Engadget

Elevator operating robot janitor goes on sale in Japan

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:03:00 EST

In one year alone we've seen robots shaking things up in such far-flung fields as fashion and interpretive dance. That said, our concerns are generally more prosaic -- that's why we're most excited by the industrial strength autonomous sweepers developed by the likes of Fuji Heavy Industries, Sumitomo, and Subaru. Like last year's model, their latest sweeps the floor, picks up the trash, is able to operate modded elevators, and comes equipped with laser sensors for avoiding obstacles and may even be outfitted with a camera. In addition, this new guy has slimmed down to about half the size (better for slipping into tight corners) and sports a twenty-four volt battery that gets about 2.5 hours per charge. The best news, however, is that it's finally for sale! It should hit the streets of Japan by the end of next year for a price somewhere in the $35,000 to $46,000 range. We'll take two. [Warning: PDF source link]

Elevator operating robot janitor goes on sale in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next-generation SD specification comes to light, 300MBps just around the corner

Darren Murph — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:24:00 EST

Believe it or not, we first heard of SDXC nearly a year ago. Aside from a highly guarded chip spotted at CeBIT, though, we've yet to see any of those cards in the flesh. Thankfully for the impatient among us, it seems as if the SD Specification 4.0 is well on its way to being hammered out, with the maximum data transfer rate scooting up from 104MB/sec to 300MB/sec. The actual scheme will also be changing from parallel to serial, with an unspecified amount of pins (more than 9, though) assisting in the speed increase. We're also told that the external dimensions of the cards will remain the same, and that backwards compatibility is of the utmost importance. We're guessing that newer cards will be able to rely on parallel transfers when used on older readers, while newer readers will accept data via the serial scheme; unfortunately, the nitty-gritty details have yet to be made public, but we're hoping for a serious coming-out party at next year's CES.

Next-generation SD specification comes to light, 300MBps just around the corner originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Manufacturers redirecting R&D on declining GPS device orders?

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:44:00 EST

If you enjoy the decimation of an industry as much as Google does then you're going to love the latest rumor sourced from DigiTimes' manufacturing moles. According to the Taiwanese rumor rag, personal navigation device R&D teams at the manufacturing powerhouses of Foxconn (aka, Hon Hai) and Wistron have been shifted to other devices in the face of "declining PND orders." Seems logical as GPS-equipped smartphones snuff out their dedicated forebears with the same converged precision that turned wrist watches into items of fashion. The strange part of this DigiTimes rumor is that said manufacturers have shifted those PND teams to focus on e-book readers and (are you ready?) MIDs. Man, if the world's largest manufacturer of consumer electronics sees MIDs as a more economically viable option than personal navigators, well, maybe things are more dire for TomTom and Garmin than originally feared.

Manufacturers redirecting R&D on declining GPS device orders? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WebOS 1.3.2 out for Palm Pixi while Pre looks on with jealousy

Ross Miller — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:08:00 EST

Looks like Palm's first Pixi update has an air of exclusivity to it. WebOS 1.3.2 is being released to the somewhat washed, non-slider masses, while Pre owners are so far left toying with 1.3.1. Not a huge loss, it seems, as no one is yet certain what this update does. Still, if you got a Pixi, look for the over-the-air warning lights to go on.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Filed under: Cellphones

WebOS 1.3.2 out for Palm Pixi while Pre looks on with jealousy originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TerreStar Genus satphone gets beamed into an FCC lab

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:58:00 EST

That projected Q1 2010 availability window for AT&T's first dual-mode satphone (and first satphone, period, for that matter) is looking pretty dang obtainable now that Elektrobit -- the device's manufacturer -- has secured FCC approval. As you can tell from the laboratory mugshot here, TerreStar's Genus is a pretty unassuming-looking Windows Mobile smartphone, which is pretty amazing when you consider that it'll more or less guarantee you coverage anywhere in the most ridiculously remote regions of North America and surrounding waters. Test documentation confirms that it'll be ready with US HSPA out of the gate, so if you can hold out for a month or two and stomach some likely hardcore plans and per-minute / per-megabyte charges, get ready to impress your co-pilot in the midst of that next offshore race.

TerreStar Genus satphone gets beamed into an FCC lab originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The daily roundup: here's what you might've missed

Ross Miller — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:24:00 EST

A visual recap of the day's articles

Dec 1st 2009 | 37 Articles

Spring Design denied injunction on sales of Barnes & Noble Nook

Ross Miller — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:20:00 EST

This shouldn't be seen as an indicator of future rulings, but Spring Design has been denied its injunction to halt Barnes & Noble from selling the Nook. According to court documents, there is "genuine dispute" over whether the Nook was derived by Spring Design's contributions or was independently developed prior -- in a nutshell, there's no way for the court, or anyone at this point, to know what's really going on here. The creator of Alex, who as we've previously chronicled had many behind-the-scenes meetings on developing the Android-assisted e-book reader before BN pulled out of the deal, can take solace in an expedited pre-trial process to accommodate for an earlier hearing date. So now the only thing stopping Barnes and Noble from selling Nook is... Barnes and Noble itself. Turns out that's a pretty formidable foe.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Spring Design denied injunction on sales of Barnes & Noble Nook originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Denial of Injunction (PDF) | Email this | Comments

