Ford's Sync phone / DAP integration gets priced at $395

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Looks like Ford's pricing the Sync extensible automotive media platform right in line with most other DAP / Bluetooth
integration solutions: Dearborn announced today that the system will be a $395 option on new Focus, Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles starting this fall. Ford also said that Sync will be coming to nine other vehicles by 2008, but honestly, we're not going to be satisfied on the carputer tip until we get Turbo Boost and a sweeping red scanner light.

 

[via] Engadget

Xbox 360 Premium confirmed shipping with HDMI

Filed under: Gaming

It looks like after all the rumor-mongering and speculation, the bomb is in fact dropping on Xbox 360 Premium hopefuls: the game systems are shipping with HDMI. At least one lucky customer who purchased a Premium system at a Target in Atlanta is currently enjoying the spoils of Microsoft's not-so-secret addition, so hot out of tips and direct to your eyes, we present the first of many you'll be seeing with the much-discussed, built-in HDMI port (and obviously the cooler 65nm chips onboard). You can stop saving and start buying -- as long as your Xbox was built on or around July 4th, a date which will now be remembered for two reasons.

[Via Shacknews, thanks Tim]

 

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

[via] Engadget

Macally intros TunePro iPod speaker system

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio

It looks like Apple accessorizer Macally is aiming for a bigger piece of the ever-expanding iPod speaker system market, with the company today officially introducing its TunePro unit, which also doubles as a clock radio. Based on NXT flat panel loudspeaker technology, the system promises "immersive 3D audio" thanks to its SRS WOW audio processing, although the actual amount of power behind the unit isn't clear. While it's designed primarily for iPods with a 30-pin dock connector, it also thankfully comes equipped with a standard line-in jack to let you use other devices, and comes bundled with three iPod inserts to ensure a snug fit for your iPod of choice. If that suits your fancy, you can grab one now for $130. iPhone users may want to hold off a bit though, as the company says it'll have one specially made for you sometime in the fourth quarter of 2007.

 

[via] Engadget

Zen Wav washes up on US shores

Filed under: Portable Audio

We don't know how many of you were patiently waiting for the Zen Wav to hit our fair shores, but it looks like the tiny black DAP has finally made it out of Asia. Other than the tinny built-in speakers, there's not a lot you haven't seen from Creative before: 4GB of flash, 1.5-inch screen, line-in, smug sense of non-conformity, and an FM tuner. All yours at Wal-Mart for $99.

[Via EpiZENter]

 

[via] Engadget

Microsoft officially adds HDMI to Xbox 360 Premium

Filed under: Gaming

Sorry early adoptors (both of the Xbox 360 Premiums and Elites), Microsoft finally made official what we've long since known: it's no fluke, and Redmond will be ("gradually") adding HDMI out to the 360 Premium models moving forward. Here's Microsoft's official statement:

"Yes, we are offering an HDMI port for Xbox 360 simply as another choice in Xbox 360 owners' games and entertainment experience. Retailers are gradually introducing HDMI-enabled Xbox 360s into the channel to meet demand."

How do you know if your new $350 Xbox 360 will have HDMI out? Simple enough: according to Microsoft PR, the applicable systems will now sport an HDMI logo, so keep an eye out for that and you'll be all set.

Update: We also asked if these new systems would ship with cooler 65nm chips and quieter DVD drives, but all we got back was the usual song and dance about "not commenting on details of specific components or manufacturing processes." In other words, if you want to see if Microsoft switched out their chips, you'll likely have to run to the store, buy another Xbox, and tear it down for yourself, because Xbox isn't engaging consumers otherwise.

 

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

[via] Engadget

Apple's new wireless keyboard not shipping for 3-5 weeks

Filed under: Peripherals, Wireless

While the new iMacs, USB 2.0 keyboard, and updated iLife and iWork suites announced yesterday shipped out lickety-quick, it seems like Apple's tiny new Bluetooth keyboard isn't quite ready yet -- the online Apple Store is showing wait times of 3-5 weeks. That's at least down from the 4-6 weeks we swear the store showed yesterday, but it's still a mighty long time. Oh well -- we'll never feel comfortable without a numeric keypad anyway.

