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Tuesday, February 22, 2011

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Engadget's next reader meetup is this Friday, February 25th in San Francisco -- enter to win a trip for 2 to the event!

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 10:26 AM PST

That's right human beings -- it's happening again! The Engadget crew is getting together their best party outfits and shipping out west for another installment of our fabulous reader meetups. Our last event in NYC drew loads of people and was an all around blast, and the San Francisco installment is sure to be just as explosive (or maybe more? c'mon... show us what you've got). This time around we're partnering with Sprint, as well as Sony PlayStation, Motorola, HP, Roku, Samsung, VUDU, RIM, Sling, Sonos, HTC, Corning, Sphero, OnLive, Plantronics, Snapstick, and more to bring you a night of gadget geeking, giveaways, delicious foodstuffs, and some awesome music (provided by none other than our podcast producer, Trent Wolbe). Also, a whole mess of the Engadget editors will be on hand to entertain and inform, so if you have any pressing questions -- jot them down!

The all ages shindig will take place at City View at The Metreon, which is located conveniently in downtown SF. If you're a nerd in the city, you most likely already know what we're talking about. The doors will open at 6:30PM, and capacity is limited to 1200 people -- so if you want to get inside, get there early!

Hate standing in lines? Enter the Engadget Reader Meetup Sweepstakes for your chance to win an all expense paid trip for 2 to the meetup in San Francisco on February 25th! Click here to enter now! (rules apply, read them after the break)

We're going to be flooding the interwaves with more information soon, but for now, mark the date on your calendars, and get ready to party.
Sweepstakes rules: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Open to subscribers receiving this invitation, who are 18 and over and are legal residents of the United States who reside in the 48 contiguous United States and District of Columbia (excluding Alaska and Hawaii). VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Promotion ends: 2/20/2011. For Official Rules, prize descriptions and odds disclosure, visit http://go.rtm.com/sanfranengadgetsweepstakes/.

The winners of the 2010 Engadget Awards -- Readers' Choice

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 10:03 AM PST

The results are in, and well over 100,000 of you voted in the 2010 Engadget Awards. We'll have our own Editors' picks later this week, but for now, head on after the break to see who won our Readers' Choice awards. You can check out the voting results right here.

First Windows Phone 7 update not going smoothly for some Samsung handsets (update: Microsoft suggests temporary fix)

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 09:54 AM PST

So this is why they do phased rollouts, eh? If Twitter is the font of truth and reality that we suspect it to be, it sounds like users of some Windows Phone 7 models by Samsung are struggling with that minor first update that Microsoft started pushing this week. Basically, it sounds like the update isn't consistently completing; it some cases, users get an error message, and there doesn't appear to be any way to roll back or restore the prior firmware and get the phone back to a working state. Mass bricking is probably the greatest fear of software engineers before deploying handset updates to the field, so it's a good thing they're taking it slow; of course, that's not much consolation to the folks who are stuck making a call (on someone else's phone) to Samsung support.

[Thanks, jdog25]

Update: the::unwired is reporting information straight from Microsoft on how to fix a "bricked" device that doesn't complete the update, and it's deceptively simple: just pull the battery, put it back in, and turn the phone on. Failing that, perform a hard reset. Either way, the company is recommending you don't attempt the update again until the phone reminds you, which it says will happen in about three days.

Windows 7 SP1 (and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1) now available for public download

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 09:40 AM PST

Microsoft told us to clear our pipes for a hefty download on the 22nd of February, and sure enough, the software giant is delivering. Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 is now available for public consumption, with the company also confirming that 7601.17514.101119-1850 is the final RTM. We'd bother telling you more, but we know you've already dug into the source link in order to get your download a-hoppin'. Just make sure you uninstall any pre-releases of SP1 before doing the deed with this one, and if you're updating just a single PC, you're probably better off waiting for everything to flow through Windows Update. Your call, though.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Apple holding iPad 2 event next week?

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 09:16 AM PST

We're all hotly expecting new MacBook Pros on Thursday, but it sounds like Apple might have an even bigger announcement soon: Kara Swisher at All Things Digital says the iPad 2 will be revealed on March 2 in San Francisco. That lines up with some of the rumblings we've heard, but we haven't gotten an official invite yet, so things could change -- we'll let you know as soon as we hear anything definite.

VIC Ltd NaviSurfer II UBU-3G in-car PC gets built-in GPS -- finally

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 09:05 AM PST

It's been a while since we've heard anything about the NaviSurfer II, but for those patiently awaiting the update of this commuter computer, VIC Ltd. has just given the thing a pretty hefty overhaul. The new NaviSurfer II UBU-3G runs on an auto-specific Ubuntu 10.10 and sports a 7-inch touchscreen, 250GB hard drive, 2GB DDR2 RAM, 3G HSDPA modem, and three USB 2.0 ports. Possibly the most useful upgrade of all, however, is the inclusion of a built-in GPS receiver, rocking a Navit navigation system. Unfortunately for those lacking in the dashboard department, this sucker's Double DIN, or about twice the size of the standard car radio, but if you've got room for the thing, the NaviSurfer runs €300 (about $400).

iGrow promises to regrow hair with lasers, accessorize any wardrobe

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 08:42 AM PST

Laser combs? Old news. The latest in laser-based hair rejuvenation is the iGrow, a stylish new wearable device from Apira Science that packs 21 laser diodes and 30 LED lights. According to the company, that matches the output of most clinical hair lasers, and it should result in "thicker, fuller and healthier" hair in just a "few short months." But that's not all. The iGrow also includes a remote that has been programmed for both men and women, and it has a built-in set of headphones that you can use with your own iPod or MP3 player -- we can't imagine why you'd ever want to take it off. Sure, it costs $695, but Apira is so confident in its miracle helmet that it's offering a six-month money back guarantee. You really have nothing to lose... but your hair.
iGrow
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Apira Science Introduces the First Hands-Free, Laser Hair Rejuvenation System for Home-Use -- The iGrow

New Hair Care System Uses Clinically Proven Low Level Light Therapy to Rejuvenate and Revitalize Thinning Hair

NEWPORT BEACH, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 02/22/11 -- As the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. First impressions are everything -- and hair is one of the first features that people notice on others. Looking your best can help you make a strong impact, and a full head of thick, lustrous hair can go a long way in helping to achieve that. Unfortunately, many people are not naturally blessed with enviable tresses -- genetics and environmental factors play a role, and, until now, the options available for remedying this situation were either less than effective or prohibitively expensive.

From Apira Science, one of the most respected clinical based laser hair restoration companies and maker of the highly successful Revage670™, comes the only hands-free, home-use hair rejuvenation device that is as powerful as clinical solutions. Available now, iGrow leverages a patent-pending combination of built-in laser and LED lights to enable both men and women concerned with hair loss or thinning hair to experience dramatic results. Within 12 weeks of using iGrow as directed, most consumers report that they experience the cessation of excess hair loss. The appearance of thicker, fuller, healthier hair is typical within 24 weeks.

In stark contrast to currently available solutions such as laser hair combs, iGrow addresses the limitations and inconsistencies of these products by incorporating the same scientifically proven, Harvard Medical School-documented low level laser therapy technology that is found in the Revage670. The Revage670 has been used by more than 500 doctors in over 25 countries worldwide to effectively rejuvenate shedding and thinning hair. With the new iGrow, consumers have access to the very same technology relied upon in so many doctor's offices and clinical settings -- now in the comfort of their own homes -- and at a fraction of the cost. Simple and convenient to use, the iGrow comfortably sits atop the user's head, providing continuous overall coverage and leaving them completely mobile and free to do other things while receiving treatment. The iGrow even allows for users to listen to music while their hair rejuvenates -- it features iPod/MP3 compatibility.

The iGrow features 51 light sources that include 21 laser diodes and 30 LED lights to provide full scalp coverage, while combs and other hand held devices only have 9-15 laser lights. The output from iGrow is equivalent to most in-office clinical hair lasers. Hundreds of clinical studies have shown the effectiveness of low level laser therapy (LLLT) on various conditions including hair loss, carpal tunnel syndrome and acne. "LLLT is an amazing, proven technology that can rejuvenate hair and even delay the onset of thinning hair," noted Nicholas Brox, CEO for Apira. "We have seen first-hand just how effective it is with our Revage670, and we are excited to make this same technology available to the home consumer."

Results from using iGrow are rapid and substantial. According to Lorrie Klein, MD, "The average patient using iGrow will first begin to see decreased hair loss in about six to eight weeks. Then, within a few short months, their hair should begin looking thicker, fuller and healthier. At about the nine month mark, they'll see the maximum result and then, with continued use of the iGrow, should be able to maintain those results."

Priced at $695, the iGrow is available now, and comes with a six month money back guarantee. To learn more about iGrow and how it can be purchased, please visit www.igrowlaser.com.

