Engadget

The end of exclusivity leading to big iPhone sales in Europe

Darren Murph — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:21:00 EST

Go figure, right? You get a relatively hot phone out onto more carriers, and just like that, sales increase. It ain't rocket science, buster. As AT&T grins happily while enjoying a death grip on Apple's cash cow here in the States, things are a lot more wide open for consumers across the pond. In both France and the UK, the iPhone has been given the all-clear to be sold on multiple carriers, and according to research from Bernstein, the "widening of the distribution has boosted Apple's value market share to 32 percent in the latest quarter from 21 percent just three months earlier." The notes also mention that Apple's increase is coming at the expense of RIM, with over 600,000 iPhone handsets being sold during Q3 2009 in France alone. The point to all this madness? Oh, not much -- just to tell Sir Jobs that he can count on quite a bit more dough should he decide to sell this elusive "iPhone" device on Verizon in the US of A.

The end of exclusivity leading to big iPhone sales in Europe originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Roku Channel Store delivers ten new content portals for zero dollars

Darren Murph — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:35:00 EST

Roku owners already have access to Netflix, Amazon Video On Demand and MLB.tv, but now the set-top box is about to get a lot more interesting. Starting tonight and running throughout the next fortnight, existing owners of the Roku SD, Roku HD and Roku HD-XR will receive an automatic (and free) update that delivers ten new content channels. Pandora, Facebook Photos, Revision3, Mediafly, TWiT, blip.tv, Flickr, FrameChannel, Motionbox and MobileTribe will be joining the fray, and while we wish the likes of Hulu and other television portals were included, we're holding out hope that such channels will be unveiled in due time. In fact, Roku admits that "many other developers are working on Roku Channels now, and Roku expects additional developers to adopt the Roku platform over time." So, have these guys convinced you that you need another box underneath your HDTV yet, or what?

Gallery: Roku Channel Store delivers ten new content portals for zero dollars

Continue reading Roku Channel Store delivers ten new content portals for zero dollars

Roku Channel Store delivers ten new content portals for zero dollars originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chinese Dreamcast portable mod may inspire KIRFs, or already is one

Richard Lai — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:38:00 EST

You thought the DreamTrooper would be the last portablized Sega Dreamcast mod you'd ever see? Nah. Turns out some folk in China quietly showed off an Oriental take on the mod -- not too dissimilar from the form factor of the GameBoy Advance -- just before the DreamTrooper's debut. Details are thin here, but we're hoping for a built-in optical drive and a decent battery life. If we're lucky, some KIRF makers might pick up this idea and revive the legendary Dreamcast brand, so don't go selling your dusty game collection on eBay just yet. Go ahead and watch some The King of Fighters action after the break. We know the Swirl still captivates your heart.

Continue reading Chinese Dreamcast portable mod may inspire KIRFs, or already is one

Chinese Dreamcast portable mod may inspire KIRFs, or already is one originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OCZ's Colossus desktop SSD gets reviewed: oh yeah, it's fast

Darren Murph — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:17:00 EST

It's been a long time coming, hasn't it? OCZ Technology's Colossus is the outfit's first in the desktop SSD space, and with capacities scaling as high at 1TB, it's certainly tempting for performance junkies who just can't pry themselves away from their tower. The benchmark-minded kids over at PC Perspective were able to get a drive in with final firmware a few weeks back, and they've pushed out a full review just prior to these things hitting retail en masse. Needless to say, all the numbers in the world won't make this any cheaper, but for those willing to spend at least $3.24 per gigabyte on internal storage, there's hardly a better option out right now. Reviewers found that read and write speeds seriously pushed the SATA 3Gb/sec limit, and the latter were "faster than on any SATA device tested to date." Sadly, the lack of TRIM support and the inability for end-users to upgrade the firmware put somewhat of a damper on things, but if neither one of those tidbits bother you, pulling the trigger just might be the right thing to do.

OCZ's Colossus desktop SSD gets reviewed: oh yeah, it's fast originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Friday deals roundup: Walmart, Target and NewEgg

Darren Murph — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:13:00 EST

We suspect this will be the final round of Black Friday ad leaks -- you know, considering that Black Friday is but a few days away -- but it seems as if the gadget world has saved the best (or at least the biggest) for last. As usual, we're not spotting any major steals that'd be worth lining up a dozen hours in advance for, but the $78 Blu-ray player and $10 BD films from Wally World may be worth paying your neighbor to snag for you. Check 'em all out below... if you dare.

