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Thursday, September 10, 2009

VUDU equips LG's BD390 Blu-ray player with movie streaming abilities

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/vudu-equips-lgs-bd390-blu-ray-player-with-movie-streaming-abili/

LG's WiFi-enabled, DivX-friendly BD390 Blu-ray player has been shipping here in the States since May, but not until now have you really had a reason to pick one up. Here at CEDIA, VUDU is taking one step further away from its standalone movie set-top-box by announcing that the aforementioned deck will become the first of its kind to tap into VUDU's growing library of on-demand film rentals. Of course, adding VUDU to this player was a natural move given the built-in Ethernet port, though users will have to wait until the end of this month to suck down the free update. In case you're wondering, the VUDU interface on LG's player will be the same as the one found on the company's own hardware (not to mention a few LG HDTVs), and the $399 price point will remain the same even after the new functionality is added.

Continue reading VUDU equips LG's BD390 Blu-ray player with movie streaming abilities

Filed under: Home Entertainment

VUDU equips LG's BD390 Blu-ray player with movie streaming abilities originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia putting foot down on Maemo, won't allow carrier customizations

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/nokia-putting-foot-down-on-maemo-wont-allow-carrier-customizat/

Google and Apple have both managed to wrest a great deal of control over the mobile user experience from carriers over the past couple of years -- cheers to that, by the way -- and now Nokia's decided it wants a piece of that action with the introduction of Maemo 5 and the N900, which it says will be free of the branding that Symbian products frequently get subjected to. It makes total sense that Nokia would be looking to come play in that rarified air that Android, iPhone OS, and webOS are all playing in -- a place where ARPUs are high, UIs are slick and modern, and the apps (and data) flow like water -- but since the majority of customers for these types of devices rely on subsidies to justify the purchase, they'll still need carrier buy-in to pull this off effectively. At least Palm and the gang have all proven that there's precedent for it, and it's definitely a noble fight to wage -- no one wants a bright magenta interface, right?

[Via Phone Scoop]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Nokia putting foot down on Maemo, won't allow carrier customizations originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony brings projectors for everyone with VPL-VW85 & VPL-HW15

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/sony-brings-projectors-for-everyone-with-vpl-vw85-and-vpl-hw15/

Along with the rest of its CEDIA 2009 announcements, Sony will be showing off new projectors. Up first is the VPL-VW85 (pictured above) which one ups the exiting VPL-VW70 and VPL-VW80 models by combining the company's 120Hz Motionflow frame insertion tech, 120,000:1 contrast ratio, 800 ANSI lumens, RS-232C and an anamorphic zoom lens in an $8,000 package. If that's too rich for your blood, the VPL-HW15 (picture after the break) offers a spec bump over the VPL-HW10 with 60,000:1 contrast ratio and a lower initial MSRP at just $2,800 when both of these launch in October.

Continue reading Sony brings projectors for everyone with VPL-VW85 & VPL-HW15

Sony brings projectors for everyone with VPL-VW85 & VPL-HW15 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony goes in a cheaper direction with wireless XBR10 BRAVIA LCDs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/sony-goes-in-a-cheaper-direction-with-wireless-xbr10-bravia-lcds/

Proudly rocking the XBR10 nameplate, this is the latest Sony BRAVIA (peep the video from its Japanese launch), though the potential to be greatest is up for debate. These 52- and 42-inch models skip over the company's well received (but expensive) Triluminos LED technology for cheaper edge lit LEDs like Samsung. Sony is taking advantage of the tech's slim frames to include wireless HD streaming -- you'll be plugging set-top boxes, game consoles and other video sources into a separate media box, plugging in anything other than AC would ruin the style. Still, it's hard to see many people deciding that wireless HD, Internet powered TV Guide, BRAVIA Engine 3 processing, Motionflow 240Hz, video streaming from Amazon, YouTube and Netflix and Sony's version of Yahoo! Widgets is enough to overcome a serious case of sticker shock. The KDL-52XBR10 and KDL-46XBR10 arrive in October with $5,000 and $4,500 MSRPs, respectively; over a thousand bucks north of comparable, wireless-less Samsung models featuring the same backlighting tech. That Sony brand and experience worth the difference to you?

