Monday, September 17, 2007

Panasonic offers up 32GB P2 memory card

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It's been a short while since we've seen any news on the P2 HD front, but Panasonic is hoping to extract a few more hundies from those sold on the format by introducing a 32GB P2 card. The device, labeled AJ-P2C032RG, can be installed in sets of five into the AJ-HPX3000 and HPX2000 P2 HD camcorders for recording "up to 2.5 hours (over 3 hours in 24p) of footage in AVC-Intra 100 or DVCPRO HD and 5 hours (over 6.5 hours in 24p) in AVC-Intra 50 or DVCPRO 50." As you'd probably expect, this sucka won't run you cheap, as it's expected to demand a staggering $1,650 when it hits in November.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

 

[via] Engadget

BlackBerry Curve 8320 leaked on T-Mobile

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Sure, we've heard whispers involving the BlackBerry Curve 8320 before, but there's nothing like official documentation from a trusted carrier to really get you jazzed up. As expected, this handset will tout WiFi, HotSpot @Home / UMA support, a two-megapixel camera, Bluetooth 2.0, a microSD expansion slot, built-in multimedia player, a QVGA touchscreen, and a 312MHz Intel processor to boot. Hit the read link for the full rundown of the official details.

[Thanks, Hayden]

 

[via] Engadget

Cognitive Code shows off SILVIA artificial intelligence platform

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Cognitive Code looks to be taking full advantage of the TechCrunch40 conference to show off its SILVIA artificial intelligence platform, which it calls a "fundamental conceptual breakthrough in artificial intelligence." Apparently, the platform allows for the "development and deployment of intelligent applications to almost any platform" (which we can only hope includes robots), allowing for human interaction in "completely natural and intuitive ways." What's more, it looks like the system should be relatively easy to implement (at least in AI terms), with a complete set of GUI tools available for "developing intelligent entities," and an array of scripting APIs at developers' disposal to embed SILVIA in their applications. If that's not enough, Cognitive Code is also apparently hard at work on a portable version of SILVIA for PDAs and smartphones, with it apparently set for release in late 2008.

 

[via] Engadget

Ponoko now live to make, market your gizmo

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We've seen startups galore founded on strokes of brilliance, and Ponoko seems to be well on its way to building a sufficient client base. Getting a share of the limelight at TechCrunch40, this website enables engineering minds with limited resources to upload designs and select materials for Ponoko to construct, after which the product gets displayed in the online showroom for people to sneak a peek at and potentially purchase. Additionally, Ponoko will even "make the product and deliver it directly to the customer" or send it straight to you for final assembly, making sure all parties get their splits. For those with a widget in mind (but a day job to tend to), head on over to Ponoko and get things a-movin'.

 

[via] Engadget

Steve Jobs arrives in London: jeans, turtleneck and New Balance expected soon

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Listen folks, if you had even a slight bit of concern that tomorrow's "Mum is no longer the word" announcement from Apple was going to be anything less than monumental, you can now put those fears to bed. Steve Jobs, AKA El-Jobso, AKA the Jobs-man, AKA Jobbers is in London as we speak, undoubtedly standing in front of a full length mirror and practicing saying, "Oh, one more thing," with a fake British accent. You have been warned: there will be at least one human being in England tomorrow wearing stonewashed jeans and your dad's turtleneck.

 

[via] Engadget

Coca Cola readying self-chilling soft drinks?

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And you thought non-stick chewing gum was the heat. Turns out, Coca Cola may be plotting a new version of Sprite that actually chills itself upon opening. Apparently, the drink has to be kept at a specified temperature before being snapped up, and once the oh-so-thirsty consumer pops the top, "a mechanism inside creates ice made from the drink, so it is not diluted." Reportedly, the beverage would sensibly be called Sprite Super Chilled, and if it does indeed hit the UK (and prove successful) by "early next year," the technology could then be passed along to Coke, Diet Coke or even "super cold alcoholic drinks, particularly beers."

[Via Tech Digest]

 

[via] Engadget

Joy Corp intros MD-3000J GPS / black box device

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It's far from the first such device, but we suspect Joy Corp's new MD-3000 unit will also be far from the last GPS / black box combo device we see, especially if incidents like these keep up at the pace they have been. As with similar devices, this one keeps the video rolling at all times, in this case recording 12 seconds before a crash and six seconds after, as well as other information from your vehicle if all those wires are any indications. What's more the device also promises to warn you in advance if it thinks your headed for disaster, and if you feel like taking a rest (or a risk while driving) you can take advantage of its PMP and DMB TV functionality. As you might have guessed, this one is strictly Korea-only, where it'll set you back the local equivalent of $1,100.

