Gadget Info

Video: Epson's multitouch X-Desk is your next coffee table

2009-04-19T22:04:00.001+07:00

When you think about it, it makes perfect sense for Epson to get into the touch-surface game -- most of the larger versions are projector-based, and Epson's been making great little beamers for quite some time. Showcased earlier this year at ISE 2009 alongside a multitouch air hockey table, the Core 2 Duo-powered X-Desk boasts a 1,024 x 768 resolution panel and possesses the ability to recognize up to 16,000 objects using "Smart Tags." Also of note, gesture recognition software enables users to actually speak to the table and see results, though there's no word on whether raising your voice or blurting out obscenities improves efficiency. Like all of these things, we've nary a clue when they'll really be available for the layperson to purchase, but you can certainly live vicariously by hopping past the break.

Solar-powered 'guiltless green' home theater system makes your Wall-E Blu-ray very happy

2009-04-19T21:59:00.003+07:00

When Home Theater Specialists of America (HTSA) executive director Richard Glikes wanted a home theater system, he didn't just max it out with the best high definition equipment. He also thought to run it entirely from solar energy from four roof-mounted panels that produce an aggregate of 700 watts per hour in sunlight. It'll reportedly run things for 19 hours straight without having to dip into your traditional power grid. Hardware-wise, we're talking about a 100-inch screen, Sharp projector, six SpeakerCraft in-wall speakers, Integra AV receiver, Lutron lighting, and a universal remote. See how it was made, with the help of time-lapse photography and 1980s infomercial-genre background music, in the video after the break.

Viliv S5 pre-order details firm up: $599 and it's yours May 8th

2009-04-19T21:59:00.001+07:00

It's been a long and winding road filled with unboxings, impressions, and comparisons, but it looks like the last few details surrounding the U.S. release of Viliv's Atom-powered S5 MID have now finally been firmed up. According to retailer Dynamism, the device will be available for pre-order on April 27th (at 1PM Eastern) for just $599, or $50 less than previously expected, with the first orders expected to ship on May 8th. Better still, those that pre-order the S5 will also get a free spare battery, a car kit, and a leather pouch, which Dynamism says is a $135 value. No word on the number of units available in that initial batch but, if the Hong Kong and Korean releases are any indication, they could sell out pretty quickly.

OCZ outs its first Mini-PCIe SSDs in 16GB / 32GB capacities

2009-04-19T21:58:00.001+07:00

Just as Buffalo did in December of last year, OCZ Technology is busting out a duo of netbook / notebook-ready SSDs in 16GB and 32GB capacities. Obviously aimed at the smaller, more low-cost machines, the company's first ever Mini-PCIe solid state drives are a so-called "affordable flash-based storage option to significantly increase the capacity for netbooks." The pair will be available in SATA and PATA interfaces, which will deliver read speeds of up to 110MB/sec and write speeds as high as 51MB/sec (or 45MB/sec [read] and 35MB/sec [write] for the PATA versions).

HP Firebird 802 gaming rig gets $500 price drop

2009-04-19T21:57:00.000+07:00

Well, it's only been available for a few short months but HP has already seen fit to give its flagship Firebird 802 gaming desktop a fairly sizable price drop -- $500, to be specific. That includes a $150 cut to the $1,799 base price and a $350 instant rebate that brings the price down to a pretty darn reasonable $1,299, questionable keyboards aside. For those that haven't been pricing gaming rigs lately, that'll get you a Core 2 Quad 9400 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive, and dual NVIDIA GeForce 9800S graphics cards (with 512MB of DDR3 memory on each card). Of course, any price drop of this size also invariably bring of the question "why?" and, in the case, the reasons are still a bit hazy. While HP discontinuing the line outright seems to almost certainly be out of the question, a slight revision does seem at least possible, if not necessarily imminent -- although, any way you shake it, $500 off is $500 off, so we're not complaining.

Retail T-Mobile G1s showing up in loving customers' hands

2008-10-21T01:06:00.000+07:00

October 22 was supposed to be the date, but you know, when you add in the shipping fudge factor, buffoonery was destined to ensue -- and sure enough, G1s are already showing up on some buyers' doorsteps days ahead of the official release. These pre-orders were only open to existing T-Mobile customers, which means us AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and Alltel types are gritting our teeth and shaking our fists at merciless gods right about now. Wednesday, here we come. Anyone else nab theirs?

MDI's Airpod runs on compressed air, challenges Segway for dork gold

2008-10-13T19:54:00.002+07:00

While outfits like Lightning and Tesla are attempting to make eco-friendly cars sexy, MDI is taking things in a completely different direction. The recently-made-official Airpod looks practically nothing like anything seen on American roadways today, which is probably why it's apt to hit the streets of France and New Zealand first. The oddly shaped automobile will reportedly reach a top speed of 70kmh (44mph) and cruise 100-kilometers (43.5 miles) on just $2. The secret? A minuscule compressed air-powered engine on each of the rear wheels, both of which get instructed by the car's joystick (Atari fans, rejoice!). We're told that reloading the engine with hot air takes less than two minutes, and if all goes well, the first of the urban vehicles will hit the cobblestones in the spring of 2009. Is that the sound of Tata's NANO feeling threatened, or what?

LaCie intros 5big Network drive array to RAID junkies the world over

2008-10-13T19:54:00.001+07:00

The LaCie product roof has been raised to 7.5TB with the new 5big Network -- an Active Directory and gigabit Ethernet-friendly array of storage drives that supports several RAID configurations for up to five hot-swappable hard drives. You can try it on in four different sizes -- 2.5TB for $899.99, 5TB for $1,399, or the aforementioned, bar-raising 7.5TB for $1,899. In keeping with his sixteen year relationship with LaCie, the renowned Neil Poulton applied his HAL 9000-inspired design to the product, winning him another Janus de L'industrie award. The only problem with the HAL motif: you really, really don't want your RAID storage device to drone on about how its "mind is going, Dave."

Bang & Olufsen's BeoSound 5 controller in the wild?

2008-10-13T19:53:00.001+07:00

We're still retaining a slight bit of disbelief here, but the long teased BeoSound 5 controller could be awfully close to a formal release. Judging by scads of cryptic (and probably diluted) hints and just two images (one above, one after the break), we're led to believe that this here device will sit atop one's table and enable users to flip through multimedia and play back tunes through their Bang & Olufsen gear. The sell, obviously, is the design. Truth be told, this thing looks like something a few years ahead of its time at first glance, but considering just how ridiculous (that's a compliment, we'll have you know) the BeoCenter 2 looked over four years ago, we'd say this is just par for the course with B&O. Here's hoping some more concrete information flows forth shortly.

ASUS AiGuru SV1 Skype videophone hands-on

2008-09-19T11:49:00.000+07:00

Sure, it's frumpy, overpriced and rather pointless for anyone who owns a computer with a webcam and knows how to use it, but ASUS and Skype are after the grandma / grandpa / computerphobic set with this here AiGuru SV1 videophone, and aren't doing horrible job of it. The screen is great, the icons are ginormous, and operation couldn't be much simpler. Unfortunately, the video quality is pretty inexcusable for a dedicated box like this: the VGA image is crap, and the framerate is totally weak -- it could've been a problem with the network we were on, but it looked like a straight-up wired router to us. What gives, ASUS?

PSP and 360 Chatpad are a match hacked in heaven

2008-09-07T19:12:00.001+07:00

Some dedicated hackers have finally managed to get the PSP and Microsoft's Xbox 360 Chatpad typing. There are still a few kinks to smooth out, but the hard part seems over, with l0rdnic0 managing a tiny bit of soldiering using a PSP remote cable and some software from the Open Keyboard Project. It's all still pretty nerdy at the moment, and we're still miffed at that Logic 3 getting cancelled way back when, but we suppose this will have to do.

IOGEAR's DVI Net ShareStation networks one display for multiple users

2008-09-02T12:49:00.000+07:00

While we imagine that some folks are sick and tired of fighting over the sole display in the house, some people out there are looking for a reason to quarrel over the biggest one. IOGEAR's DVI Net ShareStation is here to help, providing one display with an Ethernet connection so that any and all computers on the same network can ~~battle for it~~ share. Debuting at CEDIA, the tiny box includes a DVI / VGA adapter and an Ethernet jack, and it supports streamed resolutions up to 1,600 x 1,200. Furthermore, users who just want to add an external display to their system can do so by simply connecting the device to a USB port. It's available now for $199.95, and the release can be seen in full by clicking through below.

Dell replacing XPS touchpad with touchscreen... or someone, somewhere owns Photoshop

2008-09-01T12:52:00.000+07:00

There are two kinds of Dell rumors: sure things, and ones that aren't sure things. This one falls in the latter camp, so proceed with caution. We've got a tipster who says a friend of his from Dell handed him this shot of what is purportedly a new XPS M1330 / M1530 design. As you can see, pretty much the same old fare... but what's this? A large glossy touchpad? Here's our hunch: Dell is tired of drawing inspiration from Apple after the fact, and decided to turn the tables by capitalizing on one of the most persistent (and outlandish) Apple rumors in existence. A good capacitive touchscreen for the trackpad on a laptop would undoubtedly be a blast if it was done right, with the right software support, and at least seems like a good gimmick. Or maybe it'd just be lame. We won't go further than that, this could just as easily be a Photoshop, but we will be keeping an eye out.

