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Friday, November 19, 2010

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Verizon's Droid lineup available at Amazon for a penny per handset with no activation fee

Posted: 19 Nov 2010 10:21 AM PST

Yeah, retailers are always undercutting carrier pricing, sometimes pretty dramatically, but Amazon's taking things to the limit this weekend. You can score any of Verizon's major Droid phones for a penny, and Verizon is also fronting the $35 Verizon line activation fee. Of course, you'll have to sign up for a two year contract, and you'd better not think about canceling out of it: Amazon has a $250 per device cancellation fee on top of Verizon's own hefty charge. Ah, the price of free.

Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Video Cameras

Posted: 19 Nov 2010 09:46 AM PST

Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year. Below is today's bevy of hand curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season.
Photos make great mementos for important moments, but a picture of your kid taking her first step or writing his first blog post isn't quite as meaningful as a full-motion video of the event in question. That's why a video recorder of some sort is a must-have, and while your average compact camera is capturing better footage than ever, sometimes you need something a little more dedicated. That's when you need a camcorder, and this year we even have a bunch of 3D models to choose from. Which ones are right for you and for your budget? Click on through to find out.

Stocking stuffers


GE DV1 HD

Flip disappointed us this year by releasing only the underwhelming Slide HD, but plenty of imitators cut in to take up the slack. GE is one of the least expensive, with its durable DV1 which, for under $100, will record 1080p video to SD and do so underwater. Sure, it might be a little cold for swimming now, but warmer days are coming.

Key specs: Rugged, 1080p recording

Price: $99 and up

For the cutting edge...

Viewsonic 3DV5 - $169 and up

Yes, already it's the first of our 3D entrants, a 720p recorder from Viewsonic that does 2D and 3D, and does so for well under $200. We can't guarantee that you'll get the best video or 5 megapixel stills from here, but hey, 3D!

For the extreme...

GoPro HD Hero 960 - $179

Last year we gave the nod to the Contour 1080p, and we still love that cam's sophisticated lines. But this year GoPro brought HD helmet cams under $200 with the HD Hero 960. Mount one on your lid, car, or snowboard and let your extreme (mis)adventures live forever.


Oh, you shouldn't have


Sany


Sanyo Xacti DMX-CA100

Last year's $150 Xacti VPC-CG100 is still a great choice and a great bargain for 720p video recording, but if you need something that will capture a few more pixels and do so while you're hanging 10 (or just hanging out) on the beach, the DMX-CA100 (aka the VPC-CA102) is your shooter, managing 1080p through a 6x optical zoom while also surviving 10 foot plunges into the depths.

Key specs: 1080p30 recording, 6x optical zoom

Price: $317 and up

For the studio...


Zoom

Zoom Q3HD - $299

Yes, it's another little zoom-free handheld much in the mold of a Flip, but this one manages full HD 1080p30 recording, 720p60, and as you can tell by that chrome array up top it's meant to capture some seriously high-quality audio to go along with all that video.

For photogs...
Canon 60D - $999

We had to include one DSLR in the mix, because so many are offering top-notch video quality along with the obvious benefit of taking phenomenal stills. For under $1,000 the Canon 60D impresses with its cinematic 1080p24 video mode.

We can't afford the rent now, can we?


Panasonic HDC-SDT750

Stepping up to the big money now, and the big quality. The HDC-SDT750 is one of Panasonic's higher-end consumer models, packing a 3MOS sensor and 1080p shooting. But, clip on the included 3D conversion lens and you're shooting in stereo -- though at half the resolution.

Key specs: High quality video, 3D recording

Price: $1,399

For lens collectors...

Sony
Sony NEX-VG10 - $1,769 and up

When one lens won't do but you don't have the money for one of Sony's full-fledged professional camcorders, the NEX-VG10 might fit in your (still ample) budget. This model naturally does 1080p recording, also offering a "Quad Capsule Spatial Array Stereo Microphone" that sounds so cool the lucky recipient of this gift will never tire of telling his or her friends all about it.

For big spenders...

RED
RED One Mysterium X - $25,000

If your lucky loved one is destined for great things in Tinseltown, get them a great camera. Red's One Mysterium X offers a full 4K resolution that's capable of blowing the mind of any consumer TV, and a price tag capable of blowing even the most luxurious of holiday budgets. Just don't forget to leave room for a lens too. And an EVF, and the cables...

Sony
Panasonic AF105 Micro Four Thirds - $4,795 and up

Offering a similar interchangeable-lens design to the Sony but packing a better sensor is Panasonic's AF105/AF100. It records in a variety of formats up to 1080p30 and, with its Micro Four Thirds mount, accepts an array of Panasonic's consumer and higher-end cinema lenses.

Caption Contest: Steve Ballmer goes on kill-crazy rampage at Microsoft Store

Posted: 19 Nov 2010 09:26 AM PST

In the photo above you see Microsoft's Steve Ballmer performing a ribbon cutting at the company's new store in Bellevue, Washington. Shortly after finishing with the ribbon, Ballmer proceeded to rampage the store and patrons, leaving 17 dead, 6 wounded, and a stunned Miley Cyrus wondering if she had made the wisest career decisions. Ballmer was finally subdued by Dave Matthews, who knocked the CEO unconscious with an 8-foot bong.

Josh: "I'm a PC, and I'm going to mess up your insides so bad, you'll pray for death."
Ben Bowers: "Anyone else want to claim Windows 7 was their idea?"
Chris: "To the cloud! With Windows 7 and Windows Live, Microsoft can mix and match its CEO's best faces until it's able to piece together a photo it's proud to share."
Ross: "Using the power of Control-X while mobile is just one of the many superpowers Ballmer has and Windows Phone 7 users don't."
Darren: "Moments before this tremendous occasion, Ballmer begrudgingly confirmed a prompt questioning his true intentions to dismantle a red ribbon."
Nilay: "Touch my junk and I'll have you arrested."
Don: "There can only be one!"
Vlad: "I love this company! I love it so much I'm gonna cut it up into little pieces and eat it!"
Joe: "Clearly event organizers hadn't planned for every possible emergency."
Thomas: "Baby Ballmer cuts his own cord thankyouverymuch."
Myriam: "Developers! It's time to get cut and paste into Windows Phone 7..."

[Image Credit]


The undoctored photo, as discovered by Chris Ziegler

Advent Vega goes on sale in the UK, promptly sells out

Posted: 19 Nov 2010 08:58 AM PST

No Android Market? No problem! The 10-inch Advent Vega tablet, famously boasting NVIDIA's Tegra 2 chipset, just went on sale across the pond earlier today, and after a matter of hours, the £249 device has already sold out. In a message that sounds eerily similar to that uttered by HP regarding its Slate, PC World has confessed that the first shipment "sold out nearly as quickly as 'Take That' tickets." It's hard to say just how "unprecedented" the demand was with no actual sales figures, but it looks as if this here tablet will be quite the item this holiday season. The Tickle Me Elmo of slates? Maybe, just maybe.

Honda shows off Fit EV concept at LA Auto Show, we hope to see it again

Posted: 19 Nov 2010 08:30 AM PST

Honda shows off Fit EV concept at LA Auto Show, we hope to see it again
The Fit is a well regarded car here at Engadget HQ, models finding their ways into the garages and parking lots of three separate staffers, all of whom are now saying things like "ooooh" and "shiny" while looking at the lovely blue model Honda brought along to show off at the Los Angeles Auto Show. It's just a concept at this point, delivering the current standard 100 miles of range while managing a 90mph top speed, more or less matching the Nissan Leaf we recently sampled and inspiring us all to call our electricians for quotes on quick-charger installs. Sadly we have plenty of time to save up for those, with the Fit EV not hitting production until sometime in 2012, and Honda not making any promises about US availability. To that we say "boo."

Razer Nostromo gaming keypad supplants Belkin's n52te Speedpad, does it proud

Posted: 19 Nov 2010 08:03 AM PST

Think you've been gaming on the PC for awhile? If you can't vividly remember gushing over this thing (and scrounging up pennies from under the couch in order to finance one), move along. If, however, you're still the proud owner of an attic-bound Belkin Nostromo n52, you can definitely prepare yourself for a healthy dose of nostalgia here. After co-developing Belkin's n52te Speedpad a few years ago, it looks as if Razer has now fully taken over the gamepad by today introducing the Nostromo. Yeah, just Nostromo. The design is certainly a familiar one, boasting a 16-button keypad, a soft-touch rubberized wrist pad, 16 fully-programmable Hyperesponse gaming buttons and an eight-way directional thumb pad. As for improvements, you'll get the ability to switch instantly between eight keymaps (up from three), and the flexibility of storing up to twenty gaming profiles (up from the previous limit of ten). It's available to order now for $69.99 / €69.99, with an estimated ship date of November 29th worldwide. You know, in plenty of time to stuff your own stocking.
Razer Nostromo gaming keypad
Show full PR text
RAZER™ IMPROVES THE WORLD'S FAVORITE GAMING KEYPAD

Co-developed with Belkin, the Razer Nostromo® Gaming Keypad Succeeds the Belkin n52te SpeedPad with Enhanced Features and Customizability - Available Now

Carlsbad, Calif. – Nov 18, 2010 - Razer, the world's leading high-end precision gaming and lifestyle peripherals brand, today announced the Razer Nostromo gaming keypad, co-developed with Belkin and designed to give gamers the upper hand with cutting-edge ergonomics, tournament-grade controls, extreme customizability, and maximum comfort.

