Recent Event Highlights: Windows 8 about two years away, according to Microsoft Netherlands, Notion Ink founder claims Adam tablet will go 15+ hours on a charge, Reckless Racing review (iPhone), Exclusive: future LG Android phone for Verizon sports LTE, Droid Pro appears at Verizon for $299?, ASUS Eee PC 1015PW peeks out of hiding with dual-core Atom, royal purple shell, and 358 more...
Created by jpfieber on Nov 29, 2009
Last updated: 10/24/10 at 06:12 PM
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When will Microsoft bring Windows 8 to market? 2012's looking like a safe bet -- not only was it slated for that date in an allegedly leaked product roadmap, but Microsoft Netherlands hints that the OS is just two years away. Buried at the bottom of a press release celebrating the first birthday of Windows 7, you'll find the above Dutch phrase, which Google Translate returns as "Furthermore, Microsoft is of course the next version of Windows. But it will take about two years before "Windows 8" on the market." There are certainly plenty of reasons why Microsoft's riskiest product bet might not hit its target date, but the machine translation seems clear. Here's hoping the OS will ship with some suitably futuristic hardware.Windows 8 about two years away, according to Microsoft Netherlands originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Oct 2010 19:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Windows 8 Beta, Download Squad | Microsoft Netherlands | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/24/windows-8-about-two-years-away-according-to-microsoft-netherlan/
The Pixel Qi and Tegra 2-packing Notion Ink Adam has long been one of our favorite pieces of perfectly plausible vaporware, but founder Rohan Shravan's just made a pretty fantastic claim -- he says he's getting a minimum of 15 hours of battery life from his personal tablet and calculates you'll get up to twenty with the 24Wh, potentially user-replaceable battery nestled in its frame. While those are the figures for the $498 transflective version of the tablet and not the $399 juice-gulping LCD, they're still so stellar that they could easily make or break the Adam's sales depending on their veracity. Please don't let us down.Notion Ink founder claims Adam tablet will go 15+ hours on a charge originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Oct 2010 18:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink I4U News | Notion Ink Blog | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/24/notion-ink-founder-claims-adam-will-go-15-hours-on-a-charge/
Developed by Swedish firm Pixelbite and released just a few days ago by EA and Polarbit, Reckless Racing is a game we've been following since it was known as "Deliverace" early this year -- and honestly, there was a spell where we'd gone so long without having heard anything about it that we'd kind of assumed the awesome-looking project had been canceled. Fortunately, that wasn't the case -- it's now available on iPhone, iPad, and Android -- so we decided to take it for a quick spin. After all, top-down racers haven't really made much noise since the heady days of R.C. Pro-Am and perennial arcade favorite Ivan "Ironman" Stewart's Super Off Road... and after playing Reckless Racing for just a few minutes, we're not sure why that is.
Gallery: Reckless Racing review (iPhone)Continue reading Reckless Racing review (iPhone)Reckless Racing review (iPhone) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Oct 2010 17:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/24/reckless-racing-review-iphone/
We were just handed this image with very little detail other than the fact that we're looking at "a future LG high end Android phone for Verizon," but we can deduce a few things: one, and perhaps most notably, you can just barely make out an LTE logo toward the bottom of the back. That likely makes this one of the six-odd LTE phones Verizon has publicly said are slated for the first half of next year. Secondly, it's got an HD camera of some sort -- probably indicating either 720p or 1080p capture -- and finally, it appears to have a huge, mirrored display and possibly a front-facing cam in the upper right. Looks like there's also a WiFi logo on back (of course), but can anyone make out the other two logos there? And more importantly, can anyone wait for this to launch?
Update: It's been proposed that one of the logos might be for DLNA, since LG's a major DLNA player -- most recently with its PlayTo service on the LG Optimus 7.Exclusive: future LG Android phone for Verizon sports LTE originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/24/exclusive-future-lg-android-phone-for-verizon-sports-lte/
If you're looking to get some BlackBerry up in your Droid, brace yourself for a premium price. Motorola's Droid Pro worldphone was just spotted at a Verizon test website for $299 on-contract and as much as $700 unsubsidized. Should the 1GHz unit arrive as shown without a chunky rebate of some sort, it would be the most expensive Android handset on offer -- a solid $50 more than Samsung's $250 Epic 4G -- a heck of a thing for an 320 x 480 resolution phone without a huge Super AMOLED screen. Perhaps this pricing is preliminary, however, or perhaps dual-mode CDMA / GSM chipsets don't come cheap. We suppose we'll find out the answer to the latter question when the HTC Merge finally appears.
[Thanks, JP]Droid Pro appears at Verizon for $299? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Oct 2010 15:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Droid Life | @wade_county (Twitter) | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/24/droid-pro-appears-at-verizon-test-site-priced-at-299/
Looking for a little inspiration for your Halloween costume? Then you might not want to read any further, as you'll likely only find yourself struggling to match the Samus Aran costume that 11-year old Joseph DeRose and his father are building. That costume apparently only consists of an arm cannon at the moment, but it's certainly an impressive arm cannon -- it packs an array of LED lights with various settings (controlled by an Arduino, naturally), not to mention an assortment of sound effects from the Metroid games. Those not concerned about being upstaged can check out a video of the build process after the break.
