Frontal Concepts’ Infuse iPod nano watch strap wins imaginary design award, our hearts
December 5, 2010 No Comment
By now, you’ve decided if you’re going to use Apple’s iPod nano 6G as a watch. We obviously have our own feelings on the matter, but those who can’t be bothered with actual functionality should definitely be looking in the direction of Frontal Concepts. This Australian outfit has just released its first product, and it’s far and away the most sensibly designed iPod nano watch strap to date. Rather than just looping a band through the device’s rear clip, the Infuse strap actually has a simple, one-click locking mechanism to keep your digital timepiece in position. It’s also positioned to allow the audio cord to run upwards along the arm, and it’s built from polycarbonate plastics and silicone — plenty tough to withstand the occasional gym visit. Americans can get their pre-order in today for $24.95 (black, white and brown hues are available), with the first shipments expected to head out in around a fortnight. Time’s ticking, Santa. Gallery: Frontal Concepts Infuse iPoad nano wristmount Continue reading Frontal Concepts’ Infuse iPod nano watch strap wins imaginary design award, our hearts Frontal Concepts’ Infuse iPod nano watch strap wins imaginary design award, our hearts originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Dec 2010 16:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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If free Android phones on every US carrier weren’t enough to entice you into a Best Buy Mobile store this month, maybe a deeply discounted Droid Pro will be. Motorola’s Android 2.2 handset, which launched at $179.99 with the usual two-year Verizon tie-in, is now available for purchase for exactly $130 less at Best Buy’s mobile outlets — both the online and brick-and-mortar varieties will let you walk away with one for $49.99 and a 24-month commitment. We don’t know where all these crazy deals are coming from, but we ain’t complaining. [Thanks, Tony] Droid Pro dropped to $50 on contract by Best Buy Mobile originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Dec 2010 14:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Two acquisitions in as many days? Say it ain’t so! Prior to even unboxing Phonetic Arts , Google has now snapped up Seattle-based Widevine . Truth be told, you’re probably taking advantage of the company’s technology without even being aware of it — it’s used in over 250 million web connected HDTVs and streamers around the globe, and it’s primarily designed to thwart piracy attempts while enabling consumers to enjoy content on a wider array of devices. As these things tend to do, neither outfit is talking prices, but it’s fairly obvious why El Goog would want a firm like this in its portfolio. Moreover, it’s borderline comical that Viacom’s pushing an appeal in order to pit Google as an anti-studio, pro-piracy monster while it’s spending hard-earned cash on a DRM layer. At any rate, Google’s not getting into specific plans just yet, only stating its intentions to maintain Widevine’s agreements, provide support for existing and future clients as well as “building upon [the technology] to enhance both Widevine’s products and its own.” Google spends a few more million, picks up Widevine DRM software firm originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Dec 2010 13:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Razorfish is a little marketing company that has done some impressive things on Microsoft’s Surface , things you may or may not have seen because that particular brand of pedestal hasn’t exactly become a threat to the global dumbtable market. One of Razorfish’s cool things is a so-called Surface Physics Illustrator called DaVinci, which lets a user doodle on the screen and turn those doodles into balls, boxes, levers, and fulcrums. Now that code has effectively ported that code over to Kinect, as you can see in the video below, letting you do the same sort of things but with thine own two hands floating in mid-air. You can cause shapes to levitate, create gravity between them, make things orbit, even enable magnetism that alternately pulls and hurls your little doodles across the screen. The company is said to be continuing to refine the experience and maybe, if you all ask nice, they’ll even release the app when they’re through so you can try it for yourself. [Thanks, Luke] Continue reading Razorfish ports DaVinci interface to Kinect, makes physics cool (video) Razorfish ports DaVinci interface to Kinect, makes physics cool (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Dec 2010 11:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Kaleidescape releases Cinema One DVD movie server, appeals to the toddler film buff set
December 5, 2010 No Comment
Despite the legal hoopla related to its DVD ripping practices, Kaleidescape is still releasing high-end media servers designed to save the rich (and now their spawn) from the hassle of opening a movie box. The Cinema One is its latest and most affordable creation to date, but still costs a hefty $4,999. For the most part, the server is just a cheaper replacement to 2009′s Mini System , that can store up to 225 DVDs or 2,500 CDs for instant access. It also sports the same hassle-free setup, but adds a new wrinkle in the form of kid-friendly features. Specifically, a junior remote is included in addition to the standard version, which triggers a simplified system UI anytime it’s used. While we’re all for toddlers being able to watch their favorite content too, at this price we’d have rather seen support for Blu-rays and dare we say Netflix streaming. Then again, we aren’t in the best position to judge the value of a digital babysitter. For more shots of the kiddo UI and remote check out the gallery below, otherwise read