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WiGig Alliance completes multi-gigabit 60GHz wireless specification: let the streaming begin

Darren Murph — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST

The WiGig Alliance captured our imaginations back in May, but now it seems that the world of multi-gigabit streaming is so close, we can taste the data slipping over our tonguea on their way to the next access point. Put simply, the specification that the group has been toiling on over the past few months is finally complete, and while some of its members have been prototyping wares along the way, this 1.0 announcement effectively opens the flood gates for partnering outfits to implement it into their gear. In case you're curious as to how 60GHz will help you, have a listen: WiGig enables wireless transfer rates more than ten times faster than today's fastest wireless LAN, and it's completely backward compatible with existing WiFi devices. As we've already seen with those totally bodacious dual-band (2.4GHz / 5GHz) routers, having another band with this kind of speed potential can only mean great things for the future.

We had a talk with Dr. Ali Sadri (the group's chairman and president) as well as Mark Grodzinsky (board director and marketing work group chair) in order to get a better idea of what's at play here, and frankly, we're anxious to see this get implemented into... well, just about anything. WiGig v1.0 supports data transmission rates up to 7Gbps, and if living in a house full of WiGig-enabled devices, you could finally envision streaming HD content from a bedroom PC to an HDTV and a living room netbook without any wires whatsoever. In the case of the netbook, there's even a chance that the embedded WiGig module could support faster transfer rates than the sockets around the edges, which would simultaneously enable wireless to be faster than the wired (at least in this scenario) and your brain to melt.

Finally, the group has picked up four new members -- NVIDIA, AMD, SK Telecom and TMC -- though unfortunately, WiGig wouldn't comment on the future availability of 60GHz products. We were told that they would be shocked if anyone had a prototype 60GHz device on the CES show floor, but you can bet that won't stop us from looking. Oh, and if we had to take a wild guess, we'd surmise that companies interested in speeding up their own offerings will be jumping on this quick, so hopefully you'll be ditching 2.4GHz once and for all come next summer(ish).

Continue reading WiGig Alliance completes multi-gigabit 60GHz wireless specification: let the streaming begin

WiGig Alliance completes multi-gigabit 60GHz wireless specification: let the streaming begin originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eviGroup's Wallet tablet/MID gets two-tone redesign, January release date

Tim Stevens — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:41:00 EST

Sure, it was highly derivative of the iPhone, but we liked the styling on those eviGroup Wallet prototypes that the company teased us with a few months back. So, we're ever so slightly disappointed to see the new aesthetic in the latest (and, apparently, final) revision of the hardware above. That it's grown a front-facing webcam is a good thing, but the two-tone look in this shot makes that bezel look a bit chunky and not entirely lust-worthy. (The rendered shots at the read link look better, but then they always do.) The good news is it's said to be ready for production ahead of a January release and, with Dell seemingly joining the fray with its own Android-powered five-inch tablet/MID device, that date had better not slip.

eviGroup's Wallet tablet/MID gets two-tone redesign, January release date originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sparkle Labs' Papertronics are the gift you'll never admit to wanting

Vladislav Savov — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:21:00 EST

Sparkle Labs -- an online DIY electronics kit maker filled with pep, cheer and other such disgustingly sweet things -- has just announced its new Papertronics kits. As the name suggests, these are paper toys with electronics inside them, with the kicker being that you have to construct your Spaceboy (above) or Aliengirl yourself, before activating them via contact with their "landers." Hey, it's not like you can be a gadget geek and not have an appreciation for the fine art of papercrafting. If your inner child still lives, you can check these out at the source link, and we'll just tell everyone you're buying them for your nephew or niece.

Sparkle Labs' Papertronics are the gift you'll never admit to wanting originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Epson says EH-TW450 is 'ultimate gaming projector,' straps PS3 on nerd in jumpsuit to prove it (video)

Tim Stevens — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:57:00 EST

Nothing says "extreme" quite like wrist-guards... and knee pads... and elbow pads... and a PS3 Slim backpack. Epson combined all that and more to create its vision of an "extreme gamer," a Ghostbusters cast-off with a gaming console on his back and an EH-TW450 projector on his chest used to splay Need for Speed: Shift on the walls of buildings, the ceilings of clubs, and the interiors of wind-tunnels. It's exciting stuff, shown in the video below. Why this projector out of all the company offers? We're not entirely sure. It's a 3LCD 720p model with a 3000:1 contrast ratio and a single one watt speaker that probably couldn't overcome the din of all the road traffic this extremophile was dodging. If you want in on this kind of action expect to pay about $1,000 -- for the projector. You're on your own for the rest of the kit. Loss of self-respect? That comes for free.