Continue reading Father-son team build Samus Aran arm cannon for HalloweenFather-son team build Samus Aran arm cannon for Halloween originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Oct 2010 03:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Joystiq | Project Varia | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/24/father-son-team-build-samus-aran-arm-cannon-for-halloween/
The lack of inter-brand compatibility is a major annoyance with current 3D glasses -- not to mention stands in direct opposition to our fashionable couch potato aesthetic. Luckily, XpanD's universal 3D glasses are finally available for pre-order on Amazon, even though there's no word on ship dates. They are however currently priced at $108, which is slightly less than the $125-$150 range quoted by XpanD's Chief Strategy Officer Ami Dror last spring. That said, no surprise drop in price could justify their PR platitude as "the most anticipated product in the history of 3D." Continue reading XpanD universal 3D glasses now available for pre-orderXpanD universal 3D glasses now available for pre-order originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 22:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | XpanD Cinema | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/23/xpand-universal-3d-glasses-now-available-for-pre-order/
So look, you feel pretty special toting around that dual-SIM phone, right? Being able to switch numbers and carriers as you hop back and forth between Germany and Amsterdam is fairly nifty, but you've been considering a daily route around the Benelux. Of course, tri-SIM phones aren't impossible to find either, but should you ever wander into France, Switzerland or any other nation, you'll be forced to pop one of those out and insert another the old fashioned way. Well, unless you can score an OTECH F1. This here handset -- which can only be found in the wilds of Asia right now -- actually has room for four SIM cards, and it's also packing a full QWERTY keyboard, 2.4-inch touchscreen, support for mobile TV, an FM radio tuner, Bluetooth module and what appears to be a 12.1 megapixel camera. Unsurprisingly, a price on this bad boy is eluding us, but if you're an industrious jetsetter, we're confident you won't have any issues running one down. Whether or not you want to, however, is another matter entirely...OTECH F1 handset holds four SIM cards, enables you to live a quadruple life originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 19:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Only Gizmos | GSM Arena | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/23/otech-f1-handset-holds-four-sim-cards-enables-you-to-live-a-qua/
Good news, we worked out our streaming issue! So keep your eyes tuned to this post -- because at 6:30 PM ET, we'll be starting The Engadget Show live, with Microsoft's Aaron Woodman, Windows Phone 7 devices, Google TV, and more! Josh and Nilay on hand, plus we'll have music from Kris Keyser with visuals from noteNdo and much, much, more. You seriously don't want to miss it. Check out the live stream after the break!
Continue reading The Engadget Show: live with Microsoft's Aaron Woodman, Windows Phone 7, Google TV, and costume contest!The Engadget Show: live with Microsoft's Aaron Woodman, Windows Phone 7, Google TV, and costume contest! originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 18:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/23/the-engadget-show-live-with-microsofts-aaron-woodman-windows/
Otto Bock's mind-controlled bionic arms let Austria's Christian Kandlbauer work, play and even drive, but it seems the latter passion may have lead to the 22-year-old's untimely demise. Two days after a road accident where the young man's specially-modified Subaru crashed into a tree, Kandlbauer was pronounced brain-dead and taken off life support late last week. It's not known whether the prosthetic arms themselves had anything to do with the crash -- one was found ripped from his body at the scene -- but both he and his vehicle were cleared to drive by local authorities after passing a number of tests. Honestly, it's a tragedy for science and humanity either way.Man with bionic arms dies after car crash originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 14:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | BBC News | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/23/man-with-bionic-arms-dies-after-car-crash/
Attention all humans and empathetic robots: The Engadget Show is back in a big way today, October 23rd at 6:30pm! To get things started, Josh and the gang will be taking a first-hand look at a plethora of Windows Phone 7 devices with Microsoft's Aaron Woodman, then we'll be demoing Google TV, and Engadget's own Darren Murph will be joining Josh, Nilay, and Paul on stage, Guinness World Record in hand. What's more, we're hosting our first ever Halloween costume contest! There will be giveaways at the show for the best costumes (as voted on by you, the audience), so get to work on your winning masterpiece now! We'll also have the usual random giveaways, but why leave it to chance when you could win stuff with a little creativity and a black turtleneck? There will also be music from Kris Keyser and visuals from noteNdo and plenty of other giveaways at the live show only, so make the trek and join us at The Times Center in person. We have a new ticketing policy, so if you're coming to the live show, be sure to read about it below. If you're geographically incapable of joining us in New York City laster this evening just tune into the stream right here on Engadget.
Update: Due to a technical issue, we won't be livestreaming the show tonight.
Update 2: Or maybe we will! We appear to have worked out some of the issues, so head on down!
The Engadget Show is sponsored by Sprint, and will take place at the Times Center, part of The New York Times Building in the heart of New York City at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues (see map after the break). Tickets are -- as always -- free to anyone who would like to attend, but seating is limited, and tickets will be first come, first served... so get there early! Here's the updated info on our new ticketing policy that you need to know:
There is no admission fee -- tickets are completely free
The event is all ages
Ticketing will begin at the Times Center at 2:00PM today, Saturday October 23rd, doors will open for seating at 5:45PM, and the show begins at 6:30PM
We now have assigned seating, so the first people to get their tickets -- and the Sprint text-to-win winners (see below) -- will get priority seating. This also means that once you get a ticket, your seat is guaranteed -- you won't have to get back in line to get a good seat.
We still had plenty of tickets left over at the last taping, so just because it's 5:00pm and you finally finished Halo: Reach doesn't mean you won't get a seat at the show -- so get your butt up to the Times Center this evening!
Ticketing will continue until all tickets are given away
You cannot collect tickets for friends or family -- anyone who would like to come must be present to get a ticket
Seating capacity in the Times Center is about 340, and once we're full, we're full
The venue is located at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues in New York City (map after the break)
The show length is around an hour
If you're a member of the media who wishes to attend, please contact us at: engadgetshowmedia [at] engadget [dot] com, and we'll try to accommodate you. All other non-media questions can be sent to: engadgetshow [at] engadget [dot] com.
Subscribe to the Show:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (M4V).
[Zune] Subscribe to the Show directly in the Zune Marketplace (M4V).