[Via Gadget Lab]

 

[via] Engadget

Cubic Telecom hopes to make global roaming reasonable

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Employing a variety of creative techniques, Ireland's Cubic Telecom is looking to take the bank-breaking sting out of carrying your phone abroad. Announced at TechCrunch40 today, the centerpiece of Cubic's strategy is its "virtual PBX" -- up to 50 local numbers of the user's choosing can be linked to a single SIM, making it affordable for callers to get in touch no matter where they may be. Also invloved is the "MAXroam" SIM itself -- toting aggressively discounted roaming rates that are the "result of years of negotiations with GSM carriers around the world" -- designed to be used everywhere a subscriber may be. Finally, Cubic is taking a hybrid GSM / WiFi approach; its handsets will support both traditional calls and VoIP services, with all VoIP calls on its own network coming free of charge. The MAXroam SIM card will be available separately for $40 starting September 24 or you'll be able to get it with one of the company's own handsets, a basic model for $135 (pictured) and a Windows Mobile device for $219; both phones launch October 1 with a MAXroam card included along with $8 in calling credit.

 

[via] Engadget

Microsoft adds Slingbox-like capability to its Media Center PCs

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Microsoft, never content with just monopolizing one segment of the market, has decided to dip its big, scary toes into the Slingbox-ish world of anywhere-TV with a new piece of software for its Media Center PCs. Using the newly acquired (but not new) WebGuide component -- created by a gentleman named Doug Berrett -- you can now tune into your Media Center content from any place you have web access. The software actually goes beyond what Slingbox is capable of, giving you full control over your system remotely, allowing you to set record times, change schedules, and generally go buck-wild, even from a mobile phone or WiFi equipped PDA. Ballmer and Co. also added an ITV function to MC PCs, though apparently all it does is offer C-rate "internet" content for MCE users. Clearly, what's exciting here is WebGuide -- the software is free, and presuming you already have your system up and running, you could be "slinging" video around before you know it.

[Via Cedia]

 

[via] Engadget

Infiniti's EX35 Around View Monitor system makes windows redundant

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Infiniti looks to be upping the ante in in-car cameras considerably with its new Around View Monitor system, which makes its first appearance in the company's new Infinti EX35 SUV. As you can probably guess, the system includes cameras at the front, rear, and sides of the vehicle, which are apparently intended primarily to help with parking, but we're sure will also find plenty of use for practical jokes around the neighborhood. While they didn't take advantage of that particular possibility, the folks at AutoSpies did get to check out the vehicle first hand, and they've thankfully provided a video of the camera system in action, which you can check out after the break.

Continue reading Infiniti's EX35 Around View Monitor system makes windows redundant

 

[via] Engadget

Samsung's BD-UP5000 HD DVD / Blu-ray combo player gets previewed

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The folks over at HDGuru managed to spend a few quality minutes with Samsung's forthcoming hybrid player, and initial impressions look to be pretty positive. Granted, their BD-UP5000 was a pre-production sample, but they were mighty impressed with the BD-Java / HDi support, HDMI 1.3 functionality, and the Reon scaler chip within. During limited time with the player, the assortment of HD DVDs and Blu-ray films that they got to view "all looked spectacular, with every image appearing clean, crisp and sharp as a tack," and the "faster chapter changes and quicker entry into other menu functions" compared to previous generation units were highly praised, too. Overall, it seems that we've got a respectable combo player on the horizon for those not willing to choose a side, so be sure and give the read link a visit if you're too impatient to wait for a full-on review.

 

[via] Engadget

Toshiba subpoenaed by US DOJ over flash memory business

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Just over a week after two Samsung execs were arrested for fraud in Thailand, another flash memory leader is facing a bit of legal heat. Reportedly, Toshiba "said it had been subpoenaed by the US Department of Justice about its flash memory business in the key US market," which comes just after SanDisk admitted that it had "received grand jury subpoenas indicating a government probe into possible price-fixing in the NAND flash memory industry." Notably, a Toshiba spokesman only clarified that the subpoena was directed at the firm's US semiconductor sales unit (Toshiba America Electronic Components), but we've got a sneaking suspicion this won't be the last we hear on the matter.

[Thanks, Omar]

 

[via] Engadget

Multiple Sclerosis patients walk faster thanks to VR technology

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Using virtual reality technology coupled with sensors, scientists at Technion, Israel's Institute of Technology have developed a system to enable people suffering from Multiple Sclerosis to walk more effectively. The virtual reality tech takes the form of a small screen attached to glasses which projects a moving, virtual ground computed using sensors that measure the user's eye and body movements. This "virtual floor" apparently improves the walking ability of MS sufferers, and helps them to remain stable. The device even improves walking performance after it has been taken off, so patients won't have to look completely awesome with their goggles on 24/7.

