03-Sep-07 18:22:00
Filed under: Laptops
Just in case you hadn't noticed, there's a real bumper crop of super-tiny 7-inch laptops this year, and it looks like Packard Bell didn't want to miss out on the fun. The new EasyNote XS eschews the Linux of some of its peers for some vanilla XP Home action, and runs on a VIA C7-M Ultra Mobile Platform. There's a VGA webcam, built-in WiFi, 4-in-1 card reader, 30GB HDD and even a friendly 1GB of RAM. Packard Bell expects this 1.2-inch, 2 pound unit to get 3 hours of battery with WiFi on, and hopes to hit the UK market by the end of the year. Hopefully the price is right.
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
Just in case you hadn't noticed, there's a real bumper crop of super-tiny 7-inch laptops this year, and it looks like Packard Bell didn't want to miss out on the fun. The new EasyNote XS eschews the Linux of some of its peers for some vanilla XP Home action, and runs on a VIA C7-M Ultra Mobile Platform. There's a VGA webcam, built-in WiFi, 4-in-1 card reader, 30GB HDD and even a friendly 1GB of RAM. Packard Bell expects this 1.2-inch, 2 pound unit to get 3 hours of battery with WiFi on, and hopes to hit the UK market by the end of the year. Hopefully the price is right.
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
Source: Engadget
03-Sep-07 17:51:00
Filed under: Wireless
Not that it comes as much of a surprise, but the FCC today rejected upstart M2Z's request for a 20MHz slice of the 2155MHz to 2175MHz spectrum, which it had hoped to use for a free, nearly nationwide WiFi service. To that end, M2Z was trying to convince the FCC to bypass its usual proceedings and hand over the spectrum to it for free. In exchange, as Ars Technica reports, M2Z promised to pay five percent of its gross revenues to the US Treasury each year and, as an added touch, it also promised to filter any "objectionable content" crossing those free airwaves. Apparently keen on that idea, a number of other companies tried to get in on the action as well, but were likewise turned down by the FCC. For its part, the FCC now seems intent on proceeding as usual with the spectrum, with Chairman Kevin Martin saying he'll consider both licensed and unlicensed uses for the band, adding that he promises to "adopt flexible rules that will encourage the innovative use ...
Not that it comes as much of a surprise, but the FCC today rejected upstart M2Z's request for a 20MHz slice of the 2155MHz to 2175MHz spectrum, which it had hoped to use for a free, nearly nationwide WiFi service. To that end, M2Z was trying to convince the FCC to bypass its usual proceedings and hand over the spectrum to it for free. In exchange, as Ars Technica reports, M2Z promised to pay five percent of its gross revenues to the US Treasury each year and, as an added touch, it also promised to filter any "objectionable content" crossing those free airwaves. Apparently keen on that idea, a number of other companies tried to get in on the action as well, but were likewise turned down by the FCC. For its part, the FCC now seems intent on proceeding as usual with the spectrum, with Chairman Kevin Martin saying he'll consider both licensed and unlicensed uses for the band, adding that he promises to "adopt flexible rules that will encourage the innovative use ...
Source: Engadget
03-Sep-07 17:44:00
Filed under: Cellphones
Carriers in the UK have started to roll out PayForIt, an industry-standard solution for micropayments -- charges totaling less than £10 (about $20.16) in this case -- to their subscribers. Though there are already plenty of ways to pay for odds and ends likes games and ringtones through cellphones, that in itself is a problem; with payment services like premium-rate text messages, customers are left with a confusing experience that leave them wary of the whole process and less likely to use it again. PayForIt, on the other hand, leaves buyers with a standard receipt page regardless of what they're purchasing along with some semblance of assurance that the system is secure. Purchases show up on the next month's phone bill, at which point purchasing 650 ringtones may seem like a distinctly poorer plan (not to say we've ever done that or anything). No word on when we might see the service outside the British Isles; companies involved over there seem to be...
