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Friday, January 07, 2011

Griffin's Beacon Universal Remote Control System brings dongle-free control to your smartphone

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/griffins-beacon-universal-remote-control-system-brings-dongle-f/

Ditch those dongles and throw out those cases, the next level of smartphone-as-universal-remote technology is here. Beacon Universal Remote Control System from Griffin Technology and Dijits turns your iPhone and other iOS devices into omnipotent remote controls, by converting Bluetooth signals into infrared commands that your stereo, TV, and other devices can recognize. Paired with Dijit's Universal Remote App, Beacon, which looks something akin to a game show buzzer, converts your touchscreen to a remote, making all the added cases, dongles, and even cords unnecessary -- it can run up to two months on four AA batteries. Beacon hits the market in May 2011 for $79.99, but if you're lucky enough to be at CES this week, you can check out a demo at Griffin's booth.

Griffin's Beacon Universal Remote Control System brings dongle-free control to your smartphone originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planon Slimscan, world's slimmest scanner, hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/planon-slimscan-worlds-slimmest-scanner-hands-on/

Been needing a credit card scanner to execute your superspy data collection with? Say hello to your new best buddy, the Planon Slimscan. This teeny tiny unit is equipped with a 600dpi optical scanner, though it shrinks images down to a 300dpi resolution to get a reasonable number of them to fit within the 64MB of onboard memory. Intended primarily as a collector of business card and receipt data, the Slimscan will come with Abbyy and PaperPort software along with the ability to export your stuff out to an Excel spreadsheet. Pricing is set at $120 and shipping is expected to commence any time now.

Gallery: Planon Slimscan, world's slimmest scanner, hands-on

Continue reading Planon Slimscan, world's slimmest scanner, hands-on (video)

Planon Slimscan, world's slimmest scanner, hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 22:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reycom Windows Media Center coming for $499

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/reycom-windows-media-center-coming-for-499/

Reycom Media Center

We love us some Windows 7 Media Center, but we recognize that using a HTPC for a DVR isn't for everyone. For some there is no replacement for a dedicated set-top box, which is why we were so excited to hear that Windows Media Center was coming to embedded devices. The problem of course is that is-coming and is-here, are completely different. A little known European company (state side anyways) hopes to change that by brining one to the US in the first quarter of this year for about $499. The bad news is that there's no CableCARD support like the Gateway one we saw earlier. There are plans to follow it up with dedicated versions for cable and telecom operators later this year, but for some reason we don't feel like they'll be too interested in it.

Continue reading Reycom Windows Media Center coming for $499

Reycom Windows Media Center coming for $499 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 23:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hauppauge is taking its HD component capture card internal

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/hauppauge-is-taking-its-hd-component-capture-card-internal/

Haupauge internal HD PVR

It wasn't that long ago that recording HD from just about any source on a PC was cost prohibitive. Then along came Hauppauge's HD PVR and while it isn't without its issues and limitations, it gets the job done at an affordable price. One of those limitations is the rather large external enclosure and the wall-wart that powers it. Now Hauppauge has addressed those nit picks with the release of an internal PCI-E capture card for $159. The single card can record up to 1080i from either component or unencrypted HDMI and will start shipping later this month. The support is very similar it its external brother, in fact other than the form factor, the two are very similar in most every other way. Another pictures and technical details after the jump.

Continue reading Hauppauge is taking its HD component capture card internal

Hauppauge is taking its HD component capture card internal originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PixelQi demos its 7-inch displays, working on a 9.7-inch version

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/pixelqi-demos-its-7-inch-displays-working-on-a-9-7-inch-version/

We had a hunch that PixelQi was going to bring its 7-inch displays to Vegas, and lo and behold we caught a glimpse of the unique transreflective displays today. (For those that have been living under a rock and aren't familiar with PixelQi -- the high contrast 3Qi screens allow for the backlight to be turned off; not only does it save energy, but it's easy to read in natural light.) The smaller, 1024 x 600-resolution displays are, well, smaller than the previous 10.1-inch version. Most of them, however, were just hooked up to demonstration boards. There was one put into a Viliv X70, but again, this was just a PixelQi mod.

