Amazon MP3 app hits BlackBerry phones

It may not quite be enough to bring non-BlackBerry users into the fold, but RIM has finally scored one long awaited coup to keep its current users happy -- it's just announced that the Amazon MP3 application is now available for download from the BlackBerry App World. While still technically in beta, the app will let you purchase and download music both over WiFi and over the air, and it includes plenty of BlackBerry-specific functionality, including sharing via BBM in addition to the usual social networking features, and full integration with BlackBerry's Universal Search and Media Library. Hit up the link below for a closer look, or simply download it yourself to try it out first hand -- it is free, after all.

Amazon MP3 app hits BlackBerry phones originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:56:00 EST.

HTC Magic gets Froyo on Vodafone UK

Sure, it might be half a year after the hackers did it, but cut 'em some slack: bureaucracy always makes issuing firmware updates difficult, so we're just happy to see that Vodafone has outed a Froyo update for the HTC Magic at all. The Android 2.2.1-based package appears to contain all the usual goodies -- including tethering support and the ability to move apps to external storage -- which should give these aging beasts a new lease on life. Don't get us wrong: the draw of a new Desire HD, Galaxy S, or Nexus S is probably strong for current Magic owners... but if this update is enough to keep 'em in use until mid-2011, we bet the patience is going to pay off.

HTC Magic gets Froyo on Vodafone UK originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 14:18:00 EST.

British government confirms nine EVs eligible for £5,000 rebates, but there are really only six

Buy an electric vehicle in the US, like the Nissan Leaf, and you can expect to get a nice boost to your tax refund: a $7,500 federal subsidy. Now the UK is getting in on the cash back game, with a programme program starting on January 1st to offer a 25 percent discount on EVs purchased -- up to a maximum of £5,000. Nine cars have been declared eligible for this decidedly choice bonus:

• Mitsubishi i-MiEV
• Peugeot iOn
• Citroen C-Zero
• Smart fourtwo electric drive
  
• Nissan Leaf
• Tata Vista
• Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid
• Vauxhall Ampera
• Chevrolet Volt

Sure, the first three and the last two cars are effectively the same models, just with different bits of chrome stuck on the front, but a little badge engineering never hurt anybody.

British government confirms nine EVs eligible for £5,000 rebates, but there are really only six originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:08:00 EDT.

Knockoff 3-in-1 iPad camera connection kit improves Apple's own design

Frankly speaking, the vast majority of knockoff gear is a giant leap backwards from the real-deal. This, friends, is one of those fringe cases where the opposite is true. The 3-in-1 iPad camera connection kit (available in black or white) is a single dock connecting apparatus with a trifecta of ports: USB, SD and microSD. In order of mention, you can offload photos from your camera onto your iPad via a direct USB connection, offload photos from your SD card and offload photos from your microSD card. It's all pretty self explanatory, and at just $29.90, there's hardly a reason to even consider the official version. Hit the links below to get your order in, but don't expect it to ship until early next year.

Knockoff 3-in-1 iPad camera connection kit improves Apple's own design originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:36:00 EDT.

Ubuntu meets Google Cr-48 laptop, keeps Chrome along for the ride

Inevitable? Perhaps. But there's still nothing like seeing Linux running on a device for the first time -- especially when it involves such a seemingly hacker-friendly device as the Google Cr-48 laptop. As you might expect, however, that required a bit more effort than your usual Ubuntu installation (not to mention a flick of that carefully concealed developer switch), but it isn't too far out of reach for the average user, and the complete process has thankfully already been explained in a thorough how-to guide. You can also, incidentally, keep Chrome OS around in a dual-boot config so as to not completely break Google's heart. Head on past the break for a quick video of the end result, and hit up the source link below for all the necessary details to do it yourself -- assuming you're lucky enough to actually have a Cr-48, that is.

Continue reading Ubuntu meets Google Cr-48 laptop, keeps Chrome along for the ride

Ubuntu meets Google Cr-48 laptop, keeps Chrome along for the ride originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:23:00 EDT.

Google under fire for promoting own content ahead of competing websites

This isn't exactly a new allegation, but the idea's spreading fast: Google is tuning search results to favor itself, and perhaps that's not entirely fair. Though the European Union is already investigating Google for potential antitrust violations, a recent article in the Wall Street Journal cites several US businesses that aren't too happy themselves, claiming that Google Places, Product Search and the like took a big chomp out of their traffic. Google's defense, as usual, rests on its secret algorithms, which it claims aren't rigged in any way, adding that the prominent placement of location- and product-based search results are just a way to get users quicker answers to their queries. If you type in "day spa nyc," you're looking for some catered suggestions, right? And what of those who argue differently? Well, obviously they're in league with Microsoft.

Google under fire for promoting own content ahead of competing websites originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 20:39:00 EDT.

Wireless 3-Day Forecaster and Alarm Clock – Know when to get ready and what to wear

Every night I ask the same question, “Whats the weather supposed to be like tomorrow?” and every time my husband says “I don’t know, I haven’t watched the news.” Odd, I always think to myself, because he always seems to be able to catch the sports update, if he really loved me, wouldn’t he watch the weather too?

