Latest Gadgets,Mobiles,Reviews,Videos & Stuff

Latest mini-HDMI connectors get shown off in prototype form

by Donald Melanson, posted May 8th 2009 at 3:39PM

Mini HDMI connectors aren't exactly anything new, but a number of companies have now produced some prototypes based on the latest Type D spec set for inclusion in the next HDMI standard, which they hope will be more suitable for cellphones, GPS systems, and other portable devices. One of those comes from Molex Inc and, like the others, is half the size of a regular HDMI connector (or about the same size as a micro-USB connector) but employs the same 19 pins as the standard HDMI design. That's joined by a similar connector from Yazaki Corp of Japan, as well as a connector designed specifically for automotive use by Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Ltd, which supposedly boasts improved reliability and durability. Still no promises as to when any of these specific prototypes will actually materialize, of course, but the first few mini connectors of some sort could start appearing as soon as the second half of this year.

T-Mobile's Magic / Sapphire / myTouch / G2 getting 5 megapixel cam?

by Chris Ziegler, posted May 8th 2009 at 3:12PM

It's pretty unusual for a manufacturer to take a global model and swap out a component as significant as a camera for one carrier, but it looks like that might just happen with T-Mobile USA's myTouch -- or G2, or Magic, or Sapphire, or whatever the heck it ends up being called. Boy Genius Report's leaked picture of the back of the carrier-branded handset prominently says "5.0," and since it's safe to assume it's not packing a 5.0-liter V8, this is probably referring to sensor res. That would be a marked upgrade from the 3.2 megapixels launching on the Magic everywhere else -- and interestingly, this kinda falls in line with T-Mobile USA's seemingly active effort to launch high-megapixel devices across the lineup over the past several months. This is more solid evidence than a spec sheet -- since spec sheets have a tendency to be filled with fallacies and typos -- but we'll hold off on saying this is a lock until the phone launches.

ASUS Eee PC 1008HA Seashell unboxed, deemed the slimmest, sexiest model yet

by Laura June, posted May 8th 2009 at 2:34PM

We've seen a lot of ASUS' Eee PC 1008HA Seashell in recent days, and now the thin little fella's been unboxed for all to admire. If the details have already slipped your mind, recall that the Seashell boasts a 1.6GHz processor, a 160GB hard disk, and GMA graphics. The glossy, tapered edges of the 10-incher are looking pretty fine if you ask us, furthering our opinion that the 1008HA is a stylish piece of work. The newest addition to the Eee PC family will be available as of May 15th in the UK for £379 (about $565). One more shot after the break, and hit the read link for the whole, glorious set.

Continue reading ASUS Eee PC 1008HA Seashell unboxed, deemed the slimmest, sexiest model yet

T-Mobile G1 revision revealed?

by Chris Ziegler, posted May 8th 2009 at 1:57PM

If this looks vaguely familiar, that's because it likely is -- we suspect this image out of Boy Genius Report is a newer (or older) render of the "G1 v2" called out on the recently-leaked Android roadmap out of T-Mobile. It'd make sense -- by October, when this is allegedly hitting retail for $150-ish, the G1 will be getting long in the tooth. What's more, this sucker's clearly running Android, and it's a whole hell of a lot better-looking. More on this as it develops, of course, but in the meantime, that myTouch is looking just a bit less appealing, isn't it?

Video: Tonium Pacemaker in action

by Nilay Patel, posted May 8th 2009 at 1:33PM

We've been playing with the Tonium Pacemaker pretty much non-stop since we got it, and while we're not terrible DJs, we thought we'd bring in some big guns for a demo -- so we asked our buddy Carlos from Chicago's CAPCOM crew to come in and spin a few tracks. Check out the video and our in-depth impressions after the break!

Continue reading Video: Tonium Pacemaker in action

Video: Martin Jetpack flies again, but you still can't buy one

by Joseph L. Flatley, posted May 8th 2009 at 1:01PM

You know, for a device as potentially bad ass as the Martin Jetpack is -- the company boasts a maximum range of 31.5 miles at 63 mph, and the ability to hover at 8,000 feet above ground effect -- the video we've seen thus far has been pretty lackluster. Of course, you can't actually get your hands on one anyways (check back in January 2010), but that isn't stopping the company from accepting your $10,000 deposit for the opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Despite all that, we couldn't help but feel all a-flutter when we watched the newest clip and realized that someday soon our dreams of super heroism might be fulfilled -- and with a rocket strapped to our back, no less. Check it out for yourself after the break.

[Via Oh Gizmo!]