Continue reading Sony goes in a cheaper direction with wireless XBR10 BRAVIA LCDs

Sony goes in a cheaper direction with wireless XBR10 B! RAVIA LC Ds originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi rolls out 1080p HC3800 projector for $1,395

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/mitsubishi-rolls-out-1080p-hc3800-projector-for-1-395/

It's not always easy for a projector to stand out from the pack these days, but it looks like Mitsubishi has turned to one of the most tried and true tricks in the book for its new HC3800 model: offer a ton of features for a great price. That starts, naturally, with a full 1080p resolution, and things stay more than respectable all along down the line with 1,300 lumens of brightness, a 4,000:1 contrast ratio, a promised 5,000 hour lamp life (in conservation mode) and, get this, full support for anamorphic lenses in case you're really looking to top off your home theater. Best of all, the projector is set to run just $1,395, and should be available sometime in the third quarter of this year.

[Via About Projectors]

Filed under: Displays, HDTV

Mitsubishi rolls out 1080p HC3800 projector for $1,395 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eyes-on: Sony's XBR10 LCD and its wireless video streaming box

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/eyes-on-sonys-xbr10-lcd-and-its-wireless-video-streaming-box/

We know, it's easy to be distracted by the sexy, slim BRAVIA LCD HDTV in front of you, but refocus your eyes for a moment on that unassuming box to the lower right. Given a distinct lack of (read: none) media inputs on the screen itself, that little devices is where all your HDMI, coax and other video sources will be going. With it's $5,000 pricetag the ability to hide DVR's, game consoles and whatever else well away from the television itself is a major selling point so feel free to peruse these pictures (no iPhone comparisons, we promise) and get familiar before this set hits shelves in October.

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Eyes-on: Sony's XBR10 LCD and its wireless video streaming box originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WD ships 2.5-inch 640GB standard 9.5mm-height laptop drive

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/wd-ships-2-5-inch-640gb-standard-9-5mm-height-laptop-drive/

Monkey see, monkey do -- ain't that right? Whatever the case, we're stoked to see one more player in the 2.5-inch 640GB game, with Seagate, Samsung and Toshiba recently introducing versions of their own. Western Digital's iteration -- the Scorpio Blue 640 -- sports a luscious standard 9.5mm-height package, which should fit just fine within pretty much any laptop out there. WD also claims that this HDD consumes some 30 percent less power than the previous generation Scorpio Blue, though the 5400RPM spindle speed certainly won't impress the performance junkies in the crowd. Look for it to slide into your next portable for $149.

[Via HotHardware]

Filed under: Storage

WD ships 2.5-inch 640GB standard 9.5mm-height laptop drive originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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To proceed another five miles, TXT 'DESIGN FLAW' to your Reva electric car

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/to-proceed-another-five-miles-txt-design-flaw-to-your-reva-el/

To proceed another five miles, TXT 'DESIGN FLAW' to your Reva electric car

Not long ago a motorcycle with a fuel gauge was basically unheard of and even "low fuel" idiot lights were rare. Riders used advanced (and generally inaccurate) mathematics to calculate remaining mileage and, when the engine inevitably sputtered, switched over to a reserve tank that would let them nervously motor along a few more miles. Reva, an Indian company set to start shipping electric cars next year, plans to resurrect that most irritating sequence of events in their two-door NXR -- albeit with a modern spin. Now, instead of reaching down and turning a dial to get to that precious extra juice, drivers will need to call or text Reva HQ. Some overworked customer service agent will then remotely activate the "reserve battery," which surely doesn't even exist, to give a bit of extra range. We pity the fool who runs out of charge somewhere outside of cell range, but not quite as much as the designer who pitched this terrible idea.