Carriers in the UK have started to roll out PayForIt, an industry-standard solution for micropayments -- charges totaling less than £10 (about $20.16) in this case -- to their subscribers. Though there are already plenty of ways to pay for odds and ends likes games and ringtones through cellphones, that in itself is a problem; with payment services like premium-rate text messages, customers are left with a confusing experience that leave them wary of the whole process and less likely to use it again. PayForIt, on the other hand, leaves buyers with a standard receipt page regardless of what they're purchasing along with some semblance of assurance that the system is secure. Purchases show up on the next month's phone bill, at which point purchasing 650 ringtones may seem like a distinctly poorer plan (not to say we've ever done that or anything). No word on when we might see the service outside the British Isles; companies involved over there seem to be...
Source: Engadget
03-Sep-07 17:30:00
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment
Although amBX was launched some two years ago, not a whole lot has come of it. Earlier this year, Philips briefly mentioned the technology during its CES press conference, and now we're finally getting more details on its range of amBX-enabled peripherals. Reportedly, the lineup will be clad in graphite and silver and include "a pair of left and right satellite lights, a pair of left and right satellite 2.1 speaker lights and subwoofer, a pair of desk fans, a wrist rumbler, and a directional wall washer light that doubles as controller unit." The lights, of course, are meant to "change color and intensity in the context of what's happening onscreen," and the 160-watts of power should provide plenty of juice to rock your room of choice. Philips will be offering up four different kits depending on just how immersed you'd like to be, and while the starter kit will run you €199 ($272), the Premium Kit is likely to cost you quite a bi...
Although amBX was launched some two years ago, not a whole lot has come of it. Earlier this year, Philips briefly mentioned the technology during its CES press conference, and now we're finally getting more details on its range of amBX-enabled peripherals. Reportedly, the lineup will be clad in graphite and silver and include "a pair of left and right satellite lights, a pair of left and right satellite 2.1 speaker lights and subwoofer, a pair of desk fans, a wrist rumbler, and a directional wall washer light that doubles as controller unit." The lights, of course, are meant to "change color and intensity in the context of what's happening onscreen," and the 160-watts of power should provide plenty of juice to rock your room of choice. Philips will be offering up four different kits depending on just how immersed you'd like to be, and while the starter kit will run you €199 ($272), the Premium Kit is likely to cost you quite a bi...
Source: Engadget
03-Sep-07 16:19:00
Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation
Having already brought its in-flight cellphone and Internet service to Europe and Australia, Swiss-based OnAir is now giving passengers in China some added in-flight convenience/annoyance of their own, with it finding a partner in the country's Shenzhen Airlines. Much like Boeing's recent ill-fated Connexion experiment, OnAir's service will let you use your own cellphone to make calls or send text messages, with in-flight Internet thrown in for good measure (and an added price, no doubt). Those heading to or from China won't be able to whip out their phones and laptops just yet though, with the company saying they only expect the service to be up and running by mid-2009, although they hope to have three demonstration aircraft ready in time for the Beijing Olympics next year.
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
Having already brought its in-flight cellphone and Internet service to Europe and Australia, Swiss-based OnAir is now giving passengers in China some added in-flight convenience/annoyance of their own, with it finding a partner in the country's Shenzhen Airlines. Much like Boeing's recent ill-fated Connexion experiment, OnAir's service will let you use your own cellphone to make calls or send text messages, with in-flight Internet thrown in for good measure (and an added price, no doubt). Those heading to or from China won't be able to whip out their phones and laptops just yet though, with the company saying they only expect the service to be up and running by mid-2009, although they hope to have three demonstration aircraft ready in time for the Beijing Olympics next year.
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
Source: Engadget
03-Sep-07 16:04:00
Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video
Check your pulse Apple fanatics, "the beat goes on" September 5th... now just two days away. Unusual for Apple rumors, this event has pretty much all the analysts and so-called insiders in sync with their predictions. Mass disillusion or divine soothsaying, we don't know. Certainly everyone's been expecting this to be a big quarter for product transitions. While we wait, we figured you might as well get up to speed on all the predictions for Wednesday's big show: iPod Touch with flash-memory, WiFi and OS X-based CoverFlow user interface iPod nano "phatty" Wireless iTunes store sales for iPhone and wireless iPod(s) (PRODUCT) Red iPod shuffle
iTunes ringtone service Beatles on iTunes -- yes, again
While not necessarily rumored for Wednesday, there's always a chance that we'll hear a bit more about Apple's automotive collaborations with Volkswagen and Jaguar. Just sayin's all...