[RSS M4V] Add the Engadget Show feed (M4V) to your RSS aggregator and have it delivered automatically.The Engadget Show returns today! With Windows Phone 7, Aaron Woodman, Google TV devices, and our first Halloween costume contest! (update: no livestream) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/23/the-engadget-show-returns-todaydelicious-with-windows-phone-7/
The definition of a good friend is someone who, if you say to them "Gee, I'd really like a foot pedal to advance my overflowing Google Reader feeds," turns around and builds you one. From scratch. In this way we know that modder Matt Richardson is a good friend, as that's what he crafted out of a little electric pedal and a disused keyboard (of the Dell variety). It's not the most complex hack we've ever seen, but it is a good one, and he's happy to show you exactly how to do it in the video below. Oh, and the friend's response? You can see it for yourself at the end of the embed.Continue reading Matt Richardson MacGuyvers a Google Reader pedal out of just these items, zero duct tape (video)Matt Richardson MacGuyvers a Google Reader pedal out of just these items, zero duct tape (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 10:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Flickr | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/23/matt-richardson-macguyvers-a-google-reader-pedal-out-of-just-the/
It's hard to say if Alaska Airlines' relationship with Row44 has fizzled, but unlike that WiFi'd route between San Jose and Seattle, the aforesaid airline is relying on Aircell to provide in-flight WiFi on flights between Anchorage and Fairbanks. Reportedly, Gogo service is live today for customers flying between those two locales, with it being completely gratis until the remainder of Aircell's network in the state of Alaska goes live over the next few months. Best of all, Aircell has promised to "expand its network to include Southeast Alaska by the end of the year," ensuring that it's not The Last Frontier in absolutely every possible way.Continue reading Alaska Airlines fires up in-flight WiFi between Anchorage and Fairbanks, promises more in 2011Alaska Airlines fires up in-flight WiFi between Anchorage and Fairbanks, promises more in 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 01:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Gadling | | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/23/alaska-airlines-fires-up-in-flight-wifi-between-anchorage-and-fa/
We both know you didn't need a Kindle with a 9.7-inch display, but you went and did the deed anyway. Now that you're a proud owner of Amazon's Kindle DX Graphite, you're obligated to tell the world what exactly you'd change about it if given the ability to do so. We noted back in our review that the revised display was indeed a lovely extra, but is it enough to justify the lofty premium over the standard 6-inch model? Would you have changed up the keyboard? What about the enclosure? Thrown in a kickstand? Added a helmet mount? Go on and tell us how you'd make the Kindle DX Graphite an ideal device down in comments below. We're all ears, you know.How would you change Amazon's Kindle DX Graphite? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 22:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/22/how-would-you-change-amazons-kindle-dx-graphite/
Even though we've seen a torrent of Windows Phone 7 devices, we couldn't leave you hanging on a review of the Samsung Focus. In the last few days, a flurry of new Microsoft-powered devices have hit the market, boasting slight differences, but all looking and acting largely the same. We've taken a deep dive on the operating system itself, the Omnia 7, Optimus 7, Mozart, HD7, and Surround (phew!) -- now it's time to focus on the, er... Focus. The device itself has a lot in common with its European brother, the Omnia 7, boasting the same 4-inch Super AMOLED display, 8GB of internal storage, 1GHz CPU, and 5 megapixel camera. The device will soon go on sale in America for $199.99 on AT&T's network -- in fact, it's the only Windows Phone 7 device you'll be able to buy on the network when they go public on November 8th. But is it really worth your hard earned cash when there are so many other options in the market? Read on for the full Engadget review to find out!
Update: Just a note, the HD7 will also be available (for T-Mobile) on November 8th and we've updated the above information to reflect that.
Update 2: We had the numbers wrong on the RAM / ROM. It's 512MB and 1GB, respectively.
This review is primarily of the Samsung Focus hardware. Check out our full review of Windows Phone 7 for our thoughts on the OS.
Gallery: Samsung Focus review hands-on
Continue reading Samsung Focus reviewSamsung Focus review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 18:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/22/samsung-focus-review/
The new MacBook Airs may have a lot of things going for them, but a matte screen unfortunately isn't among them. The folks at TechRestore now say they have a solution to that shortcoming, however, and will gladly rip apart your shiny new Air and install a matte screen for $249. That screen will supposedly give you the same resolution, color depth and LED-backlighting as the factory installed one, and TechRestore promises to install a custom black bezel that "matches the look of the unibody MacBook Pro systems and looks, well, pretty awesome." Of course, they don't provide an actual image of the finished result, but they do promise a 24-hour turnaround time if you want to try it out yourself -- the service will apparently be available "soon." Head on past the break for the full press release.Continue reading TechRestore offers MacBook Air matte screen replacements for $249TechRestore offers MacBook Air matte screen replacements for $249 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | TechRestore | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/22/techrestore-offers-macbook-air-matte-screen-replacements-for-24/
Who knew a support thread on corporate WiFi login issues would lead to anything we'd care about? Cut to Google code's Android forums, where an anonymous Google engineer confirms that this problem will be patched in the "next major release" of Android, specifically version 2.3. So... does this mean Android 2.3 is the oft-discussed (and close on the horizon) Gingerbread? Not necessarily -- while possible, there isn't any indication to that effect, and logic doesn't arbitrarily equate the two. After all, recall that Eclair was both 2.0 and 2.1, so there would be some historical precedence to this 0.1 leap being nothing more than sprinkles on frozen yogurt.Android 2.3 'next major release,' says anonymous Google engineer originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 14:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Brief Mobile, Android Central | Google Code | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/22/android-2-3-next-major-release-says-anonymous-google-engineer/
There's precisely zero doubt that AT&T will be supporting LTE waves in the not-too-distant future, but it looks as if "the future" may be drawing closer than anyone had ever imagined. Or else the carrier's just really, really proactive. Based on the leaked slide above, it looks as if AT&T is already beginning to transition its current crop of SIM cards to "those that will also support LTE devices." Naturally, the iPhone 4 is omitted from all of this due to it using a micro SIM, but it looks as if employees will need to keep a careful eye on the SKU (and front graphics) in order to make sure customers are well equipped for another blend of 4G. Now, how's about a rollout schedule, Ma Bell?AT&T transitioning to LTE-friendly SIM cards originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 13:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Boy Genius Report | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/22/atandt-transitioning-to-lte-friendly-sim-cards/
If you're anything like us, you're both smart and incredibly good looking. Also, you're sarcastic. And in addition to all that, you spend much of your downtime enjoying streaming media on your computer, or your Internet-enabled TV, or perhaps even your fancy-pants cellphone. And it looks like, indeed, much of the country is "anything like us" -- at least according to Sandvine, Inc., of Waterloo, Ontario. The network hardware manufacturer has released a report that concludes that over twenty percent of stateside peak time downstream Internet traffic is gobbled up by Netflix streams, with the heaviest use going down in the primetime hours between 8 to 10 pm. We're sure that this is no surprise to Netflix itself, whose CEO recently stated that the company is primarily a streaming company that just happens to mail out DVDs to some customers; but still, the figure is pretty staggering. You can draw your own conclusions, but we're just happy to no longer live in a place where the only thing to watch on a Thursday night is The World According To Jim.Report: Twenty percent of peak downstream Internet used for Netflix? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 13:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Slashgear | Multichannel News | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/22/report-twenty-percent-of-peak-downstream-internet-used-for-netf/
If last night's cameo showing off the official Twitter client for Windows Phone 7 wasn't enough of a hint, yes, we've gotten our hands on LG's Optimus 7. This 3.8-inch machine will serve as LG's international WP7 ambassador while Americans get to grips with its QWERTY keyboard-equipped Quantum brother. As you'll no doubt be aware by now, the internal equipment is standardized around Microsoft's chassis spec, meaning a WVGA screen resolution, a 1GHz Snapdragon inside, and a 5 megapixel camera shooting 720p video at 24fps. You'd think, therefore, that it'd be a nondescript, middle-of-the-road option, but the Optimus 7 left us extremely impressed after our first hands-on and we're eager to keep digging for more. Does it put up a righteous fight against the more ambitious HD7 from HTC and Omnia 7 from Samsung? Jump past the break to find out.