[Thanks, Jeff]

 

[via] Engadget

Fujitsu planning on shipping 1.2TB laptop hard drives in 2010

Filed under: Laptops, Storage

Fujitsu keeps pumping out the hard drive innovation -- this time the company is planning to ship a 1.2TB 2.5-inch hard drive by 2010. The company is planning on leveraging a new perpendicular recording method that allows researchers to create "ideally 'ordered' alumina nanohole patterns for isolated bit-by-bit recording on a large disk area" to accomplish the feat, which sounds pretty intense to us. Of course, by 2010 we'll all probably be rocking at least a petabyte or two of desktop storage, but it's still fun to dream.

 

[via] Engadget

New iMac disassembled

Filed under: Desktops

And who, exactly, can resist taking apart the latest hotness? (Or, for that matter, writing a post about it?) Kodawarisan over in Japan ever so delicately tore their new iMac apart, and what a surprise, it's got all the trappings of a regular PC (SATA drive, DVD burner, CPU, etc.). Still, it's fun to see how Apple crams all that crap in there, you know?

Update: Looks like we took down (Engadgeted?) Kodawarisan's site. Sorry guys! They sent us a mirror to use though, go here.

 

[via] Engadget

T-Mobile bringing HotSpot @Home to your landlines

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

T-Mobile's HotSpot @Home already brings WiFi VoIP to compatible cell phones, and the latest FCC filing from T-Mo and Linksys indicates that soon all the phones in your pad will be able to get in on the action: say hello to the WRTU54G. Apart from the T-Mobile branding and the two phone jacks on the back, the router features two user-accessible SIM card slots, which appear to be used to configure up to two phone lines -- we're not sure if they're VoIP or cell, however.

[Via TG Daily]

 

[via] Engadget

Newman's janky Windows CE PMP does it all

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Newman's been known to crank out a few less than beautiful devices in its time, but the interestingly styled vx1000 certainly ups the ante. This handheld conglomerate manages to wear an awful lot of hats, as it features a built-in media player, four-inch 480 x 272 widescreen panel, an image / text viewer, FM radio, WiFi, gaming functions, and Windows CE at the helm. Of course, we'd be sure to give this thing a whirl before confidently snapping up such a chintzy looking piece, but those willing to take the risk can pick one up in China for 1,999CNY ($264).

[Via PMPToday]

 

[via] Engadget

Fake iPhone cut & paste demo loves you

Filed under: Cellphones

Ok, we can officially and finally put this debate to rest: yes, Apple really could use its multi-touch input system to enable users to friggin' copy / paste text in the iPhone. And to prove it, the usual random internet dude (lonelysandwich) has put his skills to the test and developed a demo proof of concept video that Conan O'Brien will probably sue over. Hit it up after the break!

[Via Kottke]

Continue reading Fake iPhone cut & paste demo loves you

 

[via] Engadget

Blockbuster buys Movielink

Filed under: Home Entertainment

We heard it was going to happen, and it did: Blockbuster bought Movielink for an undisclosed sum, surely to compliment its online offerings to better compete with arch-nemesis Netflix in the internet movie distribution game. And surely if it did sell for the piddly $50 mil figure being tossed around before, the barrier to this entry is just a drop in the bucket for the big blue movie rental giant.

[Thanks, Philip]

 

[via] Engadget

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

It's not often X-Micro pops up on our radar, but it looks like the company is still kicking it at the PMP game, with it recently introducing another pair of new players you'll likely have trouble distinguishing from the multitude of similar devices competing for your tunes. On the low(er) end, the company's got its EVA 220 MP3 player, available in 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB varieties, and boasting a 128x64 blue blacklit display, a built-in FM radio, and support for nothing more than plain old WMA and MP3 audio. Offering a few more capabilities than that its the company's new X-VDO F510 PMP, which is available in the same 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB varieties, but adds a 1.8-inch TFT display and support for video playback, among other minor upgrades. No word on pricing or availability for either of 'em just yet though, so you'll have to somehow curb your enthusiasm for the time being.

[via] Engadget

Rise audiophile CD player ships in three separate cases

Filed under: Home Entertainment

What can we say? We love when super-high-end audio companies try to convince us of whatever voodoo they're selling -- so this three-part CD player from Rise is right up our alley. The Philips CD Pro 2M transport is protected from pesky interference like vibrations and magnetism (really, that's what it says) by being mounted in a custom aluminum chassis, away from the power supply and controls. We're not sure what D / A converter is involved, but the unit does ship in three separate cases -- one for each component. No details on price, but something tells us that Rise isn't exactly giving these away.