"A few years ago we had the privilege of working with Belkin to co-develop the highly successful Belkin n52te Speedpad." said Robert "RazerGuy" Krakoff, President, Razer. "The Razer Nostromo is an update to this illustrious gaming keypad to meet today's competitive gaming demands. Building on the Speedpad's proven ergonomic design, the Razer Nostromo incorporates the latest gaming technologies that Razer has developed over the past few years, including a new chipset and software drivers that allow all levels of gamers to program sophisticated command strings to help decimate their opponents."

The Razer Nostromo features a 16-button keypad layout and form factor that is optimally designed for greater intuitive access to critical gaming commands across all game genres. For marathon gaming sessions, a soft-touch rubberized wrist pad cradles the palm and significantly reduces hand fatigue and wrist strain.

The Razer Nostromo gives players amazing key activation accuracy with its 16 fully-programmable Hyperesponse™ gaming buttons and eight-way directional thumb pad, engineered for rapid key actuation and crisp response. The programmable directional thumb pad can be used either for movement or as modifier keys to access auxiliary commands. In addition, the Razer Nostromo boasts several enhancements over its predecessor including the ability to switch instantly between eight keymaps (up from three), and the flexibility of storing up to twenty gaming profiles from the previous limit of ten.

Gamers can now also take advantage of the new onboard chipset and software driver that puts aside all previous programming limitations, as the new Razer Nostromo enables gamers to effortlessly program sophisticated macros of unlimited length. This all-new configurator software for the Razer Nostromo comes with an improved user-friendly interface that belies its advanced macro programming capabilities, allowing gamers to conveniently customize all the buttons with any game command to open up a massive repertoire of commands and combinations right under their fingertips.

About the Razer Nostromo

The Razer Nostromo expert gaming keypad is designed to give gamers the upper hand with cutting edge ergonomics for intuitive game control and comfort. With an arsenal of tournament-grade controls including 16 fully programmable Hyperesponse keys, eight keymaps that can be switched between on-the-fly, twenty unique gaming profiles, and an eight-way directional thumb pad all integrated into one dedicated gaming keyboard, gamers will be prepared to take on any challenger.

The Razer Nostromo's all-new configurator software is as easy to use as it is deadly, allowing gamers to conveniently customize all the buttons with any game command or key binding to open up a massive repertoire of killer combinations right under their fingertips.

Razer Nostromo
Price: US $69.99 / €69.99

Availability:
Razerzone.com – Available Now
Worldwide – Available Now

Product Features:

* Ergonomic form factor and tournament-grade layout
* 16 fully programmable Hyperesponse™ keys
* Programmable 8-way directional thumb pad and scroll wheel
* Instantaneous switching between 8 key maps
* Unlimited macro lengths
* Stores up to 20 different game profiles
* Adjustable soft-touch wrist pad for exceptional comfort
* Backlit keypad and scroll wheel for total control even in dark conditions
* Enhanced Razer configurator software

Russia working on a national OS, Linux 'at the end of its life cycle'?

Posted: 19 Nov 2010 07:38 AM PST

Remember when the Russian government confiscated computers from environmental activists, and then justified it by saying they were looking for unlicensed Microsoft software? And then Microsoft went ahead and gave a unilateral software license to all the NGOs and media outlets in the country? And then Putin wrestled an alligator? Well, it seems like the software giant and the land of Dostoevsky and Rasputin have been at cross-purposes for quite a while now. Indeed, Glynn Moody's Open... blog has been tracking the country's progress in developing its own Linux-based Open Source OS (similar to efforts by Cuba and North Korea) for some time, although as of yet it doesn't look like there has been much success. At any rate, Microsoft Russia president Nikolai Pryanishnikov doesn't seem to be threatened by the prospect: "We must bear in mind that Linux is not a Russian OS," he is quoted as saying in an article at cnews.ru. "And, moreover, [Linux] is at the end of its life cycle." Oh, really? Please don't tell Tux just yet... the news would break his heart.

Toyota debuts 100 mile Tesla-powered RAV4 EV, Musk says it 'helps us with the Model S'

Posted: 19 Nov 2010 06:52 AM PST

Toyota debuts Tesla-powered RAV4 EV, Musk says it 'helps us with the Model S'
Toyota and Tesla have been spotted holding hands behind the school gym on numerous occasions and now, finally, the result of their long hours working together in the craft room are being shown to the world. It's the RAV4 EV, announced earlier this year and finally unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Current pre-production models are delivering 100 miles per charge but apparently still need some climate-proofing to ensure that the 2012 version will hit that range regardless of conditions. That's a big deal for a big SUV, and of course it's a big deal for Tesla, which is providing the powertrain. It's also a good news for Elon Musk, surely injecting some much-needed funding to the company and, as he says, introducing other benefits as well:
We're giving Toyota a window into the entrepreneurial, Silicon Valley culture and, vice versa, we're getting a sense for the Toyota production system... I think we're learning a lot form Toyota, bidirectionally, in this process and I think that helps us with the Model S. Having access to Lexus components in the supply chain is also helpful.
In other words, expect the production Model S interior to be a little less fanciful and a little more familiar.

MIT's laser camera can photograph around corners, render your camouflage useless

Posted: 19 Nov 2010 06:28 AM PST

You know, we'd love to meet this Ramesh Raskar character. Possibly even shake his hand, or secretly become injected with a pinch of his DNA. You see, he's devoted his life to proving that the impossible is actually possible, first conjuring up a 6D "super-realistic" image system just over two years ago. Now, he's onto bigger and better things... things like cameras that can see around corners. Granted, this concept isn't exactly a new one -- LIDAR-equipped robots have been discovering hidden objects for years, but the mere thought of cramming this technology into a camera has us salivating. Auntie Beeb has a new piece up on the technology, and it actually does an exceptional job of explaining the technobabble. Put simply, the created prototype utilizes an ultra-short, highly intense burst of laser light (a femotosecond laser, if you have to know) to light up a scene; from there, it bends around corners and bounces back, using algorithms to figure out what's inside of the room based on the bounce points. We're guessing it'll still be a few decades before this gets wrapped into a mid-range DSLR, but we're cautiously hoping for a working mockup at CES 2015. Seriously, we just marked it down. Don't disappoint us, guys.

Panasonic Lumix GF2 reviewed: smaller, simpler, and arguably better than the GF1

Posted: 19 Nov 2010 06:04 AM PST

Panasonic Lumix GF2 reviewed: smaller, simpler, and arguably better than the GF1
Panasonic's DMC-GF1 proved itself as a tasty go-between, filling the gap between high-end compact and DSLR. The GF2 will soon arrive and, according to Photography Blog, if anything it slots in a little closer to the compact side of things thanks to a new user interface that ditches many buttons and dials in favor of touchscreen menus. This will drive some users mad, but ultimately the up-rated features here still make this a worthy choice over the GF1, including video recording at 1080i60 and a new body that's a fifth smaller and seven percent lighter than before despite still containing a pop-up flash, 12.1 megapixel sensor, and image quality that's about as good as you're going to get out of a shooter this size.