Well, I’m not going to worry about it anymore because with the Wireless 3-Day Forecaster and alarm clock I can receive real-time information, completely wirelessly from  www.AccuWeather.com with no PC or subscription required. The Wireless 3-Day Forecaster receives updates every 15 minutes for both the current and forecasted weather and it lets you save 5 of about 150 cities as your favorites.

The Forecaster is really easy to use, you just twist the dial to view the forecasts one or two days ahead. The 3-Day Forecaster can also display “feels like” temperatures based on the wind and humidity. It also has a built-in alarm clock and automatically displays the accurate time, so you not only know what time you need to get going, you’ll know if you need a sweater of not. So now I can ask my husband some other question he probably won’t answer.

Available for 49.95 at www.amazon.com, requires 3 AA batteries (not included).

Nokia cutting another 800 jobs in Finland

On top of the 1,800 job cuts announced back in October, Nokia has announced this week that will be cutting another 800 positions right in Finland, the company's home turf. The good news is that the announcement was made only after negotiations with the affected employees were wrapped up, and they'll be getting anywhere between 5 and 15 months of severance pay -- and at least some of the staffers will be offered different positions elsewhere in the company. Nokia is in the midst of a fairly significant restructuring from top to bottom as it tries to claw its way back into the hearts and minds of consumers: it's got a new CEO, a new operating system, a new relationship with the Symbian Foundation, and some freshly trimmed fat, so let's hope Espoo's got a killer 2011 in the cards.

Nokia cutting another 800 jobs in Finland originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 22:08:00 EST.

Pioneer ships $200 BDR-206MBK BDXL writer, dares you to afford related media

Two months from introduction to shipping? Not bad, Pioneer... not bad at all. The world's first BDXL PC writer is now on sale at your local Fry's Electronics, bringing support for toasting 128GB quad-layer discs (if you can find / afford 'em) as well as speedy writing on typical BD-R, DVD-R and CD-R discs. Pioneer's also throwing in a CyberLink software suite, and if you buy in early, you'll get a single piece of 100GB BR-R XL media for free. Makes that $199 asking price seem entirely more attractive, doesn't it? In other news, the first Blu-ray formatstill isn't supported by Apple, not even on a $10,000 Mac Pro. Spectacular.

Continue reading Pioneer ships $200 BDR-206MBK BDXL writer, dares you to afford related media

Pioneer ships $200 BDR-206MBK BDXL writer, dares you to afford related media originally appeared onEngadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 22:32:00 EDT.

iGrill meat thermometer for iPhone is the expensive, unholy marriage of the meat thermometer and iPhone

OK, we didn't see this one coming: iGrill is a Bluetooth-enabled meat thermometer. That's right, this bad boy not only displays the temp of whatever you sink the probe into, it also takes that info and transmits it to your iOSdevice for remote monitoring. Hell, the app itself even features a kitchen timer, alerts for whatever temp you set it to, and more. Because really, you do everything else with your smartphone, so why not use it to free yourself from the tyranny of the kitchen once and for all? Oh, that's right -- because this thing costs $100. See for yourself by hitting up the source link.

iGrill meat thermometer for iPhone is the expensive, unholy marriage of the meat thermometer and iPhoneoriginally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 23:32:00 EDT.

Hornblower Hybrid ferry relies on eco-friendly trifecta: hydrogen, solar and wind power

Plan on visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island via ferry next year? If so, pay close attention to the vessel you board, as it just might be the world's first to rely on hydrogen, solar and wind power for motorization. Currently, the New York Hornblower Hybrid (not to be confused with the San Francisco Hornblower Hybrid) is under construction in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and if all goes well, it'll reach completion in April. The 600-passenger boat be equipped with Tier 2 diesel engines, hydrogen fuel cells, solar panels and wind turbines, with power coming from a proton exchange membrane fuel cell that turns hydrogen into electricity. We're told that the diesel rigs will only kick in to cover "additional energy needs," but it's hard to say how often they'll actually be used. The eventual goal, however, is to do away with emissions altogether in the ferry process, and it seems that the technology is already capable of being scaled for use in other hybrid ferries, hybrid yachts and even hybrid tugs.

Continue reading Hornblower Hybrid ferry relies on eco-friendly trifecta: hydrogen, solar and wind power

Hornblower Hybrid ferry relies on eco-friendly trifecta: hydrogen, solar and wind power originally appeared onEngadget on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 11:12:00 EDT.

GameString demos its streaming, custom World of Warcraft UI by raiding on an HTC Desire (video)

We're still not ready to apply the label "Gaming 3.0" here (or to anything, for that matter), but despite its boasts, GameString's making a compelling case for cloud-based play time. We've already seen the company bringWorld of Warcraft to Google TV, but now the company's showcasing its take on a challenge we've seen a few times before -- streaming a playable version of WoW to a mobile phone. (Gotta get 'em out of the house somehow.) The trick here is a streamlined UI overlay that makes for a every touch-friendly experience; there's translucent "thumbstick" spots and larger buttons for spells. The setup in question here is its Adrenalin Host Server from approximately 80 kilometers away (geographically) and an HTC Desire running over a home network that's 2Mbps down / 2Mbps up. And while there's some notable lag and parts of the interface that's still too tiny to really use, it's still an Alpha build that seems functional for all but the most intense of moments. See it for yourself after the break.

