Cool Tech Gadgets: Aug 14, 2007

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Animation studio Imagi inks distribution deal with Wowwee

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Robots

Imagi, the animation studio behind the recent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film, and the upcoming Gatchaman and Astro Boy movies, has inked a deal with Wowwee Ltd., makers of the infamous Robosapien (amongst others), which will grant the toy-maker exclusive distribution rights for the studio's properties. According to the company press release, Wowwee will provide some of its proprietary technology for use in toys related to the upcoming pictures, which will closely replicate the look and story of the films in both design and "play patterns." As Imagi co-CEO Douglas Glen puts it "All too often, film-licensed toys fail to live up to kids' expectations, because they fall so far short of what the kids see on the movie screen," but Imagi and Wowwee will seek to avoid this by having toy designers and filmmakers work closely with one-another. Our personal hope is to see a life-size, fully functional Astro Boy... with feelings. Maybe we're expecting too much.

SHAPE Services brings Skype to Apple's iPhone

Filed under: Cellphones

For those not courageous enough to give the SoonR Talk workaround a go, fret not, as Skype has finally arrived (for realz) on the iPhone. SHAPE Services has introduced IM+ for Skype for iPhone, which is simply a Safari web application that enables one to "access the Skype ecosystem from the mobile environment." Reportedly, the app was "designed especially for the iPhone's touchscreen," and best of all, it's being offered up gratis "for a limited time." So go on, point your iPhone to SkypeforiPhone.com and get to yappin', ya heard?

Google closing down Video Store

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Video

Welp, that didn't take too long. Around 1.5 years after it was first announced, Google has decided to "shut down its premium video service." Nevertheless, the most intriguing aspect of the whole shebang is that customers who purchased DRM-laden files will reportedly no longer be able to view them once the Video Store closes up shop, and rather than refunding customers with, you know, real money, it sounds like Google plans to offer "fixed credit on the firm's online payment system, Google Checkout, instead." Interestingly, another report noted that the search giant would "provide refunds or online shopping vouchers for previously purchased videos that won't be viewable," so it looks like the final verdict remains to be seen.

[Via BBC, thanks Steffen]

Time Warner readying modified fast-forward functionality for DVRs

While Time Warner Cable (partly owned by Time Warner, parent company of AOL, which owns Engadget) won't go down as the first cable company to modify the oh-so-lovable fast-forward feature, at least the latest hamstringing won't affect those willing to pay up. Dubbed "Look Back," the newfangled DVR feature will reportedly come "without a monthly fee," and will only allow customers to skip ahead and back in predetermined chunks of time; moreover, it will be limited to programs that are watched back before midnight of the day they air. The firm plans to test it out this October in South Carolina before "gradually introducing it around the country," and it was also noted that this -- along with the "Start Over" feature that functions exactly as it sounds -- would not require viewers to "remember to record programs," but alas, it also eliminates the ability to keep a library of stored content onboard. Ah well, so long as we diehard DVR users can keep on coughing up the dough required for a fully-functional FF button, we've no real qualms with this option joining the fray.

New ACCESS Linux Platform screenshots emerge

For those still remotely interested in the ACCESS Linux Platform, we applaud you, and to reward you for your faith, ACCESS has reportedly launched a web portal chock-full of new screenshots from the forthcoming ALP. Admittedly, a few of the captures look mighty similar to those we saw back in February, but the new "User Experience" demonstration vividly depicts the screens found when visiting your Contacts, Photos, Music Player, Dialer, Home / Incoming Call screens, and Launcher. Go on, hit up the gallery for some high-resolution footage.

[Via Treonauts]

Gallery: New ACCESS Linux Platform screenshots emerge

Switched On: The Foleo imbroglio (Part 1)

Filed under: Features

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment:

If anything, Palm's Foleo seems like it was designed to elicit instant geek cred. It's small, thin and light, and its solid state storage helps provide long battery life. It has instant-on capabilities and supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It even runs Linux and all for only $500. However, quite to the contrary, much of the reaction to Palm's latest mobile foray has run the gamut from confusion to scorn, with some calling the product "Folly-o" or "Fooleo."