The bigger story at the PixelQi booth, however, came from its founder Mary Lou Jepsen, who not only promises that production is ramping quite well on both the 7- and 10.1-inch tablets, but that the company is working on a higher resolution 1280 x 800-resolution 10.1-inch display and a 9.7-inch display for a partner. We're not going to read into that too much, but she maintains that they are continuing to work with major companies. She also explained what we have heard before -- that much of the tight supply issues were attributed to the recession and that many companies changed their course after the iPad was introduced to make tablets. Obviously, the current 10.1-inch screen is starting to ship in the Notion Ink Adam, but we're still waiting to finally see the game changing technology in a tablet or laptop from a major manufacturer. With that, we leave you with a bunch of pictures of tablets and netbooks with PixelQi displays that you really can't buy right now but that will certainly make you drool.

Gallery: PixelQi tablet and screen hands-on

PixelQi demos its 7-inch displays, working on a 9.7-inch version originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 05:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ViewSonic announces ViewFun 3D camcorder line, hopes we won't notice a bit of re-branding

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/viewsonic-announces-viewfun-3d-camcorder-line-hopes-we-wont-no/

3D technology's inevitable race to the bottom officially kicked off today with ViewSonic's announcement of its new ViewFun line. The Palm 3D HD was the priciest item shared thanks to its ability to record full HD 1080p in 3D or 2D at 60fps. Some of its other notable features include a rechargeable Li-ion battery, an SD slot for expandable storage, and a 3.2-inch LCD screen which uses parallax technology to display 3D video without wearing glasses. If you can't afford to spend $250, ViewSonic also announced the ViewFun 3D Pocket, ViewFun 3D PocketHD, and ViewFun 3D Snap Pocket camcorders for $149, $179, and $199. The thing is the ViewFun 3D PocketHD isn't really new, and we still remember when it was called the 3DV5 earlier this year; so unless you're desperate to spend under $180 on a 3D camcorder, we'd wager Sony's new 3D Bloggie Touch line is a smarter use of funds.

Gallery: ViewSonic ViewFun 3D products

Continue reading ViewSonic announces ViewFun 3D camcorder line, hopes we won't notice a bit of re-branding

ViewSonic announces ViewFun 3D camcorder line, hopes we won't notice a bit of re-branding originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 01:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HomeSeer HomeTroller-Mini home automation controller gets you one step closer to the bachelor pad of the future

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/homeseer-hometroller-mini-home-automation-controller-gets-you-on/

The folks over at HomeSeer, maker of home automation devices, are set to debut the super small, super powerful HomeTroller-Mini at CES this week. The mini controller apparently fits in the palm of your hand, and is compatible with Apple and Android smart phones and tablets, allowing you to switch off the lights or set an alarm via text, e-mail, or text-to-speech. The SheevaPlug-alike sports a 1.0 GHz Linux platform, retails under $300, and can be linked to a number of other products to control your thermostat, appliances, lights, window shades -- you get the picture. All of this sounds great, but we're still waiting to see if it can get our circular bed spinning.

HomeSeer HomeTroller-Mini home automation controller gets you one step closer to the bachelor pad of the future originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 02:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NVIDIA shows us Tegra 2 gameplay on Atrix 4G and Optimus 2X (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/nvidia-shows-off-tegra-2-gameplay-on-atrix-4g-and-optimus-2x/

