NewMediaNews 2.0

Rebel t2i

2010-04-23T14:46:00.000-07:00

i got this on tuesday!
today we shot videos and it was really rad.

the prototype model of iphone 4g was found in a bar bathroom!

2010-04-19T13:05:00.000-07:00

i think this is hilarious...

iPad vs. JooJoo... fight!

2010-04-06T13:18:00.000-07:00

Sure, they might be worlds apart in quality, usefulness, and desirability, but even still, comparisons are inevitable. The iPad (right) and the JooJoo (left) hit the hands of consumers on the same weekend, offer large-screen browsing experiences controlled entirely by a capacitive touchscreen, and... well, you get the idea. So, how do the two devices stack up externally? It's a pretty fair fight, hardware-wise. The JooJoo is thicker and heavier, but also scores a good amount more screen space -- its 16:9 ratio almost turns it into an extruded lengthwise version of the 4:3 iPad. Unfortunately, that screen is a real let down when viewed off axis, and isn't nearly as responsive or accurate as the iPad's in use. Both of the devices offer scratch resistant glass fronts and brushed aluminum backs, though there's a bit of give to JooJoo's materials that smacks of slightly lower quality. You can read the reviews to get an idea of how dramatically different these two devices are in actual use, but if you want to satisfy a baser lust for straight-on comparison shots, hit up the gallery below.

Call of duty: World at War Nazi Zombies coming to iPad

2010-04-05T13:16:00.001-07:00

iPad App Store leaks abound tonight. The newest iPad game revealed in an iTunes pick-up by AppAdvice is an iPad upgraded edition of Activision's Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies. Priced at an aggressive $14.99 (according to the feeds, these could change before Saturday morning), this shooter comes with two maps: Night of the Undead and Zombie Asylum. It is unknown if Activision will support it with additional map packs like the iPhone edition.

Do you think $14.99 too high for an iPhone port? Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies was a popular download in the weeks following its late 2009 surprise release. In a less crowded App Store, Activision may be able to replicate its success.

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So , i got to play with the iPad this weekend and it was pretty awesome!
i still wouldn't buy it though , unless i had an extra $700 laying around , then i'd totally buy it.
i can't wait until it is jailbroken and to see all the rad stuff it can do!

new cover of 'tik tok' by this band "woe , is me"

2010-03-24T13:06:00.000-07:00

i think this is a really good cover.
although the band's other songs aren't that great , i still think this song is good.
i really enjoy how melodic and how most of the song is singing , but there are some really heavy parts (my personal favorite parts.).

250GB Xbox 360 hard drive now available for $129.99

2010-03-23T13:15:00.000-07:00

It's been available in Japan for a little while now, and it looks folks over here will finally be able get a standalone 250GB hard drive to breath some new life into their Xbox 360 as well. First revealed on the Xbox 360 Dashboard, Microsoft has now come out and confirmed that the drive will cost $129.99, and says that it should be available at retailers starting today (although Amazon is only listing an in-stock date of March 28th). And, yes, it does come with a transfer cable -- that's it next to the drive in the image above.

Jonny Craig does a cover of Justin Timberlake's 'Cry me a River'

2010-03-18T13:07:00.000-07:00

He's really talented singer , and this is a good song.
so , i really enjoy this video!
i think his voice could put crying children to sleep...
fo'realz.

new A Day To Remember Music video!

2010-03-17T13:04:00.000-07:00

i thought this music video was fun and not very boring.
also , the song features guest vocals by Mike Hranica , the vocalist of 'The Devil Wears Prada'.
i thought it was clever how they had him be the pitcher in the music video

Of Mice and Men New MUSIC VIDEO

2010-03-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

I Really enjoyed this video. the video could have been better , but this a new band and it is their first music video. This type of music may not be enjoyable to many people but the lyrics are really powerful.

Biking trip during spring break!?

2010-03-12T13:13:00.000-08:00

maybe!

GINGER

2010-03-12T13:12:00.001-08:00

DRU IS STRANGE.
<3 <3

The JooJoo tablet looks pretty cool...

2010-03-11T13:11:00.000-08:00

Though the shipping date for JooJoo, the underdog tablet, was recently pushed back to March 25, Fusion Garage isn't letting that time go to waste. They've overhauled the JooJoo's interface, expanded local video playback, and given its backplate a makeover.

Engadget has shots of the tablet's new look, the most striking change being that of the home screen: it now sports a customizable wallpaper with nice, shiny icons.

Google Maps has Bicycling option!

2010-03-10T13:30:00.000-08:00

After a long wait and more than 50,000 signatures on an online petition, cyclists will be happy to know that Google has finally added bicycle routes to Google Maps.

In Google Maps, users can now find "Bicycling" in the tool's "Get Directions" drop-down box. After choosing the option, bikers can input two addresses and find the bike route that will get them to their desired destination. Like Google Maps' other modes of transportation, the mapping tool provides turn-by-turn directions and an estimated travel time.

The new Google Maps bicycling feature is available in 150 U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City. The tool boasts over 12,000 bike trails. When users look for directions, the company's mapping algorithm weights trails more heavily than roads for safety reasons. If cities have bicycle lanes, those are also weighted more heavily than roads without them.

One of the neatest features built into the Google Maps bicycling tool is its power-exertion calculation. According to the company, biking directions "compute the effort [bicyclists] will require and the speed [they will] achieve while going uphill." Based on those calculations, the tool provides bicyclists with a route that eliminates areas that would require "an unreasonable degree of exertion."

Google said that its tool even keeps bicyclists away from busy intersections and areas where bicyclists would need to brake too often.

The new Google Maps bicycling tool is in beta, which means it might be a little buggy. Google plans to add more routes and trails to the service in the coming months.

Rockband 3 coming out in Winter!

2010-03-09T13:02:00.000-08:00

Harmonix Music Systems has confirmed they are currently working on Rock Band 3, the next installment of their flagship music game franchise, for release this holiday.

In an official statement, the developer says the game will be published by MTV Games and distributed by Electronic Arts. Harmonix has had similar deals with previous titles such as Rock Band 2 and The Beatles: Rock Band.

Harmonix has yet to reveal which platforms the game will appear on. Previous iterations have been available for the Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

New Isles & Glaciers EP comes out tomorrow , but it leaked already!

2010-03-08T13:13:00.000-08:00

Isles & Glaciers is a band that is made from members from other very good & popular bands.

the band has Craig Owens & Brian Southall ( from chiodos) , Jonny Craig (from Emarosa) , Vic & Mike Fuentes (from Pierce The Veil) , Nick Martin (from Underminded) and Matt Goddard (from the Recieving End of Sirens).

This band has some of the best singers in the post-hardcore scene today.

CD DOWNLOAD LINK:
http://www.mediafire.com/?zyztgmmt1in

solar charged can power your small gadgets!

2010-02-16T13:58:00.000-08:00

Unlike many solar devices that require an abundance of intense sunlight to be useful, XPAL's new Solar Egg does its thing even in "medium levels of natural light." The magic SunBoost solar conversion technology is supplied by a company called Intivation from The Netherlands, a country that's not exactly know for its tropical weather. XPAL claims that the internal 500mAh battery can be charged at over 90% capacity in just four hours of average sunlight exposure and can detect a "wide range of devices" like MP3 players and digital cameras to provide the appropriate level of power for charging. It'll ship next month to select regions -- where that is we can only guess for now.

Apple Ipad Hands-On

2010-01-27T13:34:00.000-08:00

iPad:
It's not light. It feels pretty weighty in your hand.
The screen is stunning, and it's 1024 x 768. Feels just like a huge iPhone in your hands.
The speed of the CPU is something to be marveled at. It is blazingly fast from what we can tell. Webpages loaded up super fast, and scrolling was without a hiccup. Moving into and out of apps was a breeze. Everything flew.
There's no multitasking at all. It's a real disappointment. All this power and very little you can do with it at once. No multitasking means no streaming Pandora when you're working in Pages... you can figure it out. It's a real setback for this device.
The ebook implementation is about as close as you can get to reading without a stack of bound paper in your hand. The visual stuff really helps flesh out the experience. It may be just for show, but it counts here.
No camera. None, nada. Zip. No video conferencing here folks. Hell, it doesn't have an SMS app!
It's running iPhone OS 3.2.
The keyboard is good, not great. Not quite as responsive as it looked in the demos.
No Flash confirmed. So Hulu is out for you, folks!

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars iPhone Review

2010-01-21T13:49:00.000-08:00

Scuba Mask with Camera looks pretty cool

2010-01-13T13:09:00.000-08:00

You know, having to lug a camera around while diving just spoils the fun, not to mention the slight chance that you'll also need your hands to fend off some underfed sharks. Etronixmart may have solved this problem with its $116.99 Underwater Scuba Mask Camera, which sports a snorkel plus 4GB of storage, and does 1280 x 960 for both still pictures and videos -- pretty impressive resolution for the latter, although picture quality and frame rate remain a secret. Operation is also seemingly easy -- rub the magnetic ring for one second for a picture or two seconds for a video, then the mask vibrates accordingly to confirm capture. You best be feeling photogenic, Flipper!