Black Friday deals roundup: Walmart, Target and NewEgg originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amidio's Touch DJ app stuffs a turntable into your iPhone (video)

Darren Murph — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:06:00 EST

Not kosher with getting a handset tailor made for DJing? How's about transforming your existing iPhone into that very device when the mood strikes you? Hailed as the first true DJ MP3 iPhone / iPod touch app in the world, Amidio's $19.99 Touch DJ program (available now) enables users to independently manipulate two MP3 or M4A files, including scratching, looping, positioning, equalization, effects and pitching. The "visual mixing" requires all sorts of tapping and sliding, but the on-screen UI seems pretty elegant from what we've seen. The only real knock on this is that there's currently no way to get music from the iTunes library into the program; instead, you'll be forced to reload tracks into the app's own MP3 library. Still, for those looking to ditch the hard case and waltz in with a pocketful of boogie, this ain't a half bad option. Check the demonstration vid after the break.

Continue reading Amidio's Touch DJ app stuffs a turntable into your iPhone (video)

Amidio's Touch DJ app stuffs a turntable into your iPhone (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pegatron's Ubuntu-equipped netbook spotted in the wild

Darren Murph — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:08:00 EST

It's been a hot, hot minute since we've seen anything noteworthy from the lads and ladies over at Pegatron, so it's not shocking that we're super tantalized by the prospect of yet another netbook flooding the oversaturated market in the near term. All unnecessary snideness aside, the sub-$200 price point that's being floated about definitely has us interested, though the Ubuntu operating system is likely to fend off any non-adventurous would-be buyers. The machine was spotted at ARM's Connected Community Technical Symposium 2009 over in Taiwan, and while the actual internals remain a mystery, snoopers were told that it'll boast instant-on capabilities and a low power draw. Huzzah?

Pegatron's Ubuntu-equipped netbook spotted in the wild originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel's Cedarview Atom chip rumored to go 32nm in 2011

Darren Murph — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:22:00 EST

We know you aren't publicly keeping count, but considering that you're carefully watching process technology numbers in the depths of your ~~mom's~~ basement, we felt it prudent to pass along the latest juicy nugget from the folks at Fudzilla. According to raisins in their grapevine, Intel is gunning for a 32nm Atom chip in 2011, with the codename of the CPU being Cedarview and the name of the platform being Cedar Trail. If you'll recall, we recently heard that Pineview was expected to be formally unveiled in a slew of machines come January, but we're already anxious for Cedarview's DDR3 support and fresh, sun-ripened scent. Oh, and support for Blu-ray playback, too.

Intel's Cedarview Atom chip rumored to go 32nm in 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Engadget Show tapes today with HTC's Drew Bamford and Chris Grant of Joystiq (and giveaways!)

Joshua Topolsky — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:58:00 EST

The Engadget Show is happening again, humans! Today, November 22nd, we'll be bringing that live magic back to the stage as we sit down with Drew Bamford (you can read a bit about him here), director of HTC's Innovation Center (the place where things like the Sense UI are born).

We'll also be joined by Joystiq's Editor-in-chief Chris Grant for a special roundtable discussion focused on gaming, and we'll be demoing a bunch of new holiday titles as well as Spawn Labs' gaming placeshifter!

As a bonus, we've got giveaways for everyone in the audience, plus one of the lucky attendees will walk away with that Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 bundle we just got our hands on -- and HTC will be giving away a ~~Droid Eris~~ Sprint Hero as well!

The show takes place at the Tishman Auditorium at Parsons The New School for Design. As you may already know, we film live in front of an audience once a month -- but if you can't make it, don't worry. We're bringing the video back home to Engadget (and as a free download here, in the iTunes Store, or the Zune Marketplace) for your viewing pleasure.

The beautiful venue (which you can see in a photo after the break) is located at 66 W. 12th Street between 5th and 6th Aves. Seating is limited and tickets will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis -- which means if you want to join us in the audience for the show, you'll have to arrive early and be prepared for a little wait.

Here are the facts you need to know about the show:

The show is graciously sponsored by Nokia, and hosted by Parsons The New School for Design
The total show length will be around an hour
The amazing Glomag will be performing live along with visualist Dan Winckler!