This review is primarily of the LG Optimus 7 hardware. Check out our full review of Windows Phone 7 for our thoughts on the OS.Gallery: LG Optimus 7 reviewContinue reading LG Optimus 7 reviewLG Optimus 7 review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 12:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/22/lg-optimus-7-review/
Android for Windows phones -- simple concept, simple enough installation, but awesome results. The good people behind the XDAndroid project have been working hard to allow you to get your Google juices flowing nice and freely on your WinMo device and the latest build looks to have all but completed the task. Demonstrated on a Touch Pro 2 -- a phone that recently got itself Ubuntu-ized -- the Android installation experiences no difficulty in making calls, sending SMS or email missives, or browsing the web. There are still limitations, mind you, with GPS, Bluetooth and "other key functions" not yet available, but for the most part you're looking at the full Android experience on devices that weren't initially meant for it. Check it out on video after the break or hit the source link for detailed instructions on how to load this up on your own phone.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Continue reading HTC Touch Pro 2 gets a new lease of Android life, loves it (video)HTC Touch Pro 2 gets a new lease of Android life, loves it (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | PocketNow | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/11/htc-touch-pro-2-gets-a-new-lease-of-android-life-loves-it-vide/
Whatever happened to that dreamy Line 6 / Apple tie-up? Who knows, right? While those two sort out their future behind the scenes, Paul Reed Smith Guitars is stepping up to take advantage of an obvious market opportunity. The newly announced Guitarbud is a simplistic accessory that allows axe slingers to jack their guitar into an iPhone or second-generation iPod touch, all while providing a headphone output in order to keep the noise making to yourself. We're told that the device works with pretty much any recording-supported app (even Apple's own Voice Memos), though PRS obviously recommends that you check out its JamApp guitar amp simulator / tuner / training tool. Best of all, it's available today for £29.95 (or $29.95 here in the States), putting you just a few yard mowings away from securing your own personal aural sanctuary. Too bad the reviews from early adopters aren't so promising...PRS Guitarbud jacks your axe, ego into iPhone / iPod touch originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink ShinyShiny | MusicRadar, Musician's Friend | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/11/prs-guitarbud-jacks-your-axe-ego-into-iphone-ipod-touch/
Sony's calling the PlayStation Move the "next generation" of motion gaming and planning to market it as heavily as an entirely new console, so it's sort of a big deal -- and that means our main dudes at Joystiq are all over it. We've already covered the main details, but hit the links below if you're looking for some seriously deep dives.
SOCOM 4 to support PlayStation Move
EyePet to support PlayStation Move, hits North America holiday 2010
Move supported by 36 companies, 20 games this fiscal year
The PlayStation Move games (we know of)
Hands-on: SOCOM 4 (with PlayStation Move!)
Hands-on: PlayStation Move's 'The Shoot'
Hands-on: PlayStation Move's 'Move Party'
Hands-on: PlayStation Move's Sports Champions
We touched it: PlayStation Move from every angle
'Arc' lives on in PlayStation Move's logo
Want more on the PlayStation Move? Head over to Joystiq! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/11/want-more-on-the-playstation-move-head-over-to-joystiq/
At last, we've felt Sony's long awaited motion controller, now at last officially known as "PlayStation Move," in our unworthy, sweaty hands. We have a bunch of videos on the way, but for now you can revel in our first close-ups of the controllers in the gallery below. Here are some of our initial thoughts:
The controllers are light. Much more akin to the DualShock3 than the Wiimote in heft, and we're guessing that's due to Sony's continued love of rechargeable batteries.
The main controller does have some subtle vibration (not DualShock or Wiimote level, but present), but we're not sure yet about the subcontroller.
We hate to say this about "pre-alpha" software, but we're feeling lag. An on-rails shooter we tried out, dubbed The Shoot, was discernibly inferior to shooting experiences we've had on the Wii, both in precision and refresh rate of the aiming cursor.
The gladiator game is about as fun as it looks, we'll have video after the break momentarily. Unfortunately, while it's less of a defined experience than something like the sword game on Wii Sports Resort, you're still working through a library of sensed, pre-defined actions instead of a true 1:1 fighting game with simulated physics. Not that it isn't possible with PlayStation Move, just that it's not this.
The lightness of the controllers means we might be feeling less of that Wiimote fatigue, always a good thing! There's an aspect of the controller that feels a little cheap, but at the same time we wouldn't call it fragile.
As far as we can tell, the control scheme for Socom 4 is quite similar to dual-controller shooter setups on the Wii, with the camera moving based on your aiming cursor hitting the edge. It's hard to see this as the preferred hardcore setup, but we're told it's configurable, so we'll try and see what else is on offer.
The system seemed to have a bit of trouble understanding the configuration of our body in a swordfighting stance: even though we selected "left handed," it was putting our sword arm forward instead of our shield. Right-handers didn't seem to have similar problems, and we're sure this will be ironed out in time, but it certainly shows that the controllers aren't magical in their space-detection prowess.