Continue reading GameString demos its streaming, custom World of Warcraft UI by raiding on an HTC Desire (video)

GameString demos its streaming, custom World of Warcraft UI by raiding on an HTC Desire (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 13:31:00 EST.

PeeWee PC netbook moves to 2.0, rated to take the worst your tot can deliver

Little fingers can dish out big pain for gadgets, and unless your little one is beefy enough to lug around aToughbook you'll be wanting something small and durable for them. Enter the $449 PeeWee Power 2.0, the latest revision to the company's series of kid-friendly computers. This netbook is said to survive drops with aplomb, but only has a "water resistant" keyboard, so don't toss those sippy cups just yet. It also comes loaded with security software to hopefully keep your kids from finding the worst the 'net has to offer, but with only a 1.6GHz N270 Atom processor on tap, 1GB of RAM, and a mere 30GB of HDD storage, we're guessing it could also be a good tool to teach them all about patience.

Gallery: PeeWee Power 2.0

Continue reading PeeWee PC netbook moves to 2.0, rated to take the worst your tot can deliver

PeeWee PC netbook moves to 2.0, rated to take the worst your tot can deliver originally appeared onEngadget on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 14:46:00 EDT.

BMW Designworks USA flexes its eco muscle with Siemens Inspiro subway concept

BMW Group's Designworks USA -- where have we heard about those folks before? Ah, yes, that's the crew that's responsible for Thermaltake's Level 10 PC case, and we're desperately hoping that this concept has an equal (or greater) level of success in the open market. The subway car you see above is purportedly 97.5 percent recyclable, with an aluminum chassis, vivacious hues and a ridiculously spacious interior. It's being labeled the Siemens Inspiro, and it's on track to show up in Warsaw's Metro Warszawskie just over a year from now. No word on where to sign up for conductor dutie, though.

BMW Designworks USA flexes its eco muscle with Siemens Inspiro subway concept originally appeared onEngadget on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 16:23:00 EDT.

MeeGo-based Intel Atom phone and tablet spotted from Russia with love

First the 2018 World Cup and now this. An Intel press event in Moscow was reportedly the site of some newMeeGo device reveals. Mail.ru's Anton Spiridonov was on hand and managed to spot Intel Atom-based phone the Hi/Lo Vibrant (we haven't heard of the company, either) and a tablet of some sort, both equipped with the Linux-based OS. Not much else is known save for what appears to be a 5 megapixel camera labeled as such on the back. More pics below.
[Thanks, Chris]

Gallery: MeeGo-based Intel Atom phone and tablet spotted from Russia with love

MeeGo-based Intel Atom phone and tablet spotted from Russia with love originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 16:49:00 EDT.

Polaroid's CES 2011 teaser hints at instant photography's rebirth

Technically speaking, Polaroid returned to instant photography earlier this year with the introduction of the 300, but we all know that thing was forgotten as soon as it was revealed. The famed camera outfit -- despite being a shell of its former self -- just dropped a luscious teaser into our inbox to let us know about an exclusive event it'll be hosting at CES 2011 next month. The image you see above is severely distorted, but we did so to give you a better idea of what's truly to come -- unless that's an outrageously shaped projector, we're guessing it's some sort of next generation instant camera. The slot on the bottom definitely helped push us over the edge, but if you'd rather cover the whole thing in mystique and guess for yourself, the un-doctored (er, unmutilated) teaser is just after the break. Oh, and we'll be bringing you the blow-by-blow on what this thing really is on January 6th, hopefully with Outkast blaring in the background.

Continue reading Polaroid's CES 2011 teaser hints at instant photography's rebirth

Polaroid's CES 2011 teaser hints at instant photography's rebirth originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 18:08:00 EDT.

Apple's numpad-less compact wired keyboard gets discontinued, few tears are shed

The ultraslim, metallic, chiclet-styled obsession all began back in mid-2007, but a revised iMac in March of 2009 delivered something else: a chopped-down version of the Apple Keyboard. If you'll recall, that one dropped the numeric keypad and gained two peripheral USB sockets, making it one of the more compact desktop keyboards on the market. Just shy of its second birthday, it seems as if the supply chain overlords in Cupertino have seen fit to discontinue it, though a number of e-tailers still seem to have stock for the moment. If you're dead-set on snagging one (we know, stocking's aren't that long), Amazon can make your day for $46.99, but we'd probably pony up the extra $3 necessary to bring one home with a number pad on the right.

Apple's numpad-less compact wired keyboard gets discontinued, few tears are shed originally appeared onEngadget on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 19:23:00 EDT.