Motorola Droid 2 Global hands-on

Posted: 19 Nov 2010 05:42 AM PST

At this point we're completely amused that the Droid 2 Global has managed to leak out, get advertised, go on sale, and even arrive in customers' hands without so much as a PR peep from Verizon, so we leapt at the chance to get a quick hands-on with it last night here in NYC. Nothing here you wouldn't really expect, and we weren't able to run any performance tests on the speedbumped 1.2GHz processor, but we were able to solve the mystery of that camera bulge: turns out the Droid 2 Global is a hair thinner than the standard Droid 2, and the bulge pops out just enough to make up the difference. It's not dramatic, by any means -- if we hadn't been looking, we probably wouldn't have noticed. Oh, and it's definitely running Blur on top of Android 2.2, so you know, that's "awesome." Anyway, at the rate we're going we'll have a full review up and this thing will be discontinued before Verizon ever formally acknowledges it, so hit the gallery for a quick hands-on with The Droid That Doesn't... Exist.
Motorola Droid 2 Global hands-on

Rugged POV.HD video system captures 1080p through anything, for a price

Posted: 19 Nov 2010 05:17 AM PST

The POV.HD video system is a new offering from V.I.O positioned as a more professional-grade alternative to other film-through-hell helmet cameras such as the GoPro HD or Drift Innovations HD170. Its two-ounce IP67 certified camera sports a six-element glass lens and a native 1080p CMOS sensor that can capture a 142 degree field-of-view -- claimed to be the widest on the market -- in full HD at 30fps. The head unit can also be adjusted to record 720p at 60fps with a 92 degree FOV for faster shots. A separate recording unit features Texas Instruments' latest Da Vinci DM368 processor and supports a real-time video pipeline while storing up to 4.3 hours of 1080p H.264 video footage on a 32GB of SDHC. It's also equipped with a two-inch LCD viewing screen with exposure and footage tagging controls. Priced at $600, V.I.O is currently accepting pre-orders, which if made between November 15th through December 17th, are guaranteed to arrive by December 22nd -- just in time for your family's' homebrew holiday response to Jackass.
Show full PR text

Introducing the POV.HD Video System by V.I.O.
Advanced Point-of-View 1080p Video

Marquette, MI, November 18, 2010 /PRNewswire/ - Caveat Emptor: not all HD is created equal. V.I.O., the decade-long leader in point-of-view video technology, is proud to announce the all-new POV.HD video camera: the most flexible, rugged and easy to use point-of-view HD video system available. The POV.HD is V.I.O.'s response to video professionals and athletes who demand advanced high-definition video with vibrant color and superior camera control that excels in extreme environments.

The new POV.HD follows the award-winning form-factor of its predecessor, but with all-new internal components and functionality. The POV.HD features new in-field flexibility capabilities and records up to 5 hours of crisp HD video. Thanks to the exceptionally small and robust nature of the POV.HD camera head, options for capturing creative and beautiful video angles are limitless. Clint Slack, Marketing Director at V.I.O., says: "The POV.HD not only delivers advanced HD video, but also provides a host of unique recording and exposure options designed for the discriminating video enthusiast."

The POV.HD comes with a laundry list of proprietary functionality driven by user feedback. The recording unit features a 2-inch LCD screen to view footage in the field, edit video and make exposure control adjustments. A simple set of controls allows the user to easily "tag" the best footage in the field, so final editing is finished quickly back in the studio. The recorder, run by Texas Instruments' new Da Vinci DM368 Video Processor, supports a real-time video pipeline that enhances image quality and produces crystal clear 1080p H.264 video. The 2-oz wearable camera head captures 142 degree FOV, at 1080p 30fps-the widest point-of-view camera angle available on the market. The camera head also features video capture at 720p 60fps, a high-quality 6-element glass lens and a native 1080p CMOS sensor designed specifically to produce optimal-quality, Full HD video.

In addition to utilizing the best video components available on the market, the POV.HD excels in the single most important test for point-of-view cameras: durability and ruggedness. The POV.HD is IP67 certified and is commonly used in a wide variety of extreme environments due to the unit's dust, water and shockproof ratings and ability to handle extreme temperatures. Todd Jones, Founder and Producer for the action-sports film company Teton Gravity Research, said: "Thanks to the exceptionally small size, bombproof nature and production-grade video quality of V.I.O.'s cameras, we've been able to capture unique and beautiful shots of our athletes in extreme situations that otherwise would have been unattainable."

The POV.HD Camera will be available at Backcountry.com, B&H Photo and in other fine camera/video establishments across the country. View video, photos and learn more at: vio-pov.com

Apple patent app may mean future unibodies get woven from carbon fiber

Posted: 19 Nov 2010 04:51 AM PST

Apple patent may mean next-gen unibodies get woven from carbon fiber
Ask any motorsport enthusiast and they'll tell you that there's just something about the way a carbon fiber weave ripples in the sunlight that makes them want to cover every surface of their vehicles with the stuff. It looks like Apple engineer Kevin M. Kenney shares a similar passion, applying for a patent called simply "Reinforced Device Housing" that describes a way for various weaves to be backed by carbon "spine" to provide greater torsional rigidity -- to keep you from twisting it and cracking an LCD. It's hard to deny the images attached to the application look an awful lot like an iPad, but the patent text is rather more broad:
Embodiments may house any number of electronic components. For example, certain embodiments may be used to form the exterior surface of a mobile telephone, a laptop or notebook computer, a tablet computing device, a desktop computer, a television, a stereo receiver, or practically any other electronic device.
Even sporks and shipping containers are mentioned! We've certainly seen the stuff in some pretty interesting places in the past, and now can't wait to see where it shows up next.
Apple 'Reinforced Device Housing' patent

Philadelphia Eagles going self-sufficient on stadium energy from 2011, 30 percent of it renewable

Posted: 19 Nov 2010 04:19 AM PST

Let's skip right past the cringe-worthy "Declaration of Energy Independence" slogan and look at what the Eagles are actually doing with their pro sports venue. The franchise that dresses in midnight green is aiming to smarten up its eco-green credentials with a new partnership with SolarBlue that will provide all of the Eagles' stadium energy needs for the next 20 years, after which point the team will be free to resell any surplus electricity back to the grid. 15 percent of the total output with be generated with spiral wind turbines erected around the top rim of Lincoln Financial Field, another 15 will come from 2,500 solar panels to be installed near the stadium, and the rest will be obtained from a biodiesel / natural gas plant. So it's not all renewable, but a nice step in the right direction, nonetheless.

Cox enters wireless market with 'Unbelievably Fair' contracts

Posted: 19 Nov 2010 03:53 AM PST

We've been hearing about Cox's intention to make a splash in the wireless space for a good long while, but today the cable company's finally made that move official. The venture will start off with three markets -- Hampton Roads, VA, Omaha, NE, and Orange County, CA -- and the big selling points will include MoneyBack Minutes, which gives you cash back for disused minutes, and free usage alerts to help you avoid gnarly overage charges. Bloomberg reports that service will be provided using Sprint's 3G airwaves for now, with Cox building out its own network for the future. Tie-ins with the company's other services include DVR-controlling software coming preinstalled on handsets, along with one free upgrade (such as a free premium channel like HBO) if you're already using any of Cox's landline, internet or cable services. We can't say that sounds like a bad deal, and the phone selection includes the HTC Desire at $70 on a two-year contract. Skip past the break for the full PR.
Show full PR text
Cox Unveils Unprecedented 'Unbelievably Fair(SM)' Wireless Plans, Bringing More Value to the Bundle

MoneyBack Minutes(SM) and Free Usage Alerts(SM) Reduce Wireless "Gotchas;" Customers Enjoy Bundle Benefits(SM) - Faster Internet, Free Premium Channel or Free Long Distance

ATLANTA, Nov. 19, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Cox Communications today unveiled its "Unbelievably Fair" mobile phone and high-speed Internet service throughout Hampton Roads, Va., Omaha, Neb. and Orange County, Calif. The addition of wireless to Cox's existing bundle of video, Internet and landline telephone services brings an unprecedented value proposition to consumers and introduces greater ease in integrating home and mobile services.

Today, Cox builds on its long history of innovation and customer service excellence with the launch of Cox Wireless. The company's market research revealed that consumers wanted a more fair approach to wireless and Cox is responding with MoneyBack Minutes. Cox is the first wireless carrier to provide cash back on customers' bills for unused minutes each month – up to $20 a month – a significant departure from the industry standard by which consumers lose unused minutes or carry them over from month-to-month with no monetary benefit.

"Wireless consumers have long been underserved on customer service," said Stephen Bye, Cox's vice president of wireless. "With our customer-centric approach, we're delivering much more than excellent network coverage and call quality. We went a step further by introducing new services and features to the Cox bundle that were built on fairness. Plus, with a robust portfolio of devices, a nationwide 3G network and award-winning customer service customers have come to expect from us, Cox delivers on the most important attributes of wireless service."

Cox's in-depth consumer research found that consumers are frustrated with surprise overage charges on their monthly bills. To further its commitment to delivering a more fair approach to wireless spending, Cox Wireless automatically provides customers with free text message Usage Alerts when they approach their maximum number of monthly minutes and messages. This "no surprises" service enables customers to adjust usage habits or upgrade rate plans to avoid overage charges. Cox also makes it easy to save minutes by providing free Mobile-to-Mobile and calling between the customer's Cox Digital Telephone and Cox Wireless phone.

To further sweeten the reward for existing customers, Cox's bundled customers can choose one free upgrade when they add Cox Wireless. With Bundle Benefits, Advanced TV customers can choose a free premium entertainment channel such as HBO, Showtime, Starz or Cinemax or Cox Movie Pak, which includes Encore, Epix, Sundance and Vutopia; high-speed Internet customers can upgrade from Preferred to Premier; or home telephone customers can add unlimited domestic long distance calling on their Cox Digital Telephone service.

