Early Venue Pro adopters get free Bluetooth headsets, the infinitely rewarding lesson of patience
December 16, 2010 No Comment
Still bummed to be waiting for your Venue Pro ? Dell’s amended its December 14th shipping update — henceforth known as (this time only, and then never again) as “VP Day” — to let yearning customers know that, if they had ordered the device before that day, a present was coming in due course. Nay, not a present, a Thank You in the form of a free Plantronics Explorer 240 Bluetooth headset. That’s shipping in four to six weeks, excusing any ironic bouts of delay of its own. Let’s just hope it doesn’t beat your Windows Phone 7 device to the doorstep. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Early Venue Pro adopters get free Bluetooth headsets, the infinitely rewarding lesson of patience originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 22:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Athlete Robot runs just a few steps before falling down, does it with style
December 16, 2010 No Comment
Since 2007, researchers at Tokyo University’s ISI Lab have been working on a prototype of a running robot , which we’ve seen several of in the past. Athlete Robot (as it is seemingly dubbed) is a little bit different though. While it hasn’t outwardly been given the humanoid treatment in any significant way, technologically, it works very much like a human. As you’ll see in the video below, early prototypes of the bot which were less ‘human’ like in design didn’t function as well as the newer version, which boasts McKibben artificial muscles and a biologically correct musculoskeletal system. Now, the robot still can’t run very far without falling over, but it’s impressive to watch its movements nonetheless. Continue reading Athlete Robot runs just a few steps before falling down, does it with style Athlete Robot runs just a few steps before falling down, does it with style originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 21:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Kinect Hacks Daily, Episode 47: Kinect taught to control XBMC through hand gestures
December 16, 2010 No Comment
One of our favorite parts of Kinect, at least theoretically , was the idea of controller-free and remote-free control of the dashboard and media playbook. Sure, it’s never going to be as optimized and snappy as those tried-and-true digital buttons, but it’s a great party trick, and we’re all about the party tricks. Well, now you can get some of that gesture mojo going on with your XBMC setup — and we’re guessing eventually you’ll be able to control just about anything else you’d use basic “left, right, click” actions for navigation. Our only suggestion? Get some of that Dance Central-style menu navigation going on here. That goes for you, too, Microsoft. [Thanks, Joshua] Kinect Hacks Daily, Episode 47: Kinect taught to control XBMC through hand gestures originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 21:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …LG Optimus 2X: first dual-core smartphone launches with Android, 4-inch display, 1080p video recording
December 16, 2010 No Comment
That’s right, it’s official. Needless to say, that LG Star we recently got our paws on is very real, though it won’t go by that name at retail — just as LG’s own release materials had suggested , this monster has picked up the Optimus 2X name as it morphs from a prototype into brutally fast, overpowered reality. At the phone’s heart beats a dual-core Tegra 2 processor running at 1GHz, the first such configuration to be officially announced by any smartphone manufacturer (though we’re expecting others any day now). In case you’re wondering how such power might be used, well, for starters, you’ve got both full 1080p TV-out via HDMI and video capture through an 8 megapixel primary camera paired with a 1.3 megapixel cam up front for face-to-face calling. A 4-inch WVGA display is along for the ride along with 8GB of on-board storage (expandable with up to 32GB of microSD) and a 1,500mAh battery — no larger than most single-core smartphones these days, so it’ll be interesting to see if the final retail units hold up through a day of typical use. Unfortunately, the Optimus 2X is launching out of the gate with Android 2.2, but LG’s already committing to releasing Gingerbread updates “in due course.” It hits first in LG’s home market of Korea next month, followed by Europe and other Asian locales in the coming weeks; we’re sure you can hardly wait, so why don’t you check out some eye candy from our preview while you pass the time? Follow the break for the press release. Gallery: LG Star hands-on Continue reading LG Optimus 2X: first dual-core smartphone launches with Android, 4-inch display, 1080p video recording LG Optimus 2X: first dual-core smartphone launches with Android, 4-inch display, 1080p video recording originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Field Monitor Pro: ‘portable’ 15.4-inch USB monitor packs number pad, DisplayLink
December 16, 2010 No Comment
This, friends, is the ThinkPad W700 ‘s worst nightmare. Rather than forcing consumers into buying a gargantuan lappie with an inbuilt secondary display (or settling for one of Mimo’s diminutive alternatives ), Mobile Monitor Technologies has an even better solution: this thing. The four-pound Field Monitor Pro is sure to be a hot seller over at Accountemps, with a fold-flat design and a spacious 15.4-inch LCD underneath. Essentially, this is a 15-inch laptop sans the guts, boasting just a 1280×800 LED-backlit display, a rear kickstand, two Kensington lock slots, a pair of USB 2.0 sockets, DisplayLink technology and a full-on number pad. It’s designed to be used in both lay-flat or stood-up modes, and if you’re looking for a more permanent solution, it can also be mounted on a nearby wall. Unfortunately, you’ll still need a separate AC line running to a wall outlet, and the relatively low resolution isn’t apt to drop any jaws. Head on past the break for a peek at what exactly this beast can offer, and then wait patiently for a price as “busy season 2011″ swings in. Ah, the sweet smell of taxes coming due. [Thanks, Ian] Continue reading Field Monitor Pro: ‘portable’ 15.4-inch USB monitor packs number pad, DisplayLink Field Monitor Pro: ‘portable’ 15.4-inch USB monitor packs number pad, DisplayLink originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 20:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Android Dreamcast emulator nullDCe gets early video preview, still a work in progress