[Via TFOT]

 

[via] Engadget

Schwarzenegger signs ban on teen cell phone use while driving

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Arnold Schwarzenegger isn't as much fun as a Governor as he was in The Terminator... just ask California's teen drivers. The former action movie star has signed a new bill -- which we told you about in August -- into law, making it illegal for anyone aged 16 or 17 to use a mobile phone, pager, laptop, or handheld computer while driving a vehicle. Effective July 1, 2008 (the same day that California's ban on non-hands-free mobile-use while driving takes effect), the state will begin to fine offenders $20 for their first incident, and $50 for each recurrent violation. The law is targeting teen drivers due to the wealth of statistics that demonstrate young motorists are more likely to end up in car accidents which result in death. According to reports, 13.6-percent of all fatal accidents are caused by teenagers, and studies show that car crashes are the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 16-19. "The simple fact is that teenage drivers are more easily distracted," said Schwarzenegger in a statement, adding, "We want to eliminate any extra distractions so they can focus on paying attention to the road and being good drivers." He then paused and remarked, "We just don't want to say 'Hasta la vista, baby' to young drivers anymore."

 

[via] Engadget

Is AMD readying three-core processors?

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According to reports that have been slowly making their way through the chip manufacturing community, everyone's favorite underdog, AMD, is planning on launching a new line of three-core processors sometime in the near future. Sure, it sounds weird, but apparently the technique for creating a triple-core CPU is akin to "switching off" one core in a four-sided chip, and the process can yield significant speed enhancements while keeping costs reasonable. Reports speculate that the three-core model could happen partially due to the need to salvage bad four-core chips, but also because the triple-core concept is easy to market, and resistance from Intel will be low. Word on the street is that the new chips will appear on the consumer side to begin with, and might migrate over to the enterprise / server domain if there's sufficient movement on sales. Browse on over to the read link and feast your eyes on a succulent sea of technical mumbo-jumbo.

[Via Techmeme]

 

[via] Engadget

iPod touch has an identity crisis

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Okay, we can understand how a few units slipped out of the factory without the OS installed, but come on Team Cupertino, what's up with forgetting to change the re-hashed iPhone code on the touch's password lockout screen? Don't people trying to break into our iPods deserve the same great Apple experience that paying customers get?

[Via digg]

 

[via] Engadget

Haier's crazy / crazy expensive laptop

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Apparently, in other parts of the world, Haier (a minor brand here in the States) is busy manufacturing highly expensive and totally bizarre laptop computers. The cats over at Engadget Chinese have gotten their hands on info concerning this totally outrageous laptop / tablet PC, apparently an offshoot of the Flybook line, which rocks a Core Duo U2500 processor (coupled with an Intel 945GM chipset), 2GB of RAM, an 80GB hard drive, 802.11a/b/g, an 8.6-inch widescreen tablet display, plus a fingerprint scanner, Bluetooth, and an option to go all 3G wireless (should you so desire). Apparently, the system folds down into a tablet, replete with handwriting recognition and all, and can be yours for the fantastically low price of 35,999 Yuan (or about $4,790). We wish you nothing but good luck on finding one, and even better luck on footing the bill.

 

[via] Engadget

Microsoft to learn its EU antitrust fate tomorrow

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Microsoft will be in a familiar position tomorrow when it stands before a European Grand Chamber of the Court of First Instance, where the special 13-judge tribunal will be issuing its final verdict in an antitrust case that has been dragging on since long after the software giant finished its controversial little dance with the Department of Justice here in the US. According to Reuters, the five-point ruling will be handed down in Brussels on live TV at 3.30AM EDT, and will determine the validity of the European Commission's 2004 decision against Redmond on issues of bundling and interoperability as well as the subsequent sanctions that have totaled hundreds of millions of dollars to date. The best case scenario for Microsoft would see the court overturning the underlying decisions -- automatically canceling the sanctions -- while the EU obviously hopes that its rulings and penalties will be upheld, effectively giving it a mandate to press for even more concessions along with increased leverage against other non-compliant companies. We'll have the decision for you immediately after it's released, so set your alarms folks....

 

[via] Engadget

Let Engadget trick out your home theater contest deadline extended, ends midnight tonight

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Just a quick announcement about our home theater contest: we're extending the deadline until a minute before midnight tonight. Turns out the overwhelming response happened to overwhelm our email server, and maxed out our storage limit. Don't worry, we've sorted the problem -- just make sure to resubmit before 11:59PM EDT tonight if your email bounced. We're sorry for the inconvenience. If you haven't entered yet, check out the details here, first making sure to read the rules here. Good luck!