"Cox's early entry to the telecommunications space has served it extremely well," stated Irene Berlinsky, senior research analyst with IDC. "Two-thirds of Cox's customers subscribe to multiple services, and a full one-third take all three currently-available services. With the addition of wireless services, Cox has devised an approach that is a natural extension of its bundle, providing value and simplicity which should resonate with consumers. An integrated wireless play also gives Cox the opportunity to lay the foundation for next-generation multi-screen innovation."

Retail Presence

With the arrival of Cox Wireless, mobile solutions are now available at the recently unveiled Cox Solutions Stores. At the heart of the in-store experience is the Learning Lounge, a comfortable area where a friendly and knowledgeable Solutions Educator is available to help customers get the most from their wireless device and mobile experience as well as other Cox products and services, such as programming your DVR from multiple devices.

"Throughout the Solutions Store, customers learn how easy it is to use many of the features and services of Cox Wireless, leaving with personalized knowledge that makes them feel excited and empowered in the wireless world," stated Tracy Nolan, Cox's vice president of retail. "The retail experience provides complete entertainment and communications solutions, providing the convenience of one-stop-shopping and making it easy for consumers to see the 'wow!' of integrating Cox products and services."

Wireless Devices

From Android™ enabled smartphones to feature-packed devices with BREW applications, Cox Wireless's portfolio of devices will meet the needs of every customer and continue to expand. Several of the devices were recently selected by Mashable.com as "hot electronics this [holiday] season." The devices available this holiday season* include:

HTC Desire™, an Android enabled touch smartphone with WiFi, 1 GHz processing speeds and HTC Sense™ interface
Motorola Milestone™, an Android enabled smartphone with WiFi, Qwerty slider keyboard, advanced processor with 3G speed, 3.7-inch screen and 5-megapixel camera
LG Axis™, an Android enabled smartphone with 3.2" (480x 800) touchscreen and slide out QWERTY keyboard, Wi-Fi and 3.0 MP camera which support panoramic shots
HTC Hero™, an Android enabled smartphone with WiFi and 3.2-inch touch screen
HTC Wildfire™ , an Android enabled smartphone with WiFi featuring app-sharing widget that works on Twitter, texts or email with a 3.2-inch touch screen
Samsung Messager Touch™, Brew enabled multimedia device featuring a 2.6-inch touch-screen, QWERTY keypad, pre-loaded widgets and 100 MB of storage
Samsung Profile™ , stay connected on the go with this 3G messaging platform on a BREW operating system. Includes a QWERTY keyboard with 2.4" screen and 2.0MP camera
Plus, several other feature phones and the Cox 3G U210 On-the-Go(SM) Modem, for Cox High Speed Internet On-the-Go(SM)

To help simplify customers' lives, the Cox Wireless experience will debut with popular Cox features already integrated into many of the mobile devices, such as the ability to program the home DVR and see TV listings from their mobile device. Similarly, Cox customers with an Android device can easily download the Cox Remote Guide Access app from the Android Market to also program their home DVR and see TV listings from their mobile device. This app marks the beginning of many Cox apps that will soon be available to provide greater convenience and mobility for Cox features and services. Additional features to simplify customers' lives include Universal Contact Manager to securely manage, backup and organize all Cox High Speed Internet and Cox Wireless contacts in one place; and Voice Mail to Text which converts voice mail messages to text and delivers them to the Cox Wireless device as a text message, giving customers the freedom to read messages and respond without ever dialing. Cox will continue to enrich and evolve its wireless experience by adding new features and services to enjoy while on-the-go.

For more information about Cox Wireless service and details on devices and all rate plans, including images and videos, visit www.unbelievablyfairwireless.com or www.cox.com (choose Hampton Roads, Va., Omaha, Neb., Orange County, Calif.)

Social Media: #CoxWireless, #UnbelievablyFair, #MoneybackMinutes, #BundleBenefits, #CoxSolutionsStores, #StephenBye, #TracyNolan

*Timing may vary

SteelSeries Shift MMO Keyset comes optimized for online questing

Posted: 19 Nov 2010 03:20 AM PST

Outside of Word documents and IM clients, one of the most intensive uses of keyboards nowadays is in massively multiplayer online games. But, gaze upon the button array before you and you'll notice that there's nary a single concession to your ten-hours-a-day WoW habit. SteelSeries is today looking to rectify that situation with its all-new MMO Keyset, which you can see above, attached to the company's already available Shift gaming keyboard. This assortment of oddly titled keys comes with an exhaustive set of customization and macro options, so even the most hardcore of online raiders should be able to extract some added value from it. We're not sure that utility will ever add up to the $25 (€25 in Europe) asking price, but then we've never managed to get our Night Elf Mohawk to Level 80, either.
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STEELSERIES INTRODUCES THE NEW SHIFT MMO KEYSET; TRANSFORMING THE SHIFT INTO A KEYBOARD POWERHOUSE FOR MMO GAMERS
Gamers Will Experience an Intuitive Layout of the Most Common MMO Emotes, Accompanied By the Ability for Complete, Multi-Layer Keyboard Customization

CHICAGO, Nov. 18, 2010 – SteelSeries, the leading manufacturer of gaming peripherals and accessories today, introduced the SteelSeries MMO Keyset for the Shift gaming keyboard. The SteelSeries MMO Keyset transforms the Shift into a feature-rich MMO Keyboard with an intuitive, preconfigured layout of keys that are labeled for movement, communication, and emotes. The new keyset brings gamers a superior and more cost-effective keyboard option compared to buying an MMO-only keyboard.

"The new MMO Keyset is an excellent example of how the SteelSeries Shift Keyboard is offering gamers an entirely new set-up, specific to the type of game they're currently playing, without having to commit to a big purchase, " said Bruce Hawver, SteelSeries' CEO.

Each SteelSeries Shift Keyset is identified and made compatible with the Shift's base through the SteelSeries ID2C, a unique, programmed chip found on the backside of each keyset that is powered by SteelSeries Engine Software. The software provides easy, intuitive drag-and-drop macro management and recording capabilities for every key. Gamers can toggle between three layers of F keys including two emote layers, enabling 24 of the most common pre-programmed MMO emotes. While, on the right side of the Keyset, players can shift between three layers of A keys, which are preconfigured for custom mappings. Users will also appreciate quick access to the voice key for instant push-to-talk.

Compatible with all current MMO titles, the MMO Keyset can be entirely customized, providing gamers with the ability to record a sequence of actions with delays and then map that sequence to any key. Every key can be further remapped in 3 layers allowing several different actions on a single key. With its anti-ghosting capability the Shift allows up to 7 simultaneous keystrokes making it an ultimate tool for keyboard-extensive MMO games.

The SteelSeries Shift MMO Keyset is sold separately from the SteelSeries Shift Keyboard for $24.99 USD/ €24.99. Gamers find more information at http://steelseries.com.

Splashtop Remote Desktop brings Windows PC access to your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch

Posted: 19 Nov 2010 02:54 AM PST

Oh, sure -- you've got a smorgasbord of virtual machine clients out there for the iDevice in your life, but you haven't had this one. Until today, of course. Splashtop (the former DeviceVM) has just unleashed its Remote Desktop app for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, enabling users to funnel Windows PC content onto their handheld. The catch is an obvious one -- you'll need a WiFi connection to make the magic happen, though we're assuming you wouldn't even want to imagine how sluggish the process would be over 3G. The company claims that this app will let users "watch movies, listen to music, or access any other Windows files and programs, including full web browsers with Flash," and you'll need a WiFi-connected Win7, Vista or WinXP machine nearby to take advantage. We've got a feeling this won't work nearly as well as advertised (sorry, it's just the nature of tunneling / emulation), but those willing to take the plunge can tap into the App Store as we speak.

See more video at our hub!
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Access Your PC Media from an iPhone with Splashtop Remote Desktop

Splashtop unveils first iPhone and iPod touch app to remotely deliver the Windows PC experience, including video and audio

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Splashtop Inc, the leader in mobile access to PC content, today announced the availability of Splashtop Remote Desktop for iPhone and iPod touch. The application connects your iPhone or iPod touch to your Windows PC for a seamless remote desktop experience. Already ranked as the #1 paid business app for the iPad in the U.S., and the #1 paid iPad app overall in many countries in October 2010, Splashtop Remote Desktop for iPhone and iPod touch lets users watch movies, listen to music, or access any other Windows files and programs, including full web browsers with Flash, right from the mobile device. The new application works over a Wi-Fi network, giving users easy access to PC content from any room of the house or office.