Microsoft job listing hints at App Store-like 'Skymarket' for Windows Mobile

2008-09-01T12:41:00.000+07:00

While Apple's App Store was far from being the first of its kind, we're now seeing a job posting over in the Redmond area that suggests that Microsoft is looking to produce something similar for its Windows Mobile platform. The news comes hot on the heels of Google's own Android Market announcement, and if the Product Manager position writeup is to be believed, said platform will be christened Skymarket. Described as a "marketplace service for Windows Mobile," Skymarket could seemingly be a critical part of WinMo 7. But don't take our word for it, the proof is the pudding -- or in the read link, in this instance.

HTC's Android-driven Dream revealed in glorious spy photos

2008-08-31T18:44:00.002+07:00

Sure, we've seen some blurry videos and managed a few stolen glimpses when Andy Rubin demonstrated this beast, but now we've gotten our hands on a slew of pictures showing off a very real T-Mobile-branded Dream in all its Android-running glory. Not only does this confirm the design spied in those FCC docs as well as show off that nearly-done version of Android, but it seems to confirm the fact that this will be headed to T-Mobile, and sooner rather than later judging from the looks of the above device. Needless to say, our inner-geeks are completely geeking out right now. Hit the gallery below for a handful of other views of the phone.

DayWalker case mod is amazing, can't solve Wesley Snipes' tax evasion problems

2008-08-31T18:44:00.001+07:00

There was no shortage of case mods at NVIDIA's NVISION conference, but this one in particular managed to snag the majority of the spotlight. Created by Richard "DarthBeavis" Surroz, the Blade-themed DayWalker actually houses three separate computer systems; two are for playing games, while the other acts as a server. Conceptually, at least, the rig is designed to enable two users to play against one another, and given the "50+ fans" and triple SLI GTX 280 GPU setups (among other things), it's no shock to hear that it'd cost around $18,000 to $20,000 to build again. 'Course, that's chump change when you're stuffing away millions of dollars owed to the government -- just ask Snipes... oh, wait.

French doctors use laser to destroy brain tumor in conscious patient

2008-08-31T18:43:00.001+07:00

Neurosurgery with robotic assistance is getting pretty old hat nowadays, so it looks like scientists are trying to up the difficulty factor by keeping their patients awake -- a team of French doctors just completed the first successful removal of malignant brain tumor from a still-conscious patient, using a computerized laser and an MRI scanner to guide the probe. The fiber-optic laser was fed into the brain through a 3mm (.12 inch) hole in the patient's skull and guided via MRI to the tumor, where it fired for two minutes and completely destroyed the cancerous tissue. Once the tumor cells were dead, the cable was removed and the patient was allowed to return home -- all within a single day. That's pretty impressive, and it comes on the heels of 15 similar trials where five out six patients who underwent the total removal procedure were cancer-free nine months after surgery. The team says further research will cost an additional two million euros to progress, but if this technique works as well as they claim after peer review, we'd guess that money won't be hard to come by.

MSI's 8.9-inch Wind U90 in the flesh, Linux version shipping for 339 Euro

2008-08-31T18:42:00.001+07:00

While MSI's 8.9-inch Wind U90 first made an appearance in June at Computex, it took MSI this long to flesh out all details -- which is actually a relief, given the ridiculous quantity of Eee PC SKUs ASUS has managed to pump out in the meantime. We just got to handle the new laptop, and we think MSI might have a winner here. The laptop is shipping with SUSE Linux exclusively to start, with an XP version in the works, and boots quite rapidly to the full OS. SUSE has never looked better, and we think these two might be quite the pair. MSI has kept the full keyboard of the 10-inch Wind, and merely bumped up the bezel while cutting the price; all the other specs are the same. MSI is planning on shipping this at the end of September or beginning of October for 339 Euro (no word on a US release), and is also working on a six cell battery to fix the paltry 2 hours of battery the Wind currently gets from the three cell.

GM taunts us with teaser shots of production Volt

2008-08-15T15:11:00.001+07:00

Well, it sure looks like GM is intent to be milking the roll-out of its hotly-anticipated Chevy Volt for all its worth (and who can blame 'em), with it first offering a fleeting glimpse of the actual production vehicle on ABC the other day, and it now letting loose its first two official shots of the car that'll supposedly be rolling off the production line in 2010. While it's not much, the more interesting of the two (above) at least gives us a good look at the Volt's headlights, as well as what appears to be an LED fog lamp or daytime running light. Hit up the link below for the second, even less-revealing shot, as well as a few more pics that offer a glimpse of the Volt's design process.

Elephantine BlackBerry Bold promo kit arrives for Rogers

2008-08-14T02:44:00.000+07:00

We understand the need to catch eyes these days, and while Rogers will certainly not be the first nor last to promote a new piece of kit with an obscenely large version of said kit, this one just takes brobdingnagian marketing to a new plateau. The absolutely gigantic Rogers Bold launch kit includes a plethora of Bold flyers, informational pamphlets and all sorts of other goodies that'll be handed out to prospective buyers shortly. The real question is: who gets to take this thing home once the buzz dies down?

PSP phone mod is really exactly what we were waiting for

2008-08-08T21:11:00.001+07:00

Call it off Sony, no need to throw any precious man hours into making your perennially #2 handheld into some sort of amazing featurephone hybrid, some hacker has already done it for you. Through the amazing wonders of modern thinphone technology, soldering irons and probably a bit of glue, some hacker has managed the slap a Haier touchscreen phone onto the back of his PSP -- killing the UMD drive in the process, but we'd say it was well worth it.

Gateway P-7811 FX gaming laptop coming August 14 for $1499

2008-08-03T17:49:00.000+07:00

If you've been waiting for Gateway's P-7811 FX gaming laptop, the wait is almost over: it will begin shipping August 14, that is, if an open-lipped Best Buy is to be believed. As for specifications, you're looking at an Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 (2.26GHz, 3MB L2 cache with 1066MHz FSB), PM45 Express chipset, 17-inch WUXGA display at 1920 x 1200, Nvidia GeForce 9800M-GTS with 512MB GDDR3, 200GB 7200RPM spinner, 8x DVD burner, HDMI 1.2, eSATA, a 5-in-1 media card reader, 1.3MP camera, and a 9-cell Li-ion battery. The $1,499 machine weighs in at 9.2-lbs and will be ready for your Crysis, Spore, etc. in a couple weeks.

Walking Head Robot uses infrared and pistons for terror and submission

2008-07-10T11:43:00.001+07:00

Because we didn't want you to sleep well tonight, we would like you to meet Stelarc's Walking Head Robot. Sitting atop six piston-powered legs, an LCD screen displays a creepy animated face to lull you into submission once the robot sees you with its ultrasound sensors. It then makes faces as if to trick you into believing it's really not here to destroy you and yours like some monster from The Thing. It would be one thing if the Walking Head Robot was small, but its 4-meter footprint (13-foot) is big enough to make even the largest of men turn white. To be fair, however, this robot looks to be well-constructed out of aluminum, stainless steel, acrylic, and pneumatic actuators because, after all, it's here to kill us (oops). We're begging for some video of this thing in action, so stay tuned.

Vigor Collosus Skulltrail-based gaming rig gets reviewed

2008-07-10T11:42:00.001+07:00

Intel's Skulltrail gaming platform (we're still refusing to call it the "Intel Dual Socket Extreme Desktop Platform") has been out for a while now, but there haven't been too many pre-built systems based on the design -- in fact, all we've seen so far is the $6,799 Vigor Colossus desktop, which Computer Shopper just had in for a review. As you'd expect from a machine powered by two $1,499 Core 2 Extreme QX9775 processors and dual CrossFireX ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 graphics cards, it's not exactly slow -- in fact, it was the fastest machine CS has ever tested in certain tests, putting up a 21,902 score in Cinebench 10, and a 6,695 mark in the Futuremark PCMark Vantage full-system test. All that power isn't necessarily useful, though: you'll have to be running serious multithreaded apps to really flex all eight cores, which means GPU-bound games won't get that much of a boost. Plus you'll have to deal with some major fans, relatively slow boot-up times, and some serious heat -- but come on, you know you want one.

Elonex unveils £129 One T netbook

2008-07-10T11:41:00.000+07:00

The first Elonex One was an oddly-configured little beast, with the guts of the machine tucked behind the display for an unwieldy, top-heavy look that was only acceptable given the £100 ($199) pricetag and pseudo-tablet functionality it offered. That doesn't mean Elonex isn't after the rest of the netbook market, though -- it's just introduced the Elonex One T, which has a much more traditional form-factor and comes in a variety of colors, but retains the bargain basement price of £129 ($255). Of course, that means you're getting an unspecified 400MHz processor and a 7-inch, 800 x 480 display that's sure to be fairly medicore, but for just over a hundred quid, just be happy this thing doesn't look still look like it fell out of 1983.