P.S. Sorry to be a letdown, but leaving comments on this post won't win you anything except perhaps the contempt and mockery of your fellow readers who actually read the contest rules.

 

[via] Engadget

Nintendo promises Wii stock boost, says they'll still sell out

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Reggie Fils-Aime over at Nintendo has promised an "unprecedented" Wii supply boost for North America over the holiday season -- unfortunately, it's only "unprecedented" because Nintendo has never been able to keep up with demand. Doubly unfortunate for potential Wii purchasers, this extra supply will probably not meet demand over the holiday season period. Sounds like business as usual then: people wanting Wiis, but with Nintendo shipping just enough to be perpetually sold out. Marketing points 1 2, customer satisfaction 0.

 

[via] Engadget

DialUp PC case mod with old-school rotary phone for VoIP

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PC case modders will tear up anything in search of a bit of novelty, especially if it happens to reek of old school. Ancient telephones -- we hear they were called rotary phones, or something -- happen to fulfill the old school criteria, with one modder surrounding his PC in cracked wood, and hooking it up to an old phone. The phone now works with Skype and other VoIP solutions, with the owner presumably waiting in anticipation for all the calls to tell him how awesome / clever he is.

[Via MAKE]

 

[via] Engadget

Steorn redux: more mad "scientists" tout free energy gadget

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We don't want to take this seriously, so we won't. Another company has claimed to have produced a device that produces more energy than is put in, which --we shouldn't have to tell you -- is impossible. The Daily Mail is the dumb -- but actually kinda clever, 'cause they'll get lots of readers, and they don't mind bending the truth -- deliverer this time, adding some kind of twisted authority to the "news." The company behind the free publicity is called EcoWatts, who are apparently keen to sell their £1,500-2,000 white tube thing to homeowners, with the aim of reducing their electricity bill (and not solving all the world's energy problems in one fell swoop, apparently.) Altogether now: "ughhh."

[Thanks, Alan]

Continue reading Steorn redux: more mad "scientists" tout free energy gadget

 

[via] Engadget

HP to debut bumper crop of new Pavilions and Presarios

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HP has a whole lotta' new laptops to launch, possibly at a press conference this Tuesday if Notebook Italia is on the money. The designations are a real mouthful, so brace yourself: in all, we could be looking at Pavilions numbered dv2600, d6600, dv9600, and tx1300, and new HP G7000 and HP G6000's also coming in the form of Compaq Presario F700 and F500 models. There are a crazy amount of specs here, so it's probably safe to say that there is a machine to suit your requirements. Screen sizes range from 12.1 inch with the tx1300 up to 17 inches with the dv9600, CPUs range from 1.6GHz Core Duos and 1.7GHz Athlons up to 2.2GHz Core 2 Duos and ... well, you get the point. Most notably, the new dv models include HDMI among their image output ports, with the dv2600 featuring some kind of fancy new print on the outer casing (pictured above). For a more detailed listing, check the read links below. Fortunately, spec sheets don't require translation.

[via] Engadget

Some new iPod nanos afflicted with tilted screens

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The new iPod nanos are exhibiting screen problems for a small subset of owners, whereby the screen doesn't appear to be completely level within the casing. More than a dozen people have reported the issue on Apple's Support forums, with most reports saying video appears tilted slightly to the left. Apple is replacing units that exhibit the problem, although judging by some anecdotal reports, entire batches at certain stores have the problem, making replacement a far from adequate solution. Fortunately, it appears as if it's possible to notice the issue with the nano inside the box. At least now we'll know what the problem is if we run into any gadget fans with crooked necks.

 

[via] Engadget

Meizu's M8 MiniOne shipping January 17th?

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Alright, so this isn't straight from the horse's mouth, but this potential ship date for the Meizu M8 definitely vibes with what we've heard up until now. This one has a new price too, at $788.50, which is a fair amount less than the $989 number floating around. Anyway, sounds like we'll have a few months yet until the 16GB iPhone influenced phone hits. Why so long, Meizu?