The core problem that the Foleo seeks to address is easy to understand, but its positioning is a moving target. Here's how early adopters are becoming lost in Foleo's rationale:

Palm: Smartphones continue to gain more processing power and more memory.
Users: OK, that's fair enough.
Palm: However, they are still deficient in input and output.
Users: Well, there sure are compromises, we can agree. I drag my laptop around when I need more.
Palm: So, what we need is a whole new device with a large screen and keyboard
Users: Whoa, why not create some kind of keyboard dock with a big screen for the Treo, like all those speaker docks for the iPod?
Palm: That's clumsy. We consider this a smartphone companion.
Users: I didn't realize my smartphone was lonely.

Continue reading Switched On: The Foleo imbroglio (Part 1)

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

Mouse Computer intros glossy white i-Friend desktops

Filed under: Desktops

Nah, it's not surprising that yet another company is tacking an "i" onto its product line and dousing each unit in glossy white, and Mouse Computer's latest lineup of desktops certainly fits the aforementioned mold. Arriving in both micro tower and slimline models, these new machines offer up a multitude of hardware options including a number of Intel Core 2 Duo processors, a dual-layer DVD writer, up to 2GB of RAM, a 15-in-1 flash card reader, and NVIDIA's 256MB GeForce 8500 GT (or the 8400GS in the slim model). Additionally, the skinnier sibling (seen after the break) can be equipped with up to 250GB of SATA hard drive space while the micro machine can house 320GB of capacity. Each model in the new i-Friend series looks to be on sale now, and prices will range from ¥79,800 ($676) to ¥129,800 ($1,100) depending on how you configure.

[Via Impress]

Continue reading Mouse Computer intros glossy white i-Friend desktops

Disney unloads a barrage of tween-centric consumer electronics

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Displays, Home Entertainment, Portable Audio

Worried your kids haven't been completely indoctrinated with the Disney universe and its philosophy of watch, buy, and buy? Well fear not, parents, because the cartoon-kingpin has got your back (and your pocketbook). If your tweens have been looking for something to do, and playing stickball just ain't cuttin' the mustard, maybe they need the $99.99 Disney Flix Video Camera (pictured), a tween-targeted digital video camera that comes bundled with Disney Director software, which lets the little rapscallions star in their own Disney movies. The company is also offering LCD TVs, such as the $299.99, 15-inch High School Musical model, which resembles a locker and sports 1024 x 768 resolution (the displays also come in Disney Princess, Hannah Montana, and Pirates of the Caribbean motifs). Additionally, the cartoon-factory is offering docks for use with your iPod, selling for $69.99, which feature alarm clocks and AM/FM tuners, though the Hannah Montana version does double duty as a guitar amp -- presumably to use with your Disney guitar. All the products will be available sometime this Fall, but good luck getting your kids to wait patiently.

[Via StockHouse]

New Sony Ericsson handsets looming?

We aren't insinuating that you should attach any level of truth to these rumors just yet, but the boards of Esato are alive with murmurs of a few new SE handsets that could be launched as early as tomorrow. Amongst the mobiles that we could hear more about (officially) in the coming day is the Cyber-shot-branded "Victoria" -- which will supposedly be 14-millimeters thick and sport a 1.9-inch QVGA screen, five color options, and a 128MB M2 card bundled in -- and the still elusive "Veronica." Additionally, we could also be treated to the W350, a Cyber-shot clamshell / Cyber-shot slider, and new "accessories" to boot. Best of all, though, is that you've just a single day left to find out if there's actually any substance to these whispers, but if it does prove true, it certainly won't be the first time.