Fujitsu Siemens' Lasso external graphics card get spotted, should hit retail soon

2008-07-06T12:39:00.001+07:00

An external graphics card that's actually nearing release? Be still our hearts! Fujitsu Siemens' recently leaked external unit, which will be based on ATI XGP technology, is actually really, really close to hitting retail -- according to a piece over at Fudzilla, anyway. Slated to be titled Lasso, the RV670-based device should be more than enough to handle basic tasks, but unfortunately, benchmarks were off limits. On the upside, digital photography was not, so head on down to the read link for a few more snaps.

87% of PlayStation 3 owners watching Blu-ray movies? Survey says yes

2008-07-06T12:36:00.000+07:00

Buried under predictions that 2012 will bring dominance for Blu-ray over DVD and breaking news that the PS3 just may have had a hand in winning the format war the Entertainment Merchant's Association 2008 Annual Report on the Home Entertainment Industry holds survey results showing 87% of PS3 owners reported they watch Blu-ray movies on their console. That's a stark contrast to last year's NPD survey indicating 60% of owners didn't even know it played them. We don't know what's behind the jump, be it better marketing/consumer education, or something wrong with how one the surveys were conducted. You can mull that one over during the fast money round while also peeping results that say 22% of HDTV owners think they're watching HD programming, but in fact are not -- not like we haven't heard that before.

First US WiMAX deployment goes live in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

2008-07-01T23:10:00.002+07:00

Bet you didn't see this one coming. With everyone's eyes fixed firmly on Sprint's supposedly forthcoming US WiMAX deployment in Baltimore, Chicago and Washington, DC, DigitalBridge Communications has snuck in to steal a little of the spotlight. As we speak, America's first mobile WiMAX deployment has gone live in Jackson Hole, Wyoming courtesy of Alvarion's BreezeMAX gear. The firms are hoping that high-brow tourists that come to tackle the black diamonds of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort will also bring their WiMAX-enabled device and / or WiMAX card to send enviable photos back home, but only time will tell if folks find value in the offering. DBC is expected to expand the network's reach in the area (which currently hits 3,000 homes and businesses), and then "add mobile capabilities throughout its 200,000-household footprint."

Blizzard Authenticator passcode token adds anti-theft enchantment to your World of Warcraft account

2008-07-01T23:10:00.001+07:00

Nothing's worse than when you log on to raid Onyxia only to find that some loser sold all your elite loot. Fear not, vulnerable World of Warcraft denizens, for Blizzard is here to sell you the $6.50 "Blizzard Authenticator" dongle. Reacting to an upswing in account theft incidents, Blizzard has released a security token that allows hardcore users to add another layer of protection to their high-level (and attractive) characters. The device is basically a SecurID token with a six-digit code that you'll need to keep with you any time you want to get your groove on in Azeroth. By the way, we dare you to put this on your keychain and wear it with pride.

Fujitsu unveils LifeBook P8010 Pink Gold Edition with WWAN

2008-07-01T23:09:00.001+07:00

Fujitsu's LifeBook P8010 was a star in its own right, but just months after its release, that original version is already looking stale. The newfangled LifeBook P8010 Limited Pink Gold Edition sports a sure-to-be-polarizing high-gloss finish, integrated 3.5G (HSDPA) WWAN, 12.1-inch WXGA SuperFine widescreen panel and Intel's Core 2 Duo SL7100 processor. You'll also find essentials like a 1.3-megapixel camera, dual-layer DVD writer, a battery good for six hours and a fingerprint reader. Looks like this one will go for $2,899 over in Australia (that's around $2,748 in Yankee dollars), but we've no word on whether it'll roll out globally.

NASA creates hyperwall-2, the world's highest resolution visualization system

2008-06-28T01:33:00.001+07:00

Leave it to space nerds with money to come up with the world's highest resolution visualization system. NASA's Advanced Supercomputing Division at Ames has created the 128-screen hyperwall-2, a mega display capable of rendering one quarter billion pixels. Hyperwall-2 measures 23- x 10-feet of LCD goodness, and is powered by 128 GPUs and 1,024 processor cores with 74 teraflops of peak processing power. To top things off, 475 terabytes of storage keep the system rolling. All in all, hyperwall-2 has more than 100 times the processing power of its poor predecessor, hyperwall, from 2002. The elder hyperwall was unavailable for comment and is most likely on an alcoholic bender somewhere, complaining about "kids these days."

Windows Se7en - Future OS

2008-06-28T01:30:00.002+07:00

A brand new operating system is being developed by Microsoft. This operating system is planned as the sucessor of Windows Vista, which was released in early 2007. Its name is Windows Se7en. This operating system was also known as Blackcomb and Vienna. Windows Se7en is expected to be released sometime in 2010.

Here are some of Windows Se7en's screenshots:

And, the best picture is yet to come...

Japanese researchers devise method for cramming 42GB on a DVD

2008-06-28T01:30:00.001+07:00

Never mind those fancy BD-R critters, how's about a 42GB DVD? Researchers with a good deal more intelligence than us over at Tohoku University have reportedly figured out a way to "multiply the amount of data that can be stored on a DVD or CD by 9." Based on our best guess at translating a foreign language (we kid... sort of), the achievement was realized by shaping the pits on a DVD's surface like Vs, essentially making the disc more capacious in the process. Unfortunately, said project will probably never see any mainstream attention, as existing DVD / CD players won't recognize the malformed media, and worse still, the process can't be applied to Blu-ray Discs.

Intel Atom

2008-06-28T01:29:00.001+07:00

Intel has published its brand new processor which was named Atom. Intel Atom, code named Silverthorne and Diamondville, is a very small processor that consumes a very low power.

This processor is designed specifically for mobile internet devices (MIDs). The design also includes support for multiple threads for better performance and increased system responsiveness. All of this on a chip that measures less than 25 mm².

In addition to the MID opportunity, Intel believes the demand for a new category of low-cost, Internet-centric mobile computing devices dubbed "netbooks" and basic Internet-centric desktop PCs dubbed "nettops," will grow substantially over the next several years. The Intel Atom processor is perfectly suited to meet these new market segments.

Below is an image showing the sizes of Intel Atom for those three different devices.

Nec Flask - Fuel Cell-Powered

2008-06-28T01:28:00.001+07:00

Solar Power seems to be the wave of the future of powering gadgets or homes. But what about liquid? The NEC Flask, which will be released sometime later in this year, is powered by a liquid fuel cell that disappears as the power is drained away. The phone will also feature a touchscreen display and will have a unique sexiness written all over it.

NEC is set to begin pushing fuel cell-powered handsets if the pic we see here can be believed. Color choices are vary, and it appears that the liquid provides the color. There's no word on any specs, pricing, networks, or anything, so until we get that bit of detail sorted, enjoy the pretty pictures.

Nokia's $560 N78 now available in US

2008-06-25T01:36:00.001+07:00

You've piddled around in our unboxing shots and replayed that hands-on video countless times. Now, the time has finally come to bust open the piggy bank and secure your very own Nokia N78. Dramatics aside, the HSDPA-packin' handset that also musters a 3.2-megapixel camera and A-GPS can now be purchased at Nokia flagship stores in Chicago and New York, numerous online retailers and the occasional mom 'n pop shop for around $560. So, who's getting one?

iPhone and iPhone 3G comparison shot arrives, only one can emerge victorious

2008-06-25T01:35:00.000+07:00

Our money is on the one with more G's, but that's just us. The folks at iLounge managed to nab a comparison shot of the original iPhone next to its 3G successor, and while the differences aren't anything you couldn't have guessed, it's still nice to see the two in the flesh -- at least we think they're in the flesh, this could be just a shot of the iPhone 3G's rear case, which has been floating around iLounge of late.

Alesis' ProTrack turns your iPod into portable digital recorder

2008-06-23T13:17:00.001+07:00

Though not the first audio recorder we've seen to get buddy-buddy with Apple's darling for storage -- nor the first Alesis product to partner up with the iPod -- the ProTrack is still pretty swank in its own right. Hailed as a "professional handheld digital stereo recorder for iPod," this unit enables direct-to-iPod stereo digital recording for folks needing gobs of storage space. You'll find a pair of condenser microphones built-in along with twin XLR - 1/4-inch inputs for connecting external mics and line sources. Folks who can't locate an AC outlet can count on four to five hours of use from four AAA cells, but it should be noted that only select iPods (2G / 3G nanos, 5G iPods and the iPod classic) are supported. Look for this one to land in Q3 for a currently undisclosed price.

