Lenovo-funded eBox gaming console renamed iSec, still can’t shake Kinect comparisons
May 6, 2011 No Comment
Coverage of Eedoo’s eBox has thus far largely focused on the China-only game console’s similarity to Microsoft’s Kinect . Perhaps seeking to shift in perception, the system this week was reintroduced to the world as the Apple-esque iSec — that’s short for “Sports Entertainment Center,” highlighting its exercise-centric approach to gaming, with martial arts, skateboarding, and good old-fashioned monster fighting titles having already been demoed. The console will also support wireless controllers of some sort, for those sick of all of that pesky exercise. After an initial delay , the iSec is set to hit China at some point in the second half of this year, though the company has no international sales plan — at least until they move one million units domestically. At the moment, the iSec doesn’t have much official competition, since the Wii, Xbox, and PS3 aren’t legally available in China, though we’re told that they’re also not too hard to get your hands on — for those who are still using their hands for stuff. Lenovo-funded eBox gaming console renamed iSec, still can’t shake Kinect comparisons originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 May 2011 15:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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It was a long time coming , but when it finally arrived, AMD’s highly anticipated Fusion APU ripped through the laptop market like a bull on steroids. Just this month, the chipmaker announced that the platform made up nearly half its notebook shipments, and no doubt contributed heavily to its $1.61 billion in Q1 revenues. In the past four months, we’ve seen its superior integrated graphics working on a slew of smaller machines, but it seems Fusion wanted more. Back in January, Toshiba announced that it would bring the E-240 APU to a 15.6-inch budget notebook , and just a few weeks later MSI followed suit with its own announcement, saying it planned to put a Zacate E-350 APU, incorporating Radeon HD 6310 graphics, in its CR650 . We’ve spent some time with Lenovo’s ThinkPad X120e and HP’s Pavilion dm1z , both sporting 11.6-inch screens and E-350 APUs, but we’ve yet to experience the force of Fusion on a larger device. Naturally, when the opportunity presented itself, we jumped on the chance to find out how a big rig like the CR650 would stack up against its dainty predecessors. Will Fusion’s wonder chip offer the same performance in a $500, 15.6-inch laptop? Or will it fail to bring its beastly force to a big budget machine? Hop on past the break to find out. Gallery: MSI CR650 Review Continue reading MSI CR650 review MSI CR650 review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 May 2011 16:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Impossible announces PX 680 Color Shade film for Polaroid 600 cameras, shows Instagram how it’s really done
May 6, 2011 No Comment
Fortunately for photography buffs, Impossible’s mission to revive Instant Integral film hasn’t proven, well, impossible. And the company’s latest film stock, PX 680 Color Shade , reminds us of those Hipstamatic and Instagram shots the kids like so much these days. Except, you know — the aforementioned apps simulate old school photographic processes and equipment, while the new film achieves the same effect by using time-honored methods that remind us of the new school smartphone apps that ape time-honored photographic processes and equipment. Just thinking about it makes our heads hurt! If you’ve been waiting your whole life for the perfect Polaroid 600 color film, it’s available now for $22. Hit the source link for more info (and some pretty awesome sample shots). Impossible announces PX 680 Color Shade film for Polaroid 600 cameras, shows Instagram how it’s really done originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 May 2011 14:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Sleek Audio terminates agreement with 50 Cent, puts over-the-ear plans on hold
May 6, 2011 No Comment
You may remember our brief run-in with 50 Cent back at CES, where he announced a partnership with Sleek Audio for Sleek by 50, a pair of “wireless hybrid” headphones with built-in Kleer technology. Today the company revealed that it has terminated its agreement with G-Unit Brands, 50′s licensing company, and that it will be “re-evaluating our Wireless Hybrid over-the-ear headphones at a later date.” There’s no word on why the collboration went awry, and the company only indicates that it has decided to focus on its in-ear offerings instead. Of course, we’ve got way more than 21 questions about what made the relationship go sour, but hate it or love it, Sleek by 50 is no more. Disheartening PR after the break. Continue reading Sleek Audio terminates agreement with 50 Cent, puts over-the-ear plans on hold Sleek Audio terminates agreement with 50 Cent, puts over-the-ear plans on hold originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 May 2011 14:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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For the past few weeks, I’ve been doing most of my typing on a Matias Tactile Pro 3 — a mechanical keyboard that’s much like the original Apple Extended or IBM Model M keyboards, in function, if not appearance. If you’re not old enough to remember those, that means it relies on mechanical key switches instead of the rubber membrane used by most keyboards these days. You feel, and hear every key press — and, after you’ve used one for a while, you’ll be much more aware of the mushy alternative hiding under other keyboards, and likely find them quite unsatisfying. Mechanical keyboards have seen a slight resurgence as of late among gamers, who value their accuracy, but they mostly remain a niche product for folks like me — writers who might also happen to collect manual typewriters, or coders who honed their skills to their familiar clickety-clack sound in the 80s and 