About Apira Science
Apira Science is an established leader and pioneer in low level laser therapy for hair loss and thinning hair. Its Revage670™ system has earned numerous accolades from doctors and patients alike for its ability to stop the appearance of hair loss and promote thicker, fuller hair. Now, Apira is launching a consumer solution that leverages the Revage670 technology in a compact, hands-free system that will enable hair rejuvenation in the comfort of one's own home. The new iGrow at home laser is also iPod/MP3 compatible, further enhancing the appeal of this easy-to-use device. For additional information please visit www.apirascience.com.

Beep-It optical theremin for the masses makes sci-fi sound anybody's game (video)

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 07:56 AM PST

We've seen theremin mod after theremin mod, but those seeking that distinct sci-fi sound without the physical labor or hefty price tag haven't had much of an outlet until now. Meet Beep-It, a $35 analog optical theremin that sports a simple on / off switch, volume control, one quarter-inch jack, and light sensitive resistor to make you the master of that otherworldly sound. According to its creator, Michael Una, the little sonic music maker started off as yet another mod -- a "single-oscillator square wave theremin" in a petri dish -- back in 2008, and underwent a number of incarnations before getting the wood grain treatment you see here. Beep-It is now available at select retailers or direct from the company's website -- then again, we suppose you could hire Bobby McFerrin to do the same thing. Trippy demo after the jump.

Motorola Atrix root found to be signed, hacking might not be so easy

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 07:33 AM PST

Motorola Atrix root found to be signed, hacking might not be so easyThat the Atrix got itself rooted before it was even available made us wonder just how... receptive it would be to the caresses of the hacker community at large. Sadly we're finding it's perhaps a bit more frigid than its friendly demeanor might have lead us to believe. User adlx.xda over at the xda-developers forums has found that the phone's system files are not encrypted, but they are signed. This will make the process of replacing them and loading custom builds and the like rather more complicated -- but surely not impossible.

[Thanks, chaoslimits]

Smithsonian Museum will have a video game gallery next year, wants you to vote on what's in it

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 07:10 AM PST

Nobody tell Roger Ebert, but the Smithsonian Museum has announced plans for a new exhibition, called The Art of Video Games, which will run between March and September next year. Charting the 40-year (now there's a number that will make you feel old in a hurry) evolution of gaming from paddle-based pixel exchanges to sophisticated online multiplayer extravaganzas, this collection of memoirs will focus on the most visually striking and technologically innovative titles. Perhaps knowing how heated debates about video games can get, the Museum has sagely decided to co-opt its audience into the curatorial process -- the second source link below will take you to a voting page where you can select your top 80 games from a shortlist of 240... and of course express your rage at the omission of some obscure title you totally loved late one night in 1995.

Autoblog drives the 2012 Fisker Karma, deems it 'best handling large premium car'

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 06:47 AM PST

Autoblog drives the 2012 Fisker Karma, deems it 'best handling large premium car'
Karma, in a religious sense, is the sort of divine retribution or cause for your deeds or misdeeds. In an automotive sense it's a $95,900 plug-in luxury performance car that Fisker has been teasing since 2007. That machine is finally nearing production and Autoblog was lucky enough to take an early model for a spin around California Speedway, a brief test-drive that left the pilots concluding "the Fisker Karma is a rolling dream machine for anyone who wants something very different that works and drives exceptionally well." For the rest of the impressions on this $100k plug-in hybrid that offers a combined 657hp and 981lb-ft of torque from three motors and will go 50 miles on batteries alone you'll need to click on through the source link below. For the details on what's in store from your own karma you need only look inside yourself.

PlayStation hackers reportedly able to unban selves, ban others, turn tables

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 06:26 AM PST

PlayStation hackers reportedly able to unban selves, ban others, turn tables
Just last week Sony said that those found to have hacked their PlayStation 3 consoles would have their PlayStation Network access "terminated permanently." Harsh words that, unsurprisingly, weren't too warmly received by the hacking community. Destructoid is now reporting that not only have those tinkerers found a way to unban themselves, but that they can in turn ban any other console they want. There's apparently a catch, though, with the hackers having to know the unique ID assigned to the other console that they'll be banning, which makes this sound like perhaps the hack is simply swapping a "good" ID onto a "bad" console, but at this point we have no details on the supposed procedure here. Regardless, if some random girl with a cute avatar hits you up on IM and, after a few minutes of casual conversation, asks you for the serial number on your PS3, think twice before handing over those digits.

Update: We were a little leery about this given Destructoid's lack of a source, and thanks to a note from reader Omega we now have what looks to be the actual source -- indeed this all is sounding rather theoretical.

Verizon announces Xoom pricing: $600 on contract, $20 per month for 1GB data

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 05:55 AM PST

Verizon just filled in the rest of the Xoom pricing story -- in addition to the $800 off-contract version that's already up for pre-order at Best Buy, you'll be able to sign a two-year data contract and pick up a Xoom for $600 upfront. That's a decent savings, although you'll be getting just 1GB of 3G data for $20/month, so it's not exactly a stunning deal in the end: a Xoom and 24GB of data over two years for $1,080. On the plus side, Verizon has confirmed that the Xoom LTE upgrade will in fact be free when it goes live in Q2, which is terrific news -- but we're waiting to see what the LTE data plans look like before we get too excited. PR after the break.

Update: We're hearing from Verizon reps that the Xoom will also be able to take advantage of the carrier's larger data plans as well -- $35 a month for 3GB, $50 a month for 5GB, and $80 a month for 10GB. Still no word on LTE pricing, though. [Thanks, droiddoesall]

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Motorola XOOM Tablet to Be Available on the Verizon Wireless Network on Feb. 24

"Best of Show" Winner at 2011 Consumer Electronics Show Delivers the World's First True Tablet Experience, With Upgrade to 4G LTE in Q2

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. and LIBERTYVILLE, Ill., Feb. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless and Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE: MMI), today announced the Feb. 24, 2011 availability of the innovative new Motorola XOOM™ tablet, which won the coveted CNET Best of Show award at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show for being "the most potentially disruptive technology." The first device to run Google's new Android 3.0 Honeycomb operating system, the Motorola XOOM will be available for purchase from Verizon Wireless for $599.99 with a new two-year customer agreement or $799.99 without a contract. Wireless 3G data service for the Motorola XOOM will begin at $20 monthly access for 1GB. The Motorola XOOM will be upgradeable to 4G LTE service at no additional charge in the second quarter of 2011.

A powerhouse in both software and hardware, the Motorola XOOM is built around a 1GHz dual-core processor and 10.1-inch widescreen HD display. The sleek, stylish design features a front-facing 2-megapixel camera for video chats, as well as a rear-facing 5-megapixel camera that captures video in 720p HD.

The Motorola XOOM showcases the innovations of the Honeycomb user experience that improves on Android favorites such as widgets, multi-tasking, browsing, notifications and customization, as well as featuring the latest Google™ Mobile services. The Motorola XOOM also features full support for tabbed browsing and support for the Adobe® Flash® Player, available soon as a free download, to enjoy all the video and other rich content available on the Web. For additional information about upgrading their XOOM to 4G LTE, customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/Xoom4GLTEUpgrade starting Thursday, Feb. 24.

Amazon Prime Instant Video hands-on

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 05:49 AM PST

Amazon Prime Instant Videos hands-on
Amazon has just turned on its Prime Instant Video service, letting paid Prime subscribers (sorry, students) in the US (sorry, foreigners) stream any of 5,000 movies and TV shows directly to their machines free of charge -- well, free beyond the $79 Primers already pay. Jeff Bezos has confirmed that there will be no extra charge going forward for this service and that Prime itself will not be getting more expensive to pay for all these bits and bytes. Right now the selection is limited, particularly if you already have a Netflix subscription, but we just had to try it out. Click on through for our impressions on a variety of devices.

Naturally our first stop was to try it out in a browser, and there these instantly viewable titles interface nicely with Amazon's already existing selection of instant titles. However, now above the "3 day rental" and "Buy movie" buttons (which are still there, if you want to pay for downloadable versions) is a "Watch now unlimited streaming" button, with a quite appealing price of $0.00 driving home the idea that, indeed, there's no charge here. Just in case you had any last doubts.

Click on to get things rolling and the streaming starts impressively quickly, about three seconds on average on the PC we tested this with. Skipping ahead was similarly quick, buffering taking virtually no time at all.

We then moved on to other devices, first a Logitech Revue Google TV box. We were pleasantly surprised to find that Amazon has not (at least not yet) blocked streaming on this box, and everything played perfectly. Next up was an Android device running Flash and, sure enough, it worked on there too -- well, the video plays. How well it plays will largely depend on your phone's processor and your current connection. Content ranged from slideshow to acceptable on the first-gen Droid we spun it up on. We also have confirmation that this service works on the Amazon Instant Channel on Roku and we're guessing just about anything else that'll do Amazon Instant is good to go.

To check quality we loaded up a few films that are streaming both on Netflix and here (not difficult to find) and compared them back-to-back. Ultimately the Amazon quality is good, but not great. In Man on Wire the applied film grain effect shown for flashbacks played havoc on the presumably lower bitrate from Amazon. It looked noticeably better on Netflix. Additionally, there was some detail lacking in the skin on the faces of the speakers in the film.

