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ASUS Eee Top ET1602 Touchscreen Nettop Review

2008-12-20T00:30:00.000-08:00

At first glance, ASUS’ Eee Top ET1602 is the epitome of a niche product. Packing nettop-spec hardware in an all-in-one form factor, with a touchscreen and general design that seem to have stopped by HP’s TouchSmart and the Apple iMac along the way, it’s certainly tough to pin down. Innovative new segment or just another Eee oddity: SlashGear set to finding out.

In the box, ASUS include a wired keyboard and mouse, stylus and a printed manual, together with recovery DVDs and a microfiber screen cleaning cloth. Two color versions of the Eee Top are available, white and black, with otherwise identical hardware specs.

First impressions are positive. Despite the relatively budget price for the Eee Top, ASUS have managed to eke out more than a little style from its plastic casing. Held upright by a strong, spring-loaded metal leg, the body of the Eee Top is white gloss-finish plastic sitting in a transparent tray. Stand (and carry handle) aside, the nettop is just 4cm thick; along the back run gigabit ethernet, four USB 2.0, power, microphone, line-in and headphone ports, plus a Kensington lock hole. On the left-hand side there are a further two USB 2.0 ports, plus a multiformat memory card reader.

Underneath the touchscreen there are buttons for brightness and volume on the left, while the power and screen toggle are on the right. LEDs indicate WiFi and hard-drive activity, and in the bottom bezel there are stereo speakers. A webcam and microphone are at the top above the screen. The Eee Top has vents running across the top and in the center on the back.

Using the included peripherals and a WiFi internet connection, you can reduce cabling to just two wires: power and one USB for the keyboard. The mouse, not entirely necessary if you’re devoted to the touchscreen, can plug into a USB port on the keyboard; on the opposite side there’s a pop-out stylus in a spring-loaded bay. ASUS’ keyboard is surprisingly weighty and pleasant to type on. It follows the same isolated keys as first seen on some Sony laptops, and although lacking a separate numeric keypad the rest of the keys are full-sized. Several have Fn-triggered secondary features, including volume and music control, backlighting, sleep and WiFi, launching the webcam app, toggling through performance modes (more on that later) and changing the Eee Top’s blue underlighting.

The mouse is less impressive, a lightweight blue LED model with scroll-wheel. It’s usable, and the design echoes the white & transparent plastic of the Eee Top’s build, but nothing special. As for the stylus, it’s a basic 14cm stick of plastic with a tapered nib; the only thing worth noting is the strength of the bay spring, which is enough to launch the pen across the desk.

Despite looking a whole lot more grown up than any netbook (and taking up more of your workspace), the guts of the Eee Top are in fact on a par with any of the company’s more recent budget ultraportables. That means a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard-drive. WiFi is b/g/n, but the graphics still use Intel’s GMA 950 onboard chipset and there’s no optical drive. Of course the primary difference is the 15.6-inch touchscreen display, running at 1366 x 768 resolution.

The display uses a resistive touchscreen, rather than either a capacitive panel such as on recent Tablet PCs from HP and Dell, or an active digitizer as on most other Tablet PCs. That means the screen responds to any touch, rather than requiring a finger or a special stylus, but only one point of contact rather than multitouch. Responsiveness in the Eee Top’s case is good, with only a light touch required, and it soon becomes second nature to stab at the screen rather than reach for the mouse.

Of course, the usefulness of finger-input depends largely on software, and here the Eee Top is a mixed bag. ASUS preinstall Windows XP, the Home version rather than the Tablet PC edition, which is not known for its touchscreen-friendliness. To solve that, you get Easy Mode, a large-icon launcher which runs automatically when you start the PC. Four tabs - Communication, Fun, Work and Tools - give access to the preloaded apps, including StarSuite for office tasks, Skype for VoIP, and both Internet Explorer and Opera. There are also a number of ASUS-specific apps, including games, and software for on-screen keyboards, handwriting recognition and other touchscreen-control. Unfortunately there’s no apparent way to add new apps to Easy Mode, nor to change which tab each shortcut is in.

Easy Mode certainly makes loading software straightforward; however the apps themselves vary in their usefulness with the touchscreen. As is usually the case, the ASUS-specific titles are most user friendly, with large buttons and straightforward drag & drop usability. Others, such as the calculator, drop you into XP’s standard GUI: controls sized for mouse use. There’s a sense of ASUS stopping development when Easy Mode was just usable enough: the Eee Memo app, for instance, which lets you drag down virtual Post-It notes and write reminders and messages on them, would make far more sense if the notes were visible all the time. As it is, leaving a message for someone relies on them starting up the Eee Memo app.

ASUS’ could also do with making common tasks like screen calibration more straightforward. There’s a “Touch Utility” listed in the Tools tab, but users will have to guess that “9 points linearity” actually means “calibrate the screen for your finger”. An option underneath that, to test the touch panel, is cryptically labelled “Please drawing”. Motorola’s SoftStylus is preinstalled, for handwriting recognition and an on-screen keyboard. The latter works as you’d expect, with a resizeable, translucent window and shortcut keys for things like www.; however the handwriting recognition is barely usable. Only individual letters are recognized at a time, rather than full words, making for a painfully laborious experience. We’d much rather have seen XP Tablet Edition, with its surprisingly adept handwriting and voice recognition, though Microsoft licencing issues probably prevented that.

In use, the 1.6GHz Atom processor means the Eee Top is not going to threaten machines with similar form-factors, such as HP’s TouchSmart or Apple’s iMac. Nonetheless, it’s perfectly capable of sustaining a couple of web browser windows, each with multiple open tabs, without unduly slowing. The absence of an optical drive means the ASUS is unlikely to be asked to do any serious media lifting; however it happily played back a 720p high-definition video from the hard-drive (anything higher resolution caused stuttering). Screen quality is fair, although the panel tends to look washed out when viewed from the top. One point of concern was a pixel-width blue line that appeared down the left-hand side of the display after the Eee Top had been switched on for a while, and which only a reboot would dismiss. It’s unclear whether this is a graphics problem due to heat build up.

As on their netbooks, ASUS has given the Eee Top three different power modes: super performance, high performance and power saving. These can be switched between either through the Easy Home interface or by the Fn+Space shortcut. In practice, there’s little noticeable difference between the three; nothing can disguise the fact that the Eee Top is no media editing or 3D gaming machine. As a media extender though, with a high-speed network connection, it comes into its own; another of the ASUS apps is Eee Cinema, a media-center style GUI for accessing audio and video. It’s here you’ll most miss an optical drive, as Eee Cinema even has an option to watch DVDs. Still, sound quality from the built-in speakers is reasonable.

Also preloaded is a webcam app, that lets you record video and take photos using the Eee Top’s 1.3-megapixel camera. Image quality is as mediocre as you might expect from an integrated webcam, but the app has a number of effects and animated overlays to brighten things up. These range from frames and color-effects, such as sepia, through Batman-style “Pow!” flashes, to being able to draw onto video and images.

In the end, though, we’re surprisingly impressed by the Eee Top. The display may be relatively small compared to what many people have on their desktop nowadays, but given you need to be sitting within comfortable prodding distance it’s less of an issue. It also makes the Eee Top more portable; toting it between rooms is no hardship, and the next-generation model, tipped to have an internal battery, should make that even more straightforward. Even sucking up your mains power, its frugal 27W demands mean the Eee Top is more economical than a standard desktop PC.

Similarly, as long as you’re not looking for high graphics performance, the Eee Top handles web browsing, office chores and media playback with little complaint. ASUS, incidentally, are planning a separate ATI Radeon HD 3450 video option in the next-gen machine. The touchscreen implementation may not be perfect, but it’s certainly usable and the price is far less than HP would ask for a TouchSmart PC. For the same cost as the Eee Top you could obviously find a higher-spec standard desktop PC, but the ASUS’ design charms, touchscreen and general usability still make it a tempting buy.

The ASUS Eee Top ET1602 is available now, priced at around £400 in the UK; the US price is expected to be around $450.

Unboxing Video:

Apple files patent for multitouch mice

2008-12-20T00:27:00.000-08:00

Apple’s patents are always very interesting to say the least. Every time we see one we are constantly reminded that Apple not only thinks outside the box, but also manages to stay two steps ahead of everyone else in terms of new ideas and technological innovation.

Apple’s newest patent applies multitouch to their mice. MacBlogz has done a very good job at creating what one of these multitouch mice may look like. They even went as far as creating the aluminum casing as we have been seeing on many of their new product lines on devices such as the late 2008 MacBooks and new iPod Nano.

Multitouch comes in so hand in whatever you do and Apple has managed to implement it in a variety of their products. Though there have been a few bugs in the late 2008 MacBook models, it does not take away from the extreme ease of use this feature brings users. We are very curious to see what Apple had in mind when filing for this patent.

EA reportedly cutting 10 percent of their workforce

2008-12-20T00:26:00.000-08:00

The large video game publishing company EA is reportedly going to be butting 10 percent of their staff in an effort to cope with economic times. This 10 percent makes for 1,000 jobs. The layoffs are suppose to be completed my March 31st 2009. This layoff is 4 percent larger than the one they announced in October.

After putting their reconstructing plan into action and “consolidating facilities,” EA hopes to cut annual costs by $120 million. EA will close nine publishing studios including Black Box Studio (Need for Speed) in Vancouver, British Columbia, which will move its remaining staff to EA’s studio in Burnaby, BC. The recent plans for opening a Canadian studio have been tossed out all together. The company plans to focus on games that are big hits with “higher margin opportunities.”

Apple Releases Mac OS X 10.5.6

2008-12-17T03:13:00.000-08:00

Apple has released Mac OS X 10.5.6 to customers this afternoon.

The 10.5.6 Update is recommended for all users running Mac OS X Leopard and includes general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac.

Apple details the changes in this support document. Some highlights include:

- Improves reliability of Address Book syncing with iPhone and other devices and applications.

- Improves the reliability of AirPort connections, including improvements when roaming in large wireless networks with an Intel-based Mac.

- Resolves an issue in which pasting text from a Microsoft Office document could insert an image rather than text.

- Includes general improvements to gaming performance.

- Includes graphics improvements for iChat, Cover Flow, Aperture, and iTunes.

- Includes fixes for possible graphics distortion issues with certain ATI graphics cards.

- Mail: Includes overall performance and reliability fixes.

- MobileMe: Contacts, calendars, and bookmarks on a Mac automatically sync within a minute of the change being made on the computer, another device, or the web at me.com.

- Improves reliability and performance for AT&T 3G cards.

- Fixes issues that could cause Time Machine to state the backup volume could not be found.

- Improves Time Machine reliability with Time Capsule.

- Safari: Improves compatibility with web proxy servers.

The 10.5.6 update is available as a free download through Mac OS X 10.5's Software Update.

Mac OS X 10.5.6 Update (372 MB) - for users currently running OS X 10.5.5.

Mac OS X 10.5.6 Combo Update (668 MB) - for users currently running OS X 10.5.0 through 10.5.5.

Mac OS X 10.5.6 Server Update (469 MB) - for users currently running OS X Sever 10.5.5.

Mac OS X 10.5.6 Server Combo Update (883 MB) - for users currently running OS X Server 10.5.0 through 10.5.5.

Metal Gear Solid Touch for iPod touch & iPhone confirmed

2008-12-17T03:08:00.000-08:00

Konami have confirmed that the next title in the Metal Gear Solid series will be for Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch. Metal Gear Solid Touch will be an original title set in the MGS4 universe, initially with eight stages of gameplay available; that number is expected to increase. Primary control will be via the iPod’s touchscreen, rather than the accelerometer.

Performing well in the game will see players awarded bonus points; these can then be traded in for exclusive content such as MGS iPhone wallpapers. Full details on the control interface are unclear, but from the two screenshots above expect fingertip sniper-rifle targeting.

According to Konami, Metal Gear Solid Touch will be available worldwide in Spring 2009. No pricing details have been released, nor whether owners of the original iPod touch - which runs slower than the newer second-generation PMP - will suffer reduced frame rates.

AT&T QuickFire reviewed: cheap & cheerful

2008-12-17T03:01:00.000-08:00

After our brief play with the AT&T QuickFire, we came away tentatively impressed. Despite not having the heritage of a Sidekick, the QWERTY-blessed QuickFire still managed to demonstrate some decent messaging prowess; it also brings a few new features to the party, such as the 2.8-inch touchscreen. Now Phonescoop have run the QuickFire across their review bench.

As we found, the capacitive touchscreen isn’t as responsive as that on other handsets using the same technology, but is still perfectly usable; screen rotation is efficient and the menus, albeit a little under-designed, are straightforward to navigate. Phonescoop also praise the camera, for its “decent pictures”, and call quality is also good.

One significant drawback for messaging-addicts (which you surely must be if considering the QuickFire) is the absence of threaded SMS conversations. Hopefully AT&T can add that with an OTA firmware update. In all, though, they say the handset “almost makes good on all that it sets out to do”, which is perhaps all you can ask of it given the price.

Video demo of the AT&T QuickFire

MacBook Air Review: it’s a different beast inside out

2008-12-15T20:04:00.000-08:00

When the MacBook Air first launched, nobody could deny it was physically impressive. Well under an inch thick, it was a visual delight to anybody who saw it. Ironically, any disappointment was saved for the owners themselves: the payoff for those market-besting dimensions was underpowered components and the tendency to overheat. Now, Apple have freshly inflated the Air with new technology, in fact just about everything down to the memory is new. Second time around, have they created the ultimate ultraportable?

Where with the original Air it was the outside that was revolutionary, this time around it’s the inside where all the major changes have happened. Out goes the old 2GB of DDR2 667MHz memory, to be replaced with 2GB of DDR3 1,066MHz; storage gets a kick too, with the entry-level Air going from 80GB PATA to 120GB SATA, while the SSD version doubles to 128GB. Similarly, the integrated Intel GMA X3100 graphics chipset of the original Air is junked in favor of the same NVIDIA GeForce 9400M chipset as found in the new unibody MacBook and MacBook Pro.

In fact similarities between the Air, the MacBook and the MacBook Pro are now all the more obvious. Casing design is one such area: Apple was generous with their credit to the Air during the recent unibody MacBook announcements, as paving the way in laser-cut aluminum design. Requiring a little closer examination is the switch from Mini DVI to Mini DisplayPort, again as found on its bigger siblings, supporting DVI, VGA and Dual-Link DVI via various adapters. Otherwise there’s still the same single USB 2.0 port and headphone socket, with wired Ethernet available only via an optional USB-to-RJ45 adapter.

Processors, then, are subject to only the mildest of tweaks: the 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo is still present, but the 1.8GHz gets a slight bump to 1.86GHz. Cache gets a moderate nudge to 6MB. Still, combined with the far improved graphical capabilities, the second-gen Air has much more grunt than its predecessor. Display, a 13.3-inch LED-backlit 1,280 x 800 panel, and networking, WiFi b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, go unchanged; the trackpad is also physically no different, which means a separate button rather than the whole surface being clickable, and no new glass construction. However there is support for four finger gestures.

All of that notwithstanding, your first - and lasting - impression of the MacBook Air is the design. Even nine months or so after its first unveiling, it’s still one of the sexiest laptops on the market. Part of that, perhaps, is that rival ultra portables lack the gracefully tapered edges that make the Air feel even thinner than its 0.16 to 0.76 inches. Weight is 3lbs, while the 12.8 x 8.94 inch dimensions mean it will still fit into a legal envelope.

When we talked to Apple last week, they seemed legitimately excited at the prospect that the Air could work as a primary laptop rather than as a compromise for portability. For that to be true, we’d need the slimmest MacBook to be able to not only offer basic browsing and netbook-style duties, but also step up for a little impromptu media editing and similarly processor-stressing tasks.

Our testing suggests it’s capable of just that. Although the Air is never going to be a serious media cruncher, a 260MB video took roughly 3 minutes to import into iMovie and a 4-minute video took around 12 minutes to export at 640 x 360 resolution. You’ll have more fan-noise while you do it, but it’s certainly less of a chore than with the old Air. The issue you’ll most likely run into is space: as with any other system using an SSD, you trade speed and stability for capacity. By removing unnecessary printer drivers, unused languages and standard apps like Garageband we managed to claw back around 5GB; on a 128GB drive that’s a lot.

Compared to the late-2008 MacBook and MacBook Pro, the Geekbench results are unsurprising: the Air still comes in third with an overall score of 2467 in the 64-bit tests, compared to its chunkier siblings at 3170 for the MacBook and 3664 for the Pro. That’s part of the reason that Apple expect the Air and the standard MacBook to occupy their own niches; the latter, with its double RAM capacity and higher performance, will appeal to Photoshop and video editors, while Air users are pegged as frequent-travelers doing little more than web browsing, email and word processing. Improved media crunching is more a sop to watching high-resolution video on that gorgeous display, than it is a sideline in heavy-duty editing.

However, what you do get - with the SSD version of the Air, anyway - is a nice chunk of real-world usability. Start-up time is more than halved compared to the first-gen Air, regularly coming in at under thirty seconds, and apps load quickly. You don’t get a burnt lap, nor go deaf from fan noise, either. Where the first Air had a habit of whipping itself into a broiling frenzy during thorough use, we found the new model comfortably sat at between 120 and 135 degrees. Processing video saw that jump to between 175 and 185, with the aforementioned crank up in fan speed, but it quickly returned to the normal operating range once the video was done. Happily we saw none of the freezing or lock-ups that the Air used to suffer from.

