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• Droid X2 reappears in the wild, still indistinguishable from Droid X
• ASUS refreshes Lamborghini VX7 with Sandy Bridge, mercifully offers a black option
• Visualized: jousting on a Segway
• Naked Florida man opens fire on SWAT bot with AK-47, no kidding
• US Homeland Security Department planning to use Facebook, Twitter for terrorism alerts
• Bluetrek Carbon headset hits the FCC, proves hard to damage but easy to disassemble
• Atari's Greatest Hits collection brings 100 classic games to iOS devices
• eFun's Nextbook Next5, Next6 now available, likely not the next big tablets
• T-Mobile's 4G Mobile Hotspot going on sale April 13?
• Location-aware album gives Washington DC dynamically modified soundtrack
• T-Mobile G2X priced at $200, coming April 15th online and April 20th in stores (update: Sidekick 4G date)
• WatchESPN iOS app lets some people watch live sports wherever they want
• Novell's Mono tools let devs create .NET apps for Android devices
• Tobii PCEye brings hands-free control to any PC, can't see eye-to-eye with Macs (update)
• Google adding touchscreen-friendly tweaks to Chrome OS, still has tablets on its mind
• Polaris produces 9300xi Sport poolbot, does your underwater scum sucking for you
• Gartner: Android grabbing over 38 percent of smartphone market in 2011 on Symbian's demise
• Samsung refutes talk of Galaxy S II delays, promises April launch in at least some places
• Gingerbread update for Samsung Galaxy S to start rolling out in mid-April
• Our annual data consumption estimated at 9.57 zettabytes or 9,570,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes
• ZodTTD makes PSX4Droid 3.0 free, claims Google booted him from Android Market
• Nexus S with AT&T bands available in white for $600, headed to Fido and Rogers
• HTC's market capitalization reaches $33.8b, overshadows Nokia and RIM
• PogoPlug Video and Buffalo CloudStor now shipping, streaming your stuff all over the place
• Telus recruits Leonard Nimoy to help you improve your Facebook status
• Toyota sells one million Prii in US alone
• Acer unveils svelte and spiffy Aspire Z5761 all-in-one, on sale in May
• Android chief Andy Rubin tackles open source qualms, says Honeycomb isn't 'one size fits all'
• Google creating YouTube 'channels', spending $100 million on original content?
• Commodore USA puts the new C64 up for pre-sales, unveils far-less-retrotastic VIC-Slim
• MSI spits out four more Sandy Bridge laptops, including tasteful-looking F Series gaming rigs
• Disney World's Haunted Mansion gets interactive upgrade, digital spooks (video)
• Geminoids meet their human doppelgangers for a photo op you'll never forget (video)
• Sprint launches Novatel MiFi 3G / 4G mobile hotspot
• Dell Streak 10 to launch mid-June with Honeycomb, possible name change in the works
• Samsung confirms WiFi-only Galaxy Tab availability: April 10th, $350
• Toshiba's Satellite L Series continues its world tour, adds 2D-to-3D conversion
• Elderly Georgian lady disconnects Armenian internet for half a day... by accident
• The Engadget Podcast returns... tomorrow at 5PM ET!

Droid X2 reappears in the wild, still indistinguishable from Droid X Posted: 07 Apr 2011 10:52 AM PDT You've seen it before and now you're seeing it again. The Droid X2 that Motorola seems unwilling to announce has made another unsanctioned appearance in the wild. It's still rocking Android 2.2 and there's sadly no indication of any LTE goodness for it, but we suspect the changes that justify the 2 in its name will be happening under the hood. The 8 megapixel camera round the back comes with the same dual-LED flash array and HD Video label as the original Droid X, once again giving us no hint of what exactly Motorola's upgraded. Then again, what's the fun in knowing everything in advance?

ASUS refreshes Lamborghini VX7 with Sandy Bridge, mercifully offers a black option Posted: 07 Apr 2011 10:52 AM PDT Just in time for Spring, ASUS has refreshed its Lamborghini VX7, a staple in the company's line of notebooks (and fugly smartphones) inspired by the storied Italian car maker. Available in orange and a more staid black, this 8.4-pound beast packs a quad-core Sandy Bridge Intel Core i7 processor, Full HD 15.6-inch display, discrete NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M graphics with 3GB of video memory, up to 16GB of RAM, an 8-cell battery, one USB 3.0 port (along with three USB 2.0 ones), HDMI output, a 2 megapixel webcam, and hard drive space ranging from 500GB to 750GB with speeds of either 5,400RPM or 7,200RPM. Or, you can opt for an SSD as large as 1.25TB, with speeds rated at about 10,000RPM. No word yet on pricing or availability, though we're pretty sure Valentino Balboni won't be ponying up to type on one of these either way.

Visualized: jousting on a Segway Posted: 07 Apr 2011 10:26 AM PDT Remember the olden days? When honor and valor were the only things that mattered and vast metallic armor suits were less of a laughing matter and more of a practical necessity? Neither do we, but that doesn't stop us from enjoying a good video gaming romp through such settings when we have the time for it. We don't know that we'd necessarily care to reenact medieval battle scenes physically, but that's exactly what a witty new marketing campaign for Washington's Lottery has done. It asks simply "what have you and your friends always wanted to do" and then answers its own query with the nutty answer of Segway jousting. See the resulting video, which was partially shot in Phantom slow-mo, after the break.

Naked Florida man opens fire on SWAT bot with AK-47, no kidding Posted: 07 Apr 2011 10:04 AM PDT "Investigators say they've never dealt with a naked man attacking a robot before." So starts perhaps the most insane local news story we've ever heard. According to an ABC affiliate in Florida, a disgruntled man, sporting nothing more than his birthday suit and an AK-47, opened fire on a robot last week, after threatening to shoot himself and anyone who crossed the threshold of his home. The $65,000 SWAT bot was sent in to investigate, and captured every inch of the man on video before being pumped full of bullets. Deputies say the man eventually surrendered fully-clothed and was taken for a mental evaluation. No word yet on when or if the footage will be released in a Robo COPS: Disrobed and Dangerous Special Edition. For now, you can check out video at the source link below.

US Homeland Security Department planning to use Facebook, Twitter for terrorism alerts Posted: 07 Apr 2011 09:34 AM PDT It looks like we finally know what the US Department of Homeland Security plans to use instead of the now infamous color-coded terrorism alert system. According to a draft document obtained by the Associated Press, the department's new system will simply have two levels of alerts -- "elevated" and "imminent" -- and it seems those warnings will even be published online using Facebook and Twitter "when appropriate." There's no word as to exactly how those alerts will be published, however, or any indication that the two companies have actually committed to aiding the department in any way, for that matter. We should know more soon enough, though -- the new system is expected to be in place by April 27th.

Bluetrek Carbon headset hits the FCC, proves hard to damage but easy to disassemble Posted: 07 Apr 2011 09:13 AM PDT We've seen Bluetrek's Bluetooth headsets be twistable, touchable, skinny, and smart. Now they're going light -- and fancy. The Bluetrek Carbon has hit the FCC, showing off a carbon fiber boom (pictured again after the break) and construction said to create an exceedingly light result. Looking at the FCC's teardown photos it's clear to see that the stalk there is actual carbon, not some lame appliquè and, with the body of the thing being barely wider than a micro-USB port, it shouldn't look to gaudy hanging out of your head. There's no mention of price or availability (the FCC doesn't trouble itself with such matters) but we're guessing you don't have much time left to get your ear ready for this kind of piercing sophistication.