Here is what you need to know if you want to be part of the audience:

There is no admission fee -- tickets are completely free
The event is all ages
The venue seats just over 450 people
Parsons students are welcomed, and we encourage them to come!
Tickets will be available for pickup at the Tishman Auditorium at 2PM on the 22nd, and we're strongly encouraging people to get their tickets and not stand in line -- if you have a ticket, you'll have a seat!
You'll need to hold onto your ticket stub to be eligible for the giveaways
You cannot pick up tickets for other people -- if you want your friend to get a ticket, bring your friend!
The show begins at 5PM, and doors will open at 4:30PM

If you're a member of the media who wishes to attend, please contact us at: engadgetshowmedia [at] engadget.com, and we'll try to accommodate you. All other non-media questions can be sent to: engadgetshow [at] engadget.com.

Update: HTC actually surprised us with a brand new Sprint Hero instead of a Droid Eris to give away.

Continue reading The Engadget Show tapes today with HTC's Drew Bamford and Chris Grant of Joystiq (and giveaways!)

The Engadget Show tapes today with HTC's Drew Bamford and Chris Grant of Joystiq (and giveaways!) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AOpen's Ion-powered XC Mini GP7A-HD puts the 'choice' in 'nettop'

Darren Murph — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:17:00 EST

There's a decent chance you North Americans in attendance won't ever see the likes of AOpen's XC Mini GP7A-HD, but for those in places where having a say on what innards are shoved into their next nettop (we're lookin' at you, Japan), this mini PC is apposite to fill quite the void. Boasting only a small frame, NVIDIA's Ion graphics technology and space for a multicard reader, it's up to the buyer to slap in a Core 2 Duo processor, up to 4GB of RAM, a 2.5-inch HDD or SSD and a DVD burner or Blu-ray drive. You'll also find six USB 2.0 sockets, an HDMI port and a VGA output, and while gigabit Ethernet is included, it looks as if the WiFi module is on you. Mum's the word on pricing, but we're guessing it'll be as close to nothing as NVIDIA will allow.

AOpen's Ion-powered XC Mini GP7A-HD puts the 'choice' in 'nettop' originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Impress, Akihabara News | AOpen | Email this | Comments

Olympus' $1,100 PEN E-P2 up for pre-order, played with early

Darren Murph — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:43:00 EST

Olympus' PEN E-P2 is destined to be a fine product, we're sure. What we aren't sure of, however, is how exactly the company came up with the nearly laughable MSRP. The second-ever Micro Four Thirds offering from the outfit is up for pre-order right now at Amazon, though the $1,099.99 asking price is just far too lofty for us to recommend snagging a place in line. That said, you're still probably interested in learning more about the device, so we'll be pointing you in Gadling's direction for that; the crew over at our favorite travel blog managed to snag one of these buggers early, and exterior color aside, we're told that it looks practically "identical to the E-P1." Hit up the links below for a closer look -- just keep your credit card far, far away until we see a full review.

[Thanks, Misael]

Olympus' $1,100 PEN E-P2 up for pre-order, played with early originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BlackBerry Bold 9700 now on sale to all at AT&T: $200 on contract

Darren Murph — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:06:00 EST

T-Mobile (along with a number of overseas carriers) have had RIM's BlackBerry Bold 9700 for some time now, and while we knew that the handset was shipping to those who AT&T considers "special" and "irreplaceable," the rest of the collective masses have simply had to sit on the sidelines and wait. Thankfully, that whole bout with patience is over, as the Bold 9700 is now available to order directly from the operator's website for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and your John Henry on a 2-year agreement. So, anyone forcing Santa to come early this year, or what?

[Thanks, Ry]

BlackBerry Bold 9700 now on sale to all at AT&T: $200 on contract originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sewell's DisplayLink-enabled USB-to-DVI / VGA / HDMI adapter does 2,048 x 1,152

Darren Murph — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:20:00 EST

It's been a hot minute since we've seen a totally useful display adapter from Sewell, but the outfit's latest is certainly worth a gander if you've been yearning to push high-def signals through USB. The Minideck USB-to-DVI / VGA / HDMI (video only) adapter utilizes the DisplayLink DL-195 chip, which provides support for resolutions as high 2,048 x 1,152, so 1080p and 1,920 x 1,200 LCD monitors are well taken care of. Best of all, this thing doesn't require a Core i7 rig to operate, so your 5 year old corporate laptop should be plenty to handle the rigors of powering a 24-inch LCD via a dusty old USB socket. It's all yours right now for $99.95.