[Via Audio Junkies]

 

[via] Engadget

Olympus intros six new digital voice recorders

Filed under: Portable Audio

Keepin' things fresh in the digital voice recorder realm is Olympus, which just unveiled six new devices on the European frontier. The compact WS-311M and WS-321M units sport 512MB and 1GB (respectively) of internal memory for loading up music files when not playing back lecturers, boast USB 2.0 connectivity, and offer up six recording qualities to boot. The 256MB WS-110 and 512MB WS-210S simply double as a LCD-equipped USB flash drive when not tuning into voices, and the 256MB VN-4100 and VN-4100PC flavors throw in voice activation, four recording options, a built-in display, and a recording timer for good measure. Granted, the September launch dates keep them from being of any real value during the earlier parts of next semester, but be sure and click through to take a look at the rest of the family.

[Via Pocket-Lint]

[via] Engadget

5G iPod mod trades the hard drive for CF storage

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

We've seen similar flash memory mods for various iterations of the iPod family, like Mark Hoekstra's CF swap, which spans generations one through four, but unfortunately we have yet to see anyone take on the 5G video iPods... until now. One apparently bored and crafty gentleman who goes by the name Tarkan Akdam has successfully replaced his untrustworthy, archaic, mechanical hard drive with a substantially smaller 4GB CF card (we suppose what it lacks in storage is made up for in peace of mind). Apparently, it's not so tough to find a compatible solution to go from the factory-installed Toshiba drive to an off-the-shelf chunk of flash memory -- as long as you have a custom circuit board made and don't mind soldering 0.5mm pitch connections. If you're reaching for your mini-screwdriver set right now, hit the read link and learn the whole process.

[Thanks, Roberto]

 

[via] Engadget

Venturesome DIY'er building Futurama's Bender

Filed under: Robots

Futurama fans (and Bender freaks in particular) may need to be sitting down when viewing this one, as we're fairly certain you'll be at least somewhat blown away by what lies ahead. On a whimsical request from a friend, a pioneering lad set out to not only create a lifelike rendition of Bender, but to "give it a brain" and make it brew beer (saywha?). Judging by his other endeavors, this won't go down as the first alcohol-related project he's undertaken, but he's well on his way to creating what's sure to be a fanboy's dream. The creature is being constructed with an assortment of MDF, glue, polystyrene balls, fiberglass, paint, and all sorts of electronic internals, and while it's not quite complete as of this writing, feel free to bookmark the read link and tag along as the process unfolds.

 

[via] Engadget

Xbox 360 Halo 3 Special Edition high res pics

Filed under: Gaming

We're not going to mince words -- this post goes out to everybody in the audience that wanted a little closer look at the Xbox 360 Halo 3 Special Edition console due out next month. Enjoy the eye candy!

Gallery: Xbox 360 Halo 3 Special Edition high res pics

 

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

[via] Engadget

How would you change iMovie '08: special emergency software edition

Filed under: Desktops, Features, Laptops

We know we don't normally do our How would you change feature in the middle of the week -- nor do we ever do it about software -- but since Tuesday we've been absolutely inundated with unhappy iMovie '08 customers who want back many of the the more robust features of previous versions. Chief among them, iMovie could seriously use themes, chapter markers, a timeline view, track-volume editing / fading, and the list goes on. So tell us, what would you change about it? Go nuts in comments, we hear Apple reads the site every once in a while.

 

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

[via] Engadget

Is Nokia readying a 3G N95 for America?

Filed under: Cellphones

Nokia's N95, like many phones in America, has been a consistent letdown to those hoping to rock any decent online content on their phone, mainly because of the prohibitive EDGE data speeds which currently dominate the GSM market here (a matter of fact, no matter how much Mr. Jobs may protest). Well, it appears that at least Nokia is feeling our pain, because according to a recent GigaOM rumor, the company is readying a 3G variation of the N95 -- presumably with a US carrier in tow -- due out this September, which makes sense considering some of the company's recent shenanigans. If (and when) this happens, it should make the do-it-all phone, which boasts a 5 megapixel camera, built-in GPS, WiFi, and all sorts of multimedia functions, considerably more attractive to consumers in the States, even with its $749 price tag.