Continue reading Epson says EH-TW450 is 'ultimate gaming projector,' straps PS3 on nerd in jumpsuit to prove it (video)

Epson says EH-TW450 is 'ultimate gaming projector,' straps PS3 on nerd in jumpsuit to prove it (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rutgers' underwater roboglider crosses the Atlantic, claims to be on business trip

Vladislav Savov — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:28:00 EST

The so-called Scarlet Knight robot has this week completed a 225-day journey from the shores of New Jersey to the sandy beaches of Baiona in Spain -- fittingly the same port Christopher Columbus returned to after his first visit to the Americas -- aided only by a battery, ocean currents and its innate intelligence. Built by Rutgers University, the youthful robotic trailblazer performed a number of data gathering tasks as it went along, furnishing climate change researchers with more info on temperature levels, water salination and currents within the Atlantic Ocean. Now that it has been handed back to the US, the machine will be put up on display in the Smithsonian, so if you want a peek at the future of globetrotting that'll be the place to go.

Rutgers' underwater roboglider crosses the Atlantic, claims to be on business trip originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Electrolux "Silence Amplified" vacuum with iPod dock and speakers probably sucks

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:59:00 EST

Crazy huh? Sure, but if your company just launched a commercial vacuum cleaner so quiet that it's called the "UltraSilencer" then what better way to drive that point home than by adding an "iPod dock" (though that's no iPod we've ever seen) and speakers to the damn thing? In fact, Electrolux has taken this Silence Amplified concept so far that they've conducted a lab study to prove that "music assisted vacuuming increases the number of nozzle sweeps, improves the cleaning result and leaves a general feeling of happiness." Duh. Now go check the video evidence after the break.

Gallery: Electrolux "Silence Amplified" vacuum with iPod dock and speakers probably sucks

Continue reading Electrolux "Silence Amplified" vacuum with iPod dock and speakers probably sucks

Electrolux "Silence Amplified" vacuum with iPod dock and speakers probably sucks originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tablet Wars: Episode V - Dell Strikes Back at CES?

Tim Stevens — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:29:00 EST

A few days ago in a land a few time zones away, one tablet became another and, just for a moment, stopped everyone speculating about Apple's entry into the decidedly fledgling market segment. According to Pocket-lint Dell is similarly jumping aboard, said to be set to unveil a five-inch tablet running Android, specs that would put it right up in the Archos Internet Tablet's grill and, thankfully, should mean a much lower price-point than the Joojoo. Word is we'll all be getting a glimpse of the thing at CES next month, and knowing Dell it'll probably be a very fleeting one. We're guessing this is the Streak, but would love to be surprised by something entirely new.

Tablet Wars: Episode V - Dell Strikes Back at CES? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS Eee Pad coming soon?

Vladislav Savov — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:22:00 EST

ASUS is said to be quietly working on the launch of a new pad device, between four and seven inches in diagonal breadth, which should offer a combination of MID and tablet PC capabilities. That's the short, sweet and uncorroborated whole of what we know so far, though we might reasonably expect to see some variant of the Eee PC Touch UI making an appearance. For an indication of what to expect from an ASUS touchscreen device, you can check out our T91 review right here, and the comments are the place to unload all your wild and wacky theories about just what might be inside an Eee Pad. Get to it.

ASUS Eee Pad coming soon? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eldar Murtazin: "Foxconn received order for next generation iPhone"

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:01:00 EST

You've heard of Twitter, right? What about Eldar Murtazin, heard of him? He's editor in chief of Mobile Review and the ultimate insider when it come to all things mobile. So when we see a Tweet like this:

"Foxconn received order for next generation iphone"

We're inclined to believe it's true and certainly give Eldar's statement more weight than a random analyst note. Besides, if Apple's going to keep up the mid-year iPhone refresh cycle then the timing's just about right, eh?

Eldar Murtazin: "Foxconn received order for next generation iPhone" originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Philips develops color e-paper, wants to skin your gadgets with it

Vladislav Savov — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:56:00 EST

Our first reaction to this was to think just how wildly unnecessary "e-skins" are, but then we saw that slide up there and started to see the (electronic) light. Philips appears to have struck upon its own version of Kent Displays' electronic skins, which requires no backlighting, operating by reflecting ambient light instead. Based on similar tech to e-books, this invention is initially targeted at generating colorful covers for things like mobile phones and mp3 players, but it's said to be "highly scalable" and e-wallpapers and light-dimming windows could be on the cards if things continue developing. And of course, no "water cooker" would be left behind.

