Looks like there are more colorful PMPs on the way from Iriver. All we have right now from the company is a teaser video (in Korean, no less) and a few model names: U100, P100, and D2000, to be exact. Hopefully this will tide you over until next year when the things are ready to hit the street. Hit the source link to feel the love (as well as some very moving piano music). Iriver teases out U100, P100, and D2000 portable media players originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 04:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Volkswagen’s London Taxi Concept: smaller, prettier, more electric than the real thing
December 17, 2010 No Comment
London would do well to dispense with the Concept label right now and just turn these into its next fleet of people carriers. Volkswagen has unveiled the latest in a series of World Taxis it’s doing, prettying up London’s admittedly iconic black cabs with a sheen of new paint, an all-electric drive, and an infusion of tablet-based infotainment. Based on the Up! city car , the London Taxi Concept has an estimated range of 186 miles and takes an hour to go from zero to an 80 percent charge. It also has a grayscale version of the Union Jack emblazoned on its roof, guess that’s just how VW rolls. Sadly, we doubt anyone will be in a hurry to heed our sage advice and start using this concept any time soon, particularly since it doesn’t pass London’s taxi regulations at present, but it’s a harbinger of a future we’d like to see become real. Continue reading Volkswagen’s London Taxi Concept: smaller, prettier, more electric than the real thing Volkswagen’s London Taxi Concept: smaller, prettier, more electric than the real thing originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 03:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …BlockBuster to distribute Warner Bros DVD rentals 28 days after release, losing edge on competition
December 17, 2010 No Comment
It was only a couple of weeks ago that BlockBuster and Warner Bros were trialling the release of DVD titles into the former company’s rental kiosks on their day of commercial release, but it seems like that’s a future we’re not going to see any more of. The pair have now announced a partnership whereby BlockBuster will offer WB’s new DVD titles for rent 28 days after launch, matching Redbox and Netflix who are also subject to a four-week delay. This follows similar deals being concluded by BlockBuster with Universal Studios and 20th Century Fox, with the major benefits being lower acquisition costs and a direct relationship with the studio. We just wonder if those savings will be worth losing the one big differentiator BlockBuster had working in its favor. Continue reading BlockBuster to distribute Warner Bros DVD rentals 28 days after release, losing edge on competition BlockBuster to distribute Warner Bros DVD rentals 28 days after release, losing edge on competition originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 03:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …BlackBerry Desktop Software 2.0 for Mac OS brings WiFi music sync, broader iPhoto / iTunes support
December 17, 2010 No Comment
About time, eh? Wintel users have been enjoying the spoils of WiFi music sync on their BlackBerry handsets for the past few months now, but if you’re still stickin’ with RIM (through the thick and thin ), and you just so happen to roll primarily on OS X, there’s a new piece of software that you should consider. BlackBerry Desktop Software 2.0 for Mac OS has just been let loose, and it’s a pretty substantial update. Aside from supporting WiFi music sync in official fashion, there’s also a new device switch wizard and the ability to import and sync photos and videos with iPhoto and iTunes. She’s waiting for you there in the source link — all 39.713 megabytes. You know what to do. BlackBerry Desktop Software 2.0 for Mac OS brings WiFi music sync, broader iPhoto / iTunes support originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 03:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Well, one thing’s for sure: it ain’t a Harmony . GenosTV, a small subsidiary of the ShambroWest Corporation, is fixing to make somewhat of a splash at CES next year, primarily by showcasing working prototypes of a remote that has been in circulation since June. The monstrosity you’re inevitably peering at above is described as the Cyclops Multifunction Universal Controller, and while we aren’t told if uses IR or Bluetooth (or both), we are expecting to get a little hands-on time with it in a matter of weeks. The company will also be using its time in Vegas to schmooze with connected HDTV makers, presumably in an effort to strike up a bundle deal with the Sonys, Samsungs and Vizios of the world. Needless to say, our interest is decidedly piqued. Continue reading GenosTV sets a date with CES, plans to demo Cyclops universal remote GenosTV sets a date with CES, plans to demo Cyclops universal remote originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 02:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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If you can’t beat SSDs (and you can’t, we’ve checked ), you might as well try and dress like them by squeezing into the unreasonably low profile of just 7mm. Such must be the reasoning behind Hitachi’s svelte 7mm-thick HDD series , which today gets augmented with a new top-of-the-line drive boasting 500GB of storage room. This single-platter archivist measure 2.5 inches diagonally, but as its Z5K500 product name suggests, it only spins at the tame rate of 5400RPM. The less generously proportioned Z7K320 offers 7200RPM if you’re after more oomph, but it’s most likely that your first real contact with either of these drives will be when you see them built into whatever larger device you’re buying. Like, say, an ultrathin netbook or a PMP that’s eager to swallow your music collection whole. Continue reading Hitachi’s 7mm-thick hard drives grow to 500GB, keep slimline profile Hitachi’s 7mm-thick hard drives grow to 500GB, keep slimline profile originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 02:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Why simply download a movie when you can download a movie app? That’s the thinking at Paramount, at least, which launched it’s first Silverlight -enhanced movie app, School of Rock , for Windows Phone 7 devices this week. That’s one of an initial batch of ten movies that will be released before the end of the year, which will also include Zoolander , GI JOE: The Rise of Cobra and Waiting for Superman , among other yet-to-be-announced titles. In addition to the movie itself, each of those will come packed with a range of extras including trailers, DVD-style special features, a Scene It? pop-up trivia mode, and the ability to create custom movie clips. As for how much they’ll cost, School of Rock currently runs $10, although it’s not clear if that will be the standard pricing for all releases. Continue reading Paramount rolls out Silverlight-enhanced movies for Windows Phone 7 Paramount rolls out Silverlight-enhanced movies for Windows Phone 7 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 02:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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She ain’t pretty — far from it, actually — but she’ll definitely get the job done in uncertain conditions. GammaTech’s latest convertible laptop has just been revealed, with the D12C bringing along a 12.1-inch LED-backlit WXGA touchscreen, a Core i5-540UM processor, up to 8GB of memory, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, WiFi, optional Bluetooth / smart card reader and an integrated carry handle. The actual exterior is built much like a tank, meeting stringent MIL-STD-810G requirements surrounding drop and shock resistance. There’s also a spill resistant design that sheds water around the keyboard, touchpad, speakers and wireless and power switches, and every last port is fully dust resistant. You’ll also find a 2.5-inch slot suitable for your choice of HDD or SSD, and unless you specify otherwise, you’ll be getting a fresh copy of Windows 7. Mum’s the word on pricing, but as these things tend to go, we’re guessing you’ll be paying a stiff premium for the rigidity. Continue reading GammaTech stuffs Core i5 into rugged, rigid D12C convertible laptop GammaTech stuffs Core i5 into rugged, rigid D12C convertible laptop originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 01:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Synology introduces DiskStation DS211+, review finds the plus stands for performance
December 17, 2010 No Comment
If you’re not down with this whole ” careless computing ” craze you still need somewhere to stuff your files, and Synology has introduced a new high-performance and (relatively) low-cost option. It’s the DS211+, a dual-bay, hot-swappable NAS with an integrated card reader and software providing easy security administration, remote access, and even surveillance storage duties. It’s priced at “around $400″ and, according to an early review at KitGuru, it’s well worth the cost, delivering “stunning levels of bandwidth” and leading to various other hyperbolic conclusions that make us think you might want to wait for a second, less euphemistic opinion before clicking the buy button. Gallery: Synology DiskStation DS211+ Continue reading Synology introduces DiskStation DS211+, review finds the plus stands for performance Synology introduces DiskStation DS211+, review finds the plus stands for performance originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 01:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Word Lens augmented reality app instantly translates whatever you point it at
December 17, 2010 No Comment
Augmented reality and optical character recognition have just come into their own, beautifully intertwined into an instant translation app for the iPhone. Download Word Lens, pay $4.99 for a language pack, then point it at a sign and watch as it replaces every word with one in your native tongue. It’s a little bit like Pleco , but without the whole language learning stuff. We just gave it a spin, and while it’s not quite as accurate as this video claims, it’s still breathtaking to behold — especially as it doesn’t require an internet connection to do any lookup. Sadly, it only translates to and from English and Spanish for now. Still, Babelfish, eat your heart out. Word Lens augmented reality app instantly translates whatever you point it at originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 00:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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