Engadget

Roomba saves child from deadly Viper, challenges Tango to a fight

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST

We've always known that the Roomba was something of a bad-ass -- iRobot, after all, has quite a reputation within the defense industry -- so we weren't surprised when one of the autonomous vacuum cleaners took down a certain Vipera palaestinae (a venomous snake found in the Middle East). Considered a leading cause of snakebites within its geographic range, the snake was found mangled 'round one of the robot's rotating brushes when Eli and Efi Frida returned to their home in Galilee, which they share with their two children, aged four and seven (as well as several cats and dogs). "We were very lucky," said Eli, "If the snake would have hid in the house and bitten one of the children it could have ended badly."

Roomba saves child from deadly Viper, challenges Tango to a fight originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget's Black Friday giveaway, part two: win a pack of PSP Go accessories!

Laura June — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST

Black Friday is one of those days you wish you could skip right over sometimes. The long lines, the disappointing deals, the stampedes and the arguments over Cabbage Patch Kids. We can sympathize. That's why we're hanging out here all day, with you! And we decided to pull out some things we stocked up on just to give away to you, our devoted readers. Read the full rules after the break and get commenting to win. Now we've got a pack of PSP Go accessories, including: an In-Ear headset, Component AV cable, Soft Carrying Case, Traveler Case, and a Cradle / Base. Just admit it: you want this.

Keep checking back all day -- we're going to do one giveaway every hour or so, and we have some great stuff to hand out, including an HP Envy 15!

Continue reading Engadget's Black Friday giveaway, part two: win a pack of PSP Go accessories!

Filed under: Announcements

Engadget's Black Friday giveaway, part two: win a pack of PSP Go accessories! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zemno's $500 DeskBook Pro docking station is strictly for zealots

Darren Murph — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:31:00 EST

It may lack wireless connectivity, but it's sure got the look. Zemno's latest portable docking station is probably the most elaborate that we've ever seen, boasting an Apple-esque appearance that's designed to mesh well with Cupertino's latest MacBook models. The company claims that any lappie under 15-inches in size can be used with its DeskBook Pro, though we're guessing only the hardcore drumbeaters would actually shell out $499.99 for something such as this. As for functionality, the port-laden slate allows for up to two hard drives to be docked simultaneously or any combination of hard drive, battery, or peripheral device with access to 16 input / output connections. The device also supports ModBays, which are interchangeable accessories designed to conveniently slip in and out of the DeskBook Pro. Hit the read link for the full list of I/O ports, but only if you managed to not be appalled by the aforesaid MSRP.

Gallery: Zemno's $500 DeskBook Pro docking station is strictly for zealots

Zemno's $500 DeskBook Pro docking station is strictly for zealots originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget's Black Friday giveaway, part one: win a Wii Nerf blaster!

Laura June — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST

Black Friday is one of those days you wish you could skip right over sometimes. The long lines, the disappointing deals, the stampedes and the arguments over Cabbage Patch Kids. We can sympathize. That's why we're hanging out here all day, with you! And we decided to pull out some things we have stockpiled just to give away to you, our devoted readers. Read the full rules after the break and get commenting to win. Up first we have a Wii Nerf blaster. Just admit it: you want this.

Keep checking back all day -- we're going to do one giveaway every hour or so, and we have some great stuff to hand out, including an HP Envy 15!

Continue reading Engadget's Black Friday giveaway, part one: win a Wii Nerf blaster!

Filed under: Announcements

Engadget's Black Friday giveaway, part one: win a Wii Nerf blaster! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FedEx Senseaware tracks everything about your package, probably causes OCD

Vladislav Savov — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:22:00 EST

What do you get when you throw cellular and GPS radios in with an accelerometer, a thermometer and a light sensor? If you answered a decently featured phone, you'd be almost right. FedEx has concocted the above tracker to be able to tell you everything about the package it's in -- if it has been opened, dropped, outside of temperature range, or insufficiently loved by its deliverator. The GPS and cellular signals are used to provide a real time position, and all that data is fed through a web platform for the increasingly obsessive sender to monitor. It is now being deployed with 50 medical clients -- who actually have a use for all the intel -- and once production ramps up and economies of scale kick in, the opening price of $120 a month is expected to drop rapidly. You can expect the Senseaware tracker to show up worldwide some time next year.