Higher-powered graphics usually means an impact on battery life, and sure enough there’s a penalty in overall runtime. Apple quote 4.5hrs from the new Air, down thirty minutes from the original, and while we never like to see usage times moving in that direction we at least found that to be an accurate estimate. With the backlight set at half (which, thanks to the LED system, is no hardship) and WiFi turned on, we managed around 4.25hrs of casual surfing and emailing. Watching video halved that, and video processing is an even quicker way to drain the battery. Speaking of which, the Air’s battery is still non-user-replaceable.

The Air still isn’t a cheap notebook - the 1.6GHz model with 120GB SATA HDD comes in at $1,799, while the 1.86GHz version with 128GB SSD is $2,499 - but there’s less of a sense this time around that you’re paying solely for the design. The solid-state model actually offers twice the storage for around $300 less than its first-gen counterpart.

Unlike the first time around, the SSD Air is the one we’d recommend. Yes, it’s considerably more than its HDD counterpart, but its impact on performance is what makes the second-generation MacBook Air such a pleasure to use. If budget is such a consideration as to make the SSD upgrade impossible, we’d steer you instead to the MacBook, which can now compete (if not best) the Air in style. The Air remains Apple’s niche road-warrior option; now those owners can spend more time battling the competition than their notebook. If you fit the profile, you won’t be disappointed.

MacBook Air (late 2008) unboxing video

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic ‘Tube’ hands-on first impression

2008-12-15T19:59:00.000-08:00

We have been dying to get our hands on the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic since seeing the first leaked info. Vincent just got this device in on Friday and luckily for me he decided to let me do the review. The first thing that came to mind when holding this device was wow this is smaller than I had originally imagined. It may or may not be due to the flood of Nokia N97 pictures that I have not been able to take my eyes off of this past week. Hopefully this handset will keep us occupied for a while as we wait.

So far I am very impressed in the overall responsiveness of the touchscreen and how the Symbian interface has been adapted to fit a touchscreen handset. Though the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic comes with a stylus, there has been no need to use it thus far other than the handwriting input method for composing messages. What few buttons this device does have are all perfectly in place, I have yet to go looking for a button when I want to take a picture or adjust the volume.

The only complaint I have so far is the thickness of the handset. Coming from an iPhone, anyone would think this handset is a bit thick. In the box there are plenty of accessories to keep you busy for a while, including a protective case, stand and TV out cable. We are going to take a few days to go through and test out all of the many features Nokia has delivered in the 5800 XpressMusic. Check back in a few days for the full review.

And here it is, the unboxing video from mobilebulgaria.com.. thanks bro..

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic unboxing from mobilebulgaria.com on Vimeo.

Apple 24-inch LED Cinema Display unboxing and review

2008-12-11T00:05:00.000-08:00

Of all the decisions Apple made with their most recent MacBook refresh, probably the most controversial has been its decision to use Mini DisplayPort as the sole video connector. The 24-inch LED Cinema Display, then, has a doubly-tough challenge: not only does it have to follow the well-respected Cinema Displays of the past, it’s also the only monitor that will work, without adapters, with the new unibody MacBooks.

Up until October, the MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro all used DVI connections. Apple changed that with the switch to Mini DisplayPort, based on VESA’s full-sized DisplayPort technology, and has promised to fit the connector on every upcoming Mac. The major benefit is in resolution: Mini DisplayPort supports external displays up to 2560 x 1600.

Apple are doing what they can to broaden Mini DisplayPort’s appeal. The company recently made the specification for the connector available, together with offering free licencing to those keen on making supporting hardware or cables. Given the huge third-party accessory market that builds up around any Apple segment, it’s unlikely to be long before we see the first wave of compatible devices.

Until then, though, only the three MacBook types sport it, and only the 24-inch LED Cinema Display is available to plug them into. Given the exclusive nature of that relationship, it comes as no surprise that Apple have closely matched the design of the LED Cinema Display to the LED-backlit panels on the unibody MacBook and MacBook Pro. Resembling an iMac, only thinner, with less of a chin-section and a more tapering profile, the monitor is constructed primarily of aluminium with an edge-to-edge glass panel up front.

As the name suggests, the latest Apple monitor relies on LEDs rather than CCFL backlighting. That’s not only healthier for the environment, being free of mercury and requiring less power, but they’re estimated to last longer and they “warm up” faster. Resolution is an HD-friendly 1920 x 1200, capable of displaying 16.7m colors with a 1,000:1 contrast ratio and 330 cd/m2 brightness.

Controls on the panel are conspicuous only by their absence; there’s not even a power switch. What the LED Cinema Display lacks in buttons, however, it makes up for in cabling and ports: the most obvious, a fixed triple-headed cable, connects not only to your MacBook’s Mini DisplayPort but offers AC via a MagSafe power plug and a USB 2.0 plug. The latter enables the monitor’s integrated three-port USB hub. In the bezel there’s an iSight camera, together with a microphone, and a 2.1 speaker system lurks inside too.

Setup is straightforward, with only the AC power cable to plug in. All of the monitor’s settings are tweaked via the MacBook itself, rather than through its own menus. Brightness can be changed via the function controls on the keyboard, but everything else requires a trip into the OS X System Preferences.

As with the iMac, when it comes to positioning it’s pretty much Apple’s way or the highway. The LED Cinema Display can be tilted, but there’s no facility to swivel or rotate without physically moving the whole screen. Thankfully there’s a VESA mount on the back, should you want to use a third-party monitor arm. Given the high-gloss glass panel - the effect of which you can see in our second video below - we’d prefer to be able to nudge the display around to avoid glare.

Since you may be moving your head rather than your display, then, it’s a good job that the LED Cinema Display has excellent viewing angles. Apple quotes 178-degrees both horizontal and vertical, and if you enjoy watching your monitor from almost sat alongside it, you’ll be pleased to hear there’s very little color shift. We came across no stuck or dead pixels, and the high-resolution means edges are very smooth and text, even at tiny font sizes, still legible.

The natural settings leave the Cinema Display on the cool side, with brightness perhaps a little too high, but these were easy aspects to tweak and we had no complaints with the popping colors and excellent clarity. Apple quote a 14ms response time, which is longer than many monitors available but, in practice, proved to be no drawback. High-definition video showed no smearing or jerkiness.

While it’s called a 2.1 system, the display’s integrated speakers don’t seem to follow the usual “stereo pair plus subwoofer” pattern. Instead there are three separate cones, with the third firing back and bouncing the sound off of the Cinema Display’s stand. Clever though that may be, it doesn’t add up to superlative audio quality; we far preferred the iMac’s integrated speakers, finding the Cinema Display’s to be weak and bass-anaemic. iSight and the integrated microphone work just as the MacBook’s own versions do, with video conferencing apps now having a choice of inputs.

There’s no denying that the 24-inch LED Cinema Display is an attractive, capable piece of technology. The new panel is simply beautiful, capable of high-quality images and almost mesmerizing color. True, the speakers lack finesse, but that’s no surprise for a monitor; they’re at least an improvement on those in the MacBook. The design is yet another prompt to make you wonder how Apple can consistently get it so right, and why other firms continue to get it wrong.

Of course, part of the reason is that Apple can afford all that polish, given the 24-inch LED Cinema Display’s premium price. At $899, that’s significantly higher than you can find a 24-inch display for elsewhere, even if you discount the entry-level models that can’t compete with the Apple’s premium picture quality. The integrated MagSafe adapter could be viewed as a bonus worth $79, saving those who’d normally buy a second for their home or office, and the USB hub is an extra scrap of functionality. Don’t underestimate, too, the convenience of leaving printer, scanner and external hard-drive plugged into the display, and hooking them all up with a single USB cable once you’re at your desk.

Nonetheless, $899 is a big price, and one many will balk at. The cynic will say that Apple is cashing in on Mini DisplayPort’s exclusivity; the miser will point to comparable, cheaper monitors elsewhere. Those who have already succumbed to a new MacBook, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, however, and who can scrape together the cash for the 24-inch LED Cinema Display, can get on enjoying one of the best performing monitors we’ve tested.

Unboxing Apple 24-inch LED Cinema Display

Apple 24-inch LED Cinema Display Glossy / Glare test

Nokia N97 announced: Video

2008-12-10T23:56:00.000-08:00

Nokia have announced the N97, its flagship N-series S60 smartphone. Including both a 3.5-inch 640 x 360 resistive touchscreen with haptic feedback and a full QWERTY keyboard, with a slide-and-tilt mechanism that brings the display up to a 30-degree angle. The S60 OS has been further tweaked to better make use of touch input, bringing it up to version 5, and includes many of the 5800 XpressMusic’s features such as the quick contacts bar and desktop widgets.

Demo video of the Nokia N97

There’s also a 5-megapixel autofocus camera with Carl Zeiss optics and an LED flash, A-GPS with Nokia’s Maps 3.0, and 32GB of integrated storage (with support for microSD cards up to 16GB in addition; not 64GB as mentioned in the launch demo). Connectivity includes WiFi, Bluetooth and HSDPA. There’s also a digital compass and accelerometer for screen rotation, plus a full internet browser that can play YouTube and other online videos. The battery is good for up to 1.5 days of continuous audio playback.

Nokia have also included a dynamically-updating map, using data from Navteq, as well as information uploaded from individual users.

An always-connected social networking window can be placed on the homescreen, giving a permanent view of Facebook, MySpace or another network. There’s also the ability to follow specific people. The N97 will go on sale in Europe and Asia first, in the first half of 2009. It’ll be priced at €550 ($695) unsubsidized. A US release is planned after that, though no specific dates have been given.

Press Release:

"Desktop. Laptop. Pocket: The era of the personal Internet dawns with the Nokia N97

Tilting touch display, QWERTY keyboard and personalized home screen - a true mobile computer.

Barcelona, Spain – Nokia today unveiled the Nokia N97, the world’s most advanced mobile computer, which will transform the way people connect to the Internet and to each other. Designed for the needs of Internet- savvy consumers, the Nokia N97 combines a large 3.5” touch display with a full QWERTY keyboard, providing an ‘always open’ window to favorite social networking sites and Internet destinations. Nokia’s flagship Nseries device introduces leading technology – including multiple sensors, memory, processing power and connection speeds – for people to create a personal Internet and share their ‘social location.’

“From the desktop to the laptop and now to your pocket, the Nokia N97 is the most powerful, multi-sensory mobile computer in existence,” said Jonas Geust, Vice President, heading Nokia Nseries. “Together with the Ovi services announced today, the Nokia N97 mobile computer adjusts to the world around us, helping stay connected to the people and things that matter most. With the Nokia N97, Nseries leads the charge in helping to transform the Internet into your Internet”.

The Nokia N97 introduces the concept of ‘social location’. With integrated A-GPS sensors and an electronic compass, the Nokia N97 mobile computer intuitively understands where it is. The Nokia N97 makes it easy to update social networks automatically with real-time information, giving approved friends the ability to update their ‘status’ and share their ‘social location’ as well as related pictures or videos.

The home screen of the Nokia N97 mobile computer features the people, content and media that matter the most. Friends, social networks and news are available by simply touching the home screen. The 16:9 widescreen display can be fully personalized with frequently updated widgets of favorite web services and social networking sites. The Nokia N97 is also perfectly suited for browsing the web, streaming Flash videos or playing games. Both the physical QWERTY and virtual touch input ensure efficiency in blogging, chatting, posting, sending texts or emailing.

The Nokia N97 supports up to 48 GB of storage, including 32 GB of on-board memory, expandable with a 16 GB microSD card for music, media and more. This is complemented by excellent music capabilities, full support for the Nokia Music Store and continuous playback time of up to 1.5 days. The Nokia N97 also has a 5- Megapixel camera with high-quality Carl Zeiss optics, 16:9 and DVD quality video capture, and support for services like Share on Ovi for immediate sharing over HSDPA and WLAN.

The Nokia N97 is expected to begin shipping in the first half of 2009 at an estimated retail price of EUR 550 before taxes or subsidies.

Apple MacBook Review - Late 2008 Model

2008-12-10T01:54:00.000-08:00

Of all the things Apple should be blessing Steve Jobs’ Reality Distortion Field for, it’s the perennial success of the MacBook despite not having undergone a serious update in more than two years. As Jobs himself declared at the notebook’s launch, the MacBook remains the best selling Macintosh; no RDF was necessary when faced with the new aluminum model’s design. It’s not, however, the $800 notebook some were predicting - and even more hoping for - so where does this mini-MacBook Pro fit in?

For many people they’ll want it to fit in their bag, or on their desk, or in their hands - anywhere, in fact, where they can touch it. There’s no denying Apple’s strength in industrial design, especially when they have a new, glossy manufacturing method to publicize alongside it. The 1.5-pound casing is hewn, sliced and buffed from a great hunk of aluminum, leaving something only a little thicker than the MacBook Air at 12.8 x 8.9 x 0.95 inches (the Air is a mere 0.7-inches thick). Into that, Apple pour a heady mixture of the latest ULV Core 2 Duo chipset and NVIDIA graphics, topped off with a multitouch trackpad and lashings of glass.

Filled up this way, the MacBook weighs 4.5-pounds. Part of that weight comes from the new, flush-fitting glass display panel, now edged in black rather than the old MacBook’s distinct bezel. The absence of a matte option will frustrate those working in direct sunlight (and who will find little solace in Apple’s “you can always tilt the screen, or move” advice) but everyone else will be entranced by the vibrant colors and overall brightness. The same 1,280 x 800 resolution as the previous model, it uses LED backlighting to increase visibility while also saving power.

The keyboard is another point where the Air and the MacBook share DNA. In black against the brushed silver, each key stands proud through its own cut-out (backlit in the top-spec MacBook), and typing remains perhaps the most pleasant way to do so bar a Lenovo ‘board. Underneath sits the new, 39-percent larger trackpad, freshly topped in glass and barren of any visible buttons; instead, a well-weighted press acts as a single click, while software allows different areas of the pad to represent double- or right-clicks.

It also borrows the latest in multitouch technology, bringing gestures with two, three and four fingers. The same two-finger gestures are present as before, but now you can scroll through photos with three digits, or switch between apps or trigger Expose with four. Short of an iPhone embedded in the palm rest it’s the best touch-implementation in a trackpad to-date.

Ports have been shaken down to occupy only the left-hand side of the new MacBook, with both new additions and casualties along the way. Two USB 2.0 ports, a gigabit Ethernet port, audio in/out and the clever MagSafe power port remain, but DVI and FireWire have been jettisoned in favor of a new Mini Display Port. This fresh socket - not, as many are assuming, a proprietary Apple technology - earns its place by virtue of supporting higher resolutions (up to 2,560 x 1,600) and integrated audio than DVI can, but it’s more usually a business connector and users may struggle to find as broad a choice of monitors with the port. Of course, Apple will happily sell you a 24-inch Cinema Display to use with it, also announced on Tuesday, but anybody else will have to stump up for the adapter cables. It seems cheap of Apple not to include at least one such adapter in the MacBook box.

The 8x slot-loading SuperDrive lives on the right-hand side of the notebook, sadly not a Blu-ray drive since Apple believes the licensing issues too troublesome to navigate. The same old iSight camera, now hidden behind the glass bezel, lurks above the screen. Connectivity gains draft-n support and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR as standard, but there’s no ExpressCard slot so 3G WWAN modems - still not offered as an integrated option by Apple themselves - will have to be USB. The relatively mediocre speakers from the previous MacBook are replaced with a far meatier, more satisfying pair, and there’s a built-in Omni directional microphone for VoIP and video conferencing.

Two stock variations of MacBook are available, one with a 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and the other, which we have to test, with a 2.4GHz chip. Each has 3MB L2 cache, 1066MHz frontside bus and 2GB of DDR3 RAM as standard; maximum supported memory is 4GB. The cheaper 2.0GHz MacBook comes with a 160GB 5,400rpm SATA hard-drive, with 250GB or 320GB versions optional; the 2.4GHz model automatically gets the 250GB drive. Each can alternatively be fitted with a 128GB solid-state drive, which promises faster access times and reduced power use at the not-insubstantial cost of $600-700. We can’t quite envisage a scenario where specifying the SSD would make sound financial sense; happily, unclipping the battery from the underside of the case exposes the hard-drive, so future upgrades - when prices are more reasonable - should be straightforward.

Recognizing, perhaps, that more people choose to do media editing and gaming on their notebooks where once such chores could be left to a desktop, Apple have eschewed Intel’s integrated graphics offerings and instead thrown in with NVIDIA’s brand new GeForce 9400M. Packed with 256MB of dedicated DDR3 memory, the 9400M is capable of simultaneously driving the internal LCD and an external screen at up to DisplayPort’s maximum 2,560 x 1600 resolution. It’s a move that clearly prioritizes graphical grunt over battery life, as the NVIDIA chipset is undoubtedly more power-hungry than Intel integrated versions.

In choosing the ULV P8600, which runs at 25W, Apple have guaranteed that rival Windows machines - where the 35W CPU alternative is more common - will edge ahead in processing power. If you compare the MacBook to the more extreme ultraportables, however, such as Apple’s own MacBook Air, the bigger notebook comes out brighter. Ironically, Apple themselves may have created the most appealing alternative to the Air, for all but the most space-crazed of buyers.

The new battery design contains a 45-watt-hour Li-Polymer power-pack, with only 80-percent of the capacity of the previous MacBook. Apple’s own estimates suggest five hours of wireless usage; in the short time we’ve been using the notebook, we’ve managed between 3.5 and 4.5hrs away from the mains, depending on screen brightness, wireless and optical drive use. It sounds silly, but among our favorite features of the new MacBook is the move of the LED battery status indicator from underneath - requiring you to flip it upside down - to the left-hand side.