Gallery: Philips e-skin

Philips develops color e-paper, wants to skin your gadgets with it originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon's Disc+ program tosses in a free VOD with your Blu-ray or DVD

Richard Lawler — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:21:00 EST

In a move that could help counter the instant gratification valley that currently separates online shopping from heading to the local retailer, Amazon is pushing a "limited time offer" called Disc+ On Demand that pairs 300 or so of its movies with a free Amazon VOD copy. That digital version pops into the buyer's Video Library instantly after purchase and still has to play by all the usual video on-demand rules of 24 hr / 30 day windows, U.S. address, and is currently only available in standard-definition. Still, this combination of the digital and physical purchase worlds means the online giant has beaten Best Buy's similar plans to the punch and approaches the convenience of Netflix's Watch Instantly. Just its usually lower prices has already driven many of you to be come online only disc buyers, we'll see if this helps Amazon grab the rest.

Amazon's Disc+ program tosses in a free VOD with your Blu-ray or DVD originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic now in control of Sanyo, promises to be nice

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:13:00 EST

It sure took awhile, but Panasonic now has controlling interest of Japan's beleaguered Sanyo Corporation. After shareholders approved the deal last year, the partnership became mired in anti-trust concerns across the globe. That was then -- today the company founded by Konosuke Matsushita is the proud owner of 50.19% of Sanyo for the bargain price of ¥404 billion ($4.6 billion). That gives Panny access to Sanyo's battery (some of which was sold off to appease regulators) and solar technology as well as its unsurpassed ability for making dull and matronly consumer electronics. Everybody wins!

Panasonic now in control of Sanyo, promises to be nice originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 3GS coming to Tesco Mobile on December 14, extreme price plans in tow

Vladislav Savov — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:48:00 EST

The marriage of a high-priced smartphone to a value-minded department store was always going to be interesting and Tesco has not disappointed. Having just announced that availability of the latest and greatest iPhone is coming on December 14, the company has also detailed some unique -- for the UK at least -- price plans to go with it. Most notable is the unlimited (subject to fair use policy) 3G web and BT Openzone WiFi access on offer, which will be free for a year to Pay As You Go and one-year contract customers or for two years if you're on a 24-month agreement. Tesco's also bringing the minimum monthly outlay down to £20 ($32) on its one-year contract, but that only gets you a £60 ($98) calls and texts allowance and you'd have to pony up £320 ($520) for the 16GB handset. On the other hand, you could go nuts and get the unlimited calls and texts plan for £60 a month, which isn't too bad value for the incessant chatterboxes out there. Finally, there's also half-price calling to your favorite five numbers, which isn't going to matter much to people on the all-you-can-eat price plan, but is a nice extra.

[Thanks Tony H. and everyone who sent this in]

iPhone 3GS coming to Tesco Mobile on December 14, extreme price plans in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Onkyo's DX dual-screen laptop is a far better deal than Kohjinsha's DZ

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:11:00 EST

Hellooo Onkyo. Sure, it's just a rebadge of the Japanese Kohjinsha DZ-series dual-display rig we've already seen. But Onkyo's DX raises the bar significantly by delivering a pair of 10.1-inch 1,366 × 768 pixel LCD displays (as promised at CEATEC) that easily trump the 1,024 x 600 panels used on the Kohjinsha without increasing the portable's overall size. While we're still looking at the same 1.6GHz Athlon Neo MV-40 CPU, ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, and 3x USB jacks, Oknyo's offering starts with 2GB (not 1GB) of memory standard expandable to 4GB, a 320GB 5,400rpm disk (not 160GB), Gigabit Ethernet, and 32-bit Windows 7 Home Premium. Here's the best part: it's priced at just ¥84,800 (about $966) compared to the Kohjinsha which lists for ¥79,800 / $909 on Kohjinsha's retail site or a steep ¥100,800 / $1,148 premium if purchased through the GeekStuff4u exporter. Guess which one we'd choose?

Gallery: Onkyo's DX dual-screen laptop

Onkyo's DX dual-screen laptop is a far better deal than Kohjinsha's DZ originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer Aspire Timeline 1820PT now made to order in UK, estimated for January 25 launch

Ross Miller — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:24:00 EST

Australia can't covet it all to themselves forever, right? Acer's Aspire Timeline 1820PT convertible has finally popped up on an UK retailer site with a £529.99 (about $858 US) price tag and a "due for release date" of January 25th, 2010. What's that? You want news about a stateside release? Keep sticking with the teaser, it's the best you're gonna get for now.