We also got Red Cliff going to see how Cao Cao would fare in conquering this new service. This film showed a bit more dithering in the scenery shots and the subtitles looked less crisp. So, there's definitely a difference if you're looking for it, but the Amazon content certainly doesn't look bad. And, we really like that Amazon gives the option in many foreign films to choose between dubbed and subtitled. It's also worth noting that you can watch up to two videos simultaneously on two different devices, so if you like the subtitles but your spouse prefers those awful dubs, you can each watch your preferred version together -- if you have enough devices.

Ultimately you can't be too harsh on a service that comes for "free" and just makes an already tempting offering even more appealing, but ultimately Prime Instant Videos is actually quite good. No, the quality isn't quite as good as Netflix and you're going to have a hard time finding anything here that hasn't already been served up there, but now Amazon has another nice bonus to go along with all that two-day shipping.

Nomad capacitive brush turns your iPad into an art canvas for $24 (video)

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 05:33 AM PST

We didn't have much luck using the oStylus as a paint brush, but even the creator confessed that it was never intended for such chores. Thankfully, the Nomad Brush was concocted specifically for those chores. What you're looking at above is a paint brush that's designed for use with capacitive screens, and it could very well spark a modern day renaissance... or something of the sort. The brush is topped with capacitive fibers that the iPhone, Galaxy Tab and iPad (among other tablets and phones) can recognize, enabling you artsy folk to express yourselves even when it's impractical to tote around a suitcase full of watercolors. Head on past the break for an (admittedly impressive) video, and pop the source link to hand over $24 in exchange for a shipping label. Just promise us you'll keep it away from any actual paint buckets, okay?

Update: Looks like there's a cheaper alternative floating around from Blackbox, if you're down for it.

Nomad Brush for the iPad from Don Lee on Vimeo.

Smart shows off Forspeed electric roadster concept

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 04:27 AM PST

We've got some good news and some bad news for folks eager for a sportier, all-electric Smart vehicle. The good news is that parent company Mercedes-Benz has just taken the wraps of its brand new Smart Forspeed concept vehicle, which will make its debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. It's a compact, all-electric roadster that promises a top speed of 75 miles per hour, a range of 84 miles on a charge (which, incidentally, can be done using a normal 220 volt socket), and a luxury interior that even includes a special smartphone housing. The bad news? The company is saying up front that it "won't make production," but that "elements of the car will be carried over into future projects." Hit up the link below for a closer look.

Sony VAIO CA and CB pack the latest Core i5 power for those who can look past the neon

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 04:00 AM PST

We're aware, the "exclusive" green and orange neon color of Sony's VAIO CB and CA laptops can make your eyes bleed, but Sony's pretty excited about the aesthetic and the way it radiates light around the edges of the laptop. Oh, and don't forget how the touchpad "emits a beautiful glow." It's true, the rigs do have an interesting glow stick-like look to them -- at least, we thought so when we saw them last month -- however, we found their innards and features to be more enlightening. Starting at $800, the 14-inch CA10 and 15.5-inch CB10 will both be available with Intel Sandy Bridge Core i5 processors, AMD Radeon HD 6630 graphics, and Blu-ray drives. Select models will also pack Intel's WiDi 2.0, which lets you stream 1080p video to your TV. And remember Sony's Remote Keyboard, which lets you navigate your PS3 or Bravia TV with the the laptop? Yep, the CA and CB both have that functionality baked in as well. What's that? You'd be interested if they didn't blind you? What if we also told you they will come in black and white? We thought that might change your mind, and according to the official press release below there will indeed be alternative color versions. You'll be able to pre-order them both on March 13th, but until then you can always see if the neon grows on you with the photos below.
Sony VAIO CA and CB Series

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NEW SONY VAIO C SERIES LAPTOPS RADIATE LIGHT AND STAND OUT WITH PERFORMANCE, ENTERTAINMENT AND DESIGN


SAN DIEGO, Feb. 22, 2011 – With a continued commitment to portability, performance and multimedia entertainment wrapped in a premium design, Sony Electronics today announced the VAIO® C Series – an exclusive line of laptops. A second generation Intel® Core™ i5 processor, Blu-ray Disc™ drive (select models), and AMD Radeon™ 1GB Hybrid Graphics card (select models) give you visibly smart performance and amazing picture quality all in a unique design.

"The new VAIO C Series delivers an extraordinary design with new, vivid materials," said Mike Lucas, senior vice president of the Networked Technologies and Services Division at Sony Electronics. "Combined with premium performance and features, as well as enhanced with Sony Imagination Studio, C Series users can be entertained and show off their creative side."

Let There Be Light
The exclusive one-of-a-kind design of the all new VAIO C Series in lively Neon Orange and Neon Green collects and radiates light around the edges of the laptop, through the VAIO logo, and even around the touchpad emitting a beautiful glow. Also available in Lightning White and Bolt Black, the C Series has a distinctive, appealing pattern that hints at the sophistication and powerful technology on the inside.

Available exclusively through select retailers in two screen sizes, the CA10 features a 14-inch LED backlit LCD widescreen display and the CB10 features a 15.5-inch LED backlit LCD widescreen display for improved power efficiency and greater contrast, with the option of a Full HD 1080p screen.

Ultimate Performance
Performance is top priority with the second generation Intel Core i5 processor that delivers even more performance automatically when you need it with a better visual PC experience built-in. With Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, the second generation Intel Core i5 processor increases speed automatically for whatever you're doing on your PC and provides a rich set of new features for a stunning and seamless visual PC experience.

AMD Radeon HD 6630 1GB Hybrid Graphics card (select models) gives a performance boost to your day-to-day processor functions for a faster, more optimized overall computing experience while lowering power consumption.

The C Series laptop comes with one-touch VAIO, ASSIST and WEB buttons, for launching Media Gallery™ software, VAIO Care™ software and access to the web without full boot-up into Windows, all with a touch of a button.

All models incorporate backlit keyboards, illuminating the lettering for typing in dark situations. The built-in HD web camera powered by an "Exmor" sensor also allows for great low-light performance. And with the built-in microphone you can video message with family, friends and coworkers. Face tracking technology allows the camera to automatically adjust focus and follow you as you move around while video chatting.

Pack a Multimedia Punch
Sony knows entertainment is always at the forefront and the VAIO C Series delivers. Whether you're watching a stunning Blu-ray Disc movie (select models) or enjoying video captured from your compatible camcorder. The versatile Blu-ray Disc drive on the VAIO C Series laptop (select models) combines the power of HD video playback with the convenience and utility of DVD and CD read/write functionalities. Providing the best picture and the best sound with stunning clarity, Blu-ray Disc technology is the ultimate way to enjoy your entertainment.
With Intel® Wireless Display 2.0 in select models, you can sit back and experience your favorite videos, photos and music on your TV. Stop crowding around a laptop screen and view and share content from your hard drive, home network or the internet wirelessly on your HDTV utilizing the adapter (sold separately).

Your creativity is made boundless with the included Sony Imagination Studio™ Suite 2 VAIO Edition, which combines five powerful Sony applications so you can enhance and share your music, photos, and movies like never before. Turn your video shoots into Hollywood-style movies with Vegas™ Movie Studio HD Platinum. Make your own original music or create remixes and mash-ups of your favorite songs using Acid™ Music Studio. Author your project to DVD or burn it to Blu-ray Disc™ media (select models) and share your digital life with family and friends. This software plus Adobe Acrobat Standard is included at a $558 value.

Remote Keyboard takes your VAIO PC one step further by helping you navigate menus and options within your PS3™ system, connected BRAVIA® television or Blu-ray Disc player. Remote Keyboard bridges the technology gap and allows you to wirelessly pair your VAIO PC's keyboard and touchpad with a bevy of Sony connected devices and use them to quickly and easily navigate menus, browse the internet and enter text.

Pricing and Availability
The VAIO C Series laptops will be available for pre-sale on March 13 at www.sonystyle.com/cseries for a starting price of about $880. Also available this spring exclusively through select retailers include ABT Electronics, B&H Photo, Fry's Electronics, J&R Electronics, MicroCenter, Nebraska Furniture Mart and Sony Style®.

Windows 8 beta for tablets at September PDC?

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 03:44 AM PST

You don't need us to tell you what you already know in your gut to be true: Redmond is working hard on its tablet strategy. How embarrassing is it for Microsoft, the company that pioneered tablets and the 7-inch UMPC, to be completely absent from the conversation in 2010 and 2011? That could change in September. Microsoft watcher Mary Jo Foley recently shared the slide above which she believes to be 99.99 percent genuine. The timeline shows the major milestone dates for a Windows 8 (aka, "Windows Next") release -- an OS that M. JoFo believes to be focused on tablets (aka, "Lap PCs" in Microsoft parlance) with its purpose-built touch-centric design. According to the slide, we're looking at an M2 milestone this month followed by M3 in July or August. Foley says that would put Microsoft on track for a Windows 8 beta release right around Microsoft's Professional Developers Conference (PDC) event in September followed by a second beta in 2012 before being released to manufacturing around the summer of 2012 -- just like we heard early last year and just in time for Dell's Hancock tablet. There are still many open questions including Microsoft's ARM vs. Intel priorities and how the company plans to scale across the enterprise and the "workhorse PC" and "Family Hub PC" in the home. Hit the ZDNet link below for a deeper read or better yet, head on over to TechRepublic where Mary Jo Foley put together an excellent webcast outlining Microsoft's tablet strategy in much more detail.