Atari's Greatest Hits collection brings 100 classic games to iOS devices Posted: 07 Apr 2011 08:44 AM PDT You still can't play them with an iCade cabinet just yet -- though that's coming, in June -- but Atari has now delivered quite a present to iPhone, iPad and iPod touch owners. The company has just released its Greatest Hits collection for iOS devices, which includes 18 classic arcade games and 82 Atari 2600 games -- those available either in 25 separate packs for $0.99 apiece, or in one massive time sink bundle for $14.99 (Pong comes free with the app itself). As you can see, you'll also get things like the original box art and arcade cabinets for each game, and some of the titles will even let you play head-to-head with a friend over Bluetooth. Ready to get started? You know where to find it.

eFun's Nextbook Next5, Next6 now available, likely not the next big tablets Posted: 07 Apr 2011 08:17 AM PDT As you might recall, we weren't exactly head over heels for eFun's new line of tablets when we got our hands on the things at CES. Well, we've yet to see much of the sluggish Next4, but both the Next5 and Next6 have quietly made their way to market. Like we said before, the Next6 is more of an e-reader than a tablet, and the same goes for its sibling. Both sport Android 2.1, 7-inch LCD touchscreens, 800 x 480 displays, and WiFi connectivity -- the Next6 sports 4GB of memory, while the Next5 offers 2GB and a 600MHz dual-core processor, based on the ARM926EJ. We've said it once, and we'll say it again, the best thing about these slabs is probably the price: the Next5 rings in at $200 and the Next6 at $230. But feel free to judge for yourself -- both are currently in stock at the source link below. [Thanks, Nathan]

T-Mobile's 4G Mobile Hotspot going on sale April 13? Posted: 07 Apr 2011 07:45 AM PDT Well, well. Android Central got a hold of a leaked document revealing that T-Mobile's 4G Mobile Hotspot, the first of its kind for the carrier, is slated to go on sale April 13th. We're inclined to believe it, since T-Mo just confirmed that the LG G2X, also named in the doc, will indeed go on sale April 15th. Alas, if you've been waiting for more info about the pricey, Honeycomb-powered T-Mobile LG G-Slate, you can keep holding your breath: all we know is that it's coming "soon."

Location-aware album gives Washington DC dynamically modified soundtrack Posted: 07 Apr 2011 07:14 AM PDT Musical duo Bluebrain has taken the guesswork out of listening to music -- their latest album dictates where you can listen to it, what songs it plays, and when it plays them. Take that, playlists! The album, titled The National Mall, will be available only as an iPhone app and the band is calling it the first location-aware album. The app... er, album, uses your phone's GPS to track one's proximity to hundreds of tagged zones spread throughout the landmarks of the Washington DC National Mall, dynamically tweaking the rhythm, melody, instrumentation, and pace of the music as you go. Despite this fancy smartphone integration, Bluebrain stresses that this is still an album, not a toy or augmented reality application. The experience is strictly location specific, no user input necessary, or available. Want to hear a new melody or arrangement? Walk to a different monument. The project's location-specific nature means that fans outside of the DC area are out of luck for now. The band says two more GPS-powered albums are on the way -- one designed for Brooklyn's Prospect Park, and another spanning the entire length of California's Highway 1. Music, measured in miles -- neat, but Hwy. 1 manages just fine on its own, wouldn't you say?

T-Mobile G2X priced at $200, coming April 15th online and April 20th in stores (update: Sidekick 4G date) Posted: 07 Apr 2011 06:43 AM PDT The official word has been spoken with regard the T-Mobile G2X. LG's dual-core, pure Android handset will be hitting T-Mo's online outlet on April 15th for $200, and the same price will also apply in stores when it lands on April 20th. There's a pesky $50 mail-in rebate to negotiate your way around, but after that you're looking at one of the finest and smoothest Android experiences we've laid our hands on yet. [Thanks, Kyle] Update: The Sidekick 4G has also received its date with T-Mobile destiny: April 20th for $100 on contract.

WatchESPN iOS app lets some people watch live sports wherever they want Posted: 07 Apr 2011 06:33 AM PDT Continuing the trend of tying streaming content to the ol' ball and chain that is your pricy cable subscription, ESPN announced the launch of the WatchESPN App for the iPhone and the iPod Touch, with an iPad optimized version slated for release in May. Said App can be downloaded now and will allow you to "stay connected to live sports and shows from ESPN, wherever and whenever you want them" -- assuming you're a Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks or Verizon FiOS TV customer that is. The ability to watch three of the most popular cable networks while on the go, or anywhere in your house, is certainly nothing to scoff at, but many sports fans' excitement will indeed be diminished until ESPN fulfills its promise to release apps for "other smartphones and tablets," and of course the other big service providers like Comcast, DirecTV and Dish Network get with the program. For now you can live vicariously through us by clicking through to the gallery or watching the western style WatchESPN App commercial available via the source link. WatchESPN on an iPhone Show full PR text ESPN Launches New 'WatchESPN' App for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch App Gives Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Verizon FiOS TV Subscribers Live Access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com content NEW YORK, N.Y. – ESPN announced today its flagship network ESPN as well as ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.com are now available to Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Verizon FiOS TV subscribers via the new 'WatchESPN' App for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, now available on the App Store. In time for the early rounds of the Masters, the NBA Playoffs and the beginning of the Major League Baseball season, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Verizon FiOS TV subscribers who receive the linear networks as part of their video subscription can now watch the channels from the convenience of their iPad, iPhone or iPod touch. "Innovation continues to drive ESPN," said George Bodenheimer, president, ESPN, Inc. and ABC Sports. "When we launched in 1979, nobody envisioned a day when people would carry ESPN in their pockets. But here we are. And we've reached this watershed moment for the industry through tremendous collaboration with forward-thinking partners." The free WatchESPN App includes a simple user interface that takes the current online viewing experience to the high-resolution, Multi-Touch displays of iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Once a user downloads WatchESPN from the App Store, they will receive instructions to enter their cable subscriber credentials and access their favorite ESPN content on their device. A version of the application optimized for the Apple iPad will be available free to download in May. Added Sean Bratches, executive vice president, sales and marketing for ESPN, "This represents the culmination of our efforts over the last five years. We strive to serve the sports fan wherever they consume sports, and I can't think of a better way to do that than making our networks available to fans whenever and wherever they might be." The company first launched an online-accessible authenticated version of ESPN in October, 2010. Authenticated versions of ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN Buzzer Beater/Goal Line launched in January, 2011. Consumers can access the channels through a centralized website, ESPNnetworks.com. The WatchESPN App is available for free from the App Store on iPad or at www.itunes.com/appstore. The App will be available on other smartphones and tablets in the near future.

