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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Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ 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.

Nokia toys with context-aware smartphone settings switch, Jigsaw provides better context for apps like this

If Intel prognosticated correctly, context is the future of apps -- your device's array of sensors will determine where you are and what you're doing, and clever programs will guess from there. Problems arise, however, when one tries to run those accelerometers, microphones, radio antennas and GPS tracking devices constantly on the battery life of an average smartphone and determine what the raw data means, and that's where a group of Dartmouth researchers (and one Nokia scholar) are trying to stake their claim. They've got a bundle of algorithms called Jigsaw for iPhone and Symbian that claims to be able to continually report what you're up to (whether walking, running, cycling or driving) no matter where you place your device, and only pings the sensors as needed based on how active you are. (For better or for worse, Jigsaw also dodges the privacy concerns Intel's cloud-based API might raise by storing all personal data on the phone.)
Of course, we've had a very basic version of context-aware functionality for years in apps like Locale for Android and GPS-Action for Symbian -- which modifies your smartphone settings under very specific conditions you specify. Now, Espoo's doing much the same with an app called Nokia Situations. Presently in the experimental stage, Situations is a long ways away from the potential of frameworks like Jigsaw, but here you won't have to wait -- you can download a beta for Symbian^3, S60 5th Edition and S60 3.2 at our source links without further delay.

Nokia toys with context-aware smartphone settings switch, Jigsaw provides better context for apps like thisoriginally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 23:59:00 EST.

Sony aims for half of Japan's e-reader market by 2012

Given the dominance of Sony's Walkman over in the Land of the Rising Sun, it's a little surprising to think that Sony has been all but silent regarding the Japanese e-reader market. We heard back in May that the mega-corp was planning an e-reader launch in Japan by the year's end, aiming to build out an elaborate e-book distribution platform with local telecom operator KDDI. Fast forward a few months, and it seems as if thing's are finally falling into place. New reports are suggesting that the 5- and 6-inch Sony Reader devices will be on sale in Japan on December 10th, with pricing set for ¥20,000 ($237) / ¥25,000 ($297), respectively. Additionally, it's planning to crack the seal on an online e-bookstore with around 20,000 titles, and that one should be ready to roll prior to the "year-end shopping rush." Perhaps more stunning, however, is Sony's intentions to "sell 300,000 Readers in the first year and win half the domestic market by 2012" -- that's according to Sony Marketing Japan president Nobuki Kurita. Bold words, Sony, but we love the ambition.

Sony aims for half of Japan's e-reader market by 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Nov 2010 04:04:00 EDT.

DARwIn-OP humanoid revealed, ready to open source your robotics program

The next version of the RoboCup-famous DARwIn bot is about ready to give the Nao a run for its money. The new DARwIn-OP from Robotis and Virginia Tech's RoMeLa (led by Dr. Dennis Hong, who joined us on the Engadget Show earlier this year) is just about to land, and the first pictures of the finished thing have started to circulate. While the bot is designed to perform, with sensors and servos suitable for higher-end robotics, the main thrust of the design is the open source and modular nature of the hardware and software. The bot can be purchased as a product from Robotis, but the CAD files are publicly available, and its plastic parts can be fabricated by the end user to save money (you do have a 3D printer, right?). Rumor has it the robot will retail for around $8,000, around half the cost of its closed source Nao competition. The full unveil of the robot is due at the IEEE-RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robots a couple weeks from now.

DARwIn-OP humanoid revealed, ready to open source your robotics program originally appeared on Engadgeton Sun, 28 Nov 2010 10:10:00 EDT.

Kinect used to control Super Mario on a PC, redefine convergence (video)

If, like us, you've been waiting to see Kinect in control of a truly marquee game, your wait has now come to an end. The same fella that brought us the Kinect lightsaber has returned with a hack enabling eager nostalgics to enjoy a bout of Super Mario controlled only by their body contortions. OpenKinect was used to get the motion-sensing peripheral -- originally intended exclusively for use with an Xbox 360 -- to communicate with his PC, while a simple NES emulator took care of bringing the 25-year old plumber to life. The video awaits after the break.

