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Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Samsung NX100 mirrorless camera gets official: 14.6MP, i-Function lens, 3-inch AMOLED

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/14/samsung-nx100-mirrorless-camera-gets-official-14-6mp-i-functio/

Look out, world -- the mirrorless camera game just got a lot more interesting. Shortly after Olympus introduced a new mid-range DSLR, Samsung has outed its newest, the (previously rumored) NX100. It's the predictable successor to last year's NX10, offering a sleeker body, 14.6 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, a 3-inch VGA AMOLED display 'round back, an ISO range of 100 to 3200 (with a boost mode hitting 6400), 720p movie recording (H.264), SD / SDHC card slot, optional geo-tagging with GPS10 module and 'Sound Picture' mode that allows users to record audio when a photo is taken. The standout feature here, however, has little to do with the body itself; instead, it's the new i-Function lens system, which features a dedicated 'i-Function' button that allows users to scroll through manual settings, and a focus ring which is used to change parameters for each setting. Users can toggle between shutter speed, aperture, EV, WB, and ISO by simply using the i-Function button and ring on the lens, and it's a feature we're frankly desperate to try out ourselves. Sammy's planning to offer a variety of lenses for the NX100, including a 60mm macro, 18-200mm telephoto, 20mm wide-angle pancake and a 20-50mm compact zoom. The full details on the camera as well as the glass arrangement is just after the break, but good luck finding a price and release date. Depressing, we know.

Gallery: Samsung NX100 mirrorless camera

Continue reading Samsung NX100 mirrorless camera gets official: 14.6MP, i-Function lens, 3-inch AMOLED

Samsung NX100 mirrorless camera gets official: 14.6MP, i-Function lens, 3-inch AMOLED originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 02:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon G12 arrives, brings HD video with it

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/14/canon-g12-arrives-brings-hd-video-with-it/

Nikon came gunning for the Canon G11 with the new Coolpix P7000, and now Canon's firing right back with the updated G12. The big news here is the addition of 720p/30 HD video, which patches up one of the biggest omissions from the G11, but just keeps par with Nikon's offering -- a proper 1080p/24 mode here would have made this decision pretty easy. Otherwise things are just welcome iterative improvements: the backside-illuminated HS System 10 megapixel CMOS sensor, 5x lens with teleconverter, DIGIC 4 processor, and 2.8-inch 461k-dot articulated LCD remain the same, but now you get new Canon's Hybrid IS system from the S95 for better macro performance, along with a new HDR mode for all your ultra-trendy hyperrealistic shots. It'll be $499 when it hits in early October -- we're looking forward to putting this guy through its paces. Full PR after the break!

Continue reading Canon G12 arrives, brings HD video with it

Canon G12 arrives, brings HD video with it originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 04:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Nokia E7 demoed live at Nokia World

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/14/video-nokia-e7-demoed-live-at-nokia-world/

We've just spent a little bit of time ogling a very, very green E7 here in the so-called Experience Lounge at Nokia World 2010, and needless to say, this thing makes an impression -- you might think from the shots you've seen so far that it's roughly the same size as the N8 (especially since it shares the same case design), but it's actually quite a bit larger and more imposing. A friendly booth rep walked us through the beast's hardware and software highlights on video; check it after the break. Oh, and yes -- when it launches, it'll be available in five colors, so you don't have to get the green if you're not cool enough for it.

Continue reading Video: Nokia E7 demoed live at Nokia World

Filed under: Cellphones

Video: Nokia E7 demoed live at Nokia World originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 06:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday, September 13, 2010

There's a House Hidden In This Photograph [Architecture]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5636924/there-is-a-house-hidden-in-this-photograph

Look closely. There is a house hidden in this photograph. It's right there, on plain sight. Can't you see it? Perhaps looking from another angle will help you.

The photo above shows the house's front, as you approach it from the road. It's just a gargantuan natural boulder, which is why the house itself is called the Joshua Tree Boulder House. This is the view from the back:

And this is the back itself:

The 1700-square-foot home rises in desert wonderland, near Joshua Tree State Park, California. It has two bedrooms, two full baths, full kitchen with steel appliances, stained concrete flooring, A/C, double-pane window walls, and 9-inch, 2 pound foam insulation all around. And it can be all yours for just $1.35 million. Not that bad.

