Engadget

Buffalo now shipping SuperSpeed USB 3.0 external hard drive

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:39:00 EST

Yes, you've heard it right, kids! Buffalo's wild'n'wooly USB 3.0 external hard drive (the HD-HXU3) is now shipping. Available in 1TB($200), 1.5TB ($250), and 2TB ($400) designations, the package includes Memeo AutoBackup and a one year warranty. It's also backwards compatible to USB 2.0, but never mind that -- the company is concurrently releasing its dual-port USB 3.0 PCI Express Interface Card (IFC-PCIE2U3). Welcome to the future, indeed. PR after the break.

Continue reading Buffalo now shipping SuperSpeed USB 3.0 external hard drive

Buffalo now shipping SuperSpeed USB 3.0 external hard drive originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Klausner takes aim at RIM, Motorola over visual voicemail patents

Donald Melanson — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:56:00 EST

It's been quite a few months since we've heard anything from Klausner Technologies, but it looks like the company has finally decided on its next set of targets that are allegedly infringing on its now infamous visual voicemail patents. As announced in a pair of expectedly terse press releases, Klausner says that both RIM and Motorola have now crossed into lawsuit territory with the Blackberry Bold 9700 and Motorola CLIQ, although it isn't specifying what sort of result it's looking for, or exactly how the two devices are infringing on its patents (at least some other RIM and Motorola devices are apparently covered under licenses granted to mobile operators). If the company's past track record with Apple, Verizon, LG, and Google is any indication, however, we wouldn't bet against a settlement.

Klausner takes aim at RIM, Motorola over visual voicemail patents originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | BusinessWire (RIM sued), BusinessWire (Motorola sued) | Email this | Comments

Samsung Story external HDD now boasts 2TB, eSATA

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:13:00 EST

You've asked, and Samsung has delivered: the company's newest Story external hard drives not only feature a maximum 2TB of storage, but the device can now make nice with your PC via eSATA (in addition to USB 2.0). And like its earlier brethren, this one features either real time or scheduled backups, password protection, and SecretZone encryption. Available the world o'er sometime this November for an MSRP of $299. PR after the break, kids.

Continue reading Samsung Story external HDD now boasts 2TB, eSATA

Samsung Story external HDD now boasts 2TB, eSATA originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone camera mod for magnification: because you can

Laura June — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:37:00 EST

We've thought before how nice it might be to have some powers of magnification on the iPhone's cam... but are we going to go out and mod our unit? Probably not, but that doesn't mean we can't admire someone else's work. Taking various lenses and attaching them to the lid of a jar, the modder quite carefully built a contraption that looks a little "hobo Steampunk" to us, but we're still fairly impressed with this little gadget. Hit the read link for full, detailed instructions and more photos if you'd like to make one of your own.

iPhone camera mod for magnification: because you can originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stats show Motorola Droid is the new elephant in the Android room

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:01:00 EST

Remember back in the day when the West was still wild, the gold rush was still in full effect, you owned whatever land you could manage to fence off, and tycoons were being made and broken on a daily basis? No? Well, some of you whippersnappers might be too young to recall it, but trust us, it happened -- and it seems like that's the kind of frontier mentality we're getting again today in the nascent Android landscape. Just a couple weeks after launching, mobile ad clearinghouse AdMob reports that the Motorola Droid is already accounting for a whopping 24 percent of all its Android-based traffic -- no small feat, considering that the then-unreleased device didn't even move the needle in their October report (pictured in the left graph). The HTC Dream -- the world's first retail Android device, you might remember -- still reigns supreme at 36 percent, but it's amazing that the entire Android space is still volatile enough to register nearly a 25 percent shift with the launch of a single new device on a single carrier. For comparison, the CLIQ clocks in with a lowly 6 percent -- proof that Verizon's aggressive advertising has been working some magic. Question is, what'll be the next device to completely screw up this pie chart again?

Stats show Motorola Droid is the new elephant in the Android room originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Engadget Show - 003: Drew Bamford, Joystiq's Chris Grant, Adamo XPS, and lots of game demos

Joshua Topolsky — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:32:00 EST

This is a big one, folks. The new installment of The Engadget Show is jam-packed with goodness. First up, Josh sits down with HTC's director of user experience Drew Bamford to discuss Android, Sense, Windows Mobile and a whole lot more. Then we've got a charming little segment where Paul and Josh go hunting around NYC for KIRFs, and Chris Grant joins the gang on stage for a dissection of the holiday gaming situation... and some demos where the gang gets to show off their totally radical moves. Seriously, Josh and Nilay have a DJ Hero battle, and Paul Miller skates (but doesn't die) in Tony Hawk: Ride. Don't miss this one -- it might just be the best yet!