We can't imagine how this might have slipped your attention, but LG and Motorola used this year's CES to roll out the smartphone world's first dual-core devices in the shape of the Atrix 4G and Optimus 2X. Both are built around NVIDIA's 1GHz Tegra 2 chip, which has been the most popular thing out here in Vegas after the free food and shuttle rides (Moto even has the Droid Bionic, a 4.3-incher bound for Verizon, using it). But what does that extra core matter to you? Well, aside from facilitating 1080p video playback on both phones, it does make them quite formidable mobile gaming stations. NVIDIA took the time to show us a couple of games being handled with ease by the 2X and Atrix before noting that it isn't leaving it entirely up to Google to provide the compelling content for its hardware. Gaming is, after all, close to the GeForce maker's heart, and we were told that NVIDIA is working closely with developers to help them exploit the added firepower of Tegra 2 so as to deliver prettier, shinier things on screen. We were also informed of the introduction of a Tegra Zone, an Android app designed to serve as a showcase of Tegra partners' wares, whether they be video or gaming content, though you shouldn't fear the specter of fragmentation here -- it's not a separate app store, any purchases will be directed through the Android Market. Anyhow, enough talking, there's video to be watched after the break.

Continue reading NVIDIA shows us Tegra 2 gameplay on Atrix 4G and Optimus 2X (video)

NVIDIA shows us Tegra 2 gameplay on Atrix 4G and Optimus 2X (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 03:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Haier launches WiFi equipped Net Connect LED HDTVs, takes Yahoo Connected TV along for the ride

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/haier-launches-wifi-equipped-net-connect-led-hdtvs-takes-yahoo/

In an effort to obviate the best efforts of Boxee, Logitech, Roku, and Apple, the new line of HDTVs from Haier aims to bring internet content and streaming video to your living room without such excess hardware. Rather than having another black box fighting for space in your entertainment center, Haier's Net Connect LED displays have WiFi capabilities and Yahoo's Connected TV baked in to deliver content. In addition to Yahoo's apps, the TVs will also provide viewers with access to Hulu Plus, Blockbuster on Demand, Film Fresh, and Netflix. Unfortunately, we don't have specs, prices, or a release date for the sets, but we do know that they'll have remotes with a dedicated Netflix button, which is sure to please the impatient movie watcher in us all.

Continue reading Haier launches WiFi equipped Net Connect LED HDTVs, takes Yahoo Connected TV along for the ride

Haier launches WiFi equipped Net Connect LED HDTVs, takes Yahoo Connected TV along for the ride originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 06:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skype group video calling sheds beta as paid Skype Premium service

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/skype-group-video-calling-sheds-beta-as-paid-skype-premium-servi/

A new version of Skype for Windows just launched with a few notable features. To start with, stability has been improved as has quality. Unfortunately, the group video calling feature is no longer free now that the version 5.1 software is out of beta. A day pass costs $4.99 / €3.49 / £2.99 for impromptu sessions while a monthly subscription can be had for $8.99 / €5.99 / £4.99 with a 33 percent discount available to anyone signing up for 3 or 12 month subscriptions over the next 30 days. Two-way video calling is still free. Maybe the emotive, slow-motion video posted after the break will convince you or your business to unload a few sheckles for the the privilege of group video.

Continue reading Skype group video calling sheds beta as paid Skype Premium service

Skype group video calling sheds beta as paid Skype Premium service originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 09:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mac App Store hits one million downloads on day one

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/mac-app-store-hits-one-million-downloads-on-day-one/

Apple's just announced that its freshly baked Mac App Store's already hit the one million download mark on its launch day, with more than 1,000 titles -- including both free and paid apps -- up for grabs. Can't say we're surprised, really, especially with popular apps like Angry Birds, Flight Control, and Twitter presumably taking a good chunk out of the bandwidth. In case you're still wondering what the deal is, feel free to take a look at our Mac App Store hands-on.

