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Monday, March 28, 2011

iMobot creeps, crawls, cranes its way into our hearts (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/26/imobot-creeps-crawls-cranes-its-way-into-our-hearts-video/

It may not look like much, but this little modular robot's got the stuff to give Keepon a run for its money -- oh yeah, and according to its creators, iMobot's got big implications for the field of robotics too. Sporting four degrees of freedom, two rotating joints, and a pair of faceplates that act as wheels, the patent-pending device can crawl, drive, and potentially act as an autonomous camera platform. The surprisingly agile hunk of machinery was developed by two UC Davis professors who say their versatile invention could aid in search and rescue, as well as education and research. We think it's super cool that iMobot could be a hero, but really, we just want to see it bust a move. Check out a video of our new robo love after the break.

Continue reading iMobot creeps, crawls, cranes its way into our hearts (video)

iMobot creeps, crawls, cranes its way into our hearts (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 23:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hanwha unleashes HDMI / USB adapter for iPad, iPhone 4, and fourth-gen iPod touch

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/27/hanwha-unleashes-hdmi-usb-adapter-for-ipad-iphone-4-and-four/

Feel the desire to watch your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch (fourth gen) videos on the big screen, but looking for something with a little more girth than Apple's HDMI solution? Hanwha's latest dongle might do the job. As you can see above, in place of the original adapter's dock connector port is a USB 2.0 socket -- compatible with cameras supporting mass storage connection -- alongside the 720p-friendly HDMI port, but you'll have to use the switch to toggle between the two modes. And that little mini-USB port on the far right? Well, it's there to provide some juice to "reduce battery drain," but probably not enough to charge up your iDevice. If you're still interested and have a friend in Japan, Hanwha's charging ¥5,980 (around $73), which is almost double that of Apple's $39 connector. Is USB support worth such a price jump? Your call.

Hanwha unleashes HDMI / USB adapter for iPad, iPhone 4, and fourth-gen iPod touch originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Mar 2011 22:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WSJ: Google teams with MasterCard and Citigroup for NFC payments, also files patent app

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/27/google-teams-with-mastercard-and-citigroup-for-nfc-payment-demo/

Ever since the Nexus S and its nifty little NFC chip hit the market, there's been speculation that El Goog was planning a foray into the mobile payment arena currently occupied by the likes of Charge Anywhere. Now, it looks like that plan may be in high gear, as the Wall Street Journal reports that Google's secretly partnered with MasterCard and Citigroup to test out just such a system. According to the publication, the early demo pairs "one current model and many coming models of Android phones" with existing Citigroup-sponsored credit and debit cards, and is using the phones' NFC chips with those VeriFone readers we recently heard about.

What's more, a newly-published patent application from the crew in Mountain View may hint at the software behind such things. The application describes a service that sets up Google as a third-party broker who receives the shopping cart info of customers placing orders via a device (including those of the mobile variety), allows them to select shipping and other options, and provides the total order cost. It then collects payment, coordinates shipment, and forwards order information to the seller to complete the transaction. So companies can have Google handle all their payment-taking needs in return for getting a sneak peek at what folks are buying -- something that the WSJ's sources say might be a component of the setup Google's testing right now -- as opposed to other third-party services, like Paypal, that only obtain and exchange payment info with merchants. Looks like Alma Whitten (Google's Director of Privacy) has her work cut out assuaging the concerns such a system will inevitably create in an increasingly privacy-minded populace.

Sean Hollister contributed to this report.

WSJ: Google teams with MasterCard and Citigroup for NFC payments, also files patent app originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Mar 2011 23:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android adapter concepts promise to accessorize any headset

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/27/android-adapter-concepts-promise-to-accessorize-any-headset/

Well, here's a bit of a twist -- a concept device designed to actually a fund a Kickstarter-like service for concept devices. While that may not exactly inspire the most confidence, these concepts from the folks behind upstart Makible are certainly unique enough to get us interested. They included the standard headphone adapter pictured above, which promises to turn any set of headphones into a proper (and eye-catching) headset, as well as an iPhone headset adapter that will let you use any iPhone headset with your Android phone (check it out after the break). Both will apparently be limited to 10,000 units apiece assuming they get the necessary funding, with the headphone adapter setting you back $20, while the iPhone version runs just $10. Want to see them become a reality? Then you can hit up the link below to get your order in.