Filed under: Transportation

To proceed another five miles, TXT 'DESIGN FLAW' to your Reva electric car originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple releases video podcast of Rock and Roll event, we've got you covered with the highlights

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/apple-releases-video-podcast-of-rock-and-roll-event-weve-got-y/

Need to catch up on today's Apple news? Well, you can either fire up iTunes and download Apple's video podcast of the event, or you can skip the endless game demos and marketing chit-chat and just peruse the links below. The executive summary? iTunes 9's new app management, Home Sharing, and iTunes LP features are really nice, but it's almost impossible to understand why Apple added a camera to the iPod nano and not the iPod touch, no matter what Steve says. Oh -- and don't forget the Palm Pixi!

The event
Live from Apple's 'It's only rock and roll' event
Video: Steve Jobs returns to the Apple stage

iPods
iPod touch 3rd gen hands-on and video
iPod nano 5G with camera first hands-on!
Apple announces cheaper, more colorful iPod shuffle, new Special Edition
Apple updates iPod touch line, drops prices, adds top-end 64GB model
Apple adds video camera, larger screen to new 5G iPod nano
iPod classic bumped to 160GB, price stays the same at $249
iPhone OS 3.1 is official, available today
iPhone / iPod touch OS 3.1.1 is live!
iPod shuffle 2g is no more

iTunes
iTunes 9 bringing iTunes LP functionality, 'beautiful new look'
iTunes 9 breaks Pre media sync... what did you expect?
Video: iTunes 9 Home Sharing and iPhone app management

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Apple releases video podcast of Rock and Roll event, we've got you covered with the highlights originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint's big surprise to be unlimited mobile calling, data, text, and MMS for $70 (update: official)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/09/sprints-big-surprise-to-be-unlimited-calling-data-text-and-m/

We can't say we expected Sprint to actually surprise anyone with its "game changing" announcement tomorrow, and right on schedule, the details have come leaking out. Apparently Sprint's $70 rate plan going unlimited, meaning seven Hamiltons will get you endless mobile-to-mobile calling (to any network, not just Sprint), texts, data, and MMS -- stuff you could already get on the Simply Unlimited plan, but the big change at this price point is the unlimited mobile-to-mobile voice, up from 450 minutes in the current plan. Yeah, it's a good deal, but is it a revolutionary deal? We'd say that all depends on whether or not it comes with a free Palm Pixi.

Update: The Any Mobile, Anytime plan is now official.

Filed under: Cellphones

Sprint's big surprise to be unlimited mobile calling, data, text, and MMS for $70 (update: official) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MotionPower speed bump installed at NJ Burger King, McDonald's and Wendy's feel slighted

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/10/motionpower-speed-bump-installed-at-nj-burger-king-mcdonalds-a/

We can't say we doubted that New Energy's MotionPower speed bump would actually be installed at a New Jersey Burger King, but it's always refreshing to see a plan morph into reality. As of now, those in Hillside heading to have it their way will cruise over the kinetic energy harvester before retrieving their grub, which has the potential to create around 2,000 watts of electricity from a car hitting it at five miles per hour. As of now, the hump is simply there to test storage potential, but New Energy is hoping that the next generation of the tech could be placed at a variety of fast foot eateries, parking lots, toll booth plazas and anywhere else where folks need a little assistance in maintaining a sensible speed. Check out the read link for a plethora of shots, and feel free to splurge on a #4 combo today if you're in the area -- Ma Earth will thank you.

Filed under: Transportation, Science

MotionPower speed bump installed at NJ Burger King, McDonald's and Wendy's feel slighted originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rhapsody App approved by Apple: 8 million tracks streaming to the ether (update: video!)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/10/rhapsody-app-approved-by-apple-8-million-tracks-streaming-to-th/

We had a feeling this day was coming. After Spotify's subscription music app was approved, offline listening intact, there was every indication that Rhapsody was next for christening. Especially with the feds watching Apple's every move. The free download just went hot and requires a $15 per month Rhapsody To Go subscription -- you can try it for free for a week -- and streams 64kbps quality (ugh) music over WiFi or cellular data (only, no off-line access) from a catalog of about 8 million tracks offered by the MTV and RealNetwork tie-up. Now go 'n get it.