Inklet trackpad tablet app for MacBook

2010-01-12T13:09:00.000-08:00

Doodle much? Not us -- we just keep things in our heads which is probably for the best, but Ten One Design -- maker of Pogo Stylus and Pogo Sketch -- has just come up with a new solution for MacBook artists. The Inklet app essentially converts your multitouch trackpad into a drawing tablet by adding pressure sensitivity when using with a Pogo Sketch, as well as "advanced palm rejection" which lets you rest your hand while drawing or writing. As you can see in one of the videos after the break, you can also quickly adjust your canvas area at your convenience. $24.95 and it's yours, Picasso.

Happy Tree Friends branch out to iPhone

2009-12-17T13:39:00.000-08:00

who doesn't like happy tree friends?

first pictures of the REAL Google phone

2009-12-16T13:15:00.000-08:00

Well here you have it folks, honest-to-goodness pics of the Google Phone... AKA, the Nexus One. As you can see by the photos, the design of the device is largely similar to those we've seen, but the graphic on back is slightly different, and that piece of tape is covering a QR code (how very Google of them). Just like we've heard before, the updated OS features new 3D elements to the app tray, as well as an extended amount of homescreens, though it looks like the lock screen / mute is the same as in Android 2.0.1. Additionally, there's now a new grid icon at the bottom of the homescreen, which when pressed brings up a webOS card-style preview of all homescreen pages -- which raises some interesting possibilities. Apparently there's been a new software update for the device pushed tonight, and sure enough the phone is identified as the Nexus One on the system info page. Quite clearly this device is running on T-Mobile, and is also using WiFi, so there's two other questions you've got answers to. The phone also appears to come loaded up with Google Navigation (a bit of a no-brainer) and the brand-spanking-new Google Goggles. Hardware wise, the Nexus does look incredibly thin and sleek, and while there's not a slew of buttons (those four up front are clearly touch sensitive), there is a dedicated volume rocker along the side. Oh, and note this... no HTC logo anywhere to be found. We'll update the post as / if we get more info, but for now, feast your eyes on the gallery below!

Sony still loses about $40 on every PS3 Slim sold

2009-12-08T13:29:00.000-08:00

Well, except make money. Three years after the launch of the original PS3, Sony has yet to profit from the hardware. It's getting close, though. The redesigned slim PlayStation 3 is smaller -- and thanks to the passage of time -- much cheaper to manufacture than the launch models, which lost Sony over $200 with each unit sold. According to iSuppli's teardown analysis, a current PS3 system costs $336.27 to make, about $500 cheaper than the first batch of consoles. With the system retailing for $300, Sony is still incurring at least a $40 loss per system, when you account for marketing and other additional costs. (This also means that Sony lost about $17.6 million over Black Friday week on PS3 hardware sales.)

The single most expensive component to the system is still Sony's proprietary Blu-ray disc drive, which is estimated to cost about $66 to make. Other components have dropped significantly in price thanks to a switch from 65nm conductors to 45nm. The end result is a far more power-efficient system that requires less power and cooling technologies. "In light of these factors, the PlayStation 3 probably is already at or near the tipping point for profitability," iSuppli's Andrew Rassweiler added. So, if for some reason you need Sony Corp to lose money, you better rush and buy a PS3 now before they make those things profitable!

True Crime in Hong Kong revealed at Spike VGA

2009-12-06T13:28:00.000-08:00

The second world premiere of the VGAs was the full version of the teaser we saw a couple weeks ago -- you know, the one we initially presumed was for another installment in the True Crime series? Yeah, well, it was totally for another installment in the True Crime series, which is being developed by ModNation Racers creators United Front. Guess there's no more mystery as to what Activision's upcoming Hong Kong-set action title is, huh?

It'll be a little while before we can get the high definition version of the trailer up, but until then, check out a screengrabbed version of the trailer after the jump, and feel confident in the fact that we're very good guessers.

Pokemon remakes includes March 14 release dates

2009-12-05T13:24:00.000-08:00

Though Japan has been enjoying the adorable bounties of Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver for months now, us poor westerners still don't know when to expect the games on our store shelves, or whether they'll include the Pokéwalker accessory which allows you to take one of your encapsulated soldiers out for a discreet night on the town. Fortunately, if the games' Amazon listings are on the money, both these Unown pieces of info have been divulged: According to the listings, they're coming March 14, along with the Poke Ball-shaped peripheral.

The latter information actually comes from the games' supposed box art, which we've posted above. We've contacted Nintendo to find out if the Amazon listing is authentic. If it's not, we're going to give them the most guilt-inspiring sad puppy face anyone's ever seen. It will be absolutely brutal.

Left 4 Dead 2 DLC 'The Passing' to feature L4D1 cast

2009-12-04T13:20:00.000-08:00

Not content with unleashing a full-blown zombie apocalypse, Valve has come up with the second most socially awkward event imaginable: inviting characters from the original Left 4 Dead to hang out in the sequel's first DLC campaign. Bill, Louis, Zoey and Francis will meet with the stars of Left 4 Dead 2 in "The Passing," which Valve VP of marketing Doug Lombardi calls "the most important campaign in the Left 4 Dead story, as all the Survivors are being called together in one campaign." It's targeted for release in early 2010 on Xbox 360 and PC.

In addition to a co-op campaign (set in rural Georgia) and a new "co-operative challenge mode of play," The Passing will offer new content for Survival, Versus and Scavenge modes. Playing as the L4D2 cast, you can also expect to encounter a new melee weapon, firearm and "uncommon common" zombie.

We can't wait to meet up with last year's survivors again ... oh, assuming they really are still survivors.

Toshiba announces 64GB Flash memory

2009-12-03T13:18:00.000-08:00

Outside of the occasional leaked roadmap, one of the best ways to predict the future of consumer electronics is by looking at the evolution of the components within. Take this Toshiba NAND package for instance. While the launch of a 64GB embedded NAND flash memory module (the highest capacity in the industry) that combines sixteen 32Gb NAND chips fabricated using 32nm manufacturing processes might sound a bit boring, consider its uses. As you'll recall from the iPhone 3GS teardown, Apple's lovely uses either a single 16GB or 32GB Toshiba NAND module depending on the model purchased. The fact that Toshiba is now sampling its new high-capacity chips with mass production set to begin in Q1 2010 hints at what we can expect from the next-gen iPhone rumored to have landed in Foxconn's lap. That's enough capacity for 1,070 hours of recorded music (at a 128Kbps bit rate), 8.3 hours of 17Mbps high definition video, and 19.2 hours of 7Mbps standard definition video according to Toshiba's calculations. The iPod touch, you'll remember, differs by using a pair of NAND packages for a total of 32GB or 64GB of flash today. Anyone for a 128GB iPod touch? Check the module's internals after the break -- fascinating stuff, really.

Left 4 Dead 2 sold 2 million at retail in 2 weeks

2009-12-02T13:20:00.000-08:00

Valve apparently threw Boomer bile all over Left 4 Dead 2, because hordes of consumers gobbled up two million retail copies globally since its release a couple weeks ago. Valve won't release the Steam digital distribution sales data, so that's not included in the retail count. According to the developer, sales are currently double that of the original, with "Black Friday" helping to push copies into the hands of players (who now have their hands full with two Tanks, a Spitter, a Hunter, and a Jockey coming in for the kill).

Valve also noted that information about L4D2's first batch of downloadable content would be coming very soon.

Toyota's plug-in Prius hybrid goes into testing across the globe

2009-12-02T13:15:00.000-08:00

The target date for Toyota's Prius plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is slightly less out of reach than the 2012 window we heard prior: according to Autoblog, it's now set for late 2011 and the price is deemed "affordable." Back to the present, as a tease to the world at large, the company's planning to produce and ship just under 600 of the models over the next six months. That breaks down to around 230 for Japan, 200 for Europe, and just 150 for the 'States. Government agencies, corporations, and universities are the primary recipients, and interestingly, half of those Euro-bound cars are going straight to Strasbourg, France. The only catch is that it looks like the autos will be sticking with its flashy, hyper-blue paint job -- not that we mind one bit, but we can see that bugging a few people out.

Border security guards kills a MacBook

2009-12-01T13:13:00.000-08:00

Young American woman travels over to Jerusalem to meet some friends, see the sights, live the life. Overzealous border security officers ask her a bunch of questions, take issue with her answers, and a few well-placed bullets later she is allowed entry into the country with a somewhat altered MacBook in tow. So what can we all learn from this incident? Firstly, back up all the data you consider important; B, Israeli policemen don't mess about; and 3, distressed laptops look gorgeous no matter how they got there -- just look at the way the glass trackpad has wrinkled up from the force of the bullet penetrating near it, it's a borderline work of art. The young lady in question has been promised compensation, but lest you think this is a one one-off you can see pictures of an equally dead Dell at the Flickr link below. We've got a couple more close-ups of the ravaged MacBook after the break.

Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies infests iPhone

2009-11-23T13:56:00.001-08:00

No doubt strategically timed between last week's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 launch and this week's Left 4 Dead 2 launch, Activision just announced Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies, a $9.99 iPhone game based on the zombie-themed multiplayer antics of the series' console counterpart. Since the only thing the publishers sent us by way of details was an 8GB iPod Touch and iTunes code for the game (Joyswag, ahoy!) we'll turn to the App Store description.

Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies supports up to four players over Wi-Fi, and two players over a local Bluetooth connection. You can use the iPhone's tilt sensors, or the always enjoyable virtual analog thumbsticks, to control the game. With Apple remaining hands-off in the space, the game supports "Achievements" and a "Leaderboard," but they're presumably isolated from other games. The description also promises that the game will "fully support future Downloadable Content, ensuring that the classic survival experience will live on with new maps." Thanks, in-game purchasing!

What's less clear is who is behind the development of Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies. The iTunes Store lists the game under "Vivendi Games Mobile," the presumably outdated name of Vivendi Games' mobile gaming arm, taken over during the 2007 merger. We've put a line into Activision. [Update: The press release just went out over the wires, and it states that Zombies was "developed by Ideaworks Game Studio" who have brought other high-profile cell phone games to market, including Metal Gear Solid Mobile, Project Gotham Racing, and Dirge of Cerberus Lost Episode Final Fantasy VII.]

Modern Warfare 2 earned $550 million in first five days

2009-11-23T13:47:00.000-08:00

Activision has announced that, according to its internal estimates, Modern Warfare 2 has racked up $550 million in its first five days on the market. Considering that $310 million of that was in the game's first 24 hours, it means that it took another four days for the game to make another $240 million -- a great example of the big-bang starts enjoyed by many blockbuster games before their sales steadily decline. Still, Infinity Ward's latest managed to squeak by Grand Theft Auto 4's five-day record by $50 million.

PS3 firmware 3.10 offering Facebook integration today

2009-11-23T13:46:00.000-08:00

Sony announced that the next iteration of the PlayStation 3's firmware will be available for download starting today. Version 3.10 adds Facebook functionality to the PS3, including automatic Trophy and purchase updates. It also allows developers to include "trigger points" for Facebook integration in their PS3 games. Sony calls this Facebook service "the first phase of a variety of new features to further connect and enhance the online social experiences of PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system owner."

who doesn't like killing zombies?

2009-11-23T13:35:00.000-08:00

reviews:

Considering the devilishly heightened difficulty of Left 4 Dead 2, we're surprised enough outlets managed to complete a single campaign in time to submit a review for the title. We have to imagine GameSharks were somehow involved. Regardless, here's what other sites are saying about Valve's follow-up to last year's Zombocalypse survival sim.

Eurogamer (9/10): "Whereas once we treated Left 4 Dead as a stopgap between Half-Lifes, this is no longer a weird little side project with modest expectations, and Valve is confident enough to play around with it, safe in the knowledge that you can trust your players. Left 4 Dead proved it. And whereas that game had a personality, this one is overflowing with it."
IGN (9/10): "It remains one of the most distinctive co-operative titles out there, and allows for some of the most nerve-searing team-based multiplayer gaming on the market."
GameTrailers (8.7/10): "Though not an astounding improvement over the original, Left 4 Dead 2 successfully rekindles that magical zombie-hunting feeling with great new content, and a cool competitive multiplayer mode to boot."
Giant Bomb (4/5 Stars): "The core of Left 4 Dead may have lost some of its newness in the last 12 months, but the wealth of additions in this sequel ought to keep you blasting zombies and munching on brains for a good long while."

i think for christmas i am getting the MW2 xbox bundle!!

2009-11-23T13:30:00.000-08:00

Limited Edition Xbox 360 Console with exclusive Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Design
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Standard Edition (Rated "M" for Mature.)
250GB HD
2 Black Wireless Controllers
1 Black Xbox 360 Wired Headset
1 Ethernet Cable
1 Xbox 360 Composite A/V cable
Free one month subscription to Xbox LIVE Gold (Xbox LIVE Silver subscription is included with console)
Free Netflix trial offer

yesterday was xbox 360's 4 year anniversary

2009-11-23T13:24:00.000-08:00

Today is the fourth anniversary of the launch of the Xbox 360. Yes, just four years ago, on November 22, 2005, the universe was just buzzing with excitement. There were freezing cold lines to wait in, boxes to open and new games to play -- in fantastic HD resmolutions! And then, of course, it began.

2tb Flash Drive

2009-11-17T14:35:00.000-08:00

Hitachi GST has been pushing 2TB hard drives for quite some time, but for whatever reason, the outfit's long-standing SimpleDrive line has been held back from enjoying the spoils. Until today, obviously. The outfit has just introduced a 2TB edition of its external SimpleDrive, and it also announced that all of its 3.5-inch retail drives are now available in 2TB capacities. There's also an upgraded Hitachi SimpleTech Pro Drive and Duo Pro Drive (2 x 2TB), with prices for the entire lot checking in at $249.99, $299.99 and $499.99 in order of mention. Oh, and in just case your 250GB drive from 2002 just hit its limit today, you'll be elated to know that each of these are available as we speak.

NASA turns iPhone into chemical sensor, can an App Store rejection be far away?

2009-11-13T13:18:00.000-08:00

People have been trying to turn cellphones into medical and atmospheric scanners for some time now, but when it's NASA stepping up to the plate with a little device to monitor trace amounts of chemicals in the air, it's hard to not start thinking we might finally have a use for all those tricorder ringtones. Developed by a team of researchers at the Ames Research Center led by Jing Li, the device is a small chip that plugs into the bottom of an iPhone and uses 16 nanosensors to detect the concentration of gasses like ammonia, chlorine, and methane. To what purpose exactly this device will serve and why the relatively closed iPhone was chosen as a development platform are mysteries we're simply not capable of answering. Damn it, man, we're bloggers not scientists!

Update: George Yu, a developer who wrote this implementation for Jing Li, commented to let us know that the choice to go with the iPhone was made because it was "cool," but he soon realized that choice was a "horrible mistake." We're guessing that could have something to do with an apparent lack of wireless coverage at Ames if the above screenshot is anything to go by.

Video: Censored Left 4 Dead 2 right 4 classification

2009-11-03T13:16:00.000-08:00

Footage allegedly taken from Australia's censored version of Left 4 Dead 2 has made its way online ... and we feel it's inadequately preparing citizens down under for the future! Though the game will get Aussies used to facing down a charging zombie horde, it does nothing to desensitize them to the revolting gore that inevitably follows.

The censored version lacks exploding heads, dismemberment (courtesy of the new melee weapons) and burning corpses. Sadly, for those of us who have built up a considerable hatred for the undead scourge threatening our civilization, the fallen undead just fade into the ether. Check out the full video after the break and pray for Australia's survival when the zombie apocalypse comes.

Adobe engages Apple in passive aggressive warfare with iPhone's Flash message

2009-11-02T13:10:00.000-08:00

Adobe's seemingly tried everything in its fight to get Apple to tear down enough development barriers to get Flash ported to the iPhone, culminating in a native compilation option in CS5 that... well, really doesn't solve much of anything. So far, nothing's worked. What's next? Get the masses fired up with some old-fashioned propaganda and let 'em riot down at One Infinite Loop, of course! Visiting Adobe's Flash download page from an iPhone now shows a pretty tersely-worded message informing the user that they're getting short-changed simply by Apple's refusal to budge, so yeah, if you hear an occasional cry of "this is outrageous, I'm writing Apple immediately!" while sitting at an airport gate or a coffee shop, you can safely guess what just happened.

The TwitterPeek is... a Peek for Twitter?

2009-10-19T13:31:00.000-07:00

Peek's never been one to shy away from the wacky and opportunistic marketing schemes but launching a whole product just for Twitter? That's courage, drive, and possibly a mental health issue. Yet here's the TwitterPeek -- what looks to be the same old Peek you know, love, and probably haven't purchased, stripped of its email and SMS functionality and re-oriented towards telling the entire world too much about your body and what you're doing to it every waking moment of the day. Now, to be fair, we're getting a distinctly strange feeling of phoniness about this whole thing, but there's already an Amazon listing and a picture of the box has already surfaced on -- where else? -- Twitter, so this could really be happening. Just think about that for a second. And then tweet about it, of course.

Microsoft researchers build muscle-computer interface, play air Guitar Hero

2009-10-17T13:27:00.000-07:00

Google adds free turn-by-turn navigation, car dock UI to Android 2.0

2009-10-16T13:26:00.000-07:00

Those nat service providers' fears were actually quite justified. Google today unveiled Maps Navigation (beta, of course), an extremely upgraded version of its current Maps software that'll be free and, from what we understand, available by default on all Android 2.0 devices. All the usual Maps features are present, including the ability to search by name of business and have it suggest the closest matches, both semantically and geographically, and traffic data. We're also now looking at turn-by-turn navigation, female robotic voice and all, and integration with satellite and street view, the latter of which will be able to show you what lane you need to be in when exiting the highway, for example. Instead of just searching nearby, it'll also now search along the route for when you're looking for upcoming gas stations or fast food joints that won't take you too far off your beaten path. Select addresses can be added to the Android home screen as their own icons, and given the limits of living in the cloud, trips and their respective visual feeds will be cached just in case you hit dead spots along the way. Still no multitouch, but as VP of Engineering Vic Gundotra noted at a press conference, there's nothing stopping a company like HTC from adding that feature à la Sense UI.