Flip Video FlipShare TV beams video to the big screen

Nilay Patel — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:00:00 EST

We first saw the Cisco FlipShare TV hit the FCC just over a month ago, and now that's it's official (well, official in the sense that Walt Mossberg broke the embargo by two hours) we're still sort of underwhelmed and a little befuddled -- although it's made by Cisco, the Flip-focused media player doesn't actually connect to your home WiFi network. Instead, the FlipShare software transmits data from your computer using a proprietary USB dongle, which means the player itself is useless unless your computer is on with Flip's funky FlipShare software running and the dongle connected. Flip tells us the decision to go proprietary was made to make things easier for non-technical users to set up (like Flip's cameras, the FlipShare software is preloaded on the dongle) but we can't help but think it's actually a bit more complicated, since Gran won't be able to just turn the thing on and subscribe to your new Flip user channels enabled by FlipShare 5.0. Instead, she'll have to get out her laptop, plug in the dongle, launch the software (which pulls the content from the internet), and then start using the FlipShare TV's RF remote to get at your videos, which seems pretty complicated to us. Yeah, we're just not sure, especially at $149 -- we've actually got one here for review, we'll let you know how we feel in the next couple days.

Continue reading Flip Video FlipShare TV beams video to the big screen

Flip Video FlipShare TV beams video to the big screen originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google halts development of Gears, makes room for HTML 5

Joseph L. Flatley — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:57:00 EST

Well, we've known for a while that Google was throwing considerable weight behind HTML 5, and that one of the purposes of the markup language is to do away with plug-ins for Internet apps, so it makes sense that eventually Gears would go the way of the Dodo. But so soon? Linus Upson, the man in charge of both the Chrome browser and Chrome OS engineering teams, has announced that the company is done developing the software. "We are not driving forward in any meaningful way [on Gears]," the man said in an interview with PC Magazine. "We are continuing to maintain it, so that applications will continue to work; we don't want to break anything out there." If you listen to this guy, it sounds like this was the plan, all along: "When we started the Gears project, three years ago... we did it because we couldn't get the browser vendors interested in building offline applications." He then details the mind trick: Google ships Gears, and suddenly browser vendors are "very interested in adding capabilities to build offline applications," paving the way for the capabilities in the next version of HTML. Clever, Google. In the same interview, Upson stated the company's plans to move all its apps to standards-based HTML 5 APIs. Now that it's convinced the world that it wants -- nay, needs -- rich Internet applications, we hope that the company will promise to use its powers of persuasion for good, and not for evil.

Google halts development of Gears, makes room for HTML 5 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FCC boss keeps driving home the 'spectrum, spectrum, spectrum' message for wireless broadband

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:49:00 EST

Love him or hate him, it seems destined that the FCC's Julius Genachowski will leave as big of a mark on the agency he's leading -- if not bigger -- than his predecessor Kevin Martin did, because he's hell-bent on shaking up the wireless airwaves and landlines he oversees in some pretty huge ways. Pushback from broadcasters is apparently quite strong, but he's reiterated at a conference today that he intends to investigate freeing up TV spectrum for to make room additional wide-area wireless services, a move that certainly seems to make sense on the surface considering that universal broadband to the home -- which could carry all the TV you'd ever need -- is also high on Genachowski's to-do list. The Universal Service Fund, which every American phone subscriber pays into and partly finances rural landline telephone operations where profits are harder to come by, is looking like a ripe target for renovation to bring broadband into the fold, theoretically making high-speed data more accessible to folks of all demographics and geographical affinities. Like the TV spectrum move, the USF realignment is meeting its fair share of detractors -- mainly among rural landline operators who rely on the funds for operation, of course -- but we're definitely gaining confidence that this dude isn't taking "no" for an answer in the long term.

FCC boss keeps driving home the 'spectrum, spectrum, spectrum' message for wireless broadband originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell Mini 3iX shown off in Brazil, works on tan, leaves Android Market in the dust?

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:54:00 EST

Hey, Dell: looking for the absolute quickest way to screw up your first entry into the dog-eat-dog smartphone industry? Well, removing the Market app from your Android load is a solid way to start. Yeah, you heard that right -- according to Brazilian site Zumo, the all-important Android Market was nowhere to be found on the Mini 3iX it had an opportunity to play with, rendering software discovery and installation about as easy as a WinMo device from three years ago. It seems that Dell's "strategy" here is to have users download apps directly from their sources -- a practice that typically needs to be manually enabled on an Android device as a security override -- and get the rest of their wares from proprietary stores, presumably operated by the carrier, Dell, or both. On the bright side, the 3iX includes the WiFi radio that its Chinese doppelganger lacks and features a generous 3.5-inch display, 3 megapixel camera, 3G support, and a completely button-free face that looks particularly sexy in this low-light shot. Dell's apparently commenting that Brazilians can expect the 3iX in shops in 2010 -- possibly in the first quarter -- which should give 'em just enough time to un-make that deal-breaking Market mistake prior to launch.