It’s hard not to fall for the aluminum MacBook. No, it’s not an $800 machine, in fact even the reduced old-type plastic MacBook still available as a sop to budget buyers is still just under $1,000. Next to it, though, you get a glimpse of how the new MacBook puts serious pace between the models that went before.

Performance, with an ultra-low voltage processor, is never going to overwhelm, but the MacBook does a decent job of balancing what mobile users are currently looking for - decent graphics, reasonable run-time on battery power, jaw-dropping good looks that are sturdy to boot - and only asks that buyers not blanch at the inevitable price-tag. $1,299 for the entry-level 2.0GHz MacBook and $1,599 for the 2.4GHz version is a considerable amount of money, and it makes things like Apple’s dismissal of Blu-ray - that licensing is a logistical nightmare, and they’re waiting for the market to settle down - rankle. Yes, it might be tricky, but surely that’s what Apple charges their premium prices for. Right now, it smells of herding customers into the iTunes HD offerings, freshly bolstered recently with more TV content.

While you may find cheaper, though, and even better specified, none will run OS X Leopard and none will have the same design clout as the new MacBook. On that level alone, RDF or not, the “best-selling Macintosh” crown is likely to be passed on to the new aluminum MacBook.

MacBook Unboxing

Sony VAIO TT Review

2008-12-10T01:45:00.000-08:00

In a world of $250 netbooks and credit crunch, is there a place for a high-end ultraportable that, in its peak configuration, costs $4,345? That’s the question Sony - and plenty of others - are asking about the new Vaio TT, its latest luxury notebook. A carbon fiber chassis, WWAN, Blu-ray and RAID options all draw upon the latest technology available, but have they over estimated the market? SlashGear pulled on a pair of museum-standard gloves, buffed the test bench to a dull sheen, and prepared to find out.

Let’s get one thing straight: not every VAIO TT costs almost $4.4k. The model Sony sent us is the VGN-TT190UBX, complete with a 256GB SSD RAID-1 array, Blu-ray burner and the maximum 4GB of DDR3 RAM. Other models in the range - which starts from $2,144.99 - have the same 11.1-inch widescreen XBRITE-DuraView 1366 x 768 display, the same twin USB 2.0 ports, gigabit ethernet, HDMI, iLink Firewire and VGA outputs, and the same 1.3-megapixel webcam. Every TT has Bluetooth, WiFi a/b/g/n, a fingerprint scanner and ExpressCard slot, as well as Memory Stick PRO and SD readers.

Processor options range from Intel’s Ultra-Low Voltage (ULV) 1.20GHz Core 2 Duo SU9300 (800MHz FSB, 3MB L2 cache) through to the 1.40GHz SU9400 on our test unit; similarly, RAM ranges from 2GB to 4GB of DDR3. Where you miss out is in storage: either a 120GB or 160GB 5,400rpm hard-drive, up through dual 64GB SSD, a single 128GB SSD, or twin 128GB SSDs for the maximum 256GB of solid-state capacity. A DVD-RW drive is standard, with Blu-ray a $500 option, or on select models it can be replaced completely with a second storage option (HDD or SSD).

The TT weighs in at 2.8 pounds and measures 13.0 x 10.2 x 0.9 inches. Physically, the design is superb, an evolution of the previous-gen VAIO TZ with that model’s ultra-thin screen (with LED backlight) and circular hinge with pronounced power button, but adding more metal accents and rounded edges. The keyboard uses the same spaced-out layout that Sony debuted (and Apple later adopted) and is, despite the limited space available, comfortable and responsive to type on. Below it, on the slightly raised palmrest, the trackpad and broad mouse buttons flank the fingerprint scanner.

Sony has been criticized before for the amount of crapware they preload on new notebooks, but the TT partially escapes it. There’s certainly less third-party trial ware clamoring for attention, but the usual baffling array of Sony’s own apps - including the Click to Disc Editor, MusicBox, Movie Story, Media plus streaming app and more - are present. It’s not enough, though, to distract from the glorious display. Fine pixel resolution and a true 16:9 aspect ratio, together with consistent and bright LED backlighting, add up to a screen that bests many dedicate LCD TVs that we’ve seen. It sadly falls short of 1080p high-definition resolution (that’s catered for via the HDMI connection) but don’t underestimate the TT as a mobile entertainment device. Blu-ray discs look simply stunning, and in fact it’s the TT’s only average speakers that let it down; we’d recommend a decent set of headphones.

System performance is limited by the ULV processor and the integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics. Despite the Blu-ray burner and Sony’s emphasis on high-def, the TT shouldn’t be the first machine you reach for if there’s heavy-duty media editing to be done. Still, compared to other ULV ultraportables, such as the Toshiba Portege R500, the VAIO TT motors along nicely through the usual array of Office, internet and email tasks, managing all manner of multitasking including simultaneous video playback and VoIP conversations. The drawback, really, is the OS: Vista Ultimate on our test model (Vista Business on cheaper versions, with optional XP downgrade), which simply can’t keep up with the VAIO in terms of finesse.

This is one notebook we’d really love to see running Windows 7, and Microsoft’s upcoming OS refresh can’t come quickly enough. We have a feeling that the more polished system management will do wonders for eking out the best of the TT. Until then, we’ll have to struggle with Vista, which lacks the instant user-friendliness of OS X on the MacBook Air or the new MacBook. Happily the SSD RAID offers the performance kick needed to keep Vista moving along smoothly, though obviously lower models won’t have that advantage.

What the ULV processor is aiming for, of course, is superlative battery life, and here thankfully is another tradition handed down from the VAIO TZ. The TT might not quite manage its predecessor’s runtime, but Sony claim up to 7.5hrs from the 6-cell 5,400mAh standard battery. In our own tests we found the TT could manage almost four hours of video playback, or around 6 hours 15 minutes of Internet browsing over WiFi.

The VAIO TT really does offer road warriors that perfect mixture of performance, battery and portability. As well as the Bluetooth and WiFi draft-n, Sony offer a Sprint EV-DO Rev.A WWAN option (for a $59.99 monthly fee); work while you travel and then, when you’re at the hotel, plug the TT in to the TV and watch a movie rather than paying for the usual lousy selection. Vista is a chore but, courtesy of the SSDs, it’s at least manageable.

What might be less so is the price. Most people would call the entry level TT expensive; the superlative-spec VGN-TT190UBX topples that over into astronomical. Of course there’ll always be a market for high-end notebooks like this, not least for those who want to boast that their sub-1-inch ultraportable has an SSD RAID setup and Blu-ray, but for most buyers the TT just wouldn’t get a look-in. We love it; certainly, we just wish we could afford it.

T-Mobile G1 Powered by Android Review

2008-12-10T01:28:00.000-08:00

October 16th, and we’re finally allowed to tell you what we’ve wanted to say for the past week: the T-Mobile G1 is a very good cellphone indeed. The first handset commercially available to run Google’s Android platform and, with the exception perhaps of the iPhone 3G, the most anticipate mobile device launch of the year, the HTC-made G1 has a lot riding on it. Not only is it T-Mobile USA’s flagship 3G handset, it’s the first time Android has been seen outside prototypes and pre-production hyperbole. Can the G1 live up to it? Check out the full Android Community review to find out.

The form of the G1 is both familiar and new at the same time. Familiar because we’ve seen the gradual progression from part-glimpsed HTC prototype, because of the sense of familiarity with SideKick handsets, and new by virtue of its surprisingly clean design. It’s 158g weight sits well in the hand, heavy enough to feel solid but not so much to feel cumbersome. Flip open the arc-curved side-sliding touchscreen and you’ll find - or perhaps not even notice - that the handset has been weighted so that it doesn’t topple backwards. That much-maligned ‘chin’ section, angled with the trackball and buttons, nestles into the curve of your hand and goes unnoticed.

Under the hood, a 528MHz Qualcomm MSM7201A processor lends the G1 its grunt, paired with 256MB ROM and 192MB RAM. HTC have given the handset dualband HSPA/WCDMA in the US (1700/2100MHz) or single-band in Europe (2100MHz), capable of supporting up to 7.2Mbps downloads (network depending), together with quadband GSM/GPRS/EDGE. There’s also WiFi b/g, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and GPS, as well as a digital compass and accelerometer orientation sensor.

Users are faced with a breadth of input options, including a full QWERTY keyboard, 3.2-inch 320 x 480 HVGA capacitive touchscreen and trackball. Get used to flipping out the keyboard, however, as Android v1.0 lacks an on-screen keyboard beyond basic the numeric pad for dialing. Thankfully the G1’s ‘board is well laid-out, five-rows of letters and dedicated number keys, together with useful shortcuts to key applications. Shortcuts can also be user-programmed, to any number or letter you so wish, whether a pre-loaded app or something downloaded from the Android Market. Our only criticism would be the keyboard backlighting, which could definitely do with being brighter.

The touchscreen is even more of a success. Unlike other HTC smartphones it uses a capacitive panel, similar to that of the iPhone, responding well to even gentle touches. It’s a shame, then, that it’s not capable of multitouch, which remains an iPhone exclusive in cellphones at least. Still, the G1’s interface is very quick, with no long load times or pauses as applications load. The home screen is neatly laid-out and straightforward to customize, and can be as complex or as streamlined as you choose. Here the G1 edges ahead of the iPhone, with Android’s freedom to add any variety of contact cards, picture frames, apps and widgets to the home screen and its folders.

Along the top of the display sits the notification bar, a well organized way to view SMS, MMS, email, IM and download notifications, among others, as well as a list of recent activities similar to that found at the top of the Start menu in Windows Mobile. Also similar to the Microsoft mobile OS, and an unwelcome decision at that, is the absence of a task manager to end background applications. Android promises to manage which software is closed and which stays open, but we’d rather it was more draconian for the sake of battery life. All those secretly active programs take their toll, via background processes, on the 1150mAh Li-Ion battery. As far as we can tell, the only way to shut apps down completely is to power-cycle the handset.

In a way, the lack of manual closing makes the G1’s absence of lag, even having opened several programs, all the more surprising. Anybody coming from Windows Mobile, used to watching their smartphone crawl to a sluggish halt as cycles and RAM are monopolized, will be impressed with how responsive the G1 remains. In fact, the only app crashes we observed happened well in advance of the G1 slowing down, with only a message warning of an instability that requires the program’s restarting. Generally, though, for a first-generation device the G1 - and Android itself - is remarkably stable. Whether closed in the background or not, software picks up exactly where you left off, and the speed of start-up makes the transition around the OS pretty seamless.

Google’s search history (if you’ll pardon the pun) has culminated in one of the most useful features of Android on the G1, in the shape of the dedicated search key. Accessible at any time, it makes searching for files significantly faster than straight browsing, and its consistency across applications means it soon becomes an instinctive action. There’s no way to search cross-app, however, so you can’t for instance browse through documents while in the media player, only media content.

You’d also expect a Google-branded product to excel at internet browsing, and here the G1 is a mixed-bag. Based on the same open-source WebKit engine as the iPhone, Nokia’s S60 browser and others, it’s full-HTML compatible and handled most any site we pointed it at. Navigation is via a combination of the touchscreen and the trackball, with a Nokia-style magnification window (which shows the position of the current view in terms of the page as a whole) when zoomed-in. Magnification is neither as slick nor as smooth as on the iPhone, a point where the absence of multitouch is a real drawback. Instead, you swipe across the screen with your finger, which summons up a virtual lens with which to focus down on specific sections. It’s workable, but nowhere near as intuitive as on Apple’s device. Another shortcoming is the bizarre lack of integration with the accelerometer: rotating the G1 does not rotate the screen, you’re forced to slide out the keyboard in order to do that. Finally, cut & paste only appears to work with URLs, not text anywhere on webpages, and there’s no Flash support at present.

Of course, Google’s other forte is messaging, and the G1 ships with a full breadth of IM compatibility including Google Talk, AOL Instant Messenger, Windows Live and Yahoo! Messenger, all of which can be logged-into simultaneously and remain so in the background. New messages are flagged up on the notification bar and done so relatively discretely, so as not to distract too much from whatever app you’re currently using. Frustratingly, though, the different providers are all grouped separately, meaning your MSN contacts, say, are in a different list from your AOL buddies. That can be preferable on the desktop, where you’re more likely to differentiate and organize your social groups, but on a mobile device we’d have preferred to see at least the option to integrate all contacts into a single online/offline list.

Still, you can see the golden touch of ex-SideKick Andy Rubin in the IM experience as a whole, as it’s one of the more - if not the most - successful on a mobile device. Different conversations are easily switched between, and the keyboard comes into its own for rapid pecking. That ease of use continues into the SMS/MMS client, where messages are threaded into conversations and send seemingly instantaneously.

Photos are courtesy of a 3.2-megapixel camera with mechanical autofocus, the latter being something of a rariety in a mobile device. It lends the G1 a far more professional feel, more like a compact digital camera than an afterthought. Half-pressing the dedicated camera button focuses the picture, fully-pressing it fires off the shot. Images themselves are crisp, if a little on the light side, but decent for a cellphone; all the more frustrating, then, that in the absence of a flash dimly-lit areas are often impossible to photograph. At present the camera will only take still photos, not video.

The G1 relies on microSDHC cards for storage, and is compatible with the latest 16GB models for iPhone-equalling capacity. The slot itself is hidden underneath the rear cover, as is the SIM slot, but unlike the SIM you’re not required to remove the battery pack in order to switch memory cards. Some might prefer a more accessible microSDHC slot, but anyone who has accidentally dropped several gigabytes of content will confirm that, when it comes to memory cards the size of your fingernail, safety outsts a few seconds time-saving.

Add a card and the G1 automatically locates any music, pictures and video stored on it. Choose a file and you’re asked which app you want to play it with; if it’s a video, you’ll have to make a trip to the Android Market first, though, as the pre-installed Android media player can only handle audio files. Playback is via a wired stereo headset - which requires an HTC breakout dongle, as the G1 lacks a dedicated 3.5mm headphone jack. At this time, the G1 does not support A2DP stereo Bluetooth, but should after a future firmware update. We paired a number of different hands free Bluetooth headsets with the G1 and experienced no problems at all. A nice touch is that, when listening to music, you’re given the option to search for the video in the standalone YouTube app; only problem is, switch away from the video and it automatically pauses, so you can’t use it as a streaming music player in the background.

We’ve mentioned the Android Market several times, and Google’s answer to the Apple AppStore holds its own on the G1. The application database is intelligently managed; the entire list of available software isn’t fully synchronized every time you open the Market, only the new titles, and it keeps track of which you’ve already downloaded and/or installed. Applications you download are installed to the pull-out menu on the home screen, in alphabetical order, keeping it both tidy and well-organized.

Google seem to be taking a different stance to Apple in their management of the Android Market: unlike on the iPhone, apps will go through no vetting before being available to download. Instead, a review & rate system is being implemented, where users score and comment on downloads. The plus side to that is the range of titles (Apple have a habit of pruning out what they don’t think is “suitable” for their cellphone) and the speed at which updates can be posted; the negative is the potential for malware or poorly coded apps to get onto at least a handful of devices until the software can be flagged up as harmful.

When installing a new app, Android flags up which services - camera, network, GPS, etc. - it will use. That way, the user can judge whether the software is going to do what it claims it will, or something nefarious. It’s useful, but it assumes a degree of understanding that many users just won’t have. In a way that’s unusual for Android, because you can tell Google have tried hard to make it approachable for entry-level users. The settings menu has easy-to-comprehend descriptions, and the synchronization summary clearly shows which items are up to date and which have encountered problems. Meanwhile the applications manager - with the frustrating exception of a kill switch - runs through how much space each program takes up and what it’s properties are. It’s an area that Windows Mobile, with its multple, convoluted settings screens and seemingly endless tabs, would do well to learn from.

If a key motivation for picking up a new cellphone is the extent to which you can impress friends and family, you’ll be pleased to know that the G1 has just such an app. Android obviously includes Google Maps for Mobile, but they’ve given it some extra wow-factor with compass-enabled Street View. Hold up the phone with Google’s street-level photos loaded up and, as you physically turn around, the on-screen representation does so too. It sounds like a gimmick - and indeed it can be, if you’re using it to justify your new purchase to your spouse or bank manager - but it’s also a handy way of figuring out which way to go at an unfamiliar intersection. When you’re finished panning around places you used to live, or stalking ex-partners, the GPS quickly locks on and gives straightforward, accurate directions.

Of course, at its heart the G1 is a phone, and one intended to show off T-Mobile’s 3G network to boot. Call quality is, thankfully, excellent, both normally and through the loud, clear speakerphone. T-Mobile’s 3G network has surprising reach, too; although the carrier is only really promoting Phoenix and New York City as flooded with their high-speed access, we had no problem getting a 3G signal in San Jose, with next to zero dropped calls.

In fact, it’ll be battery life that curtails your use of the G1, not the network. Despite the sizeable power-pack, with heavy use the G1 only lasted 2-3hrs. That’s a mixture of voice calls, internet browsing, GPS and media playback, but it leaves us doubtful that the handset would last a full day if used in earnest. Our suspicion is that it’s background processes putting their demands on the battery, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see a software update pushed out sooner rather than later which attempts to manage that better. Hopefully an aftermarket task manager will also make a speedy appearance. You can charge the handset either with the included AC adapter - which takes about an hour - or via a USB connection to your PC or Mac; the G1 shows up as a removable drive, to which you can drag media or document files.

While we’re talking about frustrations, the G1 is a real fingerprint and grease magnet. Like any phone with a large display, the glass smudges readily; however the entire G1 seems particularly prone. With no screen protectors to hand, we resorted to cutting up an iPhone protector and using that.