ASUS' 17-inch G70 gaming laptop on sale now in UK

2008-06-23T13:16:00.001+07:00

This certainly won't be the first time ASUS has shipped an in-demand item elsewhere in the world while USers ponder the thought of importing, but apparently the outfit's potent G70 is now on sale in the UK. For those who missed it, this monstrosity features a 17-inch WUXGA / WXGA+ panel, an optional Core 2 Extreme processor, twin GeForce 8700M GT graphics cards, 1GB of RAM, an optional Blu-ray writer, gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth / WiFi and oodles of LED accents. Word on the street has it going for around £1,999 ($3,948) well equipped, but those blokes across the pond aren't too worried about a US release date.

1,000-foot glass funnel could save London's Battersea Power Station

2008-06-23T13:15:00.003+07:00

The Battersea Power Station in London has been defunct since 1983, and urban developers have been scratching their heads to come up with a way to preserve the largest brick structure in all of Europe. Some wily Irish developers have come up with a way to turn the empty building into what they're calling a "solar driven natural ventillation system" attached to shopping malls, 3,000 homes, and a boutique hotel. The 1,000-foot glass tower would use a funnel structure to force heat out of the complex using convection all the while providing a striking addition to the London skyline. All in all, developers say this would make the complex carbon neutral. If the plan goes through, the structure could be completed as soon as 2019.

FineDigital showcases voice-recognizing FineDrive X700 GPS

2008-06-23T13:15:00.001+07:00

It's been a hot minute since we've seen anything fresh from FineDigital, but the firm has just introduced the slim and seductive FineDrive X700 over in South Korea. Humorously, the company is asserting that this particular unit is the first of its kind to offer voice recognition, but even a light amount of research would help it understand such a statement is far from being true. Nevertheless, the unit does look to offer a spacious screen and a bundled remote, but details beyond that are unfortunately absent.

Montreal's Public Bike System uses RFID, solar power, and tons of social trust

2008-06-23T13:14:00.000+07:00

There are all sorts of ways to deal with rising gas prices and public transportation needs, and Montreal is getting in the game with what they're calling the Public Bike System. Utilizing a central inventory and check-out website, solar-powered docking stations, and high-tech RFID-tagged aluminum bikes, the system is a gadget-maxed project that could be amazing or turn into a complete theft disaster. Each station holds six bikes and six docks, and users can find the nearest available bike on a website and then return the bike to any other dock. Payments can be made via credit, debit, or "member" card. Quick question, though -- what if a popular destination has no available docks for a drop-off?

Solar-powered, glowing flower pot does just that

2008-06-23T13:13:00.000+07:00

There are all sorts of ways to tech-up your plants, be they fake or real. In this case, Firebox's solar-powered pot takes in the sun's energy during the day in order to glow at night. A solar cell is placed in the sun and connects to a ground spike with a 9.8-foot wire which then powers the color-changing flower pot. Could be an interesting -- or gaudy -- addition to your yard depending on your scheme. Available now for about $40.

NVIDIA busts out GeForce 9800 GTX+ based on 55nm tech

2008-06-20T01:12:00.002+07:00

You didn't think NVIDIA would sit back and let AMD get all big-headed about their 4800 series cards, did you? Of course not. NVIDIA's new GeForce 9800 GTX+, hot on the heels of the GeForce 9800 GTX, bumps some specs with the help of its new, more efficient 55nm tech. The results include a 738 MHz core, 1836 MHz shader clock, 512MB GDDR3 memory (1000MHz), and 2- and 3-way SLI support. If we have to compare those specs to the stock card's, well, you're just not a GPU freak like some of us. Look for it in July for $229 retail.

Brando's four-port USB hub comes with on / off switches

2008-06-20T01:12:00.001+07:00

This four-port USB hub cube from Brando almost makes sense. You see, the top two ports have on / off switches which, if you use USB to charge things, may be a useful feature. But then we gotta wonder what kind of USB device doesn't either shut down automatically or stop charging once it has gotten all the juice it needs. That all said, if you're looking for a 4-port hub with on / off switches, this could be yours for $12.

Internet-connected coffee maker leaves your PC, mornings at risk

2008-06-20T01:11:00.001+07:00

It looks like those that enjoy a little remote control over their coffee could be unwittingly leaving both their PCs and their precious brew vulnerable, at least according to BDO risk advisory services manager Craig Wright, who found that his Jura F90 internet-connected coffee maker had several significant security holes, including a buffer overflow in its internet connection software. That, he says, could potentially allow an attacker to take control of the PC connected to the coffee maker, not to mention control the strength of the coffee and perform unwanted diagnostics. Of course, given the number of internet-connected coffee makers out there right now, Wright admits that the potential risk is relatively low (and moot if it's behind a firewall), but he has some dire warnings for the future, saying that eventually "you'll be able to turn on your oven with your mobile phone," which he says could lead to a malicious hacker "burning the house down."

Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid priced at $40,000

2008-06-20T01:10:00.002+07:00

Chevy's Bob Lutz crushed some dreams this morning when he announced that the Volt hybrid electric vehicle will run closer to $40,000 as opposed to the $30,000 he originally implied. To make us feel a little better about that extra $10k, he offered the fact that Chevrolet would be losing money on the first-generation Volt and Congress may offer up at $7,000 tax credit for plug-in hybrids anyway.

LapWorks Gamers Desk enables couch-based PC gaming

2008-06-20T01:10:00.001+07:00

Or you could say it enables you to keep your fundament firmly planted for, oh, ever. Yes friends, LapWorks' Gamers Desk essentially eliminates the need to get up and move over to the family PC where a mouse / keyboard combo can guide you to victory in yet another deathmatch. This lapboard (no, not that Lapboard) keeps a keyboard and mouse within reach of couch-based gamers, enabling them to fire up WoW on their HTPC and still maintain the edge afforded to them by using the aforementioned KB / critter tandem. The unit itself measures 11-inches wide by 26.75-inches across, is made from ABS plastic and includes non-skid rubber pads on the underside to keep it from slipping around in that pile of Doritos. It's available now in gun-metal gray for $39.95, but a few more hues should be ready to roll later this year for those patient enough to wait around.

Gigabyte M528 Atom-based MID gets $750 price and release timeframe

2008-06-13T22:31:00.000+07:00

Just when we though Tegatech's Gigabyte M528 MID would run a scary $1131, Gigabyte has come out and said that the unit will run a somewhat more palatable $750. That includes the hardware only, so the SIM and 3G data plans will be completely up to you. But, keep in mind this unit packs an 800Mhz Menlow processor, GPS, and 8GB SSD. As for when you can grab one, it's looking like late July in Taiwan. Hit the read link if you're still with us and want to pre-order this naughty little MID.

Firefox Mobile concept gets detailed on video

2008-06-13T22:30:00.001+07:00

It'll be a fabulous day when a cellphone-friendly version of Firefox finally lands, and judging by the video and details in the read link down there, that day is getting ever closer. Granted, this whole thing is being dubbed a "concept" for now, but we're definitely digging where it's headed. We're warning you, there's a boatload of information just one click away, but if you fear your eyes just can't handle it, peep the video after the break.

Newsmy introduces F4 PMP with MP6 support

2008-06-13T22:29:00.000+07:00

Newsmy, which we can only presume is really Newman based on history, has just introduced its latest portable media player: the F4. Not a lot is known about this critter just yet, but we do know it packs a 1.3-megapixel camera, movie recording mode and enough file formats to not even mention specifics. Heck, we're told it will even upload clips to YouTube, though we're pretty far from believing that it's true. Best of all, it's attempting to disrupt the space-time continuum with MP6 support, though we suppose it could land softly between MP5 and MP7 if all the stars align correctly. No word on a price or availability date, but it's probably for the best.

NASA's new suits are one giant leap for space fashion

2008-06-13T22:27:00.000+07:00

NASA just awarded its future spacesuit contract to Oceaneering International. The US firm must now design, test, and produce two suits -- the default suit (pictured after the break) worn on-board for launch and landing and a second, more versatile, cheese-proof suit worn during space walks and upon the surface of the moon. The suits must be ready for the first scheduled launch of the Orion Space Capsule in 2015. The contract is valued at the government special price of just $745 million. Hey, we have to keep up appearances at the International Space Station, you know.

NeuScreen multi-touch screen engine shown on Nokia N95

2008-06-13T22:25:00.000+07:00

Call us loony, but it sure seems like Nokia's heralded N95 ends up in the middle of quite a few DIY endeavors. Sure enough, said mobile is at the heart of Sittiphol Phanvilai's latest project: NeuScreen. Put as simply as possible, the project creates a multi-touch engine for the N95, and in the demonstration waiting after the jump, a simple pen light is used to control objects on a TV screen that is connected to the aforementioned handset. Confused? Give the video a look, that always clears things right up.

SOny Ericsson C905 breaks cover with 8.1 megapixels in tow

2008-06-11T10:29:00.001+07:00

Sony Ericsson's let yet another one slip out of its fingers before the official announcement, this time around a killer slider said to be the Cyber-shot C905, codenamed "Shiho." If the rumors pan out, it's got one heck of a rap sheet, too, starting off with an 8.1 -- yes, eight point flippin' one -- megapixel camera with both xenon and LED flashes (for still and video capture, respectively), GPS, TV out, DLNA certification, and HSDPA in your choice of European and American flavors. The screen's apparently just QVGA, but in light of everything else we're hearing, we might just be willing to let that slide. It'll apparently be announced on the 17th of the month in gold, silver, and black for a fourth quarter release. Wowza!