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Paul Miller, Nilay Patel
Special guests: Drew Bamford, Chris Grant
Produced and Directed by: Chad Mumm
Executive Producer: Josh Fruhlinger
Edited by: Michael Slavens
Music by: Glomag
Visuals by: Dan Winckler
Opening titles by: Julien Nantiec

Download the Show: The Engadget Show - 003 (HD) / The Engadget Show - 003 (iPod / iPhone / Zune formatted)

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The Engadget Show - 003: Drew Bamford, Joystiq's Chris Grant, Adamo XPS, and lots of game demos originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mimo debuts 7-inch iMo Pivot Touch monitor

Donald Melanson — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:09:00 EST

Mimo may not be doing anything crazy like producing a full-size monitor, but it's not exactly slacking when it comes to its tiny, secondary monitors -- the latest of which is the 7-inch iMo Pivot Touch. Apparently designed for folks that prefer pivoting to sliding, this new model packs the usual 800 x 480 resolution we've come to expect, along with an adequate 350 cd/m2 brightness, 400:1 contrast and, most importantly, touch capabilities (with support for both Mac and Windows). At $199.99, the Pivot Touch is also a full ten bucks cheaper than its sliding counterpart, and Mimo is even offering its own little Black Friday deal with free shipping until November 30th -- the monitor itself won't ship until December 3rd, though.

Mimo debuts 7-inch iMo Pivot Touch monitor originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eee PC 1005HR unboxed complete with 1366 x 768 display

Nilay Patel — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:37:00 EST

It's taken ASUS a while, but there's finally an Eee PC with more than 600 pixels of vertical resolution -- the new Eee PC 1005HR sports a 10.1-inch 1366 x 768 display, which is good enough for 720p HD. Of course, it's debatable whether or not the 1.6GHz Atom N280 and integrated GMA 950 graphics can actually make decent use of that much screen, but at least you'll be able to rock some huge spreadsheets. Or at least you'd be able to if you were in Japan, where this unit was found -- there's sadly no word on availability or pricing Stateside. Check a video after the break.

Continue reading Eee PC 1005HR unboxed complete with 1366 x 768 display

Eee PC 1005HR unboxed complete with 1366 x 768 display originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stylophone Beatbox electronic beats machine hands-on

Richard Lai — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:59:00 EST

We've seen the pros effortlessly tapping away classic tunes on the Stylophone Beatbox, so naturally we had to give it a shot for our faithful readers. Essentially the Beatbox is a portable electronic musical instrument that activates when the stylus contacts the metallic pad. For us the functions were pretty straight-forward to use -- there's a sliding switch for the three sound packs, a loop tool with record and play controls, a volume dial, a loop playback speed dial and a tuning dial underneath. We dig the loop function, but sometimes the Beatbox struggled to reproduce multiple effects at any instance, which is probably why the famed Brett Domino got help in his video. Another issue was that we had to tap fairly hard to get a response, and while you can isolate the tapping noise by plugging in your headphones, your hands would still quickly grow tired from the rapid beats. Of course, you can always cheat by putting in a sample loop via the "MP3" port, but where's the fun in that? Enjoy our amateurish electronic beatboxing after the break -- just promise you won't laugh. Deal?

Gallery: Stylophone Beatbox hands-on

Continue reading Stylophone Beatbox electronic beats machine hands-on

Stylophone Beatbox electronic beats machine hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS UL30Vt available for pre-order at Amazon

Laura June — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:23:00 EST

ASUS's good-looking, switchable-graphics boasting UL30Vt-X1 is one those Windows 7 laptops you really need to check out for yourself. The thin and light, 13.3-incher will get super strength battery life with the discrete graphics on. This one packs DDR3 memory, and a 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor (which can be overclocked). It's up for pre-order at Amazon now for $799 with Windows 7 Home Premium, so if you've been waiting around for this one... well now's your time.

ASUS UL30Vt available for pre-order at Amazon originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Creative rolls out third gen Vado HD pocket camcorder

Donald Melanson — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:52:00 EST

Creative sure seems to be taking the incremental approach to upgrades with its Vado HD pocket camcorders, but if you've found the previous two models just a tad lacking, you might want to consider the company's newly announced 3rd gen model. From the looks of it, most of the core specs remain the same, but Creative is promising some improved low light video recording and manual exposure adjustment, along with a new motion detection mode, support for an external stereo mic, a headphone output, and even the ability to take some still photos. You'll also now get out of the box Mac and PC compatibility, and five glossier than ever colors -- though Creative has curiously dropped the 8GB model in favor of a single 4GB option, which will set you back $179.99.