In judging the T-Mobile G1, you’re really coming to two conclusions. The first is of the handset itself, while the second is more about Android as a platform. That’s going to make things tricky, and you’ll no doubt read plenty of reviews and opinions basically claiming Android falls down because the reviewer doesn’t like the G1. Happily, we’ve been impressed - and surprised, even - on both counts.

The T-Mobile G1 certainly isn’t perfect - you definitely need a second battery if you’re a power-user, the capacitive touchscreen is great but, without multitouch, seems only half used, and the app management needs either a stern talking-to or a user-accessible way to kill running processes - but it’s very, very good. HTC, T-Mobile and Google have said that they set out to design a true internet-enabled mobile device, and they’ve done just that. The G1 will inevitably be compared to Apple’s iPhone 3G, but it represents a sightly different angle on the mobile experience. Where the iPhone is, by virtue of Apple’s omni-present controlling hand, a relatively closed system (and no less successful, or attractive, for it, mind), the G1 panders instead to those who would prefer something more tweakable, more customizable.

Android, meanwhile, has exactly what it needs: a device on which to showcase its features and tempt with the promise of what’s to come. Again, it’s nowhere near perfect, but it’s also version one; think back to the first iPhone experience, back even further to the early stages of Windows Mobile, and then recognize that Google have poured - and will continue to pour - masses of investment into making this platform work. Owners of the first G1 handsets will undoubtedly profit from that investment, upgrading and taking advantage of new drivers, new software and new third-party hacks; in fact anything the open-source community can come up with.

We’re excited by the T-Mobile G1 in a way we haven’t been by a mobile device in a long time. It might lack the drool-inducing instant allure of the iPhone 3G, but it counters that both with usable, thought-out abilities today and real promise for tomorrow. Android and the G1 are no iPhone-killer, but they’re certainly a game-changer.

Unboxing T-Mobile G1 (Birds eye view)

Setting up T-Mobile G1

T-Mobile G1 Hardware walkthrough

Unboxing T-Mobile G1 (facing us)

Motorola cancels RAZR3 / Ruby, era comes closer to an end

2008-11-30T02:57:00.000-08:00

Earlier this month, the almighty RAZR fell from the top spot as America's best selling handset. Now, we're finding that the RAZR3 / Ruby has been canned. Granted, the move isn't all that surprising --

after all, Moto's known for awhile now that it simply can't keep tweaking the RAZR instead of, you know, innovating. But honestly, if this signals that the company is serious about moving forward and possibly adopting Android on the double, we won't shed a tear. Okay, maybe one, but only after all the lights are out.

Roundup: Best Black Friday Advice, Deals and Warnings

2008-11-29T05:24:00.000-08:00

Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year, is not something you jump into without a plan. If you are shopping or getting ready to shop, make sure you have all the info you need by first checking out our Black Friday survival guide, as well as the supplementary Black Friday helpers:

• Best of Black Friday Deals Complete Roundup

More Advice for the Black Friday Fray:

• The aforementioned Ultimate Survival Guide.

• 5 Gadgets You Can't Skimp On (And How to Save Money Buying Them)

• All the best deals in one place: Best of Black Friday Deals Complete Roundup

• Plus these late breaking ones from Cupertino: Apple Black Friday Deals Include Some Decent Third-Party Discounts

• Warnings: 7 Crappy Black Friday "Deals" That Aren't Really

• How To Choose an HDTV on Black Friday (or Any Day)

• How to set up that new HDTV you just got

Photochop Contest:

• Brutally Honest Black Friday Ads Showcase Retailers on the Brink

Why You Might Want to Avoid Shopping on Black Friday, altogether:

• 10 Reasons We're Doomed: Black Friday Edition

• WalMart Worker Trampled to Death by Deal-Crazed Black Friday Shoppers

• More Black Friday Bloodshed: 2 Reported Dead After Shooting at Toys R Us

Nikon outs D3x in own Pro magazine

2008-11-29T05:00:00.001-08:00

Uh, oops. Sorry Nikon but your D3x is now even less of a mystery. According to your own Pro magazine, the D3x will sport an FX-format, 24.5 megapixel sensor shooting 5fps at full resolution or 7fps at a reduced 10 megapixels.

Nikon made a few other tweaks including an extended ISO 50-6400 range but the body design, AF, metering, and main functions remain the same as the D3. The only thing we need now is a price and confirmed release date. Back to you Nikon. One more shot detailing the features after the break.

Linux hits iPhone

2008-11-29T04:58:00.000-08:00

We knew this day would eventually come, but somehow we're still misting up a little -- Linux has been ported to the iPhone and iPod touch. Dev Team member planetbeing is the mastermind in charge of bringing everyone's favorite open-source OS to Apple's handhelds, and while it's a little rough around the edges (read: no touchscreen drivers, sound, or WiFi / cell radio support), it's definitely the first step on the road to hacking nirvana.

The team is hard at work, and it even sounds like they're thinking about porting Android in the near future (!), so hit the read link to try it out and lend a hand if you can -- or just head on past the break for a quick vid of the port in all its text-scrolling glory.

iPhone Linux Demonstration Video from planetbeing on Vimeo.

Windows 7 WARP system to allow for DirectX 10 CPU acceleration

2008-11-29T04:57:00.002-08:00

We've already heard that Microsoft plans to make use of GPU acceleration in Windows 7, but it looks like the company is also going to be doing its part for the GPU-less out there, with the OS's new so-called WARP system promising to allow for DirectX 10 acceleration using nothing more than a plain old CPU. Among other things, that's apparently being done to avoid a recurrence of the Vista-capable debacle that happened last time around, when some systems that were said to be capable of running the OS were, in fact, anything but. According to Microsoft, WARP (or Windows Advanced Rasterization Platform) will work with as little as an 800MHz CPU, although it says it'll work better on multi-core processors with SSE 4.1. To really put it to the test, Microsoft apparently even went so far as to run a few Crysis benchmarks with the system, and managed to clock in a blistering 7.36 fps frame rate at 800 x 600 on a Core i7-equipped PC, which is actually slightly better than what Intel's current integrated graphics were able to eek out.

Apple's US Black Friday sale now live

2008-11-29T04:57:00.001-08:00

What started down under has followed the sun home, Apple's Black Friday sale is now live at the US Apple store. At first glance the sale is consistent with years past and what we've already seen In Australia and elsewhere -- so much for all the analyst expectations of a big blow out.

MSI unveils a slew of new netbooks and one lonely nettop

2008-11-29T04:55:00.000-08:00

It looks like MSI has been pretty busy lately. We got a good look at the MSI Wind U120 about a week ago, and now the company's back with a slew of new machines and we have plenty of details for you to savor. Most notably, the U115 is a 10-inch netbook featuring the Intel Atom Z530 processor, 1-2GB memory, and a hybrid SSD / hard drive storage system. The solid state drive (being smaller and theoretically faster) is meant to contain the OS while the hard drive is to be used for data.

The U110 is basically the same as the U115, except it only ships with 1GB memory and there is no SSD included. Also introduced were the U150 (sadly enough with no specs, besides the fact that it also ships with both HDD and SSD storage) and the WindBox, an Atom N270-based nettop designed to be VESA-mounted to the back of your monitor. The WindBox should be available Q1 2009 for around €300. Keep reading after the break for a complete rundown of all the specs.

MSI Wind 110

10-inch, 1024 x 600 pixel netbook

120GB, 160GB, or 250GB

Intel Atom Z530 processor

802.11b / g / draft-n WiFi

Bluetooth

4-in-1 card reader

1GB RAM

MSI Wind U115

10-inch, 1024 x 600 pixel netbook

8GB SSD / 80GB HDD, 16GB SSD / 120GB HDD, or 32GB SSD / 160GB HDD

Intel Atom Z530 processor

802.11b / g / draft-n WiFi

Bluetooth

4-in-1 card reader

1-2GB RAM

MSI WindBox

Intel Atom N270 processor

1-2GB RAM

160GB or 250GB HDD

three USB ports

802.11b / g WiFi

300mm x 240mm x 65mm (12 x 9.5 x 2.5 inches)

500g (18 ounces)

Peek CEO: buy two Peeks, your next iPhone or G1 bill is on us

2008-11-27T05:32:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we sat down for an interview with Amol Sarva, CEO of the email-handheld startup Peek. We're in the midst of transcribing what was a fairly interesting conversation, but in the middle of our chat he proposed a curious deal, and we wanted to put it out there (as well as see the company put its money where its mouth is).

Sarva and co. are pretty convinced that while the Peek may not be the perfect device for the hardcore gadget junkie, it is the perfect device for their moms or girlfriends (or boyfriends, we assume) -- in fact, they're so convinced that they're offering to pay a month of said junkie's iPhone or G1 bill (up to $150) if they buy a Peek for their mom... and girlfriend. According to Amol, if you buy two of the devices (which you can get for $79.95 right now) and activate them, the company will cover your November cellphone bill. Amol himself will be heading up this project, and as long as you place your order by December 1st, you can make the magic happen. Wildly, Amol says to just email him with the account info at: amol (at) getpeek (dot) com.

Lenovo S10 with six-cell battery gets pictured, priced

2008-11-27T05:31:00.000-08:00

Lenovo's S10 netbook has been relatively well received since its introduction earlier this year, but the battery life has always been a bit of a sticking point, with the included 3-cell battery simply not meeting some folks' netbook demands. It looks like that situation has now been rectified, in Germany, where a new model equipped with a six-cell battery has just gone on sale for the fairly reasonable price of €329 (or roughly $425). Unfortunately, there's no indication of a release 'round these parts just yet, but you can check out some more pics of the somewhat bulky addition by hitting up the link below.

Lenovo's nixed ThinkPad Secure hard drive prototypes caught hanging out together

2008-11-27T05:30:00.000-08:00

Just a few days back we got our first look at Lenovo's ThinkPad USB Portable Secure Hard Drive, the one that boasts a physical pass-coded keypad. And this? This is the graveyard of Lenovo's discarded ideas, dreams, and prototypes. We're super fond of the sketch to the far right which shows how a button is pressed by a finger (or is that a toe!?) That's all -- we just really like this photo.

Black Friday Mac discounts underway

2008-11-26T01:32:00.000-08:00

While we patiently wait to see what Apple has in store with its traditional Black Friday sale, MacMall and Best Buy have already kicked the sale into gear.

Better yet, MacRumors has created a handy summary chart that links you directly to the best possible deal. With no hardware updates expected through the end of the year and Apple's own Black Friday discounts typically falling between meager and stingy (and discounts being a rarity in general), this is likely your best-bet opportunity to hop on the switcher wagon or step up to a new unibody MacBook. Just click that read link to get started.

PS3 firmware v2.53 bringing full screen Flash support

2008-11-26T01:31:00.000-08:00

It seems like just yesterday (or last month, to be more exact) that we were enjoying the spoils of firmware 2.50, and now, Sony's giving us a little pre-Thanksgiving treat with version 2.53. Slated to hit the wires sometime on November 26th, the latest PlayStation 3 update will bring along full-screen Flash support (huzzah!) among other minor tweaks. Check the full changelog in the read link, and get ready to get your download on tomorrow.

Amazon gets Black Friday started early, shows off a few deals

2008-11-26T01:30:00.000-08:00

You're thinking about it. Your spouse is thinking about it. Your kids are thinking about it. And yes, your NXE Avatar is thinking about it, too. Black Friday is but hours away, and you still haven't conjured up the courage to get up at 3:00AM and venture out to save a grand total of $14.97 (pre-tax).

Never fear, as the world's most spectacular e-tailer is here with a slew of deals to keep you firmly planted. Amazon's going all out on the day after Thanksgiving, but it's also giving early birds the opportunity to snag a few specials on the run-up to the big day. We won't spoil anything here, but be sure and give the read link a look if you're all about saving some dough and staying home.

Sub-$400 eMachines eMD620-5777 laptop gets reviewed

2008-11-26T01:29:00.000-08:00

We already caught a brief glimpse of eMachines' new budget-priced eMD620-5777 laptop when it was first announced, but if you're still pondering a purchase, you may want to head on over to Laptop mag, which now has a full review of the unit. As you've no doubt surmised, there's some considerable trade-offs with this one, with the 1.6GHz Athlon processor and all around low-end specs placing a considerable drag on performance, and the battery barely managing to top two hours in their tests.

On the upside, it's $379 price tag places it squarely in competition with the masses of netbooks out there, and its 14.1-inch screen, while glossy, should do the job just fine for those that prefer a bit more real estate. Hit up the link below for the complete breakdown and, of course, a few more pics.

G1 and BlackBerry Bold get the Colorware treatment, finally feel at home with your bippies and lightsticks

2008-11-26T01:27:00.000-08:00

As you probably learned in grammar school, there's a time in every gadget's life when it gets the Colorware treatment -- and for the G1 and the Bold, the time is now. It'll run you $150 to dress up your current T-Mobile handset, or the company will ship you a brand new one $725. Prices for the BlackBerry Bold run $139 and $674 for the makeover and the whole phone, respectively.

Sure, that's a pretty pile of change, but if you'd spent your formative years in the East Coast rave scene you'd know just how coveted and stylish a pink, blue and orange G1 really is. If the BlackBerry is more your speed, make sure you check out that sexy number after the break.

HP shows off first hybrid memristor-transistor chip

2008-11-26T01:25:00.000-08:00

HP broke some considerable new ground by creating the very first "memristor" earlier this year, but it looks like it didn't rest on its laurels for very long, as it has now also taken the wraps off the first hybrid memristor-transistor chip at (where else?) the inaugural Memristor and Memristor Systems Symposium. According to the researchers at HP Labs, the memristors are able to do the job of the transistors they replace more efficiently, letting you use less of them when space is a priority, or the same amount or, conceivably, more of 'em to get some increased performance, which the researchers say could "give Moore's Law a boost." As if that wasn't enough, the researchers also say that memristors could also allow for faster, smaller, and more energy-efficient flash storage, and allow for field-programmable gate array (or FPGAs) that are not only more efficient, but considerably less expensive as well.

Of course, there's plenty more experimenting that needs to be done, but HP says that the first commercial circuits using memristors could arrive within the next three years.

Canon's EOS 5D Mark II reportedly hitting US stores (shelves?) today

2008-11-25T07:14:00.000-08:00

It's near, the day that Canon's EOS 5D Mark II hits retail shelves (outside of China) is almost upon us. According to Rob Galbraith, the 21 megapixel, full-frame, Full HD-capable EOS 5D Mark II will leave Canon's US distribution centers starting today. That should translate to a body-only $2,699 retail appearance sometime this week if you're lucky. YouTube's new widescreen, high-definition, holiday videos will never be the same.

Verizon announces Samsung Omnia for $249.99

2008-11-25T07:13:00.000-08:00

If it's a 5-megapixel cameraphone you're looking for, there are decidedly cheaper entries on the market -- but if only a 5-megapixel WinMo Professional set will do, the Omnia's just about the best (read: only) deal you'll find on an American carrier these days. The CDMA translation of the smartphone that Samsung's been selling in other parts of the world for much of 2008 in GSM form carries over most of its key features, namely Windows Mobile 6.1 with TouchWiz, WiFi, DivX certification, the love-it-or-hate-it optical directional pad, and that beefy cam with flash and autofocus.

It also nabs VZ Navigator support, stereo Bluetooth, a 3.2-inch 400 x 240 display, and 8GB of internal memory. Gives pause to that imminent Touch Pro purchase, doesn't it? Look for it to be available for order this week -- a full retail launch is expected come December 8 -- for $249.99 after rebate on a two-year contract.

Acer readies 10-inch Aspire One for Q1 launch

2008-11-25T07:12:00.000-08:00

Acer's top-selling Aspire One is set to break into 10-inch territory as early as February or March. This according to Scott Lin, Acer Taiwan president. Also on the books are 12.1-, 13.3-, and 15.6-inch LED-backlit laptops for 2009 -- a 14.1-incher should hit this year with a price of NT$40,000 or about $1,200 of the green, presidential stuff.

Nokia slips out 5 megapixel 6260 slide with AGPS, a first for S40 devices

2008-11-25T07:09:00.000-08:00

eped in spy pics on these Interwebs since June, Nokia just went official with the 6260 slide. Unfortunately, "slide" in this case reveals a numeric keypad not a QWERTY. Otherwise, it's pretty much an iterative step beyond the 6220 classic. As such, we're looking at a 5 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens, WiFi, and HSDPA/HSUPA data to quickly share photos and video on Nokia's Ovi service with the promise of support for other photo and video sharing sites you might actually use.

The 6260 slide also features Nokia Maps riding AGPS -- a first for a mass market, Series 40 device. Ships in early 2009 for about €299 before taxes and carrier subsidies, naturally.

Update: Detailed specs just released show a 2.4-inch, 320 x 480 pixel display on this 15.4-mm thick slider with quad-band GSM/EDGE and tri-band UMTS radios and microSD expansion.

HANNspree's 28-inch 1080p HT09 LCD HDTV comes to America for $500

2008-11-24T22:56:00.000-08:00

Just in time for brands like Vizio, Panasonic, Sony and Sanyo to undercut it on Black Friday, HANNspree has swooped in and delivered its bedroom-sized 1080p LCD HDTV to the great lands of North America. The set, which was made available a few months prior in the UK, claims to be the planet's first 28-inch "1080p" HDTV, with a native 1,920 x 1,200 resolution, two HDMI ports, a VGA socket, integrated ATSC / NTSC / Clear QAM tuner, 3-millisecond response time, 3,000:1 contrast ratio, stereo speakers (5-watts x 2), audio in / out ports and an Energy Star 3.0 sticker for good measure.