Sewell's DisplayLink-enabled USB-to-DVI / VGA / HDMI adapter does 2,048 x 1,152 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atlona's HDAiR wireless USB-to-VGA / HDMI adapter gains audio, usefulness

Darren Murph — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:31:00 EST

Remember that HDAiR adapter we reviewed with exceptionally high hopes earlier this year? Yeah, it wasn't exactly the dream device we wanted, but it seems as if Atlona may have just remedied the primary gripe we had against it. The all-new HDAiR wireless USB-to-VGA / HDMI adapter is essentially the same one as before, but this time audio is involved. In response to widespread demand for the feature, the outfit has added the ability to output audio in both 3.5mm analog, as well as embedded on the HDMI output. This one's also compatible with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7, and it's still using the tried-and-true UWB protocol to sling content. If you managed to hold off on the first guy, this one's available to order now for $219.

Continue reading Atlona's HDAiR wireless USB-to-VGA / HDMI adapter gains audio, usefulness

Atlona's HDAiR wireless USB-to-VGA / HDMI adapter gains audio, usefulness originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Purported Motorola Droid prototype turns up on eBay

Donald Melanson — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:47:00 EST

Wishing you could get a Motorola Droid and stand out from all your Android-toting friends at the same time? Then you might just want to consider bidding on this "limited edition" Droid prototype that just turned up on eBay, which has a reasonably good chance of being an actual Droid, and a slight chance of being an actual prototype. If the seller is to be believed, however, this particular Droid is one of only five produced, and is different from the standard issue Droid in a few respects -- including a chrome bezel instead of a black one, silver buttons instead of gold, and some "enhanced LED lighting" on the front buttons. It also apparently works just fine, and is ready to be activated. Willing to take the chance? Bidding starts at $485.

[Thanks, Kaptix]

Purported Motorola Droid prototype turns up on eBay originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota Partner Robots heading to the moon, offworld colonies inevitable

Vladislav Savov — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:26:00 EST

It started off innocently enough. Personal transporters, they told us, just robots to make life easier. Now look at them -- Toyota's Partner Robots are set for upgrades that include back-mounted solar chargers, spring-loaded jumping mechanisms, and a design hardy enough to withstand lunar temperature drops. Intended for the performance of exploratory missions on the moon -- alongside a four-wheeled robotic rover -- the new designs were introduced by Toyota in a presentation titled "Realization of Moon Exploration Using Advanced Robots by 2020." So, if the world doesn't actually end in 2012, by 2020 we'll have extraterrestrial robots plotting our demise anyway. More pictures of lunar colonization can be found after the break.

Continue reading Toyota Partner Robots heading to the moon, offworld colonies inevitable

Toyota Partner Robots heading to the moon, offworld colonies inevitable originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Plastic Pals | GetRobo | Email this | Comments

Nintendo DSi LL set loose in Japan

Vladislav Savov — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:04:00 EST

Feels nice when a company keeps its promises, doesn't it? Nintendo said it'd have the newly bulked up DSi LL out in Japan for November 21, and shockingly enough that's exactly what's happened. Eager Japanese upgraders have today gotten their mitts on the 4.2-inch (both screens, of course) device, while similarly inclined European and American Nintendo lovers are once again left to envy from afar. Their helping of jumbo DSi, to be known as the XL, will be showing up some time in the first quarter of 2010, long after bragging rights and gift-giving holiday occasions have passed. We're not sure whether to consider it consolation or cruelty, but you'll find a gallery containing close-ups of the new machine at the read link.

[Thanks, Craig]

Nintendo DSi LL set loose in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink DCEmu UK | Watch Impress | Email this | Comments

Windows drivers for Apple's Magic Mouse conjured from the ether

Thomas Ricker — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:53:00 EST

Hey Windows users: what would you risk for a mouse of such mystical persuasions that it has the word "magic" right in the product name? How about $69 for the mouse followed by a few sleepless nights after installing a .exe found in the murky shallows of the internet? That's what it'll take to install some hacked drivers, said to enable Apple's Magic Mouse gestures, on your Windows rig. The drivers were extracted from the latest Bluetooth update targeting Mac owners running Windows under Boot Camp, but now there's nothing stopping you from trying them too. Let us know how this dark elixir works out in the comments below.

Windows drivers for Apple's Magic Mouse conjured from the ether originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Gizmodo | Uneasy Silence, 32-bit download, 64-bit download | Email this | Comments

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 heading to AT&T?

Vladislav Savov — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:42:00 EST

Man, the loot you can uncover when you go snooping around spec pages. That most ambitious of Sony Ericsson projects, the XPERIA X10, is still a long way from being released, but already we can narrow down the list of potential US carriers to just one: AT&T. The guys over at Phandroid were the first to spot the newly added UMTS frequency specs for the phone, and the available 800/850/1900/2100 bands fit only AT&T's 3G network. That's gonna be a bitter pill to swallow if you were looking for something like (or better than) an iPhone, but were put off by the wireless provider. Then again, with pre-order prices for unlocked X10s showing up at $999 in some places, maybe you can just look at our lukewarm hands-on and convince yourself this phone ain't worth it anyway. Go on, you know denial makes sense.