Novell's Mono tools let devs create .NET apps for Android devices Posted: 07 Apr 2011 06:15 AM PDT If app developers have a pattern of going after the iPhone first and Android second, well, the same is apparently true of the folks who write software for the code monkeys. Novell just announced Mono for Android, the first set of tools that lets devs write .NET and C# apps for Android phones and tablets. Novell already lets developers do the same for Linux, iOS, and Mac OS X and, as always, lets coders continue to use Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 to write applications -- if that's the testing software they're used to. In addition to the Visual Studio plug-in, you get bindings for native Android APIs and the core Mono runtime. It's available now, starting at $99 for students (minus the ability to, you know, send finished apps to Android Market) and $399 for everybody else. Already developing for the iPhone? Prove that you own MonoTouch (essentially, the same Novell product for iOS devices) and get 50 percent off an Android tool kit. Show full PR text Novell First to Enable Development of .NET Applications for Android using Microsoft Visual Studio WALTHAM, Mass. April 6, 2011 Novell today announced the availability of Mono® for Android, the first solution for developing Microsoft* .NET applications for the Android* platform using Microsoft Visual Studio*. With the addition of Mono for Android to its existing Mono development tools, Novell is enabling Microsoft .NET and C# developers using Visual Studio and other environments to utilize a common code base to easily create applications for the industry's most widely-used mobile devices, including Android-based smartphones and tablets, Apple iPad*, Apple iPhone* and Apple iPod* Touch. According to statistics released by research firm Nielson, Android has a 29 percent consumer market share, making it the most popular smartphone platform. With Mono for Android, .NET developers and independent software vendors (ISVs) can utilize Visual Studio and their existing skills to build a vast array of Android-based applications and sell their products into this massive market. "Since the introduction of MonoTouch in 2009, developers have experienced how Mono streamlines mobile application development," said Miguel de Icaza, Mono project founder and vice president of Developer Platforms at Novell. "As a result, many asked us to build a similar tool for Android. We developed Mono for Android to give both individual developers and businesses a way of sharing their code across multiple mobile platforms, increasing efficiency and reuse of their C# and .NET expertise across the board." Mono for Android consists of the core Mono runtime, bindings for native Android APIs, a Visual Studio 2010 plugin to develop Android applications, and a software development kit that contains all the tools needed to build, debug and deploy applications. Developers trained in Microsoft Visual Studio can stay within their preferred IDE, while using their existing skills and .NET code, libraries and tools, as well as C# programming knowledge, to create mobile applications for Android-based devices. With the Visual Studio 2010 plugin, engineers can develop, debug and deploy their applications to an Android simulator, an Android device or the Android Application Store. Mono for Android complements MonoTouch, Novell's popular solution for developing applications for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. Developers utilizing Mono for Android and MonoTouch can save time and money by sharing common code between iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Android phones and tablets, as well as Windows Phone 7, Windows desktops and Windows Server. A Mono for Android add-in also allows MonoDevelop users to develop on OS X. "As a mobile software developer and middleware vendor, Resco customers are enabled to use our products to develop MonoTouch, and now Mono for Android applications for Android and Apple devices," said Michal Sartoris, senior developer at Resco. "With more than 3,000 customers, our business success depends on us delivering feature-rich, highly-quality applications to the market before our competitors. Novell is providing us with innovative, cross-platform development tools that enable us to reduce the cost and resources required to create mobile applications." Pricing and availability All editions of Mono for Android are available now through http://shop.novell.com. Mono for Android Enterprise Edition is available for US $999 per developer for a one-year subscription, which includes maintenance and updates. A five-developer Enterprise license supports five concurrent developers and is available for US $3,999 per year. Mono for Android Professional Edition is available for US $399 per developer for a one-year subscription. For a limited time, existing MonoTouch customers can receive a 50 percent discount off a similar Mono for Android Edition by using their activation code as a discount code. For more information about Mono for Android, visit http://mono-android.net. To learn more about the Mono Project visit http://www.mono-project.com.

Tobii PCEye brings hands-free control to any PC, can't see eye-to-eye with Macs (update) Posted: 07 Apr 2011 05:36 AM PDT We were kind of shocked at just how well the Lenovo prototype laptop with Tobii eye tracking worked at CEBIT this year. It was, frankly, really good, and we're happy to say you no longer have to break into Lenovo HQ to try it for yourself. Tobii has released its PCEye, a USB device that uses a VESA mount to hang below LCDs sized between 15- to 20-inches. After a little calibration, it enables full eye control -- on Windows. Mac users will have to keep buying batteries for their Magic Mice because there's sadly no compatibility there. The main idea here is to help those who, due to stroke or other impairment, have lost some or all motor control, enabling them to compute just as well as anybody. However, we who are lucky enough to still have full control over all appendages can't wait to get one of these and play through every level in World of Goo without reaching for the mouse once. We will, however, have to reach for our wallets -- Tobii doesn't quote a price for the PCEye, which is rarely a good sign. Update: We just heard back from the company, and the price of the PCEye itself is $6,900, "with packages available for software and monitors." Tobii PCEye Show full PR text Tobii Unveils Eye Control Device for Personal Computers The Ability to Control Any Computer Using Only Your Eyes is Now a Reality with Tobii PCEye Stockholm, Sweden & Dedham MA, USA; April 5th, 2011: Today, Tobii announced the release of the Tobii PCEye, the most advanced stand-alone eye control device on the market, bringing eye control to the standard computer. It is easy to use, highly accurate and portable. It is compatible with a wide range of software for total access to any personal computer. Tobii PCEye flawlessly translates eye movement to a mouse cursor on a screen. It is primarily designed for those needing an alternative method for controlling a mouse and a computer, such as individuals suffering from impaired motor skills. By simply attaching the device to a computer screen and connecting the USB cable, users can control their entire computer through gazing, blinking or dwelling on an item with their eyes. "Ease of use, reliability and outstanding performance were our design goals for the PCEye," says Oscar Werner, Executive Vice President at Tobii Assistive Technology. "I believe that we have created a device that satisfies a very important need – those with high cognitive levels and motor skill impairments now have the computer access they need to lead a more independent life." Computer Access for Everyone with Easy Eye Control Representing a breakthrough for education leaders and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) users, Tobii PCEye now offers eye tracking to a wider range of users. "The PCEye offers a solution for the most disabled children I work with," says Lee Blemings, founder of Sensory Guru. "For the first time ever, children who can only move their eyes will play physical computer games alongside their able-bodied peers. It is a truly groundbreaking product." "With Tobii PCEye we can proudly reach out to new, not yet serviced user groups with our AAC products," says Tara Rudnicki, president of Tobii Assistive Technology. "We have already seen massive interest from the Stroke, MND and ALS communities, people in different rehab situations, military veterans, people suffering from progressive muscle weakness or neurodegenerative disorders and education institutions. We are also overwhelmed by the attention we have received from the development community to extend into AAC eye games." "To have an eye gaze system in our school that will enable our young people to access all software independently will promote independence, learning and self esteem," says Simon Yeat, head teacher at Chailey Heritage School. High Performance for All Eye Types The PCEye utilizes Tobii's leading experience in eye tracking technology, as it can effectively track nearly every user regardless of eye color, lighting conditions, environments or head movement. The "track box", the box that defines the area/volume in which a person's eyes can be tracked, is also one of the largest on the market. For more European information on the PCEye please visit: www.tobii.com/ATI-pceye

Google adding touchscreen-friendly tweaks to Chrome OS, still has tablets on its mind Posted: 07 Apr 2011 04:59 AM PDT When a tablet version of Chrome OS was teased back in February of last year, we found it a legitimately exciting proposition. Now that we have Android's Honeycomb iteration designed specifically for slates, however, we're having to wonder just why Google's still chasing that keyboard-less dream with its web-centric OS. CNET has been doing some snooping in and around the latest iterations of Chrome OS, where it's discovered numerous pieces of circumstantial evidence, such as a new onscreen keyboard, suggesting tablets are still very much on the menu. Chrome OS kicked off life on the development device known as Cr-48 and will resume availability this summer courtesy of Acer and Samsung, though we'd kind of assumed it would stick to notebooks now that Android's making a sincere effort on devices bigger than an EVO. Mountain View has responded to CNET's queries with a pretty inconclusive statement, saying only that "We are engaging in early open-source work for the tablet form factor, but we have nothing new to announce at this time." Check out last year's concept video after the break.