Dell Mini 3iX shown off in Brazil, works on tan, leaves Android Market in the dust? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Snoop Dogg: the GPS industry's secret weapon against Google

Ross Miller — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:59:00 EST

You know what TomTom has that Google Maps Navigation doesn't? Snoop. D. O. Double G. Voice Skins, the same company that brought Homer Simpson to the world of turn-by-turn, paid tha cost to hire da boss himself, which is now available for $12.95 and compatible with all TomTom devices. The Doggfather telling us how to get to Taco Bell? Let's face it, sharp lefts really are so fly. Crank up the bass, videos are after the break.

[Thanks, Brandon]

Continue reading Snoop Dogg: the GPS industry's secret weapon against Google

Snoop Dogg: the GPS industry's secret weapon against Google originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Energizer promises new and improved zinc-air battery for summer 2010

Donald Melanson — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:32:00 EST

Energizer has been working on zinc-air batteries for quite some time now (along with plenty of others), but it looks like its now finally set to deliver with a new "standard battery" that's said to be on track for a launch sometime in the summer of next year. What's more, while some of the company's previous attempts at zinc-air batteries have only been able to manage average run times of between one and three months, Energizer says it's recently been able to triple things in time for the batteries' big debut. That will first come in the form of some AAAA batteries from Energizer itself, which will apparently be priced similarly to "special lithium batteries," and will eventually be followed by zinc-air batteries in a range of different sizes. During the same time, we should also start to see some of the first products with integrated zinc-air batteries from some of the 30 odd OEMs now working with Energizer, who are working to put the batteries into everything from Bluetooth headsets to remote controls to portable audio players.

Energizer promises new and improved zinc-air battery for summer 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft shifting internal focus to Windows 8 in July 2010

Donald Melanson — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:50:00 EST

Ah, the tormented life of a Microsoft employee. You spend a few years of your life nurturing a product, teaching it some new tricks, and before you know it you have to release it into the wild and start all over again. Coincidentally, Microsoft also seems to do a lot of hiring during that tumultuous switchover period, and its latest round of job postings have offered a few clues as to what we can expect in Windows 8, and when the company plans to focus on it in earnest. That will apparently happen at the start of the company's 2011 fiscal year, which translates to July, 2010 for everyone else. As for Windows 8 itself, it seems that Microsoft is particularly interested in finding a few folks to work on how Windows Update works in the latest iteration of the OS, including things third-party application updating, updating virtual machines when they're turned off, and delivery of full applications -- Windows 8 Server and a "new UX framework" also garnered a brief mention. Hit up the link below for some additional details, and links to the actual postings if you happen to be looking for a job.

Microsoft shifting internal focus to Windows 8 in July 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Comcast deal to buy NBC is done, will be announced Thursday

Nilay Patel — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:10:00 EST

We told you we had a feeling this thing was happening -- less than a day after GE consolidated ownership of NBC Universal in preparation to spin it off and sell a controlling stake to Comcast, CNBC is reporting that the deal is actually done and will be announced Thursday morning. As rumored from the start, Comcast will now own 51 percent of NBC to GE's 49 percent, and the new company will fold in Comcast's various content assets, which means the new NBC will rival Disney in size. That's a big enchilada, and it should make the future of Comcast initiatives like TV Everywhere extremely interesting. Of course, all this still has to go through the FCC and FTC, and we wouldn't expect anything to be approved and finalized for a year, but none of that takes away from the magnitude of this deal. We'll obviously know more in a couple days, stay tuned.

Comcast deal to buy NBC is done, will be announced Thursday originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Entelligence: What's the future of Nokia?

Michael Gartenberg — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:46:00 EST

Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he'll explore where our industry is and where it's going -- on both micro and macro levels -- with the unique wit and insight only he can provide.

It's the largest cell phone maker in the world, with the largest share of any smartphone vendor in the world. Yet I increasingly look at Nokia's products and listen to its strategy wondering if the company can remain relevant in a mobile world that's changed drastically over the last two years. I'm not talking about a Nokia deathwatch, or whether the company will remain in business -- that's foolish. Of course Nokia is going to stick around; it's what it's going to look like that concerns me. A future of selling low-end phones into emerging markets with some minor services might be profitable, but it's not a direction that leads to industry relevance or influence.