the full PR after the break. Gallery: Kaleidescape Cinema One Continue reading Kaleidescape releases Cinema One DVD movie server, appeals to the toddler film buff set Kaleidescape releases Cinema One DVD movie server, appeals to the toddler film buff set originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Dec 2010 10:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Art Basel down in Miami has been the go-to place to see the best and brightest in design this past week, with Troika’s ‘Falling Light’ installation falling squarely into the latter category. This mechanical LED sculpture needed a room to itself, as it hosts 50 ceiling-suspended devices with each incorporating a custom cut Swarovski crystal optical lens, a computer programmed motor and a white LED. As you can see in the video down below, the white metal armatures rise in syncopation by rotating cam before gravity releases them earthward, which then activates the LED to move closer to the crystal lens. Through the magic of diffraction, you end up with a rainbow effect being flung to the floor, creating a perfect environment for… let’s say, a rave. Or, you know, your next bedroom. Continue reading Troika’s mechanical LED sculpture lights up Art Basel (video) Troika’s mechanical LED sculpture lights up Art Basel (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Dec 2010 08:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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File this one under industry-changing mergers that never were — Bloomberg is reporting that Seagate rejected a takeover bid from rival Western Digital in October, which would have created a hard drive company to dwarf all others. According to “two people with knowledge of the matter,” Western Digital was willing to offer as much as ten to fifty percent more than a competing takeover proposal from TPG Capital, which had already put more than $7.5 billion on the table for Seagate. As you might expect, however, the sheer size of the merger was apparently largely responsible for its refusal. Not only would it have created a huge amount of product overlap and likely led to numerous management departures, but it would have almost certainly faced some pretty significant antitrust obstacles. Of course, neither company is actually commenting on the matter itself and, for the time being at least, it looks like Seagate is content with going it alone. Seagate reportedly turned down takeover bid from Western Digital originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Dec 2010 07:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Thrustmaster teases T500RS steering wheel, the new official peripheral for Gran Turismo
December 5, 2010 No Comment
GT5 is finally, finally out, but amazingly it seems to have beaten its official steering wheel to market. For a long time Logitech has maintained the honor of building the wheel that carried Gran Turismo branding, and indeed its Driving Force GT is still the first wheel in the GT5 options. But, Thrustmaster seems to have secured the license for the franchise now and is building a wheel called the T500RS which, if you go Thrustmaster.com, you can get a quick peek of — or you can just look at the screengrab above. The wheel promises unrivaled accuracy and what looks to be the same sort of magnetic sensor technology used in the company’s overwhelmingly beefy HOTAS Warthog controller. Rumors say it’ll carry a similar price, too, a whopping $500 MSRP without the optional H-pattern shifter and, though our attempts to confirm anything were shooed away like so many fruitflies, we’ve been promised more info to come at CES. Thrustmaster teases T500RS steering wheel, the new official peripheral for Gran Turismo originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Dec 2010 05:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Some recent attempts at a modern boombox may have been less than faithful to the original incarnation, but TDK looks to at least have its heart in the right place with its simply-named “Three-Speaker Boombox.” Set for an official debut at CES in January, the $499 device boasts a streamlined design compared to the 1980s-era originals, but it’s still unmistakably a boombox and, according to Crave ‘s early hands-on, it pumps out a surprising amount of sound from its 35 watt RMS speakers. You’ll also get a full range of audio inputs (including iPhone / iPod support via USB, rather than a dedicated dock), a built-in AM / FM radio, an OLED display on the front and, perhaps best of all, some oversized aluminum knobs. Needless to say, we’ll be keeping our eyes out for this one at CES. TDK debuts $499 ‘Three-Speaker Boombox’ originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Dec 2010 02:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …X-37B spaceplane back on earth after 7 months of spying on us, shooting aliens
December 5, 2010 No Comment
Look, we don’t know what the Air Force sent the unmanned X-37B into space for, or why they didn’t offer us a ride, but we’re pretty sure whatever it was it was awesome. The spaceplane is now back on solid ground, and apparently it completed all of its orbital objectives during its seven month trip, which were supposedly mostly diagnostic self-tests. According to The Man , anyway. Still, we could swear we spotted some laser blast holes and a self-satisfied, Tom Cruisian smirk on the X-37B when it thought nobody was looking, which confirms all of our worst suspicions: there is extraterrestrial life, and it’s totally badass, and only highly trained space fighter jockeys can save us. X-37B spaceplane back on earth after 7 months of spying on us, shooting aliens originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Dec 2010 01:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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