Wednesday, September 09, 2009

iida Polaris: Phone meets robot, robot meets Japan (video!)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/iida-polaris-phone-meets-robot-robot-meets-japan-video/

While Sony's Rolly is about as useful as, well, a tiny dancing robot, at least iida's Polaris concept doubles as a cellphone plus dock. Beneath the enormity of the flowery product page rests little in the way of specs -- it is just a concept after all, developed in partnership with Flower Robotics. The robot features "learning functions" to monitor your physical condition and suggest recipes and exercise. Failing that, it can also suggest possible medical intervention. The longer he's with you the more attune he is to your well-being. Perfect -- when we're old and infirmed at the end of days, our personal Polaris can represent us at the government mandated death panel. Take a peak at your doomsayer in the videos after the break.

[Via Akihabara News]

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iida Polaris: Phone meets robot, robot meets Japan (video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 03:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pandora comes to Android, world's networks that much closer to buckling

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/pandora-comes-to-android-worlds-networks-that-much-closer-to-b/

As must-have mobile apps go, Pandora ranks high on the books -- with the proliferation of 3G and WiFi, it comes dangerously close to obsoleting the need to carry around your own 8, 16, or 32GB worth of tracks -- and another big-ticket platform has now joined the compatibility short list. This time around it's Android that's getting hooked up, offering a home screen widget and background playback (we'd expect no less on Android) over whatever type of network connection you've got handy. Using Wham! as a station seed is still indefensible, but we'd say the argument for scooping up a G1, myTouch 3G, or Sprint Hero (when it's available, anyhow) just got a bit stronger.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Pandora comes to Android, world's networks that much closer to buckling originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS dubs self SonicMaster, outs N61 an N71 laptops to prove it

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/asus-dubs-self-sonicmaster-outs-n61-an-n71-laptops-to-prove-it/

If what's been missing from your life lately can be quantified as a large widescreen laptop with "unparalleled audio reproduction" and up to a GeForce GT240M graphics card, you'd better listen up, partner. ASUS has just introduced the 16-inch N61 and 17.3-inch N71, both of which will sport up to a Core 2 Quad Q9000 CPU, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a Blu-ray drive, and the aforementioned GPU with a gigabyte of dedicated memory. The primary differences are in resolution and storage, where the N61 makes do with 1366 x 768 and 500GB versus 1600 x 900 and up to 1TB spread over two HDDs on the N71. We suspect the SonicMaster "dedicated resonance space arrangement" might be as useful as those 'shopped speakers in the picture, so we'd still advise getting a solid pair of headphones.

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ASUS dubs self SonicMaster, outs N61 an N71 laptops to prove it originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Hard Rock Cafe Vegas Strip gets ginormous interactive Rock Wall

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/video-hard-rock-cafe-vegas-strip-gets-ginormous-interactive-roc/


We didn't think too much of Obscura Digital's multi-touch hologram when we spotted it last August, but evidently the company has been working overtime in order to outfit Hard Rock's newest cafe with a monstrous interactive video wall. Hard Rock Cafe Vegas Strip is the chain's second venue in Sin City, but it's far and away the one to hit if you're a self-proclaimed nerd. Aside from having access to a number of Microsoft Surface-based installations, you'll also spend a good bit of time navigating the Rock Wall. The 18- x 4-foot touch wall (video after the break) enables up to six guests to simultaneously surf through the outfit's expansive memorabilia collection, with options to zoom and flick through oodles of images. Obscura claims that it just might be the world's highest resolution interactive display available to the public, with a trio of HD projectors beaming the content from behind the glass. Not like you really needed another excuse to add one more HRC shirt / pin / glass to your collection, but feel free to express your gratitude in comments below.

Read - Hard Rock's press release
Read - Obscura Digital's take

Continue reading Video: Hard Rock Cafe Vegas Strip gets ginormous interactive Rock Wall

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Video: Hard Rock Cafe Veg! as Strip gets ginormous interactive Rock Wall originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS gets classy with sleek UL series laptop range

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/asus-gets-classy-with-sleek-ul-series-laptop-range/


If ASUS' N61 / N71 laptops were just too -- shall we say, glamorous -- for you, how's about the ultra-classy UL lineup? Short for UnLimited possibilities (groan), the UL series offers up a variety of models, all of which rely on Intel's CULV platform for juice and can squeeze up to 12 hours of claimed battery life thanks to having both discrete and integrated graphics onboard. The 1-inch thin machines arrive in either black or brushed aluminum, with room for up to 8GB of DDR2 RAM, a dual-layer DVD burner, a Core 2 Duo CPU and hard drives as large as 500GB. Both 14- and 15.6-inch models are available, though your guess is as good as ours when it comes to pricing and availability.