8-inch robot wreaks havoc on Denver commuters, Cylon war narrowly averted

The Capricans in Denver, Colorado should can consider themselves blessed by the Gods. An 8-inch tall Centurion was spotted near Coors Field park, prompting one citizen to notify the police. You probably know what happened next: adjacent 20th street was closed causing rush hour traffic to pile up, and two hours later, after being unable to determine at the time if it was safe, the bomb squad remotely detonated the little Centurion. Move along, nothing to see here. It's not like they walk among us in human form or anything. Yet.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

8-inch robot wreaks havoc on Denver commuters, Cylon war narrowly averted originally appeared on Engadgeton Thu, 02 Dec 2010 22:32:00 EDT.

Sharp's Galapagos media tablets landing December 10, costing quite a few Yen

Sharp's evolutionary tablets are coming, people. It's just that they're coming to Japan and they're not going to be terribly affordable when they do arrive. The Kin maker has just revealed a December 10 launch date for its Mobile and Home Galapagos models -- a 5.5-inch slate with 1024 x 600 resolution and a 10.8-incher with 1366 x 800 resolution, respectively -- pricing them at ¥39,800 ($474) and ¥54,800 ($653) for the Japanese market. As usual, direct currency translations are inadvisable, but if you must have a price comparison of some sort, the larger Galapagos model (equipped with an 8GB microSDHC storage card) costs ¥4,000 less than Apple's 32GB WiFi-only iPad. Of course, the big differentiator in Sharp's mind will be the e-bookstore and content ecosystem it's working so hard to create for these Galapagos terminals -- the value of which has yet to be determined.

Sharp's Galapagos media tablets landing December 10, costing quite a few Yen originally appeared onEngadget on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 02:39:00 EDT.

Toshiba's 32-inch Power TV runs for 2 hours on integrated battery

You read that headline correctly, Toshiba just announced its new Power TV family of battery-powered LED TVs. Mind you, these aren't tiny portables. Toshiba's PC 1 sets are pushing 32- or 24-inches and are the world's first (according to Toshiba) to integrate a rechargeable battery good for about two hours of power. Why? Because even people lacking clean, consistent power desire the mind-numbing escape afforded by a large televisedsoccer football match. The sets feature "auto signal booster" tech to enhance viewing in areas with weak signal coverage and "auto view" to optimize the picture based on ambient lighting conditions. Tosh is also announcing its new 55-inch 55ZL800 3D LED flagship TV with new multiprocessor CEVO Engine as well as its 29-mm deep WL700 series of slim LED TVs available in 46- and 55-inch models. See the full press release after the break.

Continue reading Toshiba's 32-inch Power TV runs for 2 hours on integrated battery

Filed under: Displays, HDTV

Toshiba's 32-inch Power TV runs for 2 hours on integrated battery originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 04:06:00 EDT.

LaCie's Hub4 quadruples your USB 3.0 pleasure

Even in their prime, USB hubs were never the sexiest part of a tech geek's shopping trip -- people would typically grab the most functional (or crazy) looking option and move on to picking out their next set of "future-proof" RAM sticks. We're not convinced LaCie's really going to change all that with its Hub4, but it sure is trying hard by giving it a curvaceous exterior and those oh-so-desirable blue USB jacks. Yes, the USB 3.0 color coding is large and in charge here, highlighting a full quartet of ports for all that SuperSpeed gear you've been stashing. Of course, you'll still need at least one 3.0 connector on your computer to make the most of this USB peripheral (otherwise you'll have a very curvy and very standard USB 2.0 hub), but if that's already accounted for, you'll just need $59.99 and the source link to get yourself connected to the future.

LaCie's Hub4 quadruples your USB 3.0 pleasure originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 07:49:00 EDT

T9 Trace ships as QuickType on Samsung's Wave II

So Samsung's Bada 1.2-based Wave II is now shipping in a variety of European and Asian markets, and it turns out that so phone's so-called "QuickType" input method is actually T9 Trace, Nuance's Swype competitor that was announced earlier this year. Just like Swype, T9 Trace works by letting the user glide a finger around the virtual keyboard to identify what letters they're trying to type -- and if it works as well as Swype does, it's a surprisingly natural, accurate, and fast way to enter text. Samsung, of course, has been one of Swype's longest-running partners, notably having its Omnia II featured in a Verizon commercial where the Guinness record for fastest text is broken -- so it'll be interesting to see whether Sammy keeps a healthy mix of T9 Trace and Swype in its products, or if Nuance has locked up a more lucrative deal. At any rate, follow the break for the full press release.

Continue reading T9 Trace ships as QuickType on Samsung's Wave II

T9 Trace ships as QuickType on Samsung's Wave II originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:59:00 EST.

Groegg Color Changing Thermometer

While some of us take sleep for granted, others might find it a whole lot more difficult to get some shuteye even after plenty of tossing and turning around on bed. Well, the temperature does play a rather huge role in helping you doze off into dreamland, but that’s easy for adults to adjust – turn on the air conditioner, pull over an extra blanket, but how about your little one who doesn’t know how to communicate yet? The Groegg Color Changing Thermometer will step in here, as this $34.99 device works as it is named – it will reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), making sure it is yellow when a baby’s bedroom is maintained at 61-67°F to prevent SIDS. Should it get too hot, then it will turn red, while going blue when vice versa. Not only that, it functions as an adorable nightlight as well for the uninitiated. Too bad it doesn’t run on batteries but needs to be plugged into a power outlet all the time.

