Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Netgear Debuts First Powerline Wireless N Extender [Networking]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5626680/netgear-debuts-first-powerline-wireless-n-extender

Netgear Debuts First Powerline Wireless N Extender Home networking is almost always a bitch. But Netgear's new (and first of its kind) wireless N and powerline networking combo might simplify the process, adding a high-throughput Wi-Fi bubble, riding along your home wiring, to any free electrical outlet.

Netgear says the AV 200 will extend your existing WiFi network—taking the wireless signal in one room, routing it through copper, and then rebroadcasting where needed—at speeds of up to 200 Mbps. Though, as with any powerline-dependent network, electrical interference might bring down speeds—so mind your torrents when you power on that vacuum cleaner, for instance. [Netgear]

Archos Fires Scattershot of Android Touchscreen Devices [Tablets]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5626889/archos-fires-scattershot-of-android-touchscreen-devices

Archos Fires Scattershot of Android Touchscreen Devices Rather than competing against the iPad with a single, carefully-crafted tablet, Archos is hoping one of its five new mobile devices will appeal to someone. The line ranges from 2.8" to 10.1", though the smaller devices aren't much competition.

The Archos 28 and 32 ($100 and $150 respectively) seem more like overpowered PMPs than tablet contenders—notable only for their 800 Mhz processor. The next step up is the $200, 1 Ghz Archos 43, squishing 854×480 onto a crummy resistive touchscreen.

Archos Fires Scattershot of Android Touchscreen Devices

The final two units are where customers might become interested. The $275 7" tablet includes a capacitive touchscreen running at 800×480, offers HDMI-out, MicroSD storage, and can chew through formats like FLV and MKV. For $25 more, you can step up to a 10.1", 1024×600 model.

The entire series doesn't have a terrible amount going for it, beyond Froyo out of the box and decent prices prices. But resistive screens on the smaller three pseudo-tablets, no Google apps, and no access to the Android Market means we expect many will take a pass on Archos' sampler. [Archos via CrunchGear]

An Outdoorsy Phone Running Android: Motorola Defy [Android]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5627164/an-outdoorsy-phone-running-android-motorola-defy

An Outdoorsy Phone Running Android: Motorola Defy Billing this as a rough-'n-tumble phone, Motorola's Defy doesn't particularly wow on the specs-front, but could be a good Android alternative to those rugged phones Samsung keeps churning out.

The screen is just a 3.7-inch WVGA job, the camera a none-too-shabby 5MP effort, and the DLNA support is most certainly welcome. It's that adversity in the face of dust and water (it's only water resistant, not waterproof, mind) and scratch-proof screen which clumsyitis sufferers will approve of.

Out in Europe later this year. [Motorola Defy]

BASINGSTOKE, September 1, 2010 - Motorola today announced DEFY™ enhanced with MOTOBLUR™. Motorola DEFY is a slim, pocketable Android™ smartphone that comes equipped with advanced Web-browsing capabilities and a 3.7" high-resolution touch screen display that provides edge to edge views of your favorite photos, videos and websites.

"DEFY has been designed to handle everything that life throws your way," said Alain Mutricy, senior vice president, portfolio and device product management, Motorola Mobility. "With all the features consumers expect in a smartphone, DEFY packs advanced web browsing, entertainment and messaging capabilities as well as a design that withstands the challenges of everyday life."

Motorola DEFY is dust proof and water resistant protecting you from life's little challenges like a sudden rain shower, spilt drink, or dropping your phone in the sand. It also features a large, resilient display that has outstanding protection against scratch damage. CrystalTalk® PLUS vanquishes noisy environments with two microphones which intelligently filter out background noise and amplify your voice so you don't have to shout.

Motorola DEFY also features the latest version of Motorola's unique solution, MOTOBLUR, which makes it even easier to manage all of your emails, messages and social updates in one easy place with the additions of filtering, resizable widgets, added corporate security and a versatile battery manager.

