You may be able to watch The Office on your Google TV , but perhaps not on demand — ABC, CBS and NBC are barring Sony and Logitech’s web-infused TVs and set-top-boxes from accessing full episodes of streaming video content. The Wall Street Journal reports that all three networks have confirmed the ban, and that Fox hasn’t yet reached a decision on whether it will ban Google TV as well. For its part, Google says that it’s “ultimately the content owners’ choice to restrict their fans from accessing their content on the platform,” so don’t expect the search company to pitch in, unless it can work out some premium arrangements for all parties involved. This is the part where we’d normally direct you to the simple browser tweak that made Hulu accessible when it pulled the very same stunt, but alas, we’re finding Hulu too is once again blocked. Television networks block Google TV from accessing web-based content originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 19:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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In a world full of the shapely blobs we call computer mice, the Cyborg Rat stands out. It’s skeletal, metallic, and almost completely asymetrical. Though most mice are one-size-fit-few, the Rat lets you transform the hardware itself to fit the shape of your hand. It’s got two scroll wheels and a special button that lowers DPI while it’s held — and this new Rat 9, due out November, is completely wireless as well. Whereas Razer , Microsoft and Logitech all built their premium wireless gaming mice from scratch — and with cord-based charging in mind — the Rat 9 instead integrates a hot-swappable battery pack and a 2.4GHz radio into the same modular design. Is it a half-baked attempt at wireless bliss, or do we have a new king of mice? Find out after the break in our full review. Gallery: Mad Catz Cyborg Rat 9 unboxing and hands-on Continue reading Exclusive: Mad Catz Cyborg Rat 9 review Exclusive: Mad Catz Cyborg Rat 9 review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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The entire world saw the 13-inch MacBook Air exposed to the elements before it was announced on stage, but its 11.6-inch younger brother is just now getting the teardown treatment. iFixit tore the tiny machine asunder, and found even more miniature battery packs nestled in its 0.68-inch-thick frame. Like Apple’s previous Air, the components here are proprietary, and the 2GB memory module’s actually soldered to the board — some tradeoffs had to be made for miniaturization, we suppose, and we can’t deny the result is a beautiful machine inside and out. On the plus side, the solid state drive seems to be modular, so there’s some modest upgrade potential there if you can find a supplier of the boards. Still, kids — don’t try this at home. New 11.6-inch MacBook Air ripped to pieces, exposing proprietary parts originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Yeah, the Nook already has one color screen, but its primary display is depressingly monochrome. Now there’s word on the street, from a reliable source of CNET’s, that Barnes & Noble will be bringing a full-color, Android-based, touchscreen Nook to its event next Tuesday . That sure sounds a whole lot like a full fledged Android tablet, which would be quite a departure for Barnes & Noble — sure, the Nook is Android-based, but it hardly acts like it currently. Still, there’s a smell of Android tablets in the air, and it wouldn’t be horribly surprising to see B&N move in this direction. CNET’s tipster says the device will be called the Nook Color, and retail for $249. That’s pretty low for a 7-inch touchscreen LCD device, but perhaps (hopefully) B&N has its eye on an alternative tech like Mirasol or Pixel Qi? Either way, the existing Nook will apparently continue to be sold as a lower-end version, so e-ink aficionados have no need to throw their hands up in despair just yet. Stay tuned! Barnes & Noble prepping new Nook with full color touchscreen? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …GE introduces ‘hybrid’ bulb with both halogen and CFL elements, instant-on meets efficiency
October 21, 2010 No Comment
We’re pretty okay with waiting the second or so it takes a typical CFL to light up, but sometimes, when we’re checking for monsters in closets and other inconspicuous places, it’d be nice if things were a little more expedient . For those times (and for generally impatient people) GE is introducing its Hybrid Halogen-CFL bulb. It’s basically a typical CFL unit, but look closely inside those coils and you’ll spot a wee halogen bulb peeking out. It’s like two bulbs in one, the halogen unit powering on almost instantaneously then fading off once the CFL element gets itself all riled up. We’re wondering how well the output from the two elements match, whether you’d be able to notice the transition, but we’re even more curious about the cost. GE says we’ll have to wait a few months to learn that bit of info, and the same holds true if you’re looking for a release date more specific than “2011.” Hopefully it isn’t too late in the year, as LED bulbs are getting cheaper by the minute. Continue reading GE introduces ‘hybrid’ bulb with both halogen and CFL elements, instant-on meets efficiency GE introduces ‘hybrid’ bulb with both halogen and CFL elements, instant-on meets efficiency originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Samsung Galaxy Player 50 shown off in lengthy ad, already on sale in France
October 21, 2010 No Comment
We got a pretty good look at Samsung’s Android-based Galaxy Player 50 at IFA last month, but those looking for even more can now get a pretty thorough overview of the device courtesy of a new Samsung ad that runs a full two minutes and forty seconds. What’s more, Samsung Hub is reporting that at least one retailer in France is already selling the device, which is basically a Samsung Galaxy phone without the phone. That means you’ll get Android 2.1, a decent 3.2-inch screen, a 2 megapixel camera, built-in WiFi and GPS, 8 or 16GB of storage, and a microSD card slot for expansion. Head on past the break for the video, and look for the phone to officially hit other retailers in Europe later this month (still no word on a release over here, unfortunately). Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Player 50 shown off in lengthy ad, already on sale in France Samsung Galaxy Player 50 shown off in lengthy ad, already on sale in France originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Apple’s Mac App Store Review Guidelines posted — will Photoshop make it in?