Amazon launches Prime Instant Video, unlimited streaming for Prime subscribers

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 03:26 AM PST

Amazon launches unlimited video streaming for Prime subscribers
We heard it was coming and now here it is. Amazon has flipped the switch on its "free" video streaming for Prime members, the service we've been hearing about for the past month or so. If you've already been taking advantage of subscription-based two-day shipping so that your impulse buys get to your door a little quicker you can now enjoy streaming of 5,000 pieces of "prime eligible" content, including some recent movies and a lot of TV shows, much of which will look awfully familiar if you're also a Netflix subscriber. However, on some foreign films (like The Girl who Kicked the Hornets' Nest above) you have the choice of subtitles or dubbed, and much of this content is still available to "rent" or "buy" if you want to be able to download it to a mobile device. We're just checking out the service now and will be back with some impressions a little later.

Update: We're hearing that this is only for paid Prime subscribers, so if you're a college student or the like with a free membership you're sadly out of luck. Also it's US only at this point. Sorry!

Update 2: Check out our impressions!

[Thanks, Chris]


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Amazon Prime Members Now Get Unlimited, Commercial-free, Instant Streaming of More Than 5,000 Movies and TV Shows at No Additional Cost
Amazon Adds Instant Videos to Amazon Prime

SEATTLE-- Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) today announced the launch of a new benefit for Amazon Prime members: unlimited, commercial-free, instant streaming of more than 5,000 movies and TV shows. This new benefit is being added at no additional cost - Prime membership will continue to be $79 per year. Amazon Prime's all-you-can-eat free Two-Day Shipping has already attracted millions of members. Customers can learn more about an Amazon Prime one-month free trial and start watching instantly at www.amazon.com/primevideos.

"Adding unlimited instant access to thousands of movies and TV shows at no additional cost is a great way to give members even more value for their $79 annual Amazon Prime membership."

"Millions of Amazon Prime members already enjoy the convenience of free Two-Day Shipping," said Robbie Schwietzer, vice president of Amazon Prime. "Adding unlimited instant access to thousands of movies and TV shows at no additional cost is a great way to give members even more value for their $79 annual Amazon Prime membership."

Movies and TV shows included with an Amazon Prime membership can be watched instantly on Macs, PCs and nearly 200 models of Internet-connected TVs, Blu-ray players and set-top boxes that are compatible with Amazon Instant Video. The selection of videos available for instant streaming currently includes movies, such as "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" trilogy, "Amadeus," "Syriana," and "Chariots of Fire," noted documentaries such as "Food Inc.," "March of the Penguins" and "Ken Burns' National Parks," plus TV shows, such as "Doctor Who," "Farscape," "Fawlty Towers" and children's shows, such as "Arthur," "Caillou," "Super Why!" and "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood."

Amazon Prime is a membership program that offers customers unlimited free Two-Day Shipping with no minimum purchase requirement for only $79 a year. Millions of items are eligible, including books, home and garden products, electronics, video games, clothing, accessories and beauty products. With the introduction of Prime instant videos, free trial and paid Amazon Prime members in the U.S. now also have unlimited instant access to more than 5,000 videos.

Amazon Instant Video is a digital video service that offers customers more than 90,000 commercial-free movies and television shows to buy or rent on an a la carte basis. New-release movies are often available as soon as they are released on DVD, and many TV shows are available the day after their first broadcast. Amazon Instant Video also offers thousands of movies and TV shows in high definition. With Amazon Instant Video, customers can watch instantly on Macs, PCs, and nearly 200 Internet connected TVs, Blu-ray players, and set-top boxes. To learn more about Amazon Instant Video on your TV, visit www.amazon.com/watchontv.

"In addition to now offering unlimited, commercial-free, instant streaming of 5,000 movies and TV shows to Amazon Prime members, we continue to offer all customers more than 90,000 movies and TV shows through Amazon Instant Video," said Cameron Janes, director of Amazon Instant Video. "With Amazon Instant Video customers can rent or purchase hit movies, such as 'The Social Network' as well as purchase the latest TV shows available the day-after they broadcast."
Customers who receive Prime shipping benefits through our Amazon Student and Amazon Mom programs can upgrade to receive paid Prime benefits for just $79 a year.

For more information on Amazon Prime and Prime instant videos and to start an Amazon Prime free trial, visit www.amazon.com/primevideos.
For more information on Amazon Instant Video, visit www.amazon.com/instantvideo.

About Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as Books; Movies, Music & Games; Digital Downloads; Electronics & Computers; Home & Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby; Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry; Health & Beauty; Sports & Outdoors; and Tools, Auto & Industrial. Amazon Web Services provides Amazon's developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon's own back-end technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any type of business. Kindle, Kindle 3G and Kindle DX are the revolutionary portable readers that wirelessly download books, magazines, newspapers, blogs and personal documents to a crisp, high-resolution electronic ink display that looks and reads like real paper. Kindle 3G and Kindle DX utilize the same 3G wireless technology as advanced cell phones, so users never need to hunt for a Wi-Fi hotspot. Kindle is the #1 bestselling product across the millions of items sold on Amazon.
Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca, www.amazon.cn, and www.amazon.it. As used herein, "Amazon.com," "we," "our" and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings.

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Roku Launches Just Announced Amazon Prime Instant Video Service



Roku customers who are also Amazon Prime Members can now enjoy unlimited, commercial free instant streaming of more than 5,000 movies and TV shows at no additional cost!



On Tuesday, February 22, 2011, Roku, Inc., maker of the top-selling and award-winning Roku streaming player, announced that Amazon's (NASDAQ: AMZN) just launched Prime Instant Video service, which gives Amazon Prime customers access to over 5,000 movies and TV shows for free, is now available as part of the Amazon Instant Video channel on Roku. Customers can learn more about an Amazon Prime one-month free trial and start watching instantly at www.amazon.com/primevideos.



What:

Amazon Prime members now have access to unlimited, commercial-free, instant streaming of more than 5,000 movies and TV shows via the Amazon Instant Video channel on Roku. This new Amazon Prime benefit is being added at no additional cost - Amazon Prime membership will continue to be $79 per year. The Prime Instant Video Service is part of the Amazon Instant Video channel already installed on all Roku players today. Simply click on the Amazon Instant Video channel on Roku and look for the Prime Instant Video tile. Follow the prompts to start enjoying free, unlimited streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows right on your TV via Roku.



The selection of videos available for instant streaming currently includes movies such as "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" trilogy, "Amadeus," "Syriana," and "Chariots of Fire," noted documentaries such as "Food Inc.," "March of the Penguins" and "Ken Burns' National Parks," plus TV shows, such as "Doctor Who," "Farscape," "Fawlty Towers" and children's shows, such as "Arthur," "Caillou," "Super Why!" and "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood."



When:

This new service is available today and will automatically appear inside the Amazon Instant Video channel already available on Roku.



Why:

Roku has a commitment to its customers to deliver the very best in value and content. Amazon is giving both its Amazon Prime customers and subsequently Roku customers tremendous added value with the new Prime Instant Video service and Roku couldn't be more pleased to be offering this exciting new service on the day it is launched.



About Roku, Inc.

The market leader in streaming entertainment devices for the TV with over 1 million units sold, Roku has always believed that anything you want to watch, listen to, and enjoy should simply be there on your TV, whenever you want it. Roku streaming players are renowned for their simplicity, variety of entertainment choices, and exceptional value. Roku is privately held and based in Saratoga, Calif. For more information on the company and its products, visit: http://www.roku.com.



About Amazon Instant Video

Amazon Instant Video is a digital video service that offers customers more than 90,000 commercial-free movies and television shows to buy or rent on an a la carte basis. New-release movies are often available as soon as they are released on DVD, and many TV shows are available the day after their first broadcast. Amazon Instant Video also offers thousands of movies and TV shows in high definition. With Amazon Instant Video, customers can watch instantly on the TV using their Roku player. To learn more about Amazon Instant Video on your TV, visit www.amazon.com/watchontv.

Verizon dropped 10,000 emergency calls during January snowstorm in Maryland, FCC finds it 'alarming'

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 03:02 AM PST

Uh oh, Verizon's got itself into a bit of hot water with the old FCC. An outage during a snowstorm last month has reportedly resulted in a whopping 10,000 calls to 911 not being connected by the big red carrier. That would be bad enough in itself, but the less-than-pleased Communications Commission also notes that the emergency services that missed out on these calls were not alerted to the connectivity failure -- in fact, Maryland's Montgomery County officers were the ones to inform Verizon of the fault it was having, which was then promptly repaired within 15 minutes. The FCC is now curtly asking the network to check its entire footprint for similar vulnerabilities -- as the January events were apparently "not unique" -- and to propose remedial actions and monitoring systems to prevent it happening again.