[Thanks, Kingone]

Creative rolls out third gen Vado HD pocket camcorder originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Maps Navigation officially comes to Android 1.6

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:23:00 EST

You might've thought that Google was positioning its industry-changing Google Maps Navigation as a value proposition for Android 2.0 and beyond, but yeah, not so much -- instead, they've gone ahead and backported it to 1.6 (alias "Donut") which means that T-Mobile's myTouch 3G and G1 plus other 1.6-equipped devices across the land can get in on the action. In the case of the memory-starved G1, that's especially surprising, and a heartening sign that the world's first retail Android device still has some fight left in it. It's available from the Android Market now, so go ahead -- try to get yourself lost. We dare you.

Google Maps Navigation officially comes to Android 1.6 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T's new DataConnect Pass plans serve up data a la carte

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:50:00 EST

AT&T is following Verizon's lead today with the introduction of new prepaid broadband plans targeted directly at netbook and laptop users who find themselves out of WiFi range (and in desperate need of email) every once in a while. The so-called DataConnect Pass plans exactly mirror Verizon's pricing, which means you can get 75MB as a "day pass" for $15, 250MB as a weekly deal for $30, or a half gig per month for $50. Like Verizon, you're far better off getting the 5GB postpaid plan if you're a heavy user here -- but if you find yourself needing wireless once in a blue moon, this may very well be the way to go. The packages are available now; follow the break for the full press release.

Continue reading AT&T's new DataConnect Pass plans serve up data a la carte

AT&T's new DataConnect Pass plans serve up data a la carte originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple hits back at Verizon in new iPhone ads (video)

Joshua Topolsky — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:19:00 EST

Now look, we're not saying we know for sure that Apple thinks Verizon's latest round of merciless attack ads on its device and US carrier are worth responding to, but these latest iPhone spots would certainly suggest it. A new campaign launching tonight focuses on the iPhone's ability to carry voice and data simultaneously on AT&T's network, and each of the two new TV spots ends with the line "Can your phone and your network do that?" From where we're sitting, it looks like between this new round and AT&T's Luke Wilson-manned comparison spots, both the phonemaker and carrier are fully stepping into the ring. Way to get their attention, guys. See the full clips after the break.

Continue reading Apple hits back at Verizon in new iPhone ads (video)

Apple hits back at Verizon in new iPhone ads (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony's Kaz Hirai confirms 'premium level' subscription coming to PSN

Donald Melanson — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:03:00 EST

Well, Sony may have once downplayed the notion of "catching up" with Xbox Live, but it looks like it is now set to take at least one big cue from its rival. As oh-so-quietly revealed during a presentation on Thursday and now confirmed by Kaz Hirai himself, Sony will be adding a "premium level" subscription service to the PlayStation Network sometime next year. According to Hirai, that subscription will get you "premium content and services," although exactly what those are remains a bit unclear, as the current level of service will apparently remain free, and continue to include features like Facebook, Netflix, and the ability to play games online. Also up in the air is any word on a price or launch date, although the timing of the announcement does seem to suggest that we might just be hearing more about this at CES.

[Thanks, Erick]

Sony's Kaz Hirai confirms 'premium level' subscription coming to PSN originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IBM PowerXCell-8i processor said to be last of its kind, but Cell will live on

Donald Melanson — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:39:00 EST

IBM's Cell processor may have helped break a few records and find its way into everything from video game consoles to TVs at the same time, but it looks like things could be about to change in a fairly big way for Big Blue's groundbreaking chip. According to Heise Online, IBM Vice President of Deep Computing David Turek has confirmed that the company's current PowerXCell-8i processor will be the last of its kind, and that there will not be a successor with dual PowerPC processors and 32 SPEs as originally planned. Slightly less clear, however, is the future of the Cell program in general, which will apparently live on in "another form" -- to which Turek reportedly added, somewhat vaguely, "the future is hybrid," although we're fairly certain he's not talking about cars.

IBM PowerXCell-8i processor said to be last of its kind, but Cell will live on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG X120 netbook comes to the US with 2-year AT&T contract

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:17:00 EST

If you've been aching to get your hands on the 10.1-inch, matte white LG X120 netbook that's been thrilling the trendy Euro jet-set elite for the last 6 months or so, now is your chance! Available at RadioShack.com and select brick and mortar The Shack locations, it can be yours for $179.99 with a 2-year $60/month AT&T contract. We'll let you do the math -- but believe us, you're probably better off shelling out the cash for the Levis Special Edition. Available at some unspecified near future date. For more info, peep the PR after the break.