Continue reading Kinect used to control Super Mario on a PC, redefine convergence (video)

Kinect used to control Super Mario on a PC, redefine convergence (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Nov 2010 12:59:00 EDT.

iPhone 3G, 3GS get iOS 4.2.1 unlock, using risky ultrasn0w workaround

Can't wait another minute for your iPhone 3G or iPhone 3GS to be carrier-unlocked once more? If and only if you're already running the latest firmware, you can actually pilfer a bit of iPad code to pick the requisite locks -- though there are some serious risks in doing so. The iPhone Dev Team has a new version of PwnageTool that uses the 6.15.00 baseband from iPad firmware 3.2.2, which which just so happens to run perfectly on the iPhone 3G and 3GS since both phones and tablets of that era use the same Infineon radio chip. If you know your way around an IPSW and regularly bench-press SHSH blobs, you can download all the software you need right now -- but if you don't, you might want to steer clear of the proceedings for the time being. We spoke about risks a moment ago, and in this case there are quite a few -- like the inability to downgrade from baseband 6.15 or ever do a full restore unless Apple relations improve, and it's fairly likely that Cupertino won't look kindly on your warranty if they find you running iPad software. Them's the breaks, kid.

iPhone 3G, 3GS get iOS 4.2.1 unlock, using risky ultrasn0w workaround originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Nov 2010 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AMOLED shortage to become a surplus in 2011

Samsung's beautiful Super AMOLED panels are becoming more and more common in mobile devices, but they're not as common as they could be if there were more of the things flying out of Samsung Mobile Display factories. Predictably that's set to change in 2011, with SMD planning to fulfill its promise and bring another production facility online, while other competitors in Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore will ramp up their own AMOLED facilities in the coming year. Meanwhile, China is said to be working on its OLED supply chain as well, meaning those displays of the passive matrix variety will also be flying off of assembly lines soon. So, 2011 may still not be the year of a chicken in every pot, but it could be the year of glowy organic goo in every smartphone.

AMOLED shortage to become a surplus in 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Nov 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

HDHomeRun Prime CableCARD tri-tuner comes one step closer to reality

Originally announced at CES in January, Silicon Dust's entrance into the encrypted cable TV tuner market just reached an important milestone on its way to market: CableLabs Certification -- anytime CableLabs is involved things take longer than anyone expects. The price of the three tuner HDHomeRun Prime is still set at $249, but the hope of being released by the "holidays" seems lost (Thanksgiving counts as one of those days right?). Said product is expected to start production in the next few weeks, after which you'll be able to pre-order the elusive tuner from major retailers. The big question of course is with the Ceton InfiniTV 4 still on a three month backorder, and selling on eBay for over twice its retail price, which should you order? We suggest you pre-order both just to be safe; worst case you end up on the good side of a crazy eBay auction.

Acer's 10.1-inch tablet reportedly uses AMD C-50 APU

Acer's already confirmed that it's forthcoming 10.1-inch Windows 7 tablet will be AMD-powered, but it unfortunately didn't get any more specific on the matter than that. If a new DigiTimes report is to be believed, however, it looks like the tablet will use AMD's dual-core C-50 Ontario APU (or accelerated processing unit), which itself consumes just 9W of power and packs a built-in Radeon HD 6250 graphics chip. What's more,DigiTimes is also reporting that Acer's 10.1-inch Android slate rocks Tegra 2 and will, in fact, support WiFi and 3G. Wait and see.

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.

INSECT SHIELD TEAMS UP WITH TRAVELCHAIR – THE FIRST INSECT REPELLING CHAIR

Everyone loves a little bit of the outdoors. Whether you’re fishing in the Alaskan wilderness or just watching your kids play soccer, you are going to love this chair. Already the best selling travel chair in the industry, it is easily folded, light and extremely portable. It even comes with a built in cup holder for the frosty beverage of your choice.

The thing I cant believe about this chair is why no one came up with this idea before, we have sprays, foggers, candles and lotions but until now, no one had an insect repellent that was actually embedded into the fabric. That’s right, it’s in the chair! This chair really does keep the critters from ruining your good time and ends the need to apply and reapply all that stinky, greasy repellant. The Insect Shield Travel Chair is EPA registered and safe for pregnant women and kids of all ages.

This chair is going to dramatically change how long I’m willing to sit and fish, no word however, on whether or not I’ll agree to go camping. But if you would like to sit around the campfire and not be “buzzed” you can pick one up for around $65.00 from www.TravelChair.com.

Incidentally, Insect Shield has an entire line of outdoor clothing and camp gear all similarly treated with insect protection that lasts up to 70 washings… who knew?

Anti Sleep Pilot promises to keep drivers alert, warn them when to pull over

Looking for an alternative to that extra large cup of coffee or energy drink to keep you awake on long haul drives? Then you'll soon have another option in the form of the Anti Sleep Pilot, which promises to keep you from nodding off through the magic of technology. Already on sale in Denmark, the device is able to automatically turn itself on and off by monitoring the movement of your vehicle, and it attempts to keep you alert by regularly performing various tests that you can respond to just by tapping the device. That promises to not only prevent fatigue in the first place by keeping your mind active, but also warn you when it's really time to take a break by monitoring your reaction times to each test. Still no word on an official price over here just yet, but we assume it'll cost somewhere in the neighborhood of the 1,499 kr (or $270) the device currently runs in Denmark.