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ Groegg Color Changing Thermometer copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

180s Ear warmers with headphones – Why didn’t I think of that?

The weather is turning cold quickly, and in another 2 minutes I’m not going to relish putting little cold plastic earbuds in my frozen ears. But that’s not to say I won’t want to listen to my music. So now what?

Well sometimes, though I’ll admit it’s not very often, a product comes along that just makes perfect sense. Simple as they are, such is the case with 180s earmuffs, these soft shell, Thermolite® Active insulation muffs are warm and stylish and offer superb wind resistance. The best part is, some of these muffs actually have stereo headphones built right in.

These comfy earmuffs feature a patented behind the head design and are fully adjustable for all head types.Your 180’s are also collapsable and the cord is detachable so they will fit easily in your pocket when you are not listening, or warming you ears.

The 180s are compatible with all MP3 players and can easily be worn with helmets, hats or glasses. Very nice and they can be yours for around $35.00 from  www.amazon.com

Source: www.180s.com

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Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ 180s Ear warmers with headphones – Why didn’t I think of that? copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Weird Nokia 'N00 Prototype C' shows up on eBay, possible N86 8MP successor?

With the N8 and the E7 stealing most of Nokia's Symbian-flavored spotlight right now, it's easy to forget that numeric keypads and sliders aren't necessarily dead and gone -- but a strange prototype that's shown up on eBay's German site suggests that Espoo might still be hard at work on the form factor currently championed by the N86 8MP. This device is labeled as the N00 Prototype C; "N00" is a really common designation for Nokia prototypes in the Nseries, so that comes as no surprise, but the "Prototype C" is an especially odd thing to silkscreen onto the case. Notably, the phone appears to feature a 12 megapixel camera sensor with Carl Zeiss optics and a xenon flash, likely giving it most or all of the N8's photography chops, and a strange element below the display might be a touch-sensitive strip of some sort -- possibly for zoom control or manual focus while snapping pictures and videos. There's also a kickstand on back, suggesting the screen's big enough to make people want to set it up on a desk and watch content. There's a very real chance, of course, that this thing has been wiped off Nokia's roadmap; worse yet, it could be a hoax -- but if you're willing to drop $800 on the auction, you can find out.

Weird Nokia 'N00 Prototype C' shows up on eBay, possible N86 8MP successor? originally appeared onEngadget Mobile on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 14:49:00 EST.

Softbank makes 16GB iPad WiFi + 3G free with two-year contract

An iPad for zilch on contract? Yessir... but only if you pack up and move to the Land of the Rising Sun. Softbank Mobile has just announced a new pricing plan that makes Apple's 16GB iPad WiFi + 3G model totally free with a two-year data agreement in Japan, and for those who recall it being "free" before, this situation is a bit different. You see, there's no built-in monthly surcharge for this one; rather than paying off your iPad over 24 months, you're actually getting it for nothing as long as you're kosher with forking out ¥4,725 ($56) per month for that 3G goodness. The deal starts on December 3rd, and we've got a strange, strange feeling that it'll do quite well if marketed correctly. And by "correctly," we mean "at all."
[Thanks, Ken]

Softbank makes 16GB iPad WiFi + 3G free with two-year contract originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:33:00 EDT.

Zalman's SandForce-based N Series SSD drive gets reviewed, patted on the back

Zalman's making an SSD? You betcha, and it's embedding a SandForce SF-1222 controller in its N Series line. That controller has proven to be the go-to one for loads of solid state drives, but Zalman's joining the party a touch late. Unfortunately for it, the MSRPs affixed to the 64GB ($169) and 128GB ($289) versions aren't exactly class-leading, but the benchmarking gurus over at Legit Reviews took it upon themselves to test a 128GB model anyway. After running the gauntlet, the conclusions drawn were fairly predictable: scores were right in line with every other SandForce drive they had tested in recent months, with words like "speedy, resilient, and reliable" detailing the drive. Reviewers did point out that the pricing situation would likely hinder adoption rates, and it's still unclear if a company more closely associated with cooling accessories and cases can stake a claim in the storage realm. Hit the source link for the full skinny if you're edging closer to pulling the trigger.

Zalman's SandForce-based N Series SSD drive gets reviewed, patted on the back originally appeared onEngadget on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 18:01:00 EDT.

Vodafone UK now selling HTC Desire Z, can be had for free if you play your cards right

Of course, the fact that a high-end smartphone can be scored for free on a European carrier should come as no surprise to anyone -- but in the case of the Desire Z on Vodafone in the UK, you'll be looking at a minimum monthly spend of £35 (about $55) on a two-year contract if you don't want to spend anything upfront, scaling up to £199 ($310) for the phone on a £25 ($39) plan. The specs are the same ones that you've come to know and love (or hate) -- QWERTY keyboard mounted on a crazy hinge, 5 megapixel camera, 3.7-inch SLCD, and access to HTC's new cloud-based Sense features -- so if that gets the hairs on the back of your neck to stand up, run on down to your local Voda shop now and have at it.