As would be expected, you're supposed to stand relatively center on the TV, and at a certain optimal distance. The system is forgiving, but there's a sweet spot that users will undoubtedly have to learn.
Lag is less prominent on Socom 4, and we'd say we're pretty accurate with the controller already, though the framerate choppiness of this pre-alpha build obviously hampers that a bit. We did get a slight feel of being in "scene to scene" shootouts instead of a free-roaming FPS, perhaps a design choice to mitigate the limited camera movement offered by the controller, but we'll have to see more levels to know for sure.
Update: We added in a longer video -- are you ready for three minutes of nonstop excitement?
Update, final edition: We've got a new video with close-up walkthroughs of the controllers and some in-depth gameplay of Socom 4.
Gallery: PlayStation Move first hands-onContinue reading PlayStation Move first hands-on (update: video!)PlayStation Move first hands-on (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/playstation-move-first-hands-on/
Ready to graduate from DJ Hero? Got a house payment handy? Then Pioneer would like to show you the way to the pros. Say hello to the DJM-2000, a four-channel digital mixer built around a 5.8-inch multitouch screen and sporting enough knobs, buttons and sliders for a NASA launch sequence. Designed to play nice with the matching CDJ-2000 players Pioneer released last year, the unit features an integrated audio effects suite with six dedicated processors and several intriguing modes for multitouch music control. While the mixer has the traditional crossfade slider that allows DJs to assign a certain percentage of the output to channels on the left and right, the DJM-2000 debuts with "frequency mix," a mode that lets DJs assign within seven narrow frequency bands as well by manipulating virtual sliders on the touchscreen, and a "sidechain remix" mode that uses the screen to apply custom effects in real time. Yeah, it's not as wild as some other touchscreen DJ rigs we've seen, but at least this one's for sale: Pioneer says the mixer will retail for $3000 this June. Droolworthy video demonstrations after the break.Continue reading Pioneer DJM-2000 digital mixer sports multitouch screen, per-frequency mixing delightPioneer DJM-2000 digital mixer sports multitouch screen, per-frequency mixing delight originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Pioneer EU, Pioneer USA, Pioneer DJ | Email this | Comments
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We're exceptionally likely to find out the official name of Sony's PlayStation motion controller in just a few hours during the company's GDC press event, but till then, we've got one more late-breaking morsel to chew on: Move. According to trademark divers across the web, Sony has filed a European trademark for "PlayStation Move," which certainly sounds like a plausible title for some sort of motion-sensing apparatus. To date, we've also heard "Arc" thrown around (which we tend to prefer, if we're being candid), and the logo shown here -- which is said to belong to a separate trademark application -- definitely looks more like an "A" than an "M." Keep it locked right here for more as we get it.'PlayStation Move' trademarked by Sony in Europe, reeks of motion controller involvement originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Joystiq | NeoGaf, The Netwerk | Email this | Comments
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Razer already provides full Mac support for a few of its gaming peripherals -- including the Naga and DeathAdder -- and basic support for others, but it's now taken avantage of GDC to "reaffirm" its commitment to Mac users. That apparently means that "all upcoming" Razer products -- including the company's line of StarCraft II peripherals -- will boast full Mac support out of the box, and that the company will be rolling out updates to some of its existing products "later this year," including the Orochi, Mamba, and Imperator gaming mice. First Steam, now Razer peripherals -- dare we say it's a good time to be a Mac gamer?Razer promises Mac support for all upcoming products originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Razer | Email this | Comments
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Say it ain't so! OCZ Technology -- a mainstay in the storage realm but an outfit that tends to serve the performance (read: affluent) market first and foremost -- has just dove headfirst into the value-priced SSD segment. Debuting today, the Onyx SATA II 2.5-inch SSD is the company's most affordable MLC-based solid state storage solution to date; it packs 64MB of onboard cache, up to 125MB/sec read speeds, write rates of 70MB/sec and an MSRP of under $100 for a 32GB version. You know that hasty boot drive you've been looking for? Look up.OCZ breaks into bargain market with 'sub-$100' 32GB Onyx SSD originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Hot Hardware | OCZ Technology | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/ocz-breaks-into-bargain-market-with-sub-100-32gb-onyx-ssd/
Enthusiasts have had plenty to cheer about with the convergence of electronics and bicycling over the years, from bikes that pedal themselves to the various devices and apps that assist them with their training. And for those of us who just want to get from one place to another? Google Maps has added bicycling directions to its walking, car, and public transport options -- with travel times calculated to include things like the number of hills and fatigue over time. But that ain't all! The company has also partnered with Rails-to-Trails to provide information on bike trails in more than 150 cities. According to Google, thousands of miles of trails in the US have already been added to the map, with more to come. For the time being, however, only those planning trips in their home or office need apply: while available on the web, those using a Google Maps smartphone app are being excluded for the time being. So much for "mobile first," guys. Video after the break.