Continue reading LG X120 netbook comes to the US with 2-year AT&T contract

LG X120 netbook comes to the US with 2-year AT&T contract originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii pay-per-view programming introduced in Japan

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:54:00 EST

Not only are we still waiting for the TV Guide Channel that Japanese Wii users have been indulging in for the better part of two years, but now Variety is reporting that Nintendo has teamed up with a dozen corporate partners to tease us with a Japanese pay-per-view service for the console. Premiering last Saturday, Wii no Ma (Wii's Room) currently has 120 titles, including episodes of Sesame Street and Pocket Monsters, available for prices ranging from ¥30 - ¥500 ($.35 - $5.63). According to Variety, titles can also be viewed on your Nintendo DSi handheld, a device known for its sonority and large, appealing display. No word yet on when we can enjoy a Stateside version, but we'll let you know as soon as we hear something. In the meantime, there's always PlayOn.

Wii pay-per-view programming introduced in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Neptune's Trident case mod honors the god of liquid cooling

Tim Stevens — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:31:00 EST

What do you do if your Battlestar Galactica case mod has conquered Earth and space with its awesomeness? Why, you conquer the seas, of course. Brian Carter is back with this Neptune's Trident mod, a lovely blue thing with three separate cooling loops, one for each of the three EVGA GeForce GTX260 video cards inside. The result? A powerhouse for sure and something that we think would look quite appropriate in Tron Legacy. You reading this, Mr. Bridges?

Neptune's Trident case mod honors the god of liquid cooling originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony VAIO UX handheld gets 3G wireless, quad OS, inflated sense of self

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:08:00 EST

As we're all undoubtedly aware, old gadgets don't really die -- they just just get modded eternally (as the continued appearance of Atari on these pages will attest). Another case-in-point: the Sony VAIO UX490N. It's been a while since we laid eyes on one of these bad boys, but apparently there's been plenty of hacking goin' on ever since, including: upgrading the SSD to the RunCore Pro IV 128GB and swapping out the 1.2GHz CPU for a 1.33GHz Core 2 Duo (overclocked to 1.438GHz). And that's just the beginning -- the cats over at the Micro PC Talk forums have also installed a voice-capable HSPA modem, swapped out the old wireless card for one that supports a/b/g/n WiFi, and installed partitions for Windows XP Pro, Windows Vista Business, Windows 7 Ultimate and Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.7. Impressive stuff, all that: but what if we told you that one fearless individual has applied every one of those changes to a single device? And that battery life was pretty much unaffected? Well, you're probably going to want the details, right? Hit the source link to get started.

Sony VAIO UX handheld gets 3G wireless, quad OS, inflated sense of self originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jinbo's MID does Windows XP on the tiny, shuns you and your physical keyboard

Tim Stevens — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:45:00 EST

The netbook/smartbook/MID crossover continues, occasionally spawning some curious genetic misfits seemingly ill-suited for the world at large. Such is the Jinbo MID, a rather chunky and plain mobile internet device that follows in the footsteps of BenQ's S6 by packing Windows XP without a keyboard. It does at least offer slightly higher specs: a 1.1GHz Atom Z510 processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, and 16GB of storage. Data comes in via 802.11b/g and 3G wireless then goes out through that 5-inch screen of unknown resolution. It looks to be nearly an inch thick so it's surprising the company couldn't wedge a keyboard in there, as Viliv found room for one in their similar S5, but hopefully enough customizations and layers over XP will make everything work. And if it doesn't, well, the thing likely won't be available outside of China and, at 3950 yuan (about $580), it's debatable whether you'd want one if it were.

Jinbo's MID does Windows XP on the tiny, shuns you and your physical keyboard originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Camangi's WebStation tablet ships soon, sports Android, loves early birds (video)

Tim Stevens — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:24:00 EST

The CrunchPad may or may not have stumbled, but competitors seem to be swooping in for the kill regardless. The latest is Camangi with its WebStation, a 7-inch, Android 1.5-powered tablet said to be shipping in just a few weeks. Detailed specs have still not been made official, but the glass touchscreen is 800 x 480, WiFi 802.11b/g, and there's GPS on tap if you want to take this out into the real world. We found two demonstration videos, both embedded after the break for your viewing pleasure, the first a simple walkthrough while the second shows it struggling to render the Avatar trailer -- something James Cameron is surely hoping won't be a problem on the final device. Retail price is said to be $399 but the site indicates the first 100 purchasers will get "early bird pricing," whatever that amounts to. Might as well sign up and see. What's another bit of spam these days?