Continue reading Mac App Store hits one million downloads on day one

Mac App Store hits one million downloads on day one originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 09:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint ID for Samsung Galaxy Tab hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/07/sprint-id-for-samsung-galaxy-tab-hands-on/

Launched back in October, Sprint ID is the carrier's service for deeply skinning your Android device with a curated selection of wallpapers, ringtones, and apps -- think of it as phone customization for people who don't have the time (or patience) to find and install stuff they like. Currently available on three models -- the LG Optimus S, Sanyo Zio, and Samsung Transform -- we'd heard that the service would eventually be spreading to other phones and also to the Galaxy Tab, leading to the obvious question: how do the ID packs scale to the larger form factor and higher screen resolution?

Well, the short answer is that they don't -- at least, not yet. At a Sprint event last evening we had a chance to play with a Tab that had received the Sprint ID firmware update early, and existing packs designed for phones that we tried produced a variety of results ranging from force close messages to weird-looking home screens. That's not to say that the packs can't be designed to support the Tab, of course -- the one for Sprint employees that was pre-installed and designed specifically to take advantage of the extra screen real estate looks great -- but the packs out there now don't seem to play nice. This might explain why the update hasn't been released yet, because Sprint either needs to make sure every pack works with every ID-enabled product or set up the pack store to block Tab owners from downloading incompatible packs. Check out the gallery!

Gallery: Sprint ID for Samsung Galaxy Tab hands-on

Sprint ID for Samsung Galaxy Tab hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 09:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thursday, January 06, 2011

Honeycomb will not require dual-core CPU as minimum hardware spec

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/honeycomb-will-not-require-dual-core-cpu-as-minimum-hardware-spe/

Oh, never mind then. Google's ever-informative and ever-knowledgeable Dan Morrill has disabused the world from the bogus belief that Android's "made for tablets" iteration, aka Honeycomb, will require a dual-core processor as a minimum to run. Dan says there are no specific CPU requirements for aspiring Android 3.0 tablets to meet and we should all sit back, relax, and enjoy our breakfast. That's reassuring to note, but let's not read more into it than what's said -- while Honeycomb might not technically require a dual-core beastie to power it, there's a reason why the Motorola Xoom (which is soon to become the first device to offer Honeycomb onboard) is launching with a Tegra 2 chip inside.

[Thanks, Dean]

Honeycomb will not require dual-core CPU as minimum hardware spec originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 10:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netbook Navigator announces it'll announce three new Windows-based tablets at CES

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/netbook-navigator-announces-itll-announce-three-new-windows-bas/

Netbook Navigator has made tablet pcs in the past -- one of which we reviewed -- so it should come as no surprise that they've got several more brewing. In fact, we are now hearing that the company's got three (yes, three) Windows-based tablets to show off when the floor opens and the stampede begins. Among the offerings will be the NAV7 tablet, what the company is describing as the "first ever multitouch Windows 7-inch" tablet, plus the NAV10i and a slightly revamped NAV9. While we don't have full specs for any of these tablets, we do know that all will be Atom CPU-based devices with SSDs, 2GB of RAM, 'several' USB ports, WiFi, Bluetooth, and webcams, plus optional 3G. Other details about the NAV10i -- it'll be a 10-incher (capacitive LCD), while the NAV9 will be a rugged 8.9-incher. We'll let you know as soon as we get our hands on these bad boys, but until then: the full press release is after the break.

Continue reading Netbook Navigator announces it'll announce three new Windows-based tablets at CES

Netbook Navigator announces it'll announce three new Windows-based tablets at CES originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 10:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sanyo: we've shipped more than 150 million Eneloop rechargeable batteries

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/06/sanyo-weve-shipped-more-than-150-million-eneloop-rechargeable/

Sanyo has announced that as of the end of 2010, it had officially shipped more than 150 million rechargeable Eneloop batteries. The company now ships the batteries -- which can be recharged up to 1,500 times -- to more than 60 countries. We reviewed Sanyo's rechargeable offering alongside another battery a few months back, which you can check out if you'd like. Other than that: the full press release is after the break.

Continue reading Sanyo: we've shipped more than 150 million Eneloop rechargeable batteries

Sanyo: we've shipped more than 150 million Eneloop rechargeable batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 11:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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