[Via PocketPicks]

Netcom intros eSATA-based RAID 5 system

Filed under: Storage

While it's far from the most spacious storage system we've seen, Netcom's new eSATA-based NR5-4 system will accomodate four drives for up to to 3TB of storage in a RAID 5 configuration, something the company claims to be an industry first. If RAID 5 isn't your thing, you can set things up in your choice of RAID 0 or 10 configurations as well, and you'll be able to keep an eye on the goings on thanks to the unit's backlit display. You'll also, of course, get the requisite PCI host adapter, along with a one meter host cable, and a "comprehensive" one year warranty. Not surprisingly, the unit doesn't exactly come cheap, with it boasting a near $2,000 price tag. If that's not a deal-breaker, you can get your order in right now.

China outdoes itself with unprecedented surveillance initiative

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

The Chinese government, long-renowned for its tolerance, unobtrusive law-making, and general good vibes, has announced plans to begin outfitting its citizens with a new kind of ID card; one with an embedded chip that will include the holder's name, address, work history, educational background, religion, ethnicity, police record, medical insurance status and landlord's phone number. The cards will also carry reproductive history information, to further aid authorities in enforcing China's "one child" policy. Ostensibly, the cards will keep track of the large influx of peasants moving to cities, though Michael Lin, VP of China Public Security Technology, went on (in Orwellian fashion) to say; "If they do not get the permanent card, they cannot live here, they cannot get government benefits, and that is a way for the government to control the population in the future." Additionally, authorities are aggressively installing new security cameras around cities like Shenzhen, which utilize sophisticated recognition software co-developed by US companies like IBM, HP, and Dell. When reached for comment at the Ministry of Truth, the Chinese version of Big Brother was unavailable, as he was busy rationing out Soylent Green, Soma, and Ludovico technique treatments.

[Via Techmeme]

Archos' 105 will be matching your outfit in September

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

For those of you not wanting to go all out with one of Archos' big boys like the 405, 605, or dreaded 705, the company offers a drop-in-your pocket solution known as the 105. Now, if you were hoping to accessorize with the little media player, you're in luck, because the company will be offering the PMP in three "sporty" colors: red, silver, and black. The player offers 2GB of internal storage, a 1.8-inch OLED screen, can play back WMVs at 25 FPS, and does all the usual formats like MP3s, WMAs, and WAVs. The super-fans over at Archos Lounge managed to locate some pics, and word on the street is that the 105 will be out at the beginning of September for the rock-bottom price of $89.99.

[Thanks, Tom]

Rumors of hard drive production shortages bubble to the surface

Filed under: Storage

The tech-world rumor mill tends to ceaselessly turn, and this week is no different as its attention gets focused on hard drives, or more specifically -- hard drive production. According to ETNews, a Korean tech blog, increased demand for PMPs and GPS navigators, as well as recent earthquakes in Japan, have led to a price hike in 80GB and 160GB drives due to shortages from the manufacturers. Obviously this story calls for a healthy grain-of-salt attitude, as we've seen no outward sign that there's any significant movement when it comes to hard drive prices (except to say they're steadily shrinking), though according to ETNews, prices jumped 10 percent this month. If you believe the report, domestic demand for drives is expected to be in the region of 13 million units (in Korea, we assume), but current estimates have production falling 1.95 million (or 15 percent) off the mark. Obviously, that kind of slip would have an impact on the manufacturers bottom line, but until there's some hard evidence, we wouldn't recommend selling off your Hitachi stock.

[Via PlayerBites]

Panasonic develops walkthrough iris scanner to hasten ID checks

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Snappy retinal scanners have been in the works for some time, and now Panasonic is apparently hoping to hasten those annoying ID checks by enabling security personnel to confirm the true identity of a person walking through in just "two seconds." Additionally, this scanner does not require subjects to "focus on the equipment," packs "multiple two-megapixel cameras," and in case you couldn't guess, is being marketed towards airports and high-security office buildings. No word just yet on when these may be rolled out for public use, but anything (well, almost) that speeds up our traveling is smiled upon by us.