Princeton follows Shuttle's minimalist lead with 19-inch touchscreen

2008-06-11T10:25:00.000+07:00

Shuttle may have been the first out of the gate with this minimalist design (presumably OEM, and likely only a sign of things to come), but that's not keeping Princeton from doing its own thing with its new PTB-TMW19B tablet display, which just got official for Japan today. While the exterior's identical to the Shuttle, the Princeton model takes a slight dip in resolution to 1440 x 900, although the company makes up for that somewhat by including a stylus and some handwriting recognition software. Otherwise, you can expect a 5 ms response time, an 850: 1 contrast ratio, and even a pair of built-in speakers. Look for this one to set you back ¥128,000 (or just under $1,200) when it hits Japan later this month.

Acer tells Windows it's been seeing Linux, needs some space

2008-06-05T22:09:00.000+07:00

Microsoft sits alone at the cafe as Acer walks out, peering into its empty coffee cup, thinking, "I don't need her anyway." What are we getting at? Acer VP of Marketing Gianpiero says the computer company is seeing a big future with Linux. He says the cost of Windows over Linux -- especially in its low-cost products like the Aspire One -- is the biggest reason, and offered this meta explanation: "We have shifted towards Linux because of Microsoft. Microsoft has a lot of power and it is going to be difficult, but we will be working hard to develop the Linux market." It's not you, Microsoft. It's Acer. Really.

Konami defends inflated MGS4 bundle cost

2008-05-31T10:31:00.000+07:00

The folks at Konami have been trolling the forums again, kids, and this time they're fighting back. Reps from the game-maker have issued a statement on the company forum addressing the furor over the inflated cost of the forthcoming, limited edition Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle. According to Konami, the bumped up price ($600 for a 40GB version of the PS3, plus Dual Shock controller and MGS4 game) is due to the special material used to create the gunmetal gray system and controller casing. The company seems to take issue with the fact that some are calling it simply a "paint job," and points out that the run of units is only 10,000, and the package also includes a version of the game with an extra disc of additional content. To put it another way: this is the deal of a lifetime!

Audi R8 boasts LEDs aplenty

2008-05-31T10:30:00.001+07:00

Audi has already manged to work some LEDs into a few of its cars (concepts and otherwise), but the automaker has gone all out with its latest Audi R8, which employs LEDs for seemingly every lighting function. That includes the 24-LED running lamps the R8 had before, along with some brand LED high and low beam headlights, and LED turn signals, which add up to some 54 LEDs in all. Of course, given the prices that single LED bulbs demand these days, it should come as no surprise that this is quite the pricey option, with it adding a full €3,590 (or about $5,560) to the R8's already lofty sticker price.

MSI's MS-5654 GPS unit finds the FCC

2008-05-30T20:22:00.001+07:00

MSI's been making a lot of noise with the Wind lately, but we'd heard the company was going to be bringing personal navigators and PMPs to the US back at CES, and it looks like the first one has hit the FCC -- say hello to the MS-5654. As always, the gov's photographers don't exactly bring out the inner beauty of the device, but there's enough to see that the unit features a 4.3-inch, 480 x 272 touchscreen, a 372MHz Centrality processor running Windows CE 5.0, 1GB or 2GB of internal storage with SD expansion, and the usual basic PMP features. Of course, there's no pricing or availability info, but if you're into detailed RF reports, heaven is just beyond the read link.

Centrino 2 delayed, AMD Puma licks chops

2008-05-28T23:23:00.000+07:00

We were all excited to see Intel's Montevina-based Centrino 2 next month, but it looks like that was never meant to be. Citing problems with the chip's integrated graphics and issues with 802.11n certification, Intel has pushed its launch to July 14, with the complete line hitting streets in the first week of August. Says AMD, "Hi. We're AMD. We have a little chip called Puma, it has no integrated graphic issues, and it'll be available in June. How YOU doin'?"

AMP offers converted all-electric Saturn Sky in limited run

2008-05-24T11:09:00.000+07:00

If you've been bored by your limited all-electric vehicle choices, we've got just the thing for you. After a year of development, Advanced Mechanical Products (or AMP) is taking orders for a limited run of 300 converted Saturn Sky Roadsters, which will be 100 percent electric. The cars can travel roughly 150 miles on a single charge, go 0 to 60 in under six seconds, and can reach a top speed of 90 MPH. The cost of the conversion and vehicle comes to around $50,000, making this one of the more affordable high-performance options around. The cars are expected to ship to buyers in 2009, so you'd better get on that list quick.

Microsoft's LaserTouch prototype brings hand control to any display

2008-05-24T11:08:00.001+07:00

We'll go ahead and get this out of the way: the fantastic product you're about to hear more on has "no plans" to go commercial. Now that we've thoroughly killed your buzz, let us introduce to you the LaserTouch. Said device is a prototype that recently emerged from Microsoft Research's labs, which essentially allows people to retrofit any display (monitor, projector, etc.) so that they can use their own hands to control the on-screen action. According to Andy Wilson, who played a vital role in the unit's creation, an infrared camera is used to track how a person touches the screen, while software that he developed handles the majority of the magic. Too bad this could totally undercut Surface sales, right?

Apple looks to OTA downloads for 3G iPhone, record labels look for cash

2008-05-20T22:11:00.003+07:00

According to a churning rumor-mill, Apple desperately wants to make over-the-air downloads of iTunes content a reality on the 3G iPhone. Apparently, a record label executive "familiar with the discussions" states that the Cupertino gang is hoping for a "big launch in June" which includes OTA music downloads, ringtone sales, and ringback tones (the substitute music you hear instead of a ring when calling someone). There's only one problem: the labels want a higher premium for those services than a typical MP3 download. Of course, Apple's iTunes pricing has been a point of contention for some time, though its recent rule-bending for HBO could lead to upped charges for the new services. Something tells us Apple has the tenacity and bullheadedness to make this work -- let's just hope they can temper the labels' greed with the end user's economic realities.

Dell's CFO resigns, will be replaced by Brian T. Gladden

2008-05-20T22:11:00.001+07:00

Shortly after hearing of rearrangements amongst the XPS / Alienware dev teams, along comes word the outfit's current CFO will be headed out in June. Donald J. Carty (pictured), who was just hired as chief financial officer 1.5 years ago, will be resigning in June and will be replaced by longtime General Electric executive Brian T. Gladden. Mr. Gladden stated that he was "excited to be joining Dell at a time of transformation," and considering the $700,000 annual base salary along with the $2 million signing bonus (amongst other monetary perks), we highly doubt he's fibbing. It should be noted that the Round Rock powerhouse will keep Carty on its board, and that he actually "indicated several months ago that he wanted to retire as CFO."

Samsung demonstrates e-passport with flexible OLED display

2008-05-20T22:09:00.001+07:00

It's been a tick since we've heard anything noteworthy on the e-passport front (that's probably a good thing, truth be told), but Samsung SDI and German security printer Bundesdruckerei are out to break the silence. The two have teamed up to demonstrate a passport that boasts a "slim and bendable" OLED color display within a "polycarbonate data page." Predictably, the aforementioned display can be used to "provide a raft of information including a video of the document holder." It's also noted that the units will be heat-resistant, enabling officials to laminate the cards and make them less susceptible to manipulation. Information about a potential release date wasn't divulged, but it sure sounds like this stuff is dangerously close to being ready for use.

Sony Rolly finally brings the party Stateside

2008-05-20T22:08:00.003+07:00

Everybody's favorite dancing robot of questionable utility from Sony is finally making its way across that big wet thing that divides the fair lands of Japan and USA. The Rolly, in case you missed it, is tiny little wheeled bot that can blast some tunes out of its built-in speakers, move its cute little appendages to the music and spin around for that full-on dancing robot experience. The bot comes with pre-choreographed songs ("Also Sprach Zarathustra," Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend" and Earth Wind and Fire's "Boogie Wonderland" -- all particular favorites of the Engadget staff), or you can use the choreography software to generate a dance for own tunes, or even program the dance yourself. The 2GB bot comes in black or white, and is available now online or in Sony Style stores for $400.