"We have invented technology that lets you put your PC in your pocket"

"We have invented technology that lets you put your PC in your pocket," said Mark Lee, CEO and co-founder of Splashtop Inc. "Picture yourself kicking back on your couch, using your iPhone to watch a Hulu video or to play a Farmville Flash game running on your home PC. You'll have full MS Office capability, too, to satisfy your workaholic soul. What we've built is a seamless bridge between your iPhone and Windows PC. With Splashtop Remote, you won't just have the coolest iPhone on the block, you'll be way more productive too."

With Splashtop Remote Desktop, users can use their iPhone or iPod touch to:

* See and control your Windows PC like you are directly in front of it
* Access all Windows files and programs including Microsoft Office without having to sync files
* Watch videos (including Flash) and listen to music (streaming or from your library)
* Connect to multiple PCs with the same iPhone or iPod touch app
* Interact with any Windows application using intuitive controls like touch, pinch and zoom

Splashtop Remote Desktop for iPhone and iPod touch is available today in the Apple App Store. It requires iOS3.2 or later, and will work on the iPhone 4 and 3GS and 3rd generation iPod touch or later.

Splashtop Remote Desktop connects to any device running Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP operating system. Splashtop Remote consists of two components: an application running on the iOS device, and a desktop application running on the PC. To learn more about Splashtop Remote, please visit: http://www.SplashtopRemote.com

Mitsubishi i is the new name of the i MiEV for American market, coming next fall for $30,000

Posted: 19 Nov 2010 02:15 AM PST

Mitsubishi promised it'd bring the i MiEV over to the US before 2012 and now it's rehashed that pledge with a slightly more detailed roadmap and an indicative price point to boot. Maurice Durand, the company's communications manager for North America, is quoted as saying the newly renamed i will cost "around $30,000" when it launches, which is expected to happen in fall 2011. Sales expectations are a very modest 20,000 units by 2015, but apparently the idea is for Mitsu to just get its foot in the US electric vehicle market before introducing more powerful and versatile people carriers. The i is pitched as primarily a commuter's vehicle, though it has been enlarged slightly to accommodate US safety regulations and "larger frame people." Be honest, Maurice, you mean larger waistline, not frame.

MSI debuts low-end Wind Top AC1900 all-in-one PC

Posted: 19 Nov 2010 01:31 AM PST

It may not exactly stray too far from the company's previous models, but MSI's new Wind Top AC1900 does boast a slightly revised design, and some expectedly low-end but not terrible specs (assuming the price is right). That includes an 18.5-inch 1,366 x 768 display, a dual-core Celeron E3400 processor, 2GB of RAM upgradeable to 4GB, a 320GB hard drive, a built-in DVD burner, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, and Windows 7 Home Premium for an OS. Still no word on pricing or availability, but the product page on MSI's site does seem to suggest that it'll be available soon, if it hasn't hit stores already.

Copia's 'social reading' platform goes live, abandons hardware plans

Posted: 19 Nov 2010 12:43 AM PST

We might be busy refilling our inkwells in preparation for CES 2011, but let's not forget that some of the CES 2010 exhibitors are still working feverishly on bringing their innovations to market. Copia is one such company, though in the time between its January debut and today it's had to abandon its plans for own-brand e-readers and has fully transitioned itself into a software offering -- with apps available for the desktop, iPad, Windows Phone 7 now, and Android and other touch devices following soon. Copia allows Facebook Connect logins, which should give you a hit at its premise -- it aims to meld an ebook store in with a vibrant and active online reading community, with a litany of social and sharing features making it perhaps more attractive than the somewhat more limited social skills on offer from the current ebook market leaders. Unannounced OEM partners have been engaged to deliver the Copia platform on upcoming e-reading devices, though whether the whole thing sinks or swims will be entirely up to you, the user. See a video demo of what Copia's about after the break.

Kinect hack creates world's greatest shadow puppet (video)

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 11:59 PM PST

Hey Xbox 360 Kinect owners, want to spice up those family shadow puppet shows? Then check out the installation prototype created by Emily Gobeille and Theo Watson using an Xbox Kinect connected to a laptop using the libfreenect Kinect drivers and ofxKinect. The openFrameworks system tracks the elbow, wrist, thumb, and tips of the fingers to map a skeleton onto the movement and posture of an animated puppet. And get this: it was made in a day. So just imagine the Kinect homebrew we'll have around this time next year. See it in action after the break.

[Thanks, Pradeep]

PCI Express makes the 3.0 leap, doubles bandwidth over PCIe 2.0 spec

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 11:12 PM PST

First Bluetooth, then USB and now PCI Express. It's clearly the era of version 3.0, and given that the PCI Express specification has been humming along at 2.0 speeds for over two years now, we'd say an update was definitely due. Thankfully, the PCI-SIG has announced the availability of the PCIe Base 3.0 specification to its members today, and the highlights are certainly notable. There's a new 128b/130b encoding scheme and a data rate of 8 gigatransfers per second (GT/s), doubling the interconnect bandwidth over the PCIe 2.0 specification. And since we're sure you're fretting it, we'll go ahead and affirm that it maintains backward compatibility with previous PCIe architectures. We're also told that based on this data rate expansion, "it is possible for products designed to the PCIe 3.0 architecture to achieve bandwidth near 1 gigabyte per second (GB/s) in one direction on a single-lane (x1) configuration and scale to an aggregate approaching 32 GB/s on a sixteen-lane (x16) configuration." A lot of technobabble, sure, but one thing's for sure: your next graphics card is bound to murder your current one if paired with a PCIe 3.0 motherboard.
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PCI-SIG® Releases PCI Express® 3.0 SPECIFICATION

PCIe® 3.0 specification doubles bandwidth over previous generations

BEAVERTON, Ore. – November 18, 2010 – PCI-SIG®, the organization responsible for the widely adopted PCI Express® (PCIe®) industry-standard input/output (I/O) technology, today announced the availability of the PCIe Base 3.0 specification to its members. The PCIe 3.0 architecture is a low-cost, high-performance I/O technology that includes a new 128b/130b encoding scheme and a data rate of 8 gigatransfers per second (GT/s), doubling the interconnect bandwidth over the PCIe 2.0 specification. PCIe 3.0 technology also maintains backward compatibility with previous PCIe architectures and provides the optimum design point for high-volume platform I/O implementations across a wide range of topologies. Possible topologies include servers, workstations, desktop and mobile personal computers, embedded systems, peripheral devices and more.

"Each new version of the PCIe spec has doubled the bandwidth of the prior generation," said Nathan Brookwood, research fellow at Insight 64. "The latest group of PCIe architects and designers drove the standard forward while maintaining complete backward compatibility for Gen 1 and Gen 2 devices. Rarely has a standard advanced so non-disruptively through three major evolutionary cycles. The ability to pull this off demonstrates not only the ingenuity of the Gen 3 developers, but also the insight of those who defined the earlier versions in such an extensible manner."

The PCIe 3.0 specification extends the data rate to 8 GT/s in a manner compatible with the existing PCIe 1.x and 2.x specifications and products that support 2.5 and 5 GT/s signaling. This bit rate represents the most optimum tradeoff between manufacturability, cost, power, complexity and compatibility. Based on this data rate expansion, it is possible for products designed to the PCIe 3.0 architecture to achieve bandwidth near 1 gigabyte per second (GB/s) in one direction on a single-lane (x1) configuration and scale to an aggregate approaching 32 GB/s on a sixteen-lane (x16) configuration. The new 128b/130b encoding scheme also allows near 100% efficiency, offering a 25% efficiency increase for 8 GT/s as compared to the 8b/10b efficiency of previous versions, which enables the doubled bandwidth.

"The PCI-SIG remains dedicated to I/O innovation and we are proud to release the PCIe 3.0 specification to our members," said Al Yanes, PCI-SIG chairman and president. "The PCIe 3.0 architecture details significant improvements over our two previous PCIe specifications, providing our members with the performance and functionality they need to continue to be innovators in their fields."

This evolutionary specification integrates a number of enhancements to the protocol and software layers of the architecture. These enhancements range in scope from data reuse hints, atomic operations, dynamic power adjustment mechanisms, latency tolerance reporting, loose transaction ordering, I/O page faults, BAR resizing and many more extensions in support of platform energy efficiency, software model flexibility and architectural scalability.

The PCIe Base 3.0 specification is available for member download at http://www.pcisig.com/specifications/pciexpress/base3/.

HTC Merge emerges on Verizon site a little early

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 10:14 PM PST

Far be it from us to tell Verizon how to do a product launch, but showing off a 360-degree view of the HTC Merge before the phone's even been announced doesn't seem like the soundest strategy to us. Of course, we doubt anyone intended for this Flash module to have become public knowledge like it has, but sure enough, a forum member over at Android Central spotted it among VZW's web properties and now we can all take a multidimensional look at this upcoming Android handset. Yes, that includes seeing it with its sliding QWERTY keyboard open -- you can find more imagery of that after the break -- though the pivotal questions of when, for how much, and "can you disable Bing?" remain unanswered for the time being. Ah well, let's just enjoy the eye candy.