[Thanks, Alexander]

 

[via] Engadget

O2 apparently locks up UK iPhone deal, pays through nose

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So at one point or another, we've heard nearly every European carrier mentioned as the likely frontrunner for Apple's European iPhone rollout. On the one hand, you can chalk that up to the ugly nature of the rumor mill, but on the other hand, it sounds like the carriers themselves were led to believe the same thing, all part of Apple's grand scheme to play them off one another and put together a gloriously lucrative (for itself, anyway) exclusive distribution agreement. The Guardian is reporting that O2 will be announced as the winner of that Pyrrhic prize for the UK market on Tuesday; the win is an enormously costly one, though, with as much as 40 percent of plan revenue (yes, revenue, not profit) going straight back to Cupertino. In other words, Apple turned up the heat on the UK carrier scene until everyone -- Vodafone, Orange, and T-Mobile -- had blinked except for the good chaps at O2. The article also suggests that Carphone Warehouse has been roped in to provide some backup on the retail front out of concerns that O2's retail presence isn't enough to push the iPhone properly, but let's be honest: if you really want an iPhone, you're going to seek it out, aren't you? We can apparently expect similar announcements from T-Mobile for the German market and Orange for France on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, making for a pretty enthralling week for iPhone-starved Europeans (the ones that haven't unlocked, anyway).

 

[via] Engadget

Intel to acquire Havok, in-game physics company

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Intel has announced that it is to acquire Havok, a company that specializes in providing physics algorithms for a lot of big name games, amongst other digital content. The gadget link here isn't totally clear right now, but we're certain that the Ageia guys will be feeling rather antsy at the news: it ain't no coincidence that Havok CEO David O'Meara mentioned Intel's scale in the company's official press release. Intel's big, baby.

[Thanks, Yubal]

 

[via] Engadget

Dash Express redesigned for Q1 2008 launch

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More than a year after its initial tease, the Dash Express receives a much needed makeover in preparation for its overdue commercial outing. The WiFi, cellular, and GPS packing navigator with two-way traffic updates and travel-time forecasting now features a larger 4.3-inch display, louder speaker, beefier internal battery, and power connector on the dash mount instead of the navigator. They've also axed the button clutter up front by introducing a pair of touch-sensitive buttons along top: one makes a volume button appear on the touchscreen while the other brings up the menu. Although well behind their initial launch projection, the fact that they have the time to fine-tune the design is a pretty good sign that a revised Q1 2008 launch date is in the bag.

[Via x64bit, thanks Dave]

[via] Engadget

Weave Mirror neglects glass, stuns onlookers

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Rest assured, we've seen some pretty fancy mirrors in our day, but Daniel Rozin's Weave Mirror ranks pretty high up there. This zany installation relies on "768 motorized and laminated C-shaped prints along the surface of a picture plane that texturally mimics a homespun basket," and as curious mortals approach it, it "paints a picture of them using a gradual rotation in greyscale value on each C-ring." We know, you're probably still confounded at how this thing actually wows anyone, but give the video (posted after the jump) a peek and clarity will be yours.

[Via WeMakeMoneyNotArt]

Continue reading Weave Mirror neglects glass, stuns onlookers

 

[via] Engadget

EU rules on Microsoft antitrust appeal: Bad news for Microsoft

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The 15-month deliberation into Microsoft's appeal to the European ruling in their anti-trust case is over. The news is pretty bad for Microsoft as their appeal has been dismissed. As such, the $688 million fine imposed in 2004 stands and Microsoft must pay 80% of the Commission's legal costs as additional insult. Microsoft did succeed at abolishing the independent monitoring trustee established to supervise Microsoft's behavior. Microsoft can still appeal to the highest court in Europe so this isn't over by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[via] Engadget

Google Earth gets assisted by new satellite

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Sure, you may be able to waste hours on end controlling Google Earth imagery with your Wiimote, but you can plan on killing days -- nay, months -- after a brand new "high-resolution satellite" launches on Tuesday in an attempt to "boost the accuracy of its satellite images and flesh out its archive." The new craft, labeled WorldView I, will team up with DigitalGlobe's existing Quickbird sat to nab "over 600,000 square kilometers of imagery each day," and it should also "provide far more accurate data." Those still sitting around with gaped jaws can even head to Boeing's website to watch the launch live, and if all goes as planned, WorldView II should join the ever-growing party in late 2008.

 

[via] Engadget

Takara Tomy's i-SOBOT headed stateside?

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We're not exactly sure how much we trust i-SOBOT's MySpace page, but if you're a believer, this creature will be headed to America real soon. Interestingly, it purports that the primary reason for making the leap to the US is to "study our culture," which is likely a suave way of suggesting that its totally scoping out our defenses as the clan back home develops a sufficient takeover strategy. Nevertheless, word on the street has this bad boy landing stateside before Christmas for $300 - $350, so there's still a few months left to prepare for the seemingly inevitable invasion.