First, I'm confused by Nokia's platform strategy. There's been a lot of chatter about Maemo being the future, and while it might be a strategic direction, it's nowhere near ready for primetime now. Chris Ziegler suggested to me the other day that "Maemo 6 (or 7) in an X6 form factor with a more cohesive Ovi strategy could be killer." Perhaps, but right now Maemo feels very immature and unfinished. In fact, it feels like what it is: an OS designed for Nokia's Internet Tablet MIDs. On a phone like the N900 it's just too kludgey for the mainstream market. That leaves Symbian-based S60, which was totally innovative in 2002 but now looks creaky and has fragmented into multiple versions, leaving a very confused developer market. Sure, Nokia supports Flash and Silverlight with Qt somehow tying all this diversity into some unified grand theory, but it's enough complexity to make most developers look elsewhere -- and that's exactly what's happened. Without a clear platform strategy, it's going to be difficult for Nokia to get the developer mindshare required to stay relevant to the mass market.

Continue reading Entelligence: What's the future of Nokia?

Entelligence: What's the future of Nokia? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kindle Kradle aims to be to 'holding things' what the Kindle is to paper

Donald Melanson — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:12:00 EST

We're not entirely certain, but there seems to be at least a decent chance that this is a case of the name coming before the actual product. In any event, the so-called Kindle Kradle is nothing if not ~~ugly~~ unique, and promises to finally get rid of that pesky need to actually hold the Kindle while you use it. As the folks at Wired's Gadget Lab discovered during their hands-on time with the unit, however, the Kradle proved to be somewhat less useful than laying the Kindle flat on a table, and its one seeming advantage (being used as a dock) doesn't exactly live up to its potential since it's apparently a chore to thread the cable through the stand. You can get it in your choice of brown or graphite colors though, and in sizes that'll accommodate the Kindle DX or a variety of Sony Readers as well.

Kindle Kradle aims to be to 'holding things' what the Kindle is to paper originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 Wireless speakers impressions

Darren Murph — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:41:00 EST

Back in the day (or way back, as it were), we recall quite vividly the impression made upon us by Klipsch's ProMedia v.2-400. It wasn't the cheapest four-piece speaker set for the PC, but compared to the competition at the time, it certainly offered up a sound rivaled only by much higher-end options -- options that were generally tailored for home theater applications. Fast forward to today, and Klipsch is still carrying on the ProMedia line nearly a decade later. The latest set to waltz into our labs are these: the ProMedia 2.1 Wireless. Essentially, these are the exact same ProMedia 2.1 speakers that were released eons ago (in the midst of the Y2K chaos, if you're looking for specifics), but with a wireless twist. Klipsch has integrated 2.4GHz wireless technology into the subwoofer, and it tossed in a USB dongle in order to beam out audio from whatever PC or Mac that you connect it to. Pretty simple, right? Hop on past the break for our two pennies on how this package performed.

Gallery: Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 Wireless speakers

Continue reading Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 Wireless speakers impressions

Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 Wireless speakers impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Square iPhone payment system gets itself a website, showcased in public

Ross Miller — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:10:00 EST

Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey and the quiet startup formerly known as Squirrel are finally opening up a bit. The company now called Square, as we noted back in October, has launched a website for its iPhone payment dongle, although it's still in somewhat private beta testing. TechCrunch managed to catch up with Dorsey, who gave a brief overview of the product and then showed it off by charging $4 for a cup of coffee -- so it goes in San Francisco. See Square in action after the break.

Continue reading Square iPhone payment system gets itself a website, showcased in public

Filed under: Cellphones

Square iPhone payment system gets itself a website, showcased in public originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC 'Touch.B' is an Android-powered Touch2?

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:42:00 EST

If you glance at this thing for just a fleeting instant, you might actually mistake it for a Touch2 -- but it's not. A closer look at the button layout shows a decided lack of keys required by WinMo 6.5, which leads us to the logical conclusion that the so-called Touch.B here -- previously known under the codename "Rome" -- runs Android. MobiFrance doesn't have any additional details on the phone, its specs, or where it might launch, but if it does in fact run on the Google juice, it's looking like a possible successor (or kissing cousin, perhaps) of the Tattoo. Now that we look at it, we're not actually seeing the buttons that'd be required of an Android device, either -- and we have heard rumors for ages now that HTC would be releasing devices running a homegrown dumbphone platform -- but we'll hold off on the conclusion-jumping until we get just a little more detail.

[Thanks, clo75]

HTC 'Touch.B' is an Android-powered Touch2? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple dings Psystar for $2.67m, round two heads to Florida

Nilay Patel — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:19:00 EST

It looks like the first phase of the Apple / Psystar Mac cloning saga is winding towards a conclusion, as the two sides have just filed to wrap up their case with the California court that ruled decisively in favor of Apple last month. As you probably expect, Apple hasn't ceded much ground here: Psystar's agreed to be deemed liable for illegally copying OS X Leopard, bypassing the OS X kernel encryption in violation of the DMCA, and breaching Apple's EULA, all to the tune of $2,675,050. In return, Apple's dropping its various trademark and unfair competition claims, and has promised to hold off on collecting any cash until the various appeals have run their course. Now, considering Apple and Psystar are currently engaged in pretty much the exact same case in Florida over Snow Leopard, we'd say that this agreement isn't much more than a way for both sides to save money and move on to that fight: Apple's already won the bulk of its case against Psystar in California, and spending money to litigate trademark claims we thought were weak when we first read them doesn't really buy Steve any leverage he doesn't already have, while Psystar probably needs to scrimp all the coin it can.