Kiss Controller lets you play a bowling game with your tongue... while it's in someone else's mouth (video)

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 02:30 AM PST

Oh, this isn't weird at all! The Kissing Controller, an experimental project by one Hye Yeon Nam, is designed so that players of a bowling game can impart power and direction to their spherical projectile by performing the timeless act of smooching one another. A customized headset is required for one of the participants, acting as the input receiver, while the other straps a magnet to his or her tongue and goes to town with some literal full motion controls. Thrust is added to the on-screen ball in accordance with how vigorously you move your tongue around, something we're sure your partner will appreciate. Video after the break.

webOS 2.1 for the Pre Plus now available to download for O2 Germany users

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 02:03 AM PST

In spite of HP's strong assurances to the contrary, the Palm Pre Plus is actually going to give users the option to ride into webOS 2.x territory. As we speculated yesterday, O2 Germany Pre Plus owners can now download a new firmware package for their slider handsets, which will work its magic and update them to version 2.1 of HP's magnificent software. The company has been actively discouraging users and programmers from pairing the older hardware with the latest software, so we can't promise it'll be a bump-free ride for all upgraders, but having the option is all people have been asking for and now it's there -- and by "there" we mean the source link below.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Forget the white iPhone 4, white iPhone 5 rumors begin!

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 01:49 AM PST

It's the perfect rumor: the officially delayed and frequently tattled white iPhone 4 has reemerged as the white iPhone 5 riding a horned stallion through virgin rumor fields. According to the Economic Daily News, the previously unheard of white iPhone 5 will feature a touch panel supplied exclusively by Wintek. If true, then the white iPhone 4, officially scheduled for a spring 2011 launch, should be available just prior to the launch of the next generation white iPhone 5, anticipated for a summer launch in keeping with Apple's typical launch cycle. Not exactly ideal, but hey, it's only the first of many related rumors to come.

P.S. Here's a link to an Apple-free Engadget in anticipation of your needs.

Samsung develops mobile DRAM capable of 12.8GB/sec data transfers, making all other memory jealous

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 01:15 AM PST

Much like clockwork, Samsung's memory labs are cranking out yet another innovation in the mobile DRAM sector, with the goal being to make the next (next) generation Galaxy Tab -- and any other mobile device relying on Samsung memory -- faster than ever. This go 'round, the crew has developed a 1Gb mobile DRAM module with a wide I/O interface for smartphones and tablets, enabling it to transmit data at 12.8GB/sec. For those keeping count, that's an eightfold increase in bandwidth compared to LPDDR2 DRAM chips, and the company has also managed to trim power consumption by 87 percent all the while. In order to boost the data transfer rate, Samsung's new wide I/O DRAM uses 512 pins for input and output, dwarfing the 32 pins used in the previous generation. Following this, Sammy's hoping to provide 20nm-class 4Gb wide I/O mobile DRAM sometime in 2013, but we're hoping to see this particular development sashay into tablets that hit the market long before then. Sadly, there's no specific word on when, but you know we'll be handing that information over just as soon as we get it.
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Samsung Develops Mobile DRAM with Wide I/O Interface

SEOUL, Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced memory technology, today announced the development of 1 gigabit (Gb) mobile DRAM with a wide I/O interface, using 50 nanometer class* process technology. The new wide I/O mobile DRAM will be used in mobile applications, such as smartphones and tablet PCs.

"We will continue to aggressively expand our high-performance mobile memory product line to further propel the growth of the mobile industry."

"Following the development of 4Gb LPDDR2 DRAM (low-power DDR2 dynamic random access memory) last year, our new mobile DRAM solution with a wide I/O interface represents a significant contribution to the advancement of high-performance mobile products," said Byungse So, senior vice president, memory product planning & application engineering at Samsung Electronics. "We will continue to aggressively expand our high-performance mobile memory product line to further propel the growth of the mobile industry."

The new 1Gb wide I/O mobile DRAM can transmit data at 12.8 gigabyte (GB) per second, which increases the bandwidth of mobile DDR DRAM (1.6GB/s) eightfold, while reducing power consumption by approximately 87 percent. The bandwidth is also four times that of LPDDR2 DRAM (which is approximately 3.2GB/s).

To boost data transmission, Samsung's wide I/O DRAM uses 512 pins for data input and output compared to the previous generation of mobile DRAMs, which used a maximum of 32 pins. If you include the pins that are involved in sending commands and regulating power supply, a single Samsung wide I/O DRAM is designed to accommodate approximately 1,200 pins.

Following this wide I/O DRAM launch, Samsung is aiming to provide 20nm-class* 4Gb wide I/O mobile DRAM sometime in 2013. The company's recent achievements in mobile DRAM include introducing the first 50nm-class 1Gb LPDDR2 DRAM in 2009 and the first 40nm-class* 2Gb LPDDR2 in 2010.

Samsung will present a paper related to wide I/O DRAM technology at the 2011 International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) being held from February 20 to 24 in San Francisco.

According to iSuppli, mobile DRAM's percentage of total annual DRAM shipments will increase from about 11.1 percent in 2010 to 16.5 percent in 2014.

For more information about Samsung Green memory, visit www.samsung.com/GreenMemory

Sony VAIO S Series get an updated design, Core i5-2410M CPU and Radeon HD 6470M graphics

Posted: 22 Feb 2011 12:28 AM PST

Excuse us for a moment while we ponder Sony's product naming scheme. The company's VAIO S thin-and-light laptop range got upgraded specs at CES this January, which also happened to be the place and time that we first laid eyes on a set of "prototype" machines that seemed to target the same market segment. Lo and behold, after making some cameos at European online listings, the newly redesigned Sony 13-inchers are here, only they're still called... the VAIO S Series. For the trouble of figuring out which is which, you'll be rewarded with a 3.9-pound mobile computer with a 1366 x 768 screen, a 500GB hard drive, 4GB of 1333MHz DDR3 RAM, 802.11n WiFi, optional VAIO "everywair" 3G, a Radeon HD 6470M GPU with up to 1GB of dedicated memory, and what will presumably be a selection of Core i5 CPUs from Intel (at present we're only seeing the i5-2410M listed). Windows 7 is the inevitable OS on board, though Sony's enhanced it with a Fast Boot sequence that's said to halve the usual bootup time. Launch is scheduled for the end of March and you'll find a full spec sheet and release after the break.
Sony VAIO S February 2011 press shots

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London, 22nd February 2011

Power in Motion: boost your productivity with new VAIO S Series

Slim, stylish 13" notebook PC by Sony packs greater stamina with less to carry

* Thin and light with elegant new 'full flat' design for enhanced mobility and superior robustness
* Work and play longer with new smart battery concept
* 13.3" VAIO Display Plus
* Dynamic Hybrid Graphic System for balanced stamina and performance
* Fast Boot and quick web access for increased productivity
* Backlit keyboard and ambient light sensor
* VAIO "everywair" 3G WWAN (selected models)

Power, design and mobility come together beautifully with the new VAIO® S Series of 13.3" slim notebook PCs from Sony.

The slim, light VAIO S Series features a stylish new 'full flat' design that's crafted in magnesium with a wide aluminium palmrest for strength, lightness, usability and looks. There's also a cleverly concealed hinge mechanism that doesn't distract your view of what's on screen. Overall thickness shrinks to less than 24mm, while weight is a travel-friendly 1.75kg (approx.).

The VAIO S Series introduces a smart new battery concept that lets you keep working day and night without a pause. The internal lithium polymer battery provides power for up to 7 hours of on-the-go computing (in Stamina mode). It's partnered by a second thin, flat optional lithium polymer extended battery that can be charged separately from the PC and added without removing the internal battery. The second battery attaches without having to switch off the PC, boosting stamina to up to 14 hours if you're far from mains power.

Dynamic Hybrid Graphic System switches seamlessly between the integrated GPU and high-performance AMD Radeon™ HD 6000 Series card (with either 512MB or 1GB VRAM), according to the task at hand. Whether you're watching processor-intensive HD videos or just simply note-taking, you'll always enjoy the optimum balance between performance and battery stamina.

The 13.3" VAIO Display Plus screen brings all your documents to life with excellent brightness, colour contrast, clarity and detail. The LCD's advanced low-reflection coating allows easy viewing in any lighting conditions, offering the optimum balance of suppressing reflections while maintaining clear images. With a resolution of 1366x768, the real wide aspect ratio display is perfectly proportioned for browsing dual web pages side by side.

The backlit isolation keyboard allows comfortable typing by day or night. There's also an ambient light sensor that automatically dims brightness of the high-quality VAIO Display to conserve power when the lights are low.