An Adobe® Flash® Lite® enabled browser and 3.7" WVGA screen allow users to view more of the Web than standard browsers. Create your own entertainment with the 5-megapixel camera with flash, digital zoom and auto focus that lets users capture the best of their social life. DEFY is Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA)-enabled to stream, store and share content with compatible devices around the home like HDTVs, game consoles and PCs.

The Connected Music Player brings song lyrics to your songs and enables you to discover, buy and download music, right from your phone. Choose from over 70,000 applications, widgets and games from Android Market™ and enjoy access to Google™ services including Google Search™, Google Maps™ and Gmail™.

Availability
DEFY will be available in Europe beginning Q4 2010. For more information please visit www.motorola.com/DEFY

HP Updates its ENVY 17 for Current 3D Micro-Trend [Laptops]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5627178/hp-updates-its-envy-17-for-current-3d-micro+trend

HP Updates its ENVY 17 for Current 3D Micro-Trend HP's upgraded its ENVY range of laptops with the ENVY 17 3D. It doesn't take a genius to interpret the meaning of this model number—17" screen, with full 3D capabilities.

It's actually a 17.3" 3D Ultra BrightView Display that's able to contain full 1080p-size moving images, leading HP to claim the ENVY 17 3D is the "first 17-inch notebook PC to support 1080p 3D and Blu-ray"—plus, of course, it ships with a chunky pair of Active Shutter Glasses for when you fancy a bit of 3D viewing or gaming. To get you amazed by 3D from the off, HP's stuck on a couple of sample 3D movies—clips from the 2010 NBA All-Star Game and a trailer from upcoming animated movie MEGAMIND. Literally minutes of free fun to be had, there.

Inside the "precision-etched brushed aluminum" exterior is enough room for 2TB of drive storage, your choice of Intel Core i7 processors and an ATI HD 5850. It'll be out this holiday season, at a price that's currently unannounced. [HP]

Play 3D Blu-rays (If You Can Find Any!) on Buffalo's Portable Drive [3dTv]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5627284/play-3d-blu+rays-if-you-can-find-any-on-buffalos-portable-drive

Play 3D Blu-rays (If You Can Find Any!) on Buffalo's Portable Drive Most of Buffalo's products wind up Stateside after their initial Japanese launch, so it's fairly safe to say this portable 3D Blu-ray drive can be added to your wishlist—if you have a 3D-supporting monitor, that is.

There are a few 3D monitors already available, but with 3D being a big theme for companies now, we can expect more to be added in the coming months—and at lower prices, too. In the meantime, Acer's GD235HZ, Alienware's OptX AW2310 and especially ASUS' PG276 (the largest monitor yet, at 27-inches) are worthy contenders.

Buffalo's BP3D-PI6U2-BK drive works by plugging into a Windows XP, Vista or 7 computer, and obviously lets you watch 3D content, but can also burn Blu-ray discs too. Currently, the Japanese-to-USD conversion sets it at $345, but don't be surprised if the final figure is much lower than that when it launches in the US. [Buffalo via CrunchGear]

T-Mobile G2 official shots break loose, corroborate rumors of wanton awesomeness

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/31/t-mobile-g2-official-shots-break-loose-corroborate-rumors-of-wa/

The T-Mobile G2 -- which will likely be known as the HTC Desire Z outside the States -- is shaping up to be one of the more anticipated Android launches of 2010, and a handful of smaller-than-we'd-like official press shots that have just leaked over on Cell Phone Signal are doing nothing to make us believe otherwise. The site says it believes silver (pictured) will be the only color offered, and considering that we haven't seen any leaks in any other shades, that seems like a reasonable assumption. Then again, a white, red, or black version of this would be pretty neat, wouldn't it?

[Thanks, Nam]

Update: Turns out these images are chilling on T-Mobile's servers right now -- check the source links below. Whoops!

Update 2: And we've now got the clearest shot yet of a G2 in the wild, casually browsing Facebook as a laptop looks on with a mixture of curiosity and contempt; follow the break to check it out. Thanks, Sebastian!

