 24fps HD video with full manual control, a 3-inch LCD, 19-point AF system, and wireless flash control. Mum's still the word on pricing and availability, though. Hit up the read link for the full press release, as well as some hands-on impressions care of Digital Photography Review.

Update: Canon's press release has now gone live. Price is $1,699 body-only or $1,899 with an EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens, and target launch is set for end of September.

Read - Press release
Read - Hands-on

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Canon EOS 7D now official, coming end of September for $1,899 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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