[Via HotHardware]

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ASUS gets classy with sleek UL series laptop range originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 07:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T slinging HSPA 7.2 to six cities this year, adding backhaul capacity too

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/atandt-slinging-hspa-7-2-to-six-cities-this-year-adding-backhaul/


If there's one thing AT&T's network could use, it's more network. Particularly in major cities (we're looking at you and your dastardly street parking situation, San Francisco), AT&T's 3G network is perpetually overwhelmed, oftentimes forcing users to switch to EDGE just to tweet about how awful the coverage is. Thankfully, the operator is making good on its earlier promise to roll out HSPA 7.2Mbps to select cities, with Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami now destined to get lit this year. Potentially more interesting, however, is the deployment of "additional backhaul capacity to cell sites," which will also support LTE when the time comes. All told, around 2,000 new cell sites should be added before the year's end, and at least a half dozen 7.2Mbps-capable smartphones should be in AT&T's portfolio by the same deadline. Feel free to express your joy in comments below -- that is, if you can get comments to load on your existing 3G connection.

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AT&T slinging HSPA 7.2 to six cities this year, adding backhaul capacity too originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Archos 9pctablet hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/archos-9pctablet-hands-on/


We wouldn't want to jump to conclusions, but Archos might just be onto something with its upcoming 9pctablet, which is due to launch alongside Windows 7. The Windows 7 bit isn't an accident, since it's really the first OS from Microsoft that makes it conceivable to use much of the OS with a finger, rather than the stylus. It's not all there, of course: Archos had to build its own touchscreen keyboard to replace Microsoft's woefully inadequate implementation, and there's an optical mouse sensor on the side of the display and a stylus buried within to pick up the slack.

Overall the hardware seems very solid and astonishingly dense, and despite the recent advancements we've seen in thin and light laptops, it's pretty incredible that Archos has a full Atom-based PC running inside this thin, fanless slab. What wasn't so incredible was the resistive touchscreen, at least on the unit we were playing with. Our touches kept getting misread inexplicably as an inch below where we were tapping, and it didn't feel like a "light touch" resistive model at all -- no confusing what we felt with capacitive, though perhaps we got a faulty unit. This is probably a scenario where resistive makes sense, but we'd say Archos has a lot of work to do on the drivers or **something to make this more usable. The good news is that there will be an optional, super-slim external keyboard, which should make input on the 9 a bit less of a chore.

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Archos 9pctablet hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leica gets official with M9 and X1 cameras, hands-on ensue

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/leica-gets-official-with-m9-and-x1-cameras-hands-on-ensue/


No surprises here (at all), but Leica's 09/09/09 event has just led to the formal unveiling of the full-frame, 18 megapixel M9 rangefinder and the compact X1. The former (which is shipping now) supports all Leica M lenses and ships with a "newly developed glass sensor cover designed to guarantee the suppression of the infrared portion of the light spectrum." There's also a quick-access ISO adjustment button alongside a few other hotkeys, a full metal housing, Kodak-sourced CCD, a fresh microprocessor-controlled shutter (which is supposedly "near silent") and a staggering £4,850 ($8,004) price tag. As for the X1, you'll find a 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor (APS-C), a fixed-mount Leica Elmarit 1:2.8/24mm lens, numerous "auto" modes for the newbies in attendance, a maximum ISO of 3200, 2.7-inch rear LCD and a Live View function that replaces the optical viewfinder. Expect to hear more regarding price when the January 2010 ship date nears, but for now, feel free to peruse the hands-on galleries linked below.

Read - Leica M9 announcement and hands-on
Read - Leica X1 announcement and hands-on

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Leica gets official with M9 and X1 cameras, hands-on ensue originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Intel Atom N470 1.83GHz CPU coming to netbooks early next year

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/08/intel-atom-n470-1-83ghz-cpu-coming-to-netbooks-early-next-year/

We know how relieved you were when you found out that rumors of Pineview's delay were greatly exaggerated. But have you heard this one? In addition to the N450 1.66GHz system-on-a-chip due to hit the streets in early 2010, Intel is said to be releasing the N470, which will run along at a cool 1.83GHz and sport a 667MHz FSB, hyperthreading support, and a TDP of 6.5 watts (which, considering you won't need a separate graphics controller, is none too shabby). It really makes the whole concept of microprocessor without its own graphics seem a little 2009, doesn't it? Not a bad deal all around -- provided this thing comes in at a decent price point it's sure to put a smile on the face of netbook manufacturers and consumers alike. But NVIDIA? Not so much.