Autobot – Control your car with your Smartfone

The two things I could never live without, my car and my cellphone, and now the two can work together. This pleases me.

This nifty little gadget connects to your vehicle’s on board diagnostic computer port and relays specific diagnostic information to your cell phone. Autobot will let you know what your “check engine” light is trying to tell you, let you start and unlock your car remotely and report to you if your tire pressure is low, or you need an oil change. Autobot will even send GPS location and a 911 message to family members if your airbags deploy and give you walking directions to your car if you can’t find it. Cool.

Autobot probably isn’t going to charge any fees, instead it looks like it will be supported by advertising and coupons, based on what your car’s computer tells Autobot you need, you will most likely receive some special offers from nearby merchants. It is unclear at this time if a premium service sans the advertising will be made available.

The mapping feature available with Autobot lets you know where your husband, I mean, car is and will even alert you if your car passes a preset location. If your precious baby should be stolen, (your car, not husband) you can disable the car remotely. You will even be able to see where your friends are if they have the AutoBot device installed in their own cars.

The system is to begin testing early next year and the hopes are it would be available to the public by 2012 for around $300.00

Opera Mobile 10.1 for Symbian turns to a brilliant shade of gold

Opera has done a pretty commendable job of keeping its latest, greatest wares up to date on most of the major mobile platforms, and here's another checkbox they can tick: Opera Mobile 10.1 has now gone final for Symbian. Of course, this isn't to be confused with the lighter-weight Opera Mini product that went into beta for Symbianlast month -- this is the full package that's capable of operating without a proxy. What's new? Well, the company claims that this version operates some nine times faster than 10.0 did in JavaScript tests thanks to a refreshed JIT compiler, and support for location services is definitely a welcome addition. It's available now for S60 3rd Edition, 5th Edition, and Symbian^3; follow the break for the full press release.

Chrome OS consumer launch pushed to 2011, Google-branded Chromebook could still arrive this year

It's almost time to eat turkey and then jet out to Best Buy to be trampled by mad shoppers. Oh yes, the holiday season is just about here, which according to a few posts we've written in the last year means that the Chrome OS netbooks should be as well. Well, it turns out that the Google OS-powered laptops aren't going to arrive this year, or at least not in the way we thought they would. That doesn't mean Chrome OS isn't going to see a bit of an unveil this year, but major manufacturers, including Acer and HP, won't have its own Chromebooks ready before 2011. How do we know? Acer's Jim Wong told us during the company's global press conference that Acer will be launching its netbook based on the browser operating system during the "consumer launch" of the OS next year, while Google has its own agenda and will be doing something "in December." We didn't get to ask if that Acer netbook is in fact the "ZGA" netbook we've seen popping up in bug reports, but our guess is that it will be something quite similar.
So, what does Google have brewing? You remember the Google-branded Chrome OS netbook that we heard about? Well, according to a few of our very own sources, that's exactly what's going to happen. We don't have exact timing details, but we have been told by a few that Google will launch its own Chrome-book a la the Nexus One for "friends and family." As the operating system is still in a beta or preview form, the netbook would be aimed at the development / early adopter community. Specs-wise we don't know all that much, but we've heard that it will be powered by an Intel Atom Pine Trail processor and, just as Digitimes reported, that 75,000 units are being manufactured by Taiwan ODM Inventec. We should mention that the aforementioned Acer "ZGA" was said to be used internally as a "dogfood device" at Google, but we believe this Google-branded device to be entirely different. Inventec, Intel, and Google wouldn't comment on the hardware rumor, but Google did tell us that it would "have more details to share later this year." By our count, that leaves 'em with just about 37 days to spill the beans!

Team at Purdue University working on high-temp generators to suck power from car exhaust

You know all that gas spitting out the exhaust of your car? Not only is it full of carbon monoxide and other things you shouldn't breathe, it's also full of heat. Heat is wasted energy, and students at Purdue University, led by mechanical engineering professor Xianfan Xu, are working to capture it. With some funding from General Motors the team is working to create better thermoelectric generators, or TEGs, that work at much higher temperatures than those we've seen before. A current Purdue prototype works at 700C, or 1,300F, which could be found behind a car's catalytic converter and generate enough electricity to reduce fuel consumption by around five percent. Future versions would work at higher temperatures and offer better results. Last year BMW indicated it is working on similar tech with deployments coming as early as 2014, and so now the race begins, though the culmination of their efforts will surely looksomething like this.