[Thanks, Peter]

Continue reading Camangi's WebStation tablet ships soon, sports Android, loves early birds (video)

Camangi's WebStation tablet ships soon, sports Android, loves early birds (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eking's tilting, sliding S515 UMPC gets unwrapped on video, looks like a giant Touch Pro2

Darren Murph — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:03:00 EST

Eking's S515 has been trumpeted for a small while now, but we weren't exactly eager to bite before seeing this thing in the flesh. Today, UMPC Portal has managed to procure one of these tilting, sliding handhelds, and thankfully for all of us, they've hosted up an informative unboxing video to show it off. Packing a 4.8-inch display, 1.2GHz Atom Z515 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 16GB or 32GB SSD and a full QWERTY keyboard, the device honestly looks like a giant HTC Touch Pro2 at first glance -- particularly once you prop the display up. We're also hearing that this same handheld has surfaced elsewhere as the Digicube Z8, but it's tough to say if either will be shipping stateside in the near future. Hop on past the break if you're curious to see what a Touch Pro2 would look like on 'roids.

Continue reading Eking's tilting, sliding S515 UMPC gets unwrapped on video, looks like a giant Touch Pro2

Eking's tilting, sliding S515 UMPC gets unwrapped on video, looks like a giant Touch Pro2 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget Podcast 172 - 11.23.2009

Trent Wolbe — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:40:00 EST

It's been a crazy weekend, and we'll have the latest episode of The Engadget Show up to prove it soon enough, but for now we thought you might still be interested in the podcast we did live on Friday from within the hazy mist of show prep and Chrome OS assessment. Sure, you might not be used to getting a new podcast on a Monday morning, but we've heard that a technology podcast replete with bizarre exchanges with live audience members via chat and many vitamins and minerals can be a vital part of a healthy, well-balanced breakfast.

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Song: Bit.shifter - The World Has Turned And Left Me Here

Hear the podcast

01:38 - Google's Chrome OS revealed
26:52 - AT&T loses request for injunction against Verizon's Map for That ads
30:28 - AT&T 'hits' back at Verizon's Map for That campaign with an 'ad' of its own
34:20 - Welcome to the next Engadget

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Engadget Podcast 172 - 11.23.2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Maps Navigation hacked for extra-American use

Vladislav Savov — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:19:00 EST

Guess what, prospective Milestone owners, the Droid's one major advantage over its Euro cousin has just been coded out of existence by those proactive, un-American XDA Developers. The free Google Maps Navigation service, whose US announcement was so shocking as to decimate the stock prices of satnav purveyors Garmin and TomTom, has now been ported to work outside the land of the free as well. Not only that, but you can use the app on other Android devices, meaning your old G1 can get a breath of fresh air for absolutely free. That is if you don't count the time it takes you to learn how to insert all the code properly and the risk of bricking your device in the process. But we know our readers eat iron nails for breakfast and fashion elegantly optimized code before lunch, so we expect all of you to be using this by day's end, you hear?

Google Maps Navigation hacked for extra-American use originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon announces Samsung Omnia II: December 2 for $200

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST

As expected, Verizon has chosen December 2 as the Samsung Omnia II's date with destiny, bringing an interesting full-touch WinMo alternative to the HTC Imagio that launched back in October alongside Windows Mobile 6.5. Speaking of 6.5, there were some early concerns that Verizon's version of the Omnia II would launch on stale 6.1 code, but fear not -- it's now confirmed that you'll be looking at Microsoft's latest and greatest stuff when you gaze upon that 3.7-inch AMOLED WVGA display. It's also got a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and flash, WiFi, and 8GB of internal storage along with microSD expansion -- good news for anyone who plans on making much use of that cam, especially in video mode. Verizon's site and retail locations both take delivery of the device on the same 12/2 date, pushing it for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate. Considering the pricing, we've gotta ask: Droid or Omnia II?

Verizon announces Samsung Omnia II: December 2 for $200 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Data Robotics introduces 5-bay Drobo S, enterprise-ready DroboElite

Darren Murph — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST

Data Robotics has been quietly raking in the dough (and trying to match up supply with demand) ever since it launched its 8-bay DroboPro back in April, and now the company is making yet another bold move: doubling its product line. Starting today, the traditional 4-bay Drobo will be joined by the quicker Drobo S, and the DroboElite will be added at the high end for those in the enterprise. The Model S ups the ante by adding a fifth drive bay in order to allow for two drives to fail without any data being lost -- a feature that was previously reserved for the aforesaid Pro. It's also boasting an ARM chip with a 50 percent faster clock (compared to the Drobo), enabling the FireWire 800 performance to see a 20 to 25 percent boostt; moreover, an eSATA socket has been added alongside the tried-and-true USB 2.0 port. Users will also be able to switch between single- and dual-drive redundancy via the software control panel, though you should be warned that the DroboShare NAS adapter will not work on the Drobo S. We spoke with Mark Fuccio, the firm's senior director of products and marketing, who told us that the functionality was left off due to the possibility of a "bad customer experience." In essence, the network throughput would crawl compared to a direct connection, so the company simply opted to avoid the headaches rather than cater to those of you who demand NAS functionality on every external HDD to hit the market.