Continue reading T-Mobile G2 official shots break loose, corroborate rumors of wanton awesomeness

T-Mobile G2 official shots break loose, corroborate rumors of wanton awesomeness originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Milestone 2 makes official, albeit unintentional, debut (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/31/motorola-milestone-2-makes-official-albeit-unintentional-debut/

Sometimes it takes a crafty, steel-nerved individual to leak an unreleased phone's details ahead of time. And then sometimes all it takes is a negligently uploaded video. An official promo for the Milestone 2 has popped up on YouTube before quickly being yanked by Moto. The Droid 2's international sibling unsurprisingly looks to be its carbon copy by another name: it features a 1GHz OMAP SOC, 512MB of RAM, a 5 megapixel imager, and Android 2.2 as the OS (complete with Flash Player and Froyo's native hotspot ability). We'll go out on a limb here and guess that this means the rest of the world will be getting its dose of Moto's latest and greatest QWERTY slider in very short order.

[Thanks, Thomas]

Update: Oh hello! Someone managed to rip the video before Motorola's retraction, so we've naturally got it embedded for you just past the break. And yes, whether you like it or not, Motoblur lives on. Thanks, qakgob!

Continue reading Motorola Milestone 2 makes official, albeit unintentional, debut (video)

Motorola Milestone 2 makes official, albeit unintentional, debut (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BeamAtic Premium headlights let you keep your high beams on all night long

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/31/beamatic-premium-headlights-let-you-keep-you-high-beams-on-all-n/

It looks like the highways of Japan could soon get a bit brighter -- at least if these new BeamAtic Premium head lights from Ichikoh Industries ever catch on. Developed by France's Valeo SA, the headlights make use of an on-board camera and some image processing software that tracks oncoming vehicles, and some movable dousers attached to the headlights that are able to deflect the light so it doesn't bother other drivers; the idea there being that you could simply leave your high beams on all the time without worrying about blinding anyone. No word on any plans for a release over here, but you'll apparently be able to get them in Japan next month, and the company is also reportedly looking to talk some Japanese automakers into offering them as a factory-installed option.

BeamAtic Premium headlights let you keep your high beams on all night long originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP Mini 210 and Mini 5103 officially announced with dual-core Atom power

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/01/hp-mini-210-and-mini-5103-officially-announced-with-dual-core-at/

Netbook makers like Lenovo, Gigabyte and ASUS have been quietly releasing new systems with Intel's new mobile, dual-core N550 processor, but HP's not keeping its use of the fresh chip in 10-inch netbooks a secret... anymore. Just as we've previously heard, the professional-aimed $399 Mini 5103 will be getting a dual-core 1.5GHz processor option, which HP tells us can improve benchmark performance by up to 20 percent without a significant impact on battery life. It's also been updated with a new "espresso" color and will have HP's Day Starter instant-on OS -- no WebOS buried in there yet.

On the consumer end, the HP Mini 210 has also been refreshed -- actually, more like gutted -- with a new design. The 10.1-inch netbook is now available in a bunch of cleverly named colors, including crimson red and ocean drive, and has been revamped with a new back that integrates the battery into the bottom of the chassis. Don't worry: the battery is still swappable and you can open the bottom cover to replace the RAM and hard drive. It still has that chiclet keyboard we like so much, the rather hit-or-miss ClickPad touchpad and a Broadcom Crystal Accelerator option for 1080p playback. The Mini 210 will start at $330 with a single core Atom CPU and six-cell battery, but will be available with the N550 processor for a bit more (we're guessing around $75). The full release is after the break and some snazzy hands-on pics are below.