[Via Gearlog]

 

[via] Engadget

Triops camera reacts to sound, motion, or manual triggers

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A finalist in the BraunPrize2007, Franziska Faoro's Triops is a camera equipped with three fisheye lenses designed to take photos at moments you may not expect. It reacts to motion and movement -- so if you throw it in the air, or yell at it, it'll take a snap -- but it also has a manual mode in case you want full control. The idea of Triops is to meld the experience of taking a photo with the photo itself: the end pictures are all 360 degree panoramas, so you'll have to chuck it pretty far to be out of frame. It looks like it's a concept for now, although Franziska has thought to include designs for a dock, viewing screen, and even a simple UI on the device for controlling aspects of the shots. Hopefully this'll make it into production soon.

 

[via] Engadget

Kensington's SlimBlade Media Notebook set relies on magnets not magic

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In perhaps the largest dose of hyperbole you'll taste this year, Kensington is claiming to "reinvent the computer interface" with their new SlimBlade Media Notebook set. No, we're not talking mult-touch, speech, or thought control here; just magnets. Sorry, no magical Steorn energy, they're simply using magnets to attach a media remote and keypad module to the sides of a keyboard. Whoopee. The wireless laser mouse features a 360-degree scroll ball while the keyboard goes both ways with PC or Mac hotkeys. A Wireless USB micro-receiver controls all the modules and tucks away inside the mouse when not in use. The kit goes for $130, or $150 with the Vista MediaCenter / FrontRow enabled remote control. Pretty sweet all-in-all but hardly a re-invention of the computer interface.

 

[via] Engadget

Harddisc-Uhr spins a disk of hard time


Has 3:15 ever looked so foxy? The German-made Harddisc-Uhr (er, shouldn't that be "Harddisk?") adapts just enough disk drive innards and Compaq power supply to coat our mouths in geek-spittle. The platter spins the hour while the minutes creep ever so slowly along the horizontal actuator arm. Practical? No, but we'd go to the mat for first dibs.

[Via Hackaday]

 

[via] Engadget

BMW's iPhone runs on Vodafone (not T-Mobile) at Frankfurt Motor Show

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So, if you believe the rumor mill, then T-Mobile (Deutsche Telekom) has clinched the iPhone for Germany right? Perhaps, but that hasn't stopped BMW from showing off this picture of the iPhone running with Voda...(fone) at their Frankfurt Motor Show website. Now we'd chalk this up to some speculative Photoshopping on BMW's part but we also received a tip from a reader claiming to have seen a Vodafone iPhone in the BMW area over the weekend. What the? Anyone at the autoshow care to sneak out some snaps?

Update: Meanwhile... our readers have united on the edge of Occam's razor with the following conclusion: international roaming.

[Via itrafik, thanks Jay A.]

[via] Engadget

OQO brings the OQO Model e2 to Europe

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OQO has finally brought its wares to the rest of the world with the introduction of the Model e2, the opening of an international office in the UK, and the hiring of a former Palm Europe Executive. In case you were wondering, the Model e2 appears identical to North America's OQO Model 02, albeit with a UK style keyboard. For now, distribution is limited to eXpansys, Portix, and Dynamism, shipping at prices between £846 and £1,359.95. Yeah, the same kind of "price parity" Europeans have long enjoyed applies to the OQO Model 2s, too.

 

[via] Engadget

New HP Pavilion notebooks out in Asia

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Just a quick follow-up to our earlier story about HP's new laptop bonanza: turns out the new machines are already announced in Asia, and US pricing has managed to tag along with them. Turns out there is more than one "fancy" pattern on the new laptop casings. Depending on if you buy the HP Pavilion dv2600, Pavilion dv6500 and Compaq Presario B1200 laptops, you'll get casing styles called Verve, Influx and Trace (or, in layman's terms, Wierd Wispy Black, White Notches, and Blue-ish Fingerprint, respectively.) All three models will be available from $1,049-1,099 and should be hitting Asia this month, with country specific models to come.

 

[via] Engadget

Tiny q-Jays earphones hit your neighborhood

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Like small things? Really small things? Things that are so small you might lose them easily? If you answered "yes" to any of those questions, then we've got the totally ill-riffic earphones for you. Those tiny (but not tinny, apparently) q-Jays earbuds we told you about back in August have officially hit the scene -- so all that money saving you've been doing can be put to good use. The buds may be small, but apparently their sound is anything but, touting dual micro armatures, JAYS Sound Isolating System, a sensitivity of 95 dB @ 1 kHz, impedance of 39 Ohms @ 1 kHz, and a frequency response from 20Hz to 20,000 Hz. The earbuds come with a slew of accessories, including an I- and L-shaped connector, seven silicon ear sleeves, four canal filters, an airline adapter, a stereo splitter (for two-person use), and a carrying case. The tiny wonders can be yours in black or white right now, for the low, low price of $179.