Vodafone UK now selling HTC Desire Z, can be had for free if you play your cards right originally appeared onEngadget Mobile on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 17:57:00 EST

BendDesk could change the face of desktop computing

This is the BendDesk from Media Computing Group. Just looking at this picture makes me want one, badly.

I can honestly say that I would probably keep my desk a whole lot cleaner if it was a screen. I have a video of it after the jump that shows a very interesting photo sorting session. You will note how they can be arranged in a row at the “bend”.

What really made it interesting was the games. You will note how the horizontal area is used as a controller to zap the bad guys dominating the vertical portion of the screen. Don’t let them go around the corner!

I suppose that I am looking forward to a future where I have screens everywhere on this BendDesk. I would probably have my work and a movie going on the vertical screen, and I would have a bundle of side-projects literally at my side. I’m guessing that since it has ten possible points of touch activity, the horizontal area could be a good for a keyboard.

Man, I’m not certain if this would increase my productivity, or decrease my attention span. Perhaps both. Either way, I might want to get two projectors and set this up on my desk now. I don’t suppose that Media Computing Group is not going to be selling these anytime soon.

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ BendDesk could change the face of desktop computing copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

BlackBerry Empathy design concept feels bad that you're stuck using a BlackBerry

Rest easy, folks: we know it's pointy at the bottom, but we've been assured this isn't the BlackBerry 7100's true successor. Instead, the so-called Empathy is the bizarre outcome of of a RIM-sponsored design project at the Art Center College of Design that touts its ability to detect the emotions of its user and his or her contacts. It's not exactly clear how it'd do that, but one crucial element is the biometric feedback ring that communicates your frustration at the phone's inability to properly sync IMAP accounts in real time. All of this anger and joy is displayed on a social map -- colored rings indicate your contacts' previous and current emotional states -- which is presented on a full touchscreen that can become transparent when the phone's not in use. Prefer the Bold to the Storm, do you? Turn the phone around, and boom, you've got one of the scariest looking portrait QWERTY keyboards the world has ever seen. We don't really anticipate seeing this chiseled slab of bleeding-heart technology in RIM's lineup any time soon... but we can definitely see the benefit to knowing when your BBM contacts are ready to put a fist through a wall. Follow the break for video.

Continue reading BlackBerry Empathy design concept feels bad that you're stuck using a BlackBerry

BlackBerry Empathy design concept feels bad that you're stuck using a BlackBerry originally appeared onEngadget on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 19:01:00 EST.

Microsoft announces 2.5 million Kinects sold in first 25 days

Points for style, Microsoft, crossing the 2.5 million Kinect sensors sold mark a convenient 25 days into your global sales of that ever-so-hackable / sometimes-cool-for-gaming item. This number factors in Black Friday sales from this past weekend, and has us really curious as to how well Sony has been doing of late -- Sony's been mum on Move numbers since it announced 1 million units shipped about a month ago. Microsoft says it's on pace to sell 5 million Kinect units through this holiday, which leads us to wonder: what sort of 3D video extravaganza could we pull off with 5 million Kinects in tandem?

Microsoft announces 2.5 million Kinects sold in first 25 days originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 19:44:00 EDT.

Headbanger Chat Headset for Call of Duty: Black Ops

You know that a video game is super popular when it has its own unique accessories. PDP has made several of them, like their Nunchuk for Epic Mickey plus all their Tron Legacy peripherals, put out even before the game or the movie has been released.

PDP has also made the Headbanger Chat Headset, which is specifically designed for Call of Duty: Black Ops. I had a chance to check out the game over the weekend, and the game certainly lives up to all the franchise hype.

This Headbanger is designed for the Wii version of the Call of Duty: Black Ops game and is also compatible withConduit 2. It has a “Noise-canceling microphone provides crystal-clear sound and high-quality voice input”.

It is not wireless, but it does have a 10 foot long cord. So for those who want to do their Black Ops with a group of friends, you got a peripheral for it. Just pretend its a Bluetooth headset with a wire.

You should be able to get the Headbanger Chat Headset at the PDP site for about $24.99 in either black or white. Good luck fighting zombies in the Pentagon with John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Robert McNamara, and Fidel Castro. I actually believe that is one of the campaigns.

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[ Headbanger Chat Headset for Call of Duty: Black Ops copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Nokia premieres Ovi Suite 3.0 beta

After a private alpha, Nokia has loosed a beta of its refreshed Ovi Suite client -- now at version 3.0 -- on visitors of its Beta Labs site. Seems like most of the improvements revolve around simplifying common activities, but the biggest change would have to be the addition of tight Ovi Music integration, including playback controls, store access, and Ovi Music Unlimited support -- in other words, this product is now officially the Zune / iTunes of the Nokia world, and in this case we'd say that's a very good thing. Installation is said to be faster and simpler than before, too, so come on, hesitant N8 owner -- what the heck are you waiting for? Follow the break for the official video intro of the new build.

