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Friday, January 22, 2010

Origin's Genesis gaming desktop gets reviewed: blisteringly fast, but oh-so-pricey

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/21/origins-genesis-gaming-desktop-gets-reviewed-blisteringly-fast/

The latest high-fashion gaming outfit (known as Origin 'round these parts) has just started shipping its beastly Genesis out, and if you've ever wondered what five large could get you in the land of desktops, wonder no more. The crew over at Hot Hardware managed to procure a darn-near-loaded machine, complete with a Core i7-920 CPU (overclocked from the factory to 3.8GHz), 6GB of Corsair DDR3 RAM, twin ATI Radeon HD 5970 GPUs, a liquid cooling system, 80GB SSD boot drive and pretty much every other top-of-the-line component you could imagine. How'd it stand up to testing? Well. Really well. It crushed every benchmark that dared get in its way, and we're told that when pressed, the company's explanation of its warranty was truly best in class. What's interesting is that the MSRP of the test unit can be halved by simply opting for a few marginally weaker pieces, and we're guessing that the overall performance wouldn't suffer a huge deal. Hit the source link for all the bars, charts and in-depth analysis you can handle.

Origin's Genesis gaming desktop gets reviewed: blisteringly fast, but oh-so-pricey originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Twin Video camera has two lenses, two mics, one body

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/22/twin-video-camera-has-two-lenses-two-mics-one-body/

Ion Audio, who seem to enjoy doing unconventional work in the electronic peripherals space, are back with a two-way pocket camcorder that records both sides of a conversation, literally. Strapped with pairs of microphones and cameras, it is capable of doing picture-in-picture or split-screen recording, and can selectively switch between the audio streams depending on which side you want to hear at which time. Just skip along past the break and all will be elucidated -- price is not yet specified, but the Twin Video cam should be arriving at some point in the first half of this year.

Continue reading Twin Video camera has two lenses, two mics, one body

Twin Video camera has two lenses, two mics, one body originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ARM-based processors to overtake x86 competition in netbooks and MIDs by 2013?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/22/arm-based-processors-to-overtake-x86-competition-in-netbooks-and/

We suppose industry analysts must be paid on account of just how grand their prognostications are. ABI Research know-it-alls have come out with their own spectacular claim today by asserting their expectation that x86 processors -- still dominant the world over -- will be swept aside in the rapidly developing "ultra-mobile device" space by the ascension of ARM-based processing architectures. That the Cortex CPUs have grown in popularity (and power) is undeniable, but who realistically expects Intel to sit back and watch all this happen? The x86 patriarch has even gone and created an Atom SDK, so we hardly expect the forecast table above to become reality. We're just happy to see that ARM's lower power profile is attracting investment -- it's always good to see a threat to Santa Clara's chokehold on the CPU market, and AMD's sleepwalking through the past few months hasn't helped things. Now if only those Tegra 2 smartbooks were on retail shelves instead of inside prototype shells, we could get started on this supposed revolution.

ARM-based processors to overtake x86 competition in netbooks and MIDs by 2013? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:26:00 EST. Pl! ease see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC HD2 extended battery with kickstand up for pre-order in the UK

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/22/htc-hd2-extended-battery-with-kickstand-up-for-pre-order-in-the/

British electronics e-tailer Clove has started listing a new £53 ($86) HD2 accessory that should be of interest to everyone who owns or plans on owning the device. We always thought that generous 4.3-inch screen could do with some backside support, and indeed the new kickstand-equipped extended battery will provide just that. You'll also get a nice energy bump, as the new accessory is set to double the 1,230mAh capacity of the default juice pack. Deliveries are expected by Clove in February, meaning it shouldn't be too long before this official appendage makes its global debut -- let's just hope other nations don't have to suffer as much wallet damage as the UK.

HTC HD2 extended battery with kickstand up for pre-order in the UK originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google devs reveal Chrome OS will have media player

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/22/google-devs-reveal-chrome-os-will-have-media-player/

If you thought Chrome OS was all about the Chrome, here are some words of reassurance from Google's Matthew Papakipos, engineering director for the project. In a marathon interview with Ars Technica, he notes that Chrome OS will have its own integrated media player, and although the focus remains on being "lean and mean," it'll not neglect basic system functionality. Current thinking is to keep JPEG and other media file handlers within the tab structure, with native and web apps being melded seamlessly into the browser experience. That may all still change, of course, since development is also noted to be a good year away from a consumer release. Hit up the read link for more, much more, on the past and future of Google's featherweight OS.