Polaris produces 9300xi Sport poolbot, does your underwater scum sucking for you Posted: 07 Apr 2011 04:18 AM PDT Has your cabana boy, Sergio, been shirking his aquatic responsibilities, sipping Mai Tais and tanning instead of skimming leaves? Well, pool possessors, it may be time to fire the laggard and replace him with the new Polaris 9300xi Sport. This newest Polaris poolbot can be programmed to perform its janitorial duties for up to six hours at a time of your choosing, and has a remote control for spot-specific scrubbing. Not only that, it combines water-jet propulsion with wheels that can climb walls and steps to spruce up every nook and cranny of your backyard basin in true Spiderman-style. Of course, such underwater robotic wizardry doesn't come cheap, as the 9300xi has an MSRP of $1499. That makes the iRobot Verro 500 and its $999 price look like a robot bargain by comparison, but it's still cheaper than Sergio, right? Polaris 9300xi Sport poolbot Show full PR text Polaris® Unveils 9300xi Sport, Latest Innovation in Robotic Pool Cleaning Technology Platform Extension to the Popular, Award-Winning 9300 Sport Line Offers Remote Control Drive and Programmability SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Polaris division of Zodiac Pool Systems, Inc. this season introduces the most advanced robotic pool cleaning technology, the Polaris 9300xi Sport, complementing the company's Polaris 9300 Sport model. Polaris has increased production capacity on both its 9300 robotic platform model and the platform extension, Polaris 9300xi Sport, due to overwhelming demand. "For customers not lucky enough to have a Polaris pressure cleaner pre-installed, this is their chance to own a Polaris and have their pools cleaned safely and effortlessly. Plus, they're really sleek looking cleaners; customers enjoy sitting on the sidelines and watching them work!" In year one release during the 2010 season, the Polaris 9300 Sport captured nearly 20% market share and sold out early, prompting the company to increase production capacity for 2011. The award-winning, innovative and user-friendly 9300 Sport line cleaners make pool cleaning safe and effortless, capturing more than four times the debris load of other cleaners and maneuvering tight corners, walls and steps. Designed after the look of the Bugatti, the famed European sports car, the 9300 platform is sleek and powerful, and offers consumers a variety of innovative features and benefits. New features of the Polaris 9300xi Sport include: Hand-held IntelliNav remote control for spot and express cleaning Aggressive scrubbing brush that enhances tile and pool floor cleaning Longer cable to clean up to a 60 foot long pool Programmable cleaning time, up to six hours, for energy efficiency and performance Features shared by both the Polaris 9300xi Sport and the Polaris 9300 Sport are: Patented Vortex vacuum technology that maximizes vacuum power without losing suction and captures more debris Easy-access quick release filter canister for emptying of debris without touching it Faster navigation and enhanced agility to quickly clean pool floors, walls and tile line All terrain Aqua-Trac wheels that provide stability and ability to climb walls and steps Rear water propulsion system for hard to reach pool areas Zodiac Pool Systems President Tony Prudhomme is proud of the 9300 platform's inventiveness and benefits that it provides customers. "Polaris continues to lead the industry in pool cleaner innovation and sophisticated craftsmanship with the 9300 platform series; it represents the best-in-class robotic cleaning technology and embodies the advancements you expect from Polaris," said Prudhomme. "For customers not lucky enough to have a Polaris pressure cleaner pre-installed, this is their chance to own a Polaris and have their pools cleaned safely and effortlessly. Plus, they're really sleek looking cleaners; customers enjoy sitting on the sidelines and watching them work!" The Polaris 9300 platform cleaners go into the pool only when cleaning is required as they are not attached to a stationary water outlet; therefore, pool owners can use the 9300 platform cleaners in any existing pool. In addition, they are so energy-efficient that they cost only pennies a day to operate. The manufacturer's suggested retail prices are $1299 for the Polaris 9300 Sport and $1499 for the Polaris 9300xi Sport. Zodiac is offering a $100 consumer rebate on the 9300 Sport model and a $150 consumer rebate on the 9300xi Sport for purchases made April 1 through July 31, 2011.

Gartner: Android grabbing over 38 percent of smartphone market in 2011 on Symbian's demise Posted: 07 Apr 2011 03:40 AM PDT We like, ok, love poking fun at analysts' long term forecasts given the volatility of the smartphone market. Nobody, neither Gartner nor IDC, predicted the meteoric rise of Android and iOS, thus making their four-year projections (measured to a decimal point) laughable, to say the least. Shorten that timeline to the end of the year, however, and the accuracy of these forecasts tends to increase dramatically. Gartner just released its smartphone projections that align very closely with the numbers released by IDC a few weeks ago. Both research firms see Nokia hemorrhaging its smartphone dominance in 2011 after announcing plans to adopt the Windows Phone platform. Gartner sees Symbian pulling in a remarkably low 19.2 percent (down from 37.6 percent in 2010 or an impressive 46.9 percent share held back in 2009) regardless of Nokia's insistence that it still has some 150 million Symbian handsets to ship -- IDC, as you'll recall, was a bit more gracious with a 20.9 percent projection for Symbian in 2011. Like IDC, Gartner sees Microsoft making a dramatic comeback just as soon as Nokia can flood its global channels with mid-tier handsets by the end of 2012 with the Windows Phone operating system ultimately rising to the number two spot in global marketshare (Gartner says 19.5 percent to IDC's 20.9 percent) by, eh hem, 2015. Gartner expects the iOS smartphone slice to peak with a 19.4 percent share (to IDC's 15.7 percent) in 2011 before dipping a bit under the strain of an Android juggernaut and Apple's reluctance to sacrifice margins (and profits) for market share. Gartner expects Android to increase the 22.7 market share it enjoyed in 2010 to 38.5 percent in 2011 (compared to the IDC's slightly more aggressive 39.5 percent share) on the way to dominating the competition with a 49.2 percent share in 2012. Bringing up the rear then is RIM with an estimated chunk of just 13.4 percent in 2011 (compared to 16 percent in 2010) with further declines through 2015 even after the BlackBerry maker migrates to QNX in 2012. Ouch. As for WebOS: sorry HP, you're in the "other" category along with Bada. Show full PR text Gartner Says Android to Command Nearly Half of Worldwide Smartphone Operating System Market by Year-End 2012 Egham, UK, April 7, 2011- Worldwide smartphone sales will reach 468 million units in 2011, a 57.7 percent increase from 2010, according to Gartner Inc. By the end of 2011, Android will move to become the most popular operating system (OS) worldwide and will build on its strength to account for 49 percent of the smartphone market by 2012 (see Table 1). Sales of open OS* devices will account for 26 percent of all mobile handset device sales in 2011, and are expected to surpass the 1 billion mark by 2015, when they will account for 47 percent of the total mobile device market. "By 2015, 67 percent of all open OS devices will have an average selling price of $300 or below, proving that smartphones have been finally truly democratized," said Roberta Cozza, principal analyst at Gartner. "As vendors delivering Android-based devices continue to fight for market share, price will decrease to further benefit consumers", Ms. Cozza said. "Android's position at the high end of the market will remain strong, but its greatest volume opportunity in the longer term will be in the mid- to low-cost smartphones, above all in emerging markets." Gartner predicts that Apple's iOS will remain the second biggest platform worldwide through 2014 despite its share deceasing slightly after 2011. This reflects Gartner's underlying assumption that Apple will be interested in maintaining margins rather than pursuing market share by changing its pricing strategy. This will continue to limit adoption in emerging regions. iOS share will peak in 2011, with volume growth well above the market average. This is driven by increased channel reach in key mature markets like the U.S. and Western Europe. Research In Motion's share over the forecast period will decline, reflecting the stronger competitive environment in the consumer market, as well as increased competition in the business sector. Gartner has factored in RIM's migration from BlackBerry OS to QNX which is expected in 2012. Analysts said this transition makes sense because RIM can create a consistent experience going from smartphones to tablets with a single developer community and - given that QNX as a platform brings more advanced features than the classic BlackBerry OS - it can enable more competitive smartphone products. Gartner predicts that Nokia will push Windows Phone well into the mid-tier of its portfolio by the end of 2012, driving the platform to be the third largest in the worldwide ranking by 2013. Gartner has revised its forecast of Windows Phone's market share upward, solely by virtue of Microsoft's alliance with Nokia. Although this is an honorable performance it is considerably less than what Symbian had achieve in the past underlying the upward battle that Nokia has to face. Gartner analysts said new device types will widen ecosystems. "The growth in sales of media tablets expected in 2011 and future years will widen the ecosystems that open OS communications devices have created. This will, by and large, function more as a driver than an inhibitor for sales of open OS devices," said Carolina Milanesi, research vice president at Gartner. "Consumers who already own an open OS communications device will be drawn to media tablets and more often than not, to media tablets that share the same OS as their smartphone," Ms. Milanesi said. "This allows consumers to be able to share the same experience across devices as well as apps, settings or game scores. At the same time, tablet users who don't own a smartphone could be prompted to adopt one to be able to share the experience they have on their tablets." Note *: An open OS makes a software developer kit (SDK) available to developers, who can use native application programming interfaces (APIs) to write applications. The OS can be supported by a sole vendor or multiple vendors. It can be, but does not have to be, open source. Examples are BlackBerry OS, iOS, Symbian, Android, Windows Phone, Linux, Limo Foundation, WebOS and bada. Gartner's detailed forecast is available in the report "Forecast: Mobile Communications Devices by Open Operating System, Worldwide, 2008-2015." The report is available on Gartner's website at http://www.gartner.com/resId=1619615.