[Via liliputing]

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Intel Atom N470 1.83GHz CPU coming to netbooks early next year originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Advertising does not create demand; it only helps to map certain products to demands that already exist - http://bit.ly/jZbI3 - agree?

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Asus Eee Reader Could Have Dual Color Touchscreens [Ebook Readers]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/MLCtCzjAheo/asus-eee-reader-could-have-dual-color-touchscreens

So about that Asus e-book reader expected by Christmas: The Times suggests that not only could it have dual color touchscreens like the prototype Asus showed at CeBIT (pictured), but it might even undercut Sony and Amazon on price.

Asus pretty much kick-started the whole netbook craze, so it'll be interesting to see if they can shake up e-book readers, too. A second display could be used for a virtual keyboard and Web browsing, allowing the device to even compete with netbooks. The company says it's also thinking about built-in speakers, and a Webcam/microphone for cheap Skype calls.

Budget and premium versions are likely, and it's expected the pricier option would feature 3G. Right now, the two cheapest readers are the 6-inch Amazon Kindle 2 ($300) and Cool-er eBook Reader ($250). The Times says Asus is aiming closer to around $160. Previous Eee PCs have been cheaper than the competition, so you just never know… [The Times]




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Altec Lansing Orbit Speaker Drops the Batteries, Grows a USB Tail [Speakers]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/AD1mBrCkM-g/altec-lansing-orbit-speaker-drops-the-batteries-grows-a-usb-tail

Some interestingly sideways gadget evolution from Altec Lansing today: The ultraportable Orbit speaker, which originally called for a child's fistful of batteries, is now powered directly over USB. Which is great, for some people.

In gaining a USB cable, used for both audio input and power, the neatly-kickstanded OrbitUSB loses its batteries, and by extension, its 3.5mm jack. In practical terms, this means that the speaker is eminently more useful for anyone trying to coax a little more sound out of their notebooks—or even more so, netbooks—but that it's totally limited to that one application: You won't be able to use this to impose your iPod's contents unto others.

If that's exactly what you need, though, the OrbitUSB will be available starting in Mid-September for $50, case included. [Altec Lansing]




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Verizon Samsung Rogue Has AMOLED Display, Promises to Be Better than Glyde It Replaces [Phones]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/_HaTUVE2Z-Q/verizon-samsung-rogue-has-amoled-display-promises-to-be-better-than-glyde-it-replaces

We less than liked Verizon's Samsung Glyde, but perhaps the Glyde 2 or the Rogue will make us forget. The Rogue looks like a normal slider but its AMOLED display should be bright (much like the Impression's).

Samsung went with a 3 inch resistive touchscreen for the Rogue, but it does include some more premium features like a 3 megapixel autofocus camera with an LED flash. We are happy to see a 3.5mm headphone jack and a MicroSD slot. It has a HTML browser and EVDO Rev A speeds and supports VCAST Music/Video and VZ Navigator.

Right now the Rogue is $100 on Verizon's site (with a 2 year contract and after a $100 rebate). The full retail price is $420. [Verizon via PhoneArena]




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Intel Lynnfield Core i5 and i7 Processors: Nehalem Superpowers Cheaper Than Ever [Intel]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/6WRyr4RiYFE/intel-lynnfield-core-i5-and-i7-processors-nehalem-superpowers-cheaper-than-ever

The long and short of the new Lynnfield-based Intel Core i7 and Core i5 desktop chips: Nehalem power for cheaper than ever, and all you're losing is triple-channel memory (in new i7 and i5) and hyperthreading (in i5). [Anandtech]




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Dell Inspiron 14z and 15z Are Same Old Inspirons But On Weight Watchers [Notebooks]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/dZp75Zm0apo/dell-inspiron-14z-and-15z-are-same-old-inspirons-but-on-weight-watchers

There is no hiding this trend: laptops are getting thinner and thinner this fall. Dell is hoping on and has cut the pants size on its Inspirons with its 14z and 15z.

Joining the Dell Inspiron 11z, the new "Z" models have thinner, lighter bodies than the mainstream Inspirons. Both are an inch thin and feature new Intel ULV processors including Core 2 Solo, Core 2 and Core 2 Duo. Those processors also promise longer battery life; Dell says with the available 6-cell battery they will get up to 8.5 hours of juice.The 14z has a 16:9 14-inch display and the 15z a 15.6-inch.

You can configure the models on Dell.com with up to 500 GB 7,200 RPM hard drives, 8GB of RAM and 4 or 6 cell batteries. Unlike the 11z, these new models have optical drives. All run Windows Vista, but should be available with Windows 7 upgrades. I will never get why you would pay an extra $40 to get a Dell in red (or a different color), but the black one starts at $599. [Dell]




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