[Via TechDigest]

Samsung looks to patent two new gaming phone designs

Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming

Samsung looks to move forward into the realm of mobile gaming with two new U.S. patents involving gameplay-oriented handsets. For starters, patent #1 (pictured above) describes a "portable communication terminal for games." The display on this design involves a hinged "flip" that unveils a dual-row numeric keypad complete with phone navigational array when opened, and a gaming d-pad when closed (we hope that hinge is solid); the 'A' and 'B' buttons are near the earpiece and always visible. More info on the second patent application after the break.

[via Unwired View]

Automated drink slinger takes orders via LCD

Filed under: Household

Sure, we've seen legions of automated bartenders and coffee machines that conjure up your preferred cup of joe each morning, but the Digital Beverages MyFountain takes things up a notch. Sporting a touchscreen LCD, an internet-linked Windows XP computer, and the ability to be "100-percent customizable," this mechanical drink slinger reportedly interfaces with a "dorm-style refrigerator" that holds a dozen types of alcohol and mixers along with a water line and carbon-dioxide cartridge. Furthermore, the grown-ups can even password protect the non-virgin beverages on tap, and while it would sure be nice to kiss tips goodbye and hold all of your parties in-house, this bad boy supposedly starts at a stiff $2,575. Click on for a couple snapshots of the interface.

[Via CNET, image courtesy of PopSci]

Continue reading Automated drink slinger takes orders via LCD

Kingston offers up 4GB Class 6 miniSDHC cards

Filed under: Storage

Although Kingston's latest trio of 4GB miniSDHC cards aren't first on the scene per se, that Class 6 iteration is sure sitting at the head of the class. Partnered by Class 2 (2MB/sec) and Class 4 (4MB/sec) versions, the Class 6 miniSDHC card boasts an impressive minimum sustained data transfer rate of 6MB/sec, which ought to be more than sufficient for those unexpected video captures on your mobile. Most interesting, however, is the pricing scheme for the aforementioned devices, as the 4GB Class 6 card runs just two bucks higher ($66) than the Class 4 version ($64), and a mere four dollars more than the lowly Class 2 ($62) sibling, so it's a pretty safe bet that you'll be going for the speed on this one.

[Via ChannelTimes]

DXG unveils uber-cheap DXG-572V camcorder

Filed under: Digital Cameras

The bargain-bin-phenom has struck again, and this time it's the five-megapixel DXG-572V camcorder that's delivering a lot of promises for an uber-cheap price. 'Course, we wouldn't expect the built-in CMOS sensor, 4x digital zoom, white balance adjuster, voice recorder, digital still camera, or "near DVD quality" 640 x 480 MPEG4 / AVI video that this thing captures to win any awards, but those who don't mind chintzy ought not find any issues with this. Moreover, the unit boasts 32 measly megabytes of internal storage, an SD / MMC expansion slot, USB 2.0 connectivity, and a flip-out LCD screen to boot. If you're still sold, you can call the DXG-572V yours for just $149.99, and feel free to click on for a couple more angles.

Continue reading DXG unveils uber-cheap DXG-572V camcorder

Samsung's Yepp YP-P2 touchscreen DAP with Bluetooth

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Ok we admit it, we thought the device pictured over the weekend by Akihabara News was just the iPhone obscured by that iLuv case. But really, those pics were a bit preoccupied with something other than the, ehem, gadget. Fortunately, the good kids over at dapreview sorted it out with pictures and a video of Samsung's sleek new flash player: the Yepp YP-P2. A bit of digging also reveals plenty of specs courtesy of several unsubstantiated German language sites. These include up to 8GB of flash; biggie 3-inch, 428 x 240 pixel touch-screen display; MP3, WMV, WMA, and H.264 (MPEG4 AVC), MPEG-4 (ASF) support; Bluetooth (oh yes); integrated speaker and mic; and FM radio in a device just 100 x 52 x 9.2-mm thin. They've even implemented some of that virtual click-wheel action hinted at by Apple patent applications but never quite implemented. Check another pic and video walkthrough of the interface after the break.