There's one other little wrinkle here, and that's exactly what Apple's eventually going to be able to prevent Psystar from doing. It's certain that the California court will bar Psystar from preloading machines with Leopard, but Psystar's arguing that its new Rebel EFI software shouldn't be covered by any decision, since it wasn't part of the case. That's an interesting argument and definitely worth some consideration -- but it's got some holes in it since Psystar's now admitted that it's liable for contributory and induced copyright infringement and violating the DMCA. As we've said before, Psystar's essentially doing with Rebel EFI what Grokster got smacked by the Supreme Court for doing in 2005: it's trying to build a business around the knowing copyright infringement of customers, and that usually doesn't fly. We'll see what happens -- and Florida awaits.

Apple dings Psystar for $2.67m, round two heads to Florida originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Settlement (PDF), Rebel EFI Motion (PDF) | Email this | Comments

Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: PMPs

Laura June — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:11:00 EST

Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year. Below is today's bevy of hand curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season.

So your music-loving grandma wants a PMP, huh? Fair enough -- we've put our heads together to come up with a list of the best we could find in several price ranges -- and we tried to come up with a few that are off the beaten (iPod) path, too. The choices out there sure are varied, but we've culled out the boring and the poorly designed to come up with what we think is the... most melody-friendly group on the planet. Read on for our full recommendations!

Continue reading Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: PMPs

Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: PMPs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sharkoon USB LANPort gets your isolated USB drives on your local network

Darren Murph — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:49:00 EST

Pogoplug may have been the first to make this type of contraption popular, but now it's time for the no-names to sneak in and offer up comparable devices for a bit less cheddar. Sharkoon has evidently taken a break from punching out SATA HDD Docks in order to develop its USB LANPort, which effectively puts any piece of USB storage (flash drive, external hard drive, etc.) on one's local network -- though it seems this is mainly for making multiple drives available to a variety of machines via customized permissions. The USB LANPort 100 converts a single drive into a device that can be streamed from locally, while the USB LANPort 400 handles up to four USB devices. Unfortunately it looks as if these weren't designed to link USB drives to the internet at large, but we're sure the hacker in you could figure it out. Both boxes support automatic and manual IP address contacts, and they're both available now across the pond for €22.99 ($34) / €36.99 ($56) in order of mention. As for a US release? Your guess is as good as ours.

Gallery: Sharkoon USB LANPort gets your isolated USB drives on the world wide web

Sharkoon USB LANPort gets your isolated USB drives on your local network originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Universal's BD-59 Blu-ray / DVD flip discs to debut on Bourne trilogy releases

Richard Lawler — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:22:00 EST

Once upon a time Universal was the hybrid disc king, with plans to release up to 90% of its 2007 HD DVD titles on the dual sided discs, but we know how that ended. Now the company is back to its old tricks, ready to ship the first BD-59 discs with a 50GB Blu-ray / 9GB DVD configuration promising movie and all available special features in whichever format is desired. The expensive answer to a question no one was asking or the perfect way to add future proofing and extended compatibility to new movie purchases? We'll know more once a price is announced for the Jason Bourne trilogy of movies -- seeing their first individual Blu-ray releases -- due on January 19.

Universal's BD-59 Blu-ray / DVD flip discs to debut on Bourne trilogy releases originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Comcast inches closer to buying NBC

Nilay Patel — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:51:00 EST

It's been over a month since we last heard anything about the rumored Comcast takeover of NBC, but things are slowly starting to move forward: Bloomberg says that NBC parent company GE has bought out Vivendi's 20 percent stake in the broadcaster for $5.8b, with up to a $2b refund due back if the Comcast deal isn't done by the end of 2010. That's no small gamble -- Comcast will have to clear a "gauntlet" of federal regulators from the FCC and FTC, who will scrutinize everything from the transfer of TV broadcast licenses in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles to the effects on competitors like Dish Network and Verizon, who will still want access to NBC's huge stable of content and programming. Big challenges, to be sure, but we get the feeling this deal is going down one way or another -- get ready for a rocky 2010.

Comcast inches closer to buying NBC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fring brings one-way video calling to the iPhone

Donald Melanson — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:18:00 EST

Fring was the first to bring VoIP calls to the iPhone, and it looks like it's now finally done the same for video calling -- sort of. While it obviously can't do much to change the camera placement on the iPhone, the latest version of the app will at least let iPhone users (and iPod touch users, for that matter) see the person on the other end, and Fring says it'll add two-way video calling whenever "a front camera is placed on these." As with the company's app for Nokia devices, you'll also be able to make video calls to Skype users, but you'll have to make sure you're in the vicinity of a WiFi hotspot, as this one doesn't support calls on 3G. Head on past the break for a video.