The VAIO S Series is designed with day-to-day productivity firmly in mind. Fast Boot gets you up and running 50% faster than a conventional notebook when loading Genuine Windows® 7. It's a valuable time-saver if you're on a deadline or rushing for the airport. There's also a conveniently-placed WEB button that powers up your PC for Internet access in seconds. It's ideal for checking any last-minute e-mails while sitting in a café or departure lounge.

Available on selected models, embedded VAIO "everywair" 3G WWAN lets you connect on the move via your mobile broadband operator at up to 7.2Mbps.

Co-ordinated accessories include the BPSC24 external battery that's supplied with its own charging adapter. There's also a new flat-design port replicator that can dock with the VAIO S, allowing you to work while the attached BPSC24 battery charges.

The new VAIO S Series slim, ultra-mobile notebook PCs are available from the end of March 2011.

Fujitsu's 10-inch Stylistic Q550 tablet to sport Oak Trail, Windows 7

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 11:54 PM PST

We knew good and well that Fujitsu's Stylistic Q550 was en route, but now we're learning a few more dirty details as its official launch day draws ever nearer. Reportedly, the business-oriented slate will be fully revealed at CeBIT next month, with Fujitsu being one of the only outfits out there eager and willing to take a chance on both Oak Trail and Windows 7 Professional. Our experiences with existing Win7 tablets haven't been stellar, but it's possible that the added power in Oak Trail will cut down on the lag and make things a bit smoother to operate. We're told to expect a 10-inch LED touchscreen, smartcard slot, fingerprint reader, trusted-platform module (TPM), front and rear cameras, a 32GB / 64GB solid state drive, USB socket and an optional 3G module. Most impressive, however, is the claimed eight hours of battery life, which we'll quite honestly have to see to believe. If all goes well, it'll start shipping this April to European nations, but there's no word yet on how badly it'll hurt your wallet (or when it'll grab a passport and head to other continents). As you'd expect, we'll be live from Germany digging for more just as soon as the show floor opens. A brief introductory vid is just past the break.

AT&T Motorola Atrix 4G now on sale, $149.99 at Amazon or RadioShack (update: $129.99 at Walmart)

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 10:45 PM PST

The hotly reviewed and already rooted Atrix 4G is now on sale at AT&T. As expected, the privilege of buying direct from the carrier will set you back $199.99 with a two-year contract in the range of $39.99 per month for the Nation 450 on up to $69.99 for the Nation Unlimited with another $15 per month for a 200MB DataPlus plan or $45 per month for a Data Pro 4GB + tethering plan. Or shop on over to Amazon (or RadioShack) who lists the same HSPA+ device for $50 less with a 24-hour ship time. Remember, if you just have to have the laptop dock then you'd best do it now while it's offered with the handset in a $499 bundle (after $100 mail-in rebate and purchase of the Data Pro plan with tethering add-on) -- the same laptop dock purchased separately will cost you $499.99. No, really.

Update: Walmart is offering the Atrix 4G handset for a measly $129.99 for those of you activating a new account before Thursday.

[Thanks, Zizo and Hoodean]

Verizon Xoom teaser ad will eat you up (video)

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 10:19 PM PST

Verizon's first Xoom ad is out leaving little doubt about how the company plans to market Motorola's new tablet. While the Honeycomb slab might lack the Droid branding, VZW looks set to maintain the overtly machismo tone that helped sell so many Android handsets over the last year while dismissing any of that cerebral nonsense preferred by Motorola. And really, who amongst us, man or woman, can resist the temptation of strapping on an $800 jetpack come thursday?

HP TouchPad on sale in April?

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 09:25 PM PST

The official TouchPad launch date isn't even a date per se, but a season: summer. So we're surprised to see DigiTimes reporting that HP will take delivery of shipments in March with the TouchPad going on sale in April with plans to ship 4 - 5 million units from the TouchPad "series" in 2011. Based on what we know, both from using the software-incomplete pre-production tablet and from our detailed discussions with Jon Rubinstein, an April retail date would be extremely aggressive to say the least. And DigiTimes' accuracy with regard to rumors for companies located outside of its home country of Taiwan is spotty at best. Nevertheless, HP's new CEO Leo Apotheker did say originally, that products announced at the February 9th event would be on sale just a few weeks later. Unfortunately, only the wee Veer handset got an early spring promise with the Pre 3 joining the TouchPad for a summer launch. Perhaps this will be a case of HP under promising and over delivering? We can't say for sure. But with any luck, HP could bring some clarity to the matter on March 14th -- a day Apotheker had promised a big reveal regarding a "secret answer" and "vision of what HP is capable of in the future... the starting point." Why so mysterious, Leo?

Minecraft for iOS confirmed, the hunt resumes for free time to squander

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 09:05 PM PST

You know all of that time you've been wasting on Angry Birds HD? Looks like your flying friends may have company when it comes time to, um... kill time, as Markus Persson has confirmed to Gamasutra that an iOS port is "in the works." That means that an official Minecraft build will soon pop up in Apple's App Store, with iPhone and iPad versions hinted at. Aron Neiminen, a new recruit to the Mojang team, is responsible for the port, and if all goes well, it'll be let loose later in the year. Persson also confirmed that the iOS version won't receive every update that the original browser / download versions get, but that it'll be "granted features that make sense for the touchscreen platform." Raise your hand below if you're giddy beyond control.

Update: Video's after the break! Thanks, Cooper.

Lenovo trots out new ThinkPad T, L, and W series laptops

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 08:01 PM PST

It feels like just yesterday that Lenovo unleashed a serious amount of Sandy Bridge laptops at CES, but left out of the bunch were the more traditional ThinkPad T, L and W models. Well, Lenovo's got those on its mind right now, and each is being refreshed with Intel's latest Core 2011 processors, NVIDIA Optimus or ATI discrete graphics, and improved VoIP features. One even promises 30 hours of battery life! Yep, there are a few key updates coming to each series, so hit the break for a short breakdown of each of those, and don't forget to peruse the glossy press shots below.
Lenovo T Series press shots

Lenovo ThinkPad L and W Series

  • ThinkPad T Series - Lenovo's updating its 14-inch T420s / T420 and 15.6-inch T520 with a slew of new Core i5 and i7 processors, but also some serious battery and boot time improvements. It claims that the four-pound T420s will boot 30 percent faster than the previous model, and the slightly thicker and heavier T420 will last up to 30 hours on a charge with its nine-cell slice extended battery. Like the previous T410 series, the new models will be available with NVIDIA Optimus graphics, although this time the series is getting a fresher GeForce 4200M GPU with 1GB of VRAM. The T420s will start at $1,329, the T420 at $779, and the T520 at $909.
  • ThinkPad L Series - These aren't as svelte as the T Series, but the 14-inch L420 and 15.6-inch L520 still pack a good amount of power. They will be configurable with Intel's Core 2011 i7 and i5 processors, ATI's Radeon HD 565 discrete graphics, and up to 8GB of RAM. There will also be a 80GB mSATA SSD option. On the 14-inch model you're stuck with a 1366 x 768-resolution display, but the 15.6 version is available with a 1600 x 900-resolution panel. So, how much? Both start at $719.
  • ThinkPad W520 - Lenovo's got to update its workstation, right? The W520 can be configured with all sorts of Core i5 and i7 processors (including the quad-core i7 chips), NVIDIA's Fermi Quadro 100M or 2000M graphics, and up to 2GB of dedicated graphics memory. Yep, it's one powerful 15-incher. It also houses two USB 3.0 ports and can be configured with up to a 160GB SSD. However, spec this one out and you're bound to go way above the $1,329 starting price. We should also mention that all of the aforementioned laptops have updated voice calling features, including dual array microphones, a LED-lit microphone mute key, and keyboard noise reduction technology -- the latter should come in handy when you start writing emails while on that all-important conference call.
All six of these new models will be available at the end of March.

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Video Calling, Smart PC & Battery Life Innovation Drive New ThinkPad Laptops

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – Feb. 22, 2011: Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) today announced six new ThinkPad laptops - the T420s, T420, T520, L420, L520 and W520 - that maximize performance and offer a higher level of productivity for today's mobile business professionals. These laptops are built upon a platform of new Lenovo innovations that respond to key business needs including: video and voice calling, smart PC features for power and performance management, all-day battery life, enterprise management and an intuitive, easy-to-use computing experience.

The ultra-thin, sub four pound ThinkPad T420s speeds up boot time 30 percent1 with Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0; the T420 reaches new battery life benchmarks of up to 30 hours with an extended battery; the W520 mobile workstation offers twice the performance of previous models; and the L Series gives customers recognized ThinkPad durable design at an exceptional value.

"Inspired by our customers, the 2011 ThinkPad laptops deliver the best technologies the industry has to offer, enabling users to do more with their computing experience," said Dilip Bhatia, vice president, ThinkPad Marketing, Lenovo. "We used customer feedback to help us create our latest ThinkPad laptops that provide strong improvements in key areas such as battery life, video and conferencing communications and performance. We've even made the ThinkPad laptops smarter by engineering self- aware technologies for unprecedented performance and power management capabilities."