Marvell prototypes a few good Android tablets, we go hands-on

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 08:52 PM PST

It's a precarious time to show off new tech at this point -- can't make it to stores in time for holidays, guaranteed to get more exposure if debuted at January's Consumer Electronics Show. Not that Marvell cares, since its expertise is semiconductors -- the stuff with which OEM's dreams are made.The company was on hand at Pepcom showing off some reference designs for HD tablets with Android 2.2: 10-inch, 1280 x 780 resolution, and an Armada 600 chip. Reportedly it can also output to two external monitors, but all we got to see was one hooked up mirroring our game of Angry Birds. Thin and light, if a bit flimsy in its prototype form. We've been told the reference design has been used for a handful of products that'll show up on the CES show floor. Also on hand were a couple of more education-targeted slates with Armada 100 chips and price points planned in the $100 range (Moby, OLPC, is that you?). Check out our hands-on pics below!
Marvell prototypes a few good Android tablets

Ask Engadget: best laptop that won't burn your lap?

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 07:19 PM PST

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Stephen, who frankly isn't interested in suffering from health issues due to insanely hot laptops baking his body. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
"Real simple: what is the best laptop that doesn't burn you? That is to say, which is the most powerful mainstream laptop (14- or 15-inch) that runs cool when it's actually doing something. I'm running a Dell Studio 1537 and both palmrests are warm even though all I am doing is typing this email and streaming Slacker with the LCD brightness on it's lowest setting. Therefore the WiFi card is cooking and so apparently is the hard drive (even though the processor is only at 12 percent). Help!"
Man, we can't wait to see the answers to this. No, seriously -- we're pretty sure everyone in the world wants in on this secret. Every 14- / 15-inch laptop that we've ever used here (Mac and PC, both) has eventually become uncomfortably warm after extended use, and we've personally resorted to keeping a stockpile of pillows around just to guard ourselves. Drop the world a better solution down below if you have one. And by "one," we mean "a laptop model."

Magellan RoadMate GPS app updated for iOS 4, includes real-time traffic and multitasking

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 06:40 PM PST

Magellan may not be the head honcho when it comes to standalone PNDs here in North America, but that's not stopping the outfit from keeping its iOS app up to snuff. With TomTom, Navigon and Garmin all introducing iOS 4-compatible apps over the past few months, Magellan has finally done likewise -- version 1.3 of the app now enables navigation to occur in the background, meaning that iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 users will still hear turn-by-turn guidance while using another application. Better still, real-time traffic information is provided free of charge through NAVTEQ, alerting motorists to accidents, traffic flow and the nearest ice cream truck. If you've already sunk cash into this one, now's a solid time to check those updates -- otherwise, you can hit the source links for a trifecta of versions catering to various regions.

Archos 101 now shipping, Android tablet game really heating up

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 06:02 PM PST

We were really digging this 10-inch Android tablet when we spotted it back in August, and now it's shipping for a totally palatable $300 pricetag. It's powerful enough to play 720p video, has a 1024 x 600 screen, HDMI out, 802.11n WiFi and even a front facing camera. Plus there's even the somewhat comforting notion that this isn't Archos' first time to the Android tablet rodeo. Of course, the big drawback is the lack of Android Market, but there are always hacks to solve that, and Archos preloads some good apps to get you started. The tablet is shipping with Android 2.1, but Archos pinky swears it'll be getting 2.2 by the end of the month. Can't handle 10 whole inches of Android? Try the 7-incher Archos 70 on for size. You can't say they aren't trying.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

LaCie serves up SSD-based USB 3.0 FastKey, charges a pretty penny for it

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 05:18 PM PST

Get it straight, vaquero -- this ain't your mum's flash drive. LaCie's newest diminutive slab of aluminum is a solid state drive for your keyring, boasting transfer rates as high as 260MB/sec, 30/60/120GB capacities, a rugged metal casing and a USB 3.0 interface. You'll also get AES 256-bit encryption and 4GB of online-accessible Wuala storage, but you best not lose it. LaCie will be dinging your credit card for $149.99, $249.99 or $479.99 from least capacious to most, so you may want to take out an insurance policy on this guy before taking it out into the wild. Safety first and all.
LaCie USB 3.0 FastKey
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Fast and Tiny: LaCie FastKey Goes from 0 to 260MB/s in 26cm3

Today LaCie announces the smallest SSD USB 3.0 drive, delivering speeds up to 260MB/s – LaCie FastKey. Small enough to hide in the palm of your hand, LaCie's FastKey can transfer 1000 mp3 or five DIVX files in less than 60 seconds.

100 Times Faster than USB 2.0
While the FastKey can perform up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0, its peak performance goes far beyond that. Combining the performance of SSD, USB 3.0 and DRAM cache technology, the FastKey can write small files up to 100 times faster than your average USB 2.0 hard drive.

"With most flash drives, transferring a large number of photos and mp3 files can take a few minutes," said Luc Pierart, Business Unit Manager, Personal Storage, LaCie. "With the Fastkey, transferring small files is immediate. You can back up or share your music and photo libraries as you head out the door."

Compact Metal Design
Combining the highly robust solid-state flash technology, with sturdy aluminum casing, the FastKey ensures your data is as safe as it is mobile. But don't mistake its high capacity for a 2.5" mobile SSD. The LaCie FastKey packs 120GB into a sleek flash drive (measuring just 26cm3) with no wasted space. And with the included strap, users can secure the FastKey to a keychain or bag for additional on-the-go convenience.

Full Data Protection
The LaCie FastKey not only protects data from the outside, it includes software AES 256-bit encryption – so your data is secure no matter how it's used. Simply choose the amount of capacity you want to encrypt, and access it with a custom password. Now you can pass the FastKey to colleagues and friends and know your personal files are secure. If privacy is a priority, you can encrypt the full capacity.

For even more storage and sharing options, the LaCie FastKey also comes with 4GB of secure online storage from Wuala.

Availability
The LaCie FastKey is available in 30GB, 60GB and 120GB capacities through the LaCie Online Store, LaCie Corner, and LaCie Reseller+ starting at $149.99. For more product information, visit www.lacie.com.

Yahoo! Connected TV store will let developers start charging for apps in March 2011

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 04:38 PM PST

Yahoo! has been building its Connected TV widget platform up since debuting at CES 2009 and opening up its SDK in 2010, and it's already getting started on a new push for 2011 - paid apps. Right now the various TVs from Samsung, Sony, VIZIO, Toshiba and LG based on its platform only offer free widgets but the Connected TV Store is expected to launch in March, letting developers hawk their wares at the remote-wielding masses for anywhere from 99 cents to $99, with Yahoo! receiving a 30 percent cut for its trouble. Kadoo, PlayJam, Virtual Nerd, ScreenDreams, Accedo Broadband and Mycast weather are already testing the waters and the company promises a full demo at CES 2011. Since we figure it's only a matter of time until Apple works its app store into the Apple TV, Google has already announced its plans to add the Market to Google TV next year and everyone from Samsung to Boxee is actively courting developers in the living room, 2011 should be a very interesting year.

TikTok and LunaTik iPod nano watch kits look awesome, despite Ke$ha naming convention

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 03:57 PM PST

We know it seems like everyone and their mom is turning Apple's latest iPod nano into a watch, but the TikTok and LunaTik concepts by Scott Wilson of Minimal Studios are definitely the best looking "iWatch" accessories we've seen to date. We say concept, because technically the products are still pipe dreams flowing through the funding platform Kickstarter.com -- but seeing as it has already doubled its requested funding goal, there's a very good chance these concepts will actually ship out. The TikTok features a simple snap-in design for quick wrist-mounting and is tentatively priced at $35. The LunaTik, on the other hand, is marketed as a "premium conversion kit" that secures the Nano in a two-piece CNC-machined aluminum case held together with stainless steel bolts, and should ship for $70. As with many Kickstarter projects, pledging some funding to the cause can score you either model at a cheaper pre-order price. Now if only the iPod nano was actually a good watch... Video after the break.
TikTok and LunaTik iPod Nano Watch Accessory Gallery
LunaTik Watch Exploded View
LunaTik Watch Back
LunaTik Watch Zoom
LunaTIk Watch 1
TikTok Watch Exploded

Sony sees RED with PMW-F3 camera, we go hands-on with the $16k "indie" (video)

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 03:10 PM PST

In the wild, wild world of film production it's sometimes tough to separate the consumers from the prosumers from the independent filmmakers from the big studios -- especially when more affordable technology makes it easier and easier for one class to imitate the other. Sony's latest 35mm CMOS imager video camera is an attempt to cover lost ground in the "indie" realm of requisite low-budget and desired high production value, a market dominated by the RED One, and to some extent Canon's 5D Mark II and 7D, for the past couple years.