Unlike the humble Flintstones house in Portugal, I want to live in this one. [Joshua Tree Boulder House via Archdaily]

Sci-Fi Author's Wireless ISP Will Give You 20Mbps Downloads For $40/Month [Wisp]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5637098/sci+fi-authors-wireless-isp-will-give-you-20mbps-downloads-for-40month

Sci-Fi Author's Wireless ISP Will Give You 20Mbps Downloads For /Month Sci-Fi author Rudy Rucker is one of the folks behind the cleverest wireless ISP serving San Francisco. He and his team have set up a system to provide customers with reliable 10-30Mbps download speeds for a mere $40 per month.

Sure, you could get theoretical speeds of about "20 Mbps down and 4 Mbps up from Comcast for $55 per month," but the service provided by Rucker's company, MonkeyBrains, is providing reliable and consistent speeds:

MonkeyBrains guarantees at least 10 Mbps symmetrical and most customers see 15-20 Mbps. Some customers see 25-30 Mbps with a good connection. According to [a company employee], this depends on the company's backhaul connection, which is in the process of being upgraded. Once that happens, he expects 30 Mbps+ connections will be common.

There are initial startup costs associated with the service—it costs about $250 to install the required antenna—but MonkeyBrains appears to be offering customers several free months of service to compensate for that cost.

The company is still small: It has "about 100 antennas, each of which may serve one or many customers—an average of 5-10 per antenna"—but it certainly appears to be off to a good start. Of course, the downside of a company like MonkeyBrains is that it provides such great—and cheap—service because it's sticking to a small area and focusing on those customers. This means that those of us who live outside of San Francisco are left hoping that someone will think to run a small WISP with a silly name in our areas too. [Information Week]

Image by Chistoprudov Dmitriy Gennadievich/ShutterStock

Contour announces 1080p ContourGPS helmetcam, lets friends locate your extreme exploits (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/contour-announces-1080p-contourgps-helmetcam-lets-friends-locat/

Contour announces 1080p ContourGPS helmetcam, lets friends locate your lid-mounted exploits

When it comes to the high-end helmetcam game, GoPro and Contour seem to have the market cornered. Contour was first to bring 1080p to your headgear of choice, and now it's the first to add GPS in to the mix. (GoBandit started talking about doing the same back in February, but we're still waiting on that to become a reality.) The $349 ContourGPS still offers the same video specs as the $279 ContourHD 1080p we reviewed this time last year, but now when sharing your videos you can also embed a real-time map view. Read on for more details, and a look at the UI.

Gallery: ContourGPS helmetcam

Continue reading Contour announces 1080p ContourGPS helmetcam, lets friends locate your extreme exploits (video)

Contour announces 1080p ContourGPS helmetcam, lets friends locate your extreme exploits (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft's 1080p LifeCam Studio review

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/microsofts-1080p-lifecam-studio-review/

The 1080p webcam party is just getting started, Logitech kicking things off with the $99 C910 earlier this year, and now things are heating up with Microsoft making its appearance. Today the company is announcing the immediate availability of the $99 Lifecam Studio, an upgraded version of the LifeCam Cinema HD that's pushing more pixels and a few other nice features, like a threaded receiver for tripod use. Overkill, or is this the webcam you want? Click on through to find out.

Gallery: Microsoft LifeCam Studio

Continue reading Microsoft's 1080p LifeCam Studio review

Microsoft's 1080p LifeCam Studio review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 09:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi's huge, modular OLED display set to go on sale worldwide on September 21

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/mitsubishis-huge-modular-oled-display-set-to-go-on-sale-worldw/

Before you start dreaming of 155-inch OLED displays for your home theater, let us remind you that this Mitsubishi panel happens to pack an ignobly low 69 8.5dpi pixel density. So while it is indeed a wall-sized OLED image maker, it's not exactly designed to match up to the HD rigors of modern video. Composed of smaller, bezel-free modules, Mitsu's Diamond Vision OLED display has gone from CEATEC prototype last year to a triumphant retail product this year, starting to be exchanged for cash, trinkets and favors this September 21. As you might have guessed, it's primarily intended for use in digital signage scenarios -- which should be great so long as nobody tries to perch one up in the sun.