Continue reading Fring brings one-way video calling to the iPhone

Fring brings one-way video calling to the iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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T-Mobile pushing CLIQ firmware update today? (update: yes!)

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:52:00 EST

TmoNews seems to have it on good authority that T-Mobile will be rolling out a firmware update over the air to the Motorola CLIQ today -- the device's first since launch -- and we've got good news and bad news. First, the bad: by all accounts, it appears that this'll still be an Android 1.5-based firmware, adding fuel to the fire suggesting that UI skins like BLUR are a huge barrier to keeping devices up to speed with Google's breakneck release pace. The good news, though, is that the update seems to be lined up to fix a plethora of issues involving Bluetooth, touchscreen accuracy (we can attest to this one), connectivity, accelerometer functionality, and -- wait for it -- battery life! Looks like the build number is 1.1.31, so let us know if and when you get hooked up, owners.

Update: We've gotten tips from several users now that they've already been able to nab the update, so it looks like the CLIQ is definitely getting a little better today. Well, hopefully, anyhow.

T-Mobile pushing CLIQ firmware update today? (update: yes!) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson's Satio gets new firmware but not yet back on sale, Aino never affected

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:34:00 EST

We've got an old-fashioned Sony Ericsson-gate developing this winter with some clarification and new information on two of the company's highest-end phones of the season, the Aino and Symbian-powered Satio. First up, as we've updated in our original post, the Aino was never pulled from shelves -- we've been able to confirm this with Sony Ericsson spokespeople directly, which also satisfactorily explains why it was never pulled from the US SonyStyle site. Secondly, good news for Satio owners affected by the phone's issues: there's a new firmware out there for unbranded units, which suggests that units that are already in the field might not need to be recalled despite Sony Ericsson's admission that the power-down problem can't be fixed over the air. For what it's worth, we've been in touch with Carphone Warehouse today and they haven't yet put it back on sale -- so it's hard to say just how closely related the new build is to the most damning problems facing the phone right now. Owners who've upgraded: what have you noticed so far?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Sony Ericsson's Satio gets new firmware but not yet back on sale, Aino never affected originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Hero gets a leaked Android 2.1 ROM with Sense

Nilay Patel — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:02:00 EST

We just saw some leaked shots of a Hero running Android 2.1 with HTC Sense a couple days ago, and now it looks like you can get in on the action yourself, thanks to a leaked ROM now up on XDA-developers and AllDroid. Installation appears to be pretty straightforward, but there are some steps involved, so make sure you backup and set aside some time to get things right -- and let us know how it all goes in comments!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

HTC Hero gets a leaked Android 2.1 ROM with Sense originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows 7 Black Screen of Death? (It's not as bad as it sounds)

Joseph L. Flatley — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:31:00 EST

Well, maybe it's not as bad as it sounds, but it's still not so good. As you're probably aware, over the last week or so Windows users of all stripes (not just Windows 7 users, as it turns out) have been complaining of a plain black screen that appears upon login -- at which point the systems lock up, and... that's it. Aside from some users getting an additional My Computer window (lucky devils) the system grinds to a halt. According to a Microsoft email that's making the rounds, the company is "investigating reports that its latest release of security updates is resulting in system issues for some customers." Until that time, what's a poor PC user to do? Prevx, a UK developer of anti-malware software, has surmised that a recent Windows security patch changed Access Control List (ACL) entries in the registry, preventing some software from running properly and prompting Engadget to whip up a Bergman-inspired graphic. If your machine should find itself afflicted, Prevx has put together a fix that it claims will do the trick. Keep in mind that we don't know these guys, so don't blame us if it blows up your computer -- or gives you the Bubonic plague. We'll let you know when we hear back from Microsoft on this one. Good luck!

Update: Microsoft says this isn't its fault, and that it's likely some nasty malware to blame.

Windows 7 Black Screen of Death? (It's not as bad as it sounds) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Soundmatters' foxL v2 portable Bluetooth speaker rocks the suburbs

Darren Murph — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:08:00 EST

Soundmatters made a few (sine) waves last year with the introduction of its awfully cute foxL Bluetooth speaker, but for those preoccupied with other matters, there's nothing wrong with snagging v2 in order to catch up. The pocket-sized (5.6- x 2.2- x 1.4-inches) speaker sports new BT circuitry that allows for 3x better reception than the prior version, and it also automatically pairs and searches for Bluetooth devices. Users can now answer and terminate a call from the speaker itself, and as expected, you'll also get a bit more volume out of this one compared to the original. The rechargeable battery will keep the jams spinning for five hours on a full charge, and if the international charging prongs weren't enough, there's also the option to regenerate over USB. It's set to ship later this month to jet-setting music junkies for $199, while a wired (read: non-BT) variant will go for $30 less.