Sony's PMW-F3 -- shipping in February -- is a considerable step up from the earlier EX3. The most obvious change is the inclusion of the new Exmor Super 35 CMOS sensor and interchangeable lens mounts, facilitating shallow depth of field with a fairly impressive dynamic range. But at the price of a semester's worth of film school, will this offering hold its own in the field?

Read on for our full impressions -- including all the gory details -- and video of our brief encounter with the new shooter.
Sony PMW-F3 hands-on


With a body design that closely resembles both Sony and Panasonic's handheld camera lines, Sony's PMW-F3 doesn't quite have the heft or robustness of a truly professional digital film camera -- it's still very much a prosumer option. Any disbeliever can just take a look at the relatively tiny onboard LCD monitor. At $16,000 for the camera body and an additional $7,000 for Sony's set of three overly large primes (35mm, 50mm, 85mm), the PMW-F3 seems too pricey for what you get.

The test photography proudly showed off the camera's perseverance in low light, but never pushed color correction to any extremes to show the point at which footage will break down. The camera shoots MPEG-2 Long GOP 4:2:0 8bit at 35 Mbps to two Sony SxS card slots, and dual link HD-SDI ports allow for recording full 4:2:2 to an external device. Those unfamiliar with Sony high-end offline / online workflow might find the process clumsy and cumbersome. Those accustomed to the workflow probably already use Sony's higher quality, professional-grade cameras.

The image quality of the PMW-F3 seems better than most DSLRs. Rolling shutter isn't bad. Warble and skew are minimized to extreme whip movements. Again, they didn't show off any sort of severe color correction so it's hard to say how well the colorspace holds up. Fancy Sony-only "stuff" like S-Log and Hypergamma will allow for tweaking. Overcranking for in camera slow-motion effects are disappointingly capped at 60fps.


The real selling points of the PMW-F3 are the plethora of proper in/out ports on the back of the camera and obviously the Super 35 sensor and PL mount. There's a lot of potential here to be sure, and while we wish it were offered at a more competitive price (say $10,000), it's still very much within striking distance of RED's position in the field. We'll only know for sure once the reviews start rolling in.

Jeffrey Max contributed to this article.

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Sony strengthens super 35mm digital production line-up with groundbreaking new camcorder

New PMW-F3 joins F35 and SRW-9000L as latest S-35mm innovation, delivering high-end performance
at an "indie" price

Basingstoke November 8, 2010:- Representing a breakthrough for filmmakers in terms of features,
performance and price, Sony Professional is adding to its line-up of Super 35mm digital motion picture camera technologies. The family, which includes the legendary F35 and the recently announced SRW-9000PL, is now joined by the all new PMW-F3 camcorder.

Each camera in the line-up is based on a Super 35mm sensor and PL mount technology, and illustrates Sony's unique ability to offer filmmakers access to the highest-quality imaging tools and most complete digital production workflows.

The new PMW-F3 is the latest example of Sony's efforts to combine performance and price into a
powerful and affordable production tool. Designed for television, commercials, music promos and
budget features, the new camcorder is offered at a price point that will bring Super 35mm shooting within reach of a wider audience.

That, and the availability of a low-cost PL lens kit model which includes 35/50/85mm T2.0 fixed focal length lenses, makes it ideal for use as a 2nd unit 35mm camera or as a B camera to the SRW-9000PL.

"Sony has a long and successful track record of developing digital motion production technologies," said Bill Drummond, Strategic Marketing Manager at Sony Professional Europe. "Our cameras have shot everything from documentaries to big-budget blockbusters, totaling many billions of Euros at the box office. With the new PMW-F3, we're putting the full power of our expertise to work, to bring precise control over depth of field, and access to the huge range of cinematic lenses available to a wider range of users."

The new PMW-F3 camcorder is based on Sony's XDCAM EX workflow (codec is MPEG-2 Long GOP 4:2:0
8bit, 35 Mbps), and uses Sony's SxS™ ExpressCard-based recording media format. Its Super 35mm CMOS imager delivers shallow depth of field, with high sensitivity and low noise levels (ISO 800, F11; and S/N ratio of 63dB in 1920x1080/59.94i mode), as well as wide dynamic range.

The camcorder offers a wide range of image creation options, as well as the ability to seamlessly inter-cut PMW-F3 footage with content shot on Sony's F35 or SRW-9000PL cameras - through the use of an HD-SDI dual-link output for external recording (4:2:2 1080 50/59.94P as standard; and RGB 1080 23.98/25/29.97PsF as an option).

Additionally, "S-LOG" and "Hyper Gamma" can be selected. This can allow users to take full advantage of the CMOS imager's wide dynamic range, giving them the ability to tailor their images during post-production in the same way they would in a film based workflow.

Recording formats include 1920x1080, 1440x1080, and 1280x720 at 23.98/25/29.97p, 50/59.94i and,
in DVCAM mode, 25/29.97PsF and 50/59.94i. Filmmakers can also take advantage of 'slow' and 'quick' recording, also known as "overcranking" and "undercranking" from 1 to 30 fps at 1920x1080 (17 to 30 fps in dual-link mode) and 1 to 60 fps at 1280x720 (17 to 60 fps in dual-link mode).

The PMW-F3's PL mount adapter can accommodate both PL and zoom lenses, and will offer compatibility with a variety of cine lenses such as Cooke, Arri, Fujinon and Zeiss.

Sony is also announcing its plan to introduce a compatible SR Memory Portable Recorder for the PMW-F3 camcorder. This will add a high-end workflow option as well as full RGB capability providing native recoding in HDCAM SR codec.

"We demonstrated a prototype PMW-F3 on our stand at IBC and have been inundated with requests
for more information ever since. It's great to be able to unveil the full list of features, and announce that first deliveries will be made well in advance of what many customers may have been expecting," concluded Drummond.

Two configurations of the PMW-F3 will be available (PMW-F3L body only and PMW-F3K with PL lens kit). First deliveries of are scheduled for January 2011.

Verizon launching '4G' smack talk campaign against AT&T

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 02:12 PM PST

Never ends, does it? The top four carriers in the US love slinging mud, but the trash-talking between Verizon and AT&T is always particularly vicious -- and it's showing no signs of ebbing. As you might expect, Verizon intends to use its new LTE network as a weapon in the fight, and like both Sprint and T-Mobile, Verizon will be very loudly labeling it "4G" to the ITU's chagrin. The latest promotional posters compare maps of Verizon's combined 3G / LTE network with AT&T's 3G-only network, but considering how limited Big Red's initial LTE launch is, there really isn't much difference with what they've shown in the past. The posters also proudly proclaim Verizon as having "the fastest 4G network in America," which is false on at least one level -- LTE isn't really 4G, as we said -- and remains to be seen on another. At any rate, as always, it'll be interesting to see how AT&T responds. Nerd fight!

[Thanks, Kal]

Nokia says 'very small' number of N8s aren't turning on, warranty will cover it

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 01:25 PM PST

We've been getting a few tips this week -- and seeing a few things on Twitter -- saying that N8s are failing in noticeable quantities, but we wanted to hold off until we'd figured out what was really going on. Well, Nokia's own Niklas Savander is commenting on the situation now -- so we'd say it's definitely real -- though he's insisting the number of affected units is "very small" and that the company's normal warranty rules apply, so owners of dead units should contact their local support number. That's all well and good, but getting service on a paperweight is still a bummer, especially when said phone is your primary means of communication -- so let's hope these guys turn around serviced devices in a hurry.

What do you call a dead N8, by the way?

N8 owner: A tragedy
iPhone owner: DOA
Android owner: About as useful as any other N8
N900 owner: A missed opportunity
Store sales rep: Dummy unit
Symbian Foundation employee: Justice
Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo: Karma
A goat: Dinner

[Thanks, John]

ITG xpPhone on sale at long last!

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 01:02 PM PST

Feel like stretching the very definition of "phone" for the sake of functionality or sheer bravado? You get to be friends with us. We've always had a soft spot for ITG's bizarrely conceived xpPhone, which does indeed run Windows XP, albeit the Embedded version, and the monstrous thing is now on sale after almost two years of teasing. It's running for a mere $798 PayPal Bux in its 3G incarnation, $732 for 3G-free, and $666 (yes, that 666) for the 3G-less version with DOS instead of Windows. We could go on all day listing specs for this thing, so we recommend you hit up that source link and feast on them for yourselves -- just make sure to have your PayPal login handy for when the irresistible nerdery of this thing reaches out and grabs you and never ever lets go.