In addition to demonstrating the basic navigational functions, Gundotra also showcased a new user interface that appears when the device hooked up into a car dock, one that is intended for use "at an arm's length away." Essentially, it means much larger iconography and a convenient "voice search" option front and center. We later got confirmation from a Google product manager that car dock detection was definitively a hardware-based feature, which we take to mean Android devices currently on the market won't necessarily have the same convenience. If Android 2.0 takes off how Google (and Verizon!) hope it does, companies like TomTom and Garmin are going to seriously need to worry about their bottom line. Watch Gundotra demonstrate the app after the break.

Motorola Droid unboxing!

2009-10-15T13:25:00.000-07:00

We just got a stack of Droid review units at Engadget HQ, and we're told that this is in fact the final packaging. The charger is just Micro USB, and that's really all you get in the box -- the docks will cost you extra. We're digging for pricing info on those, we'll let you know.

Sony recalls 69,000 AC adapters due to shock hazard

2009-10-14T13:20:00.000-07:00

Oh, Sony. You've been doing so well with not making things blow up lately. Even a seemingly minor fizzle turned out to be a false alarm. While it's not laptop batteries this time, it seems that Sony has run into a bit of trouble with some of the AC adapters used for its VAIO all-in-one desktops and docking stations. Specifically, the insulation used in adapters for the company's VGC-LT and VGC-JS2 series desktops and VGP-PRBX1 and VGP-PRFE1 docking stations can apparently fail over time and pose an electrical shock hazard for users, although there have been no reports of injuries to date (and only four reports of any short circuiting). Still, it's probably a good idea to take Sony up on its offer for a free replacement. Hit up the link below for all the necessary details.

start / stop your car with your iphone!!

2009-10-13T13:41:00.000-07:00

Jealous of the way those hipper-than-thou ZipCar people are always unlocking the doors to their rented Minis with an iPhone? We aren't either. But if you are looking to recreate that scenario with your Dodge Dart, have we got a gadget for you! If you already own a compatible Viper security system, the SmartStart module will let lock and unlock your car, arm and disarm your car alarm, pop the trunk, or fire off that panic alarm -- all from your cherished handset. There are two modules available, priced at $299 and $499, depending on which Viper system you've installed. You also need a SmartStart account which will run you $29 a year (the first year's free). But don't take our word for it -- check out the action-packed video below for a breathtaking recreation of the system's features.

iPhone OS 3.1.2 update now live, fixes sleep, network issues

2009-10-08T13:04:00.000-07:00

Apple's just posted up iPhone OS 3.1.2, which purports to fix some of iPhone OS 3.1's Greatest Bug Hits, including: Don't Wake (From Sleep), Lost Network Access, and everyone's all-time favorite, Video Stream Crash Dance. We're updating now, let us know how it goes for you in comments -- and there's an iPod touch update too, we're sure it's just as fun.

Verizon turns to Android to compete with Apple's iPhone

2009-10-07T13:01:00.000-07:00

Together, the two companies plan to create, market and distribute both products and services featuring Android-powered phones on the Verizon Wireless network. The two companies plan to co-develop handsets that will come with "innovative applications" created by both, as well as third-party developers already seen on the Android Marketplace.

And in what is likely a direct challenge to Apple and the iPhone, the Google Voice service will be allowed on all Android-powered Verizon handsets. The first two handsets are expected to be released in a matter of weeks.

"You either have an open device, or not," Lowell McAdam, CEO of Verizon Wireless, said in a conference call Tuesday. "And this will be open. We expect to bring that... application to market when we bring the first device out."

Apple has refused to accept the first-party Google Voice application onto the iPhone App Store, stating that the software too closely mimics its own default phone software. Both Google and Apple disagree on whether the application was formally rejected from the App Store.

Verizon's new "open" stance is quite a change for the company, which has traditionally kept tight controls over devices on its network. Earlier this year, the nation's largest wireless carrier said it would create its own application store and, at the time, said it would be the only option available for handsets.

"The nation’s best wireless broadband network is a perfect complement to the innovation of Android-powered services and devices," McAdam said this week. "Together, we’ll work to deliver a compelling new experience to our customers."

Fujitsu cellphone design contest yields mind-blowing results: hands-on

2009-10-06T13:04:00.000-07:00

The clear pebble mock-up (shown above) was easily the crown jewel (in our mind, anyway), with a small black blob able to morph into different screens (media panels, a keypad, web browser, etc.) depending on which corner you drag said blob into. There was also a design reminiscent of paper mache, not to mention one with a circular vibe that just has to be a long lost cousin to Motorola's AURA. Have a gander at the masterpieces in the gallery below, but don't bet on these hitting your favorite carrier anytime soon.

iPhone app claims 95% piracy rate

2009-10-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

With all of the success stories coming out of the App Store, it's been pretty easy to forget the problem of piracy for most developers. Not so for Fishlabs, who've posted over on the Touch Arcade forums that their latest game, Rally Master Pro 3D, is experiencing a 95% piracy rate. You read that right: supposedly 95% of the people playing the game on the iPhone haven't paid for it.

There's probably a multitude of reasons why that is -- the app is $7 with no trial version, it's not a super-popular app quite yet (so one pirated copy on a popular message board is probably traveling farther than the copies coming off of the official App Store), and there are probably at least a few other factors in the mix that we don't know yet. Still, 95% is obviously pretty darn high for a platform that's supposed to only deliver software through Apple's official store.

Now, fortunately Fishlabs doesn't sound litigious -- they're not pulling the old "piracy = lost sales" fallacy that many companies in this situation would do. They are lowering the price on the app -- they expected it to be worth more, but apparently their consumer base seems to disagree. They tell Mobile Entertainment that they'd entertain the idea of providing content only through Apple's in-app purchasing service (presumably, that would prevent piracy by locking down the extra content), but they also say that's a gamble they've tried and missed on other platforms before.

Of course, it'll take more than one post on one message board to make hay out of the problem of app piracy -- it definitely happens, but on the other hand, there certainly are apps selling well, and there are also apps not selling well that don't have this level of piracy going on. Apple already has lots of authentication and validation processes in place, but if app piracy is this big a problem for everyone, they may need to look at more.

Apple App storen reaches 2 billion downloads

2009-09-29T14:26:00.000-07:00

Apple said Monday that over 2 billion apps have been downloaded from its App Store, and the pace "continues to accelerate," according to chief executive Steve Jobs.
There are now more than 85,000 apps available to the more than 50 million iPhone and iPod touch customers worldwide, Apple said.

The apps now can be downloaded in 77 countries, in over 20 categories, Apple said.

"The rate of App Store downloads continues to accelerate with users downloading a staggering two billion apps in just over a year, including more than half a billion apps this quarter alone," Steve Jobs, Apple's chief executive said in a statement. "The App Store has reinvented what you can do with a mobile handheld device, and our users are clearly loving it."

Apple achieved its first billion apps downloaded in about nine months, from July 2008 until April 23. The most recent billion was achieved in about five months.

Iphone MMS on friday

2009-09-24T13:23:00.001-07:00

We've just heard from AT&T that new carrier settings for the iPhone 3G and 3GS will be available "late morning" Pacific Time (which would be early afternoon Eastern) this Friday, September 25, which will finally enable MMS support. Owners will have to tether up to iTunes to grab those settings, so fish out your cable (as if you don't have it permanently attached to your machine already) and make sure you've got some solid time in front of the computer to check for the update over and over (and over) again, alright?

Bay Area Architects Seek to Re-purpose Bay Bridge as Park & Apartments

2009-09-21T13:03:00.000-07:00

The Bay Bridge is falling down, falling down, so that a bigger, better bridge—one less prone to falling down during an earthquake—can be erected in its place. If two architects get their way however, it might become this:

Ipod touch now has its own gaming platform

2009-09-10T13:06:00.000-07:00

Never mind Mac OS X, and forget about future iterations of the Apple TV as a video game console—the iPod touch is Apple’s game platform. That’s Apple’s message from the stage of its press event in San Francisco on Wednesday.

The “Rock & Roll” event totaled about an hour and a quarter, and 20 minutes of that were dedicated to showing off the iPod touch’s proclivity as a gaming platform. Apple senior vice president of worldwide product marketing Phil Schiller started off the game segment by repeating a quote offered by Arik Hesseldahl of BusinessWeek: “Apple could be on the cusp of claiming the crown as the world’s leader in handheld gaming.”
You’d be wrong to assume that Hesseldahl’s comment—which came in a November 2008 editorial—is more moon-eyed Apple fanaticism from an easily swayed tech journalist. In context, Hesseldahl is comparing sales of iPhones and iPod touches to Nintendo’s DS handheld system. In sheer volume, Apple is doing very well—the company has been selling tens of millions of units. And that pace hasn’t slowed down since last autumn. Of course, not every iPhone or iPod touch is being used for games. But each of them is capable.

I don’t see Apple competing for the same hearts and minds that Nintendo does, but I think a compelling argument can be made that Apple is competing for the exact same consumers who might otherwise buy Sony’s forthcoming PSPgo handheld gaming system. In this respect, Apple is already several steps ahead of Sony. Apple already owns this market.