 

[via] Engadget

Garmin planning pink nuvi for Europe?

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Perhaps concerned that it's developing a reputation as something of a hard ass due to its serial legal battles with TomTom, American navigation darling Garmin will reportedly try to show off its sensitive side in Europe during the upcoming holiday season. Buried in a piece about the state of mass market satnav, Reuters reveals that Garmin has a Buddy-like, pink "nuvi-branded device" in the pipeline aimed at the fashionable ladies of Europe, most likely some variation of the 200 series. No more info is given, and since this doesn't sound like a very exciting product to begin with save for the fresh paint job, interested parties should probably keep their eyes on European GPS forums.

[Via GPS Tracklog]

 

[via] Engadget

AOL, HP extend search partnership to worldwide PCs

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Because we know just how much you like to know exactly whose crapware you'll be removing from your next store-bought desktop or laptop, this is a just a quick heads-up that HP customers worldwide can soon expect to be confronted with portals, toolbars, and default search settings courtesy of AOL (which also happens to own Engadget parent network Weblogs Inc.). Since it was almost exactly a year ago that HP made a similar deal with Yahoo, we can only assume that AOL has pushed its rival off of HP machines altogether, extending its current agreement to provide only the co-branded portal for domestically-sold rigs. Perhaps the best news here is that for those folks who haven't bought a PC in several years, the pre-loaded AOL software may provided a much-needed connection back to the days of dial-up in this scary new world of broadband, Vista, and MySpace.

 

[via] Engadget

Sprint Airave signal booster goes on sale today -- in Denver and Indy

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Remember that cool Ubicell in-home booster we played with back at CTIA? Sprint's finally starting to roll out the device this week as the "Airave" in "select areas" of Denver and Indianapolis this week. Overall, the concept is very similar to T-Mobile's @Home service -- it connects through your ISP, racks up a monthly fee ($15 in this case, $30 for families), boosts your signal and doesn't deduct plan minutes -- but with the Airave, CDMA signals are served up instead of @Home's WiFi, which means any Sprint handset should work like a champ. The box itself runs $49.99, not a bad entry fee considering the healthy list of benefits it affords. Look for it in the rest of Denver and Indy along with Nashville later this year followed by a nationwide rollout in 2008.

 

[via] Engadget

Apple event tomorrow at 10:00AM BST / 5:00AM EDT, set your alarms (really!)

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Europeans have been waiting in constant anticipation since June 29th to hear when and in what form their version of the iPhone will take. The rumors pretty much revolve around which carriers in which regions will get the phone, with a hint of speculation about a 3G update in HSDPA and UMTS rife Europe. Will Apple give us what we all want, or are we looking at the same ol' locked EDGE phone, this time with three or more different equivalents of AT&T? Or will Apple throw a fast one on us all and announce one more thing? Tomorrow morning -- or evening, or afternoon -- we'll be there to find out.

Go here and bookmark this page, it's where the action takes place in London tomorrow morning.

11:00PM
- Hawaii (September 17th)
2:00AM - Pacific
3:00AM - Mountain
4:00AM - Central
5:00AM - Eastern
10:00AM - London
11:00AM - Paris
6:00PM - Tokyo

Got any more timezones / comments / predictions? Now's the time to let loose in the comments. Of course, you can still opt out of all this Apple news by checking this link.

 

[via] Engadget

Taito introduces Surface-like arcade game

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Well, it didn't take long for Microsoft's Surface to trickle down into the fast-paced world of card gaming (ala Magic). Feast your eyes on the next device your children will be shoveling money into like it's going out of style, a new Square Enix (makers of Final Fantasy) and Taito collaboration called The Wheel of Eternity. The card-based RPG appears to function much in the same way that Bill Gates described Surface's object recognition properties as working, "sensing" cards which are placed on the game area, and reacting to their status, movement and arrangement. There's no word on when or if this game is coming to the states, but with kids' unnatural obsession with card games (particularly those of a Japanese ilk), it seems likely this will be popping up on these shores before long.

 

[via] Engadget

iPods unblocked from syncing with Linux

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As we recently reported, the latest batch of iPods brought with them a few changes that weren't exactly evident at first glance, not the least of which was the ability to sync with third party apps. That proved to be especially problematic for iPod-loving Linux users, who had gotten used to apps like gtkpod and Amarok to sync the players with their OS of choice. As expected, however, that blockage now appears to have been cleared by some enterprising Linux users, and the iPod classic (and seemingly other new other new iPods as well) is now back to its Linux-syncing ways. For the time being, that unfortunately still appears to be a somewhat complicated process, although we're sure some less time-intensive solutions will be arriving before too long.

