Recompute cardboard PC in the flesh: it’s real, it boots, it’s made of cardboard
October 1, 2010 No Comment
We took delivery of a Recompute recently. This doesn’t sound like a stunning statement: we get fancy new tech to play with all of the time, some of it stamped with the “green” moniker for better or worse. But the Recompute is just so far fetched: an entire desktop PC… built with cardboard! Sure, the internals are standard off-the-shelf PC components, but from the outside Recompute looks like nothing we’ve ever seen, and that’s really saying something for a desktop industry that’s tried just about every look twice. Check out our impressions of the green machine after the break. Gallery: Recompute cardboard PC in the flesh Continue reading Recompute cardboard PC in the flesh: it’s real, it boots, it’s made of cardboard Recompute cardboard PC in the flesh: it’s real, it boots, it’s made of cardboard originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 18:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Sprint Epic 4G update delayed by ‘administrative issues,’ consumer rage released on schedule
October 1, 2010 No Comment
And this, folks, is a lesson of what not to do if you’re a major carrier with a majorly perturbed user base. In a way, this sort of feels like the Instinct update debacle all over again, with users claiming that a promised software update was being held beyond the 30 day return window in order to keep contracts alive. 24 hours after a Sprint forum administrator proudly proclaimed that a long-awaited Epic 4G software update was rolling out over the next few days, another admin has chimed in with a nearly-audible “sike!” Rather than letting users cheer its hard work over the weekend, Epic 4G owners are now being told that “administrative issues” are to blame for a new delay — a delay that’ll stretch on for an undetermined amount of time, to boot. Oh, and back on the topic of what not to do, the operator’s forum admin has also thrown a jab at all of you out there that would even think of accusing Sprint of pushing this update beyond the 30 day return window. Look, we all know it’s a baseless conspiracy theory, but there’s really no need to get feisty, is there? Full announcement is after the break. Update : Looks as if the update is out there if you’re brave enough to do it yourself. But honestly, is it worth it? Probably. [Thanks, Edward] Continue reading Sprint Epic 4G update delayed by ‘administrative issues,’ consumer rage released on schedule Sprint Epic 4G update delayed by ‘administrative issues,’ consumer rage released on schedule originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 17:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Sprint Epic 4G update delayed by ‘administrative issues,’ consumer rage released on schedule
October 1, 2010 No Comment
And this, folks, is a lesson of what not to do if you’re a major carrier with a majorly perturbed user base. In a way, this sort of feels like the Instinct update debacle all over again, with users claiming that a promised software update was being held beyond the 30 day return window in order to keep contracts alive. 24 hours after a Sprint forum administrator proudly proclaimed that a long-awaited Epic 4G software update was rolling out over the next few days, another admin has chimed in with a nearly-audible “sike!” Rather than letting users cheer its hard work over the weekend, Epic 4G owners are now being told that “administrative issues” are to blame for a new delay — a delay that’ll stretch on for an undetermined amount of time, to boot. Oh, and back on the topic of what not to do, the operator’s forum admin has also thrown a jab at all of you out there that would even think of accusing Sprint of pushing this update beyond the 30 day return window. Look, we all know it’s a baseless conspiracy theory, but there’s really no need to get feisty, is there? Full announcement is after the break. Update : Looks as if the update is out there if you’re brave enough to do it yourself. But honestly, is it worth it? Probably. [Thanks, Edward] Continue reading Sprint Epic 4G update delayed by ‘administrative issues,’ consumer rage released on schedule Sprint Epic 4G update delayed by ‘administrative issues,’ consumer rage released on schedule originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 17:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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You know the drill — new handset, new problems. It’s pretty much inevitable that sporadic reports of bugs and hardware problems are going to start popping up by day two of any major phone launch, and sure enough, complaints are starting to circulate on two biggies for the G2 . First off, some of the phones are shipping with loose hinges; the most obvious symptom is that holding it upside down causes the screen to hang down, but perhaps more annoyingly, holding it at some angles causes the screen to snap shut if it’s open — still not a huge deal since most humans don’t use their phones upside down, but it seems like they could’ve tightened up a few springs to prevent this from happening. Secondly — and more strangely — at least some G2s in the field appear to have half the promised storage space of 4GB, clocking in at a total of 2GB, which just happens to be the amount promised on the phone’s Desire Z doppelganger. We’re not sure how that kind of mix-up happens… but if it’s legit, T-Mobile’s got to take back the units or offer really big microSD cards to affected customers, if you ask us. More on this as it develops — and let us know your experiences so far in comments. [Thanks to everyone who sent these in] Continue reading T-Mobile G2 trouble roundup: loose hinges, missing storage? T-Mobile G2 trouble roundup: loose hinges, missing storage? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 16:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …You know the drill — new handset, new problems. It’s pretty much inevitable that sporadic reports of bugs and hardware problems are going to start popping up by day two of any major phone launch, and sure enough, complaints are starting to circulate on two biggies for the G2 . First off, some of the phones are shipping with loose hinges; the most obvious symptom is that holding it upside down causes the screen to hang down, but perhaps more annoyingly, holding it at some angles causes the screen to snap shut if it’s open — still not a huge deal since most humans don’t use their phones upside down, but it seems like they could’ve tightened up a few springs to prevent this from happening. Secondly — and more strangely — at least some G2s in the field appear to have half the promised storage space of 4GB, clocking in at a total of 2GB, which just happens to be the amount promised on the phone’s Desire Z doppelganger. We’re not sure how that kind of mix-up happens… but if it’s legit, T-Mobile’s got to take back the units or offer really big microSD cards to affected customers, if you ask us. More on this as it develops — and let us know your experiences so far in comments. [Thanks to everyone who sent these in] Continue reading T-Mobile G2 trouble roundup: loose hinges, missing storage? T-Mobile G2 trouble roundup: loose hinges, missing storage? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 16:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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The Zune HD may not have seen quite the explosion of apps that many had hoped for, but it’s just gotten a pretty big one: Windows Live Messenger. That will naturally give you much of the same functionality of its desktop counterpart (also receiving an update today), including the ability to keep watch on updates from various social networking sites, and even use Facebook Chat. It’ll also display the music you have playing right in the app and, just like the desktop version, it’s free. Look for it in the Zune Marketplace right now. Microsoft rolls out Windows Live Messenger for Zune HD originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 16:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Colorware ships its first original product: the $300 Grip for iPad (hands-on)
October 1, 2010 No Comment
Colorware’s been making the products you buy look better (or worse, if you’d like) for years on end , but up until now, it has never actually created a product from scratch. Enter the Grip for iPad, a simplistic new iPad holster that’s less of a case and more of a handle. It’s a metal frame that you bolt around the edges of your tablet, and as you can tell, it adds a major grabbing point to the side. But here’s the rub: it’s $300. Yeah, three Benjamins. We get that it’s manufactured in Minnesota using that high-priced American labor, but seriously? The major problem is just how awkward that $300 price tag looks beside the $499 MSRP of the device it’s supposed to hold; imagine buying a $13,000 set of tires for your $17,000 vehicle. It just doesn’t sit well in the cranium. And then there’s the problem of using it. Gallery: Colorware Grip for iPad hands-on You see, as nice as it is to have a handle on your tablet at all times, it makes actually using the iPad in portrait mode practically impossible. You’re constantly trying to figure out how to work around that bulge that’s now there on the left side. Furthermore, it does essentially nothing for protection. The back is still wide open and susceptible to drops / scratches, and the front isn’t recessed in the least. Adding insult to multiple injuries, there’s not enough room to have a case wrapped around your iPad while it’s inside of the Grip. Oh, and did we mention that the slightest bump against a rough surface will rip the paint right off of the device? We’d love to love the Grip — it’s mighty pretty and it’s built like a tank — but it simply makes no sense whatsoever at $300. Even at $100 , you’ve got way better options when it comes to actually protecting your iPad. Gallery: Colorware Grip for iPad press photos Continue reading Colorware ships its first original product: the $300 Grip for iPad (hands-on) Colorware ships its first original product: the $300 Grip for iPad (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Recon-Zeal Transcend goggles now shipping, GPS and head-mounted display included
October 1, 2010 No Comment
Don’t you just love it when a plan comes together? If you’ll recall, we heard that Recon Instruments was fixing to up-end the winter sports goggle market in February of this year, with an optimistic-at-the-time ship date of October 2010. Lo and behold, the outfit has managed to nail its estimate, and the planet’s first GPS-enabled goggles are now available to highfalutin’ skiers and snowboarders. At least initially, the company will be rolling out a limited set, with two models to choose from: the $499 Transcend SPPX is fitted with an SPPX polarized and photochromic lens, while the $399 Transcend SPX features an SPX polarized lens. Aside from the fact that these probably cost less than those ho hum Oakleys in the ski shop, they’re equipped with a Zeal Optics’ frame design with a micro LCD display, which appears to hang approximately six feet in front of the user. That head-mounted display provides real-time feedback to the wearer, including speed, latitude / longitude, altitude, vertical distance traveled, total distance traveled, a chrono / stopwatch mode, a run-counter, temperature and time. Yeah, wow . You can bet we’ll be trying to snag a set for review when we do our best impression of “hitting the slopes” post- CES . Gallery: Recon-Zeal Transcend goggles Continue reading Recon-Zeal Transcend goggles now shipping, GPS and head-mounted display included Recon-Zeal Transcend goggles now shipping, GPS and head-mounted display included originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Microsoft files ITC complaint against Motorola over alleged Android-related patent infringement
October 1, 2010 No CommentWireless companies love suing one another — well, maybe they don’t “love” it, but in an age when it’s virtually impossible to assemble a cellular device without extensive licensing agreements in place, it’s basically an inevitability. Microsoft has hit up the ITC over a total of nine alleged patent infringements by Motorola in its Android devices, specifically relating to “synchronizing email, calendars and contacts, scheduling meetings, and notifying applications of changes in signal strength and battery power.” This should be interesting — will it result in a quick cross-licensing agreement, or a protracted court battle spanning multiple years? Hard to say, but in the meantime, follow the break for Microsoft’s brief press release. Continue reading Microsoft files ITC complaint against Motorola over alleged Android-related patent infringement Microsoft files ITC complaint against Motorola over alleged Android-related patent infringement originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Microsoft files ITC complaint against Motorola over alleged Android-related patent infringement
October 1, 2010 No Comment
Wireless companies love suing one another — well, maybe they don’t “love” it, but in an age when it’s virtually impossible to assemble a cellular device without extensive licensing agreements in place, it’s basically an inevitability. Microsoft has hit up the ITC over a total of nine alleged patent infringements by Motorola in its Android devices, specifically relating to “synchronizing email, calendars and contacts, scheduling meetings, and notifying applications of changes in signal strength and battery power.” This should be interesting — will it result in a quick cross-licensing agreement, or a protracted court battle spanning multiple years? Hard to say, but in the meantime, follow the break for Microsoft’s brief press release. Continue reading Microsoft files ITC complaint against Motorola over alleged Android-related patent infringement Microsoft files ITC complaint against Motorola over alleged Android-related patent infringement originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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