[Thanks, Andy]

Acer Aspire Timeline 1820PT now made to order in UK, estimated for January 25 launch originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung 800P digital photo frame: because quality matters

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:39:00 EST

You're smart right? Then you probably know that all those low-priced, off-brand digital photo frames with laughably poor instruction manuals and confusing user interfaces so aggressively hocked during the holidays share one common trait: poor displays. Unfortunately, most shoppers won't figure this out until they've brought the unit home. Fact is, you have to pay a little extra to get a decent 8- to 10-inch panel. And really, what's more important than the display on a digital picture frame? So check Samsung's new 800P 8-inch frame. It features an LED-backlit 800x480 pixel panel, 2GB of internal storage (plus microSD expansion), Bluetooth 2.0, support for video and music playback, and Samsung's second generation UI and panel-making expertise. On sale now in Korea for 199,000 of the local stuff or about $159 of the ~~almighty~~ dollar whenever it heads west.

Samsung 800P digital photo frame: because quality matters originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iHandstick snap-on dresses your iPhone / iPod Touch up as a Playstation controller

Richard Lai — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:54:00 EST

The iPod touch (and technically the iPhone as well) may well be "the funnest iPod ever," but it can also be the most awkward device to hold for prolonged gaming sessions, nor have previous attempts made things any better. The iHandstick might just do the job -- while we can't credit them for originality, this hollow cousin of the Playstation controller may satisfy owners of iPod touch 2G / 3G and iPhone 3G / 3GS. Remember, it should give a similar grip enjoyed by millions of Playstation gamers over the last 15 years. The only doubt left is whether our thumbs can easily reach the virtual buttons on the screen. Wanna give this a shot? $16.99 plus shipping and it's all yours.

iHandstick snap-on dresses your iPhone / iPod Touch up as a Playstation controller originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Droid Eris update makes the slow OTA rollout starting tonight

Ross Miller — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:25:00 EST

Sorry, no Android 2.0 here (yet), but Verizon's version of the HTC Hero is now getting its first over-the-air update. Known by its affection title of Droid Eris ROM:1.16.605.1, the patch is more or less the usual minor tweaks and improvements, although those who like to dramatically hang up on someone should be advised that the phone goes into screensaver while on call, and two presses of the End key will be required to exit the mode and then conclude said conversation. The week-long rollout starts at midnight ET tonight, but as usual, it could take up to a week to hit your system. Full patch notes after the break.

Continue reading First Droid Eris update makes the slow OTA rollout starting tonight

First Droid Eris update makes the slow OTA rollout starting tonight originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Alpha A550 DSLR reviewed: new tricks, new trade-offs

Donald Melanson — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:32:00 EST

It's been a long haul since it was officially announced way back in August, but we're guessing there's a good number of folks that have been waiting for Digital Photography Review's take on Sony's Alpha A550 DSLR before making their final decision on the camera. Thankfully, the site has now come through with a usually thorough review, which unsurprisingly finds that while there's a lot to like, there's also a few notable trade-offs with this challenger to the likes of the Nikon D90. On the upside, the camera packs quite a few features not seen on many of its competitors, including two different live view modes, built-in HDR options, 7 fps burst shooting, and reportedly great image stabilization, to name a few -- all of which add up to make this was DP Review calls "the best APS-C camera Sony has produced since the Alpha 700." On the downside, however, the site found that the A550 sits somewhat uncomfortably between the low and high-end, with its slightly stripped down controls turning off pros, and its rather weak performance in auto mode potentially being a problem for beginners. That doesn't prevent the camera from receiving fairly solid recommendation though, which hinges on the caveat that folks know what they're getting into.

Sony Alpha A550 DSLR reviewed: new tricks, new trade-offs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Simon & Schuster imposing four-month delay on e-book versions of major upcoming releases

Ross Miller — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:34:00 EST

After hardcover and before paperback. In Simon & Schuster CEO Carolyn Reidy's mind, this is when we as consumers should be expecting the digital copies of our favorite page turners to come out. Putting money where its mouth is, so to speak, the company has announced that for around 35 of its major releases coming early next year, the e-book iterations won't be out until four months after the physical releases. Seeing as hardcovers can debut at $27 while their digital equivalents can run $10 or less, Reidy notes one of the driving motivations behind this move is to curb consumer expectations that a new novel is worth only one Alexander Hamilton. It's a historically valid concern, especially when you consider how iTunes taught us that songs are only worth $1 apiece, but in the long-term, we don't expect this delay-on-digital trend to stay afloat. The e-book business is growing, and that delay is too artificial for its own good -- at some point, the argument's going to have to shift back to day-and-date pricing tiers. We'll be very interested to see just how this paper-borne release gap pans out from a sales standpoint.