Continue reading Google Maps adds bicycle directions, turns out its nothing like 'Quicksilver'Google Maps adds bicycle directions, turns out its nothing like 'Quicksilver' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink PhoneScoop | Google | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/google-maps-adds-bicycle-directions-turns-out-its-nothing-like/
Well, we'd already had a pretty clear indication that the HTC HD2 would be launching on T-Mobile on March 24th (or possibly the 23rd), and Laptop Magazine is now reporting that a "very close T-Mobile source" has confirmed that the 24th is indeed the date, and that the phone will run $199 on a two-year contract (or $449 off-contract). The March 23rd date that recently cropped up is apparently just the day the MobiTV software will go live. Just as notably, Laptop also says that it has confirmed that the phone won't be upgradeable to Windows Phone 7 Series -- although, at this point, we'll have to hear that first-hand to truly put an end to the speculation. Thankfully, that should happen in just a few days. HTC HD2 said to be launching March 24th for $199, no Windows Phone 7 support originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Laptop Magazine | Email this | Comments
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That certainly was a timely review, wasn't it? Dutch site Tweakers.net is reporting through a number of its forum members that previously ordered HTC Legends are being scheduled for delivery as early as today, beating the phone's announced early second quarter availability by a solid three weeks. That's great news for anyone comfortable sticking with a lower-res display and a middle-of-the-road processor in exchange for one of the slickest, most metallic shells on the market today -- but for those hoping for something a little more... ahem, Desire-able, the wait continues. And yes, we'd like to apologize profusely for that pun.HTC Legend already trickling into customers' waiting hands? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Tweakers.net | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/htc-legend-already-trickling-into-customers-waiting-hands/
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gadgets/HTC_Legend_review_Engadget'; After four three flavors of the HTC Hero, the Taiwanese mobile giant has finally brought back the chin with an additional lick of aluminum and a similarly quirky name -- the Legend. If this alone isn't of much interest to you yet, just bear in mind that this is HTC's first Android 2.1 device with Sense UI. It didn't take much for us to fall in love with this Android phone at MWC -- HTC convinced us of its unibody toughness by banging it against the wall, and needless to say, the vibrant AMOLED screen caught our eyes, too. However, there are still some questions to be answered before we can decide whether the Legend lives up to its name, especially on battery life, wireless reception, camera quality and software performance. Unless there have been major tweaks, we'll try not to bore you with features already seen on the Hero -- so please, won't you join us?
Gallery: HTC Legend reviewContinue reading HTC Legend reviewHTC Legend review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/htc-legend-review/
Yes, even the military has gone 3D. Helping it in that endeavor is Boeing, which has just announced a tiny new 3D camera that's one-third the size and consumes one-tenth the power of comparable 3D imaging systems. While it will also be made available for commercial use, it seems like military will be first in line to use the cameras, with Boeing noting that it's potential applications including "mapping terrain, tracking targets and seeing through foliage," and adding that it's already testing the camera on unmanned aerial vehicles. The biggest drawback to the camera at the moment is that it's only able to take 3D still images, but Boeing says it will "soon" add 3D video capability as well. Details are otherwise pretty hard to come by, as you might expect, and pricing is no doubt best left unsaid.
[Thanks, Graham]Boeing announces compact, energy-efficient 3D camera originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink SPIE | Boeing | Email this | Comments
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Casio's Exilim G EX-G1 camera made a solid enough first impression with us when we got our hands on it in January, but we've now had a chance to use it a fair bit more both indoors and out, and reach some firmer conclusions about it. The short verdict is that the camera, like any other rugged device, comes with its fair share of compromises. If you value ruggedness over everything else, the Exilim G definitely deserves some serious consideration (especially in this price range). On the other hand, if you're looking for an all-around, everyday point-and-shoot that just so happens to be a bit more durable than the rest, you may well find yourself disappointed. Read on for our full review.Gallery: Casio Exilim G EX-G1 hands-onContinue reading Casio Exilim G EX-G1 reviewCasio Exilim G EX-G1 review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
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Even if your favorite gadget isn't flaunting them, rare earth metals are vital to all sorts of high-tech gizmos, from your flat-panel TV and computer hard drive to the hefty batteries that power the Toyota Prius. But over 95% of the world's rare earth comes from China; and late last year, China told the world that they'd like to keep the lion's share all to themselves. What will we Westerners do? Well, we could let China continue producing mountains of e-waste on our behalf. But we could also find plenty of rare earth just by digging in our own backyard. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the United States has over 13 million metric tons of rare earth with concentrated deposits in Mountain Pass, California and Diamond Creek, Idaho. But since the private firms that control those deposits aren't willing to spend the requisite eight years and minimum $500 million to construct a chemical separation plant, Idaho-based U.S. Rare Earths is just sitting on their ore for now, while California's Molycorp Minerals is forced to send their material all the way to China (once again) for processing.
"No one wants to be first to jump into the market because of the cost of building a separation plant," former USGS rare earth specialist Jim Hedrick told LiveScience. Should China's export dwindle and the U.S. feel the pinch, that may change, but for now it's good to know that when the global game of StarCraft tells us "not enough minerals," we'll know exactly where to look.US mineral companies to tech industry: drill, baby, drill originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | LiveScience, USGS (PDF) | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/us-mineral-companies-to-tech-industry-drill-baby-drill/
This one has been quite a long time in coming, but Robosoft's service drone has finally made it off the drawing board, collected a catchy name, and headed off to the big world to seek its fortune as an R&D platform. Kompai is a personal assistance bot built around speech -- it understands basic instructions and requests and offers appropriate responses with its own monotonic style. It'll serve as a note and shopping list recorder, a calendar, a music player, or a video conferencing tool for when old grandpappy needs to call his doctor. If you think having a programmable hunk of mobile metal that's permanently connected to the net in your house is a good idea, look out for OEMs picking up the design during the Intercompany Long Term Care Insurance Conference taking place next week. And if you just wanna see a bug-eyed bot talk to an old dude, click past the break for the video.
[Thanks, Erico]Continue reading Robosoft Kompai takes care of your elderly so you don't have to (video)Robosoft Kompai takes care of your elderly so you don't have to (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | IEEE Spectrum | Email this | Comments
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Slowly but surely, HTC's latest trifecta of handsets is making its way westwards. After appearing on Amazon's Deutsche hub with a pre-order value of €519 ($707), the Desire has now reached the UK with an even steeper £528 ($795) price and an estimated arrival time of April 1. Let's just hope this pattern doesn't continue or we'll be looking at a four-figure sticker when this thing comes all the way Stateside. The HTC Legend is also slated for an April 1 delivery and carries a price of £400 ($602), while the HD Mini will straggle a tiny bit with an April 14 launch and a palatable £369 ($556) price. All are without contractual obligations, so it'll be interesting to see what incentives carriers can come up with to get us to jump on board.