Continue reading Android adapter concepts promise to accessorize any headset

Android adapter concepts promise to accessorize any headset originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Mar 2011 23:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ThinkPad Edge E420s now shipping for $699, E220s coming in April

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/28/thinkpad-edge-e420s-now-shipping-for-699-e220s-coming-in-april/

Don't tell us you've forgotten about Lenovo's pair of new Edge machines! Sure, they've taken a while to get to market, perhaps having been inconvenienced by a little hiccup with Intel's Core 2011 chipsets, but the first of them is now well and truly on sale and the other is looking eager and ready to go too. The 14-inch E420s is up on Lenovo's web store, starting at $699 with a 2.1GHz Core i3-2310M CPU, while its 12.5-inch sibling, the E220s, is expected on the 8th of April, judging by the roadmap doc we've uncovered below. The E420s touts what Lenovo calls an Infinity Glass display, meaning simply edge-to-edge glass, alongside a fingerprint reader, a fetching new matte black lid, a HD webcam, 4GB of RAM and 250GB of HDD storage at a minimum, and a 48.8Wh battery. A 1366 x 768 resolution is your only option, unfortunately, though you can spruce up performance by quite a bit if you opt for the i5-2410M, which does 2.3GHz at default speeds or 2.9GHz when only one of its two cores is pushed to the limit ... or should that be to the Edge?

[Thanks, Chris and Abdu]

Continue reading ThinkPad Edge E420s now shipping for $699, E220s coming in April

ThinkPad Edge E420s now shipping for $699, E220s coming in April originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 04:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony and LG price a swath of 3D HDTVs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/28/sony-and-lg-price-a-swath-of-3d-hdtvs/

We're still waiting on LG's ginormous 72-inch LZ7900 to make its debut on store shelves, but the rest of CES's primo 3DTV crop is rearing to ride out, with Sony's HX929, HX820 and HX720 series of LED-backlit LCD screens and LG's Infinia PZ750 plasmas now priced at Amazon. 3D-Display-info.com found Sony's locally-dimmed Bravia sets starting at $2,099 for a 46-inch HX720 with Gorilla Glass protection, all the way up to $3,799 for the premium 55-inch XBR-55HX929 with a full-array LED backlight. Meanwhile, the 50-inch LG PZ750 (with Smart TV, naturally) starts out at $1,599, while a 60-inch version of the same thing will run $2,199. Which one fits best in your den? That depends on a number of things, but we will add that the Sony sets are merely up for pre-order, while the LG units are listed as shipping within a matter of weeks.

Sony and LG price a swath of 3D HDTVs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 05:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

3D-Display-info (1), (2) | source

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Silicine might be the new graphene, now that it's been physically constructed

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/28/silicine-might-be-the-new-graphene-now-that-its-been-physicall/

Surely you've heard of graphene, the one-atom-thick layer of pencil lead that has the potential to change the world of computers, batteries and screens? You might want to familiarize yourself with the term "silicine," too. It's basically a version of graphene constructed out of silicon, which doesn't naturally align itself into the same eminently useful honeycomb shape -- but, given a little prod here and a layer of silver or ceramic compound there, can do much the same thing, and with better computing compatibility. First proposed around 2007, it's reportedly been produced twice now by two different teams, which gives physicists hope that it could actually be useful some day. For now, researchers need to figure out a way to easily produce it so detailed experiments can be performed -- from what we understand, the good ol' scotch tape method just won't do the job.

Silicine might be the new graphene, now that it's been physically constructed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 06:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Graphene-Info | source

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Saturday, March 26, 2011

New word - "4sq rampage" - yes, I did that and have pics to prove it - http://bit.ly/dPx24A

Friday, March 25, 2011

Search vs Display CTRs - which do you think won? (pics) http://bit.ly/hgJH4W

Clever iPhone App Only Shows You the Best of Everything [Apps]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/#!5785575/clever-iphone-app-shows-you-the-only-best-of-everything

The Village Voice has just put out a clever iPhone app called Best Of. The app basically uses your location to help you find every place that was voted the "best of" something—be it restaurant or hot dog.

The great thing about the app is that it's "utilizing the picks from publications like Houston Press, LA Weekly, Village Voice, Miami New Times and scores of other city guides and magazines" instead of using some sort of voting system which could be quickly gamed by businesses.

Currently only these cities are supported, but updates will bring more listings:

Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston/Providence), Broward / Palm Beach, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas / Ft. Worth, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis / St. Paul, Nashville, New York, Orange County, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh / Durham, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco / Bay Area, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa Bay / St. Petersburg, Washington
DC

The Best Of app is free and available in the iTunes store now. [iTunes]

How the iPad 2 Glass Bends to Incredibly Extreme Angles [Video]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/#!5785781/watch-how-the-ipad-2-glass-can-bend-to-incredibly-extreme-angles

When watched this video of someone bending the iPad 2's display glass I couldn't believe my eyes. Play it and see what I mean for yourself.