Simon & Schuster imposing four-month delay on e-book versions of major upcoming releases originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iBuyPower nabs exclusive rights to sell Thermaltake Level 10 pre-built systems

Darren Murph — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:40:00 EST

So, there are two nagging issues surrounding Thermaltake's awe-inspiring Level 10 enclosure. First, it's $850 and nearly impossible to find in stock; second, you best know how to piece together a full-blown rig yourself, 'cause you won't find this beast hanging around at infrequently visited corners of Dell or HP. Somehow or another, however, iBuyPower has managed to swoop in and remedy quandary number two. As of today, it's the exclusive provider of pre-built systems using this case, with base configurations boasting Intel's Core i7-920, a 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285, 6GB of DDR3 RAM, a 128GB SSD boot drive, 1TB of storage space and a Blu-ray drive. Feel free to spec this one out 'til your heart's content, but be mindful of that already-lofty $2,499 starting tag.

Gallery: iBuyPower nabs exclusive rights to sell Thermaltake Level 10 pre-built systems

iBuyPower nabs exclusive rights to sell Thermaltake Level 10 pre-built systems originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study finds Americans consume 34 gigabytes of information per day

Donald Melanson — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:49:00 EST

Well, it's a good thing life comes with an unlimited data plan, as a recent study conducted by the University of California, San Diego has found that Americans consume plenty of gigabytes in the average day. Thirty-four gigabytes, to be specific, which translates to a grand total of of 3.6 zettabytes of information consumed by American households in 2008 (or 3.6 billion trillion bytes). Of course, that doesn't just consist of gigabytes "consumed" the traditional way, but instead encompasses everything from TV (still the leader by a wide margin) to phone calls to newspapers. In terms of time, the study found that Americans spent about 11.8 hours a day consuming information in one way or another, the majority of which was spent staring at a screen of some sort -- and, yes, they did take HD content into account, but its growth apparently hasn't yet resulted in a huge jump in data consumption.

Study finds Americans consume 34 gigabytes of information per day originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer Liquid A1 unboxed, video style

Nilay Patel — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:58:00 EST

The Acer Liquid A1 just started shipping in the UK, and right on cue we've got a video unboxing. Turns out the box housing the 1GHz Snapdragon-powered Android set is fairly interesting itself, with a magnetic hinged design that opens to reveal the charger, manuals, and bundled 2GB SanDisk microSD card and SD adapter. As for the phone, don't hold out for an Android 2.0 surprise -- it's running Android 1.6 with Acer's custom Spinlets UI skin on top, which equals a frowny-face from us. Hopefully Acer manages to update things if this guy ever comes to the States, but for now we'll just let you head past the break and check the video for yourselves -- we're sorry about the terrible Owl City soundtrack, but we had nothing to do with it.

[Thanks, Shreedhan]

Continue reading Acer Liquid A1 unboxed, video style

Acer Liquid A1 unboxed, video style originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pogoplug second generation unboxing

Ross Miller — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:18:00 EST

We hope you like pink. Cloud Engines' new iteration of Pogoplug just landed on our doorstep, oddly enough packed with an unopened pack of microwavable popcorn (something tells us we're missing a joke here). We're still in the plugging-in-and-testing phase, but no point in depriving you of the unboxing fun while we do that, right? Right. Enjoy the gallery below.

Gallery: Pogoplug second generation unboxing

Pogoplug second generation unboxing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barnes & Noble Nook now arriving to customers

Nilay Patel — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:33:00 EST

There was a definite moment of utter pre-launch confusion there, but it looks like the Barnes & Noble Nook is indeed shipping to customers -- reader Peter just sent in this photo of his cold chilling on a desk. We'll see if B&N can crank out the rest of its pre-orders before the holidays, but at least there's hope now -- and we can always tell you where Peter lives if that doesn't work out.

[Thanks, Peter]

Barnes & Noble Nook now arriving to customers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia confirms New York and Chicago flagship stores are closing in early 2010

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:56:00 EST

No surprises here, but Nokia has confirmed a Nokia Experts report today that the company will be shutting down its North American flagship stores in New York and Chicago, leaning on big boxes and carriers to handle the in-store experiences going forward. Considering the fractional market presence Nokia has in the States compared to the UK -- where it's closing its Regent Street location -- the move comes as no shock, but it's still a shame to see these really attractive, high-tech hero locations close down. The way we saw it, these stores were never about sales; they were about exposing Nokia to the public and vice versa in a cool, hip environment, and regardless of how you feel about the company's handsets, they'd effectively accomplished that with the flagship strategy. Here's Nokia's official statement, which confirms our opinion but takes the questionable stance that the stores have outlived their function now that "consumer awareness in the US has grown substantially":

"In North America, over 90 percent of consumer purchases are made through carriers - Nokia continues to support our relationship with carriers in this market, as well as the continued expansion of our retail partner network with the likes of Amazon and Best Buy (for example), in line with our strategy. As we continue to expand our services and solutions offerings across these various channels, we have decided to close the NY and Chicago stores to allow more concentration on our other channels.