December 16, 2010 No Comment
Never underestimate the power of Dreamcast to live on long past its intended expiration date (which, if you ask Sega, would have been around September 2007 ). The final flagship console from the Haus of Sonic is survived by a multitude of emulators propagating across a multitude of platforms… and well, here’s another. Drk||Raziel has posted some videos showcasing the work in progress of nullDCe for Android (on what we make out to be a AT&T Samsung Captivate ). The footage ranges from buggy ( Soul Calibur ) to pretty smooth ( Crazy Taxi ), but again, no one’s calling this a finished product. See it for yourself after the break. Continue reading Android Dreamcast emulator nullDCe gets early video preview, still a work in progress Android Dreamcast emulator nullDCe gets early video preview, still a work in progress originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 20:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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We’ve been tracking the MIT-originated Siftables so far with grudgingly bemused expressions on our cynical, internet-hardened faces. Now we find out they’re called Sifteo Cubits, and they’ve got a slated release for the first quarter of next year. Sure, sure, we can keep it together. But then we saw this adorable press shot, and the callouses just fell right off our hardened blogger hearts. The 1.5-inch LCD-equipped blocks, which can sense motion and proximity while communicating with each other wirelessly, are going to be mostly used for games initially, though the possibilities seem endless — and endlessly quirky. At $149 it might be a hard sell for most, but Sifteo had us at “pixel art.” We should know more in January when Sifteo makes the full unveil. Sifteo Cubits launching next year; still really cute originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 19:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …FCC to auction off deadbeat bidders’ 700MHz spectrum on July 19th, 2011
December 15, 2010 No Comment
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from our stratospheric rise in smartphone adoption over the past several years (with no end in sight), it’s that we can never have enough spectrum to run data services for them — just ask the chairman of the FCC , the president of the CTIA , or pretty much anyone who’s ever tried to load Engadget on an iPhone in Times Square. To that end, we’re excited to see that the FCC has slated another round of 700MHz spectrum — the pure gold that Verizon, AT&T, MetroPCS, and others are using for LTE deployments — but we wouldn’t get too excited, because it’s actually just a few blocks left over from the last auction that went unsold or unpaid. Markets in Puerto Rico, North Dakota, North Carolina, and South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia make up the 16 licenses available, so if you were planning on setting up 4G services in the Bismarck metropolitan area, you’re in good shape. FCC to auction off deadbeat bidders’ 700MHz spectrum on July 19th, 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 19:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Seagate ships 3.5-inch Barracuda Green internal hard drive, leaves and all
December 15, 2010 No Comment
Remember the Barracuda LP ? Meet its formal successor. In a bid to generate some interest from upgrading Sierra Club members, Seagate has just introduced the Barracuda Green, described as the world’s highest performance eco-friendly desktop hard drive. Essentially, this 3.5-inch internal HDD aims to split the difference between power and performance, with a 5,900RPM spin speed and the company’s own SmartAlign technology to enable the benefits of the new 4K sector standard. The company claims that it’s whisper quiet in use, and it drains less power than non-Green alternatives. It’s hitting the sales channel now in 1TB, 1.5TB and 2TB sizes, with the big guy topping out at around $120. Ma Earth thanks you in advance for your consideration. Continue reading Seagate ships 3.5-inch Barracuda Green internal hard drive, leaves and all Seagate ships 3.5-inch Barracuda Green internal hard drive, leaves and all originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Regulators push for tough conditions in Comcast / NBC deal, aim to protect internet video
December 15, 2010 No Comment
Is it the deal that’ll never go through? Some might hope. For the better part of this year, Comcast has been jonesing to pick up a 51 percent stake in NBC Universal (for a cool $13.75 billion), but as you’d expect regulators have been poking and prodding the arrangement from just about every angle . The potential antitrust issues go on for miles, and now officials are paying particularly close attention to how the deal could shape the future of internet video. As you may or may not know, NBC holds a 32 percent stake in Hulu , and in theory, a Comcast buyout would enable it to limit access to other ISPs or force Comcast internet subscribers to also pay for a programming package in order to have access. A new AP report on the topic mentions that the US government is considering forcing Comcast to sell NBC’s Hulu stake as a stipulation for the deal to go through, and moreover, they may insist that Comcast provide online access to NBC Universal’s content library without a cable sub. Currently, Time Warner Cable requires users to sign up cable in order to access ESPN3 — a nasty, strong-arm tactic at its finest — and if the Fed gets its way, it could also set a new precedent for other operators. Needless to say, there’s quite a bit to be sorted before NBC bigwigs take on corner offices at Comcast , and there’s an awful lot at stake along the way. Regulators push for tough conditions in Comcast / NBC deal, aim to protect internet video originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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