Samsung refutes talk of Galaxy S II delays, promises April launch in at least some places Posted: 07 Apr 2011 03:18 AM PDT So yesterday we learned that Samsung's planning to speed up the dual-core Exynos processor inside its Galaxy S II to 1.2GHz, but there was also word that the handset may suffer a setback in terms of release date. Today, the company has tweeted out a two-part notice assuring us that that will not be the case and things are proceeding "as planned." April will see the first retail appearance of the 8.5mm-thick Android phone, though Samsung does advise that "it will be gradually rolled out in each market according to the local launch timetable." That sounds to us like whatever April availability we get will be in the highest priority markets and / or limited in quantity, but we'll take whatever we can get. [Thanks, Erik]

Gingerbread update for Samsung Galaxy S to start rolling out in mid-April Posted: 07 Apr 2011 02:37 AM PDT Official word from Samsung's Finnish site informs us that local owners of its Galaxy S smartphone will be receiving their Gingerbread fix around the middle of this month. Less direct, but still pretty reliable, confirmation of this comes from UK carrier Three, who promises the same OS version will be arriving to its users of the handset "in a couple of weeks." Considering an Android 2.3.2 build for the Galaxy S already leaked out way back in February, few should be surprised at the timing of this release, but prior experience still urges us to be wary when it comes to Samsung and its software update schedules. [Thanks, Juho]

Our annual data consumption estimated at 9.57 zettabytes or 9,570,000,000,000,000,000,000 bytes Posted: 07 Apr 2011 01:48 AM PDT The internet is a mighty big place that's only growing larger each day. That makes it a perfectly unwieldy thing to measure, but the traffic it generates has nonetheless been subjected to a rigorous estimation project by a group of UC San Diego academics. Their findings, published online this month, reveal that in 2008 some 9.57 zettabytes made their way in and out of servers across the globe. Some data bits, such as an email passing through multiple servers, might be counted more than once in their accounting, but the overall result is still considered an under-estimation because it doesn't address privately built servers, such as those Google, Microsoft and others run in their backyards. On a per-worker basis (using a 3.18 billion human workforce number), all this data consumption amounts to 12GB daily or around 3TB per year. So it seems that while we might not have yet reached the bliss of the paperless office, we're guzzling down data as if we were. Check out the report below for fuller details on the study and its methodology.

ZodTTD makes PSX4Droid 3.0 free, claims Google booted him from Android Market Posted: 07 Apr 2011 01:08 AM PDT It's been one week since Google pulled the PSX4Droid emulator from the Android Market without warning, and today its lead developer has decided to take a stand -- ZodTTD's made a new version of the app free of charge, and is hosting it at his personal website as a downloadable APK. He now claims that not only did Google pull his app, the company has frozen his developer accounts, effectively restricting his ability to publish to (and profit from) the Android Market until this gets sorted out. We can't confirm his story at this point -- and we hear things may not be quite as cut-and-dried as he claims -- but we can tell you that if you happen to have a legally-obtained PlayStation BIOS and ROMs sitting around, you're only a few clicks away from being able to use them on your Android phone. Not a bad deal, eh? [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Nexus S with AT&T bands available in white for $600, headed to Fido and Rogers Posted: 07 Apr 2011 12:20 AM PDT It's been a long time in coming, but it looks like Google and Samsung's love child, the Nexus S -- a favorite around these parts -- is finally available with AT&T's 850 and 1900 MHz 3G bands from online retailer Negri Electronics, for $600 in your choice of black or white. It's not the first time we've seen the elusive Samsung GT-I9020A in the wild: it's already appeared both in the hands of the FCC and on the Bluetooth SIG's website. We've also seen pictures of a Nexus S with a white battery cover before. And here's more: we already knew the AWS version of the Nexus S was coming to Canada via Mobilicity, but according to MobileSyrup, you'll soon be able to pick up the Nexus S on Fido and Rogers for C$500 contract-free or C$100 with a three-year commitment, and these two carriers use the same 3G frequencies as AT&T in the US. So, until we hear something official from Samsung or Google, hit up our plethora of source links below.

HTC's market capitalization reaches $33.8b, overshadows Nokia and RIM Posted: 06 Apr 2011 11:41 PM PDT Nokia once said that going with Android was like "peeing in your pants" for temporary warmth. Well, even if that warmth doesn't last forever, it has now helped one of its upstart competitors, HTC, to rise beyond Nokia in terms of market valuation. This is a somewhat beguiling metric to compare companies by -- market cap measures the value of a company's shares available on the market, and not every company has the same proportion of its overall value available in stocks -- but it illustrates well the diametrically opposite directions in which the two mobile phone makers are moving. Bloomberg informs us that HTC's stock has risen by 33 percent this year, while Nokia's has shrunk by 19 percent. Surpassing Nokia now means HTC is the world's third most valuable smartphone maker. Of course, neither Nokia nor RIM is sitting idly by and letting the Taiwanese whippersnapper have things its own way, however both companies' roadmaps for re-conquering the smartphone high-end seem to stretch far off into the 2012 distance. As for HTC, we expect it to launch another Sensation of a device on Tuesday.

PogoPlug Video and Buffalo CloudStor now shipping, streaming your stuff all over the place Posted: 06 Apr 2011 11:10 PM PDT Yes, you've seen these guys before, and now the latest PogoPlug offspring are ready to ship. Both PogoPlug Video and its storage-sporting cousin, the Buffalo CloudStor, put their own unique twist on the firm's remote access service. As you might recall, PogoPlug Video, which is now available exclusively from Best Buy for $200, allows you to hook up your external hard drives and share streaming video, music, and images to devices anywhere with internet access. Buffalo's CloudStor, on the other hand, provides the same cloud-based access, with a little something extra. It's the first PogoPlug branded gadget to sport integrated storage, and comes in three iterations, ringing in at $150 for 1TB, $210 for 2TB, and $250 for the 2TB Pro version. Now you can share all your favorite kitten clips, without ever uploading them to YouTube. Isn't that precious?

Telus recruits Leonard Nimoy to help you improve your Facebook status Posted: 06 Apr 2011 10:16 PM PDT Sharp has George Takei to tell you about the fourth pixel it can't show you, and now Telus has hired none other than Leonard Nimoy to help out with another difficult task: improving your Facebook status messages. Using the WWLNS application -- that's What Would Leonard Nimoy Say? -- you can submit potential status messages to Mr. Nimoy and see what he thinks before you actually post them. Apparently, we've been writing in haiku without even realizing it. Of course, you will have to "Like" Telus in order to try it out yourself -- clever, Telus, very clever.... logical, even. More Nimoy after the break.

