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Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Nokia's 3D N810 Internet Tablet caught on blurrycam

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/02/nokias-3d-n810-internet-tablet-caught-on-blurrycam/

We can't say that the idea of stereoscopic displays on cellphones ever really appealed to us -- more than anything, it sounds like the recipe for a nasty migraine. But provided a company figures out how to do it right (and without the silly glasses) true 3D could lead to some pretty interesting interface design, to say the very least. With Sony singing the technology's praises at IFA this morning, it's fitting that Nokia is showing off one such number at Nokia World in Stuttgart today. According to Pocket-lint, the N810 Internet Tablet shown above has been outfitted with a "special screen" made by a "secret third party manufacturer" and displays 3D content to the naked eye. Sure, we're pretty skeptical that 3D will be a hit (or even stop being lousy) any time soon, but who knows? There seem to be a few companies out there who think that it could pull them out of their doldrums.

[Via The Raw Feed]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Nokia's 3D N810 Internet Tablet caught on blurrycam originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buffalo intros 4TB TeraStation NAS

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/02/buffalo-intros-4tb-terastation-nas/

It's been a while since we've seen a TeraStation from Buffalo, and in the meantime the company has been really going wild with the lilliputian memory devices, so it's nice to see something substantial in this space for a change. The latest TeraStation NAS integrates with Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 for up to 4TB storage. Of course, this particular Windows release has been available since late 2006, so we're not too terribly impressed -- but the company seems to think that it's important for you to know all about it. In addition, this bad boy has support for Raid 5/0/1 and VSS, and rocks four hot-swappable drive bays. The WS-Q2.0TL/R5 (2TB) is available for ¥158,000 ($1,658), while the WS-Q4.0TL/R5 (4TB) will set you back ¥198,000 ($2,077). And no, it won't fit in your pocket.

[Via Akihabara News]

Filed under: Storage

Buffalo intros 4TB TeraStation NAS originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic Lumix GF1 Camera Improves on the Olympus E-P1... But Not By Much [Cameras]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Qt3SED9m_X8/panasonic-lumix-gf1-camera-improves-on-the-olympus-e+p1-but-not-by-much

As leaked, Panasonic's third Micro Four Thirds camera, the GF1, matches the small size of the Olympus E-P1 while adding a built-in flash and some great new lenses.

Besides the size and shape, the Lumix GF1 is very similar to the E-P1: Same 12.1 MP sensor, same 720p video and HDMI-out and same $900 kit price. But it does bring a handful of improvements, most notably the addition of a built-in flash. For the E-P1, the flash is a $200 attachment that hikes up the price and lowers the portability, so some people will be pleased to see it integrated in the GF1.

The other big refinements over the E-P1 is the LCD. Since there's no optical viewfinder—or even a high-res digital one like on the G1 and GH1, it's important to get all the dots you can on the 3" LCD itself. The E-P1's has a paltry 230,000 dots, while the GF1's has 460,000 dots.

The lenses Panasonic is offering in the kits also look great, though of course we can't make a definitive judgment until we try them out. One kit has the Lumix G 20mm f1.7 "pancake" lens, which seems better, on paper, than the E-P1's 17mm f2.8 kit lens. The other kit includes the LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm f3.5-5.6 zoom lens. Both kits should retail for $900 when they're released in early October.

PANASONIC INTRODUCES ITS LATEST LUMIX G SERIES DIGITAL CAMERA – THE LU! MIX DMC- GF1

The LUMIX GF1, the world's smallest and lightest system digital camera with built-in flash*, packs powerful DSLR and HD video capabilities into a sleek and easy-to-use compact body

Secaucus, NJ (September 2, 2009) – Today, Panasonic announced the new LUMIX DMC-GF1, the latest addition to the award-winning LUMIX G Series, which debuts as the world's smallest and lightest system digital camera with a built-in flash*. The LUMIX DMC-GF1 distinguishes itself from previous models with its elegant, compact design reminiscent of classic film cameras, yet builds on Panasonic's success with the revolutionary LUMIX G Series of digital interchangeable lens system cameras based on the Micro Four Thirds system standard. With its compact size, user-friendly design and ability to record High Definition (HD) video and take professional-quality photos, the LUMIX GF1 continues to redefine digital photography standards.