Portal gun to be auctioned off for Child's Play charity

The Portal gun. If you've been alive over the past year and change, you know exactly what we're talking about. We can safely say our lives were changed after spending a few good minutes with Harrison Krix's handmade replica in 2009, and soon you'll have the golden opportunity to know exactly what we mean. Krix has constructed a new Portal gun, one that's arguably more bodacious than ever, and there's only one way to get it: outbid the Bro Montana next to you on December 7th. A Child's Play Charity event auction will be held on that fateful day in Seattle, and it'll be the one and only opportunity to have the pink slip transferred to you. Of course, monies received from the auction will benefit Child's Play (a gaming industry charity dedicated to improving the lives of children with toys and games in a network of over 60 hospitals worldwide), and the bragging rights afforded to the winner will be fairly epic in scope. Head on past the break for a video of what's up for grabs.

Smartfish Whirl Mini Notebook Laser Mouse review, now on sale for $50

Back when we first locked eyes with the Smartfish ErgoMotion Mouse at CES we knew there was something totally unique about it. No, it didn't have a touch strip or 18 buttons, but thanks to its "pivot system," it did tilt in every which-way. Created by a former chiropractor, the laser mouse tilts in all directions, but not with the aim of moving the cursor or controlling anything on screen as one would think. It wobbles for one reason and one reason only: to relieve arm tension and reduce the risk of Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI). Today the company's releasing a smaller, more mobile version of ErgoMotion, now called the Whirl Mini, for $49.95. So, is it what the doctor ordered? Or is it just another odd looking peripheral to add to the collection? We've been using it as our primary mouse for the last week, so you'll want to hit the break to find out.

ANYBOTS – Finally, a robot that will go to work for you

I’m still laughing… since I was a child I had dreams about the future, and how one day, I would be able to sit in my pajamas all day with the TV on and still be able to make the big bucks. I’m not exactly sure how this next product fits into that dream, but I’m having a darn good time imagining it.

The Anybot is a robot that becomes your eyes and ears, anywhere that you are not. It allows you to be a part of whatever’s happening, from wherever you are. Connected via the internet with a Wi-Fi connection, the Anybot utilizes a speaker, camera, microphone and video screen in order to bring your presence to the masses. You can broadcast live video of yourself, or just throw up a still picture for the coveted pajama days I spoke of earlier.

Sit back and imagine if you will, your Wednesday afternoon mandatory sales meeting, attended by your Anybot, while you relax in your local pub with a cold one and your laptop. Your Anybot allows you to interact with the entire office, gliding around quietly, effortlessly, chatting up your fellow employees in real time. Try to imagine the fun at the water cooler. Your Anybot will make sure your presence is felt throughout the entire facility.

It weighs about 35 pounds, plugs into your USB to charge, works with your current operating system and just about any compatible headset… no sick days, no missed fishing trips… or conversely, if you really want to relax a little, keep going to work and leave this at home to keep an eye on your kids.

Nielsen: 31 percent of kids want an iPad

Hey look, a chart with the iPad on top. Aren't statistics fun? And yet, this chart may not mean quite what you think it does. The Nielsen Company presented a cadre of individuals with a list of nice, shiny gadgets and let them cross off anything and everything they'd like to buy in the next six months, and 31 percent of kids 6-12 picked the iPad as one of them. That doesn't mean these youngsters wanted the iPad any more than a game console, mind you, it just means more of them picked the tablet than any other single game console on the list. Also, it turns out that the iPad was the only tablet PC available, so it could well ave served as a proxy vote for other slates -- Galaxy Tab, anyone? The survey results also don't factor in ownership, so if the Xbox 360's low on the buy list, it could be because respondents already have one... but we suppose this is the definitive proofwe've been searching for that e-readers are on the outs in the 12-and-under crowd. Jeff Bezos is crying over his evening oatmeal right now. After the break, see what the same chart looks like for teenagers and adults. (Hint: they aren't all that hot on handhelds.)

Continue reading Nielsen: 31 percent of kids want an iPad, other stuff

iPhone gets UberTwitter client, BlackBerrys have one less reason to exist

If the name UberTwitter sounds familiar, that'll be because it's one of the more popular mobile Twitter clients, accounting for 10 million tweets each day from BlackBerry users around the globe. And now it's also available on the iPhone. Citing the "growing dominance" of Apple's one-device-to-rule-them-all mobile platform, the UberTwitter crew has decided to expand its offering with a new open beta, which is available to download now. The major distinguishing feature being touted is something called UberView, which allows access to links within tweets without exiting the app or opening up a new window within it. Looks a pretty slick idea, but there are still some early issues to be ironed out -- as with all beta iterations -- and a final v1.0 should be ready to do battle with Twitter's official app by the middle of December.