Not too shabby for $499.99, and we'd count on finding it even cheaper given the current level of competition in the sector.

First pics of Motorola's MOTO QA30 QWERTY slider

2008-11-24T22:55:00.000-08:00

Sliders are typically known for offering the best of both worlds: the sophisticated, clean looks you want hiding the ugly, QWERTY keypad you need. Motorola's bucking that trend with the chunky MOTO QA30, looking rather utilitarian open or closed and featuring the sort of squat form-factor that didn't exactly woo us on the UTStarcom TXT8010.

The 2.5-inch 320 x 240 screen is a bit on the small side, but an integrated 3.5mm headphone jack and stereo Bluetooth 2.0, plus support for up to 32GB microSD cards, should make this a reasonably good choice for anyone needing a texting-friendly handset that can serve up some tunes.No word on price or availability, but we'd guess "affordable" and "soon."

Update: Jed commented to let us know U.S. Cellular recently featured this phone in an ad, dubbed the HINT and listed as being available as December. So, now you know what "soon" equates to, at least.

Xbox 360 modded with slot loading DVD drive, fire vision, mind control

2008-11-24T22:54:00.000-08:00

This Xbox 360 mod may be a little less dramatic than some we've seen, but we think that anyone who's had their nerves rattled by the incessant banging of their console's optical drive tray will really appreciate it. RDC over at the benheck.com forum has installed a slot loader into his Xbox the hard way -- by gutting the innards of his console's DVD-ROM and installing them in the case of his old iMac's slot loader.

After taking everything apart, it was a simple matter of rebuilding the spindle, rigging up a tiny breadboard with a few transistors, cramming the new Frankenstein drive into the game system, and -- of course -- finishing up with some handy case mod. Sure, the whole affair seems needlessly complicated, but the end result looks pretty good to us.

Intel, Micron start churning out 34nm, 32Gb NAND Flash chips

2008-11-24T22:53:00.001-08:00

Intel and Micron's subsidiary IM Flash Technologies first announced its first-of-its-kind 34nm NAND Flash memory back in May of this year and, as promised, it's now finally followed through on things pushed 'em into mass production. The chip's themselves are 32 gigabit multi-level cell chips, and can hold 4GB of memory on their own, or be stacked on top of each other in a standard 48-lead thin small-outline package (TSOP) to hold up to 64GB.

That, the companies say, will not only allow for increased storage in small form factor devices, but less expensive solid state drives as well, given the reduced manufacturing costs. They're apparently still a little ways away from finding their way into some actual products, however, with the companies only going so far as to say that the first samples are on track for early 2009

Nokia's QWERTY slider E75 spotted in the wild again

2008-11-24T22:48:00.000-08:00

In the "form factors Nokia hasn't fully explored, but probably should" bucket, side-sliding QWERTY candybars ranks pretty dang high on the list, so we're delighted to see that -- as far as we can tell, anyway -- Espoo's still hard at work banging out the details of its E75. We're told to expect WiFi (naturally), a 3.2-megapixel camera, and a 2.4-inch display, but more importantly, you've got a generous keyboard that should give the S740 a serious run for its money.

We're a bit concerned about usability on a totally flush keyboard like this (E90 anyone?), but hey, maybe that's the reason it hasn't been announced yet, right?

HP Mini 1000 now supporting 3G

2008-11-24T22:47:00.000-08:00

When we got comfy with the HP Mini 1000 last month, there was talk of a full 3G spec'd version coming in December. Lo and behold we're not even out of November yet and one owner has managed to get online with his brand spankin' new 1000. User dplxy over at the Pocketables forum put in some quality time with customer support from both HP and AT&T to figure out how, saving you some minutes by describing the how-to.

Full instructions are at the read link, but the gist of it is you need to download a WWAN driver from HP, manually extract and install it, and then slot your SIM card into the battery compartment. Speeds are reported to be solid but, with the lowly three cell battery struggling to keep the thing broadcasting, you'd better hurry up and find what you're looking for. It's unlikely this will work with older versions of the Mini 1000, which are believed to lack the hardware internals, but give it a shot and let us know what you find, yeah?

Motorola's Attila even more cruel in the wild

2008-11-24T22:44:00.000-08:00

That's some beefy phone Motorola's got there. Assuming, of course, we're not looking at a KIRF which is entirely possible in the three months since the initial leaked Attila (or is it Atila?) image -- that iPhone looking UI / theme pictured after the break doesn't help with the legitimacy either.

Regardless, it's not like you're holding out for this 320 x 240 pixel WinMo 6.1 candybar anyway, right? No matter how many HSPA frequencies (three, ok) it supports. Embarrassing Moto, embarrassing. One more shot after the break just to rub it in.

UT Austin creates world's highest resolution tiled display: Stallion

2008-11-24T03:11:00.001-08:00

If you thought 220 million pixels was a lot, well, you'd be right. But given how things are in Texas relative to everything else, we'd say there's no denying that 307 million pixels is indeed a lot more. Dubbed the world's highest resolution tiled display, Stallion has just been unveiled by the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at The University of Texas at Austin.

Designed for studying diminutive cells and checking out old game footage, the system boasts 75 Dell 30-inch LCDs, each of which has a native resolution of 2,560 x 1,600. It also packs 36GB of graphics memory, 108GB of system memory and 100 processing cores. And just think -- if the Longhorns could get that one game back against the Red Raiders, every fan within a 10-mile radius of Austin could see their team in the championship game on this thing.

Nokia tying up with NTT DoCoMo for Japanese MVNO?

2008-11-24T03:08:00.002-08:00

So Nokia has a 40-odd percent stake in the world's handset market. You know where that insanely high number isn't coming from? Japan, where the Finnish giant holds less than a 1-percent share of phone sales as it competes against domestic models from Sharp, NEC, Fujitsu, and others who've traditionally ruled over FOMA with an iron fist. We think that we can probably chalk that up to the simple fact that Nokia doesn't produce many (okay, any) wide VGA flip phones with one-seg TV tuners, but they're thinking bigger -- way bigger -- to the tune of a self-branded MVNO that'd operate on NTT DoCoMo's expansive network.

A Japanese paper is reporting that the virtual network will launch next spring, initially with high-end models designed to establish name recognition in a market where it currently has none; Vertu is just starting to set up shop over there, so we're assuming they don't mean ridiculously high-end, but high-end in the sense that the spec sheets won't get laughed right out of town.

Dell adds $100 32GB SSD option to Inspiron Mini 9

2008-11-24T03:08:00.001-08:00

Sure, the base price of Dell's Inspiron Mini 9 is pretty palatable, but good luck passing through that hard drive selection screen with this option unchecked. Yep, as now, Mini 9 buyers can opt for a capacious 32GB solid state drive (a luxury already available in Japan), which is a $100 upgrade over the standard 4GB SSD. Enticing enough to make you finally pull the trigger?

iPhone firmware 2.2 gets QuickPwn and PwnageTool, of course

2008-11-24T03:06:00.000-08:00

In case you haven't noticed the trend, when Apple releases a new iPhone / iPod touch firmware, it has a tendency to fall to the jailbreakers at mind-boggling breakneck speed. QuickPwn and PwnageTool have now both been updated to support 2.2, though there's a critical note in here from the iphone-dev team: if you have any interest in unlocking your iPhone 3G in the near future, only use PwnageTool, not the more painless QuickPwn. You've been warned!

HP's Shanghai-packing xw9400 workstation available now

2008-11-22T03:40:00.000-08:00

We caught a glimpse of the HP xw9400 quite a while back when it was first announced, but it's now available on HP's site and we've got the full details on the mammoth's innards. There are quite a few customizable options, including AMD's Dual-Core Shanghai Opteron CPUs (from 2.0GHz to 2.5GHz), up to 32GB MHz DDR SDRAM, NIVIDIA nForce Professional 3600 or 3050 chipsets, and available NVIDIA Quadro FX cards with up to 1GB of memory.

There are also five internal and two external drive bays and eight USB 2.0 ports. The behemoth starts at $2,399 and runs as high as $6,299. Hit the read link for the widest array of specifications you can possibly ever imagine.

How would you change Apple's unibody MacBook / MacBook Pro?

2008-11-22T00:59:00.000-08:00

Now that you've had well over a month to toy with Apple's latest MacBook and MacBook Pro, we're just dying to know what your impressions are. Has the glass trackpad turned you off (or just turned you off to every other trackpad on the planet)? Is the inability to order the MBP with a matte display still grating your nerves? Are you happy with the performance? Is your "S" key randomly popping off at the most inopportune times? You just spent a load of cash on what essentially amounts to a first-generation product -- you've every right to make your voice heard.

Do just that in comments below.

NXE creating HDMI headaches for UK Xbox 360 owners?

2008-11-22T00:56:00.000-08:00

The path to Netflix-enhanced glory hasn't been entirely trouble free for everyone, this time it's posters on AVForum noticing a distinct lack of audio on Xbox 360s connected to their HDTV by HDMI. So far suggested solutions for the afflicted include plugging in the hard drive while the system is on, or waiting several minutes before switching the monitor to HDMI, and repeating them every time the system is started.

It's not the first time we've heard of UK-centric HDMI weirdness, any of you hearing a whole lot of nothing while gaming (that's not attributable to hard drive installs)?

Samsung Omnia makes official Verizon appearance

2008-11-21T11:45:00.002-08:00

Not that we've any reason to be shocked here, but Samsung's Omnia is indeed coming to Verizon Wireless. 'Course, most everyone with any remote affiliation to Big Red is frenzied over that other phone today, but those with a soft spot for Windows Mobile 6.1 may want to give this one a bit of attention. You know the highlight specs by now -- a 5-megapixel camera / camcorder, full HTML browser and an expansive touchscreen -- but the nitty-gritty details are still being withheld.

As of now, the link on Samsung's website tunnels straight to an error page, forcing us to be content with the knowledge that somehow, someday, this phone is destined for a life on VZW's shelves. Enlarged screengrab is after the jump.

Scosche Passport FireWire-to-USB iPod adapter gets reviewed

2008-11-21T11:45:00.001-08:00

Okay, so this adapter doesn't directly convert a FireWire 400 socket into a USB port, but for all intents and purposes here, it does as much. You see, Scosche's Passport was designed to channel the energy from older FireWire-based iPod charging gear into the USB prongs that the newer iPhone / iPods only accept.

Macworld was able to get ahold of one for review, and in testing, it found that everything worked well when toying with new iPods, and while it was designed specifically for in-car applications, critics found that it even worked (albeit inelegantly) with dock-cradle accessories. Was it worth $30? Absolutely, so long as you'd rather burn $30 than replace that mess of wires you've got behind the dashboard (and you would).

Fujifilm's 3D camera gets the hands-on treatment

2008-11-21T11:45:00.000-08:00

It's been a few months since Fujifilm showed off a prototype 3D shooter at the Photokina show in Cologne, and CNET Asia has now managed to spend a little time with the chunky bronze and gunmetal box. Unlike other tech we've seen that does 3D in one shot, this one sports a pair of lenses and sensors to capture light in stereo, while on the back a 2.8-inch LCD alternates between the two images at 60 fps to give an apparently convincing 3D effect. Better, though, should be the 8.4-inch 3D photo frame under development, and Fuji's Frontier photo labs are also being upgraded to produce lenticular prints (the sort you can tilt left and right to see different things) that are said be "really good."

The camera itself is scheduled to drop around September of 2009, but since even looking at the results of your work is going to be a bit of a challenge at first we're not entirely sure how popular the thing will be. Regardless, we're glad someone is paving the way.

OpenCL spec gets finalized, Snow Leopard says "purrrr"

2008-11-21T11:44:00.000-08:00

It's just taken a relatively short six months, but it looks like the team behind the Open Computing Language (or OpenCL) have already delivered the final spec for the standard, which puts it right on track for inclusion in OS X Snow Leopard.

In fact, the team credits Apple with helping them meet the "impossible deadline," with Intel's Tim Mattson saying that Apple's decision to "support it in Snow Leopard was a huge plus to us," even if it forced them to "divorce our families" and left them "almost dead." The standard itself, which allows for greater leveraging of GPUs and other hardware, isn't quite ready to be implemented just yet, however, as it still has to go through the final stage of being vetted by all 20 partner companies for patent issues and whatnot. Once that's done, which will take a "minimum" of 30 days, they'll release the actual spec and begin the usual round demos.

AMD overclocks the snot out of Phenom II processors

2008-11-21T11:43:00.000-08:00

No, you're not looking at some high-precision, multimeter-laden kegerator; the above is a picture from a recent AMD event in which things apparently got a little out of hand.

The company started by talking up its upcoming Dragon platform (Phenom II X4, Radeon 4800 graphics, and 7-series chipset), took a few moments to discuss how its new 45nm chips will use 30-50 percent less power than their predecessors, and then threw all notions of sensibility out the window in an attempt to see just how fast the darned things could go. A Phenom II X4 managed 4GHz with air-cooling, 4.4GHz with a refrigerated setup, and finally a "stable" 5GHz on liquid nitrogen. That's mighty fast, but will the chips be quick enough to tackle Intel's mighty Core i7 when stripped of their fancy-pants cooling appendages? We'll see when they ship early next year.

ASUS summons Core i7 power in ROG CG6190 gaming desktop

2008-11-20T21:34:00.000-08:00

If you thought your ARES CG6155 was hot stuff during the sweltering summer, well, you were right. Sadly, your bragging days have come to an end, as a new era of cutting-edge buyers are fixing to one-up you with the purchase of ASUS' ROG CG6190. Timed to be released alongside Intel's potent Core i7 processor, this beast is built around the X58 chipset and includes an eye-catching chassis, 52% faster processing speed in 3D gaming applications (thanks, overclocked Core i7!), up to 12GB of DDR3 RAM and support for an NVIDIA triple-SLI GPU setup or an ATI CrossFireX rig.

You'll also notice a biometric fingerprint scanner, a unique 2-kilowatt dual power system, customized liquid cooling modules and a SupremeFX X-Fi audio card. As ASUS loves to do, we're left in the dark on pricing, but we'd guess it'll launch somewhere between expensive and ludicrously pricey here soon.

Tuttuki Bako "poking box" lets you torment low-res creatures

2008-11-20T20:21:00.000-08:00

While we don't expect it to be the type of interface that'll replace touch screens anytime soon, Bandai is certainly forging some interesting new ground with its so-called Tuttuki Bako device, or "poking box," which actually lets you stick your finger right into the device to control the on-screen finger.

That's apparently done with the aid of some motion sensors which, as you can see in the video after the break, seem to work at least reasonably well. In addition to boasting various "games" like poking a panda, poking a face, or poking a stick figure, the device also doubles a desk clock, and it's available your choice of red, black or lime green. As you might have guessed, however, it's not available 'round these parts just yet, though you can apparently pick one up in Japan now for the rough local equivalent of $30.

nokia n96 bruce lee edition the only thing tougher than chuck

2008-11-20T20:18:00.000-08:00

OMG OMG OMG... sorry, but our inner Japanese school-girl was just unleashed with the arrival of the Nokia N96 Bruce Lee Edition. If Nokia had any sense, they'd expand the action-doll bundle to the world beyond Hong Kong.

Even for 8,788 Chinese Yuan (about $1,286) we're seriously tempted. Watch Bruce clean up at ping pong in the Nokia video posted after the break -- no, really.

Nyko Charge Station Quad leaves no Wiimote uncharged

2008-11-20T20:14:00.000-08:00

It's certainly not for everybody, but if Wii-playing parties are a regular occurance at your place, or if you happen to have a bunch of Wiimotes lying around for some other purposes, you may want to consider Nyko's new Charge Station Quad, which promises to keep four of 'em topped off at all times.

You'll also, of course, get four of Nyko's own NiMH rechargeable battery packs with the package, and four rubber battery covers to prevent any unfortunate accidents. Look for this one to hit all the usual locations sometime next month, when it'll set you back $50.

Dell's Inspiron Mini 9 and 12 get artist makeovers

2008-11-20T20:13:00.000-08:00

In recent months we've seen Dell's design department running wild with new colors and art for a lot of their models, such as the Studio 15 and 17 laptops, and the announcement that customizable jobs were on the table for 2009. It probably should come as no surprise, then, to see the Inspiron Mini 9 and 12 get some love, too -- this time in five patterns by artist Tristan Eaton.

Otherwise the same under the hood, the paint-jobbed Minis will run you an extra $50 over the base price of each respective model -- $349 for the Mini 9 and $549 for the Mini 12. Check out two more shots of the upgrades after the break.

NXE hitting 360s with red ring, freezing and sorta-sexy-avatar issues?

2008-11-20T20:12:00.000-08:00

If you wouldn't mind looking up from that avatar creation screen for a second -- yes, we're aware of how much that t-shirt selection means about you as a person -- you might notice that your Xbox 360 is dead. At least, a few hapless souls on the Xbox forums seem to think NXE is to blame for such atrocities. Numerous folks are reporting variously bad red ring configurations, random freezing and a huge pile of blockbuster titles that won't just play themselves.

The biggest problem is that Microsoft isn't universally treating problems caused by NXE as an "oh, our bad" sort of situation, and at least from anecdotes we're seeing has charged quite a few folks $100 to fix their freshly-out-warranty Xbox 360s -- not to mention separating them for weeks from their precious murder simulators.

Google Sync for BlackBerry gets into your contacts

2008-11-20T20:11:00.000-08:00

If you're a BlackBerry user or a prospective user, and also happen to be a Gmail enthusiast, you're going to be a lot happier than you were yesterday, because Google's just added over-the-air contact syncing to its Google Sync application. Previously, the app was only able to sync up calendars between the cloud and RIM devices every two hours.

