Just days after Sony’s Qriocity video-on-demand service went live across Europe, in flies this — news that the aforesaid service will be spreading its wings and touching the PSP in short order. Word on the street has it that the next PlayStation Portable update (v6.35) will bring along Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity, described as a “new, cloud-based, digital music service from Sony that will give music lovers access to millions of songs stored and synchronized through the cloud.” Post-update, users will notice a new icon in the PSP’s XrossMediaBar under the ‘Music’ category, and moreover, the Media Go application for managing PSP downloadable content on your PC will be updated “with enhancements to the user interface and advanced photo editing tools.” Sony’s remaining mum on a launch date, but the internet is already abuzz about what this may mean for the impending PlayStation Phone . Will Sony finally have a leg-up over iOS with an ingrained unlimited music client? A boy can dream, can’t he? Sony PSP to gain unlimited music via cloud-based Qriocity service originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 12:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …MS applies for patent on ‘light-induced shape-memory,’ a touchscreen that could touch back
November 29, 2010 No Comment
Touchscreens are selfish lovers, taking your gentle caresses and impatient taps without offering a hint of feedback to you. We’ve seen attempts to change that, like prototypes from Toshiba and Senseg that add a bit of texture to a touchable surface, but now Microsoft might be looking to bring such dynamic tactility to the one of the biggest touchable surfaces: Surface . A recent patent application entitled “Light-induced Shape-memory Polymer Display Screen” describes a technique for a display that uses infra-red light to detect touch, but also to “selectively change a topography of the topography-changing layer.” In other words: to make it bumpy or smooth. Certain wavelengths of light projected on the screen can cause areas of that topography layer expand or contract, which could finally mean all our cries for attention might finally be responded to in kind. MS applies for patent on ‘light-induced shape-memory,’ a touchscreen that could touch back originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Well, you can finally throw out that trunk in your grandfather’s garage. Hugh Heffner’s legacy has taken a cue from National Geographic — in an arguably non-horrifying way — and partnered with publisher Bondi Digital to release a (presumably Seagate-branded ) 250GB external hard drive packed with every issue of Playboy released since 1953. Its $300 asking price is roughly four times what you’d pay for a fresh G-rated 250GB drive today, but compared to a 57-year subscription, the digital vault is certainly a bargain. In contrast to their trail blazin’ efforts with the iBod though, thanks to the prominent placement of the brand’s iconic bow tie-wearing bunny and name, there’s no chance of using this device for practical tasks such as backing up TPS reports at the office. Like the decision to phase out DVDs in favor of VOD however, the move does prove the magazine isn’t afraid of staying abreast of today’s content consumption trends. Next stop, Nook Color ? Playboy releases not-so-discrete 250GB ‘cover to cover’ hard drive originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Call us suckers for odd watches if you must, but there is something about Nooka’s timepieces that make you take a second look. Keeping with the tradition of goofy “z” names (remember Zot and Zoo from a couple years back?), the Zub Zayu is ambidextrous and eschews hands for something called the “time capsule” display. And if that isn’t enough, it also goes into sleep mode to conserve juice. We just hope it comes back to life quicker than the iPod nano ! Available now for $175. Nooka Zub Zayu watch has no hands, a name only Trevor Horn could love originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 11:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Mouse Computer’s Lm-mini30X nettop gets D525 processor and SSD, costs a lot of cheese
November 29, 2010 No Comment
What would you pay for a netbook without a screen? How about one that’s rocking a dual-core, 1.8GHz Intel Atom D525 processor, NVIDIA ION graphics, and an 80GB SSD? Mouse Computer is hoping your answer is somewhere around $600, because that’s roughly what its new, 49,980 yen Lm-mini30X will cost along with 4GB of RAM, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, HDMI output, and a 64-bit copy of Windows 7 Home Premium. If that’s a bit too rich for you, there’s the slightly lower-spec Lm-mini30S, which drops you to 2GB of RAM, 320GB on platters, and lowly 32-bit Windows. That’ll set you back 37,800 yen, or about $450 — still a good amount for a little PC, but given neither are likely to see a release on these shores there’s no point in getting too worked up about it. Gallery: Mouse Computer Lm-mini30X nettop Mouse Computer’s Lm-mini30X nettop gets D525 processor and SSD, costs a lot of cheese originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 10:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Lady Gaga trapped in an Android smartphone, we wish she’d stay there (video)
November 29, 2010 No Comment
