We knew good and well that Sifteo’s Cubits were coming in the year 2011 A.D., but little did we know we’d be seeing an update so soon, and here at CES of all places. The aforementioned company has apparently forged ahead with a name change, officially dubbing the little guys you see above “Cubes.” Those looking to buy in early are certainly in for a treat, as its Early Access Program will bring a discounted rate as well as lots of extra goodies — more for less is hard to beat, you know. At some point in Q1 of this year, $99 will enable eager early adopters to get a trio of the 1.5-inch blocks, 1000 points to purchase games and apps from the online store, a coupon to redeem once the product is launched in earnest, 50 percent off anything in the Sifteo store (up to $200) and a limited edition t-shirt. It’ll be the only chance to snag a set prior to their nationwide release in the fall of this year, and if you’re still wondering just how much fun you could have, head on past the break for the full release. It’s a hoot, we tell ya. Continue reading Sifteo announces early access details for Cubes: $99, Q1, lots of extras Sifteo announces early access details for Cubes: $99, Q1, lots of extras originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Philips CES 2011 HD lineup: 4000 / 5000 / 6000 series LCDs, Blu-ray players and home theater systems
January 5, 2011 No Comment
Consider yourself an HD junkie? You’re in for a treat. A feast of treats, actually. Philips has just let loose a veritable smorgasbord of new HD kit at CES this morning, from LCD HDTVs to Blu-ray decks to complete home theater systems. Here’s what you need to know: The 4000 LED series of HDTVs are available in 40 (40PFL4706), 46 (46PFL4706) and 55 (55PFL4706) inch sizes, these mid-range sets include MediaConnect and NetTV for getting your PC to play nice on your TV (sans wires, at that), with the latter also providing easy access to Vudu, Netflix, Blockbuster and FilmFresh. These will ship by May for prices of $749, $999 and $1499 in order of mention. For those who couldn’t care less about MediaConnect of NetTV, a 19-inch, 22-inch and 32-inch version will be available this month for $199.99, $249.99 and $449.99, respectively. Moving up a bit, the 5000 LED series will ship in 40 (40PFL5706), 46 (46PFL5706) and 55 (55PFL5706) inch sizes, with these boasting the same basic functionality as the 4000 series but gaining a Pixel Precise HD engine and 120Hz de-jitter support. Look for these in the April / May time frame for $679, $899 and $1099. Looking to take one more step towards high-end? The LED 6000 series is where’s it at, improving upon the other two lines by adding… 3D. Naturally. Check the 40PFL6706 (40-inch), 46PFL6706 (46-inch) and 55PFL6706 (55-inch) models this September for $999, $1299 and $1699 in order of mention. If you’re looking to outfit your room with a full-on home theater system, Philips is revealing five new setups today, three of which have 3D support baked right in. The whole lot includes a Blu-ray deck and support for MediaConnect / NetTV, with the more expensive sets boasting wireless rear speakers and DLNA streaming. They’ll be shipping from February to May for $269.99 to $449.99. Closing things out are the company’s five new Blu-ray decks, with the $169.99 (BDP3506), $199.99 (BDP5506) and $219.99 (BDP7506) models supporting 3D Blu-ray. The 7506 also gets MediaConnect and NetTV, with the whole range shipping between next month and April. Check out the full releases, each chock full of details, right after the break. Oh, and sink your retinas into the gallery below while you’re at it. Continue reading Philips CES 2011 HD lineup: 4000 / 5000 / 6000 series LCDs, Blu-ray players and home theater systems Philips CES 2011 HD lineup: 4000 / 5000 / 6000 series LCDs, Blu-ray players and home theater systems originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Pure launches Contour, One Flow and i-20, also debuts FlowSongs cloud-based music service
January 5, 2011 No Comment
It’s a heavy day at CES , and it’s also a big day for the folks at Pure . Not only have they provided an updated release time table for the Sensia (“later in 2011″ for an unknown amount) and Sirocco 550 (March for $499), but it’s also branching out with a few unexpected launches. In order to get even more tunes to the outfit’s blossoming line of WiFi radios, Pure has revealed its FlowSongs cloud-based music service — put simply, it enables consumers to buy music directly from their radio and Pure’s Lounge iPhone app. Users are instructed to ‘Like’ songs on FM or internet radio, and then within the same interface, they’re able to click ‘Buy’ while simultaneously scratching that Instant Gratification itch. Customers can download high-quality versions of the MP3 onto their Mac and PC, and it’ll work on any Flow radio. Currently, the service is expected to launch as a public beta in North America this spring, with individual tracks priced between $0.99 and $1.49 depending on the publisher. Unfortunately, there’s a $5.99 yearly subscription to actually use FlowSongs, which all but guarantees failure in a world where $1.49 tracks feel too pricey on their own. Moving on, the company is also