 

[via] Engadget

Dish to enable external HDD use with its DVRs, use Ethernet to 'phone home'

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Storage

Dish Network users (and the ones that are about to be), commence rejoicing. According to MultiChannel, the satellite television provider is readying its "USB External Storage" solution, which will dole out a software update that allows users of the ViP622 HD DVR to attach their own USB hard drive for storing content. Notably, this wonderful luxury will only require a $39.99 "enabling fee," but we've no doubt the hardcore recorders won't mind a bit. Additionally, Dish is also scheduled to finally enable the Ethernet port for users who have wanted to "phone home" via this method, you know, considering you probably ditched your landline four years ago anyway. Reportedly, this will mark the first step in launching the new DishONLINE video-on-demand service, which could be operational next month. In other sat news, the latest DirecTV bird is set to actually make a difference "on or around September 15th," but for those itching to flank their ViP622 with "up to 750GB" of their own storage, you'll be waiting 'til August 15th.

 

[via] Engadget

EPOS Technologies' digital pen records your writing

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Have you ever been sitting around and suddenly thought of the cure for cancer, or figured out how to build the world's largest hamburger, but you didn't have any way to get your idea down? Sure, you could write it on a piece of paper, but what if that paper got ripped, or blown away by a strong gust of wind? Well luckily, EPOS Technologies thought about all of this and came up with a solution: a digital pen which records your movements on a piece of paper, and then saves them to a USB flash drive for later use. The two-part combo utilizes the company's proprietary system of transmission which employs ultrasonic acoustic waves to help measure the distance and position of the pen, so apparently all you have to do is clip the flash drive to a notepad or related writing surface, and off you go. The whole wacky set-up is available for the bargain-basement price of $79, and should be available by the end of the year.

 

[via] Engadget

Intel announces simplified product-naming scheme

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

It looks like Intel has come to the realization that its product naming scheme has gotten a little out of hand and, as Ars Technica reports, it's now taking some measures to simplify things a bit. Apparently, Core 2 Quad, Core 2 Duo, and Core 2 Solo will all simply be known as "Core 2" starting on January 1st, 2008 (presumably with some other means to differentiate then), and Intel Viiv Processor Technology and Intel vPro Processor Technology will henceforth be known as Intel Core 2 Duo Processor with Viiv (or vPro). Further on down the line, Pentium D and Pentium Dual-Core will both be shortened to just "Pentium," while the server-centric Itanium 2 gets demoted to plain old "Itanium." According to Ars, Core 2 Extreme, Celeron, and Xeon will all stay as they are. Simple, right?

 

[via] Engadget

Mio's C620 / C620t navigation units to offer '3D maps'

Filed under: GPS

As if Mio didn't have enough new kit coming down the pipeline, now we've learned that the outfit is reportedly readying another duo of portable navigation devices. The C620 and C620t seem to only differ in the traffic functionality built into the latter, as each will sport a 4.3-inch touchscreen display, the MioMap 2008 software with redesigned GUI and split-screen capabilities, an integrated media player, and a contact book for good measure. More importantly, however, are the new TeleAtlas maps, which purportedly boast "3D models of certain buildings, landmarks, and more." No news just yet on pricing or availability, but word on the street has these two showing up at this month's IFA expo.

[Via NaviGadget]

 

[via] Engadget

Sprint to offer WiMAX-enabled Nokia N800 in 2008?

Filed under: Handhelds, Wireless

While we were already looking forward to the N800 Internet Tablet's inevitable successor, it seems like Sprint may have something else in mind. According to LinuxDevices, the operator "will offer a mobile WiMAX-enabled version of Nokia's N800 Internet Tablet to North American customers next year," which reportedly falls in line with the carrier's grand scheme of making 4G services available "to over 100 million people during 2008." Furthermore, Nokia's director of open source, Dr. Ari Jaaksi, was quoted as saying that this here device would "most probably" include WiFi and Bluetooth as well, but as expected, no details regarding a specific launch timeframe were divulged.

[Via JustAMP]

 

[via] Engadget

Halo 3 Xbox 360 pre-orders go live

Filed under: Gaming

Just two days after learning that the oh-so-covetable Halo 3-themed Xbox 360 would be landing next month, EBGames now has the console available for pre-order. Currently, the site is listing September 16th as the official ship date, but we wouldn't put too much stock into that number just yet. Coincidentally, Microsoft has also made known today that "over one million" copies of Halo 3 have been reserved in North America, which reportedly shatters "pre-order records in the video game industry." Also noteworthy is the tidbit about the "exclusive Halo 3 Gamer Pics and Theme" that comes bundled in with the special edition package, and while we doubt this minutiae will sway you one way or another, at least you now know precisely what your $399.99 will be buying.