[Thanks, Berto]

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 heading to AT&T? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Palm Pre backups can be easily overwritten by a replacement device: replacers beware!

Paul Miller — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:44:00 EST

We've just been alerted to an unsettling trend in Palm Pre land, where strings of replacement devices are a bit too common for comfort: some users have been losing their Palm Profile backup, or a large majority of it, once they pair up their new device. The big issue is that since this problem is rather sporadic, Palm doesn't seem to have a good way to deal with it yet -- the trend in the forums seems to be a complaint sent to Palm, followed up by word of an inability to restore data from Palm a few weeks later. Lucky for these hapless Pre replacers, a particularly repeat offender (working on his seventh Pre) has posted instructions for making sure this sort of data loss doesn't happen to you. His theory is that it has something to do with a refurbished device loaded with an old firmware trying to sync with the newer-firmware-styled backup your dead device made with Palm's servers, and messing stuff up in the process. He recommends walking out of the store before Sprint tries to trip you up, and upgrading and wiping the phone before reactivating it and syncing. Sounds foolproof enough, right? Let's hope.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

View Poll

Palm Pre backups can be easily overwritten by a replacement device: replacers beware! originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | PreCentral (instructions), PreCentral (failure thread) | Email this | Comments

Wired shows off an Apple tablet-formatted copy of Wired on a fake Apple tablet

Paul Miller — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:05:00 EST

It's a wild land of imagination over at Wired and Condé Nast these days. The pair have managed not only to dream up a colorful, animated copy of Wired magazine for the so-far imaginary Apple tablet, but actually whipped up a concept of a Apple tablet to go with it. The Willy Wonka-style pairing are being shown off at the Wired Store in New York, and go along with word the other day that Condé Nast was taking the development of "iTablet" versions of its publications very seriously. Perhaps a bit too seriously? We're not ones to judge. Video of the tablet is after the break.

Continue reading Wired shows off an Apple tablet-formatted copy of Wired on a fake Apple tablet

Wired shows off an Apple tablet-formatted copy of Wired on a fake Apple tablet originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft roadmap pegs Windows 8 release for 2012, or just after the world's end

Darren Murph — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:10:00 EST

It's somewhat hard to believe that we're already talking about Windows 8 given that Windows 7 just hit the shelves two months ago, but you know the engineers at Microsoft are already planning ahead. According to a roadmap constructed over at Microsoft Kitchen -- based around whispers heard through the grapevine on the eventual release of the next Windows Server -- the next iteration of Windows is tentatively pegged for release in the year 2012. Of course, a three-year window between Windows 7 and the next version is totally believable, but we wouldn't go planning your end of the world party with the assumption that a new OS will be the main attraction. Or you could, but then you might be disappointed, which would be a sucky way to go out.

Microsoft roadmap pegs Windows 8 release for 2012, or just after the world's end originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Electronista | Microsoft Kitchen | Email this | Comments

BlackBerry Curve 8530 now putting Verizon through the rounds

Ross Miller — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:12:00 EST

Right on schedule, the latest BlackBerry to grace the Verizon's CDMA spectrum, the Curve 8530, is now on sale. A 2.5-inch display, OS 5.0, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and yes, WiFi -- take that, Tour. Price is $199.99 on two-year contract, with an added $100 discount if you buy it online. Let's be honest, what else were you gonna spend that money on tonight, hm?

Filed under: Cellphones

BlackBerry Curve 8530 now putting Verizon through the rounds originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla Motors IPO coming 'any day' now, says report

Ross Miller — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:31:00 EST

Word on the street -- and by that we mean Reuters -- is that Tesla's looking to go public with the company "any day." The luxury electric car make, whose Roadster still goes for a cool $109,000, would be the first US auto company to offer an IPO since Ford way back in 1956, says MSNBC. Quite a notable event, indeed, but earlier comments by Tesla investors (via Autoblog Green) suggest "any day now" might be any time between now and September 2010.