Now you can get your names and numbers in the mix, so it looks like the nightmare days of having one list of contacts in Gmail and another, totally different one in your 'Berry are apparently at an end. Sure, Google's timing on this seems a little convenient to us, coming as it does just before the BlackBerry Storm launch, but we're not going to complain about something that makes ours lives easier, okay?

Fiio's E5 headphone amplifier clearly admires Apple's iPod shuffle

2008-11-20T20:10:00.000-08:00

Not that we haven't seen a headphone amp that's made for one of Apple's DAPs before, but Fiio's latest actually mimics the latest shuffle to sashay out of Cupertino's lair. The device reportedly puts out 150mW at 16-ohms with a rate distortion of <0.009% at 10mW.

The rechargeable battery (which gets juiced via USB) is said to be good for around 20 hours of use, and while it's difficult to say exactly how awesome this thing is, the $20 price tag sure is tempting.

Kingston unveils 64GB DataTraveler 150 for $177

2008-11-20T20:00:00.000-08:00

You've got entirely too many RAW files and uncompressed David Bowie albums to be slamming everything onto a 16GB thumbdrive, so Kingston Technology's coming to the rescue with a new pair of ultra-spacious DataTraveler 150s.

Arriving in 32GB and 64GB flavors, the DT150 becomes the largest in the outfit's entire DataTraveler line, and it even works with Windows, OS X, Palm OS and Linux! Both sticks come with a five-year warranty (as if you won't lose it before then) and will sell for $132 and $177, respectively.

Teclast's upcoming 3.5-inch PMP plays media, is portable

2008-11-20T19:59:00.000-08:00

So far it doesn't look like Teclast's OEM is trying to fool anyone with their new as-yet-unbranded media player, which is sort of disappointing -- we know how much you love a good KIRF. Aside from the uncommon (and theoretically stunning) 3.5-inch OLED widescreen display, this seems to be a pretty benign device. Features include capacitive touch controls, support for CMMB and DVB-T broadcasts, and if their past products are any indication you can probably expect output to TV or FM transmitter.

You can expect this to ship in China under the Teclast flag eventually, but at the moment we've got no name, no price, no storage capacity, no release date -- just the above facts and one lonely picture to keep you warm on those long winter nights ahead.

Orb 2.0 streams live TV to your iPhone

2008-11-20T19:58:00.000-08:00

We knew Orb was working on an iPhone port of its media-streaming app, and it looks like Orb 2.0 just stealthily went live in the App Store. The $10 app lets TV junkies watch live TV from a tuner connected to a Windows PC, as well as stream music, videos, and photos from their libraries.

Even cooler, Orb allows you to monitor a webcam, so you can finally nail those Diet Coke thieves from the comfort of your cube (or keep an eye on your infant, whatever.) Sadly there's no date for the Mac and Linux versions, but Orb says they're on the way. Alright Sling, looks like the ball's in your court.

Packard Bell dot spotted in UK

2008-11-20T19:57:00.000-08:00

Oh, look! It's another netbook in the wild! This one is Packard Bell's dot, and according to the boffins at Pocket-lint it's now available for purchase across the pond by anyone who can find a reason to care.

The Aspire One-like specs and style are just what you'd expect (do we really need to recount the Atom 270 processor, 1GB of RAM, and 160GB hard drive yet again?), and while there's the promise of being able to add internal 3G connectivity at some point in the future, right now the only thing setting this one apart is the red dot on the hinge. (Which, we confess, is a nice look.) Still no mention of when or even if this one will be appearing domestically -- though if it does it'll probably be as an Everex anyhow.

Chrysler's Web Edition vehicle package: includes WiFi, iPod touch and a Dell Mini 9

2008-11-20T19:56:00.000-08:00

Chrysler has been toying with in-car connectivity for months now, so it's really no shock to see the next logical step being taken. At the San Francisco Auto Show this week, the automaker is set to showcase a "Web Edition" package, which would theoretically be available as a dealer-installed option for most Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge vehicles.

The bundle would include an Autonet Mobile router (branded as Uconnect Web), a Dell Mini 9, 8GB iPod touch, Sony PSP and an Eye-Fi WiFi SD card; couple that with one year of internet service and you've got everything that makes up the $1,999 asking price. Reportedly, a slimmed down option will go for $1,100 and only include the router, service and Mini 9, though there's no indication of when it'll be hitting new whips. Nor if Chrysler will survive long enough to tell us.

BlackBerry Storm review

2008-11-20T03:31:00.000-08:00

By now most of us have heard this story in one fashion or another: when Steve Jobs and Apple were in the planning stages of the iPhone, the first carrier they brought the device to America's largest network, Verizon. Even if you haven't heard how the tale ends -- Verizon refused and Jobs took his multi-billion dollar ball to AT&T -- you surely know the outcome.

The iPhone has soared to become the ultimate smartphone, the must-have accessory that everyone from celebrities to your mom wants -- nay, needs -- to have in their pocket. It's changed the landscape of modern cellphones, put a serious dent in the sales of competing devices (just recently overtaking the venerable RAZR as the best-selling domestic handset), and unquestionably raised the bar when it comes to expectations for features in new handsets.

It may seem unfair to open up the review of RIM's latest BlackBerry -- the Storm -- with a history lesson on the iPhone, but if you understand the market which Verizon and RIM hope to capture, then you understand the Storm, and it helps put this critique in perspective. The Storm, a widescreen, touchscreen, device boasts many of the same features as the iPhone, but adds innovations like a clickable display, and comes packed with RIM's legendary email and messaging services. Mainlined into the biggest (and some say best) network in the States, the Storm is an almost deafening blast to the competition at first glance, but does it hold up on closer inspection? Read on to find out.

Industrial design

The Storm is a striking device. From the second you lay eyes on it, it's clear that a lot of time and care went into crafting this phone. The majority of the front panel is display, a large 3.25-inch (480 x 360) touchscreen sitting just shy of flush with a silver bezel that runs around the sides, top, and bottom of the device. The bands seem to be plastic, not metal, and trace the outline of the moderately thick (0.55-inch) phone, looping around the back, while the rest of the surface is a high gloss, piano black plastic. Below the screen are four familiar BlackBerry keys (phone, menu, back, and end / power), along the left is a convenience key and a micro USB port (RIM has eschewed the more common mini USB slot for the lower profile of the newer variation, though that seems to be the way the industry is headed), and on the right side is another convenience key, volume rocker, and (yay!) 3.5mm headphone jack. Around back, the battery cover is made from solid piece of brushed aluminum, and the camera and flash sit atop the plate, covered by a glossy plastic strip. Along the top of the phone there's a single LED to the right, and lock and mute keys incorporated into either side of the casing like soft rockers -- a nice touch. Generally, the construction of the hardware and components used seem higher in quality than previous devices from the company, with buttons that click tightly and a heft that tries (and succeeds) to communicate an understated class.

It's not completely rainbows and unicorns, however. We noticed backlight leaking in through the sides of the screen, which partially killed the continuity of the design (and had us raise eyebrows at build quality), and the screen sort of slides around when it's pressed down and held (more on that later). No deal breakers, but certainly a couple minor niggles we wish we hadn't seen.

Touchscreen

The touchscreen is where most of the attention on this phone will be focused, and rightfully so. Unlike similarly stacked competitors (the iPhone and Instinct come to mind) the Storm doesn't just boast a capacitive touch display, it also utilizes a completely unique "click" technology called SurePress which actually allows you to click the screen down like a mouse button. The purpose of this technology, ostensibly, is to provide two aspects to touch screens which are currently lacking in most devices: the ability to "hover" without selecting or moving an on-screen element, and the physical sensation of "clicking" when you type or navigate. The Storm's screen certainly provides those two things in spades, but our question is whether or not they actually improve the experience of using this sort of device -- and in our opinion, they do not.

Before we plunge into why we feel the hardware doesn't work here, we need to preface it with some information about the software. You can't really talk about one without the other.

What you first should know is that the operating system used on this phone is almost identical to previous BlackBerry OSs -- notably 4.6, as seen on the Bold. The main reason for stating that is because you must understand the basis for the UI design. All modern BlackBerrys use a QWERTY or SureType keypad coupled with a trackball for navigation, in addition to heavy emphasis on a pop-up menu accessible by the "menu" key from pretty much every section of the OS. The difference in 4.7 is not a paradigmatic shift away from this approach, rather, the company has added touch and multitouch functionality to take the place of trackball movements. What this means is that unlike the iPhone, which is most certainly the closest competitor on the market to this phone, the Storm's UI is not custom built for touch navigation -- touch navigation is added after the fact. Things which flow naturally on an iPhone -- flicking through lists, scrolling for a contact, moving around in a webpage or looking through photos -- feel inelegant and uncomfortable on the Storm. There's no inertia to movement, no assurance that your finger is the lynchpin to control of the device. The screen is sensitive enough, surely, but how its software reacts to those touches makes all the difference, and here the feeling is that you're never completely in charge of the phone.

BlackBerrys have garnered an almost mythic stature as the phone for email and messaging. One of the components of RIM's success for that model has been the inclusion of QWERTY keypads (and more recently the halved QWERTY SureType keyboards) on their phones. As any email addict will tell you, very few devices can compete. The slant from RIM's PR on the Storm is that the new clickable touchscreen delivers another high caliber typist's dream to their roster -- but that couldn't be further from the truth. Rather than the click making things easier, it actually makes them more difficult. As you press down to engage a "key," you're required to release before moving to another, which means that you can only type so quickly. In our tests, we were constantly frustrated by the staggering, laggy movement when trying to type with any speed. You have to let the click depress before you can strike another character, and that makes for a stuttery input process. Additionally, hovering over characters is represented by a blue glow, which looks nice when moving around, but in practice doesn't do a very good job of letting you know what key you're touching. We had spelling errors aplenty. All of this would be helped greatly by an intelligent software component that guessed what you meant to type -- much like the iPhone's predictive element. Unfortunately, what RIM provides is more of a glorified T9, which means if you type "fo," it doesn't know you meant to type "do." Ultimately we found ourselves slowly and carefully pecking out messages that should have taken less time to put together, clicking screen or not.

Otherwise, there are a few great implementations of the screen -- copying and pasting, which is the norm on RIM phones, is fully represented here with elegant multitouch functionality. You just grab the beginning and end of a section of text you want to snag with two fingers, and a menu pops up along the bottom for copy / paste duties. In the browser, you can hover above a link with your finger before clicking it (a big help on crowded pages), and you can double tap (not click) to zoom into pages, though there's no way to back out other than hitting the minus magnifying glass. We don't think the technology used for the screen is a dead-end by any measure, but it has a long way to go before it's honestly competing with the iPhone for virtual keyboard domination. Right now it's a nice idea with less in the way of usability than we need. If speed isn't a concern, you'll probably find it manageable, but for BlackBerry addicts and those accustomed to typing on the iPhone, this will be a disappointment.

Besides the new technology behind the display, the screen itself is fairly tremendous. Colors are rich, and contrast is solid. The brightness isn't quite as eye-searing as the iPhone at full tilt, and doesn't even approach the supernova 8830 we've got here, but frankly, how bright do you need it? Everything looked sharp and clear, though we've gotten a little spoiled by the Bold's incredible pixel density, and now other phones seem to pale in comparison.

Software

As we said, 4.7 isn't a huge step up over 4.6, but there are a number of improvements worth mentioning. Navigating through menus and the home screen is still very much a typical BlackBerry experience though. The phone has two levels of "application" screens, the initial landing screen, which gives you eight app icons of your choosing, and a deeper level which displays all of your folders and programs. You can use the touchscreen to hover (or select) each of the icons, giving it that blue glow, but we found it annoying that you couldn't drag your finger across the selections and have the glow follow you (as it does when typing). It gets stuck on the first thing you touch, and you have to re-press to move to another icon -- it seems like it would be more convenient to have the selection follow your movements, but the phone doesn't seem to know the difference between a quick flick up or down and a selection. You click down on the screen to launch an app or make a selection in a list, and you can swipe up and down to move through the list of apps, though it's not nearly as smooth as it should be. BlackBerry fans used to a real keyboard and shortcuts might find themselves a bit lost here when trying to get around quickly -- you can set one of the convenience keys to pop open the virtual keyboard, but it doesn't seem to recognize long presses, shortcuts, or find-as-you-type contact searches like traditional RIM devices (typing on the Storm just takes you to the dialer, why we don't know).

Most components of the UI which require scrolling don't seem drastically changed, but you can now jump through lists by up-down gestures. Again, we found that the lack of inertia made this seem stiffer than expected, though it worked well enough when moving around the phone. RIM has added a few visual tweaks to the OS on the Storm, like crossfades and sideways swipes of pages which admittedly give it a bit more polish, although they seem largely superfluous (don't worry, we feel the same way about the iPhone's zooms and scrolls). Overall, transitions between screens and inside of apps do seem a bit more sluggish than the performance on the Bold, but whether this is due to those new effects or a higher CPU load given the touch recognition and screen size, we can't say. We did find ourselves missing the speedy response of a traditional BlackBerry, and also felt like responses lagged behind our movements enough to be annoying. There seemed to be a few noticeable bugs floating around, and at least one that ground the phone to almost a halt -- when quitting the browser on a page that was still loading, it turned the navigation on the home screen to molasses. Another flaw we had crop up was accelerometer related, an irksome bug that rendered the portrait-to-landscape switching (and vice versa) non-existent. We can't say if that was hardware or software related, but the details count, and those little snags take points away.

Thankfully the browser has been considerably updated. If you have any experience with RIM's last attempt at mobile browsers (the Bold), then you know what manna from heaven any fixes would be. 4.6's browser is, in a word, unusable. Load times are painful, rendering is only sometimes accurate, and mostly it's just a tortuous mess to get around in. We can honestly say that the Storm's implementation is leaps and bounds beyond what the company has previously offered. Pages load quickly and are generally formatted correctly, navigation is much snappier (zooms don't take hours to redraw), and scrolling is tolerable, if not as buttery smooth as we prefer. And ultimately, that's a point that must be made -- while the browser is much better than earlier versions, and is an admirable attempt, it's still a bit behind Mobile Safari and the G1's Webkit-based "Chrome light," lacking support for more advanced features like multiple tabs. Why RIM doesn't build something from scratch (or buy a license from Opera) is a question for the ages -- we can't imagine anyone has any real affection for this experience. Still, for casual tasks and most browsing, you could certainly do worse, and it's nice to know that a lot of energy went into this update.

On the messaging and email front, very little has changed here from earlier RIM phones, save for some of that visual flair. Particularly when it comes to email, the use of screen real estate and selection of fonts seems dated when compared with the iPhone. We won't complain about the email service itself, delivery of messages was rock solid (of course), but a quick glance at the iPhone versus a quick glance at the Storm provides a strong juxtaposition of design languages. Reading email on the BlackBerry was an inconsistent experience, and highlighted the feeling that not too much trouble had been taken to freshen up this UI and format it for the bigger screen. Under the hood, we found account management simple enough, but those looking for solid Gmail integration (like, say, all the people Verizon and RIM hope to lure away from Apple's camp) will be seriously let down. There doesn't seem to be any decent alternative for getting Gmail the way you're used to, save for Google's own app (which is remarkably good save for a few issues).

On that note, third-party software is still a bit weak for the platform, and essentially non-existent for the Storm itself. It doesn't look like using this phone will break any (or most) of the software already out for BlackBerry devices, but there's also not much taking advantage of the new format and screen real estate. In particular, something like the Facebook application -- which Verizon and RIM are pushing hard with the launch of the Storm -- is a poor stand-in for the iPhone offering, sporting exactly the same functionality it does on an older RIM device. Reps from the company assured us that their version of the App Store was coming, and they do have a tidy application manager on the phone already, so we're hoping that third parties really step up their game with the introduction of the Storm.

Because the phone is being marketed as a convergence device, it's got an extra emphasis on media functions. In truth, the media players / browsers are almost identical to 4.6's options, though again there's some nice visual flair added. The bigger screen allows for larger artwork to be shown off, and it's a match made in heaven for video playback. Management of media is still pretty standard -- we copied files back and forth between the microSD card (8GB is included with the phone), but there's no flashy Cover Flow or anything. In fact, we noticed a slight graphic glitch when moving from portrait to landscape, which might be nothing, or may be due to the fact the phone has no hardware acceleration for graphics.

All in all, the software feature-set the phone ships with is incredibly strong. There's a broad selection of applications, including the "To Go" suite that allow you to view and edit Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents. Average (and even not so average) users will be hard pressed to find something that's missing, and RIM makes it easy enough to grab key software if someone wants it. You have to hand it to them, they cover pretty much all the bases... save for one nasty omission.

We were a bit stunned to find out that we couldn't sync the Storm with our Mac out of the box. We don't mean "hey we couldn't sync with iTunes" (we're not insane), we mean, "hey, we can't sync this, at all, in any way." For the few Mac users that also happen to dig BlackBerrys, there's a piece of software RIM offers free of charge called PocketMac, which does a half decent job of at least throwing your contacts, calendars, and other assorted must-haves onto your device -- but you're out of luck if you buy a Storm. Apparently, the software needs an update badly, and if you expect to enjoy the same service it provides to something like a Bold, you'll be surprised and annoyed (as we were) to find this doesn't let you sync your data. For that, right now, you're going to have to go download (and pay for) something like Missing Sync. It's pretty outrageous to us that in crafting a device so obviously aimed at the iPhone's marketshare no one thought to make it accessible to Apple users even a little. Look, we know it's not a huge segment of the market, but it's there, and if history has taught us anything, it's a segment to be reckoned with.