Google devs reveal Chrome OS will have media player originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 07:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon prices Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus -- offers a free Pixi Plus for limited time

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/22/verizon-prices-palm-pre-plus-and-pixi-plus-offers-a-free-pixi/

In case you missed it in our review, Palm has gone and spilled its Verizon pricing info on its official blog. The Pre Plus is hitting shelves at a cent under $150, closely followed by the Pixi Plus at $99.99 -- both after $100 mail-in rebate and on two-year commitments. Available to buy from this coming Monday, the new handsets are also incentivized with a free Pixi Plus coming with every purchase -- a limited offer running until February 14. That's after yet another mail-in rebate, meaning you'll probably be shelling out a cool $450 to get your webOS fix on Verizon, but we can't argue with the final tally after all the paperwork has been done, filed, triple-checked, lost, recovered, and your money's finally reimbursed.

Verizon prices Palm Pre Plus and Pixi Plus -- offers a free Pixi Plus for limited time originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 07:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thursday, January 21, 2010

Intel Reader Offers High Tech Help For Dyslexics and Visually Impaired [Intel]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/j6eumZvUwSU/intel-reader-offers-high-tech-help-for-dyslexics-and-visually-impaired

Intel's Reader, developed by a dyslexic Stanford graduate, is a powerful device for dyslexic and visually impaired readers, allowing them to scan entire pages of text to audio for immediate playback or later review.

The book-sized device is capable of capturing text from a variety of sources, ranging from restaurant menus to academic journals. That scanned text can be magnified and read on the device, listened to via on-board speaker or headphones, or exported to MP3.

Intel's Reader packs a high resolution camera and an Intel Atom processor, allowing it to quickly and accurately capture massive amounts of text.

The Intel Reader made its debut at CES and will be available for around $1500. It's not cheap, but it could be a life changing gadget for the 55 million people whose reading is challenged by dyslexia or vision impairment. [Intel via Fast Company]

Seven Futuristic Movies That Got It Right [Lists]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/4mhDG5mmPmk/seven-futuristic-movies-that-got-it-right

Mania has dutifully compiled a list of seven sci-fi movie technologies that have come to fruition. All I can say is well done, humanity! And don't worry, Sleeper fans: we'll get those Orgasmatron booths before you know it.

The usual suspects like Minority Report and Total Recall make the cut, along with a much-deserved nod to the Star Trek franchise. The list strays a little off target when it comes to non-gadget predictions like "geopolitical milieu," but it's otherwise a sobering reminder that with multitouch displays, private spaceflight, and even clamshell cell phones, we're all incredibly lucky to be living what other previous generations only dreamed. Or, in the case of Draconian, full-body x-ray scanning, feared.

Also: if you're going to have that much Arnold Schwarzenegger on that list, you really shouldn't forget Junior. [Mania via The Daily What]

NASA's Puffin is the latest personal flying machine that will never be produced (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/21/nasas-puffin-is-the-latest-personal-flying-machine-that-will-ne/

Yes, this is going to be another flying car post in which we lament our current, terrestrial ways and our predominantly Earth-bound means of getting places. NASA has what it thinks is the solution, a personal flying machine called Puffin that is just large enough for a person to wedge themselves into before lurching off vertically, powered by a pair of electric motors. These motors are said to make the machine almost silent so an initial application could be covert battlefield insertions, meaning yet again those military brats get to have all the fun -- in theory. However, we're going to be downers and say we don't think they'll ever get to use this thing either, as we're not seeing any room for battery packs in that man-sized fuselage. But hey, there's some rendered conceptualization after the break if you're a dreamer.

Continue reading NASA's Puffin is the latest personal flying machine that will never be produced (video)

NASA's Puffin is the latest personal flying machine that will never be produced (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba ships Tecra A11, Core i7-packin' Qosmio X500 and more

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/21/toshiba-ships-tecra-a11-core-i7-packin-qosmio-x500-and-more/

These didn't quite make it off the boat before CES, but if it's a new Toshiba laptop you've been searching for, you can still get some satisfaction before the end of this month. The outfit has just announced that four of its machines are available in the US starting right this very moment, including the 15.6-inch Tecra A11 (starts at $879). This one packs an integrated numpad, NVIDIA GPU, an undisclosed new Intel CPU and a charcoal black chassis. Moving on, that Qosmio X500 workhorse that we first heard about late last year finally has its shipping papers (and a $1,549 starting point), bringing with it a Core i7-720QM processor, a GeForce GTS 360M GPU, 8GB of memory, an 18.4-inch display, 500GB (7200RPM) hard drive, a Blu-ray drive and a vivacious color scheme that's guaranteed to polarize. The Satellite Pro L450 and Satellite Pro L500 are also slipping out to the suits in attendance, but with price tags starting at $529, the spec hounds probably won't be drooling much here.