FedEx Senseaware tracks everything about your package, probably causes OCD originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ViewSonic's N01 MID caught wearing a nasty UMPC disguise

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:56:00 EST

Remember the day when those 7-inch Origami UMPCs blundered onto the scene with weak Intel processors overpowered by Microsoft's heavyweight OS? This ViewSonic N01 apparently isn't one of them, though we couldn't fault you for being deceived. Sure it's running XP but it's Intel's 1.1GHz Atom Z510 doing the processing chores beneath a display approximating 6 to 7 inches. Ok, ok, it is a UMPC, regardless of its new MID christening proving once again that any distinction Intel tries to sell has been lost forever as vendors try to distance themselves from a tainted UMPC legacy. But we digress. The N01 MID (prototype, by the looks of it) finds itself stuffed with 1GB of memory, just 10GB of on-board storage, 3G data, and integrated TV tuner with fancy telescoping antenna. We can only assume that ViewSonic's product diversification plans have it dumping the majority of its recently unveiled products into China and India because what they've show so far is not going to impress western tastes.

ViewSonic's N01 MID caught wearing a nasty UMPC disguise originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lenovo begins $200M buyback of Lenovo Mobile

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:27:00 EST

Of the many trends in consumer electronics, today's announcement by Lenovo highlights two of the biggest: 1) PC makers are desperate to get in on that handheld smartphone action, and 2) China is the place to do it with its 700 million mobile subscribers. That's why Lenovo is putting up $200 million in cash and stock to reacquire its former mobile business sold to a group of investors last year; a move made possible by Lenovo's recent return to profitability. Although Lenovo says its focus will be on the Chinese market, don't be surprised when you see Lenovo branded handsets headed to downtown stores or your favorite high-street shops -- assuming the deal passes shareholder approval, of course.

Lenovo begins $200M buyback of Lenovo Mobile originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo Wii has lion's share of female console gamers

Vladislav Savov — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:58:00 EST

Nintendo's been doing a bit of digging and it turns out it's already won the console wars. If we're only talking about the ladies, that is. A whopping 80% of American female primary gamers (the person who primarily uses the console rather than the occasional dabblers) do their thing on the Wii, which we see as a clear indication to the graphics-obsessed Xbox 360 and PS3 developers that women prefer their games to be fun to play, rather than just look at. Maybe if we also stopped dressing female characters in swimsuits, they'd find non-Wii games relatable too -- that's just a guess though, probably wrong.

Nintendo Wii has lion's share of female console gamers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stantum shows off resistive multitouch Slate PC, we're awed again

Vladislav Savov — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:01:00 EST

Stantum Japan already got us all giddy and schoolgirlish once, and now that the company's TouchPark has reached the proof of concept stage, we're ready to fawn all over again. Initially compatible only with smartphone hardware, the firmware seems to have been adapted to the x86 instruction set, as it's now perched atop a Dell Mini 10 netbook modded with a resistive touchscreen. Responsiveness and accuracy are both remarkable, with the multitouch feature accommodating as many fingers as you can fit on the screen. There's pressure sensitivity too, and we even get to see the thing used with a paintbrush. A paintbrush. Scalable from 2.5 to 30 inches, this can do all the gestures, swipes and rotations you want, and viewing the video after the break will lead you to conclude the same as us: this needs to be out yesterday.

Continue reading Stantum shows off resistive multitouch Slate PC, we're awed again

Stantum shows off resistive multitouch Slate PC, we're awed again originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Walkman X-series gets much needed browser update

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:32:00 EST

At this point, it's hard to quantify the effect that Sony's v1.10 software update will have on Sony's X-series Walkman: the firmware's only now hitting the intertubes. But the simple fact that it's only feature-point says, "displaying and navigating Web sites will be improved," should be enough for X-series owners to give it a go. Japan's Impress AV Watch provides some insight into improvements that include faster page load times, improved scrolling speeds, and more faithful page renderings to the originals. The update also apparently adds a link to Microsoft's Bing search engine as well as the ability to search local music folders. Now get to it buster, that 3-inch OLED DAP's not going to update itself.

Sony Walkman X-series gets much needed browser update originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Creator of ProFORMA 3D scanning system talks details, availability

Donald Melanson — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:49:00 EST

Still a bit curious how the ProFORMA system developed at Cambridge University can turn any old webcam into a fairly advanced 3D scanner? Then settle in for a few minutes, as the researcher behind the project, Qi Pan, has taken a bit of time to chat with the Shapeways blog about the how the system came to fruition and its potential availability to the public. Interestingly, he actually started out trying to model outdoor scenes, but moved to smaller objects after discovering that the processing power required was beyond his reach. That led to about a year and half of work on the current system, which works in two stages: the first being a tracker that works out the position and orientation of the object relative to the camera, and the second being the reconstruction stage, which seems to be as effortless to use as it is complicated to explain. Perhaps the best news, however, is that Qi says he soon plans to release a Linux-based demo to the general public, and a Windows version shortly thereafter.