[Thanks, Ron]HTC Desire, Legend and HD Mini show up on Amazon UK, expected to arrive on April 1 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Amazon UK (Desire), (Legend), (HD Mini) | Email this | Comments
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It's a sad state of affairs: your lawn is better at converting the sun into energy than that $23k solar array your neighbors just threw on their roof. Sun Catalytix wants to show that grass what's what with a new process for splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen -- artificial photosynthesis. In a presentation at the ARPA-E conference (the Advanced Research Projects Agency -- basically DARPA minus the military bent) Sun Catalytix founder Dan Nocera indicates that the process his company is developing could, with a photovoltaic array, four hours of sunlight, and a bottle of water, generate 30 kilowatt-hours of electricity. That's enough to power an average home for a day -- though hardcore gamers will probably need a bit more. The hope is that this will ultimately lead to cheap power for self-sufficient homes in the not-too distant future, but we're still left wondering when that future's going to come.
[Thanks, Jaden]Continue reading Artificial photosynthesis could power your house, even if it's not green (video)Artificial photosynthesis could power your house, even if it's not green (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 08:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink PopSci | Scientific American | Email this | Comments
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For HTPC owners looking for the perfect couch-borne computer keyboard, this Rii Mini Wireless Keyboard looks like Natuzzi nirvana, packing QWERTY (with function keys) and a touchpad all in a package that should fall to the hand more comfortably than that Scientific Atlanta remote your cable company has saddled you with. There's even a laser pointer, making it a snap to indicate strange shapes and symbols seen on Lost episodes -- or to taunt the cats when an episode's fifteenth plot twist leaves you disinterested. We're not sure exactly what Brando means when it says the thing has "iPhone style," but despite that we're liking it, and the $92 $49 price isn't completely outrageous. YouTube video review embedded after the break for the doubters.
Update: A few bargain-hunting commenters pointed out that this is available for $48.99 over at TomTop. That's savings you can count on, folks!Continue reading Rii Mini Wireless Keyboard is perfect for your HTPC, not your Wii (video)Rii Mini Wireless Keyboard is perfect for your HTPC, not your Wii (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Brando, TomTop | Email this | Comments
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You've probably seen sketches like the one above promising you complete cable independence since what, 1996? We're not about to tell you this is the one technology that finally delivers on that utopian dream, but it's surely one of the zanier attempts at it. By converting "ultra fast laser pulses" into radio frequency waves, the researchers claim they've overcome a significant hurdle to making wireless communications ubiquitous -- signal interference. The rapid (each laser burst lasts a mere 100 femtoseconds), pulsing nature of their approach purportedly makes their signal extremely robust, while intended operation at around 60GHz means their microring transmitters (diagram after the break) will be able to operate within spectrum space that does not require a license -- neither from the FCC nor internationally. Applications for the microrings would include things like HDTV broadcasts and piping data into vehicles, although we won't be seeing anything happening on the commercial front for at least another five years. Typical. If you just can't wait that long, a few Japanese companies you may have heard of are preparing their own 60GHz wireless devices for the second half of this year.Continue reading Microring transmissions are sure to resonate with people who hate wiresMicroring transmissions are sure to resonate with people who hate wires originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink PhysOrg | Purdue University | Email this | Comments
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Nothing says, "I don't play sports but I want you to think that I do" quite like wearing a pair of Oakley shades. And no smartphone has had a tougher time earning respect than the mini version of Nokia's N97 debacle. To its credit, the N97 mini has become a very successful device for Nokia despite its namesake with not one, but two special edition runs already under its belt. Now we've got three with this limited edition model handed out to Oakley-sponsored Winter Olympians. Other than a laser-etched back, the Noakleyia mashup also comes packed with exclusive Oakley team content. Just 200 were produced so if you see it on eBay, you'd better be fast with the snipe. Gratuitous N97 mini video of Shaun White after the break because over-saturated is not in your vocabulary.Continue reading Nokia's limited edition Oakley N97 mini is a match made in Dog heavenNokia's limited edition Oakley N97 mini is a match made in Dog heaven originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | WRG | Email this | Comments
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We're not quite sure whether you need a really active or a really idle mind to come up with this, but the dudes over at Art Lebedev Studio have just unveiled their latest conceptual design. Continuing the theme of faux-Latin names, this is branded the Segmentus clock, and sports hands just like an antiquated analog clock, but unlike an analog clock it seems to have a good 20 or 30 of them. Working in unison -- you might call it like clockwork, but we'd rather you didn't -- they then produce a digital time reading, which might not be easy to read, but we're sure will tickle all the artistes out there. Art Lebedev calls it "true postmodernism," and you can find a live demo on the company's site at the source link below.
[Thanks, Danil K.]Art Lebedev's Segmentus clock gives you a digital reading using its analog hands originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Art Lebedev | Email this | Comments
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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Sami, who apparently thinks that touchscreens are totally useful even in the frigid wilds of (gorgeous) Finland. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
"I have a 13-inch MacBook and I love it. But I'm beginning to think it might be a little too big for me to carry around. I'll be going to university soon, and I do random IT support in my downtime. So, the question: Which netbook / tablet / small laptop would you recommend for me? Touchscreen would be nice, 3G is a must. I'm not going to sell my MacBook so the new gadget doesn't have to hold 'my life' in it. Thanks!"
We've yet to really see a touchscreen-based ultraportable with software to really take advantage, but who knows -- maybe Sami has a few very specific uses where finger inputs will come in handy. Drop your advice in comments below, and be sure to wave your passport as you do.Ask Engadget: Best touchscreen-equipped ultraportable / tablet out there? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
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Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.
In the 10 billionth song that Apple sold through iTunes, Johnny Cash's "Guess Things Happen That Way", a man other than Steve Jobs famous for black attire bemoans the happenstance of his romantic misfortune. But nothing could be further from the story of iTunes, in which Apple's meticulously crafted ownership of the end-user experience led to a dominant position in music sales. Now, on the dawn of releasing a new device that could be to television shows what the iPod was to music, Apple has an opportunity to create as commanding a lead in TV distribution -- if it is willing to again capitulate to consumers' media consumption habits.