Toyota sells one million Prii in US alone Posted: 06 Apr 2011 09:14 PM PDT Thank you Toyota, for teaching us the plural of Prius, because somehow, "Toyota sells one million Priuples" just doesn't jive. That's right, the Japanese automaker announced Wednesday that it has officially sold its one millionth Prius on American soil. It's reportedly also reached a couple of other sales milestones in the last six months, with worldwide Prius sales reaching two million in October and overall Toyota hybrid sales exceeding three million in March. Now that's a whole lot of Prii. Full PR after the break. Show full PR text Toyota Sells One-Millionth Prius in the U.S. TORRANCE, Calif., April 5, 2011 – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today announced the one-millionth sale of the Toyota Prius, the world's first mass-produced hybrid gas-electric vehicle, in the United States. It is the third milestone for Toyota's hybrid lineup in the last six months that started with the announcement of worldwide Toyota Prius sales topping two million in October 2010 and overall global Toyota hybrid sales passing three million last month. "Since the Prius went on sale eleven years ago not a year has gone by when it hasn't been the number one selling hybrid vehicle in the U.S," said Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager. "Prius has become synonymous with the word hybrid and as we see fuel prices starting to rise again, it has accounted for more than 60 percent of hybrid passenger car sales so far this year. Prius paved the way for hybrids and while it is still the hybrid leader in sales and fuel economy, I'm proud to say that since its introduction, 13 other auto brands have seen the benefits of hybrid technology and joined the hybrid market." The third-generation Prius topped the EPA's list of the Most Fuel Efficient Vehicles for 2011. It has been named the Best Overall Value of the Year for the last nine years in a row by IntelliChoice, and has the highest owner loyalty of any mid-size vehicle for four of the last five years according to R.L. Polk. More than 97 percent of all Toyota Prii sold since 2000 are still on the road. Since it was introduced in the U.S. in 2000, Prius, when compared to the average car, has saved American consumers more than an estimated 881 million gallons of gas, $2.19 billion in fuel costs, and 12.4 million tons of CO2 emissions. In January 2011 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Toyota debuted the Prius v, the first vehicle to be debuted as part of the Prius family marketing strategy. Prius v, which goes on sale in third quarter of 2011, is a mid-size vehicle that provides more than 50 percent additional interior cargo space than the current Prius. In early 2012 Prius will launch two more Prius family members – the Prius c compact hybrid vehicle and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicle.

Acer unveils svelte and spiffy Aspire Z5761 all-in-one, on sale in May Posted: 06 Apr 2011 08:14 PM PDT Yes, laptops and tablets are all the rage these days, but there's still quite a few of us who enjoy the expansive screen real estate of their sedentary computing brethren. That's why Acer's unleashed a sleek and svelte new all-in-one dubbed the Aspire Z5761. This latest AIO keeps the same fabulous form factor of its cousin, the AZ3750, but sports a larger 23-inch Full HD display, your choice of Sandy Bridge Core i5-2400s, Core i5-2500s, or Core i7-2600s CPUs, up to a 1.5TB SATA II HDD, a Blu-ray or SuperMulti drive, NVIDIA GeForce GT440, GT435M, or GT420 graphics, and a hybrid TV-tuner card so it can do double duty as your boob tube should you be so inclined. Connectivity comes courtesy of gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, and eight USB 2.0 ports. In addition, the system's preloaded with the company's Clear.fi tech, so you can grab multimedia content residing on other Acer devices (assuming you have any) with the greatest of ease. Touching down for £799 ($1305 for those of us residing on the right side of the Atlantic), this desktop dandy is set to go on sale in early May -- we know, we can't wait either. Full scoop's in the press release after the break. Show full PR text New Acer Aspire Z5761: A touch of style and performance London, 6th April 2011 – Acer introduces the new Acer Aspire Z5761: combining great performance, excellent entertainment and stylish modern design, this all-in-one desktop heralds next generation computing. Thanks to the screen with multi-touch functionality, the Aspire Z5761 not only offers a dynamic user experience, but also delivers one of the easiest ways of interacting with your PC and integrating all your multimedia contents. Starting point for this smarter way to access the PC and the web, the Acer TouchPortal provides a truly hands-on experience bringing together a full suite of touch enhanced applications and gadgets for fun and entertainment: - TouchBrowser is a touch-friendly web browser designed for searching, retrieving and presenting information from the Internet. - TouchCam features handy touch controls to add fun video effects while chatting online, or do theme-style recording and share with friends on YouTube™. - TouchMusic, lets you browse, manage and play your favourite music. - TouchPhoto integrates photo management with photo sharing capabilities and is designed to interact with both local images and online albums. - TouchVideo includes video management and sharing features. It allows you to enjoy Blu-ray or DVD movies and home videos, as well as browse and share your videos to YouTube. But the Acer TouchPortal is not the only way the Aspire Z5761 brings your digital life together. It also comes with Clear.fi, Acer's new media sharing system based on the idea that it's easier if all multimedia content is simply brought into a single system with a common interface. No matter where they are. Clear.fi is a cross-platform solution that works straight out of the box, automatically detecting the Clear.fi-enabled devices connected to the wireless home network, and then allowing all digital content stored on any of these to be shared seamlessly using the Clear.fi media interface. Featuring a modern, minimalist design, the Aspire Z5761 easily fits into any décor, gracing any living or working space with a sophisticated look and feel. Sharp-cut geometric lines set off the combination of aluminum with matt and glossy black surfaces, creating a luxurious effect. Cool blue lighting placed above the integrated speakers lights up the keyboard. When not in use the keyboard can be nicely tucked away below the PC, enhancing the overall minimalist look as well as increasing the free area in front of the desktop. Inspired by modern art, the silver stand is designed with a window for organizing cables while keeping a simple, yet stylish design. Performance-wise, this is an advanced PC, rich of cutting edge technologies engineered to convey an enhanced computing experience. Exploiting the 2nd generation Intel® Core™ processor family, that features Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, capable of increasing perfomance in response to the most demanding tasks such as editing multimedia files, or playing fast-paced games, this desktop can deliver optimal speed enabling smoother multitasking and ensuring maximised entertainment and productivity. What's more it combines turbo-charged computing power with energy efficiency. Top-quality visual and audio components make the most of your entertainment. With a spacious 58.4 cm (23") Full HD 1080p 16:9 display, fast 5ms response and powerful graphics solutions, you will catch even the tiniest details of your favourite movies, games, pictures, and digital TV thanks to ultra-sharp and colorful imagery. Captivating and immersive audio is brought about by an integrated 5W stereo speaker system and professionally tuned Dolby® Home Theater® v4. With a Blu-ray Disc™ optical drive (optional), multi-in-one card reader, and TV-tuner (optional) these models bring together all facets of your digital life, from movies to games, from TV to pictures: an all-in-one design also in terms of entertainment. Full connectivity is ensured by the most advanced wireless and wired technologies: 802.11b/g/n network connection, Gigabit LAN and optional built-in Bluetooth® 2.1. The built-in microphone and high definition webcam will help you keep in touch with friends and family through video chats and conference. In terms of storage, up to 1.5TB of capacity offers plenty of space for all your digital archives. Up to 8GB of DDR3 memory ensure seamless running of the most demanding application, while a total of eight USB port supplies handy connection to all your peripherals. The Aspire Z5761 will be available in early May with prices starting from £799 including VAT.

Android chief Andy Rubin tackles open source qualms, says Honeycomb isn't 'one size fits all' Posted: 06 Apr 2011 07:13 PM PDT Google got a lot of flak for withholding the Android 3.0 source code, and plenty more when Businessweek sources claimed the company had set aside its open stance to dictate from a throne, but today the man who would allegedly sit atop the royal seat says it isn't so. Andy Rubin, the man in charge of Android, says that "there are no lock-downs or restrictions against customizing UIs" nor "any efforts to standardize the platform on any single chipset architecture" as have often been rumored before, and that when Honeycomb is finally ready for phones, Google will indeed release its source code. Overall, he claims that Android's position when it comes to open source hasn't changed since day one -- which is nice for those who would like to believe that Google's still sticking to its motto -- but that's not likely to appease companies cut out of the loop simply because they weren't part of the early adopter club. If Google's methods will reduce fragmentation, though, who are we to judge? [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Google creating YouTube 'channels', spending $100 million on original content? Posted: 06 Apr 2011 06:32 PM PDT You can do quite a lot with a sufficiently large catalog of semi-popular footage, but original content is king, and today the Wall Street Journal is reporting that YouTube will sink $100 million into original programming. The idea, according to the usual anonymous sources, is that Google will reshape the home of Keyboard Cat into a television network of sorts -- with channels for different topics -- and a good number of them featuring "several hours of professionally produced original programming a week." That sounds like a drop in the bucket compared to the raft of footage that YouTube's amateurs put out, of course, and it wouldn't be the first time we've seen Google invest in original work, but we'd be lying if we said we wouldn't enjoy kicking back with even a smidgen of the pulse-pounding possibilities that some 4096-pixel-wide footage could offer. YouTube is reportedly attracting talent right now, say the WSJ's spooks, and intends to ease users into the idea of channel surfing starting later this year.