The Flagship stores were originally conceived to inspire and educate consumers to the benefits of mobility through an innovative retail experience, and to broaden the appeal of the Nokia brand. Since opening the stores in NY and Chicago (2006), consumer awareness in the U.S. has grown substantially. Weighing those dynamics with Nokia's clear strategy in North America, and our well-established retail channel with third parties, we will close these two stores (New York and Chicago) in early 2010.

This decision was made to create clear alignment with our local market strategy and, in addition, as part of a global realignment of our retail strategy in overall."

Nokia confirms New York and Chicago flagship stores are closing in early 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Analyst noise: Apple tablet in March for $1k, publishers on-board, Verizon iPhone coming too

Joshua Topolsky — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:25:00 EST

If you've been following mainstream news today, then it's likely you've seen the story doing the rounds on new Apple tablet rumors, spurred by a note sent to clients from Oppenheimer analyst Yair Reiner. Never heard of him? That's not surprising, since he has no real connection to Apple, and his job mainly consists of telling people how to move their money around -- a Master of the Universe gear-cranker, you might say. Anyhow, Yair is sure that Apple will be releasing its 10.1-inch, multitouch tablet around March or April, with a ramp-up on production sometime in February. He also notes that the device will sell for $1,000 (so far we've heard rumored price points from $699 all the way up to $2,000), but ultimately Reiner seems most concerned with how it will impact Amazon, the Kindle, and book and media publishers.

According to the note, Apple has been in talks with publishers concerning a "very attractive proposal" in which the company will split revenue with publishing houses 70 / 30, as they do with iTunes and App Store sales (just as we speculated in our post on the Time Inc. digimag). What's most disconcerting about the report is that it seems more interested in disrupting or dismissing what Amazon is doing (particularly noteworthy as the company is in the midst of its biggest season for Kindle sales ever). When financial analysts start squawking in this manner, we like to approach with caution. As of right now, we have zero solid evidence that Apple is even producing a tablet, let alone ready to drop one for a G come March. We have heard plenty of other rumors that corroborate much of this, but if the above is the plan, you can expect a big reveal from Cupertino around the time of Macworld or CES, so you won't have to wait long to know the truth. For now, keep your BS detectors set to "stun."

P.S.: See what we mean? Now a Piper Jaffray analyst is 70 percent certain (70 percent!) that Apple will introduce an iPhone for Verizon in 2010. Hold onto your hats folks, we've only just begun.

Analyst noise: Apple tablet in March for $1k, publishers on-board, Verizon iPhone coming too originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gigabyte's M1305 ad campaign says docking a laptop is like picking your nose

Richard Lai — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:05:00 EST

External graphics cards may well be a rarity these days, but we're not sure if this simple fact justifies the launch of a grotesque and debatably heinous ad campaign. As you can so clearly see above, Gigabyte disagrees. In order to promote its Taiwanese M1305 CULV laptop cum external graphics card dock (housing an NVIDIA GeForce GT220 desktop VGA card), it released posters featuring a disoriented person poking his / her nose, each of which were presumably in the process of "doing some soul searching." Curious as to what these ads actually say? "How good is an expansion dock with integrated graphics card? Plug in a Gigabyte laptop and you'll find out!" Thanks, but no thanks Gigabyte -- we're currently preoccupied with flushing our memories of this visual disturbance you've just forced upon us.

Psst... two more posters after the break for extra raunchiness!

[Thanks, TheLostSwede]

Continue reading Gigabyte's M1305 ad campaign says docking a laptop is like picking your nose

Gigabyte's M1305 ad campaign says docking a laptop is like picking your nose originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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London school children to get free loaner iPhones in experimental, educational trial

Laura June — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:47:00 EST

It's not the first time we've seen the iPhone used as an experimental means of education, but a London school's recent announcement of its plans has caught our attention. The Gumley House Convent School -- a small, Christian School for girls ages 11 to 18 -- in London has laid out its plan to use give Apple's smartphone to a select group of 30 students as a test educational measure. Previous efforts we've seen to rope the iPhone into modern education have been mostly at the collegiate level, but Gumley's plan is still a bit vague. The girls will have free access to all of the phone's features with the exception of actual calls, and the trial will last until the end of the school year. Like we said -- the school's not given out details as to what the actual rules of use will be -- but we have a feeling this will all end in some wild bout of texting overload.