While the iPad and iPhone's glasses can shatter easily, they are all incredibly bendable. To the point that it's hard to believe that this is glass and not plastic.

And according to iFixyouri's test, the iPad 2's glass is a lot more resistant to breaking by bending than the original iPad, even while the former is quite thinner than the latter. iFixyouri also claims that, after multiple drop tests, they couldn't break the glass (don't try this at home, though). [9to5Mac]

Buffalo reveals slimline external BDXL burner for $275, affiliated media still makes your wallet weep

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/25/buffalo-reveals-slimline-external-bdxl-burner-for-275-affiliat/

BDXL is the optical storage medium du jour, but the options for those wanting its capacious quad-layer burning capabilities in a tasty to-go form factor are fairly limited. Previous drives have lacked a certain... aesthetic appeal, but now Buffalo has unveiled its BRXL-PC6U2-BK, a slim and shiny external model that'll handle all of your BDXL disc-creation needs. The drive can run off a single USB 2.0 plug, though writing at 4x speeds requires a second USB connection to give it the juice required to do the deed. Slated for a release by the end of March, otherwise known as next week, this hot little onyx number will set you back ¥22,100 (about $275). Just don't go blowing all your cash on the drive -- BR-R XL discs ain't cheap, y'know.

Buffalo reveals slimline external BDXL burner for $275, affiliated media still makes your wallet weep originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 08:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Researchers produce cheaper, 'cooler' semiconductor nanowires

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/25/researchers-produce-cheaper-cooler-semiconductor-nanowires/

Advances in nanowires may occur on a pretty regular basis these days, but this new development out of Germany's Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems could have a particularly big impact on one all-important area: cost. As PhysOrg reports, manufacturing semiconducter nanowires at an industrial scale is currently very expensive because they need to be produced at extremely high temperatures (600 to 900 degrees Celsius), and the process used to manufacture them generally uses pure gold as a catalyst, which obviously adds to the cost. This new process, however, can use inexpensive materials like aluminum as a catalyst, and it can produce crystalline semiconductor nanowires at temperatures of just 150 degrees Celsius. Of course, that's all still only being done in the lab at the moment, and there's no indication as to when it might actually be more widely used.

Researchers produce cheaper, 'cooler' semiconductor nanowires originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 09:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MSI ships Fusion-based CR650 laptop, Wind Top AE2050 all-in-one PC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/25/msi-ships-fusion-based-cr650-laptop-wind-top-ae2050-all-in-one/

AMD's Zacate E-350 APU (better known to casual observers as a member of the Fusion platform) has been shocking critics since its long-awaiting introduction earlier in the year, finally giving people a real alternative to Intel's historically sluggish Atom lineup. In the event that you've been waiting for Fusion-based options from MSI, a couple of previously introduced machines are now making their way out to the shipping docks. First up, it's the 15.6-inch CR650, complete with a dual-core E-350 APU (which includes a Radeon HD 6310 discrete-class graphics chip), an HDMI port, 720p webcam and a downright luscious $499.99 starting price. For those looking for something a wee bit less portable, or for those looking to significantly increase their load, the Fusion-backed Wind Top AE2050 ($679.99) is also shipping to Earthlings in North America. Hit the links below to learn more on each.

Continue reading MSI ships Fusion-based CR650 laptop, Wind Top AE2050 all-in-one PC

MSI ships Fusion-based CR650 laptop, Wind Top AE2050 all-in-one PC originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 10:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung starts baking 30nm 4Gb LPDDR2 chips, packaging 2GB mobile RAM in April

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/25/samsung-starts-baking-30nm-4gb-lpddr2-chips-packaging-2gb-mobil/

When it comes to mobile RAM, capacity is often what pops to mind first while we overlook speed and power consumption, but Samsung's latest delivery is worth the extra attention. Earlier this month, said Korean giant started producing 30nm 4Gb 1066Mbps LPDDR2 (or simply Mobile DDR2) chips, in order to phase out its 40nm ones that topped 2Gb at a 800Mbps transmission rate. To put it in perspective, a 40nm 1GB package consists of four 2Gb chips, whereas the new 30nm one will only need two 4Gb chips, thus reducing the package thickness by 20 percent (down to 0.8mm) and power consumption by 25 percent. It's hard to tell when we'll start seeing these bits of silicon entering the consumer market, but Samsung's already stamping out 1GB modules this month, with a 2GB version to follow next month. Oh yes, we're definitely liking the sound of 2GB RAM for mobile phones.

Samsung starts baking 30nm 4Gb LPDDR2 chips, packaging 2GB mobile RAM in April originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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