Update: Added video demo after the break.

[Via Komo News, thanks Bill Y.]

Read -- Rhapsody App [iTunes link]

Continue reading Rhapsody App approved by Apple: 8 million tracks streaming to the ether (update: video!)

Filed under: Software

Rhapsody App approved by Apple: 8 million tracks streaming to the ether (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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APSI 100 GPS packs removable PMP, can't be removed from South Korea

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/10/apsi-100-gps-packs-removable-pmp-cant-be-removed-from-south-ko/

GPS devices have been packing full PMP functionality for quite some time now, but few have come up with the bright idea of using an actual, removable PMP for the heart of the unit -- although Apple and TomTom are now doing their best attempt at a one-two punch. Korean manufacturer APSI now made its best attempt at a fully out-of-the-box solution with its new APSI 100 unit, however, which combines the simplicity of a touchscreen PMP with the in-car convenience of some old fashioned buttons and knobs. Unfortunately, the complete specs are a bit hard to decipher, but it looks like you will get some built-in DMB mobile TV (complete with an antenna jack on the base unit), along with some nifty 3D maps, and both AV inputs and outputs, among other standard fare. No word on a price, unfortunately, and it looks like this one is, and will likely remain, a Korean exclusive.

[Via OhGizmo!]

Filed under: GPS, Portable Audio, Portable Video

APSI 100 GPS packs removable PMP, can't be removed from South Korea originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS stuffs TV tuner into new T1 series of Full HD monitors

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/10/asus-stuffs-tv-tuner-into-new-t1-series-of-full-hd-monitors/

We aren't trying to get all up in your business or anything, but if you've found yourself in the market for a TV tuning LCD of late, ASUS has a trio that just might serve your needs. The T1 is comprised of 22-, 24- and 27-inch displays, all of which boast 1080p panels, a pair of HDMI sockets, a hybrid TV tuner, twin seven watt speakers, a fairly unexciting black chassis and a 3-year warranty. We're told that these are available now across the pond starting at £279 ($461), though there's no indication that these will ever ship stateside (nor if they'll ever see a Designo makeover).

[Via Pocket-lint]

Filed under: Displays

ASUS stuffs TV tuner into new T1 series of Full HD monitors originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 03:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMD Tigris and Congo mobile platforms focus on multimedia, longer battery life

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/10/amd-tigris-and-congo-mobile-platforms-focus-on-multimedia-longe/

Stop the presses! AMD has kept to its roadmap. Alright, start the presses up again. The Tigris laptop platform, announced today, is all set to become AMD's "mainstream" weapon of choice, with the centrally touted features being full 1080p, DirectX 10.1 support and offloading video encoding to the Radeon HD 4200 GPU. Add in the new 45nm dual core Caspian CPUs, with speeds ranging up to 2.6GHz, and the result is a substantial 42 percent improvement in multimedia performance to go along with 25 percent longer battery life. Alas, that'll still only net you an hour and 55 minutes of "active use" and just under five hours in idle, according to AMD. The Congo, offering the same HD video and DX10.1 support, does a little better at two hours 26 minutes of utility, thanks to its HD 3200 and dual core Neo chips inside. That'll hardly trouble Intel's CULV range of marathon runners, but then Intel's processors don't pack quite as much grunt. AMD's own Pat Moorehead got to test drive laptops based on the two new platforms and was enraptured by their raw, snarling power. Of course, he would be. The majority of OEMs have signed up for this party, with models expected to arrive in time for the release of Windows 7.

[Via TG Daily]

Read - Tigris processors
Read - Pat Moorehead tests Tigris laptop
Read - Congo features
Read - Pat Moorehead tests Congo laptop

Filed under: Laptops

AMD Tigris and Congo mobile platforms focus on multimedia, longer battery life originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 05:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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