London school children to get free loaner iPhones in experimental, educational trial originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boxee Box pictured in the wild: it's small!

Nilay Patel — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:34:00 EST

Whoa, we sort of guessed the Boxee Box was going to be small from those press pics we saw the other night, but we didn't know it was going to be freaking tiny -- check out this shot of the asymmetrical set-top next to a Coke can just posted up on the Boxee blog. Sadly, neither Boxee nor D-Link has updated us on what's actually powering this little guy, but we do now know that it'll have an RF remote control and S/PDIF and RCA audio outputs in addition to HDMI, SD, USB, WiFi, and Ethernet. Sounds like a tiny little chunk of awesome -- we're looking forward to finding out way more at CES.

Boxee Box pictured in the wild: it's small! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interead COOL-ER 3G e-reader announced, adds wireless to the mix

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:02:00 EST

We are already fans of the COOL-ER e-reader: if anything, its playful look and decent price point has brought a smile to our embittered faces. But still, the lack of WiFi and a Whispernet equivalent is something of a buzzkill -- who wants to rely on a USB cable or SD card in this day and age? Good news, digital book fans: Interead has big changes in store for next year, including the aforementioned WiFi and deals with AT&T for bandwidth and NewspaperDirect for access to over 1,300 newspapers and magazines. Not bad, eh? If all goes according to plan, we can expect to see the COOL-ER 3G sometime in mid-2010. Hopefully, they can set the MSRP low enough to keep consumers' interest. PR after the break.

Continue reading Interead COOL-ER 3G e-reader announced, adds wireless to the mix

Interead COOL-ER 3G e-reader announced, adds wireless to the mix originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Meizu M8 app store to become reality this month?

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:22:00 EST

Now that Meizu is setting the M8 up with some new firmware and further turning its back on the handset's KIRFish origins, how about an app store? Apparently that's exactly what's happening, as the following video will attest. Not too many details here -- it's called MyStore, and the company is planning to split revenue with developers 30 / 70. The store is currently being tested internally, and with any luck it should see the light of day as a part of the new firmware release later this month. If you've been dying for a chance to play a Chinese knockoff of BubbleWrap, that day is finally drawing near! See for yourself after the break.

Continue reading Meizu M8 app store to become reality this month?

Meizu M8 app store to become reality this month? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Targus debuts ACP51USZ laptop docking station with video

Donald Melanson — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:59:00 EST

Well, it's not quite as seamless as something like Zemno's $500 DeskBook Pro docking station, but Targus' new ACP51USZ model is a good deal cheaper, and will likely get the job done just fine for most folks (with a few exceptions). That includes giving you a reasonable four USB 2.0 ports (two suitable for charging devices), a single DVI port for your monitor, an Ethernet port, and a pair of 3.5mm audio jacks for speakers, headphones, or a microphone -- all of which connect to your laptop with a single USB cable. Unfortunately, this one won't work (or at least be fully functional) with Mac or Linux, but it is compatible with Windows 7, XP and Vista, and it's available right now for $159.99.

Targus debuts ACP51USZ laptop docking station with video originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Docks and Alarm Clocks

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:35:00 EST

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

The portable media player is one gadget that's achieved across the board, almost universal acceptance. People of all ages and demographics have grown to rely on handhelds for their tunes and videos -- whether on-the-go or in-the-home. Although a majority of the docks and alarm clocks we come across have the iPod or iPhone in mind, we've found a selection of items that cater to all sorts of devices (and all sorts of budgets).

Gallery: Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Docks and Alarm Clocks

Continue reading Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Docks and Alarm Clocks

Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Docks and Alarm Clocks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ralph de la Vega promises fix for San Francisco and Manhattan coverage, plans to 'address' heaviest data users