Creator of ProFORMA 3D scanning system talks details, availability originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 3GS Supreme is diamond encrusted, spectacularly expensive

Vladislav Savov — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:53:00 EST

Seeing as how the iPhone's exclusivity status has been slipping, it was inevitable that the bourgeoisie would invent a new way to distinguish themselves from the lowly masses. Enter a designer by the name of Stuart Hughes, already expertly familiar with slapping precious metals onto slightly less precious mobile phones. He classes up a 3GS handset with a 22 carat solid gold body, which he then sprinkles with no less than 190 diamonds. And just to make sure none of the riff raff can get their hands on it, this creation is priced at £1.92 million ($3.2 million), which places it precisely £1.92 million outside our budget. Completing the, erm, value proposition is a storage chest cut from a single block of granite, which you may peep after the break.

Continue reading iPhone 3GS Supreme is diamond encrusted, spectacularly expensive

iPhone 3GS Supreme is diamond encrusted, spectacularly expensive originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cignias NAO Symphony iPod speaker enables WiFi control with iPhone and BlackBerry

Richard Lai — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:19:00 EST

You know what's annoying? Having to get up and walk all the way to your iPod dock to pick a song. Sure, there's the good old remote control these days, but you'd still need to squint at the tiny screen from afar if you want any modicum of song control. The couch potatoes at Cignias probably felt the same pain and thus came up with the free MusicNAO app for the iPhone, iPod Touch and BlackBerry, allowing you to control and browse content over WiFi on the iPod docked on NAO Symphony speakers. It doesn't end there: you can also stream music from the latest iPhone OS devices over Bluetooth, and the same goes for BlackBerry phones but with the addition of WiFi streaming. There's no word on the sound quality yet, but the adventurous among you can pre-order a NAO Symphony for $249 ahead of its December 1st launch.

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Cignias NAO Symphony iPod speaker enables WiFi control with iPhone and BlackBerry originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kohjinsha's dual-sceen DZ Series laptop now for sale

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:04:00 EST

Remember IBM's ThinkPad 701 with the butterfly keyboard? This isn't it, it's better... conceptually anyway. Instead of two halves of a keyboard magically jigsawing themselves together, Kohjinsha achieves a similar result with its DZ-series using a pair of 10.1-inch TFT displays with 1,024 x 600 pixel resolution (each) packed into an otherwise svelte 1.02 x 8.26 x 0.74~1.65 inches / 4.09 pounds (1.84 kg) portable. Best of all it's on sale now for ¥95,800 (about $1,110) with a Linux pre-load -- add another ¥5,000 (about $58) for 32-bit Windows 7 Home Premium. For that you get a 1.6GHz AMD Athlon Neo with RS780MN chipset and ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, 3x USB, a 3-in-1 card reader, 1.3 megapixel webcam, 1GB memory (expandable to 4GB), and 160GB 5,4000 hard disk with claimed 4.5-hours "max" of battery power (1.1V, 5200mAh) -- likely far less in real-world usage. Ships worldwide ($60ish for US or €50ish for European delivery) in 3 weeks if you order today. Video of the sliding action after the break from our hands-on session back at the CEATEC show in Japan.

Continue reading Kohjinsha's dual-sceen DZ Series laptop now for sale

Kohjinsha's dual-sceen DZ Series laptop now for sale originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevrolet Volt gets driver-activated warning system for the blind

Donald Melanson — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:07:00 EST

Whether it's voluntary or enforced, it seems to be a safe bet that most electric vehicles will eventually break their silence in one way or another to warn nearby pedestrians -- especially the blind. Chevrolet looks to be taking a slightly different approach than most with the Volt, however, and it recently tested out its system with a group of visually-impaired folks at its Milford Proving Grounds. Rather than simply making the vehicle sound like a regular car, Chevy has implemented a driver-activated system that emits what's described as more of an "excuse me" sound than "hey you" sound whenever you want to warn people you're approaching. Of course, depending on the driver does have its limitations, and Chevy says that future iterations of the Volt are likely to incorporate a more active system that can automatically alert pedestrians. Check it out in action after the break.

Continue reading Chevrolet Volt gets driver-activated warning system for the blind

Chevrolet Volt gets driver-activated warning system for the blind originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Engadget: Best SSD under $150?

Darren Murph — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:11:00 EST

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from David, who's looking to get himself a boot drive that's fast, durable, fast, reliable and fast.