Continue reading Nokia premieres Ovi Suite 3.0 beta

Nokia premieres Ovi Suite 3.0 beta originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Thu, 25 Nov 2010 20:03:00 EST.

Hasselblad's Ferrari-branded H4D camera: now available for just €21,499

Now that you've wasted precious moments of your life saving $10 here, $8 there and $6.23 in your local Target, how's about a Black Friday deal that you'll never forget. Hasselblad's Ferrari-branded H4D medium format camera, which we saw unveiled earlier this year at Photokina, is now shipping to the affluent, the zany, and the select few that happen to be both. So far as we can tell, this is just an H4D with a Ferrari-approved design scheme, and neither point helps to make this thing anywhere near affordable. A grand total of 499 are being made available today, with each one to run €21,499 ($28,425) + tax. Who knew you'd be buying something today that's only purchasable via your Centurion card -- puts a whole new spin on Black Friday, huh?

Continue reading Hasselblad's Ferrari-branded H4D camera: now available for just €21,499

Hasselblad's Ferrari-branded H4D camera: now available for just €21,499 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 11:57:00 EDT.

Editorial: My next iPad won't be a 7-incher, but I wish it could be

It took me a while, but I'm starting to fall in love with my iPad in a way I haven't loved a gadget for a long while. There's something about the form factor, the apps, the OS that feels just right and makes me want to do as much of my daily computing on it as possible. Of course, that's still a pretty small sliver of my overall day, and the iPad isn't even close to replacing my laptop for the large majority of my work, but I'm finding myself increasingly doing casual browsing, casual gaming, serious writing, and, yes, even some reading on Apple's 10-inch tablet.
But I have one "big" problem with the tablet that doesn't look like it'll be solved anytime soon: it's not 7 inches. Will Apple ever eat its words and build a smaller iPad, or will the 7-inch form factor be left to the rest of the emerging tablet market to fight over?

Continue reading Editorial: My next iPad won't be a 7-incher, but I wish it could be

Editorial: My next iPad won't be a 7-incher, but I wish it could be originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 17:30:00 EDT.

Hasselblad H4D-40 Stainless Steel medium format camera: limited to 100 units, priced at €13,990

Wondering just how large a premium that Ferrari badge was adding to Hasselblad's Ferrari-branded H4D? Oh, around €7,500 (if not more). Hot on the heels of the aforesaid announcement, Hasselblad has just revealed yet another variant of the famed H4D-40, with the Stainless Steel edition offering a classy, classic motif and another limited run item for collectors to snatch up. Only 100 of these will be produced, with each one selling for €13,990 ($18,497) sans lens or €14,990 ($19,809) with the HC 2.8/80 mm. If this guy's more "within reach" than the Italian-inspired alternative, hit up your local dealer as soon as humanly possible... or just before your 100 closest friends, anyway.

Continue reading Hasselblad H4D-40 Stainless Steel medium format camera: limited to 100 units, priced at €13,990

Hasselblad H4D-40 Stainless Steel medium format camera: limited to 100 units, priced at €13,990 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 20:42:00 EDT.

Toshiba TG01 slowly, surely gets hacked to run Android

It's easy to forget about the TG01 nowadays, but bear in mind that Toshiba's WinMo beast from last year was the first production phone in the world to use Qualcomm Snapdragon silicon. Oh, and it was under 10mm thick and featured a 4.1-inch WVGA display at a time when such specs were basically science fiction -- so you've got to give credit where credit's due. Anyhow, the phone's far from obsolete -- apart from that little WinMo issue, that is, so the good folks on xda-developers have started the time-honored tradition of transplanting Android onto it. Important stuff still isn't working (the lack of calling capability is a big one for us, personally) but we're guessing it's just a matter of time before we see a solid, usable build in the wild now. HD2, watch your back!

Toshiba TG01 slowly, surely gets hacked to run Android originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 03:45:00 EDT.

Modified radar gun identifies suicide bombers up to ten meters away

William Fox of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey and John Vesecky, his colleague at UC Santa Cruz, are working on a modified radar gun that can identify suicide bombs worn under the clothing. To do this, they cataloged the most common arrangements of looped wires used to construct "suicide vests," and developed software that can identify the radar cross-section of each. So far, results have been pretty good: according toNew Scientist, "telltale factors in the polarisation of the reflected signals" allowed them to correctly identify volunteers dressed as bombers up to ten meters away, roughly eighty-five percent of the time. Of course, even with a success rate this high, such a system would be prone to kicking up false positives. In order to minimize this, the devices would have to combined with other technologies, such as smart surveillance camera systems and infrared imaging.

Modified radar gun identifies suicide bombers up to ten meters away originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 07:12:00 EDT.