Commodore USA puts the new C64 up for pre-sales, unveils far-less-retrotastic VIC-Slim Posted: 06 Apr 2011 05:43 PM PDT Now that Commodore USA has sufficiently piqued your curiosity with a revamped Commodore 64 prototype, it's ready to capitalize on the idea. Quite literally, we might add. $595 buys you the basic basic model with an 1.8GHz dual-core Intel Atom D525 chip, NVIDIA ION 2 graphics, 2GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive -- which it promises to deliver by "early June" -- with hundred-dollar increments adding premium features like an additional 2GB of memory, a Blu-Ray drive, up to 1TB of storage, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth. However, if you're simply looking for a compact keyboard computer (rather than reliving 80's nostalgia) there's another option on tap -- a likely rebadged thin wedge of a machine that Commodore's calling the VIC-Slim. Even at just $395, though, something tells us it won't be the "wonder computer" of 2011.

MSI spits out four more Sandy Bridge laptops, including tasteful-looking F Series gaming rigs Posted: 06 Apr 2011 05:04 PM PDT If it seems like MSI is dropping a lot of laptops this week, you're not imagining things. The company just announced the FX620DX and FX420 gaming rigs and two mainstream notebooks, the FR720 and FX720, some of which join the 16 laptops it unveiled at CES. The FR720 and FX720 are both beastly 17-inch desktop replacements, with prices ranging from $710 to $900 depending on whether you opt for an Intel Core i3, Core i5 or Core i7 CPU, and whether you stick with integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics or spring for one with a discrete NVIDIA GeForce GT520M card. As for the gaming machines, we have to say they're pretty conservative-looking, with black lids made from a non-peeling, scratch- and smudge-resistant material, and a handful of chrome accents and blue LEDs thrown in for good measure. The 15.6-inch FX620DX packs either a quad-core Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M with 1GB of video memory, and a 720p webcam. The 14-inch FX420, meanwhile, comes with that same quad-core Core i5 CPU and AMD Radeon HD 6470M graphics, also with 1GB of memory. The FX620DX also comes with either a 1920 x 1080 or 1366 x 768 display, while the more diminutive FX420 just offers the latter. Other than that, though, these machines share the same DNA, including an six shortcut buttons, HDMI and VGA port, 4 USB ports (two of 'em USB 3.0), six-cell batteries, and hard drives ranging from 500GB to 750GB with speeds of either 5,400 RPM or 7,200 RPM. MSI hasn't announced pricing or availability for the F Series, but hit the source link to peep these laptops' very discreet designs.

Disney World's Haunted Mansion gets interactive upgrade, digital spooks (video) Posted: 06 Apr 2011 04:21 PM PDT It may not be as scary as Walt Disney World's Hall of Presidents, but the Florida theme park's Haunted Mansion just got a ghostly upgrade. The ride's grand finale, which previously positioned hitchhiking ghosts -- by way of half-silvered mirrors -- alongside unsuspecting visitors, is now reportedly using a series of digital mirrors and sensors to make things more interactive. As opposed to just popping up next to passengers, Disney's Ezra, Gus, and Phineas are now equipped to rip your head off, blow it up balloon-style, and send it flying. Sure it sounds scary, but this is Disney, the same company that didn't see the nightmare-inducing capabilities of a robotic Obama. For a peek at the new creepers, peep the video after break.

Geminoids meet their human doppelgangers for a photo op you'll never forget (video) Posted: 06 Apr 2011 03:41 PM PDT Three of the well-dressed individuals above are humans (at least they say they are). The other three are Geminoids -- lifelike robots created by professors Hiroshi Ishiguro and Henrik Scharfe in their image and that of one other willing assistant, all of whom got together for a little photo op last month. Creepy? You should see what else has come out of their lab. Video after the break.

Sprint launches Novatel MiFi 3G / 4G mobile hotspot Posted: 06 Apr 2011 02:37 PM PDT This one's been floating around since way back in December, but Novatel's new 3G / 4G MiFi has is now finally available from Sprint -- albeit only via direct ship, Sprint retail channels will get it on April 17th. It will run you $79.99 on a two-year contract, and comes packing Novatel's rather novel MiFi OS, which is actually a stripped-down version of LInux that lets you take advantage of various widgets and applications. It's also GPS enabled, and has a microSD card slot that allows for up to 32GB of shared storage. Full press release is after the break, and you can check out a few early reviews of the device at the more coverage links below. Show full PR text MiFi® 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Novatel Wireless Now Available at Sprint With the ultra-compact award-winning MiFi® 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Novatel Wireless, Sprint brings customers the portability of the MiFi design with one-touch connectivity for up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices, including tablets, eReaders, laptops or gaming consoles. MiFi 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot easily supports all the needs of a family household, a frequent traveler who wants to avoid Wi-Fi charges, or even a small business team with a form factor about the size of a credit card. Sprint is the first carrier to launch a 4G MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot preloaded with MiFi OS™, widgets and application support, adding capabilities beyond just pure Internet connectivity and ensuring customers a reliable device that can easily be upgraded with the newest widgets and applications. Its predecessor, the MiFi 2200 by Novatel Wireless, was the industry's first and leading 3G Intelligent Mobile Hotspot. This version with 4G accessibility offers download speeds that are up to 10 times faster than 3G service.1 It also features an intuitive external display with status indicators for battery, signal strength, GPS, roaming and number of connected devices as well as improved battery life and shared storage capability through a microSD™ slot for up to a 32GB memory card. It supports Windows, Macintosh and Linux operating systems. As the 17th 4G-capable device announced from Sprint, MiFi 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot will cost $79.99 (excluding taxes) on a new two-year service agreement (or eligible upgrade). Starting on April 3 the device became available via Direct Ship, and will be available at all Sprint retail channels, including www.sprint.com and 1-800-Sprint1 starting on April 17. MiFi 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot requires activation on a Sprint 3G/4G Mobile Broadband Plan starting as low as $49.99 per month.2 The device can be used on both the Sprint 3G and 4G networks. This flexibility allows customers to enjoy 4G performance in any of the 71 Sprint 4G markets or to use Sprint's reliable, nationwide 3G network. Additional features: * GPS-enabled * WiFi Protected Setup enabled * No software installation required, just plug in and connect * Browser user interface for configuration * Datalink 3G/4G * Battery: 1500mAh – Over 4 hours of usage; 60 hours of standby time * 4G data speeds (WiMAX) – Peak download speeds of more than 10 Mbps; average download speeds of 3-6 Mbps * 3G data speeds (EV-DO Rev. A) – Peak download speeds of up to 3.1 Mbps; peak upload speeds of 1.8 Mbps; average download speeds of 600 kbps-1.4 Mbps. * Compatibility: Wi-Fi, Windows®, MAC OS® X, Linux® * Weight: 85 grams with battery (3 oz.) * Antenna: Integrated Wi-Fi and GPS antenna * Wireless Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n For more information visit www.sprint.com/mobilebroadband or www.sprint.com/4G [1] Up to 10x faster claim: Based on download speed comparison of Sprint 3G average speeds (600 kbps -1.4 Mbps) vs. Sprint 4G average speeds (3-6 Mbps). Actual speeds may vary by plan or based on other factors. 2 Sprint 3G/4G Mobile Broadband Plan includes unlimited 4G use and 5 GB of 3G use (300MB domestic roaming/off-network limit for 3G; additional MB: $0.05/MB for on-network usage, $0.25/MB for off-network usage). $49.99 price reflects a $10 discount off the standard national mobile broadband plan and requires the Sprint subscriber also have an eligible voice plan on their Sprint handset.