[Via Digg]

 

[via] Engadget

SpiralFrog's "free" music download service goes live

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SpiralFrog, the badly named, ad-supported music and video download portal has gone live today after months of beta testing, or so we're told. The site allows users to legally and freely download media from a catalogue of over 800,000 songs and 3,500 videos (most provided by Apple ship-jumper Universal Music Group, as mentioned way back in August 2006), and requires only that users register on the site and log in once a month (otherwise the DRM'd files go belly up). It's not all lollipops and rainbows, however, as just mentioned, the files are full of nasty, fun-murdering DRM which prevents your new tunes from being burned onto a CD. In other gloomy news, SpiralFrog's content won't work on your Mac or your iPod, and can only be placed on two media players or phones at a time. "We believe it will be a very powerful alternative to the pirate sites," said company chairman Joe Mohen, adding, "With SpiralFrog you know what you're getting." Yes Joe, and we know what we're not getting, too.

 

[via] Engadget

Microsoft contritely responds to EU decision

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Sounding like a child who's just been caught with a hand in the proverbial cookie jar, Microsoft issued a decidedly contrite, non-confrontational response this afternoon to the decision handed down earlier today by a European Grand Chamber of the Court of First Instance, thanking the court for its time and promising to take whatever steps are necessary to comply with the ruling. While playing up its commitment to Europe, aspirations for increased transparency, and continuing changes to its business practices, Redmond Senior Vice President and General Counsel Brad Smith also admitted that "we all have to acknowledge that there are some issues that do remain open" and even welcomed "continued discussion to adhere to our duties with the European Commission." Notably absent from Microsoft's response was any mention of an appeal, and while the topic does seem to have been broached in post-statement Q&A, the company's press release conveniently lists all questions as being asked "off mike" -- therefore, the only clue we have regarding future plans is Smith's assertion that "I don't want to talk about what will come next in terms of the legal process." In other words, it sounds like this case may well enter its second decade before a final decision is reached.

 

[via] Engadget

Kensington rolls out accessories aplenty

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In addition to those hyperbole-laden mice and keyboards Kensington introduced the other day, the company also busted out a whole range of other accessories, including everything from FM transmitters to power adapters to notebook cases. On that first front, the company has introduced no less than four of its LiquidFM Transmitters, including two designed specifically for iPods and two that'll work with any old MP3 player. All four boast features like QuickSeek to automatically find the clearest frequency and RDS functionality to display song information on compatible car stereos. In other forms of accessorizing, Kensington's introduced a slew of "Connect it" and "Power it" devices, the former of which includes a variety of laptop docks and stands replete with USB ports, while the later consists of adapters of various sorts to let you use and charge your USB-powered devices in your car, on a plane, or at home using a regular power outlet. As if that wasn't enough, the company also has a pair of new laptop cases, which will neither charge your devices nor transmit audio, but which should keep both your laptop and your wrists safe, thanks to Kensington's trademark Contour ergonomic support panel. According to Kensington, the whole lot should be available in time for the holiday season, with everything available for pre-order now.

 

[via] Engadget

Is this Orange's French iPhone?

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As we quickly approach Apple's "mums the word" event in London, the reports have been flying in concerning all sorts of carriers rocking the iPhone in the very near future. Now, we've got France's Orange joining O2's supposed UK deal and Germany's Vodafone / T-Mobile juggle. The rumors are saying we can expect a €300 French iPhone (sans 3G and unlimited data plans) on November 29th, with an announcement during the Apple Expo in Paris on September 24th, though the picture we're seeing clearly shows the blurry-as-all-get-out phone touting the T-Mobile carrier name. They say it's roaming, we say; don't sign anything yet.

[Via TechCrunch]

 

[via] Engadget

United Pepper unveils eco-friendly webcam, USB hub

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At first glance, suckers for all things cute may fall for Lili and Oscar even before knowing the story behind them, but these two peripherals not only provide animalistic replacements for those vanilla USB hubs and webcams, they promote eco-friendliness, too. According to United Pepper (which is partnering with EuroTech), Oscar (the USB hub) and Lili (that'd be the webcam) arrive in four different colors, are constructed from recyclable materials, and are produced "in a fair trade environment." Moreover, the webcam touts a 1.3-megapixel sensor and a built-in microphone, while Oscar boasts four USB 2.0 ports for connecting up an array of input peripherals. Both creatures are slated to land in the UK this month, and while Lili will cost £30 ($60), Oscar will be available for just £20 ($40). [Warning: PDF read link]

[Via SciFiTech]

 

[via] Engadget