90s. I bring this up because it’s not just keyboards that have gotten less “tactile” in recent years, but computing and consumer electronics in general — and that includes cellphones. Continue reading Editorial: A less tactile future, and how to avoid it Editorial: A less tactile future, and how to avoid it originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 May 2011 14:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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This year marks the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. The brilliant memorial (partially shown above) to be unveiled that day is radical not only as a result of on-site electronics, but also thanks to a computer algorithm , responsible for resting fallen victims next to each other based on affiliation, not the alphabet. Victims will be grouped by employer, but also by their friendships — before the towers fell, and now for generations to come. Algorithm places September 11th victims next to friends at 9/11 Memorial originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 May 2011 11:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Streaming music breakdown: how Google Music and iCloud will impact today’s options
May 6, 2011 No Comment
Gone are the days of going to the music store, finding a vintage CD or cassette tape, happily unwrapping it and thoroughly perusing the cover art as you listen to your new album for the very first time. In a want-it-now world, that simply takes too long — and we have the internet to thank for the change in pace. As preferences seem to shift in the music consumption universe, it feels as if tastes are centered around consuming the largest amount of music possible. And thanks to the sudden proliferation of online streaming services, satisfying those desires in record time has become a reality. Unsurprisingly, competition is mighty fierce — consumers have options for user-made radio stations, on-demand streaming content, and cloud-based multimedia. But if you’ve been hearing the word on the street, Apple and Google could soon make their way onto the scene by offering streaming music options of their own. Almost everything these two tech giants touch turns to gold (emphasis on almost — we don’t think Ping and Buzz built the best reputations), so there’s reason to believe that these oft-rumored services will become automatic front-runners the day they’re released. Head on past the break to see some of the lucky / unlucky contestants planning to give Google and Apple a run for their (near-limitless) money, replete with a breakdown of what they offer and how hard they hit the wallet. Continue reading Streaming music breakdown: how Google Music and iCloud will impact today’s options Streaming music breakdown: how Google Music and iCloud will impact today’s options originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 May 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Mourn no more PS3 owners: what Sony hath taken away , the hacker community has given right back. The team at Gitbrew.org have returned Linux to the Cell-based gaming console with OtherOS++ , which boasts a number of benefits over Sony’s official stab at supporting other operating systems. For one, Linux is no longer relegated to a performance-degrading virtual machine and has full access to the PS3 hardware, and two, it works on both old-school “fat” models and the newer “slim” ones. We warn you, though — this install is not for the faint of heart, and some older models that use NAND flash instead of VFLASH aren’t compatible (check against this list ). If you’re undeterred, hit up the source link for downloads, instructions, and (most importantly) to stick it to the man. OtherOS++ brings Linux back to the PS3, taunts Sony originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 May 2011 11:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We’re sure you heard the rumors when hanging out in your ASUS fanboy haunts, wearing your ASUS logo hats and medallions, talking your crazy ASUS lingo with your fellow ASUS scenesters. Or maybe you thought something was up when Amazon sold out immediately. Either way, there has been plenty of chatter in the gadgetsphere as of late about the Eee Pad Transformer. Why is it so hard to find? Are component shortages to blame? Quality control issues? We’ve heard plenty of speculation, and now ASUSTek spokesperson David Chang is weighing in on the matter. According to Netbook News , the company has seen overwhelming demand for the device, and is currently planning to put 100,000 units on the street in May, followed by an additional 200,000-plus in June. “If the demand continues to increase substantially,” said Chan, “then we will have to continue to ramp up production in order to fulfill our customers’ demand.” You know, that’s exactly what we would do if we were in that situation! ASUS: Eee Pad Transformer delays due to demand, not component shortages originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 May 2011 10:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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You know how we said that 780bhp electric pipe dream Jaguar had last year wasn’t going to be anything more than a concept? Well, we were wrong. Sort of. You see, the British automaker has just announced its intention to produce a limited run of 250 C-X75 supercars in partnership with Formula 1 team Williams, however the retail model will eschew the craziest aspect of the original design — the twin turbine engines at the back. Those will be replaced with a four-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine, which will aid the four electric motors (one attached to each wheel). Don’t worry, though, this tweak has actually made the C-X75 accelerate even faster, as it’s now rated to go from 0 to 60mph in under three seconds. 2013 is when the earliest production of this road-faring beast is expected to commence, with prices starting at
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