Dell Streak 10 to launch mid-June with Honeycomb, possible name change in the works Posted: 06 Apr 2011 02:04 PM PDT Dell's Windows 7 Rosemount tablet may not make it to the beach with you this summer, but that doesn't mean the company won't have an Android alternative when it's time to start applying sunblock. According to Forbes, the 10-inch Android-powered slate we got an oh-so-quick glimpse of at CES should be ready to hit the market somewhere around mid-June, just a little bit later than we'd previously heard. The publication also hints that the tablet heretofore referred to as the Streak 10 may not retain that moniker when it's time to launch, but it will most definitely be running Honeycomb, though we're not sure if it'll keep the Stage UI. Either way, summer 2011 is shaping up to be the season of Honeycomb, and we're excited to see just what each manufacturer will do to differentiate themselves in the increasingly-crowded space.

Samsung confirms WiFi-only Galaxy Tab availability: April 10th, $350 Posted: 06 Apr 2011 01:33 PM PDT We've already seen it turn up on a few retail sites, but Samsung has now finally officially confirmed the launch details for its WiFi-only Galaxy Tab. It will be available online and at retail stores across the US on April 10th for $349.99. Specs otherwise remain the same as the 3G version, including a 7-inch 1024 x 600 display, 32GB of internal storage (with a microSD card slot for up to an additional 32GB), rear and front-facing cameras, and Android 2.2 with support for Flash 10.1 -- from the looks of things, it's also only available with a white back. Full press release is after the break. Show full PR text Samsung Galaxy Tab™ Available for Purchase at Multiple Retail Stores and Online Outlets Consumers receive chance to purchase WiFi-only version of Samsung's award-winning Android™ platform mobile tablet DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.1, announced today that several retail stores and Web sites will carry the WiFi-only Samsung Galaxy Tab™ by April 10, offering customers the opportunity to buy this powerful and compact mobile tablet for $349.99. Consumers can visit http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/galaxy-tab for a complete list of retail outlets selling the WiFi Galaxy Tab. "The 7-inch Galaxy Tab is the first truly mobile tablet on the market, allowing users to comfortably hold the device in one hand while typing or navigating the Web with the other." The Galaxy Tab is powered by the Android™ 2.2 platform and has a 7-inch TFT display with a 1024 x 600 resolution. The super-light and sleek device weighs just 13 ounces, is 12 millimeters thin and easily fits in a pocket or purse. The Galaxy Tab includes 32 GB of internal storage and offers microSD expansion to allow for up to 32 GB of additional storage. "We are excited to have the WiFi version of the Galaxy Tab join our growing portfolio of Galaxy-branded devices," said Dale Sohn, President of Samsung Mobile. "The 7-inch Galaxy Tab is the first truly mobile tablet on the market, allowing users to comfortably hold the device in one hand while typing or navigating the Web with the other." Outstanding Entertainment Options The Galaxy Tab supports Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1 to deliver an enhanced content experience and allow users to engage with thousands of sites with rich Adobe Flash Player compatible applications and content including games, animations, rich Internet applications (RIAs), data presentations and visualizations, ecommerce, video, music and more. Plus, the device is designed with a rear-facing 3 megapixel camera for taking pictures on-the-go, and a front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera and camcorder for video chat. In addition, the Galaxy Tab includes access to Media Hub, Samsung's own content service, offering a vast lineup of critically acclaimed films and TV programs for rent or purchase. The biggest and best names in entertainment, including CBS, MTV Networks, NBC Universal, Paramount and Warner Bros. provide new release movies, next day TV episodes and full TV show seasons to the robust Media Hub library. Media Hub also promotes content sharing, including the ability to send purchased films and TV programming to as many as five devices that carry the Media Hub application. Google Services & Social Hub Services like Google Maps™ Navigation and Google Goggles are available on Google's Android platform. With useful location-based services like Google Maps™, consumers can search in Standard English instead of entering an exact address. A search-by-voice function is just as intuitive, meaning searches can also be completed easily on the go. Google Goggles™ is a powerful, visual search tool that uses the Samsung GALAXY Tab's camera to uncover information – an image of a landmark or artwork is automatically used to perform a search, delivering relevant content like a description or history. In addition, with a camera, users can enjoy various augmented reality services which are downloadable in the application market. Plus, Galaxy Tab users have full access to more than 150,000 applications available for download from the Android Market™. The Galaxy Tab keep users organized and connected with Samsung's Social Hub application. Social Hub works with the user's Messaging and Contacts to initiate the sending and receiving of information, whether it is e-mail, instant messaging, social network updates or SMS messages. Additionally, calendar information from portal calendars, such as Google Calendar, and social networking services are displayed together in one calendar with two-way synchronization. Samsung Galaxy Product Portfolio The WiFi Galaxy Tab joins other popular products under the premium Samsung Galaxy brand, including the upcoming Galaxy Tab 10.1, Galaxy 8.9, Galaxy Player 5.0 and Galaxy Player 4.0 and the portfolio of Galaxy S smartphones. About Samsung Telecommunications America Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungwireless.com. About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2009 consolidated sales of US$116.8 billion. Employing approximately 174,000 people in 193 offices across 66 countries, the company consists of eight independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com. Android is a trademark of Google, Inc. 1 Number one mobile phone provider in the U.S. claim for Samsung Mobile based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics, Q4 2010 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipments Reports.

Toshiba's Satellite L Series continues its world tour, adds 2D-to-3D conversion Posted: 06 Apr 2011 01:07 PM PDT Back at CES, Toshiba unveiled a batch of low-cost Satellite L Series laptops in the US, and now it's taking its show on the road, with new models on tap for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. These include the 13.3-inch L730 and L735, the 15.6-inch L750 and L755, and, if you're hankering for a desktop replacement, the hulking 17.3-inch L770 and L775. This latest spin on the L Series boasts 3D support, connecting to 3DTVs over HDMI and, in some cases, converting 2D content to 3D. As in the States, shoppers abroad can add up to 8GB of RAM, and will get their choice of Intel Core i3 and Core i5 processors and various AMD CPUs, including triple- and quad-core options. Also look for multitouch trackpads, 5,400RPM hard drives as large as 750GB, 1.3 megapixel webcams, a mix of USB 3.0 and sleep-and-charge USB 2.0 ports, and a choice of integrated Intel HD graphics or a discrete NVIDIA GeForce 315M card with up to 1GB of video memory. No word yet on when they'll go on sale or how much they'll cost, but those curious for more can hit the source link for the full spill.

Elderly Georgian lady disconnects Armenian internet for half a day... by accident Posted: 06 Apr 2011 12:35 PM PDT A 75-year old lady from Georgia (the country, not the state) has perpetrated an impressive feat of international sabotage in what seems to have been an accident of extremely bad luck. While foraging for copper wire near her home in the village of Ksani, the unnamed septuagenarian managed to come across a critical fiber optic cable, one responsible for serving internet connectivity to "90 percent of private and corporate internet users in Armenia" and some in her own country as well. Her swift strike at the heart of said bit-transferring pipeline resulted in all those folks being thrown offline for a solid 12 hours, while the Georgian Railway Telecom worked to find and correct the fault. In spite of her relatively benign motivations, the lady now faces three years in prison for the damage she caused. We'd say all's well that ends well, but this doesn't actually seem like a very happy ending at all.

The Engadget Podcast returns... tomorrow at 5PM ET! Posted: 06 Apr 2011 12:02 PM PDT The Engadget Podcast. What is it? Is it a living, breathing thing? Is it something that has to be seen to be believed? Is it more than just an hour-long stream of aural intensity, finely hewn and focused on the world of consumer electronics? It's a mystery that even The Most Interesting Man in the World is having trouble solving, but we're going to assume things will get a lot clearer when it returns to your regularly scheduled programming block tomorrow evening. Newly appointed Editor-in-Chief Tim Stevens and the perpetually lost Darren Murph will be your guides to somewhere, tomorrow joined by two special guests from the Engadget Mobile podcast team: international man of mystery Vlad Savov and mobile debutante Myriam Joire. It's a foursome that'll almost definitely make your workday woes vanish into thin air. Tomorrow. Here. 5PM ET... ish.

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