[via] Engadget

Nintendo DS slide controller add-on revealed in Japan

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

Recall that motion-sensing patent from the Big N just, oh, two days ago? Turns out that may have a thing or two to do with the recent slide controller accessory unveiled for the Japanese market. Bundled in with the game Slide Adventure: Mag Kid, the device plugs directly into the GBA cartridge slot of the DS / DS Lite and essentially allows you to set the handheld on a flat surface and slide around 'til your heart's content. Unfortunately, there's no dirt on whether or not this peripheral will ever be released outside of Japan (sound familiar?), but for those making their home in Tokyo, you can become the envy of us all by picking the bundle up for ¥5,800 ($49). Click on for some closer shots of the slide controller itself, and check out a videoed demonstration here.

[Via GameSpot]

Continue reading Nintendo DS slide controller add-on revealed in Japan

 

[via] Engadget

Strong evidence found for first party iPhone games

Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Handhelds

Wait just a tick before you install an NES emulator on that iPhone of yours! (Actually, on second thought, go ahead and install it -- but pay close attention here anyway.) Sister site Download Squad has stumbled upon some pretty damning evidence that Apple is cooking up games for the handset, finding this little gem in iTunes' localization strings: "Are you sure you want to remove the selected game from your iPhone?" Seeing how there aren't really any games to remove at the moment, we can only take this to mean that there are some in the pipe -- which hopefully we won't want to remove, hence Apple's concerned tone in the string. Traditional iPods are now well entrenched in the brain-rotting, time-wasting downloadable app market, so a similar move on the iPhone almost seems like a foregone conclusion, especially considering the endless possibilities afforded by the gargantuan touchscreen and the recent posting of a senior game developer position out in Cupertino. Stay tuned! While you're waiting, maybe you can kill some time with some Bubble Bobble, eh?

Update: Apparently, these strings have been floating around the nets for a little while now; our apologies for those that already knew!

 

[via] Engadget

The Engadget Interview: Sir Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Group

Filed under: Features, Transportation

Yesterday we sat down with Sir Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Group, in the first class cabin of Air Colbert on the inaugural flight of Virgin America. Richard's day started with a rush through NY rain to make the plane that morning, and was losing his voice on top of it, but he was nice enough to spend a some minutes with us chatting up a few of his myriad of companies. We requested to speak to him about Virgin Galactic, but he isn't allowed to comment on the current situation due to an ongoing investigation into the explosion at Scaled Composites.

Thank you for talking with us today. Congratulations on the flight!

Thank you very much.

How are you liking it?

[Laughs] Well, I'm biased. And we've spent years and years trying to get this Virgin born and off the ground, and so many people have put so much time and effort and sweat and toil into it. Our competitors have tried to smother it at birth and make sure it never happened, but now it's finally happened. It's the perfect birth, I can't think of anything I'd change. She's a beautiful baby, has got beautiful eyes, and I'm very very proud of her, very proud of what everyone's done to get this.

It's definitely been a well publicized fight to make this happen, what made it worth three and a half years to launch Virgin America?

I think anybody who's traveled on the legacy carriers in America will know why people have to fight to try to compete with them. The quality of their service is almost non-existent. I wouldn't say that's particularly the fault of their crews, it's the tools that those crews have been given by their masters, or they haven't been given any tools, and the end result has been... If you look at any poll of the best airlines in the world, I've never seen an American carrier come anywhere but very very near the bottom. So, in a situation like that, it's right for Virgin to come in and shake up that industry. The very fact that we come in and we offer that equality will mean that will lift those legacy carriers, it'll be actually good for them. They'll have to compete back, and I'm sure they will. But, you know, it's up to our team that we always remain one step ahead.

Continue reading The Engadget Interview: Sir Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Group

 

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

[via] Engadget

Sony set to introduce VAIO FZ2 laptops

Filed under: Laptops

It's not all that long ago that Sony bumped its VAIO FZ laptops into Santa Rosa territory, but it seems that the company is planning to expand the line even further, with Notebook Italia today getting word of a pair of new FZ2 series laptops. As with its current FZ offerings, these new laptops will each pack 15.4-inch WXGA displays, but they get an upgrade in the processor department to your choice of Core 2 Duo T7250 or T7500, along with NVIDIA GeForce 8400 GT graphics on the higher-end of the two, 2GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, and your choice of Blu-ray or DVD combo drives. No word on a release date just yet, it seems, but they'll apparently set you back $1,299 or $1,399 depending on the configuration.

[Thanks, Laura]

 

[via] Engadget