"I'm looking for a solid state drive, around 32 to 64GB, for use in my web server. The drive will contain my web sites and the operating system, either Windows Server 2008 R2 or Ubuntu. Large storage is handled by a separate RAID array, so capacity is not an issue. Rather, I am looking for the fastest, longest-lasting, and most reliable drive under $150 that is suitable to my application. Any thoughts? Thanks!"

SSDs still aren't cheap, but the smaller ones have definitely come down quite aways in price. Anyone got a particular 32GB or 64GB platter that they're hearting at the moment? Go ahead, let your crush be known.

Ask Engadget: Best SSD under $150? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MacBook Air meets bus, bus wins

Donald Melanson — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:19:00 EST

Struggling to find a little something to be grateful for on this day of Thanksgiving? How about the fact that this isn't your laptop? While details are a tad sketchy, it seems that the owner of this MacBook Air somehow let his prized possession slip under a bus, which promptly drove right over it. Amazingly, the Air does apparently still work (apart from a little issue with the screen), although it's pretty clear that the bus came out ahead in this match-up. Hit up the link below for a few more pics.

[Thanks, Akouris]

MacBook Air meets bus, bus wins originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Friday deals roundup, starring SonyStyle, Sam's Club, and more

Ross Miller — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:47:00 EST

It's less than 24 hours before the US Consumer Conglomerate commences its attack on the brick-and-mortar retail battlefield. We've already seen a number of outlets show their Black Friday cards, but now some of the bigger guns are revealing their specials. SonyStyle is taking a couple hundred dollars off of VAIO laptops, and offering some even deeper discounts on BRAVIA TVs. Sam's Club? Sears? RadioShack? Yep, their fliers are now out in the open. Even Canada's getting in on the fun, at least as far as NCIX is concerned. Stuff yourself full of turkey tonight, there's a war coming -- we suggest you prepare properly.

Bonus: Here's a list of our most recent other Black Friday round-ups.

Black Friday deals roundup: Best Buy, Lenovo, Verizon and more
Black Friday deals roundup: Walmart, Target and NewEgg
Black Friday deals bonanza round up
Black Friday ads leaking all over town, we've rounded them up
Sears Black Friday ad revealed, we'll be sleeping off our tryptophan hangovers

Black Friday deals roundup, starring SonyStyle, Sam's Club, and more originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson acknowledges touchscreen issues on Aino

Chris Ziegler — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:19:00 EST

As if the Aino's odd name wasn't handicap enough, Sony Ericsson's taking another hit on its high-end Remote Play-capable full-touch (but Symbian-free) phone today with news that it's got a dodgy touchscreen. It's unclear exactly what's wrong or how it's ultimately going to get resolved, but several British retailers -- most notably behemoth Carphone Warehouse -- have elected to yank it from shelves until they've gotten confirmation that the mothership has fixed the problem. A company spokesman notes that "Aino has sold in limited numbers in the UK, so this issue affects only a very small number of customers," which is a backhanded way of saying "for once, we're incredibly lucky no one wants this thing" -- though considering that the Satio's on hold now, too, "lucky" might not be the right word for it. For what it's worth, Sony's US SonyStyle store is still hawking Ainos for $600, so part with that six-pack of Benjamins at your own risk.

Sony Ericsson acknowledges touchscreen issues on Aino originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows Mobile 6.5 'second edition' bringing slightly revamped UI?

Donald Melanson — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:38:00 EST

We've already gotten a glimpse of an updated on-screen keyboard seemingly set for inclusion in the next update to Windows Mobile 6.5, and it now looks like Microsoft might have even more changes on tap to keep folks satisfied in the buildup to Windows Mobile 7. Apparently, something that may or may not be called Windows Mobile 6.5 'second edition' adds a number of UI updates that are supposedly designed to make it more usable with capacitive touchscreens. The biggest of those changes, it seems, is that the clickable buttons from the top bar have been removed in favor of a larger, more finger-friendly bar at the bottom -- which, judging from appearances, is not quite ready for prime time. Of course, of all this is still just based on what's been turned up in an early build of the OS, but at least one unnamed Microsoft representative has reportedly confirmed that the updated UI does indeed come from Microsoft, but he apparently wouldn't confirm much else.

Windows Mobile 6.5 'second edition' bringing slightly revamped UI? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple's Black Friday deals hit Australia site, same as it ever was (update: US and UK too)

Ross Miller — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:06:00 EST

Apple Down Under[TM] has revealed its today-only holiday gift specials, and with most deals hovering between 5 and 10 percent off, it's nothing out of the ordinary for Cupertino's wares. Still, if you're shopping for a new iMac this season, seems like the perfect opportunity to fill up your virtual shopping cart. If history tells us anything, look for these deals to hit Apple's US syndicate sometime around tomorrow.