Gallery: HP Mini 210 and Mini 5103 press shots

Gallery: HP Mini 210 and HP Mini 5103 hands-on

Continue reading HP Mini 210 and Mini 5103 officially announced with dual-core Atom power

HP Mini 210 and Mini 5103 officially announced with dual-core Atom power originally appeared on ! Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP Wireless TV Connect streams 1080p video, hits Intel WiDi where it hurts

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/01/hp-wireless-tv-connect-streams-1080p-video-picks-up-where-intel/

We have to say it's a bit odd for HP to be announcing its own wireless streaming peripheral -- it seems like something more up IOGEAR or Belkin's alley -- but the $199 Wireless TV Connect is exactly what we've been waiting for in some respects. Sure, the box that you have to connect to your laptop via HDMI and USB for power is a bit on the large side, but it's capable of streaming 1080p content, including Blu-ray movies or protected content, to your TV and there's absolutely no lag when controlling the desktop on the big screen. We're not exactly sure what technology HP's using here -- we're thinking WHDI, though the company wouldn't confirm -- but the two box set can be used with any laptop on the market that has an HDMI port. Take that Intel WiDi! This is one we're absolutely planning to test out, but in the meantime check out the pics below.

Gallery: HP Wireless TV Connect hands-on

Continue reading HP Wireless TV Connect streams 1080p video, hits Intel WiDi where it hurts

HP Wireless TV Connect streams 1080p video, hits Intel WiDi where it hurts originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP unleashes Envy 17 3D, HP Envy 14 Beats edition and specially-cooled Pavilion dm3

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/01/hp-unleashes-envy-17-3d-hp-envy-14-beats-edition-and-specially/

We know, it feels like it was just a few months ago that the new Envy 14 and 17 hit the market, but HP isn't quite finished tinkering with its aluminum laptops. First up is the new Envy 14 Beats edition, which just like the previous Envy 15 Beats has a totally different black and red design than the rest of the Envy line along with a a pretty awesome red backlit keyboard. Apart from the different aesthetics and bundled Beats headphones, it's essentially the same as the regular Envy 14, although the $1249 starting price is for big fans of beats or Dr. Dre only. The Envy 17 gets the most interesting update, though: it'll be available sometimes this holiday season with a 17.3-inch 3D Ultra BrightView display and active shutter glasses. Powered by AMD's 3D technology, the Envy 17 will also support 3D Blu-ray discs, and by that we mean Avatar when it finally hits in November. We got a chance to check it out a few weeks ago and the 3D content looked pretty, well... three-dimensional. HP says the rig will be priced south of $2,000 and claims it's been working very hard on improving viewing angles.

On the much-more-thin-and-light end of the spectrum, HP's also unveiling the improved Pavilion dm3. Starting at $549, the 13.3-inch dm3 will be available with Intel Core i3 and i5 processors and boasts HP's new CoolSense technology, which the company says combines hardware and software to keep the entire chassis cool. Beyond all that, the laptop is less than an inch thick and has been given a major makeover -- it has a very soft-to-the-touch lid and the same chiclet keyboard and ClickPad as the Pavilion dm4. We're planning to review a few of these, but until then head below to check out some hands-on shots and the full press release after the break.

Gallery: HP Envy 14 Beats, Envy 17 3D and Pavilion dm3 hands-on

Gallery: HP Envy 14 Beats, Envy 17 3D, Pavilion dm3 press shots

Continue reading HP unleashes Envy 17 3D, HP Envy 14 Beats edition and specially-cooled Pavilion dm3

HP unleashes Envy 17 3D, HP Envy 14 Beats edition and specially-cooled Pavilion dm3 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony slims down, speeds up, and adds touch to its entire Reader family

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/01/sony-slims-down-speeds-up-and-adds-touch-to-its-entire-reader/

With Amazon and Barnes & Noble both unleashing new e-readers under $150 it pretty much goes without saying that Sony's got to step it up, and its refreshed Reader family is what we've been expecting. Just like we'd heard and heard again, Sony's tweaked its entire Reader line up -- the Pocket, Touch, and Daily editions -- by adding improved optical touchscreens, speeding up page turns with E Ink Pearl displays and slimming down the brushed aluminum hardware. Beyond that, it's also updated its Daily Edition with WiFi -- there's still no connectivity options for the other two. We got to see all three a few days ago, so hit the break for our hands-on impressions and details on pricing and availability.

Gallery: Sony Pocket, Touch, and Daily editions hands-on