"Panasonic changed the digital camera industry with the world's first Micro Four Thirds digital camera, the LUMIX G1 – a compact "DSLR-like" digital camera that produces exceptional image quality. Then, as we continued to raise the innovation bar, Panasonic launched the LUMIX GH1, adding full High Definition 1080p video recording with continuous auto focus," said David Briganti, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. "The new LUMIX GF1 continues the evolution and is the perfect addition to our LUMIX G Series, as its sophisticated, small body makes it easier and more convenient to carry. The GF1 is ideal for point-and-shoot consumers looking to step-up to DSLR-quality or for current DSLR users who want greater convenience without compromising performance quality or creative flexibility."

With its lightweight body, the LUMIX GF1 provides experienced photographers with the ideal digital camera to carry with them at all times. Like its predecessors in the LUMIX G Series, the LUMIX GF1 eliminates the pentaprism found in traditional int! erchange able lens cameras. Thus, this mirror-free structure allows Panasonic to dramatically reduce both size and weight.

Though small in size, the LUMIX GF1 does not compromise in advanced features. The LUMIX GF1 thoroughly optimizes the advantages of a system camera to ensure high performance, whether capturing photos or HD video. The LUMIX DMC-GF1 can record 1280 x 720 High Definition video in AVCHD Lite, a format that enables longer recording times. With a dedicated video record button, capturing video is convenient and easy. The LUMIX GF1 can also record HD Motion JPEG in 1280 x 720 and other video recording formats include: QVGA, VGA and WVGA. The LUMIX GF1 has a unique Movie Program Mode that allows consumers to adjust the depth-of-field while shooting in HD video, so background and foreground can be blurred to give creative effects – something typically only possible with expensive professional camcorders.

The LUMIX DMC-GF1 includes the new My Color mode, which includes seven preset effects – Expressive, Retro, Pure, Elegant, Monochrome, Dynamic Art, Silhouette and Custom – all which let users manually set the color, brightness and saturation levels. With the Live View function, users can see how these settings will effect the photo before they shoot, making it easier to capture the exact mood or atmosphere desired. For even more elaborate effects, users can choose from a total of nine Film modes, and set the contrast, sharpness and saturation levels for each. A custom function lets users store their favorite settings in memory. Furthermore, the exposure meter can be displayed in other shooting modes and the correlation between shutter speed and aperture is shown, with a color-coded warning that alerts users when the settings are not in the proper range.

For those users not quite comfortable with extensive manual and creative controls, the LUMIX GF1 provides a user-friendly setting that can address a beginner's comfort level, while helping them evolve their photography skills. ! For inst ance, Panasonic's new Scene mode, Peripheral Defocus, lets users take a photo where the foreground is in focus and background is blurred – or vice versa. This popular effect can be intimidating for a beginner, but in the Peripheral Defocus mode, by simply selecting the objects to be blurred and focused using the camera's keypad, it is simple for photographers of any level.

Also, helping to make the LUMIX GF1 more approachable, Panasonic's popular iA (Intelligent Auto) mode, a system of technologies that engage automatically – no setting changes needed – allows for intuitive use when shooting still or video images. While shooting video, iA activates Panasonic's O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilization), which helps reduce video-blurring due to handshake. In addition, Face Detection automatically detects a face in the frame and adjusts focus, exposure, contrast, and skin complexion on it so it always turns out beautifully. Intelligent Exposure continually checks the ambient light level and adjusts the exposure setting as conditions change to prevent blown highlights and blocked shadows. For still photos, the iA system encompasses: Face Recognition (up to six faces can be registered); Auto Focus (AF) Tracking; Mega O.I.S.; Intelligent ISO; Intelligent Exposure; and Intelligent Scene Selector.

The LUMIX GF1 also comes fully-equipped with a built-in flash and a large, 3.0-inch Intelligent LCD with a wide viewing angle and a 460,000-dot resolution. The Intelligent LCD offers automatic backlight control, which when combined with its high-resolution, helps improve visibility in all light environments – from sunny outdoors to low-light interior settings. New for the LUMIX G Series, the LUMIX GF1 is compatible with an optional Live View Finder (DMW-LVF1), which provides the full-time live view function boasting 100% field of view regardless of the attached lens. To further expand the LUMIX G Series system, Panasonic Micro Four Thirds digital cameras can be used with Four Thirds System interchangea! ble lens es via an optional mount adaptor DMW-MA1 and with the prestigious Leica M/R lenses using Panasonic's DMW-MA2M DMW-MA3R. These adapters give the user access to the unlimited number of lens properties.