Filed under: Transportation

Tesla Motors IPO coming 'any day' now, says report originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Autoblog | Reuters, MSNBC | Email this | Comments

New Sony NXCAM is more camcorder than you ever need, but still you covet

Ross Miller — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:33:00 EST

Sony's latest professional-grade camcorder probably meets your needs and then some by quite a stretch, recording AVCHD up to 24Mbps and SD quality in MPEG-2 / 9Mbps. We're also looking at a 20x zoom lens, 3 x 1/3-inch Exmor CMOS sensor, and storage options including Memory Stick Pro Duo and an optional 128GB flash memory drive. Don't lie, you want this beast, even if it clearly falls in the "if you have to ask, you can't afford it" category. Look for more temptation sometime closer to its expected early 2010 launch.

Filed under: Digital Cameras

New Sony NXCAM is more camcorder than you ever need, but still you covet originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Sony, Akihabara News | Email this | Comments

PlayStation 2 finally launches in Brazil for the bargain price of around US $462

Ross Miller — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:41:00 EST

You read that right. Sony's PlayStation 2, which the great majority of the world has been enjoying since 2000, is just now officially touching ground in Brazil. We're pretty sure it's been making its way into the country for many years by not-so-official means, but if you've gone the legit route, last-generation's game console king can be yours for just 799 Brazilian Real, which we're sad to say translates to about $461 in US currency. Yeah, we're expecting this to just fly off the shelves.

Filed under: Gaming

PlayStation 2 finally launches in Brazil for the bargain price of around US $462 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Joystiq | Email this | Comments

How would you change Motorola's CLIQ?

Darren Murph — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:36:00 EST

It's a funny thing, the CLIQ. When it was introduced at a low-key press conference, the world gasped as the flagging handset maker finally made its first really bold move since the RAZR by ushering in its first-ever Android handset. Here we a few months later, and the only Android-based Moto that anyone's talking about is the Droid. That said, we're confident that a few of you T-Mobile loyalists are sticking to your guns (wouldn't want to get caught up in that whole Verizon / AT&T scuffle, now would you?), but moreover, we're certain that early CLIQ adopters have quite a bit to say now that the Droid is on the market. Is the CLIQ still living up to the hype? Are you still impressed with what it offers? What recommendations would you have for improving the next-generation? Feel free to spout off below, and hey, don't try to hide any lingering bitterness -- we won't look down on you for it.

How would you change Motorola's CLIQ? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Philips launches 9704 LED Pro televisions in the UK

Laura June — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:53:00 EST

Philips has just announced a new 9704 LED Pro line of televisions bound for the UK. The two sets promise a 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio, a 200Hz refresh rate, and a 1-ms response time. Philips promises both models -- the 40-inch 40PFL9704 and the 46-inch 46PFL9704 -- are up to 50 percent more energy efficient than previous models, and both boast 5 HDMI ports. Both LED Pros will be available in December, with the 40-incher running £1,799 (around $2969) and the 46-inch model costing £2,499 (about $4,124).

Philips launches 9704 LED Pro televisions in the UK originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dynamic Controls unveils integrated iPhone app for wheelchair controls

Laura June — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:21:00 EST

Dynamic Controls has just taken the wraps off of its new iPhone application which should be of great interest to those who use a wheelchair on a daily basis. The application -- which connects with the wheelchair via Bluetooth and has a built-in charger for the iPhone or iPod touch -- enables diagnostics to check for any problems with the chair. It also allows users to get real-time information, speed information, and compass data.

Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation, Software

Dynamic Controls unveils integrated iPhone app for wheelchair controls originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Large Hadron Collider is online, Higgs boson be damned

Ross Miller — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:26:00 EST

"We have captured it! First circulating beam of 2009!" And with that tweet, researchers at CERN announced that they did in fact activate the Large Hadron Collider, after quite a long delay and despite warnings of a looming, nefarious Higgs boson. Whether or not we will have had total destruction as an unfortunate result of the device remains to be seen, but should the future find a way to either cease to exist or travel to the past in some time-bending paradox, we only hope linguists and physicists can work together and figure out the proper verb conjugations for this brave new world.

Filed under: Science

Large Hadron Collider is online, Higgs boson be damned originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Engadget Podcast, live -- now!

Nilay Patel — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:54:00 EST

Hey, it's Friday, and the Engadget Podcast crew is ready to blow out the week in news live -- and not only is there tech news to talk about, but we've got a hot new site to call home. It's all going down at ~~6:15PM EST~~ right now!