Smart PC Power & Performance Management
The new laptops incorporate self-aware and adaptive technologies to sense where power is needed most to ensure priority components receive power for improved overall performance and battery life. Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 dynamically increases processor speed during performance intensive tasks such as video editing, data analysis and 3D applications. Lenovo Turbo Boost+ enables the laptops to stay in Turbo Boost even longer by keeping processor temperatures below required thermal limits. With reduced power to non-essential hardware, the laptops achieve up to 30 percent longer battery life while playing multimedia so users can watch DVDs, listen to MP3s or stream web content longer.

All-Day Battery Life
With its standard 9-cell battery, the ThinkPad T420 delivers up to 15 hours of battery life, while the T420s, delivers up to 10 hours with its 6-cell and optional optical bay battery combined. For extreme battery life needs, the ThinkPad T420, with its standard 9-cell battery and optional 9-cell slice battery, provides up to 30 hours of computing power. As the first business class laptops to feature NVIDIA® OptimusTM automatic graphic switching technology, T Series and W Series laptops provide 33 percent better battery performance over previous discrete graphics models.

Video & Voice Calling
The laptops include a variety of technologies for enhanced video and voice conferencing. Private Chat and Conference Call microphone modes allow users to switch easily between modes with a single mouse click. Private Chat mode can also use noise cancelling technology to focus on a single voice, while Conference Call mode opens the audio capture field to 360 degrees around the notebook, allowing for multiple user interaction in the room.
The laptops also include keyboard noise suppression technology to help eliminate the distracting keyboard clicking that often occurs while typing during PC-based voice calls. The laptops can also help users avoid embarrassing conference call mistakes with a dedicated LED-lit microphone mute key which indicates when the microphone is sending audio.

Designed for Enterprise
Built upon a platform of advanced industry technologies, including the performance and energy efficiency of the 2nd generation Intel® CoreTM and CoreTM vProTM processors, the new ThinkPad laptops offer enterprise IT managers high reliability and easy deployment and manageability. For example, the

ThinkPad T, W and L Series share the same docking station to simplify deployment, reduce costs and allow hardware sharing among employees. The laptops also share common batteries for lower cost and easy component management.

For improved enterprise-class security, the new ThinkPad laptops offer multiple layers of security throughout the hardware, software, BIOS and options including encrypted hard drives with remote management support, a fingerprint reader with one touch swipe for power on and authentication and Intel® Anti-Theft Technology (Intel® AT) – a laptop theft deterrence mechanism that disables the laptop preventing unauthorized data access.

Intuitive, & Easy-to-Use
A new feature, Lenovo's Instant Resume, maintains users' wireless connection on the laptop during sleep mode for up to 99 minutes2, eliminating the need to login and reconnect. For improved audio sound, the ThinkPad T420s is the first business class notebook to offer Dolby® Home Theater® v4, Dolby's latest audio technology with virtualized surround sound and dialog enhancement technology for clearer sound in movies, music and during video calls.
For quick and easy startup and shutdown, the laptops also feature Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0 for Windows 7 - an exclusive certification for Lenovo products that allows users to start their laptop on average 20 seconds faster than a typical Windows 7 computer3. Users will also enjoy watching high definition movies and online videos with the help of integrated Intel® HD Graphics.
To learn more about the latest 2011 Lenovo ThinkPad laptops, please watch this video for more details.

Pricing and Availability4
The ThinkPad T, L and W Series will be available starting in March from Lenovo business partners and www.lenovo.com. Pricing for the T420s, T420, T520, L420, L520 and W520 starts at approximately $1,329, $779, $909, $719, $719 and $1329, respectively.
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About Lenovo
Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is dedicated to building exceptionally engineered personal computers. Lenovo's business model is built on innovation, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction as well as a focus on investment in emerging markets. Formed by Lenovo Group's acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services worldwide. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information see www.lenovo.com.
1 30%Boot time improvement over similar system without Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0.
2 Lenovo's Instant Resume can be configured to maintain users' wireless connection from 1-99 minutes after the lid has been close.
3 Testing conducted by CNET Labs, Beijing in November 2010, using the independent Microsoft VTS tool to measure start-up, shutdown, resume and other Windows 7 performance measurements. 42 competitors PCs were tested from Acer, Apple, Dell, HP, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba, representing both commercial and consumer desktop and notebook products at mainstream price points. These were compared with comparable Lenovo products. Data from competitors and Lenovo PCs were averaged and compared to calculate the claims used.
4 Prices do not include tax or shipping and are subject to change without notice and is tied to specific terms and conditions. Reseller prices may vary. Price does not include all advertised features. All offers subject to availability. Lenovo reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without notice.

Minecraft documentary gets a 20 minute preview, needs you to chip in for the finished product

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 07:13 PM PST

Do you love Minecraft? Wait, don't answer. We know the answer. Well, we know how you feel -- and so do the folks at 2 Player Productions, the documentarians that brought you the extra-special chiptune film, Reformat the Planet. The scrappy team of filmmakers has once again gone back to work, this time focusing their attentions on the gaming phenomenon and its creator, Markus "Notch" Persson, in a project entitled Minecraft: The Story of Mojang. 2 Player has taken its project to the streets (and by streets we mean internet) by posting a 20 minute teaser of the forthcoming documentary, and asking for funding via Kickstarter. Just think, you could be your very own Hollywood mogul. There are all kinds of goodies for those who lay down the cash; for instance, if you pledge more than $2,500, you'll get an actual pick axe mounted on a stand signed by the Mojang team. And for $10,000? You get an Executive Producer credit and your own profile page on IMDB. The project is aiming for $150,000 of funding, and has already scored $22,048 (at the time this article was written) with 32 days to go. If you were serious about what you said earlier when it comes to Minecraft, you owe it to yourself to put your money where your virtual mouth is. You can also take a look at a teaser clip after the break -- and that won't cost you a dime.


Samsung Epic 4G's Froyo update now available, no need to wait for OTA

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 06:51 PM PST

Samsung apparently decided it's made Epic 4G owners wait long enough and beat Sprint's planned OTA release schedule to the punch by a few hours, posting the EB13 build that will update their phones to Froyo on its support website. Click the source link for a .exe to run from a connected PC and upgrade over USB (for rooted and unrooted devices alike, running any earlier software build) or select the Mac link for an update.zip file that can be run directly from the phone's SD card (stock devices running the most recent DI18 build only.) You'll be restoring the device to a blank slate with the former so make sure you've backed up any important SMS's beforehand. So far impressions from early upgraders on XDA-Developers suggest a noticeable performance boost, but other forum posts indicate some pesky bugs like Time Without Service battery drain are still hanging around, peep the full release notes after the break.

Show full PR text
Android Froyo 2.2 Information For The Epic 4G Release

Please see below for a list of changes found on the Android 2.2 Froyo upgrade for the SPH-d700 (Epic 4G) Also, you may click here to additional information for specific 2.2 information.

Home Screen:
New Home screen tips widget assists users on how to configure the home screen with shortcuts and widgets and how to make use of multiple home screens.
If you zoom in with two fingers in the home screen, all panels are shown in one screen and the end user can remove the panel and/or add. The max panel number is 7.
The Phone, applications launcher, contacts and messaging now have dedicated shortcuts on the Home screen, making it easy to access them from any of the 7 home screen panels.
Exchange Support
Improved security with the addition of numeric pin or alpha-numeric password options to unlock device. Exchange administrators can enforce password policy across devices.
Remote wipe: Exchange administrators can remotely reset the device to factory defaults to secure data in case device is lost or stolen.
Auto-discovery: you just need to know your user-name and password to easily set up and sync an Exchange account (available for Exchange 2007 and higher).
Global Address Lists look-up is now available in the Email application, enabling users to auto-complete recipient names from the directory.
Improved Performance
Performance of the browser has been enhanced using the V8 engine, which enables faster loading of JavaScript-heavy pages.
Dalvik Performance Boost: 2x-5x performance speedup for CPU-heavy code over Android 2.1 with Dalvik JIT.
The graph to the right shows the performance speedup from Android 2.1 to Android 2.2 using various benchmark tests. For example, LinPack is now more than 5 times faster.
Kernel Memory Management Boost: Improved memory reclaim by up to 20x, which results in faster app switching and smoother performance on memory-constrained devices.
Device Policy Manager
New device policy management APIs allow developers to write "device administrator" applications that can control security features on the device, such as the minimum password strength, data wipe, and so on. Users can select the administrators that are enabled on their devices..
Data Backup
Apps can participate in data backup and restore, to ensure that users maintain their data after performing a factory reset or when switching devices.
Flash Player
Device supports Flash Player 10.1
Lock Screen
New lock screen mode for entering a numeric pin or alphanumeric password
Application On External Storage
Ability to store and run non-forward locked apps on the SD card
Media Framework
New media framework (Stagefright) that supports local file playback and HTTP progressive streaming
Kernel Upgrade
SDIO scheduling and BT improvements
Release Notes Information For EB13