The LUMIX GF1's sensor technology offers the best of both worlds - the superior image quality of a CCD sensor, and the low-power consumption of a CMOS sensor. Advanced technology makes it possible to read four channels of data simultaneously, helping the LUMIX GF1 deliver 60 frames-per-second full-time Live View images, while maintaining fine detail and rich gradation. The LUMIX GF1's Venus Engine HD records stunning high-resolution 12-megapixel images using its advanced Live MOS Sensor. This sophisticated LSI circuit separates chromatic noise from luminance noise and applies the optimal noise reduction to each, helping to capture clear and beautiful images even when shooting at high ISO levels.

The contrast AF system adopted in the LUMIX GF1 is not only accurate, but also very quick – approximately 0.3 seconds with the LUMIX G H-FS014045 lens. Users can choose from a wide-range of AF modes, including multiple-area AF with up to 23 focus areas; 1-area AF with a selectable focus area; Face Detection; and AF Tracking. The LUMIX GF1 also has a Quick AF function that begins focusing as soon as the user aims the camera - without pressing the shutter button halfway.

As with all Panasonic LUMIX G Series digital cameras, the LUMIX GF1 is equipped with a highly-effective Dust Reduction system. Thus, if dust gets inside the camera (when changing lenses), Panasonic's Dust Reduction system addresses this problem by placing a supersonic wave filter in front of the Live MOS sensor which vertically vibrates around 50,000 times per second, thus repelling the dust.

The content captured on the LUMIX GF1 can easily be viewed on a Panasonic VIERA® HDTV by simply inserting the SD/SDCH Memory Card into the VIERA's SD/SDHC Memory Card slot or into a Panasonic DIGA Blu-ray Disc Player. Alternatively, ! an optio nal mini HDMI cable can be used to output still and motion images recorded with the LUMIX DMC-GF1 directly to the TV for easy VIERA Link™ operation, with control of playback functions, such as slideshows, managed from the VIERA HDTV's remote control.

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF1 will be available in early October 2009 with the option of two kits – both with a suggested retail price (SRP) of $899.95. One kit option includes the newly-announced LUMIX G 20mm/F1.7 ASPH, a compact and lightweight "pancake" lens, while the other kit features the LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S. The optional Live View Finder DMW-LVF1 has an SRP of $199.95; while the DMW-MA2M and DMW-MA3R both have an SRP of $249.95. All new accessories will also be available in early October.

For more information about Panasonic and its LUMIX G System cameras and accessories, please visit www.panasonic.com/lumix.

Video: Nokia N900 put through its paces... in Italian

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/01/video-nokia-n900-put-through-its-paces-in-italian/

We're sure to see a whole lot more of the Nokia N900 as Nokia World gets underway this week, but in the meantime we're super into this video walkthrough posted up by Kiamanokia.it -- and not just because the Italian narration makes using the N900 seem absolutely delightful. Nope, we're much more into the extremely-responsive interface, the rotary-zoom gesture in the browser, and the overall slickness of Maemo 5. We'll withhold judgment until we spend some time with an actual production N900, but things are looking promising -- head after the break to check the video for yourselves.

[Via The Nokia Blog]

Continue reading Video: Nokia N900 put through its paces... in Italian

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Video: Nokia N900 put through its paces... in Italian originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic goes rangefinder with the Lumix DMC-GF1

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/02/panasonic-goes-rangefinder-with-the-lumix-dmc-gf1/

We've been wondering when Panasonic would do something a little more interesting with a Micro Four Thirds sensor than simply pack it into an SLR-style body, and it looks like the new Lumix DMC-GF1 is the first step along that road. First leaked early last month, the spec sheet aligns pretty closely to the similarly sweet-looking Olympus E-P1, although most of the numbers max out a little lower: 12.1 megapixel Live MOS sensor with ISO 3200 sensitivity, 720p 30fps AVCHD Lite or Motion JPEG video (sorry, no mic input), three-inch LCD, and HDMI out. (In terms of size it's a wash: the GF1 is less wide, but it's a tick taller, and they're both about the same thickness, although the GF1 has a built-in flash.) Ready for the bad news? Panny's going to be selling this thing in two kits come October, one with a 20mm/f1.7 "pancake" lens and the other with a 14-45mm/f3.5-5.6 zoom, and both are priced at $900 -- not including the optional viewfinder attachment. Yeah, that's a lot of scratch, especially since the E-P1 has slightly better specs and lists for $800. We'll see what street prices look like after a couple months, but for now we're, oh, let's say, "waiting to be convinced." Full press release after the break.