Phone / Data

When it comes to sound quality and reception for making actual phone calls, you can't beat this combination. RIM phones generally have loud and clear earpieces and speakerphones, and Verizon -- love it or hate it -- has a great network. Those two facts are certainly apparent when it comes to the Storm. We found the earpiece to be plenty loud, and the speakerphone equally booming. If we had a complaint, we'd say the mid-range was a bit shrill on the phone. The Bold, by comparison, has a much warmer, well-rounded output. Still, that's a pretty minor complaint, and if you're looking for sheer network-clutching goodness, this is a pretty damn good choice. In addition to Verizon's CDMA, EV-DO, Rev. A madness, the Storm sports a GSM radio (a number of them), so you can grab HSPA in the rest of the world, and truck on some sweet, sweet EDGE here in the States.

Speaking of that EV-DO, the download speeds and network stability of the Storm seem pretty tight. Although the phone omits WiFi, as long as you stay inside decent Verizon coverage areas, you won't feel that sting too badly.

Camera / GPS / Battery life

In general, picture quality was excellent on the camera, which offers a healthy 3.2-megapixel resolution. The only problem we had -- and it was a big one -- was the fact that it took ages to focus and snap a shot. There were numerous times when trying to photograph something that we lost the shot because of the length of time it took the camera to kick in. In broad daylight, things fared a slight bit better, but when using the flash, it was pretty hard to get good results. This seems like something that could take a simple software tweak to fix -- we know the camera looks nice, we just need it to take photos faster. A lot faster.

One of the nice things about the Storm is that it's not just capable of doing still photos, but can shoot video as well. Results are mediocre, allowing capture up to 320 x 240, with quite a bit of heavy artifacting. Still, knowing that you can pull this out to grab something reminds us -- yet again -- that this is a necessary basic for modern cellphones.

Using the device for navigation garnered excellent results in terms of signal reception and tracking, but having to slug through the abysmal Verizon Navigator software isn't exactly joyous (dudes, that intro animation is the worst thing we've ever seen). It would be nice to see some third party options on the device for PND duties, though at least Verizon tries to throw a lot of content into the mix (movie times, traffic, local search), no matter how heavy handed it feels (real, real heavy handed).

Since we had a very, very limited time to test the phone, we can't really give you solid figures on battery life. In casual use, however, the Storm seems to be going strong even after a heavy workload: browsing, media player, and phone calls. We've had the phone on and chugging all day, and it's only seeing about about a 30 percent drop in life so far. If this keeps up, you can color us officially impressed with the juice you can pull out of this thing.

Wrap-up

It's clear from the device itself and the massive promotional push that both RIM and Verizon are giving the Storm that they view this as a proper threat to the iPhone's dominance in the smartphone market. Over the last few weeks we've been bombarded with commercials, leaks, press releases, and special events all celebrating the arrival of the Storm, both here and abroad. So it seems fairly obvious that yes, the companies believe they have a real contender on their hands -- and in many ways they do. The selling points are easy: the phone is gorgeous to look at and hold, it's designed and backed by RIM (now almost a household name thanks to their prevalence in the business and entertainment markets), and it's packed with features that, on paper, make it seem not only as good as the iPhone, but better. The only hitch in this plan is a major one: it's not as easy, enjoyable, or consistent to use as the iPhone, and the one place where everyone is sure they have an upper hand -- that wow-inducing clickable screen -- just isn't all that great. For casual users, the learning curve and complexity of this phone will feel like an instant turn off, and for power users, the lack of a decent typing option and considerable lagginess in software will give them pause. RIM tried to strike some middle ground between form and function, and unfortunately came up short on both.

Going into this review, we really wanted to love this phone. On paper it sounds like the perfect antidote to our gripes about the iPhone, and in some ways it lives up to those promises -- but more often then not while using the Storm, we felt let down or frustrated. Ultimately, this could be a great platform with a little more time in the oven, but right now, it feels undercooked -- and that's not enough for us.

via engdaget

Dell's Core i7-powered XPS 730x reviewed: potent and pricey, like it should be

2008-11-20T03:30:00.000-08:00

Whenever Intel (or AMD, for that matter) drops a wicked quick new chip, everyone knows it ain't gonna be cheap. Critics over at Computer Shopper would like to remind you to keep that in mind as you scope out Dell's Core i7-powered XPS 730x, 'cause the thing sports a price tag that's rather absurd. Dollars and cents aside, the machine is about as powerful as one could hope, offering enough muscle to churn through the most demanding of games. The biggest issue these reviewers had was that many other capable Core i7 rigs could put up similar FPS numbers for substantially less dough, and in the end, it didn't find the flash in Dell's enclosure to be worth the surcharge. Granted, that didn't stop the beast from snagging an 8.1 out of 10 on the review scale, but that's probably assuming you've got the disposable income lying around and ready to burn.

Mobispine's iPhone MMS application... for the entire universe?

2008-11-20T03:28:00.000-08:00

We heard yesterday that Telia customers might be getting an MMS app for their iPhones, and that it was being developed by the carrier themselves, with plans to launch in the next two months. Well, today we've gotten word that Mobispine is likely the developer of said application, and that they have plans to offer it to carriers all over planet Earth.

Mobispine says that the app will be branded to each particular operator, and distributed via Apple's App Store, but we don't know when all of this is going to go down. Now we'd just like to meet the caveman owner of the iPhone pictured above who needed to be told (on November 15th!) that "Obama will be our next president."

Samsung's awe-inspiring 256GB SSD now available, still unpriced

2008-11-20T03:27:00.000-08:00

We can think of exactly one reason Samsung still won't dish out a price on its completely mind-melting 256GB FlashSSD: because those that have to know, can't afford. The drive, which was announced way back in May of the year two-thousand and eight, doubles the performance rates of the firm's 64GB and 128GB SSDs.

More specifically, we're looking at sequential read rates of 220MB/sec and sequential write rates of 200MB/sec, and in layman's terms, it's quick enough to store 25 HD movies in 21 minutes and open basic applications 10 times faster than the quickest 7,200RPM notebook drive. In other words, you want.

Microsoft revamps Zune Pass: keep ten tracks per month forever and ever

2008-11-20T01:05:00.000-08:00

There's just nothing like the holiday season, folks. That warm, fuzzy feeling you get when spending your last dollar on a gift for someone you aren't even that fond of -- really, what else can compare? On second thought, maybe this can. Microsoft has just announced that, beginning today, Zune Pass users will be able to select ten tracks per month to keep forever (and ever, and ever), and the $14.99 monthly subscription rate isn't headed up.

Agreements have been miraculously nailed down between Microsoft and EMI Music, Sony BMG Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group, not to mention a number of independent distributors. We must say, we certainly appreciate the gesture here, but is it enough to make fencesitters buy in? What say you?

Apple TV 2.3 update adds AirTunes streaming, support for other IR remotes

2008-11-20T01:04:00.000-08:00

For home theater junkies who've been having a difficult time taking the Apple TV seriously, you should definitely have a look at what the latest software update brings to the dinner table. First off, we should warn you that any non-Apple TV software (like, you know, Boxee) will be banished should you choose to update, but if you're kosher on that front, we'll continue on.

Apple's changelog notes that AirTunes streaming is now enabled, meaning that tunes can be streamed from the STB to AirPort Express speakers or other ATV units nearby. Additionally, the box can now learn other remotes, meaning that you can probably get your universal remote to handle this bugger, too. The last big addition is that Playlists in iTunes can now be seen on Apple TV, and there's also support for volume control in Music. Grab the download from within your box now if you dare, and feel free to chime in with any other noteworthy changes you happen upon.

Meraki's Solar Powered Wi-Fi Repeater Finally Shipping in December

2008-11-19T23:29:00.000-08:00

We first wrote about Meraki and their solar-powered Wi-Fi repeater back in mid '07, but they're finally getting ready to ship these next month. According to Cleantechnica, it's going to be $749 if you have your own solar panel, which then balloons up to $1499 for "larger units". The main idea that Meraki is going after is "getting internet access to everyone", so powering these units off of el sol is a good idea.

City planners can deploy these in parks, or really rich people can deploy these all over their multi-acre ranches so they can torrent anywhere. If Michael Jackson still had Neverland, he'd be all up in this solar action.

Dell Inspiron Mini 12 Review

2008-11-19T23:21:00.000-08:00

The Dell Inspiron Mini 12 is a bit confused. It packs an Intel Atom processor, which makes it a netbook. But it also has a 12-inch screen, which exceeds our definition of what a netbook can be. On one hand it's a natural evolution of the genre in an ever growing screen size arms race, topping the 10-inchers like a razor company adding another blade. On the other, the Inspiron Mini 12 reaches a size and pricepoint that makes it comparable to far more capable systems from Dell in the same pricerange.

But rather than focus on philosophy, I'll say that the Inspiron Mini 12 feels better than any netbook I've used to date...even if it cheated a bit in the process.

Design

The build of the Mini 12 is excellent. Even with the extended battery, it feels light and easy to toss around. But it's more than the weight that makes it so comfortable to carry. Its bottom has a sandpapery texture, which grips a hand with confidence.

You'll also notice that the side profile is tapered along the bottom edges. I don't know that it makes any difference in how the computer actually rests on a table, but it looks nice enough.

The Mini 12's keyboard is still not full-sized, but it's adequate to feel comfortable and satisfyingly clicky. Meanwhile, the trackpad does leave something to be desired. The texture is simply off to me, simultaneously smooth and bumpy, it almost feels like a skin rash. The right and left mouse buttons below tend to recess when pressed more than any laptop I've ever used. It's and off-putting sensation at first, but I grew to appreciate the mechanical feel.

As for the screen, it's a luxury to use. The experience is completely different than an 8.9-inch display that you find in most standard netbooks nowadays (including own Dell's Mini 9). There's decent color, solid contrast, and sharp 1280X800 resolution...but just moderate brightness. The max setting was just adequately bright, which considering the fact that LCDs fade with time, is something to keep in mind—especially if you like to fry your eyes like I do.

The biggest surprise of the testing had to be how cool the system ran. The bottom didn't heat my lap at all, feeling only lukewarm to the touch. I can only assume that the larger case mixed with a low wattage processor dissipates heat very well. However the engineering worked out, I'll take it.

But if there was one thing I would change, it would be the charging and power light. It sits on the hinge in a prominent position that you can see even when closed, but it's far too dim, and it's viewable from a very limited range of angles. Put it this way, for the first day I had the system, I thought Dell had omitted this light altogether.

Ultimately though, it's just a nice looking machine that feels great to put yours hands on, a far cry from the humble original Eee and something you'll be proud to pull out at board meetings and pretentious coffee shops alike.

Function

So here's the rub: While I love the Dell design, the hardware/software combination has slowed the Mini 12 to barely usable levels. The model I tested was the $550 base system with a 1.33GHz Atom, 1GB of RAM and 40GB hard drive. That system should be alright for XP (though we'd love to see a 2GB RAM upgrade option), but it's just not enough to power Vista. And you can only buy the system with Vista.

The system crawls with constant multi-second stalls, and effective multitasking is pretty much impossible. Sadly, there's not much more to say on the topic. Simple mental math tells us that this system shouldn't be running Vista as it skirts the minimum requirements of Home Basic, and our real world testing shows us the same thing. Of course, Vista alone doesn't mean you should pass over the Mini 12. Just expect to reinstall the OS with the purchase and come to terms with the fact that your paying licensing rights for an OS that you won't use.

Battery Life

I tested the battery life through MPEG4 video playback with the default processing settings and the screen at max brightness (max, to me, is the ideal viewing brightness).

Base 3-cell Battery - 1 hour, 20 minutes

Extended 6-cell battery - 4 hours, 2 minutes

At a glance, this 12-inch Dell system looks to about as power efficient as the 10-inch MSI Wind, though it loses about 20 minutes on the 3-cell battery (we're guessing through a combination of more computational rigorous testing methods and a larger screen). Keep in mind that if you expect to hang out around a plug, the AC adapter is quite light, lacking any big power brick to speak of.

Back to Square One

Without opening the Dell Inspiron Mini 12 box, I would have expected exactly what I encountered—a solidly built system that shouldn't be running Vista. But even loaded with XP, and even in the $600 configuration that we'd recommend (1.6GHz Atom, 60GB hard drive, 1GB RAM and 6-cell battery), the system still begs the question of value. A slightly smaller, equally powered MSI Wind will run you $350. And you can get a slightly bigger Core2Duo Dell laptop for $600 easy.

It's true. From a performance standpoint alone, there's almost no question that the Dell Mini 12 isn't "worth it." But if you don't want to squint at a screen yet you still want a system that breaks the 3-pound barrier, then it's hard not to be a little infatuated with the Mini 12. Just rip Vista off that thing as quickly as possible.

Price confusion over Nokia 5800 XpressMusic mercifully ends (maybe)

2008-11-19T22:54:00.001-08:00

It's probably fair to say that no one in Spain had a very good day on Friday when the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic showed up on Nokia.es for €429 (about $550), up from its earlier €279. Well it looks like the zaniness at least kind of has an explanation, though it's not one that's likely to cool any enraged heels.

Apparently the base price of the phone was, and is €279, but "each country" can bundle it with whatever they choose, thereby upping the overall price. Sounds fun, right? So, in Spain, they've kindly bundled the 5800 with a €100 Nokia Music Store voucher and a 3-month subscription to Nokia Maps Navigation service. Presumably other countries can follow suit -- though these moves are apparently only valid through the holiday season, because the 5800, all by its lonesome, goes on sale in January for... you guessed it: €279.

HP's multitouch convertible tablet starts at $1,149.. fantastic...

2008-11-19T22:48:00.000-08:00

Oh sure, you could select Dell's multitouch-enabled Latitude XT over HP's latest, but given the $1,829 starting price of the former, we'd say the TouchSmart tx2z is looking a lot more delectable these days. Hailed as the first multitouch "consumer" convertible tablet (a claim that's certainly open for debate), the 12.1-inch tx2 gets going at just $1,149.99, though HP's "recommended" configuration starts at $1,223.99.

The baseline setup includes Vista Home Premium, a 2.1GHz AMD Turion X2, 3GB of DDR2 RAM, an ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics set, 250GB of HDD space and a built-in webcam. As of now, the estimated build date shows December 8th, so we'd get that order in five minutes ago if you're looking to ensure a holiday delivery.

LG's fashionable Prada II (and watch) gets shown to the camera

2008-11-19T22:45:00.000-08:00

Well, that didn't take long. Merely hours after LG's Prada II was treated to a dedicated microsite, along comes the hands-on photographs we've been expecting. CNET's UK branch was able to wrangle one in, and as predicted, the mobile didn't hesitate to pose for a few nice snapshots.

Eagle-eyed readers will notice that it certainly put on a little heft since the first go 'round, but the slight downturn in attractivity is more than compensated by the inclusion of a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Have a peek at the read link for more hands-on goodness, including a look at the matching Bluetooth wristwatch.

MSI Wind U120 gets spotted..

2008-11-19T22:44:00.000-08:00

We've already seen a few shots of MSI's forthcoming Wind U120 netbook, but our pals at Engadget Chinese have now taken in one of its first public appearances and, naturally, they've provided plenty of pics for folks to dive into.

That includes some close-up shots of the netbook's slightly revised port situation, some comparison shots with the non-two tone U100, and even another glimpse of that 9-cell battery we've already seen floating about. MSI also had it's full-fledged Bravo EX620 laptop on display, though it's a pretty safe bet that we won't be seeing it 'round these parts anytime soon.

Seagate free agent for your holidays...

2008-11-19T22:42:00.000-08:00

Seagate kicked out a couple of FreeAgent Go hard drives a few months back, but it's now gone all out and let loose an even more colorful batch in the hope of attracting a bit more attention among holiday shoppers -- as usual, Festivus revelers luck out year 'round with the ever-present, aluminum pole-matching silver option.

From the looks of it, the drives are still available in the same 250GB, 320GB, and 500GB capacitiies as before for $120, $150, and $200, respectively, and those that register their drives between November 28th and New Year's day will get a bonus multimedia package including 50 free songs from eMusic and some other goodies. You can also pick up a desktop docking station separately for $30, just don't expect to get it in matching colors.

NVIDIA announces cost, energy-saving Tesla Personal Supercomputer, are you really need it???

2008-11-19T05:23:00.000-08:00

AMD has already outlined its plans to harness the power of its GPUs for some added computing muscle, and it looks like NVIDIA is now taking things one step further by announcing its new GPU-based Tesla Personal Supercomputer, which promises to deliver the power of a traditional supercomputer cluster at 1/100th of the price. That "personal supercomputer" is actually a platform based on NVIDIA's new Tesla C1060 GPU Computing Processor, which itself is based on NVIDIA's CUDA parallel computing architecture.

The supercomputers themselves will come from a whole host of manufacturers that have already partnered with NVIDIA, including ASUS, Dell, Lenovo, and a number of more specialized computer makers. While complete details on those systems are still a bit light at the moment, they'll apparently be "priced like a conventional PC workstation," and the first few out of the gate should be available starting today.

via engadget

PSP 3000 finally, inevitably hacked by Datel's Lite Blue Tool

2008-11-19T05:22:00.000-08:00

Hacking the PSP has long been a popular pastime, but the 3000 model has proven a tough nut to crack. Don't pop open the champagne just yet, though, Sony -- Datel has revealed a special battery peripheral called the Lite Blue Tool that boots the handheld console into service mode, where downgrades to earlier, cracked firmwares are possible. Of course, most older PSPs could be downgraded without any additional hardware and you only needed a battery like Pandora if you failed the idiot test and bricked your system, but be patient, pirates totally legit homebrew types -- Rome wasn't burnt in a day. Lite Blue is priced at an affordable $29.99, not bad for an interim solution if homebrew and "backups" are your thing.

via engadget

Apple's 24-inch LED Cinema Display is go for purchase, are you ready to rock???