New microscope allows live 3D imaging of cells

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Top level researchers and high-school science students alike have long been restricted by the tradeoffs of traditional microscopy: either you can look at live cells at low resolutions, or you can stabilize your sample and see some more detail. A new technique developed at MIT aims to change that, though, enabling scientists to look at live cells at high resolution -- in 3D. The microscope, which was developed by professor Micheal Feld and his team, generates images by analyzing how different parts of the cell refract light, and combines those images from different angles to create 3D models in real time. The unit has already been used at Harvard Medical School, and based on our struggles to see anything under the 'scope in college, we foresee quite a few students and professors clamoring for these at universities everywhere soon.

Nokia-branded batteries at risk of overheating -- 46 million devices affected

Filed under: Cellphones

Here we go again kids. After all those notorious fires related to the batteries used by the world's largest handset manufacturer, Nokia has issued a product advisory for the BL-5C, Nokia-branded battery. That's right, Nokia branded, not just those third-party knockoffs everyone had been pointing the finger at previously. A staggering 46 million batteries in fact, all manufactured by Matsushita (aka, Panasonic) between December 2005 and November 2006, are said to be at risk of "dislodge." According to the release, "in very rare cases" the Nokia-branded BL-5C batteries could short circuit ~~leading to an explosive burn~~. Nokia goes on to say that the danger only exists while charging the battery and of the 100 or so reported incidents, "no serious injuries or property damage have been reported." Oh really? So the loss of a leg no longer constitutes serious injury? The BL-5C is one of just 14 different batteries used in Nokia products so be sure to check the list below to see if your phone is one of the 52 Nokia handsets affected. If you're unlucky (or lucky, depending upon your viewpoint) enough to be affected, then Nokia will provide a replacement battery free of charge.

Update: We just received word from Nokia that the "overheating" referred to in their advisory will not result in an explosion or even a fire. At worst, batteries will "overheat, expand, and pop out of the phone (due to the expansion of the battery)." Of course, it states right on the battery that it "may explode if damaged" and "do not short circuit" so this little clarification likely won't make you feel any better now will it?

Sony Ericsson's "Victoria" gets official as the Cyber-shot K770

Filed under: Cellphones

She's here and right on schedule. Meet Victoria, Sony Ericsson's latest candybar to wear the Cyber-shot crown. Officially unveiled as the K770, the 14-mm thin cameraphone features a 3.2 megapixel, autofocus camera with LED photo light, and 1.9-inch QVGA display just like we heard. It ships with a 256MB M2 card and goes tri-band GSM with 2100MHz UMTS 3G for Europe. She's expected sometime around Q4 for an undisclosed price. Check the full gallery over at Engadget Mobile.

GE's E850 digital camera gets reviewed: it's not so good

Filed under: Digital Cameras

GE sounded pretty cocky when it announced its first entries into the crowded digital camera market earlier this year, with the company's lead of sales is running around saying things like, "Our aim is to be Number 1 in all aspects - quality, technology, performance and value - and these cameras will do that." Unfortunately, however, it doesn't look GE is going to reach that goal as fast as they'd hoped -- Photography Blog got their hands on the 8 megapixel E850 model and although the design and price are attractive, the camera itself took "horrible" pictures and suffered from sluggish performance. According to the reviewer, the E850 has "the worst noise performance" he's ever seen, and the higher ISO settings make "great impressionistic paintings out of your photos." Ouch. All in all, it looks like you're better off spending your $200 elsewhere -- sorry about that, GE fanboys.