Orange UK prices 3G iPad at £199 on two-year contract, taking pre-orders today

Want an iPad but can't countenance the associated outlay of cash up front? Orange is making that pill easier to swallow today with the revelation of its contract-tied pricing for Apple's tablet in the UK. Pre-orders are about to start today for obtaining the 3G-connected iPad at prices of £199 ($312) for the 16GB version, £249 ($391) for its 32GB sibling, or £349 ($626) for the one equipped with 64GB of storage. This is all subject to you signing up for a two-year plan costing £27 ($42) a month that'll give you 1GB of anytime data, 1GB of off-peak data (judged by Orange to be between midnight and 4pm), and 3GB of BT Openzone WiFi access for each twelfth of the year. The expectation is that Orange's new best bud, T-Mobile, will be offering similar pricing shortly, leaving us to wonder what Vodafone and O2 might be cooking up. The day of the subsidized tablet might be with us sooner than we thought.
[Thanks, Jon]
P.S. - We've just spotted that Three, the UK's 3G-only network, is also planning to sell the iPad "in the coming months." Pricing and data allowances, however, have yet to be revealed.

Orange UK prices 3G iPad at £199 on two-year contract, taking pre-orders today originally appeared onEngadget on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 08:52:00 EDT.

Boeing's Spectrolab subsidiary set to mass produce 39.2 percent efficient solar cells

Boeing's Spectrolab subsidiary has been working on making solar cells more and more efficient for years now, and it looks like it's now set to put its latest record-breaking cells into mass production. Those come in the form of the company's new C3MJ+ solar cells, which boast an average conversion efficiency of 39.2 percent, making them the most efficient mass produced cells to date. What's more, Spectrolab says that since the new cells are so similar to its current C3MJ production cells, it should be relatively easy for customers already using those to upgrade to the new cells. Still no word on a price, it seems, but the new cells should be available in January. And, yes, Spectrolab is also hard at work on breaking its own record -- it hopes to crack the 40 percent mark later in 2011.

Boeing's Spectrolab subsidiary set to mass produce 39.2 percent efficient solar cells originally appeared onEngadget on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 16:31:00 EDT.

Tokyoflash brings RPM LED wristwatch concept to reality (video)

Tokyoflash, purveyor of all things awesome when it comes to watches, has just unveiled its latest addition. If you're of the eagle-eyed variety, you've probably spotted it just to the right (or after the break in video form). The difference between this fellow and most of the timepieces found here is pretty simple: the RPM LED watch started as a fan render. Over the months, the company took this grand idea and made it a reality, now offering it to anyone with with more money than sense. The operation is semi-simple -- the inner ring shows the hour, while the outer ring shows the minutes. There's a group of five LEDs at the top that further explains the latter, and we're hearing that the band itself pushes the IQ of the wearer higher by 12 to 15 points. Even if confirmed by a respected panel of mad scientists, we still say it's not worth the $208.42 asking price, but you're obviously free to disagree vehemently.

Continue reading Tokyoflash brings RPM LED wristwatch concept to reality (video)

Tokyoflash brings RPM LED wristwatch concept to reality (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 17:56:00 EDT.

Manufacture Royale debuts $1.2 million Opera accordion watch, Sir Steampunk scoffs

Well, pardon us. We balked at the $208 price tag affixed to Tokyoflash's RPM LED wristwatch, but the value proposition there now looks an awful lot brighter when compared to this. Manufacture Royale's looking to catch at least one or two elitists off guard with its new Opera Time-Piece, a $1.2 million device that's composed of 319 parts in the wilds of Switzerland. Purportedly, it was designed by Fabrique du Temps, and the minute repeater plays the hours in the key of A as the minutes chime in C sharp. It's also encased in 18k gold, sapphire crystal and a healthy dose of self-worth. Word on the street has it that only a dozen of these will be made available for sale, with the accordion casing being the standout feature in our eyes. In a manner of speaking, of course.

Manufacture Royale debuts $1.2 million Opera accordion watch, Sir Steampunk scoffs originally appeared onEngadget on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 17:18:00 EDT.

Gateway stuffs Core i5-470UM, Bluetooth 3.0 into 11.6-inch EC19C-A52C/S laptop

Don't call it a netbook, capiche? Gateway has just outed a new 11.6-incher over in Japan, with the EC19C-A52C/S boasting some of the most impressive specifications we've seen in a unit this compact. A 1.33GHz dual-core Core i5-470UM processor sits at the heart of this here lappie, and it's accompanied by a 320GB hard drive, 1366 x 768 resolution display, 2GB of RAM, HDMI / VGA outputs, an inbuilt Ethernet port and a six-cell battery that should last half a dozen hours (on a good day). As expected, you'll also find a 1.3 megapixel webcam, 4-in-1 card reader, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) and Bluetooth 3.0 (a nice touch, we'll confess), with sales expected to start right about now in the Land of the Rising Sun. As for pricing? Try ¥65,000, or right around $775. Told you it didn't quite fit the netbook category.

Gateway stuffs Core i5-470UM, Bluetooth 3.0 into 11.6-inch EC19C-A52C/S laptop originally appeared onEngadget on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 20:02:00 EDT.