The PSPgo, similar in concept to the iPod touch, works wirelessly (there is no disc slot, as there are on other PSP models). It’s smaller and more portable than other PSP systems; the PSPgo easily fits into a pocket, just like the iPod touch. Sony is also managing software distribution through its own online store, which currently enables PSP and PlayStation 3 owners to purchase and download games, demos, video content and more. Sony’s revealed plans to release “minis,” games with a smaller storage footprint and a lower price than the current crop of titles available for the PSP.

Ngmoco, which makes the popular Rolando game shown here, didn’t even exist prior to the iPhone’s introduction.Compare that to Apple’s efforts: There are tens of thousands of game titles already in the App Store, including an ever-increasing number from major publishers like Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, even Id Software, makers of Doom and Quake.
The iPod touch has also created its own ecosystem of top-tier game publishers. Ngmoco, makers of Rolando, didn’t exist prior to the iPhone’s introduction. Gameloft, which has long been a purveyor of games for mobile handsets, now says the iPhone and iPod touch is its single biggest platform.

Where’s Nintendo in all this? The company that makes the world’s most popular handheld gaming system recently registered the iPod touch and iPhone as a competing product, during a call with financial analysts to discuss lower-than-expected results. Nintendo’s DSi is the first handheld system the company has released that emphasizes downloadable content, but Nintendo’s bread-and-butter remains cartridge-based games. Nintendo has been notoriously slow to move in the direction of ubiquitous online connectivity and gobs of downloadable content.

Just like every other gaming platform before it, the iPod touch will live or die ultimately based on the quality of the software that’s developed for it. And that takes time. Time for developers to learn the environment they’re programming for. Time for them to create or find tools to help them work. And time for designers to get a sense of what the equipment can do, and more important, how its users want it to work.

Let’s face it: The first year of the iPod touch and iPhone’s life as a commercial game platform has been underscored by a lot of “shovelware”—crap that was pushed out the door as quickly as possible to make a buck. That same cash-grab philosophy sent the average price of games in the App Store spiraling downward to bargain-basement levels. Phil Schiller’s slide showing 21,000-plus iPhone games compared to a relatively paltry number of games for the PSP and DS ignores the fact that many of those thousands of iPhone games are, not to put too fine a point on it, garbage.

But some big companies with deep pockets are making investments that are beginning to pay dividends, not only for them but also for iPod touch game players. Look at the depth and breadth of Madden NFL 2010, EA’s legendary American football game franchise, now available on the iPhone. Madden has been in development for a year, and that right there should give you some sense of where we are on the evolutionary scale of iPhone and iPod touch game development—the commercial market for Mac games is barely a year old.

Nintendo’s DS is the latest iteration of a system that was introduced 20 years ago. Sony’s PSP is five years into its life span.

We’re just scratching the surface, folks.

Now the fun begins

Flickr for Iphone app

2009-09-08T13:13:00.000-07:00

Yahoo's Flickr service now has a native app available in the App Store. We recently reported that the iPhone had become the most popular cell phone camera used to upload photos to the image sharing site and it's likely this new native app will only increase its popularity among Flickr users.

When you first sign in to the Flickr app, you are required to authorize the app to use your Flickr account, which is done through Safari on the iPhone. After this, uploads to your Flickr account will be handled directly through the app with no further authorization requests.

The app can geotag your photos and offers immediate access to your recent uploads, your entire Flickr stream, and those of your Flickr contacts.

Power your Iphone with Cycling

2009-09-04T13:04:00.000-07:00

if I biked a lot—a whole lot—there's little doubt I'd drop $100 on the BioLogic FreeCharge when it hits in March.

Obviously pedaling a bike could generate a lot of electricity. So the BioLogic FreeCharge exploits this phenomenon, sticking a dyno on your wheel that charges a battery-powered USB hub. You plug something (like an iPhone) into the USB and it can recharge in about three hours.

But what makes the idea work is that battery intermediary between the dyno and the hub. By charging a battery that in turn charges your device of choice, the system assures a steady stream of power to whatever is plugged in.

Obviously solar power is another obvious point of energy exploitation for those on bikes, but something about exerting myself to charge my phone really preps my psyche for the days when I'll pedal to power the robot whipping me to pedal to power him.

AT&T Launches iPhone MMS September 25

2009-09-03T13:03:00.000-07:00

Sweet Jesus, AT&T just told us that MMS for iPhone launches September 25. Which is emphatically not summer. It'll be coming via software update for iPhone 3G and 3GS (remember, old iPhones are getting left out).

AT&T admits they're late, saying "it was important to give our customers a positive experience from day one" so they needed the extra to "to make sure our network is ready to handle what we expect will be a record volume of MMS traffic." Which I think means if MMS doesn't work, everybody can ream the shit out of them for it. At least it's free.

The wait for tethering continues though, with "no set date." They simply "expect to offer it in the future." Again, 'cause the network isn't ready: "This function could exponentially increase traffic on the network, and we need to ensure that some of our current upgrades are in place before we can deliver the expanded functionality with the excellent performance that customers expect."

One out of two ain't bad, right?

Building In Shanghai Built from Used CD's - First Post of New School Year

2009-09-02T13:05:00.000-07:00

With the Shanghai World Expo 2010 fast approaching, architects are jumping in on the "Better City, Better Life" theme with concepts like this Shanghai Corporate Pavilion. The plans include many green features, including a structure made from recycled CD cases.

Zune HD is official, heading your way this Fall

2009-05-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

That's right folks, the Zune HD is real, and it's coming this Fall. Microsoft officially announced the next iteration in their Zune line today, making it less of a tripped out pipe dream, and more of a totally tubular reality. The specs, which look exactly like that leak we saw, go like this: 3.3-inch, 480 x 272 OLED capacitive touchscreen display, built-in HD Radio receiver, HD output (utilizing a new dock -- not on-board), and... not much more right now. Microsoft is doing away with the famed squircle in favor a full multitouch device, and they seemed to indicate that some new touch-friendly apps and games would be headed our way, though they were fairly mum when it came to details. The device will boast an IE-based, customized browser, but little else was said in the way of software.

Details are also scarce concerning storage capacities, CPU performance, and other crucial numbers, but it seems like they've got more in store come E3... and that's the next big piece of news. Zune integration is coming to the Xbox and Xbox Live, as the Zune marketplace will step in to replace the current Live video resources, expanding the library and offering all kinds of new perks, like Zune's first foray into international waters. According to the company, at E3 "attendees will see first-hand how Zune integrates into Xbox LIVE creating a game-changing entertainment experience" -- we're not entirely sure what the means right now, but it sounds sweet. Try to contain your excitement.

Update: Microsoft's just sent out a press release (after the break) and launched an official Zune HD page.

Update 2: We just got sent a picture of black Zune HD, now after the break, which we're told Microsoft is giving out to selected "Zune MVP" sites such as Inside the Circle and ZuneTracks. See it for yourself after the break.

Transparent public restroom not for those with performance anxiety

2009-05-26T09:57:00.000-07:00

Another item I found curious while spending time in Lausanne the the other day: a see-through toilet. Based on a steel-and-glass architecture, the toilet is based on a transparent system: when pressing the “voir” button (which means “see”), the glass gets transparent and it turns opaque when someone is inside and presses the button again. A motion sensor also turn the glass transparent if there’s no motion during a certain amount of time (to prevent people from staying there for too long or in case of a problem) OR if there is TOO MUCH ACTIVITY (no party is allowed in there).

More next-gen iPhone whispers: video recording, faster CPU, July release?

2009-05-21T10:20:00.000-07:00

John Gruber over at Daring Fireball has a pretty good track record when it comes to Apple rumors -- remember his spot-on predictions for the unibody MacBook Pro? -- so when he's got a thing or two to say about all the next-gen iPhone chatter, we listen. While not making any promises, he does say he'd wager quite a bit on a new model coming to WWDC, with about twice the CPU horsepower (and possibly twice the RAM, too) as the current model. He also adds some credence to all that talk of video recording, but makes no mention of potential background apps and plays down any surprise tablet or "iPhone mini" cameos. He goes on to add release date would be sometime in July in 16GB and 32GB varieties. We can't say we're willing to bet against him, but that doesn't mean we'll take his word as gospel. We can safely say, however, that we're anxiously waiting to see what kind of shenanigans Schiller has in store for next month.

Dell Studio One 19 unboxing, hands-on, and impressions

2009-05-15T10:23:00.000-07:00

We thought it'd be a good idea to get all touchy-feely with Dell's latest -- and its most family friendly -- all-in-one, the Studio One 19, and while there are things we like, there are certainly a bunch of things that we wish they had done differently. Although it's already gotten some lukewarm reviews, we decided to put it through its paces and check it out for ourselves. Click on after the break for more of our impressions and what we really thought about this interesting machine.

T-Mobile USA starts pushing Android 1.5 to G1 owners (update: not yet)

2009-05-14T10:16:00.000-07:00

That delay wasn't too painful, we suppose. After slipping the US release of the Cupcake-rich Android 1.5 by just a handful of days, T-Mobile USA is starting to push it out to G1 users in the field. The company estimates everyone will have it by early June, so if you haven't gotten the notification yet, hang tight, shake your fist at the sky, and scream a few choice obscenities for us. One more screencap is after the break, and it's a real treat for the anti-Apple crowd.