Atree's UM10 e-dictionary with trick sliding keyboard

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video

It must be nice to live in a culture where it seems like having a dictionary on hand at all times is a must -- but sadly we in the US seem doomed to describe everything as either "awesome" or "sucks" while kids in Asia broaden their vocabularies with devices like Atree's UM10 e-dictionary / PMP. The unit, which sports a sliding flip keyboard much like the HTC Shift, also takes stylus input on its 3-inch screen and can play back media in a wide range of formats, including MP4, WMV9, MP3, WMA and Ogg. The unit also has FM and DMB tuners, a Microsoft Office reader app, and either 2 or 4GB of storage expandable via microSD. No word on price, but unless you're planning a trip to Korea sometime soon it doesn't really matter. Too bad -- it sucks that we can't get a device this awesome over here.

HTC Iris S640 CDMA smartphone outed by FCC

Filed under: Cellphones

It's been just under two months since getting a whiff of the forthcoming S640, and now it's time for US-based CDMA users to (officially) celebrate, as FCC documentation has finally outed the HTC Iris S640. The paperwork shows that the smartphone will indeed operate on CDMA850 / 1900 bands, include WiFi and Bluetooth, offer up EV-DO connectivity, and sport USB for syncing and charging. Additionally, the handset will reportedly tout a 2.4-inch 320 x 240 resolution LCD and a two-megapixel camera, and while it doesn't look like this one will be aimed at the elitists in the crowd, it should do quite well as a low-to-mid-range smartphone on whichever CDMA carrier(s) it ends up on.

[Via MobilitySite]

Virtual PSP Modder lets you try before you hack

Filed under: Gaming

Those of you aching to pull open your PSP and do a little modding but afraid to void your warranty -- or worse, brick your baby -- will want to check out the Virtual PSP Modder software from AcidMods. The Windows tool allows you to practice taking a PSP apart, look at the inside at up to 5X resolution, poke around with a virtual screwdriver and tweezers, tinker with the LEDs, apply random mods to see what works, and more -- all without having to crack open your actual, working PSP. Or course, there's no PSP emulation, so you can't play any games, and you'll have to somehow translate what you do on the screen to real life at some point, but hey -- even Ben Heck had to start somewhere. Check out a fairly boring video of the software in action after the break.

Continue reading Virtual PSP Modder lets you try before you hack

IOGEAR intros MiniView Micro DVI PS/2 KVM switch

Filed under: Desktops, Peripherals

IOGEAR already has more KVM switches to its credit than most, but it looks like the company has managed to find a bit more room for improvement, today introducing its new MiniView Micro DVI PS/2 model. As you may have surmised, this one will let two computers share a DVI monitor (at up to 1600 X 1200 and 60Hz) along with a PS/2 mouse, a keyboard, a microphone, and a set of speakers. To switch between computers, you simply press the small button that can be placed on your desk, leaving the remaining jumble of cables free to be discreetly tucked away. If that sounds like the KVM switch for you, you can grab one now for $160.

Apple 24-inch aluminum iMac review roundup

Filed under: Desktops

Now that you've had time to watch us fool around with Apple's latest iMac and even chew on a few benchmarks, it's about time the aluminum-clad machine suffered through its own gauntlet of reviews. Overall, the response to the new 2.4GHz 24-inch iMac has been mildly positive, and while it was noted that the update is far from revolutionary, the aesthetics are undeniably sexy. Interestingly, the glossy display didn't prove to be the disaster that some folks expected, and MacWorld even stated that it was "really more of a personal preference than a design flaw." Performance wise, the hardware updates provided respectable -- albeit not life-changing -- increases, and yes, the keyboard was well regarded whilst the white Mighty Mouse now seems so "out of place." So if you've been lured into thinking that the iMac may be right as your next machine, it doesn't sound like you'll be disappointed, but do yourself the favor of peeping one up close before pulling the trigger.