Toshiba ships Tecra A11, Core i7-packin' Qosmio X500 and more originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Palm Pre Plus shows off multitasking upgrade with 50 simultaneous apps (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/21/palm-pre-plus-shows-off-multitasking-upgrade-with-50-simultaneou/

Yea, you read that right -- fifty apps loaded side by side by freaking side on the Pre Plus, and the thing just kept on ticking. The chaps over at Pre Central decided to test out specifically how much of an improvement the doubling of RAM and storage in the new handset delivered, and they were not disappointed. Opening up the same apps on both phones, they found the original Sprint Pre (sporting a mere 256MB of RAM) ran out of puff at the 13 app mark, whereas the Pre Plus soldiered on until a nice round fifty was reached. Go past the break to see the video evidence for yourself -- long live multitasking!

Continue reading Palm Pre Plus shows off multitasking upgrade with 50 simultaneous apps (video)

Palm Pre Plus shows off multitasking upgrade with 50 simultaneous apps (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS' Congo-based Eee PC 1201T pops up on Amazon's German portal

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/21/asus-congo-based-eee-pc-1201t-pops-up-on-amazons-german-portal/

Tired of waiting for the Eee PC 1201T to ship? Impatient, aren't we? We've been wondering about the status of this here netbook since it came to light last November, and now it looks like the Germans are about to get a real, live taste of AMD's Congo platform. Boasting a 1.6GHz MV40 CPU, the same look and feel that we've grown accustomed to on Eee PC netbooks, 2GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, ATI HD3200 GPU and Windows 7 on the OS front, this is certainly one of the more unique machines in the sea of Atomized "me-toos." The pain? €399 ($560), and the first batch is expected to ship out tomorrow. Here's hoping the price dips somewhat when it makes its Stateside debut.

ASUS' Congo-based Eee PC 1201T pops up on Amazon's German portal originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Cornucopia: MIT's 3D food printer patiently awaits 'the future'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/21/the-cornucopia-mits-3d-food-printer-patiently-awaits-the-futu/

The traditional fast food business model just never had a chance, now did it? Marcelo Coelho and Amit Zoran, a pair of whiz kids doing their thang over at MIT, have developed what very well may be the next major revolution in food preparation. It may also be the only machine that keeps you alive when the Robot Apocalypse goes down, but we'll try to stuff that to the rear of our minds for now. Essentially, the Cornucopia concept is a 3D printer that precisely mixes foods and flavors from a number of canisters in order to produce something that's edible (and supposedly close to what you ordered). Able to deliver "elaborate combinations of food," the machine also has a rapid heating and cooling chamber that purportedly allows for "the creation of flavors and textures that would be completely unimaginable through other cooking techniques." Color us skeptical, but we're guessing these government-issued MREs probably taste just as good -- guess we'll find out for sure if the project ever gets its date with reality.

The Cornucopia: MIT's 3D food printer patiently awaits 'the future' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Noiko H-988 PMP is light with details, detailed with lights

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/21/noiko-h-988-pmp-is-light-with-details-detailed-with-lights/

So you're a little known consumer electronics manufacturer with a PMP that stands little chance of attracting much attention based on features or form factor alone. What do you do? If you're Noiko, you add a clear strip filled with LEDs to the bottom. Details on the company's new H-988 device are otherwise a bit light, but it does apparently pack a 4.3-inch screen, support for video output up to 1080i, and a few somewhat unique features -- like the ability to set a video as a background image. Unfortunately, there's no word on a price or other little things like storage, and it doesn't seem likely that this one will see a release 'round here anytime soon -- but hey, LEDs!

Noiko H-988 PMP is light with details, detailed with lights originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Siemens gurus hit 500Mbps with white LED lights, dare you to blink

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/21/siemens-gurus-hit-500mbps-with-white-led-lights-dare-you-to-bli/

You know what's better than wireless power? Nothing, frankly. You know what comes darn close? Wicked fast transmissions through thin air. Researchers from Siemens have just shattered their own record for wireless data transfer using white LED light, hitting a whopping 500Mbps while working in collaboration with the Heinrich Hertz Institute in Berlin. The old record sat at "just" 200Mbps, but the new speeds are helping to take Visible Light Communication from a hopeful technology to a serious contender in the space. These same researchers were also able to show that a system using up to five LEDs is capable of beaming out data over long distances at up to 100Mbps. We're told that the IEEE has been toiling tirelessly since 2007 to standardize activities in this field, and while a late 2010 completion date is currently being penciled in, we're not holding our breath. Anyone remember how long it took 802.11n to escape "draft?"

Continue reading Siemens gurus hit 500Mbps with white LED lights, dare you to blink

Siemens gurus hit 500Mbps with white LED lights, dare you to blink originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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