dishing out a few hardware announcements. Up first is the Contour (shown above), an iPod / iPhone-friendly WiFi radio that touts a black crescent shape (not too unlike Meridian’s M80 ), touch-sensitive controls and a trio of video outputs (composite, component and S-Video). The One Flow ($149) is about as basic as it gets, rocking a truly retro motif, a 3.5mm auxiliary input and a pair of alarms. Wrapping things up, there’s the i-20, which is hailed as the only digital iPod dock available that supports component, S-Video and composite outputs. In a nutshell, it’s a video output stand for your iPod or iPhone, which may or may not be worth the $99 asking price. Head on past the break for specifics on availability, and tap that source link once your credit card is ready. Continue reading Pure launches Contour, One Flow and i-20, also debuts FlowSongs cloud-based music service Pure launches Contour, One Flow and i-20, also debuts FlowSongs cloud-based music service originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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A New Hampshire couple is fighting a speeding ticket they received after the expectant mother went into labor, and her husband rushed her to the hospital with only minutes to spare. (Jan. 5)
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Gaza, January 05: A Palestinian police officer says Israeli army dropped more than 3,000 tons of munitions containing incendiary materials on the Gaza Strip during its three-week onslaught against the besieged enclave. Director of the police explosives engineering department in Gaza, Major Tahseen Saad, said on Tuesday that during the Gaza war Tel Aviv tested most of the munitions it had stored in its arsenals, the Palestinian Information Center reported. He added that bombs…
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The funeral for the governor of the Pakistan’s Punjab province went ahead despite some of the country’s leading Imams refusing to perform the prayers for him, and even warning others to do so, on the ground that the slain leader was “blasphemous”. Salman Taseer was shot
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Blockade to keep Gaza ‘functioning at lowest level possible’ without humanitarian crisis, cables say
Continue reading …Philips crams ATSC M/H tuner into PD725 portable DVD player, intros PB9013 mobile Blu-ray player
January 5, 2011 No Comment
In recent years, Philips has strayed somewhat from introducing products catering to the North American marketplace. We’re thrilled to say that this year’s spate of CES announcements signifies a stark turn from that approach. The most interesting release from the company during this year’s blowout is probably the PS725 (shown above), a 7-inch portable DVD player that doubles as a mobile TV viewer. Before you bust out the yawn collector, you should know that Philips managed to stuff both an ATSC and an ATSC M/H tuner within, the latter of which just announced a major push into 20 major metropolitan markets back in November. The unit has an 800 x 480 resolution display, three hours of nonstop playback via a rechargeable Li-Polymer battery pack, a screen that swivels 180 degrees and a $299 price point. It’ll ship in March, just as your FLO TV service keels over . In related news, the outfit is also outing a PB9013 portable Blu-ray player, which touts a 9-inch display, a battery good for three hours of enjoyment, a bundled mounting kit and an HDMI output. You’ll also see this one ship in March, but with a $399 retail sticker. Outside of those two, we’re told that the GeGear Muse MP4 player is now on track to ship in March, with the 8GB model going for $149, the 16GB edition for $179 and the high-end 32GB model for $229. For those out of the loop, it’ll deliver a 3.2-inch HVGA touchpanel, an FM radio tuner, 720p movie support and compatibility with FLAC and APE lossless files. Closing things up, we’ve got the Fidelio DS8550 and DS9010 speaker docks. The former handles your iPod, iPhone and / or iPad, streams tunes over Bluetooth and touts a built-in, rechargeable battery; this guy’s on sale now for $299. As for the latter? That one’s expected to ship at the tail-end of March for $599, with the price premium netting you an aircraft quality aluminum enclosure, improved audio drivers and a proximity sensor to activate a backlit control panel. Bullet points after the break, per usual. Continue reading Philips crams ATSC M/H tuner into PD725 portable DVD player, intros PB9013 mobile Blu-ray player Philips crams ATSC M/H tuner into PD725 portable DVD player, intros PB9013 mobile Blu-ray player originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 07:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Miranda Lambert and tour mate Eric Church both agree that her success is mainly down to the country singer staying true to herself. With countless awards and nominations under her belt, Lambert is thrilled that fans are embracing her music. (Jan. 5)
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Melbourne Zoo’s baby Sumatran orangutan made her first public appearance with mother Miamunah on Wednesday. (5 Jan.)
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