Moving on, the DroboElite is carving a new path for the company, one that caters to high-maintenance enterprise users looking to serve up to 16 hosts while providing up to 255 smart volumes. The Elite is basically a Pro on steroids, with room for 8 hard drives, single- or dual-drive redundancy and an all-new connection method. If you'll recall, the Pro provided a single gigabit Ethernet port (iSCSI), FireWire 800 and USB 2.0; the Elite ships with two gigabit Ethernet sockets and nothing more (aside from a USB port used only for device management), so it's pretty clear that this one isn't looking to satisfy the home consumer market.

Both devices are shipping out today, with the Drobo S starting at $799 (with no HDDs) and being sold at the same outlets as the Drobo (which isn't vanishing, by the way). The DroboElite gets going at $3,499, though it'll only be sold through outlets such as CDW and the like who specialize in medium-to-large business sales. Oh, and just in case you're curious, the existing Drobo will continue on at its $399 price point (MSRP), though we're told that smart shoppers should find it for less near Black Friday and throughout the holiday season.

Gallery: Data Robotics introduces 5-bay Drobo S, enterprise-ready DroboElite

Filed under: Storage

Data Robotics introduces 5-bay Drobo S, enterprise-ready DroboElite originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Drobo S Data Sheet [PDF], DroboElite Data Sheet [PDF] | Email this | Comments

Sergey Brin: Android and Chrome OS 'will likely converge over time'

Thomas Ricker — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:59:00 EST

When it comes to nerd obsessions, the only thing that can trump a fictional tablet developed by battling left-coast legends is the promise of a revolutionary OS from Google that relies upon nothing but a browser and the dreams of a young Larry Ellison. Don't even start with your Korean product waifs as we're trying to keep the discussion in the realm of possibilities. Now, with the weekend over, you've probably experienced the same sense of ennui we've all felt at having downloaded and tested a copy of Chrome OS. To be fair, that meh-ness is kind of what you'd expect from a browser-based OS that's meant to get out of your way. Still, it's hard not to wonder where Android and its growing application base fits into Google's long-term OS strategy especially after seeing several ARM-based smartbook prototypes running Google's smartphone OS. Fortunately, Google co-founder Sergey Brin shed some light on this topic in a candid statement following the Chrome OS event. According to CNET, Brin said that Android and the Chrome OS "will likely converge over time," noting the common Webkit and Linux foundation of both operating systems. It's unclear when this might occur however. In fact, listening to Google CEO Eric Schmidt attempt to explain the difference between Google's operating systems in a recent CNET interview leaves us wondering if Google has a clear idea of its target markets as smartphone and laptop functionality continues to converge across devices. Schmidt concedes that it's too early to tell how the OSes will be used and prefers not to "prejudge the success" of each. "The future will unfold as it does," he says, and the open-source community will determine the natural fit. Check the interview after the break -- the Android vs. Chrome OS waffling begins at the 16:30 remaining mark of the 19 minute and 11 second interview.

[Original image courtesy of Rich Dellinger]

Continue reading Sergey Brin: Android and Chrome OS 'will likely converge over time'

Sergey Brin: Android and Chrome OS 'will likely converge over time' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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British surgeons using radiation beams to halt macular degeneration

Darren Murph — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:28:00 EST

We've seen more eyesight restoration efforts than we could easily count, but rather than tooting their horn about some theoretical discovery, boffins at Kings College Hospital in London are actually putting their hard work to use on real, live human brings. The new process, which goes by the name brachytherapy, is a one-off treatment for macular degeneration. In essence, surgeons carefully light up a beam of radiation within the eye for just over three minutes, which kills harmful cells without damaging anything else. A trial is currently underway in order to restore eyesight in some 363 patients, and everything thus far leads us to believe that the process is both safe and effective. As for costs? The procedure currently runs £6,000 ($9,889), but that's still not awful when you consider that existing treatments involving injections run £800 per month. Hop past the break for a video report.

Continue reading British surgeons using radiation beams to halt macular degeneration

British surgeons using radiation beams to halt macular degeneration originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jailbroken iPhones exposed to second worm, this time malicious

Vladislav Savov — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:40:00 EST

As inevitable as the sun rising in the East and setting in the West, an innocuous iPhone worm has been transformed into a malicious bank details-stealing virus. The second recorded iPhone infection operates on exactly the same principles as the first, as it targets jailbroken handsets with SSH installed, but this time adds the ability for the hacker to remotely control and access the phone. By throwing up a purported ING Direct login page, he (or she, or they) can collect your online banking credentials and, presumably, all the cash they are supposed to protect. Presently isolated within the Netherlands, this outbreak may spread further still, as it is capable of infecting other jailbroken iPhones on the same WiFi network.