Fujitsu's latest MHZ2 HDDs can't stop, won't stop under continuous operations

2008-05-20T22:08:00.001+07:00

Fujitsu has a MHZ2 for nearly any application: hardcore security, tight spaces and now continuous operations. The 2.5-inch MHZ2-BK (7,200 RPM) and MHZ2-BS (5,400 RPM) SATA drives are being offered up in sizes as large as 250GB, and as you could likely guess, they'll keep right on keepin' on even under heavy nonstop loads. Designed specifically for use in "business critical and industrial applications that require higher storage capacity," these HDDs are meant to survive the most grueling of tasks, though we're not specifically told what all they actually can live through. Nevertheless, trusting souls can snap up a couple of the MHZ2-BS units right now (pricing not disclosed), while the quicker MHZ2-BK series won't be available until July.

iriver P10 launches at last, D5 lands on our shores

2008-05-20T22:07:00.000+07:00

It took 'em a year, but iriver is finally ready to unleash its P10 touchscreen mega-PMP upon the world -- or at least Korea. The player rocks T-DMB, an 800 x 480 4.3-inch LCD, 33GB of storage and quite unique UI. There's also an included stylus and built-in handwriting recognition, with dictionaries for English, Chinese and Japanese. For about $312 US you can get a DMB-free unit, or spring for mobile TV at a $390-ish pricepoint, but again, those are both Korea only. If you're looking to spice up your life this side of the Pacific, iriver is also bringing its D5 clamshell multimedia dictionary to the States, at $300 for 2GB and $350 for 4GB.

Video: Willcom's D4 Vista MID previewed

2008-05-19T17:40:00.001+07:00

Akihabara News had the chance to take the Atom-based Willcom D4 / Sharp WS016SH for a spin in Tokyo. Although they only got hands-on with a near-final, engineering prototype, the kids at Aki came away impressed. Sure, the yet-to-be-optimized hardware still struggled a bit with Vista. Nevertheless, Aki remains enthusiastic about the OneSeg device toting a sliding / tilting 5-inch, LED-backlit 1,024 x 600 touchscreen display with WiFi and Japanese W-SIM. With this, Lenovo's ideapad U8, and other Intel Atom-based MIDs on the immediate horizon, these bigger than a cellphone smaller than a laptop handhelds look to be fulfilling the ultra-portable 2006 Origami promise... finally, in the second half of 2008. Lengthy video available after the break.

iKey's Membrane keyboard is built for the nastiest of environments

2008-05-18T18:36:00.000+07:00

iKey's done this whole rugged keyboard thing a time or two before, so when it builds one meant to operate like a champ around environments laden with grease, you know it means business. The new line of Membrane keyboards -- which arrives in a trio of flavors -- boasts a stainless steel enclosure, or customers looking to integrate can snag the OEM edition and do as they please. The board possesses a "hard-coated, textured, polyester film that is more rugged than industrial silicone rubber keypads," and it's designed to withstand "directed hose water, disinfectants and environmental contaminants." Seems as though you'll have to phone up iKey to find out what this Apocalypse-approved device will run you, but it should get along quite well with that impenetrable Iron Drive of yours.

Munk Bogballe turns MacBook into luxury "Workstation"

2008-05-15T01:03:00.001+07:00

It's far from the first to turn a standard issue Mac laptop into entirely different, but Munk Bogballe has gone a bit further than most with its new Workstation laptop, which turns an otherwise modest MacBook into a full-fledged slab of excess. That includes an anodized aluminum surface, European aniline leather on the underside, and even a specially designed leather bag (which costs a hefty $640 on its own if you want a second one). As for the hardware itself, you get a standard 2.4GHz MacBook under that shiny exterior, right down to the MagSafe adapter, although it is at least topped off with 4GB of RAM and it apparently comes with Windows XP pre-installed for your convenience. If that sounds like the laptop you wish Apple had made, you can get your order in now for £3,500 (or just over $6,700), which also generously includes a donation of one OLPC XO laptop to make you feel a bit better about your ridiculous purchase.

Microsoft intros the VX-5000 and VX-500 LifeCams, LX-2000 headset

2008-05-13T23:18:00.001+07:00

Microsoft really wants you to do some video conferencing, okay? Why else would they release the LifeCam VX-5000 and VX-500 webcams? Apparently gunning for some of that juicy video-chat market, the boys and girls in Redmond have introduced two models sure to find a home perched atop any monitor. Both cams sport VGA resolution and play nice with Windows Live Messenger -- we assume they're USB 2.0 devices, but Microsoft doesn't seem to want to tell us. The company is also releasing a headset, the LifeChat LX-2000. The VX-5000 will be available in June for $49.95, while the VX-500 and LX-2000 hit shelves this month for $16.95 and $29.95, respectively.

AMD fires two execs, starts "Central Engineering" group

2008-05-13T23:17:00.001+07:00

AMD's managed to distract us a bit from its troubles lately with some interesting chip announcements and bold predictions, but reality keeps setting in -- the company announced another executive shuffling today as the company keeps losing money and ground to Intel. Out this time are former EVP of Computing Solutions Mario Rivas and "Chief Talent Officer" Michel Cadieux, as well as 1600 workers being laid off worldwide. Former server chief Randy Allen will replace Rivas and Allen Sockwell is getting Cadieux's old job, but the more interesting move is the creation of a new division called Central Engineering, which will oversee all of the company's roadmaps from here on out. Hopefully that means we'll see fewer incomprehensible roadmap updates and more shipping chips -- that's the only way things are going to improve in Sunnyvale.

Wall-sized, multi-touch 'Missile Command' -- every gamer's fantasy

2008-05-13T23:16:00.000+07:00

What could make a game of Missile Command more exciting? If you said playing it on a gigantic multi-touch screen, you're probably right. Luckily for you, someone has gone to all the trouble so you won't have to. A gentleman named Steve Mason has created a large-scale version of the game that can be played by hand using multiple contact points. The result? Extreme awesomeness. Don't believe us? See the video after the break, then just try and tell us you don't want to get in on that action.

Fisker Karma hybrid sports car spotted on test track complete with stripes and video

2008-05-11T23:23:00.000+07:00

Despite all the lawsuit hoopla over who-stole-what, Fisker Automotive is trudging along with its $80,000 Karma plug-in performance hybrid. New, stripey pictures of the actual vehicle in test runs popped up this week telling us that the Karma could actually hit dealers by 2009 as promised. The pictures are nice -- so nice, in fact, that it turns out they were "leaked" by Fisker's own PR agency along with a video. For review, the Fisker Karma will do 0-60 in 5.8 seconds and top out at 150MPH via an electric / internal-combustion hybrid engine. Latest word is that the combustion engine portion is of Volkswagen build. Fisker is only saying that the engine is of German build, and we say, "gut!" -- let those external speakers roar! The "leaked" video is after the break.

DARPA aims to create virtual environment for cyberwar simulations

2008-05-10T13:53:00.000+07:00

Considering that mechanical beings will be fighting our real wars here in just a few years, it's no shock to see more focus placed on the areas where actual humans will still be the ones waging. DARPA is looking to create what it calls a National Cyber Range, which would essentially act as a training ground for cyber warriors. The setup would enable defense gurus to simulate battle against attacks our on nation's most highly prized data, and of course, give victors over virtual phishing scams immense bragging rights. Come to think of it, Estonia could have totally benefited from something like this last year.

Cowon's D2 PMP now available in 16GB form

2008-05-10T13:52:00.000+07:00

As lovely as the D2 is, we've always had a secret wish for it to offer up a bit more internal capacity. Apparently the higher-ups at Cowon have heard our inner cries, as a 16GB edition of the player is now available through JetMall. Aside from being more capacious, nothing else has changed, but if this was just the thing to push you over the edge, you can hand over your $240 right now and join the club.

HIPerSpace monitor wall makes a great Grand Theft Auto IV canvas

2008-05-08T22:20:00.001+07:00

Rolling around jacking up innocents and tossing Molotov cocktails is pretty enthralling on your vanilla 46-inch HDTV, but can you even imagine the rush of swiping a hot dog, burning out in someone else's whip and then snagging a new pair of kicks on this? Researchers (and gamers, obviously) down at UC San Diego have re-engineered their middleware to enable such masterpieces as this to be played on the ~~big~~ monolithic HIPerSpace screen, and needless to say, we can't imagine much real work getting done with this new functionality coming to light. Head on down to the gallery to see what you're missing -- science, research and 4.0 GPAs are such beautiful things.

How-to guide repurposes phone jack as hidden storage portal

2008-05-08T22:16:00.001+07:00

First things first: this guide is absurdly complicated for what you get, but if you're the kind who thinks the journey is half the fun, you'll likely be in nerd heaven. In an attempt to make an easily accessible hidden storage disk, one Doppelgangergang hacked up an unused phone jack, a 4GB flash drive and a USB / phone cable. After a good bit of splicing, cutting and soldering, a custom phone line-to-USB cable emerged, enabling him to discreetly access the data with mum and dad assuming he was simply doing research over that trusty 56k connection.

Kondo KHR-2 HV Robot

2008-05-06T16:34:00.002+07:00

Now you can have soccer playing, dancing salsa fighter robot. The Kondo robot KHR-2 HV has improved its looks taking up a more Robocop-ish style. Its features are much more robust and curved then the square-like head the previous one had. And this pretty, very entertaining little robot can be yours for just $152. And there’s not one of us who didn’t want his or her own robot when growing up.

You can also buy him a couple of soccer strips to make the whole thing more real. They only cost $10 each. Now go on and buy yourself a little robotic friend.