Soundmatters' foxL v2 portable Bluetooth speaker rocks the suburbs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Clearwire's WiMAX rollout rolls on: NC, WA, TX, IL and HI get lit

Darren Murph — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:36:00 EST

Think LTE is the future? How's about the present? Clearwire is expanding its national footprint in a big, big way today by announcing WiMAX services in a slew of regions in a smattering of states. Starting today, 4G access can be found in both Honolulu and Maui, Hawaii, which effectively removes the last sane reason to not visit and / or relocate there. In fact, CLEAR is now available to 800,000 citizens of America's finest state, with service extending 1,759 square miles over Oahu, Maui, and Lanai. Moving on, residents of Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh, North Carolina can also buy in, right along with those folks in Dallas/Ft. Worth, San Antonio and Austin, Texas who mistakenly think their BBQ is superior. Closing things out, we've got new access throughout the Puget Sound area (including Seattle and King County, Pierce County, Kitsap County, and Snohomish County), not to mention a green light to hop on the 4G superhighway in the Chicago region. If you're anxious to ditch 3G, you'll find plans starting at just $30 per month.

Clearwire's WiMAX rollout rolls on: NC, WA, TX, IL and HI get lit originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIA's Mobile-ITX platform is half as big as Pico-ITX, still full of heart

Darren Murph — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:05:00 EST

VIA's Pico-ITX platform took things to an entirely new level a few years back, and now the company is introducing an even smaller variant for even more minuscule applications. The Mobile-ITX specification measures in at just 6cm x 6cm, or right around 50 percent as large as the aforementioned Pico-ITX form factor. Aimed specifically at next-generation embedded devices that are barely visible to the naked eye, Mobile-ITX employs a modularized design that includes a CPU module card and an I/O carrier board. We're told that CPU modules based on the Mobile-ITX form factor integrate "core CPU, chipset and memory functionality and I/O that includes the CRT, DVP and TTL display support, HD Audio, IDE, USB 2.0, as well as PCI Express, SMBus, GPIO, LPC, SDIO and PS2 signals," and the 5-watt power usage means that these are well suited for always-on systems. Look for the first commercial Mobile-ITX-based CPU module to ship in Q1 2010.

Gallery: VIA's Mobile-ITX platform is half as big as Pico-ITX, still full of heart

VIA's Mobile-ITX platform is half as big as Pico-ITX, still full of heart originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iriver Story unsheathed, still looks remarkably like a Kindle

Vladislav Savov — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:33:00 EST

If you're pro-ebook readers but anti-Amazon censorship, here's a decent alternative for your cashola. The Story reader from iriver has been undressed for our entertainment and rightfully praised for its trendy eco-friendly packaging. It's not an altogether unique device, but with an 800 x 600 E Ink display, support for ePUB, PDF, Word, PowerPoint, Excel and even Ogg / WMA file formats, it's at least versatile enough. Hit the read link to try and spot the other differences between this and Amazon's record-breaking piece of authoritarian hardware. Go on -- it's a real rush, we promise.

iriver Story unsheathed, still looks remarkably like a Kindle originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia asks own blog readers what their favorite part of the X6 is, gets funny answer

Paul Miller — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:05:00 EST

It's odd, because we were under the impression that Nokia was doing just fine shunning capacitive touch all these years, but apparently one in three readers of Nokia Conversations find the capacitive touchscreen to be the number one feature of the new X6 handset. Sure, Nokia uses some of the greatest resistive screens in the business, but we've always maintained that capacitive is simply the best when it comes to a finger-based touchscreen interface, and hopefully the Nokia X6 can usher in a new era of peace, understanding and higher-than-average WPM scores for all mankind. Oh, and perhaps some proper it's / its differentiation.

Nokia asks own blog readers what their favorite part of the X6 is, gets funny answer originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony's FVA-U1 reads veins, coming to Japan this month

Vladislav Savov — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:43:00 EST

Sony has finally delivered on its Mofiria promise with what it claims is the world's smallest and lightest finger vein reader. That assertion may be challenged by Hitachi, whose 3mm-thick scanner promises to be even smaller, but the critical difference here is that the FVA-U1 is about to go on sale in Japan come December 18, whereas Hitachi's hardware is nowhere to be found. The Sony scanner weighs a measly 33 grams, hooks up via USB, and adds an extra layer of biometric protection for your most precious data. Whether carrying around an extra dongle just to protect some Excel spreadsheets and your Outlook account is worth it, we leave up to you.

Sony's FVA-U1 reads veins, coming to Japan this month originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell facing massive E6400 and E6500 overheating and underclocking problem?

Tim Stevens — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:21:00 EST

All is not well in the land of the E6400- and E6500-series lappytops. What looks to be hundreds of owners of these machines have been complaining of massive performance issues, throttling themselves down by as much as 95% under what would seem to be normal operating conditions. Whenever the devices get slightly warm the BIOS automatically starts dialing down the performance until they basically crawl to a halt, some indicating that even when cool they won't go over 50% of maximum clock. Users have been reporting this issue since early in the year and Dell has apparently started censoring some posts on its forums, including a link to a PDF created by (now-banned) user Tinkerdude describing the problem in detail. It's entitled "Performance loss during normal operation in a Dell Latitude E6500 laptop due to processor and bus clock throttling", and if you think that's long wait until you see all 59 pages of analysis (at the read link). As of now there's no official fix provided by Dell, leaving many to call this Throttlegate, and we do love a good Stargate reference.