Continue reading Mitsubishi's huge, modular OLED display set to go on sale worldwide on September 21

Mitsubishi's huge, modular OLED display set to go on sale worldwide on September 21 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 09:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boxee Box ditches NVIDIA's Tegra 2 for Intel CE4100, pre-orders start today at $199

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/boxee-box-ditches-nvidias-tegra-2-for-intel-ce4100-pre-orders/

The wait for the Boxee Box is nearly over -- pre-orders begin today -- but before you drop a stack of change on D-Link's half-sunk cube, know that there's no longer an NVIDIA Tegra 2 under that tiny hood. At the last minute, Boxee switched to the Intel Atom CE4100, the same up-to-1.2GHz Sodaville chip powering Google TV. That's not all, as manufacturer D-Link told us our good friend Avner Ronen may not be able to keep his promise -- though the company still expects the Box to hit the streets at under $200, we're now looking at a $229 suggested retail price. What could possibly have happened to make these drastic changes? We visited Boxee in person to get an explanation, and you'll find the surprisingly simple (yet NVIDIA-damning) answer right after the break.

Update: We just learned that Amazon will be selling it for $199, though the MSRP will remain $229.

Gallery: Boxee Box final hardware, hands-on

Continue reading Boxee Box ditches NVIDIA's Tegra 2 for Intel CE4100, pre-orders start today at $199

Boxee Box ditches NVIDIA's Tegra 2 for Intel CE4100, pre-orders start today at $199 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Defy hitting T-Mobile this holiday season, details to come... on Oprah

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/motorola-defy-hitting-t-mobile-this-holiday-season-details-to-c/

Remember that Defy that Motorola outed at the front end of this month? Turns out the Europeans won't be the only ones seeing it this Christmas, as Moto has just revealed that it'll be hitting US airwaves exclusively on T-Mobile "in time for the holidays." You already know the details -- a 3.7-inch WVGA scratch-resistant touchpanel, plenty of rigidity, Android 2.1, the ability to withstand dust and water, a five megapixel camera (with flash and auto focus), DLNA support and the outfit's own Blur interface (despite Jha's claims that it would fade from view) -- but it looks as if you'll have to wait a tick to find out anything about pricing. How long? Tune into today's farewell season premiere of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" to find out. Yeah... strange. But true!

Gallery: Motorola Defy for T-Mobile USA

Continue reading Motorola Defy hitting T-Mobile this holiday season, details to come... on Oprah

Motorola Defy hitting T-Mobile this holiday season, details to come... on Oprah originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 12:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel: Sandy Bridge CPUs will ship in early 2011 (update)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/intel-sandy-bridge-cpus-will-ship-in-early-2011/

We're live from the 2010 Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco, where we've got an interesting tidbit of news -- those long-awaited and often leaked Sandy Bridge processors will "begin shipping in very high volume" early next year in both laptop and desktop PCs. Now called the "2nd Generation Intel Core processors," the new chips will feature Intel's new 32nm architecture for everything, including the integrated graphics processor and memory controller, which will hopefully reduce their power consumption even as the new hardware's not terribly friendly to overclockers. PR after the break.

Update: Intel's on stage explaining a bit more about how Sandy Bridge works -- apparently the Turbo modes introduced in earlier Core chips (which dynamically clock individual processor cores based on how much thermal headroom they have) now works dynamically with the silicon's integrated graphics as well. Intel says it can actually exceed the TDP thermal envelope of a chip now to further overclock multiple cores at once, or switch off between overclocking graphics or CPU cores for differing workloads. See a few example images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Intel Sandy Bridge's advanced Turbo mode

Continue reading Intel: Sandy Bridge CPUs will ship in early 2011 (update)

Intel: Sandy Bridge CPUs will ship in early 2011 (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer Liquid Metal handset confirmed for end of October in UK, has Froyo filling inside

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/acer-liquid-metal-handset-confirmed-for-end-of-october-in-uk-ha/

Acer's UK press team has been atypically loquacious today in disclosing the expected launch window and Android version for its upcoming Liquid Metal handset. We've confirmed ourselves that the end of October is the period now circled on Her Majesty's calendar, though we suspect the rest of Europe, if not the entire world, will be getting to grips with the Froyo-packing smartphone at about that time as well. The unconfirmed specs (gotta keep a little mystery, right?) include the same 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7230 as inside the T-Mobile G2, a 3.6-inch display with 800 x 480 resolution, Bluetooth 3.0 onboard, and the handsome backplate you see above, which seems to have been made out of brushed aluminum. So how do you feel, is there room for yet another contender on your smartphone wishlist?