Playstation3 Darklite Bluetooth Headset For PS3

2008-05-06T13:39:00.002+07:00

While looking for a Blue tooth headset that doesn't look like all the others on the market, we stumbled upon the EX-01 made by Messiah Entertainment that offers 4-6 hours of continuous talk time and charges via USB. We're taking bets that this headset will show up in a low-budget science fiction "made-for-TV-movie" within months after it is released in May.

Nike Dunks + WiFi = A Step in the Right Direction

2008-05-05T19:41:00.001+07:00

Get ready to pay atelier sneaker prices for these babies, because designer MSTRPLN (not to be confused with MSTRKRFT) and Ubiq (not to be confused with Ubiquio) teamed up to produce some straight black Nike Dunks with built-in WiFi detection. It's called A Step in the Right Direction, and we might actually agree.

Top 5 laptops under 1000 dollars

2008-05-05T10:25:00.001+07:00

The following top shows that almost everyone can buy a nice laptop for himself, without big sacrifices. You can get great gadget for the price under 00, but you will be able to decline some extra - features of the more powerful laptops.

Number 5. In our top Toshiba Satellite Pro A210-EZ2201 laptop takes the fifth place because it is the cheapest of all. You can find this gadget at the price of 9. Of course, the price of the device defines some features that you may or may not like. Unfortunately, battery life is short and the gadget works rather slowly.

But I have to admit that this laptop will do its work without any problems and your shattered nerves. This device works on an AMD processor (a 1.8-GHz Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core TK-55) and features just 1 GB of RAM. Then, the 15.4-inch and 1280-by-800-resolution screen is not of the best quality.

Then, it also has great features that partly make up the deficiencies. The first is the possibility to add the second hard drive, because standard HD has just 80 GB. The second is that the device has surprisingly clear sound.

And the third group of advantages is that it has a DVD writer, a FireWire port, and an ExpressCard/54 slot. This laptop is for those people who buy it to enjoy, to listen to music, watch films and just sometimes will use it to work.

Number 4. Fujitsu Lifebook S7211 is another kind of laptops. It is intended for work. It is more powerful, but according to the price 9 it also has disadvantages: the speed leaves much to be desired, and it can't record DVDs. This device is perfect for traveling. With the second battery (not included) it sustains 6.5 hours of intensive work. Actually, using a 1.6-GHz Pentium Dual-Core T2330 processor and only 1GB of RAM the speed of its work could be faster.

The laptop has a few features that usually more expensive notebooks have, such as Bluetooth connectivity and a FireWire port. Unfortunately, the 14.1-inch, 1280 by 800 resolution screen is not of the best quality as well. The advantage of the gadget is that there can be also added one more HD. The Fujitsu Lifebook S7211 including its price is nice for trips and everyday work on it.

Number 3. Here we are: the third place takes Dell Inspiron 1525 laptop that opens the next level of quality. At the price of 9 this model is faster. The battery of the device was improved, so it works without charging for 4 hours. Unfortunately, this device is not for gamers, because its limit is the simplest games and 2D applications. But it is great for entertainment: an instant-on button, a Webcam, and even dual headphone jacks will help to enjoy and have fun.

15.4-inch 1280 by 800 resolution screen is better and clearer than the previous laptops have. Nice feature is that this device has a DVD writer. The greatest advantage of the Dell laptop is that there can be added a few devices, such as Bluetooth, mobile broadband card and built-in wireless USB. Taking into consideration all the characteristics of this gadget, it looks like it is nice both for work and entertainment.

Number 2. The Acer Aspire 5920-6954 is worth the price 9. It is solid and nice laptop that has all the functions you need. The battery life is usual - 3.8 hours. The only thing that may annoy is that it is the heaviest of all - 7.3 pounds. Its 15.4 - inch screen is clear and bright. 250 GB hard drive will allow you to keep all the necessary data there and not to buy extra-HD.

Such features of no small importance as Bluetooth, HDMI port, an HD DVD reader and subwoofer, that guarantees impressive sound, make it really great gadget. Additional buttons on the keyboard let easier access to multimedia files.

Moreover, this Acer laptop is the most powerful and allows playing 3D games. Featuring a 1.66-GHz Core 2 Duo T5450 and 2GB of memory it honestly deserves the second place in our top. If you can afford yourself this notebook, it will be great for using it at home or office.

Number 1. The winner of today's top is HP Pavilion dv2660se. Let's find out why. At first, its price is lower - just 9. Then, it features a 1.5-GHz Core 2 Duo T5250 processor coupled with 2GB of memory shared with the laptop's Intel 965 Express integrated graphics, which means you may play 3D games.

The battery life is the longest - 6.3 hours. You will be impressed with the keyboard for easier typing. HP's QuickPlay menu saves your time and makes the most comfortable access to CD/DVD player without starting Windows first. The 14.1-inch, 1280*800 pixel screen is qualitative and allows you to enjoy films.

Built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, gigabit Ethernet, a fingerprint reader, DVD writer and an ExpressCard slot give you the possibility just to use your computer and not to buy these extra-devices. This HP laptop has a lot of advantages and an affordable price. All its features will make your work on it pleasant and productive.

5 great gadgets you will be able to get soon

2008-05-05T10:24:00.001+07:00

The following gadgets aren't available for buying yet. But you have a chance to schedule to obtain them very soon, if there is something you like.

The first gadget can be called universal, because it implements a lot of functions. The device is called Panasonic Viera P905i. It is the smallest 'big-screen' TV in the world. The gadget features a 3-inch screen, powerful image processing and mobile broadcasting service. The quality of the display can be compared even with a full-size TV.

On the one hand you may use it as a usual modern mobile phone, but if you turn it 90 degrees you have the possibility to watch TV or play 3D games. Finally, the device also has a 5-megapixel camera, high-speed broadband and GPS tracking. The list of the possibilities of this gadget really impresses.

Have you dreamed to have a laptop with over a pound weight? Raon Everun UMPC - is what you need. Thanks to the device's weight and 7 inches length it is perfect for travelers. The gadget features full QWERTY keyboard, a 4.8-inch touch screen and is based on Windows XP.

Moreover, you may choose between 60 or 6 GB hard drive. The built-in Wi-Fi opens you access to the Internet. The battery life is incredible: 7-11 hours. This UMPC (ultra mobile personal computer) is the next step into our world of technologies.

At first sight Samsung 'Soul' SGH U900 might seem a usual mobile phone, but it has a few innovations that will make the use of this phone more comfortable. The device is very thin - just 13 mm. But its features impress.

The gadget has a 5-megapixel camera with 4X digital zoom, image stabilization, face detection and support for blazingly fast 7.2-mbps data connections. This mobile phone has both a numeric keypad and a touch screen for your choice. The touch screen vibrates when you push it. Thus, the interface shows just the icons relevant to the task at hand.

NEC ValueStar W is an entertainment PC. The name of the gadget comes from words 'Water Silence'. The device wraps a liquid-cooled hard drive. So, it produces encompassing noise of just 25 to 30 dB that is really quite.

It means you can enjoy every movie and every song, and you won't hear the machine working. The Vista Media Center PC is supplied with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, a 22-inch LCD, and a combo Blu-ray/HD DVD drive.

Toshiba ApriPoko Robot will make you either lazy or your energetic life easier. This lovely 11-inch-tall robot is a voice-activated remote control. The device features artificial intelligence.

There is an example of its work: if you press the buttons on your TV's remote control, the robot will inquire you what you are doing. The next step is the following: it will memorize the IR codes associated with your actions. Thus, when you ask it to turn on the TV the robot will do it for you.

The 500,000 GB MP3 player sounds possible now

2008-05-05T10:21:00.000+07:00

Do you have MP3 songs that can take 500,000 GB of the memory? If not, then you should start preparing and find such a big amount of songs. All our modern devices can keep around 40,000 songs, no more. I bet you can't even imagine an MP3 player that can store so much information. But the concept idea will become reality very soon.
A nanotechnology breakthrough was developed by scientists from Glasgow. The achievement is the following: they consider that soon it will be possible to increase storage capacity by 150,000 times. That's why we are waiting for 500,000 GB on a single chip and inch square.
The scientists worked to make the molecule-sized switch that would be in the middle of the gadget. They have already found the way to increase the data storage capabilities that is a great breakthrough. The scientists created a functional nanocluster that includes two electron donating groups; and are positioned precisely 0.32 nm apart. Thus, they compose up-to-date model of molecular switching device. The molecule sized switches would provide the increase of the data storage capabilities up to 4 Petabytes per square inch. Their conceptual idea points the fact that everything is possible. Moreover, thanks to the fact that the switches work on carbon, the whole system will become more flexible, because they can be built into plastic chips and there will be no need for the silicone.
I think that the realization of the idea means that everything, starting from CDs, DVDs and continuing with mechanical hard-drives will become useless. But there wasn't discussed the point about the read/write speed. So, this question is still opened.