Improvements:
Email: Now able to download & open attachment from RTF formatted email. Also, default email size changed
Qik: 90 degree rotation is now supported.
Hotspot: Added timeout setting (Menu>Advanced>Power Mode). Furthermore, added more authentication methods.
Calendar: A dialer can now be launched to call phone numbers within a calendar event when a number is selected. In addition, action is now able to be taken on received meeting invites
Modifications:
Default Email Sig: Changed default email signature to "Sent from Samsung Mobile"
Data Roaming: Data Roaming is now set On by default.
Browser: Zoom button now appears. In addition, Autofit is defaulted
Alarm: Snooze option defaulted when alarm is created
Trash: Changed veribage as there is no Trash folder on server
Fixes:
Media Hub: Application doesn't work at times. New application release corrected problem.
EAS OOO: Meeting responses were not working.
Lock-up During Gmail: When syncing (sending a picture through Gmail, would cause phone to lock up.
Dialer SK: Sometime during in-call state, softkey wouldn't respond.
Bluetooth: Corrected a couple of Bluetooth related problems regarding volume & pairing.
Barcode Apps: Barcode applications would crash frequently.
Unsolicited Power-Off: Device would power off due to low battery.
Force Close: Resolved several force close problems relating to creating email folders, moving through fields, etc...
Document Saved: When attempting to edit a saved doc, shift and function would not work. The Viewer has been updated.

Cornell University scientists use 3D printer to engineer human ear made of silicone

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 06:20 PM PST

Welcome to the future, where scientists can print body parts. No, seriously: researchers at Cornell University have used 3D printing technology to engineer a human ear out of silicone. This should one day soon open the door to the creating functional human body parts using DNA-injected 'ink.' The team at the Computational Synthesis Laboratory, led by Hod Lipson, are now testing the printer as a way to crank out synthetic heart valves. Check out the ear being synthesized in the video after the break.

Engadget Podcast 233 - 02.21.2011

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 05:31 PM PST

Our program today is XXXXXL heavy in a lot of different ways, and most of those ways lie under a big robotic green umbrella. Get it? It was a weather-related Android allusion; please forgive us. It's the Engadget Podcast, wedged firmly between the past and the future, unsure of what to feel about either one, but trying to exist really completely in the now.

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Love Will Tear Us Apart

00:05:30 - Samsung Galaxy S II official: dual-core 1GHz CPU, 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus, coming this month (hands-on with video)
00:05:50 - HTC Incredible S, Desire S, and Wildfire S video hands-on
00:06:00 - Samsung Galaxy S WiFi 5.0 preview (video)
00:16:22 - Qualcomm promises Netflix streaming support on 'future Android devices' with Snapdragon
00:16:43 - Android-powered LG Revolution caught streaming Netflix at MWC (video)
00:23:02 - Next version of Android will combine Gingerbread and Honeycomb, arrive on a six-month cycle
00:23:58 - The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play (update: video and full spec sheet!)
00:24:25 - Sony Ericsson touts Xperia Play multiplayer gaming, promises 50 titles at launch
00:24:40 - Sony Ericsson Xperia Play available in March, on Verizon in 'early spring'
00:35:26 - LG Optimus 3D hands-on
00:44:48 - HTC's Facebook-worshipping phones headed to AT&T later this year
00:46:20 - HTC Salsa and Chacha bring the dedicated Facebook button to Android (update: eyes-on)
00:51:30 - Motorola Xoom vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 vs. LG G-Slate -- battle of the Tegra 2 Honeycomb tablets
00:52:08 - Motorola Xoom price official: $799 unsubsidized on Verizon, $600 for WiFi-only
00:53:00 - Motorola's Sanjay Jha on Xoom: 'Our ability to deliver 4G justifies the $799 price point'
00:59:10 - HTC launches 1.5GHz, 7-inch Android 2.4 Flyer into the tablet wars (update: hands-on video!)
00:59:48 - HTC Flyer tablet hits Amazon.de for 669 euros
00:59:55 - The stylus isn't dead: more pen-based tablets and apps coming this year
01:05:01 - Exclusive: Sony 'S1' PlayStation tablet (updated)
01:06:02 - Nokia: 'Our first priority is beating Android'
01:06:20 - Eric Schmidt: 'We certainly tried' to get Nokia to use Android
01:06:40 - HTC CEO Peter Chou on Microsoft / Nokia partnership: 'it'll make the ecosystem stronger'
01:07:00 - The Engadget Interview: Microsoft's Aaron Woodman talks Windows Phone 7 and Nokia
01:07:30 - Windows Phone 7's multitasking uses zoomed-out cards to check on your apps
01:08:50 - Microsoft Rally Ball demo shows Windows Phone 7, Kinect, Xbox Live living in perfect harmony (video)
01:09:10 - Microsoft shows off WP7's future with multitasking, Twitter integration, and IE9, all coming this year
01:12:40 - Nokia's marginalization of MeeGo came as a surprise to Intel
01:13:58 - Intel's Otellini insists company is committed to MeeGo, says he 'understood' why Nokia moved to Microsoft
01:14:25 - Editorial: Intel keeps pushing MeeGo, but why?
01:14:50 - Intel shows off more of its MeeGo Tablet UI, still needs lots of work
01:27:50 - Motorola Atrix 4G review


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New high-res imaging could make biopsies obsolete, doctors still cutting up in meantime

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 05:20 PM PST

So maybe a true-to-life Innerspace is still a few years off, but a professor at the University of Rochester has developed a way to take high-resolution 3D images under the skin's surface, potentially eliminating the need for biopsies in cancer detection. Professor Jannick Rolland created a prototype that uses a liquid lens, in which a droplet of water replaces the standard glass lens, in conjunction with near-infrared light, to take thousands of pictures at varying depths. Those images are then combined to create clear, 3D renderings of what lies up to one millimeter below your epidermis. The method has already been tested on livings beings, but is likely a long way from making it to your doctor's office, which means it's off to the guillotine for that Pangaea-shaped mole you've been picking at.

Robonaut 2: the trailer

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 04:15 PM PST

In a world where the space shuttle program was in its last days... one robot answered the call to serve... persevered... and found that... just maybe... he had the right stuff too. Now... the mission is set... the countdown is on... and the ticket is one-way. Thursday, February, 24th. 2011. Robonaut 2: The Beginning.

[Thanks, Joe B.]


Activision and Sega show off Wappy Dog dogbot / Nintendo DS game at Toy Fair 2011

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 03:31 PM PST

Toy Fair 2011 isn't quite as big a deal as say, CES or MWC, but it still has its fair share of nifty plaything gadgets. One jewel of the show is Sega's Wappy Dog toy that interfaces with Activision's Nintendo DS title of the same name. In what amounts to the logical evolutionary conclusion of the artist formerly known as Tamagotchi, Wappy Dog allows folks to communicate with their digital pets not only via the DS, but also by playing with and training their pooch's robotic doppelgänger. After playing with DS Wappy, the game automatically syncs up with the toy bot to keep it from developing multiple personality disorder. Though currently a prototype, the toy can dance (hopefully with a little more flava than its iDog cousin), whine, and bark in response to your child's interactions, and is slated for a release this fall at an unknown price point. No need to thank us for finding your next family pet.

Zune Insider reminds that Zune isn't dead, announces Zune HD launch in Canada

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 02:54 PM PST

Zune Insider reminds that Zune isn't dead, announces Zune HD launch in Canada
We still have only an official non-denial from Microsoft about the continued livelihood of the name "Zune" as a brand, but now we have Zune Insider saying "Zune is not dead." Indeed we already knew that, but the question is what's coming in the future with Windows Phone seemingly getting all the company's attention of late. The future we still don't know about, but we do have some news about the present for Canadians: the Zune HD! Yes, our friendly neighbors to the north need no longer look south to purchase Microsoft's latest entry to the Zune series -- though "latest" is a somewhat sad designation for hardware that was released in 2009. However, there's still no Marketplace available: it'll strictly be a BYO tunage affair for now.

ASUS' 24.1-inch PA246Q P-IPS LCD now covering 98 percent of Adobe RGB, on sale for $500

Posted: 21 Feb 2011 02:23 PM PST

This here monitor surfaced months ago, but it looks as if ASUS has just now started to ship it stateside. As far as 24-inch monitors go, this one's fairly well specced, and it's got a mighty tempting price tag to boot. The PA246Q is a 24.1-inch P-IPS LCD, complete with a six millisecond response time, tilt / swivel stand, a pair of USB sockets, an integrated 7-in-1 card reader, 400 nits of brightness and a 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. It's also capable of covering 98 percent of the Adobe RGB spectrum, so all but the most particular of creative professionals should be duly satisfied with color reproduction. You'll also get a native 1,920 x 1,200 screen resolution, 178 degree viewing angles, DVI / HDMI / DisplayPort / VGA inputs and support for a VESA wall mount. She's all yours for $499.99 -- hit the source link if you just can't resist.

at 11:48 AM

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