Jailbroken iPhones exposed to second worm, this time malicious originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony joins 1,000-hour recording club with IDC-UX300

Vladislav Savov — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:08:00 EST

You really don't know how many voice recorders there are out there until you actually look. Sony's UX line of dictation takers / mp3 players has just undergone a gentle revamp with a freshened up control scheme and a bump in integrated storage. The new base model, UX200, will come with 2GB of flash memory, while the 4GB UX300 and 300F (both capable of more than 1,000 hours of recording) are differentiated only by the FM radio availalble in the latter. All models record in stereo mp3 format with added noise cancellation built in, while playback can be done at 21 different speed steps, allowing you to keep track of all the Scatman John wannabes out there. Battery life is rated at up to 15 hours for continuous recording, or north of 80 for continuous playback. Expect to see these showing up, in all their classy color options, in Europe early next month, and check past the break for the full PR.

Gallery: Sony ICD-UX200, ICD-UX300, and ICD-UX300F

Continue reading Sony joins 1,000-hour recording club with IDC-UX300

Sony joins 1,000-hour recording club with IDC-UX300 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spotify gets Symbian app, Nokia owners rejoice

Vladislav Savov — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:34:00 EST

As the official Spotify site says, "Symbian is the world's most popular smartphone platform," so it's only proper that it too gets to sip the elixir of on-demand music streaming and offline playlists. Nothing is particularly different from the iPhone or Android offering, you still require a Spotify Premium account in order to access the service on your mobile, but we're sure all those N- and E-series device owners didn't want better, they just wanted in. Lest we forget, the Samsung i8910 HD and Sony Ericsson Satio are also on that freshly minted Symbian support list. If you must know what the app looks like before pulling the trigger, slide past the break for a video demonstration.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Spotify gets Symbian app, Nokia owners rejoice

Spotify gets Symbian app, Nokia owners rejoice originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Nokia Conversations, Spotify | Email this | Comments

iPhone slated for South Korean debut on November 28

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:21:00 EST

Look, South Korea, we know it's been about four decades since a handset without an integrated DMB tuner or two launched in your neck of the woods -- and no, there isn't an app for that -- but just how badly do you want in on this Apple mojo? Following government clearance a couple months back, South Korean operator KT says that it's now ready to offer the iPhone to customers next Saturday, November 28 for prices ranging from 396,000 won ($343) on a 45,000 won plan ($39) for a 32GB 3GS all the way down to absolutely free for an 8GB 3G on a 95,000 won plan ($82). Given that KT and its competitors typically rival Japanese carriers for sheer technological insanity, it'll be interesting to see how the average Korean consumer responds to the late launch.

iPhone slated for South Korean debut on November 28 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson Kurara previewed way ahead of release

Vladislav Savov — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:51:00 EST

We were promised a preview of Sony Ericsson's Symbian-sporting Satio sibling, and indeed here we are, looking at the machine-translated Kurara analysis courtesy of Eldar from Mobile Review. He pulls no punches in his introduction by noting that the new handset will offer little in terms of specs to trump the Samsung i8910 HD, and sketching out the tough market it'll have to compete in once the Nokia X6 comes out and starts grabbing market and mindshare alike. As to the phone itself, he describes the 8.1 megapixel camera as an "inexpensive" unit and lets the sample photos and 720p sample video shot with it speak for themselves. Battery life was found to be "lacking," though we congratulate SE on electing to use a 3.5mm headphone jack and MicroSD memory expansion over its own proprietary formats. Overall, the Kurara was "pleasant to use," but lacked the necessary wow factor and its fate, says Eldar, will depend on just how keenly Sony Ericsson wants to price it.

Sony Ericsson Kurara previewed way ahead of release originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Powermat retrofitted into plank of wood, new world of opportunies discovered

Darren Murph — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:21:00 EST

The Powermat may have slung "inductive charging" into the mainstream (at least to some minor extent), but it's still far too niche to be taken seriously by any electronics aisle in Target. Take that same technology and shove it into wood, however, and you've got something that each and every table owner on the planet could appreciate. Jason V decided to retrofit a Powermat charging pad into a slab of wood, and while it wasn't the easiest of tasks, the fact that he managed to successfully integrate it opens up all sorts of possibilities for the woodworking crowd. If you're hungry for more details, hop on down to the how-to guide at Instructables; otherwise, the demonstration vid is just past the break.

Continue reading Powermat retrofitted into plank of wood, new world of opportunies discovered

Powermat retrofitted into plank of wood, new world of opportunies discovered originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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China Telecom to launch Palm and BlackBerry handsets this year?