[Thanks, Raymond and Jamie]

Update: We're aware that the screen shot here shows a UK build -- we're currently awaiting official comment from T-Mobile USA on how the rollout is progressing over here. Stay tuned!

Update 2: So far, it seems like the only folks getting updates are those who'd previously installed a UK build on their US-spec G1, which means the good people playing by the rules and avoiding any firmware tomfoolery are still update-less. We're still waiting on official comment from T-Mobile, but it's not looking good.

Update 3: Indeed, the push hasn't started. T-Mobile tells us that "nothing has changed... plans are still to roll it out this week" -- so if you're crazy anxious to get this installed, your best bet is probably still to install the ADP or UK build.

Sprint's Pre business launch guide leaked in its entirety

2009-05-13T10:14:00.000-07:00

Sprint has published a real page turner here -- some 22 pages of the most telling Pre details we've seen to date. It's a very business-centric document, but a lot of the stuff revealed in here applies to each and every user that's buying a Pre since much of the functionality is managed through Palm's owned-and-operated cloud. Follow the break for some of the major takeaways we're seeing.

HTC's Warhawk and Fortress are AT&T's Touch Diamond2 and Pro2

2009-05-12T10:13:00.000-07:00

We know that Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile are all getting versions of the Touch Pro2, but what about little ol' AT&T? Turns out that device is codenamed "Fortress," and it'll accompany a Touch Diamond2 version known as "Warhawk" to market this summer. The Fortress is actually listed as targeted for May 25, which seems a bit unrealistic -- but we think the document we're looking at is a little stale, so we're sure the inevitable delay has crept into the schedule by now. It's expected to launch with WinMo 6.1 AKU6 (presumably upgradeable to 6.5 down the road) with full HSPA on three bands, AGPS, a 3.2 megapixel AF cam, 3.6-inch WVGA display, and Video Share support. Curiously, the bottom of the slide mentions that a "WM 7.X refresh" is in the works with a September 2009 launch date, which underscores the fact that this slide is likely a little old -- there's no way anything running Windows Mobile 7 is hitting this year if 6.5 will just be coming to market in volume toward the holiday season.

Meanwhile, the Warhawk -- AT&T's Touch Diamond2 -- gets a 3.2-inch WVGA display, dual-band HSDPA, AGPS, and Video Share, but unlike the Fortress, it's scheduled to launch with Windows Mobile 6.5 installed out of the gate. It's targeted for August 24, so we'll see how closely they can stick to that.

Motorola's Sawgrass, Android-powered Heron do the vertical slide onto AT&T?

2009-05-11T10:11:00.000-07:00

The previously rumored Motorola portrait QWERTY slider Iron Man has popped up again, this time as the AT&T-bound Heron, with listed specs being a 2.8-inch touch screen, 3 megapixel camera with flash, aGPS, 3G, and a big red "subject to change" notice since the device has moved to (drumroll, please) Android OS. Planned availability is said to be November 2nd here, but we suspect these slides are a bit dated and that may ultimately be wholly off target. Also on the menu is another portrait slider, the Sawgrass. This one may in fact be Alexander, and if that's the case, at least we've got a cleaner press shot to put on its tombstone. Then again, we hear from Boy Genius Report that it's reincarnated under the name Somerset. The information you (probably) seek is in the gallery below.

Sunday scoops: Android on AT&T, Palm Eos details, BlackBerry Magnum, and more

2009-05-08T10:08:00.000-07:00

Usually, Sundays don't get too crazy at Engadget -- after all, even super-nerds need to rest. That wasn't the case yesterday, however, as we found ourselves knee-deep in a handful of seriously sweet smartphone leaks. Most of the news centered around AT&T's upcoming devices (you know, like its first Android phones, brand new BlackBerry offerings, and... the Palm Eos), but we also saw a few new angles on the Pre. Do yourself a favor and hit all the links below -- you won't be sorry

Sony VAIO P set free with XP, still not a netbook

2009-05-07T10:05:00.000-07:00

Fascinating. Sony just figured out a simple truth of ultra-portable computing: for all its beauty, elegant hardware packed into a diminutive chassis will never make up for a perpetually sluggish OS, at least not for long. While it comes late to this understanding, Sony is finally making XP a standard load on its new VAIO P model VGN-P50. Not exactly aspirational, mind you, and very netbook-like... but at least it gets the OS out of the way of your applications unlike the original VAIO P Vista build. Any by not having to downgrade yourselves (or upgrade to Windows 7 RC), you'll keep all of Sony's optimizations like the VAIO P's XMB interface. Starting June 6th, our Japanese friends will also see a 2GHz Atom Z550 processor bump in addition to WWAN data as standard. They'll even toss in a 256GB SSD if you tick the right box. While we'd typically expect these specs to go global, the fact that we're still stuck with a 1.33GHz processor Stateside makes us doubtful, bitter even, and more than a tad envious. Available June 6th in Japan starting at ¥85,000 (about $900).

Tmobile LX 2009 OUT NOW

2009-05-06T10:20:00.000-07:00

T-Mobile's Sidekicks have been cult favorites stretching all the way back to the original grayscale model -- a device with a design only a mother could love, may we add -- when it launched nearly seven years ago. Though the unusual form factor with the addictive spring-loaded pivoting swivel has largely prevented it from attracting a mainstream audience, the countless teens and twenty-somethings who've latched on to the Hiptop ecosystem have cited many of the same reasons for loving it since day one: an easy, foolproof UI, push email, high-quality customizability, decent web browsing capabilities, and a stellar messaging-optimized layout (remember that QWERTY was little more than a twinkle in most manufacturers' eyes back in 2002).

HyperMac external battery powers MacBooks for 32 hours

2009-05-04T10:06:00.000-07:00

Yep, Sanho's Hypermac is a big clunky external battery pack. Sure, we're intrigued by the idea of running a MacBook Pro for 32 hours straight, but we'd really rather hunt around for a power outlet than drop $500 on the 222Wh unit required to make that happen. On the other hand, we could definitely see splurging for the $150 car charger or the $200 60Wh model, but we're crazy like that. Shipping later this month, we're told.

Birthday boy gets box of rocks instead of Nintendo DS

2009-04-29T10:05:00.000-07:00

No, you're not being mercilessly attacked by an unyielding feeling of déjà vu for no good reason -- we really have seen something eerily similar to this happen before. This go 'round, we've got a totally innocent ten year old boy who was given Guitar Hero for DS prior to even owning a console; as the mother finally ended the tease, she handed him a shiny new DS handheld for him to unwrap. Unfortunately for everyone involved, all that was tucked inside was a couple of stones, a Chinese newspaper and boatloads of disappointment. After the Walmart store from which she purchased it referred her to the Big N, she furiously admitted the following: "They don't want to do nothing. They want me to keep the box of rocks. I'm not buying a box of rocks for $138." Thankfully, Wally World finally refunded her and threw in a $20 gift card for the trouble (after being hounded by a local news station, mind you), but the real damage -- losing all hope in humanity -- will never be undone. Ever.

Android Dev Phones get early shot at Cupcake

2009-04-27T10:25:00.000-07:00

While mere mortals will most likely have to wait until May to get at Cupcake (probably even stooping so low as to refer to it as Android 1.5, those commoners), the proud, good-looking possessors of Android Dev Phones can get at the update right this instant from HTC's website. Naturally, we'd assume somebody's going to figure out how to get these images onto rooted G1s before long, but we wouldn't want to over estimate the intelligence or temerity of the proletariat.

Sony rolls out new Bluetooth headphones for in-ear or out

2009-04-24T11:01:00.000-07:00

They're not exactly breaking down any barriers of style or function, but those looking for some straightforward Bluetooth headphones may want to consider one of Sony's latest offerings, which come in both in-ear and over-the-ear varieties. On the in-ear front, Sony has the DR-BT100CX (pictured after the break), which includes some USB charging capabilities, a promised eight hours of playback time, and three different silicon ear buds to ensure a snug fit. Those looking for something a little less discreet can opt for the DR-BT101CX, which offers the same USB charging, a slightly better 12 hours of playback time and, most notably, a 30mm neodymium driver for a bit more oomph. No word on pricing just yet, but it looks like both should be available any day now -- in Europe, at least.

Averatec debuts 12-inch $699 N2700 ultraportable

2009-04-23T11:02:00.000-07:00

If it's fancy you're scouting, you needn't look here. If you're fine with a classic design, a relatively low price and plenty of oomph to handle everyday tasks, you've got your eyes right where they need to be. Averatec's latest rig is a 12-inch ultraportable that gets powered by a 2GHz Core 2 Duo T6400 processor, a WXGA panel, 4GB of DDR2-800 RAM, a 250GB SATA hard drive, 8x SuperMulti dual-layer DVD writer, WiFi, gigabit Ethernet, a trio of USB 2.0 ports, FireWire and audio in / out. Furthermore, you'll find a VGA output, 4-in-1 card reader, GMA X4500HD graphics set, 1.3 megapixel camera and Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit. This four pound lappie will set you back $699, and if you're already sold, we're happy to inform you that it's shipping right now.