Update: It's after midnight in the UK, and as logic dictates, the one-day sale is now in effect there, too.

Update 2: And it's Stateside: same percentage discounts, different currency.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Apple's Black Friday deals hit Australia site, same as it ever was (update: US and UK too) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell SX2210T vs. HP L2105tm: optical multitouch head-to-head review

Vladislav Savov — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:03:00 EST

Dell and HP, HP and Dell. The United States' two biggest computer hardware manufacturers, and two of the world's top three, have tended to match each other step for step, so it's no surprise that Dell's recently released SX2210T was quickly followed by a Compaq L2105tm from its closest rival. Measuring 21.5 inches each, with 1920 x 1080 resolution, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, and optical multitouch technology under their chunky bezels, these two models represent the biggest mainstream push for touchscreen computing yet. Functionally identical to standard monitors, they offer the added benefit of letting you input your heart's urges and desires using swipes, gestures and flicks, and we've plucked one of each panel to see how this all plays out for ourselves. Join us after the break, won't you?

Gallery: Dell SX2210T versus HP L2105tm

Continue reading Dell SX2210T vs. HP L2105tm: optical multitouch head-to-head review

Dell SX2210T vs. HP L2105tm: optical multitouch head-to-head review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Navigon announces nav app for Android, Google threat looms

Chris Ziegler — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:14:00 EST

Google has taken much of the wind out of the turn-by-turn navigation industry's sails this Fall thanks to the introduction of fee-free Google Maps Navigation, but it's got a fatal flaw for the moment: it's only available in the States. Navigon must be banking on the fact that Mountain View is going to take its sweet time spreading the love around the world, because it has announced at iCE Amsterdam today that it'll be releasing its own app for Android on December 10. Pricing hasn't been revealed, but for comparison, Navigon's European solution for the iPhone runs a stout $140 -- and as long as Google doesn't tell everyone that European navigation is no longer a valid business model as they've done in the US, that could very well be the number we can expect on the Android side. It'll be compatible with devices running anything from 1.5 to 2.0, so Dreams and Milestones alike should be welcome to apply.

Navigon announces nav app for Android, Google threat looms originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear team builds EV, shows how complex car production really is

Vladislav Savov — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:06:00 EST

The presenters of Top Gear, among the finer specimens of British television talent (Dr. Gregory House being another), were this past week engaged in designing and building an electric vehicle purportedly intended to compete with the likes of the Chevy Volt. Set a time limit of a mere 18 hours, they produced the marvel of rushed engineering and shoddy workmanship you see above. The Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust (believe us, you'll have no reason to remember the name) was even put through its paces by Autocar magazine, whose video "review" can be found after the break. We won't spoil the details for you, but if you want a conclusion, this one's pretty unequivocal: "there's a really good chance you could kill yourself" riding in this car.

Continue reading Top Gear team builds EV, shows how complex car production really is

Top Gear team builds EV, shows how complex car production really is originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AirScript translator beams live theater subtitles over the air

Vladislav Savov — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:44:00 EST

If you ask us, one of the best things about London is its theater scene. Turns out, however, that not every person who appreciates good theatre speaks the Queen's English -- we know, it's shocking to us as well. To serve those unenlightened souls, a new AirScript wireless translation gadget is being trialed at the Shaftesbury in central Londonium. Designed by Show Translations and built by Cambridge Consultants, it combines a simple WiFi-enabled device with an LED-backlit screen and a dude in the background who feeds live subtitles over the air. The pleasure of said dude's services will be a steep £6 ($10), which you might scoff at now, but imagine yourself attending a show in Tokyo or Beijing and suddenly the price becomes a lot more justifiable. Eight languages are available so far (American English is presumably still in the works), with translations done by professionals rather than machines, and all that remains now is to see whether this multilingual birdie flies or flounders.

AirScript translator beams live theater subtitles over the air originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia X6 Comes with Music and capacitive touchscreen: shipping now

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:05:00 EST

What are you thankful for today? If you live in Finland or the UK and pre-ordered a X6 then you might be obliged to Nokia for having just set your new handset free. That's right pilgrims, Nokia's new flagship Comes with Music handset is now shipping. The X6 you'll recall, introduces S60 5th to a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen riding 32GB of storage, a 5 megapixel camera with dual-LED flash, TV-out, and tweaked homescreen with a media/social-centric layout. The X6 lists for €450 (pre-tax and pre-carrier subsidies) -- a price that ultimately includes the cost of Nokia's struggling "all-you-can-eat" music service. Perhaps this is the device that finally gives the service legs? Maybe, but we'd start by following through on plans to strip the DRM.