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:15:00 EST

Love that Pandora app? Well, we've got good news and bad news for you. The good news is that AT&T's wireless head honcho Ralph de la Vega says it's hard at work at improving service in San Francisco and Manhattan, where it sees especially high smartphone penetration -- and coincidentally a higher concentration of whiny tech journalists. The bad news, though, is that it might end up hitting you in the pocketbook. Speaking to investors today, de la Vega mentioned that the company is well aware that downtown New Yorkers are suffering, specifically calling out the area for "performing at levels below [its] standards" expressing confidence that it's going to get the problem resolved. In the same breath, though, he assured attendees that independent testing conducted by Global Wireless Solutions shows that a test of over 415 markets (which probably means 416 markets) has AT&T coming out on top for network speed -- something that we found in our testing as well -- and is "within two-tenths of 1 percent of the highest score among major providers" for dropped calls at 1.32 percent averaged nationally. Anyway, about that bad news -- the company has noticed that a huge chunk (some 40 percent) of its broadband is consumed by just 3 percent of smartphone users, and it's suggesting that it'll "address" that through a combination of usage meters (no complaints there) and likely a tiered pricing model that sticks it to the heaviest users "in a way that's consistent with net-neutrality and FCC regulations." At a glance, that sounds "fair" -- we'd rather they not increase data fees across the board to average out a very small number of users -- but the long-lost term "unlimited" still gives us a warm fuzzy that we're hoping to win back sooner or later. When LTE shows up, perhaps?

Ralph de la Vega promises fix for San Francisco and Manhattan coverage, plans to 'address' heaviest data users originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MSI rolls out Wind Top AE2020 all-in-one in the UK

Donald Melanson — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:51:00 EST

MSI's Wind Top AE2220 may have just started shipping 'round these parts a few weeks ago, but it looks like the company is already set to drop another model on the UK. While it remains mostly identical in appearance, the new Wind Top AE2020 scales things back a bit with a slightly smaller, lower resolution 20-inch, 1,600 x 900 display -- though you do still get the same multitouch functionality as its larger counterpart. Otherwise, you can expect to get an Ion chipset paired with a 2.1GHz Pentium T4300 processor, along with a standard 3GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, a DVD burner, and Windows 7 for an OS, among other standard all-in-one fare. Still no indication of this one making its way over here, but folks in the UK can apparently pick one up right now for £599.

MSI rolls out Wind Top AE2020 all-in-one in the UK originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Manual Android 2.0.1 Droid update detailed for the impatient

Paul Miller — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:25:00 EST

Still haven't gotten that Android 2.0.1 OTA update on your Droid? You're not alone (most people are still waiting for 2.0 on their Android handset, you self-centered power user, you), but luckily there's a simple solution. Basically you just have to manually download the update file, copy it to an SD card and restart your Droid while tapping out a simple succession of hardware keys. You can check out the "detailed" and "badass" versions of the instructions at the two respective source links below.

Manual Android 2.0.1 Droid update detailed for the impatient originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer's Ferrari One netbook now available -- might not help you get a date

Laura June — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:01:00 EST

You're probably already fairly familiar with Acer's foray into speedy netbooks with the the Ferrari One -- the 11.6-incher we found to be slightly underwhelming when we got our hands on it back in September. Still, the famous branding and the red hot lid is sure to be a draw for some, and other than that, this laptop boasts an 1.2GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 CPU, an AMD M780G chipset, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3200 graphics, plus WiFi, Bluetooth, optional WWAN and a 6-cell battery. It'll run you about $600 to grab one up and it's available now. Full press release is after the break.

Continue reading Acer's Ferrari One netbook now available -- might not help you get a date

Acer's Ferrari One netbook now available -- might not help you get a date originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Foxit busts out ebook store for eSlick owners

Laura June — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:37:00 EST

It's been a season of e-readers, that's for sure... and while Foxit is a smaller player in the scene as compared to the Nook or the Kindle, it's got some news of its own to boast about today. That's right, Foxit's launching an online bookstore all its own. The aptly named eSlick Store has been launched in partnership with Fictionwise LLC (a company which is rather interestingly owned by Barnes & Noble), and currently contains about 60,000 books. If you haven't forgotten -- Foxit's also recently released a firmware update which enables its support of EPUB. Full press is after the break.

Continue reading Foxit busts out ebook store for eSlick owners

Foxit busts out ebook store for eSlick owners originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia 6700 Classic Gold Edition is expensive, gold plated

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:08:00 EST

If we know you (and we think we do), your idea of class isn't a modest candybar dipped in gold -- no, it's a modest candybar made from hand-cut and polished solid gold. But just in case you feel like slummin' it, the Nokia 6700 Classic Gold Edition is, as the name suggests, a 6700 Classic handset with a limited edition 18-carat finish, some special wallpaper (to compliment the phone's Fort Knox-esque new look), and a €370 (roughly $550) price tag. Tempted? You have until Q1 2010 to come to your senses.

Nokia 6700 Classic Gold Edition is expensive, gold plated originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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