Apple has enjoyed great success with iTunes in part because it adopted the purchase-to-own model that had been so successful with CDs and records before them. However, Apple didn't simply mirror that model. By allowing consumers to purchase the vast majority of songs as singles, it provided better perceived value, Such an option was also a natural fit for the iPod, where playlists made it trivial to create the digital equivalent of "mix tapes." The iPod's capacity for thousands of songs was also no match for most albums that typically had a dozen or so songs.Continue reading Switched On: Why it's time for an iTunes TV subscriptionSwitched On: Why it's time for an iTunes TV subscription originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/04/switched-on-why-its-time-for-an-itunes-tv-subscription/
Who knows what's actually housed in the device, but judging by the accompanying placard, MSI is playing the aesthetic card with this one. Designed as both a PC and a decoration for the home, it's certainly pleasing on the eye. And like the sign says, "don't try to put in toast" -- cute, but we'd rather that line had a commitment to releasing this sucker. Or a price range. Or some hint as specs. Or anything tangible, really. Gallery: MSI Toast PC eyes-on
MSI Toast PC catches our eye, and that's all she wrote originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/04/msi-toast-pc-catches-our-eye-and-thats-all-she-wrote/
So Microsoft's Charlie Kindel posted up a long blog post about Windows Phone 7 Series and app development just now, and we couldn't help but notice the WP7S device mockup he used is noticeably different from the stock press shots we've been seeing and the actual devices we've gotten to play with. That's a totally different hardware trim, for starters, and there's a Zune-like menu on the right-- on the builds we've seen scrolling to the right reveals the app list. And that map on the bottom has been moved up a couple rows from where we've seen it on demo builds -- which is unfortunate because it's so wildly ugly in comparison to the rest of the 7 Series interface. Now, this could actually be an older mockup, not a newer one, so we're not reading too much into this, but it's clear that Microsoft is still making a ton of tweaks to the WP7S interface as time goes on -- hopefully we'll see some final results at MIX.
Update: Charlie confirms that this is an older mockup. Sorry, Zune fans.Windows Phone 7 Series mockup changes slightly, Zune menu making a comeback? (update: nope!) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Charlie Kindel | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/04/windows-phone-7-series-mockup-changes-slightly-zune-menu-making/
Valtteri Halla -- Nokia employee and one-half of MeeGo's Technical Steering Group -- has blogged up a storm this week about the first baby steps that'll get the platform off the ground from its Moblin and Maemo roots, and from the sounds of things, we'll be able to get our first glimpse at it on production hardware before the month's out. Currently, the plan is to open up MeeGo's code repository to all comers "by the end of this month," targeting both Atom boards and the N900. Now, we certainly wouldn't say that MeeGo's decision to use the N900 as an early target device is indicative of an official upgrade down the line -- but this is particularly interesting in light of the fact that we've never gotten a commitment out of Nokia to bump its latest MID to Maemo 6. And besides, considering that the average N900 customer is a bit of a hacker in his or her own right, let's be honest: a code repository that supports the phone is just about as good as an official gold build anyhow.MeeGo repository going public later this month, coming to Nokia N900 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Maemo forums | MeeGo | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/04/meego-repository-going-public-later-this-month-coming-to-nokia/
For whatever reason, Android's high-performance Native Development Kit introduced back in the Cupcake days never got a ton of attention despite the subtle hints that it'd give devs the low-level access they needed to create killer, graphically rich, immersive environments ready to compete with pretty much any other gaming device you could shove in your pocket. Of course, at the time, every phone in the market was running an older, slower ARM11 core -- so maybe the new generation of ARMv7-based devices we've got hanging around now like the Nexus One and Droid are the catalysts we need to get this party started in earnest. Japan's HyperDevbox studio has just shared the news that its ExZeus Arcade shooter makes full use of the NDK, your microSD card, and a custom sound driver to bring a gaming experience hotter than pretty much anything we've seen on Android thus far; the only catch is that you need Android 2.0 or up and a phone with a dedicated GPU to get it going. It's available now in the Market for a seemingly reasonable $3.99 -- and let's let this serve as a reminder to other game studios that they've got the tools and the horsepower to rock Android hard. Follow the break for video of ExZeus in action.Continue reading HyperDevbox ExZeus Arcade allays fears that Android games are destined to suckHyperDevbox ExZeus Arcade allays fears that Android games are destined to suck originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | YouTube | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/04/hyperdevbox-exzeus-arcade-allays-fears-that-android-games-are-de/
Looking for something else to be envious of now that in-flight WiFi is starting to be more readily available? Then look no farther than Taipei, which has just announced the roll-out of a 1,000-strong fleet of WiMAX-equipped taxis. Alright, so a short cab ride might not send you into the same sort of internet withdrawal that a five hour flight does, but we're not ones to turn down mobile broadband when it crops up in places normally reserved for a bit of down-time or "conversation." Best of all, the in-taxi WiMAX will apparently be free during the initial stage, although VMAX Telcom hasn't yet decided if it will charge a fee in the future. No word on any expansion plans beyond the initial 1,000 cabs just yet either, but the service will apparently be limited to the greater Taipei area -- at least until VMAX's WiMAX coverage expands to other parts of Taiwan.
[Thanks, Tim]Taipei gets 1,000-strong fleet of WiMAX-equipped taxis originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | China Post | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/04/taipei-gets-1-000-strong-fleet-of-wimax-equipped-taxis/
Some people have soft spots for puppies and panda bears; we have them for tiny laptops. Claiming to be the world's smallest computer, USmart's 4.8-inch MC-1 is about the size of a man's wallet yet manages to pack the guts of a netbook. That's right in that tiny little chassis is a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530 CPU, 1GB of RAM and 4GB of on-board storage. What it doesn't have is some sort of fan; when we put the little guy in our hand it was quite toasty. Wondering how in the world one would navigate Windows XP on such a small screen? Like the 4.8-inch UMID MBook BZ, it has a resistive touchscreen and comes with a stylus, but USmart will also sell an external touchpad / keyboard combo that's bound to be more comfortable. We're strongly questioning the practicality of this $300 device and its title of "world's smallest computer," but can you really argue with something so adorable? How about you tell us after checking out the video after the break.
Gallery: USmart's MC-1 hands-onContinue reading USmart's MC-1 claims 'world's smallest' title, certainly wins over our heartsUSmart's MC-1 claims 'world's smallest' title, certainly wins over our hearts originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/04/usmarts-mc-1-claims-worlds-smallest-title-certainly-wins-ov/
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