The newest energy effectual OLED lamp

2008-05-05T10:13:00.000+07:00

Finally, OLED technologies become a part of design of our homes. It is important that the designers have realized their profit, effectiveness, because this is one of the most inexpensive ways both to decorate and illuminate a house. Ingo Maurer’s Early Future lamp looks like a small tree with lucent leaves. This is world's first device that packs energy efficient OLED lighting and creates a nice tabletop lamp.

Thanks to newest OLED printing system organic light emitting diodes are very effectual and long lasting. Moreover, there is no need for many inputs to produce them. Why is this solution perfect for interior lighting applications? The answer is that the two-dimensional panels give off broad swathes of diffuse light.

You shouldn't be afraid that these gadgets don't look traditionally. They neither demand reflectors directing the light into the right direction nor large sockets. It is a kind of handy long-standing lighting.

The device has a fashionable set of ten small (132 x 33 mm) OLED panels. This modern lamp shows the transformation from abstract object to functional designer lighting. The price is not going to be law. But this conceptual idea has just recently been realized. It is one more stage of the latest developments when we get both style and effectiveness. This is a brilliant use of new technology, combined with a stunning form.

Linksys' new design for Wi-Fi routers flies in

2008-05-03T10:12:00.001+07:00

Linksys's all-new futuristic design for wireless routers.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze, CNET Networks)

Linksys has launched a completely new design for its upcoming routers, and today I got my hands on the first one: the RangePlus Wireless Router (WRT110).

Samsung HT-BD2S: Blu-ray home theater system, downsized

2008-05-03T10:10:00.001+07:00

Samsung HT-BD2S: the "s" is for "smaller speakers".

(Credit: Samsung)

A second Blu-ray home theater system has joined Samsung’s product lineup. The HT-BD2S is essentially identical to its predecessor, the Samsung HT-BD2T, but with two important distinctions: the BD2S has small satellite speakers (versus the four tallboy models that anchored the BD2T), and it’s available for an even $1,000 (a 33 percent discount off the BD2T’s asking price).

Alienware's Area-51 m17x gaming laptop now on sale

2008-04-30T10:02:00.000+07:00

For most, Alienware's AlienNetwork debut was somewhat of a letdown. Nevertheless, at least one good thing did come out of the whole event, and that's the availability of the m17x gaming monster. This 17-inch beast of a laptop finally has its own dedicated page, and yes, you can get your order in starting today. Packed within, you'll find your choice of Intel Core 2 Duo processor, twin GPUs for that sweet SLI action, a WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) display, up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, oodles of hard drive space, a dual-layer DVD writer (or optional Blu-ray burner), enough ports for you and your cousin and a 12-cell battery that'll likely last an hour on a good day. Sadly, this Crysis destroyer starts at $2,949 (and breaks the $5k mark with ease), and it looks as if units won't start arriving until late May at best.

NVIDIA's GeForce 9600 GSO series GPUs get official

2008-04-28T22:23:00.002+07:00

As of tonight NVIDIA's got one more notch to add to that bed post: the GeForce 9600 GSO, which is a little more on the cheap date end of the spectrum. The first of the card-makers to launch their 9600 GSO is EVGA, with a 650MHz, 384MB / 1900MHz DDR3, PCI Express 2.0 ditty (e-GeForce 9600GSO Superclocked 384MB), as well as an even lower end 550MHz, 384MB / 1600MHz version (e-GeForce 9600GSO 384MB). And yeah, it does DirectX 10 -- not that you should even need to ask.

ATI's CrossFireX now offered on Alienware Area-51 gaming PC

2008-04-28T22:20:00.000+07:00

Alienware's AMD-powered Aurora ALX picked up CrossFireX support just as soon as it went live from ATI, but it has taken a few weeks for the technology to make its way over to the iconic Area-51. Said gaming rig is now available with ATI CrossFireX, meaning that you can take advantage of all four GPUs across a pair of Radeon HD 3870 X2s. Full release posted after the jump.

Continue reading ATI's CrossFireX now offered on Alienware Area-51 gaming PC

“Scroll” concept device packs everything but a sense of reality

2008-04-26T13:32:00.001+07:00

Sure, there’s plenty of far fetched concept devices from big players like Nokia, but it’s nice to see that folks without millions of dollars in research funding can also come up with equally unrealistic devices, as evidenced by this so-called “Scroll” contraption created by 13 Tech Design. What’s more, this one doesn’t get by on looks alone, with it packing a touchscreen-based cellphone, a 10 megapixel camera and 1080p camcorder, various media-playing features, built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, and a full-fledged computer that runs on Vista or XP. That’s right, it seems that even fantasyland gadgets need to fall back on XP.

Pioneer intros the NavGate AVIC-F900BT and AVIC-F700BT GPS units

2008-04-26T13:31:00.000+07:00

If Pioneer’s AVIC-F500BT satnav unit got you all hot and bothered, then big brothers NavGate AVIC-F900BT and AVIC-F700BT should totally wreck your lifestyle. The new units sport all kinds of funky functions, like a 5.8-inch WVGA touchscreen display, built in DVD player (CD for the F700BT), 3D mapping with text to speech, PMP functionality with playback of MPEG, DivX, MP3, and WMA files, plus Bluetooth support for cell phones and the ability to manage up to 300 contacts. The do-it-all units also feature SD card support and USB jacks. Both new models will go on sale in Europe, Russia, Australia, and the States sometime in June, no word on pricing yet. You can watch a demo of the unit in action in the video after the break.

Sony's DMX-NV1 Bravia Internet Video Link

2008-04-23T22:24:00.000+07:00

Remember that Sony Internet Video Link for Bravia TVs that we told you about way back in February of 2007? Well apparently the $299.99 units have hit stores, and are now available for your purchasing pleasure. If you'll recall, the pricey boxes allow you to stream internet video, music, and light content (like weather and traffic) into your television via the company's familiar Xross Media Bar interface. Of course, you'll be dropping a pretty big chunk of change on something with fairly limited use, but hey... it's your money.

Gold-plated MacBook Air

2008-04-23T00:39:00.000+07:00

We've already seen the MacBook Air bathed in gold and crystals, but it seems that people just can't leave well enough alone, with the folks at Computer Choppers (no strangers to gilded Macs) only the latest to spare no expense in taking the laptop to heights of tackiness that no one from Cupertino would ever dare dream of. That includes 24kt gold plating over the entire laptop and, in a final stake through El Jobso's heart, an Apple logo ensconced in multi-colored sapphires -- not to mention a polished gold SuperDrive to go along with it. If your eyes can take it, you can find a few more pics in the gallery below.

2008-04-22T15:39:00.001+07:00

This mobile phone watch actually looks like it might be good to wear. Most of the other mobile phone watches just look a little chunky and awkward.

This particular model has a 1.3 inch display which is capable of showing 260k colours. The screen is also touch screen. On the communications side the radio is a quad-band GSM which allows it to work in most countries. Also Bluetooth is built in allowing you to use a headset for answering and making calls. The watch has quite a good standby time too at 240 hours, with 300 minutes of talk time. Storage for music and video is on the 1Gb of built in memory. Files can be transferred via USB to and from your PC.

For making calls you can use the build in keypad on the wrist strap.

The mobile phone watch does come with a fairly hefty price tag of $471 when it is launched on Monday, but I assume that price is for a fully unlocked phone which can be used most places around the globe.

Ericsson Bags $1.44 billion in China

2008-04-22T11:00:00.001+07:00

From : http://techgadgetupdate.com/

Ericsson announced this day that it has signed contracts with China Mobile and China Unicom. Ericsson is a wireless equipment maker. The two contracts will expand Ericsson’s Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) networks and bag the company a hefty profit from the $1.44 billion sale.

The sale to China Mobile is by far the larger of the two, coming in at $1.3 billion. This will make Ericsson one of the main suppliers of core and radio network equipment in China. The company will also provide technical support and services and include power-saving features that reduce energy consumption in mobile networks.

The $140 million agreement with China Unicom will supply China’s second largest mobile provider with multimedia solutions for wireless access provider. Simply translated, WAP services.

Deliveries of equipment have already started and both projects are expected to be completed this year.

DPMP-003 3-inch PMP packs some NES

2008-04-21T10:06:00.001+07:00

We suppose we're pretty easy to please: pack some NES emulation and some decent slide-out controls into a passable PMP form factor and we're sold. Add in a 3-inch LCD, TV-out and a superfluous 1.3 megapixel camera... what more could we ever ask for?

Clearvision's clip-on display makes your PlayStation 3 weep

2008-04-20T21:08:00.000+07:00

Sure, there's a clip-on display for gaming on-the-go made for basically every console out there, but for whatever reason, Sony's PlayStation 3 just doesn't lend itself to being the perfect candidate the way Nintendo's Wii does. Who knows, maybe it's that curvaceous design or something. Anyway, Clearvision is hoping that you don't much care how unsightly your console becomes when strapping its PS3 gaming monitor on, which adds a 7-inch LCD, a pair of speakers and little else. Unfortunately for those actually interested in picking one up, it seems you'll have to put in an inquiry with one Shenzhen Madcow Digital Technology Co., Ltd. Good luck with that.