Sony Reader app hitting iPhone and Android devices in December

Playing catchup, are we? Sony's hot on the trail of Amazon and Barnes and Noble, who already have e-reading apps for the Android and iOS platforms, with its own freshly announced Reader offering set for release next month. The functionality in this upcoming slice of software will be familiar: you get to access books already purchased at the Reader Store or pony up cash for new ones, while making bookmarks, notes and highlights on your mobile device. Throw in adjustable fonts and you've got your boilerplate beginning to a decent mobile e-reader. Now you just need to pick your fave ebook purveyor.

Microvision's PicoP-based SHOWWX+ projector: twice as bright, zero percent larger

Still holding out on nabbing a pico projector? We know, we know -- you'll leap when there's 1080p. But if you're kosher with baby steps, Microvision's newest entrant might just fit the bill. The SHOWWX+ is a revamped version of the ouftit's original PicoP-based SHOWWX, and it seems that a full year in the engineering lab has enabled the company to pop out a device that's 50 percent brighter, yet the exact same size. The internal battery can keep the 15 laser lumens shining for two solid hours, and there's also a 5,000:1 native contrast ratio. iDevice users will be elated to know that this guy is a Made for iPod, iPhone and iPad product, enabling it to output Netflix content without any DRM issues (or so we're told). The native resolution still checks in at 848 x 480, and if all that sounds just peachy, you can get one headed your way today for $449. Head on past the break for Netflix and Rage HD demos.

New Potato reveals TuneLink Auto Bluetooth-to-FM transmitter for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad

We've never been on the volunteer cheerleading squad for FM transmitters; in our experience, they're downright useless in cities or other areas that actually have a large amount of radio stations nearby. But we'll hand it toNew Potato Technologies -- this may be the slickest implementation yet. The newly announced TuneLink Auto looks like a typical cigarette adapter charger at first glance, but within, there's technology that accepts audio over Bluetooth and then sends it out over FM. This prevents users from having to connect a dongle of any kind to their iPad, iPod touch or iPhone, but the built-in USB port is actually capable of charging all three should you choose. There's even a 3.5mm output jack for channeling the tunes to a 3.5mm input on your head unit, and the (necessary) accompanying iDevice app should hit the App Store soon for absolutely nothing. The hardware itself is available now from New Potato for $99.99, and it'll hit "select retail locations" in a fortnight or so for the same amount.

Acer reveals Iconia dual-screen laptop / tablet, Clear.fi cloud-based media sharing system

Here in New York at Acer's Global press event, the company's talking touch. Lots and lots of touch. It'll be introducing a veritable smorgasbord of equipment as the minutes roll on, but it's kicking things off with its Windows 7-based Iconia dual-screen laptop / tablet, a device we've seen before. For all intents and purposes, this is Acer's version of the Toshiba Libretto W105 (or that far-flung ASUS concept we saw at CeBIT 2009), boasting a pair of glossy touchscreens and no hard specifications to speak of. Naturally, you won't find a keyboard here -- rather, a virtual one will emerge from the secondary panel. There's also a fairly slick media management system that's obviously gesture based -- some real potential there. We'll be digging for details surrounding a price point and release date, but for now, have a gander at the image above and just imagine how it could revolutionize your life.
In related news, the company also teased its new Clear.fi media sharing system. As the story goes, it's a cloud-based system that's designed to play multi-format content over multi-platform devices, enabling any number of gadgets to talk to one another in order to make content visible and shareable with any other device. So far, it looks as if that could apply to movies, games, photos and music, but it's a single-house affair for now. So long as there's a router and a WiFi connection nearby, any Clear.fi-enabled device should be able to share, search and consume.
Update: The full PR is now after the break, and we've gone hands-on with the device right here! We've also scored the specifications -- she's running Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) and is equipped with an Intel Core i5-480M / 560M / 580M CPU, up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, a pair of 14-inch multitouch displays (1366x768 resolution), integrated Intel HD graphics (128MB RAM), VGA / HDMI outputs, an inbuilt microphone and a S/PDIF interface. There's also a 320/500/640/750GB hard drive, Acer's CrystalEye webcam (1280x1024 resolution), 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0+HS, integrated 3G WWAN, gigabit Ethernet, a four-cell battery and a total weight of 6.18 pounds. Closing things out, there are a pair of USB 2.0 ports, a single USB 3.0 jack and a one-year warranty.