New SIDEKICK 2009 Hands on Video

2009-04-22T10:20:00.000-07:00

Our first glimpse of T-Mobile's new 2009 edition Sidekick LX was all too brief, so we've jumped back in for some in-depth video hands-on (embedded after the break). One word of warning: this screen is truly incredible, and we can't be held responsible for any instances of sudden onset Sidekick envy. Traipsing through the OS, we found most everything to be responsive, intuitive and actually pretty feature-packed. The Facebook and Twitter apps are some of the best we've seen, and Laura our demo person was actually brave enough to shoot, upload and stream YouTube live on video with us. The browser had a bit of trouble with the visceral multimedia experience of Engadget.com, but overall seemed fairly together. The Download Catalog is a little barebones at the moment, but promising. Overall the hardware will be totally familiar to Sidekick users, but there are enough enhancements and refinements to make this lust worthy to folks on both sides of the Sidekick fence. It's comfortable in hand, with soft touch plastic and a super solid build, despite our best efforts at wrenching that swivel-and-tilt screen from its magical hinge. The phone hits T-Mobile on May 13th for $199 after rebates.

Samsung's Android-powered I7500 caught in smudgy Russian wilds

2009-04-21T11:05:00.000-07:00

Frankly, if we were forced to choose between smudgy and blurry, we'd take the former each day of the week. Russia's own Mobile-Review has somehow already managed to wrap its paws around one of the newly released Android-based I7500s, and while it's not really a drastic departure from Sammy's other smartphones of late, it's still worth a peek if you're suddenly in the market for one. Check the read link for the goods.

$400 Xbox 360 Elite Games of the Year bundle with Halo 3 and Fable 2 gets official

2009-04-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

Those of you guessing that our mystery Xbox 360 birthday prize was that rumored new Elite bundle with Halo 3 and Fable 2 were exactly right -- and now that Microsoft's gotten official with it we can share the full details. $400 gets you a 120GB Elite 360 with the two games, a 12-month Live Gold subscription, a free Netflix trial, and tokens for the Halo 3 "Mythic Map" and Fable 2 "Knothole Island" downloads. Not a bad deal at all, especially if you're looking to upgrade to a Jasper unit -- anyone going to pony up?

Vodafone Spain first to launch HTC Magic

2009-04-17T11:06:00.000-07:00

In a surprise announcement, Vodafone Spain is set to launch Magic, HTC's 2nd Android handset, in just a few hours. The countdown timer appeared early this morning with local sales set to begin at 1700 hours. That gives Vodafone Spain subscribers an 8 day head start on the rest of the world -- an eternity for Android nerds. Unfortunately, while it's free with applicable contract on Vodafone UK, it's gonna cost you in Spain -- rates our Spanish friends describe as "outrageous." Let's see if our Canadian friends agree.

Samsung I7500 with OLED touchscreen powered by Android, dreams

2009-04-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

Anticipated for months, Samsung's first Android phone is finally a (paper) reality after being flushed through the rumor mill just hours ago. Launching "in major European countries from June," the 11.9-mm slim quad-band GSM, tri-band 7.2Mbps HSDPA (900/1700/2100MHz) candybar packs a 3.2-inch, 320 x 480 pixel AMOLED touchscreen, WiFi, GPS, 5 megapixel camera with Power LED, 1,500mAh battery, 8GB of storage (plus MicroSD expansion for up to 32GB more), and a standard 3.5mm heasdset jack. Step aside HTC, you had your chance, let's all welcome Samsung to the Android party. Another picture and full press release after the break.

P.S. Although no US announcements have been made, that 1700MHz HSPA frequency could make T-Mobile USA customers very happy.

Apple, Verizon mulling iPhone deal for next year?

2009-04-15T11:09:00.000-07:00

We've been down this path countless times, but rumors are once again heating up that Apple and Verizon are actively discussing the possibility of creating an iPhone to work on Big Red's airwaves, according to USA Today's infamous "people familiar with the situation." The juicy gossip claims that discussions kicked off a few months ago when Steve was still running the day-to-day show out in Cupertino, but that the conversation has continued in his absence -- and they'd like to get a product on the shelves next year, likely much to AT&T's chagrin. The article claims that this would be a CDMA product, but given that Verizon boss Ivan Seidenberg himself ruled out a CDMA iPhone and opened the door for an LTE one, we're inclined to believe that the carrier would like to see this product help inaugurate the first slivers of its commercial 4G network in 2010. Since AT&T (along with the rest of the world) is moving toward LTE, an LTE-powered iPhone is a forgone conclusion -- it's really just a question of when Apple will make it happen and whether Verizon will be able to seal the deal.

Samsung Omnia Pro with landscape QWERTY coming this summer?

2009-04-14T11:11:00.000-07:00

This is totally unsubstantiated, but also totally plausible -- likely, even -- so we wanted to pass along a hot rumor out of Italian site hdblog.it claiming that there'll be a QWERTY-equipped Omnia Pro hitting the market in the coming months, and they've even crafted a mockup looking like the offspring of an F700 and an original Omnia to illustrate their point. Specifically, the rumor suggests that the Omnia Pro will run Windows Mobile 6.1 upgradeable to 6.5 -- which might explain Sammy's decision to back off the OmniaHD branding for the Symbian-powered i8950 -- along with a 5 megapixel cam and sweet 3.5-inch WVGA AMOLED display. Considering that the old Omnia is widely considered to be one of the company's better (and more successful) smartphones in recent memory, it certainly stands to reason that they'd want to carry on the legacy -- and slapping on a sliding landscape keyboard seems like a no-brainer way to do it. To top things off, gossip has this sucker launching this summer for something in the range of €500 ($662), which throws it face-first into this summer's superphone smackdown alongside the N97, the GSM Pre, and whatever Apple has up its sleeves. Fun time to be alive, isn't it?

NEW SIDEKICK 2009

2009-04-13T10:33:00.000-07:00

It’s the information we’ve all been waiting for. The Sidekick 2009 (Blade) that we’ve all be drooling over for months is dropping on…

May 13th
That is of course a tentative date and not officially stated by T-Mobile, but I’m calling this a pretty solid date. This info comes from TmoNews, who got what looks like T-Mobile’s a summer release date list from “a trusted tipster”.

So, you’ve got about a month to start saving (maybe even less if they do a pre-release for current Sidekick users), are you getting a Sidekick 2009

Motorola's V10 for South Korea has a little V9 in it

2009-04-10T11:13:00.000-07:00

At the time of their announcement a couple years back, Motorola seemed like it was trying to go for the upper end of the feature phone market with its RAZR 2 V8 and V9 models -- but somehow, that doesn't seem to have translated to the new V10 over in Korea. Visually, there's definitely some new design language here, but the basic concept is the same -- it's a clamshell with a giant secondary touchscreen up front -- and the specs seem mostly un-bumped with a 2 megapixel cam, 2GB cap on microSD expansion, and EV-DO. It'll be on Korean shelves in the next few weeks -- we're just thinking Moto should've come to the table with something a little more technically distinctive to earn a +1 bump in the model designation over the V9, no?

HiPhone Nano N3+ is crazy beautiful

2009-04-09T11:16:00.000-07:00

Yes, KIRF number two hundred is a special affair. The HiPhone Nano N3+ is one of those knockoffs that transcends the category and is just plain awesome all on its own. We can't vouch for its performance or build of course, but the N3+ clamshell is part iPhone, part RAZR, and part iPod, with a little bit of Star Trek: TNG attitude thrown in for good measure. Seriously, though guys: we weren't kidding when we hinted (told you) that this would be a perfect birthday gift. June 15th. Think about it. Oh, and Happy 200th KIRFday, Engadget! One more glorious shot after the break.

Researchers progress in creating a brain on a chip

2009-03-25T10:20:00.000-07:00

Mimicking the human brain has long been near the top of the list of dream projects for many a sci-fi-inspired scientist, and it looks like one team involved in the EU-supported FACETS initiative is now making some real, if still preliminary progress in the field. Apparently, they've built upon some recent mapping and modeling research and created an actual chip (or, more specifically a 20cm wafer), which could eventually contain a network of 200,000 neurons and 50 million synapses. That, the researchers say, will allow for them to take on larger scale neural computing work than has previously been possible, and could even lead to "practical neural computers" in as little as five years, which they say could be particularly helpful for things like internet search -- or, you know, commanding a massive robot army.

Acer A1 touchscreen Android phone to arrive in September?

2009-03-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

Acer Inc., the world’s third-largest personal-computer vendor, will introduce a mobile phone in September that runs on Google Inc.’s Android operating system, an official at the Taiwanese company said.

The A1, equipped with a touch screen, is among four handset models that Acer plans to debut that month, the person said, asking not to be identified because he’s not authorized to comment on the matter. Henry Wang, a spokesman at Taipei-based Acer, declined to comment. Marsha Wang, a spokesman at Google in Beijing, declined to immediately comment.