Thomas Ricker — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:54:00 EST

Although we like to think of the US and European markets as the center of the cellphone universe, there are big (Big!) sales to be had elsewhere behind the unstoppable force of globalization. And when it comes to absolute numbers, markets just don't get any bigger than China with its estimated 700 million subscribers. Rumors of BlackBerry and Palm twist-ups with Chinese carriers are nothing new. In fact, RIM has already been a player in the Chinese market for years. Today, however, we've got a rumored timeline for bringing their handsets to China Telecom: end of 2009 or early 2010, according to a Reuters source. The move would give Telecom its first trendy western mobiles in hopes of improving its third place position behind Unicom and market dominating China Mobile in a battle for the hearts ~~and minds~~ and treasure of China's burgeoning population. And while RIM would certainly be pleased by the additional revenue source, Palm, with its modest marketshare by comparison, would be downright ecstatic at the prospect of tapping into China with its new smartphones.

China Telecom to launch Palm and BlackBerry handsets this year? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cambridge's ProFORMA does 3D scanning with any stationary webcam

Richard Lai — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:12:00 EST

Never mind that silly name: ProFORMA (which stands for 'Probabilistic Feature-based On-line Rapid Model Acquisition', if you must know) is some cool system that turns any ordinary webcam into a powerful 3D scanning tool. In fact, a camera is pretty much all you need for some "on-line" modeling action -- no laser or green screen necessary -- meaning the 3D models are constructed on the spot while you slowly rotate the objects, although ProFORMA can also track fast moving objects as shown in the demo video after the break. Fans of machinima should also look into this for their next Warhammer drama series, but don't say you heard it from us.

Continue reading Cambridge's ProFORMA does 3D scanning with any stationary webcam

Cambridge's ProFORMA does 3D scanning with any stationary webcam originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Boing Boing | Cambridge University | Email this | Comments

Dell Mini 3i OPhone detailed ahead of this week's China Mobile launch

Thomas Ricker — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:00:00 EST

After so much speculation and rumor, it's hard to believe that Dell's first modern cellphone is ready to launch. And while we've already seen the official press release announcing the Mini 3 for Brazil and China, today we get a followup release with a bit more detail. As expected, the Chinese Mini 3i variant is quadband GSM/EDGE only (no 3G) and packs a 3.5-inch nHD, 640x360 touchscreen display just like that found on Nokia's N97. The 58.35 x 122 x 11.7-mm OPhone will ship in "Red Passion" and "Oiled Bronze" colors packing Bluetooth, a 3 megapixel auto-focus camera with flash and video capture mode, microSD slot, and GPS with pre-loaded maps. And in case you're wondering why China first, that's easy: Dell's going after China Mobile's 500 million subscriber base when its first handset hits authorized stores later this week.

Dell Mini 3i OPhone detailed ahead of this week's China Mobile launch originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The end of exclusivity leading to big iPhone sales in Europe

Darren Murph — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:21:00 EST

Go figure, right? You get a relatively hot phone out onto more carriers, and just like that, sales increase. It ain't rocket science, buster. As AT&T grins happily while enjoying a death grip on Apple's cash cow here in the States, things are a lot more wide open for consumers across the pond. In both France and the UK, the iPhone has been given the all-clear to be sold on multiple carriers, and according to research from Bernstein, the "widening of the distribution has boosted Apple's value market share to 32 percent in the latest quarter from 21 percent just three months earlier." The notes also mention that Apple's increase is coming at the expense of RIM, with over 600,000 iPhone handsets being sold during Q3 2009 in France alone. The point to all this madness? Oh, not much -- just to tell Sir Jobs that he can count on quite a bit more dough should he decide to sell this elusive "iPhone" device on Verizon in the US of A.

The end of exclusivity leading to big iPhone sales in Europe originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Electronista | MarketWatch | Email this | Comments

Roku Channel Store delivers ten new content portals for zero dollars

Darren Murph — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:35:00 EST

Roku owners already have access to Netflix, Amazon Video On Demand and MLB.tv, but now the set-top box is about to get a lot more interesting. Starting tonight and running throughout the next fortnight, existing owners of the Roku SD, Roku HD and Roku HD-XR will receive an automatic (and free) update that delivers ten new content channels. Pandora, Facebook Photos, Revision3, Mediafly, TWiT, blip.tv, Flickr, FrameChannel, Motionbox and MobileTribe will be joining the fray, and while we wish the likes of Hulu and other television portals were included, we're holding out hope that such channels will be unveiled in due time. In fact, Roku admits that "many other developers are working on Roku Channels now, and Roku expects additional developers to adopt the Roku platform over time." So, have these guys convinced you that you need another box underneath your HDTV yet, or what?

Gallery: Roku Channel Store delivers ten new content portals for zero dollars

Continue reading Roku Channel Store delivers ten new content portals for zero dollars

Roku Channel Store delivers ten new content portals for zero dollars originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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