2008-11-19T05:19:00.001-08:00

November is here and it looks like Apple just pulled the retail trigger on its 24-inch LED-backlit Cinema Display. While it still says "ships: November" Apple just added the "Add to cart" button allowing you to place your order with standard 5 business day, 2nd day, or next business day shipping.

$899 takes home a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution, DisplayPort, built-in iSight camera / mic, integrated stereo speakers, 3-port USB hub, and MagSafe adapter for your like-equipped MacBook. Sure, it'll look great next to all your Apple gear but you can get a similar panel (if not exactly the same) or better with more expansion for a lot less.

Update: It's worth noting that while there are plenty of bright, 24-inch LCD monitors on the market, Apple's is relatively inexpensive (possibly the cheapest) for LED backlit monitors of this size. We'll have to see how it stacks up side-by-side before getting too huffy about the price. As to the lack of additional ports for game consoles, etc: huff away.

via engadget

Apple: Snow Leopard release in Q1 2009, have to waiting for long???

2008-11-19T05:18:00.000-08:00

Oops. Jordan Hubbard, Director of Apple's Unix Technology Group, made a boo boo. The slide above was pulled from the deck presented last week at the LISA (Large Installation System Administration) conference. Up until now, Apple had only been willing to say that OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard would be ready "in about a year" -- that was back in early June at WWDC.

You just know that this will have Steve fuming given Apple's tight control over information. One thing is perfectly clear: the race is on for both Redmond (rumored to be shooting for a mid-2009 Windows 7 launch) and Cupertino, nobody wants to be second with their next gen OS release.

via macrumors

Dell SP2309W hits for $379: your old display is marked for death

2008-11-19T05:04:00.000-08:00

If you're in the market for a reasonably sized, widescreen flat panel monitor, Dell just added one more choice to the platter. The SP2309W, which we saw officially announced back in September, is now available on the company's site.

The screen boasts a 2048 x 1152 resolution, 300 nits of eye-searing brightness, a 80,000:1 contrast ratio, and all the DVI, HDMI and VGA ports you could ever need (well, one of each actually). The display retails for $379, and don't even think about stealing it. Seriously. Steven's watching, wise guy.

via engadget

Sony Ericsson's XPERIA X1a available for pre-order at Best Buy

2008-11-16T06:27:00.000-08:00

As one astute tipster's pointed out, the XPERIA X1a is now available for pre-order on the Best Buy site. Now that the phone's really, finally, almost here are you totally psyched? Or have you been too busy playing with your G1 to notice? Like we saw last week, the phone will retail for $799.99 in its unlocked form, and there's no word yet on pricing with a plan.

Order now and they claim you'll receive the phone as soon as November 28th. So... what are you waiting for?

via engadget

MacBook innards crammed into makeshift mini Mac Pro tower

2008-11-16T06:25:00.000-08:00

When we first laid eyes upon the slick box pictured above, we were struck with an eerie feeling of déjà vu. Now, it all makes sense.

After receiving an all-but-completely-dead MacBook, one particular modder decided to rip the motherboard out, break out the soldering iron, throw in a few replacement parts and shove everything into a Macally G-S350SUA aluminum hard drive enclosure. Wanna know why? Because he had a peek at this -- a Mac Pro Mini mod that popped up here in March. Talk about taking inspiration and improving upon it.

via hack-a-day

Canonical bringing Ubuntu to ARM-powered devices

2008-11-16T06:23:00.000-08:00

It was inevitable, really -- now that ARM processors are bound for netbooks and the like, it follows logic that ARM would tag team with Canonical to bring along Ubuntu support. The two firms have collaborated in order to "bring the full Ubuntu Desktop operating system to the ARMv7 processor architecture (targeting the Cortex-A8 and Cortex -A9 in particular) to address demand from device manufacturers.

" They even go out of their way to assert that this is all about bringing Ubuntu to "new netbooks and hybrid computers," though we're still hopeful that the OS will find its way into even more diminutive ARM-powered devices in the future. Sadly, you'll have to wait until April of 2009 to see the fruits of this so-very-special relationship.

via cnet

Walmart Black Friday doorbuster deals leak out early, we'll sleep in

2008-11-16T06:21:00.000-08:00

If you skipped Walmart's pre-Black Friday festivities pat yourself on the back, as -- despite its lawyers hard work C&Ding unauthorized early ad postings into oblivion -- CNNMoney reveals the "doorbuster" highlights probably not worth getting trampled for this year.

Between 5-10 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving the already-discounted Magnavox Blu-ray player drops from $198 to $128 (a BDP-S300 might still be a better value), 50-inch Samsung plasma of unspecified resolution is only $798 (720p, bet on it), and Xbox 360 + Guitar Hero III & wireless guitar pack (all the real plastic guitar aficionados have moved on to Rock Band 2) drops in for $199. Slightly lower profile are a $398 HP desktop PC and $175 gas grill but c'mon, we all know it's the high definition (it'll be a lonely holiday without the suddenly too-good for us Vizio) that will have you shivering outside your local retailer with the soccer moms and other deal hunters

via engadget

Dell's Mini 12 netbook is ready for US orders, ships in December

2008-11-13T21:57:00.000-08:00

It was bound to happen sooner or later. We received the birth announcement, we read the reviews, and it looks like Dell is finally set to unleash the Mini 12 upon us lowly North Americans. The 12-inch netbook is pretty much what we expected specs-wise, starting at $549 for a 1.33GHz Atom processor, 1GB of memory, 40GB hard drive and standard 3 cell battery.

Perhaps $758 is a little steep for a netbook, but if you're game the top-end machine sports a 1.6GHz Atom processor, 80GB hard drive and a 6 cell battery. All configurations should be shipping with Windows Vista Home Basic starting sometime in early December.

via engadget

HTC MAX 4G: The first WiMax phone...it's really needed???

2008-11-13T21:46:00.000-08:00

Yesterday HTC has announced the firs WiMax phone (Worldwide Iteroperability for Microwave Access). But you need to be passion cause you can only find at Russia that have WiMAx network applied, and HTC choose to sold HTC MAX 4G only at Russia..

It's simply beautiful with touchflo 3D and really helpful for someone with a big, huge, giant finger. Using qualcomm ESM7206A 528 MHz as the processor with 256 ROM, 288 MB RAM and 8 GB internal flash memory, all of your stuff can be handled with this gadget. And what about the camera??? I dont know but it have one camera with high resolution and VGA camera for video calling and you'll be guaranteed the quality of this feature cause it use High Data Speed Network WiMax...hey It's 4G bro...

click here to read

HTC Touch HD review roundup

2008-11-13T21:39:00.000-08:00

The HTC Touch HD may be somewhat hard to come by 'round these parts, but it certainly hasn't been making itself shy overseas, where it has been unboxed, examined, and given the early review treatment. Now that it's readily available in the UK, there's even more reviews of the phone cropping up, which seem to mostly agree that while it's not a phone for everyone, it definitely impresses.

Among those completely blowing things out is Phone Arena, which, as you might expect, was especially impressed by the phone's screen, and describe it as "the phone for document viewing." Pocket Now was equally impressed by that "HD" display, as well as its overall performance and battery life, which they were pleased to find was about on par with the HD-less Touch Pro. CNET was even more effusive in its praise, saying that, despite its drawbacks, it is "HTC's best Windows Mobile phone yet." Windows Mobile, and HTC's GUI, proved to be a point of contention for the folks at Slash Gear, however, who say the phone would be even better running a next-gen version of the OS, or possibly even Android (a sentiment also echoed by Phone Arena). Other drawbacks include the phone's sheer size, some poor performance from TouchFLO 3D (despite an update) and, of course, it's lack of US 3G bands, which presents a bit of a problem for folks considering importing one. Still undecided? Then dive into the links below and watch the time slip away.

read PhoneArena

3's Facebook-loving INQ1 launches in the UK

2008-11-13T21:36:00.000-08:00

You probably remember 3 network subsidiary INQ's announcement of the INQ1, their first stab at a phone? Well, it's launched in London and is officially "coming soon." As previously mentioned, the phone is nothing fancy or revolutionary, but its integration with Skype (just like 3's Skypephone), Facebook, and a handful of other consumer-friendly apps is something worth taking note of. When available, the slider will come in black and silver and though we don't know the exact price, last we heard it would cost under £99 with no contract. No details on the handset making its way to the US as of yet -- it's complicated -- but we'll keep you updated. Don't forget to check out a few shots of the (very attractive) packaging after the break.

via engadget

Korean geniuses invent lithium batteries with eight times the juice

2008-11-13T21:34:00.000-08:00

Oh, what wondrous things come from the land of Korea -- dancing emotional robot humanoids, oxygen-emitting robot plants, and multiple 24-hour StarCraftchannels. It's all good, and we dig robotics and televised gaming, but this latest invention could be our favorite if it pans out. Professor Cho Jae-Phil and his team at Hanyang University have replaced the graphite in lithium batteries with a certain kind of silicon, which we're told can store eight times the power. No word on what the batteries have actually been used for yet, but it stands to reason they could eventually make it to consumer electronics. Now you see why we're willing to say this might be better than 24-hour StarCraft. Say it with us: 48-hour StarCraft.

via engadget

Sam's Clubs' Nintendo Wii Family Bundle packs three controller pairs and a Wii for $224 on Black Friday

2008-11-12T10:01:00.001-08:00

Craving the gargantuan cement landscape of your local Sam's Club, mixed with the sweet prospect of scoring a Wii (and a barrel of free accessories) below MSRP? Get ready to fight for it. Come "Black Friday," that most manufactured of all shopping days, Sam's Club will be selling a $224 Wii "Family Bundle" that includes the console, three Wiimotes, three nunchuks, Wii Sports, Mario Super Sluggers and King of Clubs Mini Golf.

The trouble is, naturally, these will be in "limited quantities," and at this price we're guessing they'll be pretty darn scarce -- more like a bit of bait to get you lined up at 3am and end up buying pretzels, jeans and refrigerators in bulk before going home dejected and self-loathing. This should be so much fun!

via engadget

Windows Mobile 6.5 screenshots have a little Zune in 'em

2008-11-12T10:01:00.000-08:00

Windows Mobile 6.5 was just a whisper on a Motorola phone chief Sanjay Jha's lips two weeks ago, but now that Ballmer himself has confirmed that there's at least one more rev of WinMo 6 en route before Windows Mobile 7 hits it looks like the floodgates have opened -- check out these hot screenshots, one of which seems to have been liberally dipped in Zune sauce.

We're hoping that means we'll see some Zune integration with this next generation of handsets, but we're not going to get too worked up yet (cough, Xbox). It does look quite nice, though, and we've got our fingers crossed that this revamp is more than just a pretty new home screen and app launcher -- you're way late to that party, Microsoft. No telling on when 6.5 will actually get here, but Ballms said it'll be sometime next year, so we're guessing we don't have too long to wait.

Update: As several of you have pointed out, some of the icons are a little suspicious -- that "Today" icon is OS X's Home icon, for example. We're hoping this is the real deal and not just a user-made skin, but we wouldn't start making any long term plans here.

via WMPowerUser

A Few Handy, Hidden OS X Shortcuts

2008-11-12T05:23:00.000-08:00

It's easy to consider yourself a keyboard shortcut master until one morning you hit the wrong key combination and something exciting and new happens. Just this morning, I discovered a handful of new keyboard shortcuts on my Mac that I had never heard of but that I plan to integrate into my workflow ASAP.

In short, the hitherto unknown-to-me shortcuts align very closely with Emacs, one of the five most popular text editors. Emacs is full of untraditional (for most) and handy little shortcuts that can come in incredibly useful under the right circumstances.

Emacs Shortcuts for OS X

The shortcuts I've tested on my Mac this morning are:

Ctrl+A: Beginning of line (like Home)
Ctrl+B: Backward one character (like hitting the left arrow)
Ctrl+D: Forward delete (like the Forward Delete button on Macs)
Ctrl+E: End of line (like End)
Ctrl+F: Forward one character (like hitting the right arrow)
Ctrl+H: I'm not entirely sure on this one, but it looks like it just does a right-to-left delete (like the regular delete key on Macs).
Ctrl+K: Kill/remove text between cursor and the end of the line.
Ctrl+N: Next line (like down arrow)
Ctrl+P: Previous line (like up arrow)
Ctrl+U: Remove/delete current line
Ctrl+V: Page down

When Would I Use These?

As you can tell, you probably won't be using most of these shortcuts all that often—for example, most people would probably find it easier to just hit the right arrow than perform a Ctrl+F keyboard combo, and some duplicate other shortcuts that are already ingrained in your muscle memory—but others can come in very handy. For example, the Home/End keys don't always work how you'd want them to—even after remapping them. Running Gmail on Firefox in OS X, for example, neither Home/End nor Cmd+Right/Left work in emails when I'm in Rich Formatting mode. You know what does, though? Ctrl+A/E.

There's a good chance you may not adopt many (or any) of these extra shortcuts, but it's always good to know your options. Whether you've been using these shortcuts forever on OS X or not, let's hear your favorites and any I missed in the comments.

via gizmodo

iTunes Store Debuts Discount Movies and Albums

2008-11-12T05:22:00.000-08:00

The iTunes Store is now offering a weekly selection of albums and movies for download at $4.99 each. On the music side, pick up classics like the Clash's "Combat Rock" and Miles Davis's "Birth of Cool." On the movie side, it seems to be a tribute to California's Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, with classic Saturday afternoon popcorn fare like Terminator 2, Total Recall, and Red Heat (there's absolutely nothing classic about The Last Action Hero).

Yes, they come laced with DRM, you'll have to burn them to your own CDs or DVDs for archiving, and you have to sign up with the iTunes Store and download iTunes to play them—but for those of you who haven't started shopping via iTunes already, at this price, you might be interested.

via gizmodo

AMD to release Atom killer netbook CPUs tomorrow?

2008-11-12T05:16:00.000-08:00

We've been hearing rumors of AMD's Atom killer CPUs for over a year now. Unfortunately, vapor doesn't help the bottom line -- it does however explain AMD's conspicuous absence from the deluge of netbooks now trumping laptops for shelf-space. AMD's CEO, Dirk Meyer, has promised on a few occasions (as recently as the Q3 earnings call) to unveil"Bobcat" in November. So seeing the chips on display at tomorrow's analyst conference is pretty much a given. Check back then for all the details.

via engadget

Acer's Aspire One A110X "Black Edition" hits the streets of Germany

2008-11-12T00:33:00.004-08:00

The Aspire One is selling really well, in spite of the fact that it kind of gets lost in the overwhelming wilderness of more exciting (cooler, if you will) netbooks, so it's not necessarily surprising to see it appearing in new and zany colors... like black. S

ure, it's exactly the same as every other Aspire One 110 we've ever seen, but this one is... all black. In fact, it's like, how much more black could this be? And the answer is none. None more black. The special "Black Edition" has touched down in Germany for €400 (or about $500), which is a bit more than we're used to paying for the old 110, but it seems worth it to express so much with so little effort.

via engadget

Cisco teams up with Yankees to bring HDTV experience to the new stadium

2008-11-12T00:33:00.003-08:00

The new Yankee Stadium is going to be all tech-ed up by Cisco, according to an announcement made by Hal Steinbrenner on an impressive telepresence conference call this morning. The partnership has already yielded about $15 million of wiring and infrastructure for the stadium, with more promised.

So what does this mean for you, the rabid Yankees fan, at the game? Well, they're calling it a new "fan experience," but for now, it essentially boils down to 1,100 HD video monitors all over the stadium doing things like playing "interactive" video, giving stats in real time, and offering the ability to do truly wild stuff like order concessions from your seat and see how long the line at the nearest bathroom is. If it sounds too good to be true well, it's not -- kind of. Most of these features will supposedly be available when the stadium opens, though only in the luxury boxes... but Steinbrenner claims that infrastructure is already in place which will allow the stadium to provide these extras for everyone in the house eventually. We also hear there's going to be WiFi throughout the stadium, and that one 16 ounce Budweiser will run you $24.50. As long as we can count on them to use those thousand monitors to get people to do the wave while listening to "Cotton-Eyed Joe," we're there.

via The LoHud Yankees blog

Dell's XPS 430 tower makes a stealth entrance

2008-11-12T00:33:00.002-08:00

Dell made a lot of noise about its otherwise-ordinary Art House laptops today, but we didn't hear a peep about the XPS 430 desktops that slid online as well. The update to the XPS 420 ditches the SideShow display but now starts with 6GB of DDR3 RAM and features a newer slate of Intel Core 2 Quad processors running on a 1,333MHz bus with 256MB ATI Radeon HD 3450 graphics -- the base $1,307 model has a 2.33GHz Q8200 while the higher-powered $1,767 configuration has a 2.5GHz Q9300 and comes bundled with a 22-inch SP2208WFP LCD.

True to Dell form, you can go crazy on the BTO tip and order the 430 jacked with a 3.0GHz QX9650 Core 2 Extreme, 8GB of RAM, a 2TB RAID, and Blu-ray burner for $3,267, but we've got a feeling those less-insane stock configurations might sell just a hair better when orders start shipping in November.

via engadget