[Thanks, Eman Z]

The Windows PC ClickPad finally improved? Synaptics ClickPad IS Series 3 preview

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 12:36 PM PST

You'll find a common complaint throughout most of our Windows laptop / netbook reviews. Nope, it doesn't have to do with CPU performance, boot times, or graphics prowess; it revolves around touchpads, and notably those that have integrated buttons within the pad itself – what have come to be known as ClickPads. While we usually point fingers (oh yes, pun intended!) at the laptop manufacturers responsible for choosing the wonky pads (eh hem, HP and Dell), Synaptics – the maker of those ClickPads – is the one behind the technology. Aware of the finicky multitouch gestures and jumping cursors, Synaptics has been hard at work on its next generation ClickPad IS Series 3, which will be hitting laptops sometime early next year. So, will the new image sensing and ClickEQ technology that's been baked into the new pads finally solve all our complaints and let us put away the laptop mice? Hit the break to find out.
Synaptics ClickPad Series 3


The technology: Image Sensing and Click EQ

We'll spare you the history of touchpads, but for now it is important to know that older ClickPads, like those found in laptops like the HP Envy, Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3 or Gateway ID series, use profile sensors. In contrast, the new ClickPad 1.5 and 3.0 series use a new capacitive sensor technology known as image sensing (IS), which independently tracks each finger on the pad. It's the same technology that's used in Synaptics phone / tablet screens as well as in Apple's touchpads. Synaptics actually claims that it can track up to eleven fingers – though, even if we did have that many fingers, you can't actually fit more than five on the pad itself.

So, what does the new IS technology aim to solve? It should improve gesture detection and what Synaptics calls "accidental contact mitigation," a fancy term used to describe what happens when you mistakenly swipe the pad when you didn't mean to. The company claims that its SmartSense technology uses the image sensors to identify both the size and shape of the different contact points to determine what is actually happening on the touch surface. That means it should be intelligent enough to know when you are trying to move the cursor versus zoom in on something.

That's the first part of the improvements, but in addition to bettering the touch experience, the pad now has what's called ClickEQ technology, which in essence means the pad is now one big button. The hinge in past ClickPads has been removed entirely so now the whole pad is pressable and you can right click anywhere to make selections. The mechanical design is said to provide a consisent click force and should reduce accidental clicking. In other words, the experience should be closer to using a traditional touchpad and easier on new users.

The experience

Improved technology with fancy names is all well and good, but does it actually work? Synaptics sent us a Samsung R480 that it had retrofitted with its new ClickPad IS Series 3.0 to find out. Before we get into the experience we should mention that the panel is very clearly marked as a concept design and it very much feels that way – the plastic pad is a very wobbly and doesn't match the manufacturing quality of the rest of the system. However, it still gave us a good feel for the new pad, and right off the bat we could see a real difference. We didn't have to change our usual or "traditional" finger positioning, meaning we were able to keep our right thumb in the bottom left corner of the pad and use our index finger to navigate. (Even if our thumb moved slightly up on the pad it still worked.) Best of all, while using that finger positioning we rarely zoomed in on something by mistake. Yep, you can keep the multitouch gestures enabled since the pad is now smart enough to decipher between them and regular navigation strokes. Speaking of those gestures, we found pinch-to-zoom and two-finger scrolling to be incredibly responsive. In fact, we'd say it was the most responsive we've ever seen those gestures on a Windows laptop. Scrolling was especially smooth, and in Firefox we didn't have to try multiple times to fluidly scroll down the length of this very website.

Beyond those typical gestures, Synaptics has also configured the pad to support three- and four-finger swipes, much like the Apple pads. The gestures are all predefined, but the new settings menu, which also takes a page from Apple's playbook and places instructional videos alongside each gesture, makes it easier to understand how they work. Out of the box, swiping four fingers upwards brought up Windows Aero Flip 3D and then swiping a finger across let us toggle between the windows. Swiping four down brings you to the desktop. Three finger gestures control music and video playback, and swiping three fingers to the right or left in the browser doubles as your back and forward shortcuts.

For the most part we had no issues with the pad and navigating the desktop; however, because the pad is closely located to the keyboard we mistakenly hit it while typing, which caused the cursor to jump around quite a bit. We guess that's what Synaptics means by "accidental contact mitigation." It's extremely frustrating, and even while writing this very post, we ended up typing words in the wrong place quite a few times. Turning down the sensitivity of the pad helped things a bit as did turning up the SmartSense settings to "Max," but that subsequently resulted in scrolling and other gestures not being as responsive. We also noticed the pad not being as responsive as others when navigating narrower menus -- we had to push it a bit more even with the sensitivity turned up. Ultimately, these are the remaining problem areas.

Synaptics Scrybe

Scrybe isn't really a new feature of the Series 3.0 ClickPads, but it's Synaptics own software that aims to get you doing more with that multitiouch pad of yours. Tapping three fingers on the pad brought up the interface above, which lets you simply sketch a letter or symbol on the pad as a shortcut. Naturally, we configured the "e" to launch "engadget.com" in a browser, but there's even more you can do with it. For instance, when you highlight a word, you can sketch a "?" in the box and it will automatically search for that aforementioned highlighted term on Google or your search engine of choice. For the most part it recognized our sketched shortcuts -- it turns the letter or symbol from red to blue when recognized -- and it's a pretty neat piece of software, but, to be honest, once you get over the novelty of it we're not sure it would work its way into your everyday routine.

Wrap-up

It sure does look like touchpad, er ClickPad hope is on the way! In all honesty, we didn't think it was possible to ever use one of these ClickPads and feel comfortable with the navigating experience, but the Series 3.0 with its new IS and ClickSmart technology doesn't require the patience and adaptation that previous versions demanded. It's still not as silky smooth as the Apple touchpad experience, but of course, this is all based on a concept model given to us by Synaptics itself. There's no telling what the final implementation will look like, but our hope is that the laptop manufacturers out there -- we're looking at you, HP, Lenovo, and Dell -- are working with Synaptics' Series 3 so we can finally retire that repetitive touchpad complaint.

Qualcomm talking to AT&T, other carriers over MediaFLO spectrum sale?

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 12:10 PM PST

Seems Qualcomm wasn't kidding when it said selling off MediaFLO's spectrum was a possibility now that it's cutting off direct-to-consumer mobile TV services. BusinessWeek is reporting that the company has sat down recently with "several carriers" -- though only AT&T is being called out by name -- presumably with the goal of fleshing out just how much dinero it could land for offing the spectrum MediaFLO uses to deliver programming. Qualcomm paid close to $700 million for the spectrum over the course of the last decade, and it lies in the 700MHz block -- a block both AT&T and Verizon will be using extensively as they build out their next-gen networks -- so it stands to reason they'd both love to buy in, likely at a healthy premium over what Qualcomm originally paid. There was a time that we loved the idea of multicast mobile TV programming, but at this point, doesn't it seem like everything should be going to beef up wireless broadband?

Modu barely alive after failed bid for capital, laying off most of its employees

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 11:48 AM PST

Modu hasn't really stormed the market with any of its miniature offerings just yet, and even with the just-announced Modu T and the upcoming Android-based Modu W offering a chance to turn things around, it looks like Modu is up against the financial ropes. Founder Dov Moran just announced that the company had failed to raise money in Tel Aviv, and he's going to have to lay off most of his workforce to stay alive. Modu currently employs around 30 people, and it's naturally going to have trouble building and selling phones with any fewer, but Dov says the company will "continue to sell its products" and he's going to be on the hunt for "other sources of capital."

Apple posts iOS 4.2.1 GM seed, iPads salivate in wait

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 11:03 AM PST

Okay, so we've got to be close to a release at this point, right? After posting a WiFi-patched GM last week, Apple's back at it again with an iOS 4.2.1 build for its iPhone Developer Program members... and let's hope this is the very last one before it hits iTunes installations across the land. Or, you know, you can get it now if you shell out some funds in Cupertino's direction. Your call.

[Thanks, Dave]

$399 iPads, fondue sets appearing at TJ Maxx locations across the country

Posted: 18 Nov 2010 10:51 AM PST

Sure, we know where you guys go when you're near a strip mall and have to pick up an irregularly sized Tommy Hilfiger shirt, or when you run out of Paco Rabanne cologne before a hot date, but we definitely did a double take when our tipster Aaron sent us these pics he took of a 16GB WiFi iPad that he found at a TJ Maxx in Vernon, NY -- and not just because they're going for a relatively reasonable $399. We made a couple phone calls and found some at stores in Ohio and New Jersey (including one who said they were holding their stock back for Black Friday) while we struck out in other parts of the country. Still, if you're looking to drop cash on one of these guys, we'd make a quick call to your local outlet before heading to the Apple Store. And when you're done, don't forget to swing by Half Price Books and pick up a remaindered copy of A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity by Bill O'Reilly. Get a closer look after the break.

[Thanks to Aaron and Jared]
at 11:37 AM

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