Nokia X6 Comes with Music and capacitive touchscreen: shipping now originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bacteria-killing prototype relies on plasma, could obsolete hand washing

Vladislav Savov — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 07:15:00 EST

Time to get your science fiction hats on, but leave the fiction visor off this time. The BBC has gotten all hot and bothered today about a newly published research report indicating a significant advancement in the field of plasma-based disinfection of both healthy and wounded human skin. Yes, the same stuff that drives your big-ass television is also capable -- in a gaseous form -- of interacting with the oxygen, nitrogen, and water vapor in the air to create a concoction lethal to bacteria and fungi, but innocuous to humanoids. The big breakthrough here is that mass production of such devices is finally possible at rates affordable enough to makes them commonplace in hospitals, tattoo shops and the like. Additionally, an argon-based "plasma torch" has been shown to accelerate wound healing, though it's not certain whether this happens through the particular effects of the plasma, or through the reduction of bacteria infesting the wound. The fact the researchers themselves don't know is both unnerving and strangely fun at the same time. We've got a shot of the prototype after the break and the entire paper is available at the read link, if you feel like a geek binge.

Continue reading Bacteria-killing prototype relies on plasma, could obsolete hand washing

Bacteria-killing prototype relies on plasma, could obsolete hand washing originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 07:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lenovo's Snapdragon smartbook gets Android, pictured properly (Updated)

Vladislav Savov — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 06:20:00 EST

That's right, sailor, Qualcomm has been dishing some more info on the future of smartbooks, and we now know that the Lenovo number we noticed being teased earlier this month will be driven by a vanilla copy of Google's Android OS. Other data of import includes a purported battery life of more than eight hours and always-on connectivity through 3G (provided by AT&T in the US), WiFi and "other radios," all of which should go nicely with that 1GHz Snapdragon chip under the hood. If you ask us, and you should, this looks like the perfect candidate for a bit of USB-mounted Chrome OS glory.

Update: Lenovo's PR team contacted us to clarify that the above device, although strikingly similar to the Lenovo machine (possibly a reference design), is a separate, Quanta-manufactured smartbook that was on display at a Qualcomm event last week. Nevertheless, it could still end up bearing Lenovo regalia, given that Quanta produces the IdeaPad line.

Lenovo's Snapdragon smartbook gets Android, pictured properly (Updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 06:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iTunes tagging comes to London iPod nano owners: a European first

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:30:00 EST

Hard to believe it but iTunes tagging has finally arrived in Europe. Well, Great Britain. The UK? Fine, England. Ok, ok, to those parts of London where you can tune into Absolute Radio 105.8FM -- the only European station to have inked a deal with Seattle-based Jump2Go (developer of the tech) and Britain's own Unique Interactive. Owners of the new iPod nano with built-in FM radio can now tag songs they're listening to for later purchase from the iTunes store when docked. Video demonstration after the break for you London newbs.

Continue reading iTunes tagging comes to London iPod nano owners: a European first

iTunes tagging comes to London iPod nano owners: a European first originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Korean 3D television broadcasts in Full HD just weeks away

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:24:00 EST

With LG predicting a 3D television market in excess of 30 million units by 2012 and Samsung busily promoting its related world's firsts, you'd better believe that these powerful South Korean "chaebols" have their government's full support when it comes to delivering 3D content. Just today the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) announced its drive to start beaming 3D broadcasts in Full HD quality sometime in 2010 -- licensing begins in January with first broadcasts expected mid-year. Unlike those 3D satellite broadcasts tested in Japan and the UK, Korea will deliver its 3D content through its terrestrial networks. Of course, Korea's pay-TV providers want in on the action too, with CJ HelloVision set to offer 3D content through its video-on-demand offerings in the next "week or two." CJ HelloVision will initially target about 300 households with plans to extend the service to 1,000 homes by 2012. Viewers will need yet another set-top box to view 3D content likely limited to "cartoons" at first. Pricing has not been set and it's entirely possible that 3D VoD titles will be free at first in order to build momentum and to ensure viewer lock-in of the all important child demographic.