The Engadget Podcast, live -- now! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Finland unleashes Blobo, the squeezable, all-too-cheerful game controller, on an unsuspecting world

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:26:00 EST

What's a matter, guy? Wiimote seem "old hat?" Looks like a start-up in Finland has just what you need. Containing "industry-leading" sensors for keeping track of "movement, rotation, magnetic fields and pressure," Blobo is a squeezable game controller roughly the size and shape of a golf ball that communicates with your PC or phone via Bluetooth. Currently available in a package with "six sporty fun and fit" games, it'll keep tabs on you as you run, jump, dribble, or karate chop your lonely nights away -- in the comfort of your own living room or wood panel rec room. In addition, the company has made a commercial which will, in the words of one Engadget editor, make you "want to stab myself." Retails for €54.90 (around $80). Video after the break.

[Thanks, Visa]

Continue reading Finland unleashes Blobo, the squeezable, all-too-cheerful game controller, on an unsuspecting world

Finland unleashes Blobo, the squeezable, all-too-cheerful game controller, on an unsuspecting world originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung unleashes two Diva-branded phones, divas everywhere faint

Laura June — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:49:00 EST

Samsung's been showing off two new handsets of late. The S5150 Olivia is a clamshell affair with a mirrored body, an external LED, and we know that it will boast a 3 megapixel camera and a 2.2-inch QVGA display. The other - the S7070 - is an iPhone-esque job, with a crazy diamond-shaped button at the bottom, and a quilted-style back cover, with a 3-inch WQVGA display with resistive touchscreen, Bluetooth, and microSD slot. Samsung hasn't formally announced these ladies yet, but they are expected in the first quarter of 2010. One more photo after the break.

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Samsung unleashes two Diva-branded phones, divas everywhere faint originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Archerfish Quattro video monitoring and recording system now available at Amazon

Laura June — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:14:00 EST

Cernium's just announced something that should really please the 'I know the cat is putting my stuff on Ebay while I'm at church' crowd. The Archerfish Quattro is a full scale, no messing around video monitoring and recording system that pays attention to the little details while you're not around. Analyzing info in real time, if the Archerfish Quattro spies something funky, it'll send a message to your mobile phone or email. The system is expandable so that you can have as many cameras in the setup as you want (well, up to four), and best of all? It's available at Amazon now, so you can order it without having to leave home -- which you don't want to do yet. It's just not safe. The Archerfish Quattro system can be purchased now for a starting price of $1700. Full PR is after the break.

Continue reading Archerfish Quattro video monitoring and recording system now available at Amazon

Filed under: Household

Archerfish Quattro video monitoring and recording system now available at Amazon originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mangrove WinMo tablet rough-handled, teased for being 'tubby'

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:46:00 EST

Not too long ago C-motech popped up on our radar with Mangrove, the 7-inch touchscreen tablet that's been tragically saddled with Windows Mobile 6.5. The kids at SlashGear have just had a chance to play with the device, and to be honest they don't seem too terribly impressed. When stacked up against the Quanta Android Smartbook, for instance, the form factor was deemed unimpressive and "tubby," while the 1GHz Snapdragon seemed lackluster compared to the similarly powered HTC HD2. And it doesn't seem that the 800 x 480 resistive touchscreen has won many fans. But who knows? Maybe at the right price, this guy will find its (albeit small) audience. Or they can slap Android on the thing, in which case we have the perfect name for it: Mandroid.

Mangrove WinMo tablet rough-handled, teased for being 'tubby' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Engadget Show tapes this Sunday with HTC's Drew Bamford and Chris Grant of Joystiq!

Joshua Topolsky — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:20:00 EST

The Engadget Show is happening again, humans! This Sunday, November 22nd, we'll be bringing that live magic back to the stage as we sit down with Drew Bamford (you can read a bit about him here), director of HTC's Innovation Center (the place where things like the Sense UI are born). We'll also be joined by Joystiq's Editor-in-chief Chris Grant for a special roundtable discussion focused on gaming. As a bonus, we've got giveaways for everyone in the audience, plus one of the lucky attendees will walk away with that Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 bundle we just got our hands on!

The show takes place at the Tishman Auditorium at Parsons The New School for Design. As you may already know, we film live in front of an audience once a month -- but if you can't make it, don't worry. We're bringing the video back home to Engadget (and as a free download here, in the iTunes Store, or the Zune Marketplace) for your viewing pleasure.

The beautiful venue (which you can see in a photo after the break) is located at 66 W. 12th Street between 5th and 6th Aves. Seating is limited and tickets will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis -- which means if you want to join us in the audience for the show, you'll have to arrive early and be prepared for a little wait.

Here are the facts you need to know about the show:

The show is graciously sponsored by Nokia, and hosted by Parsons The New School for Design
The total show length will be around an hour
The amazing Glomag will be performing live along with visualist Dan Winckler!