Update: Well, what do you know? PhotographyBLOG has a nice gallery of sample shots up to give you a solid idea of what this bad boy's capable of.

Continue reading Panasonic goes rangefinder with the Lumix DMC-GF1

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Panasonic goes rangefinder with the Lumix DMC-GF1 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer's Ion-powered Aspire Revo 3600 packs dual-core Atom 330

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/02/acers-ion-powered-aspire-revo-3600-packs-dual-core-atom-330/

Remember that Gateway QX2800 we peeked back in July? Looks like Acer's finally issuing its own version of the nettop here at IFA with the introduction of the Aspire Revo 3600. Design wise, everything is pretty much the same as on the original AspireRevo, with the major differences coming on the inside. Rather than packing a paltry 1.6GHz Atom 230, Acer has outfitted this bugger with a dual-core Atom 330, NVIDIA's Ion graphics technology, 4GB of DDR2 RAM, an HDMI socket and VESA mount compatibility. There's no word on an expected price, release date or OS, but we're hoping to get our mitts on the unit itself as well as those missing details when Berlin opens its doors to tech lovers across the globe here in just a few hours.

Filed under: Desktops

Acer's Ion-powered Aspire Revo 3600 packs dual-core Atom 330 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung boasts of first commercial LTE modem for cellphones

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/02/samsung-boasts-of-first-commercial-lte-modem-for-cellphones/

We can't say that we're absolutely certain that Samsung's not fibbing a little with its latest claim, particularly since NXP rolled out a multi-mode LTE / HSPA / etc. cellular modem way back in June of last year. Whatever the case, we're just stoked to see yet another big player drinking the LTE Kool-Aid, with Sammy developing what it calls the "first LTE modem that complies with the latest standards of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)." The modem, which is being labeled the Kalmia for now, supports download rates of up to 100Mbps and upload speeds around 50Mbps within the 20MHz frequency band. In other words, if your future handset is equipped with this chipset, you could theoretically stream four HD movies with no buffering. Now, if only Samsung would announce a new mobile to go along with this, we'd really have reason to carouse.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Samsung boasts of first commercial LTE modem for cellphones originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic's 85-inch plasma screen is $30,000 worth of decadence

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/02/panasonics-85-inch-plasma-screen-is-30-000-worth-of-decadence/

For anyone who can live by the credo that money is no obstacle is the way of getting the very best in your life, Panasonic's unveiled the 85-inch TH-85PF12U plasma HDTV. It outputs 1080p -- but we'd be honestly surprised if it didn't at this point -- and weighs in at 260 pounds, with its main body about 3.9 inches in depth. Price? Well, if you have to ask... it's $30,000 -- honestly not that surprising when you consider the years-old 103-inch model is still teetering around $45,000, give or take five grand.

Filed under: Displays

Panasonic's 85-inch plasma screen is $30,000 worth of decadence originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon introduces first Hybrid Image Stabilization lens: EF 100mm Macro

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/02/canon-introduces-first-hybrid-image-stabilization-lens-ef-100mm/

Well, that was swift. Just 1.5 months after Canon got our camera juices flowing with its Hybrid Image Stabilizer technology, along comes the very first lens to incorporate it. Quietly announced alongside two other vanilla lenses and its EOS 7D, the 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens is the first from the outfit to feature Hybrid IS. As you well know by now, said tech compensates for both angle and shift camera shake up to four shutter speed steps, and it's fully compatible with all EOS cameras. As you can likely tell from the title, this one's ideal for closeups and portrait-length telephoto shots, but you'll be paying through the nose in order to get it in your arsenal. In other words, you'll be parting with $1,049 come late September. Gotta pay for delectation, bub.

[Via HotHardware]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Canon introduces first Hybrid Image Stabilization lens: EF 100mm Macro originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

Gallery: Nokia finally comes clean with N97 mini

Filed under: Cellphones

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.

Gallery: Nokia introduces Booklet 3G 'mini laptop'

Filed under: Laptops

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

Filed under: Cellphones

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]

Filed under: Cellphones

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?

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

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.

Filed under: Storage

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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