Korean 3D television broadcasts in Full HD just weeks away originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox 360 Elegant Edition shows Microsoft how it's done

Vladislav Savov — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:37:00 EST

You know, we've pretty much all been enamored with the Zune HD's industrial design, but one unintended consequence for Microsoft was that it made its console look even more childish and toylike. It was inevitable, then, that a group of industrious Swedes would take up arms against this injustice and right the world with their Elegant Edition mod. Featuring three 120mm cooling fans, an aesthetic borrowed straight from the 1980s, and absolutely no shame about its bulk, this mod is cooler than the original in both the literal and colloquial sense. We'll accept no arguments to the converse. Better still, if you're willing to part with some cold hard cash, these fellas will build one for you too. We've got a few less glamorous shots of the redressed box after the break.

Continue reading Xbox 360 Elegant Edition shows Microsoft how it's done

Xbox 360 Elegant Edition shows Microsoft how it's done originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo robosuit could make you the sack lifting champion

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:11:00 EST

In Japan, the ultimate merit of a robotic suit is measured in sacks of rice. We've seen it before with the HAL-5. The latest suit created by students at Tokyo's University of Science provides enough assistance to the wearer's back to lift an additional 15 to 20 kilograms (that's 33 to 44 pounds) -- in other words, another two bags of rice for five in total. The university's previous robosuit was heavier and more bulky by comparison, in that it provided assistance to both the wearers back and arms (though clearly some support is provided based on the image above). The suit will ultimately benefit factory workers or those with physical limitations when it goes into production sometime in 2010. Outstanding. Surprisingly, nobody from the university seems willing to talk about that kid with sawblade arms in the corner.

Tokyo robosuit could make you the sack lifting champion originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buffalo busts out its first 12x Blu-ray burner, powered by USB 3.0

Paul Miller — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:24:00 EST

Sure, your computer doesn't have a USB 3.0 plug, and there's no such thing as a 12x Blu-ray disc for mass consumption just yet, but we shouldn't let those pesky details get in the way of progress. Buffalo just announced the BR-X1216U3, which is the "world's first" (er, not exactly, but anyways...) 12x Blu-ray burner, and which incidentally pulls off its wondrous feats through the power of USB 3.0. Of course, it's backward compatible with USB 2.0, for burn speeds up to 7x, but with 12x on the table that's just slumming it. The drive is out now in Japan for 39,100 yen (about $448 US).

Buffalo busts out its first 12x Blu-ray burner, powered by USB 3.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EU closes antitrust investigation into Qualcomm, doesn't levy fines

Darren Murph — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:08:00 EST

Qualcomm has spent an awful lot of time over the past few years dealing with lawsuits and nastygrams, but it looks as if things will be totally different in the new decade. Just months after Qualcomm and Broadcom settled their differences, the European Commission has agreed to drop a four-year antitrust investigation without levying the first fine or absolving the company. The reason? The entity stated that "companies that objected to Qualcomm's pricing for its technology have all withdrawn their complaints or are planning to withdraw them." Sounds like a reasonable reason to let bygones be bygones, no?

EU closes antitrust investigation into Qualcomm, doesn't levy fines originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pandora cases start arriving, production enters 'so close you can smell it' stage

Darren Murph — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:10:00 EST

The elusive Pandora handheld and the Phantom gaming system have a lot in common. Thankfully, there's one critical difference, and that's the fact that the dutiful souls behind what's sure to become the world's next favorite pocket gizmo actually have some proof that mass production is tantalizingly near. The latest update has quite a few images of the final mold, and we're also told that mass production has begun on the mainboards. All that's left to do is add a touch of paint, snap a few things together and yell "Hello World!" for all the world to hear. Hit the read link if you're badly in need of getting some drool out of your system.

[Thanks, Andrew]

Pandora cases start arriving, production enters 'so close you can smell it' stage originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MSI X-Slim X430 gets an Athlon Neo CPU, Windows 7 and Blu-ray

Darren Murph — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:16:00 EST

AMD spoiled MSI's surprise a bit by snagging an X-Slim X430 early for its VISION gala back in September, but now that Windows 7 is out and about, MSI has decided to officialize its latest thin-and-light. Unlike most of its rivals, this one shuns Intel's CULV lineup and instead relies on a dual-core AMD Athlon Neo X2 CPU, and with Win7 Home Premium at the helm, performance shouldn't be too much of an issue when it comes to handling basic tasks. There's also a 14-inch display (1,366 x 768), 2GB of RAM, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, HDMI / VGA sockets, an SD card slot, a 320GB or 500GB HDD and even an optional Blu-ray drive (albeit an external one). 4 and 8-cell batteries will also be available, and at 3.3 pounds, we're guessing you won't need to bulk up before slapping this in your knapsack.