Continue reading Video: Martin Jetpack flies again, but you still can't buy one

Canon's PowerShot D10 adventure cam shot with a bazooka in this in-depth review

by Joseph L. Flatley, posted May 8th 2009 at 12:33PM

The gang at Photography Blog have got their hands all over the PowerShot D10, and it looks like Canon didn't fare too badly with its first "adventure camera." Even if the reviewer didn't really drop it from a helicopter or shoot it with a bazooka (as we had originally hoped) the unit was found to be as intuitive, sensible, and dependable as the company's other point-and-shooters. Of course, a device with this robust of a design is going to suffer in a few areas, and the 3x, 35-135mm zoom lens and 2.5-inch display can easily be considered "rather hum-drum" for a camera in this day and age. That said, the lens is "quite fast," great for underwater use, and the display is bright enough for all of your spelunking needs. The verdict? If you're going to be dropping from airplanes or scavenging sunken treasure (actually, make that "reading on the beach" and "taking the kids snorkeling") this summer, you could do worse than shell out $329.99 for this bad boy. Hit the read link for the usual exhaustive review.

Engadget's recession antidote: win a copy of ExciteBots and a WiiWheel!

by Laura June, posted May 8th 2009 at 12:00PM

This whole global economic crisis, and its resulting massive loss of jobs got us thinking. We here at Engadget didn't want to stand helplessly by, announcing every new round of misery without giving anything back -- so we decided to take the opportunity to spread a little positivity. We'll be handing out a new gadget every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff or companies stop sending things. Today we've got a copy of Excitebots for Wii and a Wii Wheel on offer. Read the rules below (no skimming -- we're omniscient and can tell when you've skimmed) and get commenting! Hooray for free stuff! (One more photo after the break).

The rules:

Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share your proposal for "fixing" the world economy, that'd be sweet too.
You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine.
Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one (1) copy of Excitebots for Nintendo Wii and one (1) Wii Wheel.
If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
Entries can be submitted until Friday, May, 8th, at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
Full rules can be found here.

Continue reading Engadget's recession antidote: win a copy of ExciteBots and a WiiWheel!

Nokia XpressMusic 5900 leaks out?

by Nilay Patel, posted May 8th 2009 at 11:46AM

Sure, this could just be a really nice KIRF, but we've got a hunch these pics of an upcoming Nokia XpressMusic 5900 are the real deal -- it's just too understated to be shanzhai. Compared to the 5800, the updated handsets are said to feature a slightly larger 3.5-inch display, a five megapixel camera, and more or less the same build of S60 5th edition, all in a slightly thinner case. That's all we know for now, but we're told we'll find out more soon -- keep it locked.

Elgato Video Capture allows Macs to record analog video

by Nilay Patel, posted May 8th 2009 at 11:31AM

Sure, the MPAA won't be happy that you're not just videotaping your TV, but the Mac users out there still looking for some real-time SD recording action might want to check out Elgato's Video Capture box. Nothing too fancy here, just RCA / S-Video / SCART input and some software to trim clips and export to H.264 and MPEG-4, but it could be just the ticket if you've got a stack of VHS tapes or something. Out in Europe now for €100 ($134), we'll let you know when it comes Stateside.

[Via Electronista]

Samsung announces 70 Series HD monitors and TV

by Joseph L. Flatley, posted May 8th 2009 at 10:57AM

We've seen plenty of Samsung LED HDTVs get pricing and availability in the last week or so, but that doesn't mean the party stops there. If you're in the market for a display for your PC, both the P2370 (23-inch) and P2070 (20-inch) sport a 50,000:1 contrast ratio and 2ms video response time. While the latter is definitely the runt of the litter, at 1600 x 900 screen res, the former rocks full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution. And if that weren't enough, the P2370HD adds an HDTV tuner, integrated speakers with SRS TruSurround, and both HDMI and component inputs to its hi-def cousin for something as at home in the rec room as it is in the office. Did we fire up your imagination? Thought so. No price or date yet, but we do have some tasty PR for you after the break.

Continue reading Samsung announces 70 Series HD monitors and TV

Robot that can jump twenty-five feet in the air coming to the US military

by Laura June, posted May 8th 2009 at 10:17AM

Boston Dynamics -- which previously made a robot called the BigDog -- has been enlisted by Sandia National Laboratories (a US government-funded lab) and DARPA to make a new, hopping robot. Called the Precision Urban Hopper, the robot's goal will be to be capable of jumping over large obstacles in city combat situations. It will boast one extremely tough leg to assist it, in addition to its four wheels. The Hopper is supposedly going to be able to jump 25 feet in the air once completed. So far, only a very small prototype (pictured above) is finished, but Boston Dynamics is due to present its next model sometime during 2010.

Nikon S630 unboxing and hands-on: pretty in pink edition

by Tim Stevens, posted May 8th 2009 at 9:43AM

What's that, another compact digital camera unboxing? Yes, dear readers, we've got a mega-megapixel story cooking for you, and another ingredient has arrived. This time it's Nikon's Coolpix S630, a 12 megapixel, 7x optical zoom compact that features optical stabilization and a particularly vibrant hue. So far we're impressed by the camera's shape, lightness, and build quality, but this one has plenty more testing ahead of it before we make any solid conclusions. Until then, enjoy a few shots of its unveiling.