Acer Liquid Metal handset confirmed for end of October in UK, has Froyo filling inside originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DisplayLink aims for 'any device, any display connectivity' with USB 3.0

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/displaylink-aims-for-any-device-any-display-connectivity-with/

We'd heard back at Christmastime 2009 that USB 3.0-infused DisplayLink kit would be hitting shelves in 2010, and lo and behold, it looks as if someone is dead-set on keeping a promise. Here at IDF 2010, DisplayLink has come forward with public plans to gravitate towards "any device, any display connectivity" with its new USB 3.0 chip platform. The DL-3000 and DL-1000 single chip series are being introduced in San Francisco, with each offering integrated display and networking connectivity, HD video support and "third generation DisplayLink adaptive real-time compression technology that dynamically manages bandwidth, taking full advantage bi-directional throughput of SuperSpeed USB." The gist of all that? Thanks to SuperSpeed bandwidth increases, multiple full HD videos, high resolution graphics and networking data can be processed simultaneously, and there's even the potential to enable graphics delivery over gigabit Ethernet. Essentially, USB 3.0 has opened up an entirely new playing field for DisplayLink, and we're hoping that 2011 is the year that we finally put those resolution caps behind us on USB-enabled docking stations. We'll let you know if we hear more from the show floor -- much to our dismay, hardly anything is said about actual product implementation dates in the PR.

Continue reading DisplayLink aims for 'any device, any display connectivity' with USB 3.0

DisplayLink aims for 'any device, any display connectivity' with USB 3.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:16:00 EDT. Please ! see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel shows off WiDi-enabled Atom tablet at IDF 2010

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/intel-shows-off-widi-enabled-atom-tablet-at-idf-2010/

Sure, Intel's big push for its IDF 2010 keynote this morning was the new Sandy Bridge architecture, but within the confines of one awkwardly-presented tech demonstration, we got a glimpse at "Project X." Which, as it turns out, is a pretty interesting Atom-powered development tablet with WiDi technology. From a video conference window projected against the wall, our man Shashi was pushing his slate's screen wireless to the HD set in the background as he showed off some Starcraft II recap footage. We're still on the lookout for the device somewhere on the show floor; if and when we find it, you'll be first to know. One more shot after the break.

Continue reading Intel shows off WiDi-enabled Atom tablet at IDF 2010

Intel shows off WiDi-enabled Atom tablet at IDF 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exclusive: Galaxy Tab, red / white BlackBerry Torch and Samsung Focus hitting AT&T in Q4

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/13/exclusive-galaxy-tab-red-white-blackberry-torch-and-samsung/

Mmm, delicious. That's the feeling we're left with after being inundated with yet another round of AT&T leaks, this time giving us insight at a few flagship devices on tap for the carrier's holiday push. First up is the Galaxy Tab -- an Android 2.2-based tablet that we had previously heard rumored for AT&T's airwaves. Thanks to a branded snapshot from the carrier's internals, we can confirm that the Tab will indeed be sold on Ma Bell, and it (along with three other new Android devices) will ship "prior to December." Moving on, we've got even more confirmation that the Samsung Cetus (i917) will be one of the operator's first Windows Phone 7 devices, and it looks as if a heretofore unheard of Samsung Focus and HTC Surround will be joining it. Better still, we've got it on good authority that three other WP7 handsets will be splashing down alongside those others in time for the holidays. As for the remaining BlackBerry loyalists, AT&T will be tempting you with a trio of limited run Torch motifs coming in "mid to late November," with an all-white version, red / black model and olive colored edition on tap. We'll be keeping an ear to the ground for more, naturally.

Gallery: AT&T holiday 2010 lineup leaked!

Exclusive: Galaxy Tab, red / white BlackBerry Torch and Samsung Focus hitting AT&T in Q4 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 17:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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