Acer would join HTC Corp., Samsung Electronics Co., LG Electronics Inc. and Motorola Inc. in adopting Google’s mobile operating system to meet rising demand for so-called smartphones that allow users to view videos and business documents. The Android software will run 5 percent of the world’s smartphones by next year, according to CLSA Ltd. estimates.

Acer last month unveiled four handsets using Microsoft Corp.’s Windows operating system, the first models released since its acquisition of phone maker E-Ten Information Systems Co. last year. The Taiwanese company projected in April last year that handsets will account for 10 percent of sales by 2011.

Google, based in Mountain View, California, started Android in 2007 as part of an industry effort to create a free software system for phones. Based on the Linux operating system, Android is open to any programmer who wants to develop features for it. HTC last year became the first phone vendor to offer an Android-equipped handset. (Bloomberg)

Man files $1 million lawsuit against US Airways for lost Xbox 360

2009-03-11T09:52:00.000-07:00

A Yale student is suing US Airways for $1 million in compensation for his lost Xbox 360 and the emotional toll of attempting to recover it. He claims he had an Xbox 360 with a "specialized hard drive" and other fancy components worth more than $1,000 (is that the kind with the really, really loud drive noise?) in his checked luggage, and when he went to pick up his luggage it was considerably lighter than before, with the Xbox 360 and components found as the only thing missing. Sounds like no-fun-at-all, and the "run-around" he got with speaking to five different airline employees sounds equally painful, but we're not sure how that all adds up to $1,000,000 -- the maximum allowable by law in his state. US Airways says that not only does the federal limit of liability for lost luggage top out at $3,300, but that electronics checked in luggage are specifically excluded from liability. How kind.

Logo Design

2009-02-23T10:26:00.000-08:00

I chose this font because , the bottoms are cut-off and it represents emptying music into your ears.

The whole logo represents a mind controlled by music.

My other logo represents something that is rough , un-cut and original but simple , easy and straight-forward on the inside.

And I chose those fonts because I think they represent the message that they are trying to get through really well.

LG shows off solar phone, battery cover at MWC

2009-02-23T09:57:00.000-08:00

Proving (as usual) that it's not too big for a little tit-for-tat with its crosstown rival, LG showed its own concept solar phone at MWC this week to match up with Samsung's Blue Earth. The prototype LG handset doesn't have a name -- takes a whole team of high-priced consultants to christen a product like that, we'd wager -- but we do know that the slider can eke 3 minutes' worth of life out of a 10-minute charge in natural light. The thing looks like it was thrown together in a week, but hey, as long as it works, we know LG can take care of the design side of things by the time production rolls around.

Samsung Eco-Phone Runs on Solar Power

2009-02-13T10:21:00.000-08:00

South Korea's Samsung today unveiled a solar powered mobile phone made from recycled plastic water bottles.

Dubbed 'Blue Earth,' the touch-screen phone is charged with a solar panel located on the back. It is made from recycled plastic that is extracted from water bottles, helping to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions in the manufacturing process.

Designed to symbolize a flat, rounded pebble, the handset and charger are free from harmful substances.

The packaging is also made from recycled paper, and comes with a 5 star energy efficient charger that uses standby power lower than 0.03W.

Users can set Blue Earth to 'Eco Mode,' reducing screen brightness, backlight duration and Bluetooth to an energy-efficient mode. With 'Eco Walk,' users can count their steps with an in-built pedometer, even calculating how much CO2 emissions have been reduced by walking as opposed to motor transport.

"Samsung's 'The Blue Earth Dream' demonstrates our small but meaningful commitments for the future and our environment," said JK Shin, Head of Mobile Communication at Samsung. "We are committed to achieving the highest eco-status with our customers and business partners by providing the best eco-products and promoting eco-activities."

Blue Earth is the latest in a series of eco-friendly products. Samsung previously introduced a biodegradable phone made from corn. Sony Ericsson announced a program to research green technologies using bio-plastic housings and recycled plastic keypads. Last month T-Mobile released the Motorola Renew, a similar eco-friendly mobile phone also made of recycled water bottles.

Samsung Blue Earth will be showcased at Mobile World Congress 2009 next week.

Netflix breaks the 10 million subscriber mark

2009-02-12T09:55:00.000-08:00

We can't say the economic crisis has been too kind to every industry, but it's been a best friend to Netflix. As consumers divert their out-on-the-town dollars to sit-on-my-arse-and-watch-Netflix dollars, the by-mail and streaming movie rental company is just breaking records left and right. After closing a stellar 2008 with 9.4 million customers, the company has today announced that the 10 million mark has been crossed. For those struggling with basic math, that means that it has added 600,000 net subscribers since January 1st. So, where does Netflix go from here? Into every nook and cranny it can, of course, so don't be shocked to see Watch Instantly creep onto your next HDTV, set-top-box, Blu-ray player or portable microwave. Seriously, it could happen.

Why no multitouch on the G1? Because Apple said so.

2009-02-11T09:44:00.000-08:00

When the G1 launched back in October, a common question clanged through the halls: wheres the multitouch? When a few clever minds managed to patch in their own multitouch support, proving that the hardware could handle it, things got even more perplexing. Had Google just not ironed out the multitouch workings enough to support it in this first device, or had Apple's patent stranglehold scared them away?

According to details given to VentureBeat by an Android team member, it's something along the lines of the latter. If their source's retellings ring true, Apple "asked" Google not to make multitouch a part of the device. it's unclear whether "asked" here means "Please don't include multitouch support" or "Please don't include multitouch support, or our lawyers will eat your face."

The source also adds that they were glad Google didn't challenge Apple's request. Google and Apple have a rather strong relationship, especially in the mobile realm - the iPhone comes out of the box with Google Maps installed, Google's search engine in the browser's top bar, and Apple has seemingly turned their heads on the fact that Google's voice search application relies on restricted APIs.

While it might work out for everyone involved for the time being, I can't imagine it'll stay that way for long. Heavy marketing of the capabilities of many-fingered input on Apple's part has made it a look-for feature, and no manufacturer wants to be on the wrong side of a trend. Palm seems to be moving forward with the Pre (which makes heavy use of multitouch), regardless of the threat of litigation by Apple's COO Tim Cook. Multitouch has become a staple and, if they have hopes for Android to be successful as a platform (beyond the initial rush of device's we'll likely see at Mobile World Congress next week), Google will have to find a way to offer it.

It's highly unlikely that a simple request from Apple has scared Google from multitouch altogether. What's more likely is that multitouch support is being developed and maintained throughout the platform, but in a seperate (and private) development branch - in other words, "behind the scenes". When an end to the dispute is reached, be it by Apple licensing the patent (probably not going to happen) or losing the legal ability to dictate who can detect two fingers rather than one (more likely), Google could be ready. As we've seen through the user-made demos, Android supports multitouch with just a few lines of code in the right places; with a few quick switches, multitouch could be sent out to the masses.

Google's G1 phone makes it easy to track surfing habits

2009-02-10T10:08:00.000-08:00

The new Google phone, dubbed the G1, has been touted as a working man's smartphone — a cheap, Web-friendly wireless device that can make life easier for millions of consumers.
The G1, in many ways, embodies the best and the worst of the mobile Web. The device is based on the new Android operating system, whose development was overseen by Google. More than 30 companies participated in the development of Android, but Google had decision-making authority over design, engineering and more.

The G1 is high-performance and incredibly easy to use. It comes preloaded with familiar Google applications, allowing users to reach, with one click, some of its most popular services: Google Maps (MyLocation, satellite, traffic and Street View), Gmail (e-mail), YouTube, Google Calendar and Google Talk (IM service).

It also has a touch-screen, traditional qwerty keyboard and a 3.2-megapixel camera. Music player? Of course. You can also add and subtract applications.

On the downside, once you fire up the G1, you're on Google's radar — whether you like it or not.

To use the device, users must set up a Google account. The registration process creates a "personal identifier" — basically, a number that Google uses to store information about you, which Google does not consider to be personal information.

It enables Google to field your search queries quickly when you're on the run. It also gives Google access to your contact lists, IMs, e-mails, personal calendar, social networking and video downloading — the videos you'd fess up to publicly, as well as the ones you might not. As for all those "personal photos" swapped with pals on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter: Google can grab those, too.

Everything gets crammed into your personal "file," so to speak, along with a lot of other stuff — such as where you bank, shop and cruise on the Web when you're lonely, bored or just in the mood for a little fun.

You can't see what information is collected

Once your information has been collected and stored, there's no way to get rid of it. You can't see what's been collected or have it expunged. It's Google's for as long as it wants to hold onto it.

Students at USF developed a Brainwave controlled Wheelchair

2009-02-09T10:23:00.000-08:00

Those crazy kids at the University of South Florida are at it again they've given us 'intelligent' scarecrows and engaged an RFID network in the fight against Alzheimer's, and now they're doing some rather interesting work with the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI). The device uses an electrode-covered head cap to capture P-300 brainwave responses and convert them into action, such as "typing" or manipulating a robotic finger. The team has developed a motorized "smart wheelchair" that allows users to pilot the chair and even control a robotic arm without any physical movement whatsoever. USF researchers say that this will be a great help not only for those with special needs, but also for the extremely lazy.