Here is what you need to know if you want to be part of the audience:

There is no admission fee -- tickets are completely free
The event is all ages
The venue seats just over 450 people
Parsons students are welcomed, and we encourage them to come!
Tickets will be available for pickup at the Tishman Auditorium at 2PM on the 22nd, and we're strongly encouraging people to get their tickets and not stand in line -- if you have a ticket, you'll have a seat!
You'll need to hold onto your ticket stub to be eligible for the giveaways
You cannot pick up tickets for other people -- if you want your friend to get a ticket, bring your friend!
The show begins at 5PM, and doors will open at 4:30PM

Continue reading The Engadget Show tapes this Sunday with HTC's Drew Bamford and Chris Grant of Joystiq!

The Engadget Show tapes this Sunday with HTC's Drew Bamford and Chris Grant of Joystiq! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Cellphones

Chris Ziegler — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:36:00 EST

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

True smartphones like the Palm Pre, Motorola Droid, and iPhone are all chewing up a majority of wireless mindshare these days, which makes it particularly easy to forget that there's this huge, vibrant catalog of cool non-smartphone handsets sitting right below them in your favorite carrier's lineup. They can play music, games, sometimes last for days on a charge (try that with a G1 -- we dare you), and often take up just a fraction of the space in your pocket that a more powerful handset would. They're not for everyone, but odds are you know a couple folks who fit the featurephone mold, and... well, it is the season of giving, isn't it? Follow the break for a few of our recommendations.

Note: Looking to give a few smartphones away to friends and family? This particular guide's all about regular cellphones -- but don't worry, we'll be posting our smartphone guide in the not-too-distant future!

Continue reading Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Cellphones

Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Cellphones originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Entelligence: Chrome OS, babies, and bathwater

Michael Gartenberg — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:14:00 EST

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

In an age where products that have never been announced get coverage and even critiqued over rumored shipping delays, it's no surprise that Google received a lot of coverage this week with an update on its Chrome OS strategy. While not quite rumorware, it's a lot like the cloud it depends on: more vapor than substance.

I don't think Chrome would be a bad idea if it were something that was targeted to complement existing PC architectures. Why isn't it? If it's web-based, Chrome OS could and should co-exist with Mac OS, Linux and Windows. It's the idea that Google is promoting Chrome as a PC OS replacement for mobile devices and riding the netbook hype all at the same time that gets me, as does the fact that I need to get a new device to run Chrome OS. That's ridiculous, as are reference design requirements like SSDs instead of hard drives. Worse, trying to merge the PC and phone into some weird new intersection of devices is not what the market wants or has ever looked for. This type of specialized hardware sounds like it's going right into the 'tweener category and we know what happens to those devices. You just have to look how successful netbooks running Linux and Firefox have been to get a sense as to how well this concept is likely to go over with consumers.

Continue reading Entelligence: Chrome OS, babies, and bathwater

Entelligence: Chrome OS, babies, and bathwater originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grace E-motorbikes are ultralightweight, German, and very expensive

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:46:00 EST

We've ridden our fair share of electric bikes and motorcycles, but we've yet to get our hands on one that's been hand assembled in Berlin/Biesenthal. Grace boasts a water-tight / ultra-light CNC-Aluminum frame, a 1300-watt motor, lithium-ion batteries, a 40 30 MPH speed, a range of up to 31 miles, and a one-hour recharge time. Looks good enough for a Kraftwerk video, although you'd better steer clear of the Autobahn with this thing. The bike starts shipping in January for €5,877 ($8,760-ish).Video after the break.

Gallery: Grace street legal e-bicycle

[Thanks, Christopher]

Continue reading Grace E-motorbikes are ultralightweight, German, and very expensive

Grace E-motorbikes are ultralightweight, German, and very expensive originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How-to: run Chrome OS as a virtual machine

Paul Miller — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:15:00 EST

Itching for some Chrome OS? Well, we all are, but you might be a bit disappointed at the fact that while Google has open-sourced its progress on the OS so far, the version that is currently available for download seems eons behind what Google showed off at its event yesterday. Still, if you just have to see it for yourself, the good news is that it's a total breeze to get a virtual machine running. We used a VMWare image that was packaged up by the kind folks at gdgt, and set it up with VMWare Fusion running on a recent model MacBook Pro. Your mileage may vary depending on your particular setup (there's also an image available for the free, cross-platform VirtualBox software), but the principles should remain the same. Check it out on video after the break.

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How-to: run Chrome OS as a virtual machine originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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