Xiachao intros rear view camera-supporting GPS4305

Filed under: GPS

China's Xiachao may not be the most well known manufacturer of GPS devices, but it looks to be keeping up with the current crop of virtually indistinguishable GPS units just fine, at least if its new GPS4305 model is any indication. All the specs you'd expect are here, including a 4.3-inch display, SiRF Star III GPS receiver, a 400MHz Samsung 2440A CPU, and an SD/MMC slot for further expansion. Slightly less common is the device's support for a rear view camera, although it's not clear if that's actually included as standard or simply available as an accessory. No word on pricing or availability, although we're sure you'll be able to find an acceptable substitute if you can't get your hands on this one.

Logitech's V470 Bluetooth mouse landing in September

Filed under: Peripherals

For those of you waiting on a totally plain-Jane, middle of the road, wireless optical mouse, perhaps you should turn your gaze to the Logitech V470; the shiny blue mouse of your dreams. Forgoing the typical USB dongle, the V470 links up via Bluetooth 1.2, thus avoiding unsightly protrusions from your PC, and conserving valuable desktop space -- which you'll need when utilizing the mouse's elegantly named "Side-to-Side Scrolling Plus Zoom," which apparently lets you scroll... and, uh, zoom. The V470 will be available in September with a price tag of $49.99.

[Thanks, Ankur]

Fujitsu's LifeBook U810 hits the FCC

Filed under: Laptops, Tablet PCs

Shortly after Fujitsu's LifeBook T2010 was outed by the FCC, the firm's interesting U810 (or U1010 in some locales) has now been uncovered, too. This UMPC / tablet hybrid of sorts reportedly packs an Intel A110 processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a shock-mounted 1.8-inch hard drive, a 5.6-inch WSVGA touchscreen, integrated webcam, keyboard light, fingerprint scanner, a built-in microphone, and best of all, a "Ctrl-Alt-Del" button that actually provides a shortcut to depressing those three famed keys simultaneously. Additionally, you'll find WiFi / Bluetooth, SD and CF flash card slots, audio in / out, and a single USB 2.0 port. As expected, we've no idea when Fujitsu plans on loosing this creature on American soil, but hopefully it won't be too long now.

[Via PCJoint]

Samsung readies the Bang & Olufsen Serene II and F330 music phone

Filed under: Cellphones

If you've got the kind of photographic, instant-recall memory that we here at Engadget do, you'll probably remember our brief mention of the Bang & Olufsen Serene II (or apparently "Serenata"), a Samsung developed mobile phone that made its way to the FCC in May. Well, the phone-elves have been busy tinkering in their workshop night after night, and we've managed to get a look at a real / fake picture of their otherwise-named SGH-F310 (pictured left). Rumor has it that the phone will arrive as a UMTS / EDGE / HSDPA (1.8 Mbps) device, with a 240 x 240 touchscreen, 4GB of memory, and all kinds of media playback support. Additionally, Samsung appears to be readying the F330 music phone for widespread dispersion, which will be rocking EDGE / HSDPA (3.6 Mbps), Bluetooth and USB connectivity, a 240 x 320 display, 2 megapixel camera, and a microSD slot. Of course, this is all rampant speculation at this point, but don't say we didn't warn you.

JWin's iPod bikini top sports wireless controls

Filed under: Portable Audio, Wearables

Although wearables that control your iPod are far from new, Korean-based JWin is hoping to lure in the beach goers by developing an iPod-friendly bikini top. Reportedly, the tops come with the play / pause, track, and volume controls sewn right in and communicate with a wireless dongle that you insert into your iPod. Interestingly, it's not stated whether the tops (and more importantly, the electronics) are waterproof, but we're sure those addicted to tanning won't mind either way.

Rumored specs for Sony's Advanced Amateur Alpha DSLR hit the net

Filed under: Digital Cameras

It seems the rumor mill is in full swing for the entire DSLR universe these days, so it makes sense for Sony's Advanced Amateur Alpha to join the fray. According to an admittedly sketchy source, the specifications from the aforementioned camera have been discovered, so here's a quick rundown on what to (hopefully) expect. Aside from the 14.4-megapixel sensor, rumor has it that you'll find a 2.5-inch LCD monitor, NP-FM55H battery, a CompactFlash slot, support for JPEG / RAW image formats, anti red-eye technology, ISO 100 to 3200, and wireless flash support to boot. 'Course, we wouldn't bet the farm on any of this just yet, but if you're interested in delving into dodgy French sites for potential dirt on one of Sony's forthcoming beasts, you know where to head.