MSI X-Slim X430 gets an Athlon Neo CPU, Windows 7 and Blu-ray originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Friday deals roundup: Best Buy, Lenovo, Verizon and more

Paul Miller — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:31:00 EST

Just when you thought you'd seen enough of Black Friday deals (not to mention insightful analysis), the stragglers drop by to make you rethink the whole crazy day. Take this $197 HP G60, for instance. The laptop had been sighted for $300 at Walmart, but face it: this sub-$200 pricetag has you thinking about braving an early morning line for one of the five per store that will be available on Friday. Meanwhile Lenovo's got some pretty steep discounts across nearly its whole lineup, Verizon wants to put you in a netbook for $30, and Amazon has some pretty great deals on games -- including a PS3 bundled with Killzone 2 for $299. A lot of the online stuff starts tonight and tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled. Or be lazy and eat yourself into a coma tomorrow, we promise not to judge.

Bonus: Here's a list of our most recent other Black Friday round-ups.

Black Friday deals roundup: Walmart, Target and NewEgg
Black Friday deals bonanza round up
Black Friday ads leaking all over town, we've rounded them up
Sears Black Friday ad revealed, we'll be sleeping off our tryptophan hangovers

Black Friday deals roundup: Best Buy, Lenovo, Verizon and more originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS' USB 3.0-equipped P6X58D Premium motherboard now available

Donald Melanson — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:39:00 EST

Eager to get in all the USB 3.0 hard drives, SSD drives and... other hard drives cropping up these days? Then you're in luck, as ASUS' brand new, USB 3.0-ready P6X58D Premium motherboard is now finally available to order. Of course, being an early adopter doesn't come cheap, and this particular motherboard will run you a hefty $309.99 from Newegg. That will get you a board that runs with the best of 'em, however, including support for a Core i7 processor, room for up to 24GB of RAM, three PCI-Express 2.0 slots, a pair of 6Gb/s SATA interfaces, four plain old USB 2.0 ports and, most importantly, two for USB 3.0. Setting up a rig? Feel free to let us know how it works out in comments.

[Thanks, James]

ASUS' USB 3.0-equipped P6X58D Premium motherboard now available originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Entelligence: Black Friday

Michael Gartenberg — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:45:00 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.

Black Friday is nearly here with a legion of new gadgets, devices and products all designed to seduce you with technology. Thousands of gadgets are released each year promising to enhance our lives, increase productivity and deliver a sound ROI. Often, however, it seems that many products are released before they're ready for the mainstream and any positives are negated by poor design, buggy code, or just being too far off the curve. This is the pitfall of the early adopter, but remembering Gartenberg's First Law of Consumer Electronics can help avoid some of this pain when you're doing your holiday shopping.

Remember Gartenberg's Three Laws? We're only interested in the First Law today: "There is a worldwide market of 50,000 for anything." Unless you are part of this group of 50,000 -- namely folks that install operating systems on a Sunday afternoon as a form of social entertainment -- you need to look beyond technology for the sake of technology and see if what you're about to purchase meets the three criteria below. If it doesn't, you might want to wait for version 3.0.

Continue reading Entelligence: Black Friday

Entelligence: Black Friday originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC HD2 review

Joshua Topolsky — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:37:00 EST

When Microsoft finally launched Windows Mobile 6.5 earlier this year, there may have been lots of fanfare, but there was little honest excitement. After a tepid showing at MWC in Barcelona followed by the proper launch this October, no one was exactly up in arms over the OS, though support from the big M's partners was characteristically plentiful. Still, there was nary a ray of light to be seen in the otherwise bleak and basic landscape of handset offerings... until the HD2 came along. In August of this year, HTC showed off what seemed to be one of the few Windows Mobile devices capable of generating honest enthusiasm. The massive, full touchscreen device boasts impressive specs: a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, a generous 4.3-inch, 800 x 480 capacitive WVGA touchscreen display, a 5 megapixel camera, GPS, and lots of other bells and whistles. But the centerpiece here isn't the hardware, it's HTC's totally revamped user interface, Sense, which doesn't just hide Windows Mobile 6.5 -- it all but zaps it out of existence. Sadly for Microsoft, that's the most enticing part of this equation. So, is the HD2's new face enough to quell the bad vibes of Windows Mobile and make the platform seem viable again, or is that a challenge which takes more than just a coat of paint? We've taken a hard look at the phone... so read on to find out.

Gallery: HD2 hands-on

Continue reading HTC HD2 review

HTC HD2 review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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