Gallery: Nikon S630 Unboxing and Hands On

PVI's color e-ink delayed until 2010, big-screen Sony Reader coming?

by Tim Stevens, posted May 8th 2009 at 9:17AM

Color e-ink displays are starting to become less of a curiosity and more of a reality, but if the rumor from DigiTimes proves true it's going to be another year or so before we start seeing them en masse. PVI, makers of displays for the Kindle and Sony Reader, has apparently indicated that its attempts at creating a color display have been more or less unsatisfactory and it's going to take until 2010 at least to get its hues sorted out. That's the bad news. There is some good news, though, indicating that Sony's working on its own 8.5 x 11-inch reader utilizing the same screen as the Kindle DX. Since the last rumors about that display was pretty-much on the mark, we wouldn't be surprised if this one proved true as well -- and we can't wait to see what Sony charges for it.

[Via SlashGear]

Nokia's Ovi Store said to be launching with 20,000 'items,' unknown number of apps

by Tim Stevens, posted May 8th 2009 at 8:51AM

The launch of the Ovi Store is just around the bend and, according to reports, Nokia is looking to blow things out a little better than Google, which launched its Android Market with a paltry 50 selections. Nokia is said to have over 20,000 "items" ready for download when things go live, a number that compares quite favorably to the 40,000 apps Apple currently offers through its App Store. However, what remains to be seen is exactly what an "item" is defined as. We're sure that count includes custom apps and WidSets, and there's talk about N-Gage games finding inclusion as well. However, video and music downloads seem to be counted and we'd guess ringtones too. So, how many actual applications will it have at launch? That remains to be seen.

iri5 releases the ghost from the cassette machine

by Thomas Ricker, posted May 8th 2009 at 8:23AM

Over the last few months, artist iri5 has been compiling a collection of work on Flickr under the heading, "Ghost in the Machine." The pieces start with old cassette tapes and end in awesome. To quote the artist:

The idea comes from a philosopher's (Ryle) description of how your spirit lives in your body. I imagine we are all, like cassettes, thoughts wrapped up in awkward packaging.

Indeed. And they don't come much more awkwardly packaged than The Cure's Robert Smith immortalized above. Check out a close-up of his tussled chromium-dioxide hair after the break and be sure to hit the read link for iri5's full collection. The Jimi Hendrix experience alone is worth it.

[Via GearDiary, thanks schillmoeller]

Continue reading iri5 releases the ghost from the cassette machine

Panasonic slashes price of 103-inch plasma

by Richard Lawler, posted May 8th 2009 at 8:06AM

Finding itself in the odd position of selling a suddenly low-end 103-inch 1080p plasma, Panasonic has responded by cutting the price of the professional model TH-103PF10UK by $20,000 to a mere $50,000. Despite waiting over two years to move to a much more reasonable, mass market price the company has racked up over 6,000 installs of the model, with displays starring at the Democratic National Convention, as virtual air hockey tables, on NBC's Sunday Night Football and Beijing Olympics studio, TNT's NBA Playoffs set and more. This seems like a good time to mention the display is also capable of being matrixed in a 5 x 5 video wall -- and at these prices, we can't see why anyone wouldn't. Of course, they could just be clearing stock to bring out the 150-inch behemoth or a more home oriented TH-103PZ800 model Stateside, so weigh your options carefully.

Bargain hunters make Vizio LCDs most popular in US -- for now

by Tim Stevens, posted May 8th 2009 at 7:29AM

In these difficult times people are looking to buy what's cheap, a state of mind that ~~Vizio's~~ iSuppli's latest press release isn't ashamed to apply, lauding the company's status as the current most popular brand of LCD television in these United States. It owned a 21.6 percent chunk of the US LCD TV market in the first quarter, up from 13.8 in the quarter before and beat out Samsung to be king of the liquid crystal hill -- largely thanks to prices that were, on average, between $150 and $400 lower than the competition. Kudos to the brand and we hope that it enjoys this moment, because with imports of new sets ~~banned~~ out on bond it must be tough paying an extra $2.50 on each one coming through Customs. Full press release after the break.

Update: To be clear: this is actually a press release issued by iSupply talking about Vizio, not by Vizio.

Continue reading Bargain hunters make Vizio LCDs most popular in US -- for now

Renault's plug-in Kangoo be bop Z.E. features 'printed circuit' motifs, cute as a 390-point breadboard

by Thomas Ricker, posted May 8th 2009 at 6:42AM

Push up those glasses and refresh the lead in your mechanical pencils, Renault has a new accessory to transport your nerdrobe to the data center. Meet the Kangoo be bop Z.E. plug-in prototype. While the technology inside (Lithium Ion batteries with a 100-mile range and 30 minute recharge to 80% capacity -- or full charge in 20 minutes using a proposed 400V universal standard plug) is very similar to the vehicles that Renault expects to release on the road in 2011, and its appearance matches that of the Kangoo be bop hitting European roads this spring, it's the design detail that captured our attention. Zoom in on the gallery below and you'll quickly see that the Z.E. prototype (and future concept) is heavily influenced by the look of printed circuit boards, or "printed circuit motifs" as claimed by Renault's press release. Go ahead, firmly embrace your geekiness without guilt. Remember, you're a rock star.

P.S. Who knew we'd be rocking the Samsung F480 Tocco so far into the future?