[Via Digital Camera Information, thanks Jim]

Fujitsu gets official with U810, T2010 tablet PCs

Filed under: Laptops, Tablet PCs

Thanks to the oh-so-disclosing FCC, we already knew that Fujitsu's U810 and T2010 were headed this way, but now the firm is making things official. The 1.56-pound U810 will boast a snazzy LED-backlit display, last up to 5.5-hours on a single charge, will don the "world's smallest tablet convertible" label, and will be available for you to cuddle next month. The larger T2010 (pictured) weighs in at 3.5-pounds and also manages to pack a LED-backlit screen, but this pen-enabled convertible boasts a whopping 11-hours of battery life on the extended cell, or an impressive 9-hours on the standard iteration. Best of all, folks interested in the latter machine can get their orders in now starting at $1,599, and those eying the cutesy U810 will be coughing up a minimum of $999 when it's available.

[Via Wired]

Meizu's prepping the mDock for blasting M6 tunes

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio

Just like its favorite "inspiration" did so infamously last year, Meizu is getting into the speaker game to prop up those DAPs it's been pedaling. Also true to form, Meizu seems to have skipped over the R&D phase and looks to be rebadging the existing Fiio PS1120 Meizu-compatible speaker dock. Now known as the "mDock," the unit will support the M6 Mini Player out of the box, and has a top adapter that can replaced to support other Meizu models in the future, like the M3 Music Card. Brace yourselves for a September-ish release.

Researchers develop bendable, paper-based battery

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Nah, the researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute won't be crowned the first to develop a flexible (or paper-based, for that matter) battery, but their minuscule prototype "is an integrated device, not a combination of pieces" as others typically are. The battery uses "paper infused with an electrolyte and carbon nanotubes that are embedded in the paper," and could eventually be utilized in combination with solar cells or "scaled up and shaped into something like a car door, offering moving electrical storage and power when needed." Currently, however, the wee samples can release just "2.3-volts, or enough to illuminate a small light," but the idea of using these things to power pacemakers and the like isn't that far fetched.

[Via BBC, thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Microsoft allowing MMOs to require storage on the 360

Filed under: Gaming, Storage

While Microsoft's multi-SKU method has allowed it to hit the market at a dramatically lower price than the PS3, there are certainly some tradeoffs to that Xbox 360 Core model. Most notably, the lack of a hard drive means almost zero games have been released that make decent use of the drive in the Premium and Elite models, since Core users would be left out of the fun, no matter how few of them there may be. Luckily, Microsoft is finally lifting that restriction, and will be allowing HDD required games on a case-by-case basis. Developers will be required to estimate the max storage their game will grab, and state plainly on the box the requirement. Of course, Final Fantasy XI has been choking up 360 hard drives for over a year now, but hopefully these new official guidelines will get the creative juices flowing at a few more MMO studios so we can finally end those painful jaunts from the couch to the PC to get in some level grinding.

[Via Joystiq]

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

Samsung intros internet-enabled SMT-i8080 phone

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

LCD-packin' phones with internet connectivity have certainly been around the block, and while we can't imagine the demand being extraordinarily high 'round these parts, Samsung is probably hoping that a few folks in Hong Kong take interest in the SMT-i8080. The IP phone reportedly enables users to view TV on the screen, video-conference with others, tune into music, shop online (for realz?), and even reserve movie tickets. Granted, the more technically adept may prefer a more fleshed out interface to handle the aforementioned duties, but we certainly wouldn't quetch if The Man replaced our current cubical phone with this gem.

[Via MobileWhack]

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