October 21, 2010 No Comment
No surprise that Apple’s new Mac App Store has a similar set of rules and regulations as the iPhone App Store, and we just got the full list. There’s nothing here that’s too different from the iPhone review guidelines , but it all seems terribly odd when applied to a regular computer, and some of the more restrictive policies have already drawn ire from developers like Mozilla’s Director of Firefox Mike Beltzner, who says the restriction against beta code won’t work well with the Mozilla “open beta” development process. That’s definitely a valid criticism, especially if the Mac App Store becomes the dominant way for Mac users to get apps, but there’s a crucial difference here: unlike the iPhone, Macs can run software from any source, not just the App Store. That means apps that don’t meet Apple’s Store guidelines can still be freely used by any Mac user without going through jailbreak hoops, and we think that’s an ideal compromise: it allows Apple to control much of the Mac experience, since developers will have a huge incentive to comply with the review guidelines and get into the store, but still allows other types of apps and utilities to flourish — including, say Firefox betas. (We might have written an editorial arguing for exactly this approach on the iPhone in the past, come to think about it.) So with that said, let’s examine Apple’s Mac App Store Review Guidelines, which were just posted yesterday — you can grab the PDF here and read the whole thing, but we’re just going to break out the parts that seem more interesting or different than what we’ve seen in the past. Our biggest takeaway? Interpreted on their face, some of these rules would mean major Mac apps like Adobe Creative Suite 5 and Microsoft Office won’t be in the Mac App Store, and that’s obviously a problem. Read on to see what we mean. Continue reading Apple’s Mac App Store Review Guidelines posted — will Photoshop make it in? Apple’s Mac App Store Review Guidelines posted — will Photoshop make it in? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Sony considers incorporating Android into more (as yet unnamed) products
October 21, 2010 No Comment
At a Google TV press event in Tokyo recently, Sony TV division head Yoshihisa Ishida told reporters that the company is, indeed, “thinking about using Android in more consumer electronics products.” Of course, he didn’t say exactly which products, although we do have it on good authority that Sony Ericsson has an Android 3.0 mobile gaming platform in the works — which probably explains why the PlayStation division is on the lookout for Android developers as well. We’d contact Ishida directly, but our sources tell us he is too busy watching re-runs of Friends on Netflix to take the call. Sony considers incorporating Android into more (as yet unnamed) products originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We knew something was going on with Dell’s branding with the resurrection of the XPS laptop line, and this morning we caught up with a few of the company’s executives to learn all about the entire restructuring. As you can see above, there will now be three core brands — Inspiron, XPS and Alienware — all focusing on different “performance seekers.” However, you’ll notice that Adamo is nowhere to be found on that flow chart. Turns out, the sneaky disappearance of the Adamo XPS from Dell’s site hasn’t exactly been a coincidence — it’s completely killing off the premium brand and has actually tamped down volumes of the super thin machines. Now, that doesn’t mean systems like the original Adamo and the Adamo XPS won’t exist ever again as Dell VP Ed Boyd tells us similar products will be coming to the XPS line early next year. Simplifying the brands sure does make a lot of sense to us — all the Adamo XPS, Studio XPS , Studio laptops have seriously confused us over the last couple of years — but it’s all part of a larger marketing campaign that will attempt to move Dell away from being a low cost brand and instead portray the company as providing choice — a campaign Dell CMO Paul-Henri Ferrand told Reuters will ultimately cost hundreds of millions of dollars. We look forward to seeing what you’ve got Dell, but all we know is that we’re finally going to say the following words with affirmation: “rest in peace, Adamo.” Dell marketing makeover simplifies brands, kills off Adamo altogether originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …V-Moda’s metallic Vibrato earbuds get Kevlar cable, in-line iPhone remote
October 21, 2010 No Comment
It’s been a hot minute since we’ve caught wind of a new set of V-Moda earbuds that weren’t exactly like the last pair of V-Moda earbuds, but the Vibrato does a fairly decent job of differentiating itself. How so, you ask? By boasting zinc alloy construction, a Kevlar cable and an in-line, three-button iPhone remote. Obviously catering to those who need a set of metallic earbuds to match their loud-and-proud iPhone 4 antenna band, these guys also rely on 8mm neodymium drivers and ship with four sizes of ear tips. You know, in case you need to let your best bud borrow ‘em for the evening. They’re available now through Apple’s retail shops and online at the company’s e-store (see source link below) for $129.99. Continue reading V-Moda’s metallic Vibrato earbuds get Kevlar cable, in-line iPhone remote V-Moda’s metallic Vibrato earbuds get Kevlar cable, in-line iPhone remote originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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