Update: Ibrahim e-mailed to let us know that these two series aren't the only ones being gimped. The Studio XPS 1645 is said to be having similar (but somewhat less drastic) issues according to this thread, seemingly thanks to an inadequate AC adapter. In this case Dell seems to be shipping replacement adapters to those who call up and complain.

Update 2: Dell's Chief Blogger Lionel Menchaca dropped the following in comments, which is something of a positive step:

We're aware of concerns raised in this post and others like it. At this point, our teams are looking into the details. When we have more information to share, we'll update customers via a post on Dell's blog, Direct2Dell.

Dell facing massive E6400 and E6500 overheating and underclocking problem? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OSRAM Orbeos OLED lights are small, flat, right behind you

Tim Stevens — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 07:41:00 EST

The days of OLED wallpaper are still some years away, but you can finally start thinking about replacing those tired light fixtures with something a little more two-dimensional. After testing the waters with its Early Future lamp and then boosting efficiency of its product, OSRAM is announcing availability of Orbeos OLED panels for general consumption. The discs are 80mm wide, only 2.1mm thick, and emit light at a temperature of 2,800K, meaning they're much closer to an average incandescent than those awful CFLs. They're not as efficient, though, managing just 25 lumens per watt compared to your average CFL's 60 - 72. Still, they're about twice as thrifty as traditional bulb tech and can be configured in a variety of interesting ways (shown after the break), but since the company isn't saying just how much any of those configurations will cost we have to figure it's still going to be awhile before you're mounting these under your cabinets.

Continue reading OSRAM Orbeos OLED lights are small, flat, right behind you

OSRAM Orbeos OLED lights are small, flat, right behind you originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 07:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink OLED-display.net | OSRAM | Email this | Comments

Oregon Scientific's +ECO Solar Weather Clock and Station don't predict solar weather

Tim Stevens — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 07:06:00 EST

Like the looks of Oregon Scientific's solar-powered +ECO Clima Control unit but don't need something that sophisticated -- or expensive? The company has just expanded the line with two (slightly) more affordable options for budget and environmentally conscious folks like you. First up is the $100 +ECO Solar Weather Station, which provides the same functionality as its $20 more expensive predecessor, monitoring temperature and humidity in multiple locations and recharging itself via detachable solar panel, but does so with a smaller screen capable of showing indoor and outdoor temperature, time, and an icon representing the coming weather. Also on offer is the $70 +ECO Solar Weather Clock, pictured below, which ditches the weather display and the ability to display humidity, things that may or may not be much of a loss depending on your meteorological inclinations.

Continue reading Oregon Scientific's +ECO Solar Weather Clock and Station don't predict solar weather

Oregon Scientific's +ECO Solar Weather Clock and Station don't predict solar weather originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 07:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink redOrbit | +ECO Weather Station, +ECO Weather Clock | Email this | Comments

Dell Precision M6500 mixes Core i7 with business savvy

Vladislav Savov — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:34:00 EST

In typical Dell style, the new Precision M6500 17-inch workhorse laptop has shown up on the company's website with nary a peep of self-congratulatory PR from Round Rock. Notable as the successor to the well-juiced M6400 and its even gaudier Covet variant, the M6500 boasts wallet-busting specs like a Core i7-920XM allied to a maximum of 16GB DDR3 memory speeding along at 1,333MHz, a choice of ATI FirePro M7740 or NVIDIA Quadro FX 3800M workstation graphics chips, support for up to three storage devices with optional RAID configurations, and a 1920 x 1200 LED-backlit display. The machine is not quite yet available to purchase, meaning it's safe to go beyond the read link without fearing any heart-stopping sticker shock.

[Thanks, Jonty]

Dell Precision M6500 mixes Core i7 with business savvy originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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T-Mobile pushing CLIQ firmware update today? (update: yes!)

Sony Ericsson's Satio gets new firmware but not yet back on sale, Aino never affected

HTC Hero gets a leaked Android 2.1 ROM with Sense

Windows 7 Black Screen of Death? (It's not as bad as it sounds)

Soundmatters' foxL v2 portable Bluetooth speaker rocks the suburbs

Clearwire's WiMAX rollout rolls on: NC, WA, TX, IL and HI get lit

VIA's Mobile-ITX platform is half as big as Pico-ITX, still full of heart

iriver Story unsheathed, still looks remarkably like a Kindle

Nokia asks own blog readers what their favorite part of the X6 is, gets funny answer

Sony's FVA-U1 reads veins, coming to Japan this month

Dell facing massive E6400 and E6500 overheating and underclocking problem?

OSRAM Orbeos OLED lights are small, flat, right behind you

Oregon Scientific's +ECO Solar Weather Clock and Station don't predict solar weather

Dell Precision M6500 mixes Core i7 with business savvy