NTT DoCoMo has Darth Vader selling its Android wares, so what could KDDI au possibly counter with? Why, a force even darker and more heinous than the Sith Daddy himself: Lady Gaga. Yes, the music fiend we love to hate has remixed Poker Face just to make sure we take notice of Sharp’s IS03 , and the kindly Japanese carrier has taken care of inserting her into the phone for maximum promotional value. Yes, au, now that we’ve seen Lady Gaga strutting around inside it, we totally want to own one of these handsets! See the video promos after the break. [Thanks, machine] Continue reading Lady Gaga trapped in an Android smartphone, we wish she’d stay there (video) Lady Gaga trapped in an Android smartphone, we wish she’d stay there (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 10:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Microsoft’s been strangely quiet during the recent smart TV explosion even though it has arguably the most mature set of products in Windows Media Center and Mediaroom , and now we know why: Reuters says MS has been meeting with media companies in an effort to create an entirely new TV service possibly delivered through the Xbox 360. Apparently there are multiple options on the table, ranging from a full-on “virtual cable operator” with monthly fees to using the 360 as an extension of existing cableco online TV initiatives to simply delivering certain channels like ESPN and HBO a la carte, and Reuters ‘ sources say the plan might take another 12 months to develop. That sounds like a bit too long, if you ask us: Apple and Google are waging a major living room assault, and we can’t imagine Microsoft is willing to miss another technology cycle — especially not one where it holds the significant advantage of the 360′s installed base and proven history as an IPTV device on multiple operators worldwide, including Uverse . We’ll see what happens — it sounds like the battle might finally be joined. Microsoft in talks to start new TV service using the 360? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 10:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Steve Ballmer looking into removal of Drive Extender from Windows Home Server
November 29, 2010 No Comment
Windows Home Server hasn’t exactly taken the consumer market by storm, showing yet again that people are more interested in shiny new toys than protecting their precious data. Still, there’s been a huge amount of negative backlash from Microsoft ‘s recent decision to drop Drive Extender from the next release of WHS, currently codenamed Vail . Drive Extender is the tech that enables multiple physical disks to act as a single logical volume, making it easy for even non-techy folks to add more and enable data replication. Terry Walsh over at We Got Served was similarly taken aback by the decision and took the opportunity to drop a note to Big Poppa Steve Ballmer . He got a response: From: Steve Ballmer Sent: 26 November 2010 05:30 To: Terry Walsh Subject: RE: MVP Feedback – Windows Home Server “Vail” Crisis Let’s look into it Yes, it’s a short response, and it course could mean anything or, indeed, nothing, but it is at least a response and a positive sign that the huge outcry among fans of Windows Home Server can indeed make its way to the top of the executive chain. Now we just wait to see what comes rolling back down… Steve Ballmer looking into removal of Drive Extender from Windows Home Server originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 09:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Lenovo teases S800 phone with translucent color display, won’t let anyone touch it
November 29, 2010 No Comment
Step aside, Sony Ericsson, your Xperia Pureness has been beaten at its own game by an enigmatic new handset that Lenovo has been showing off over in China. The above images come from a Beijing fashion event, where Lenovo chose to debut its S800 featurephone with a color translucent display. It looks to still be at the concept stage, one that not many of these luxury items seem to ever exit, but lest you think it’s not for real, the models showing it off at the show were photographed backstage using the lustworthy piece of glass to do whatever it is that models do with their phones. Check out the links below for more. Lenovo teases S800 phone with translucent color display, won’t let anyone touch it originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 09:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Nothing quite says “the holidays” like warming up to an artificial fire in a spacious, well-appointed apartment while watching a DVD of generic snow-filled landscapes. Unless you’re in our family, in which case “the holidays” is more about drunken egg nog brawls and recrimination. Either way, it looks like the kids at Safretti have improved their hanging, portable fireplaces the only way, really, that it could be improved upon: by adding an HD LCD TV to the mix. We’re not sure what the Netherlands-based company is charging for this, but seeing as how this purveyor of ultra-expensive home furnishings doesn’t even have an office in the states (the closest is in Mexico, and the one in Liechtenstein refuses to answer our emails) we’re pretty sure you can’t afford it anyways. It comes in two sizes, featuring either a 37-inch or 47-inch TV. Get a closer look after the break. Continue reading Safretti’s back with Double Vision hanging HDTV / fireplace combo Safretti’s back with Double Vision hanging HDTV / fireplace combo originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 08:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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