Check your pulse Apple fanatics, "the beat goes on" September 5th... now just two days away. Unusual for Apple rumors, this event has pretty much all the analysts and so-called insiders in sync with their predictions. Mass disillusion or divine soothsaying, we don't know. Certainly everyone's been expecting this to be a big quarter for product transitions. While we wait, we figured you might as well get up to speed on all the predictions for Wednesday's big show: iPod Touch with flash-memory, WiFi and OS X-based CoverFlow user interface iPod nano "phatty" Wireless iTunes store sales for iPhone and wireless iPod(s) (PRODUCT) Red iPod shuffle
iTunes ringtone service Beatles on iTunes -- yes, again
While not necessarily rumored for Wednesday, there's always a chance that we'll hear a bit more about Apple's automotive collaborations with Volkswagen and Jaguar. Just sayin's all...
Source: Engadget
03-Sep-07 15:41:00
Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds
We've already heard plenty about this pair, the new 600 and 900 iPAQ series, but the folks over at MoDaCo look to have uncovered the first, albeit sketchy, pictures of the devices. Labeled the iPAQ 614c and 914c, the two devices line up pretty nicely with the rumors, with the 614c rocking a 2.8-inch QVGA screen in a candybar form factor with Windows Mobile 6 Professional, HSDPA, WiFi and a touch wheel, and even tacking on GPS and a 3 megapixel camera to the already juicy list. The 914c rotates the screen and goes QWERTY, with only 2.5-inches due to the orientation, but the same QVGA resolution and the rest of the 614c's specs. If these facts are legit, HP could be fighting back into the smartphone fray in a pretty big way
[Thanks, ZSX]
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
We've already heard plenty about this pair, the new 600 and 900 iPAQ series, but the folks over at MoDaCo look to have uncovered the first, albeit sketchy, pictures of the devices. Labeled the iPAQ 614c and 914c, the two devices line up pretty nicely with the rumors, with the 614c rocking a 2.8-inch QVGA screen in a candybar form factor with Windows Mobile 6 Professional, HSDPA, WiFi and a touch wheel, and even tacking on GPS and a 3 megapixel camera to the already juicy list. The 914c rotates the screen and goes QWERTY, with only 2.5-inches due to the orientation, but the same QVGA resolution and the rest of the 614c's specs. If these facts are legit, HP could be fighting back into the smartphone fray in a pretty big way
[Thanks, ZSX]
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
Source: Engadget
03-Sep-07 15:17:00
Filed under: Wireless, Networking
For those paying attention, you'd know that betting the farm on San Francisco's muni WiFi project ever coming together wouldn't exactly be the best move, but it appears that Sonic.Net is stepping in to provide an alternative. The California-based ISP has reportedly conjured up an initiative to bring an ad-supported MuniFi model to San Franciscans, and would utilize hardware from Meraki. Apparently, Sonic.Net customers can snag a Meraki wireless mesh router "at a subsidized cost," which would enable them to share "up to 500kbps" of their DSL line. Users of the service will spot a Google ad bar atop their browser, and there's even mention of ad revenues being shared with customers in order to reduce their monthly bill in the future. Notably, the platform could even expand to "other areas" outside of SF if it proves successful.
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power...
For those paying attention, you'd know that betting the farm on San Francisco's muni WiFi project ever coming together wouldn't exactly be the best move, but it appears that Sonic.Net is stepping in to provide an alternative. The California-based ISP has reportedly conjured up an initiative to bring an ad-supported MuniFi model to San Franciscans, and would utilize hardware from Meraki. Apparently, Sonic.Net customers can snag a Meraki wireless mesh router "at a subsidized cost," which would enable them to share "up to 500kbps" of their DSL line. Users of the service will spot a Google ad bar atop their browser, and there's even mention of ad revenues being shared with customers in order to reduce their monthly bill in the future. Notably, the platform could even expand to "other areas" outside of SF if it proves successful.
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power...
Source: Engadget
03-Sep-07 14:36:00
Filed under: HDTV, Storage
If a couple of new HD DVD players weren't enough for you, Toshiba is also launching an ultrathin, highly portable HD DVD burner for playing back high-definition flicks and writing massive amounts of data to single or dual-layer HD DVD-Rs whilst on the go. The simply titled HD DVD-Writer is reportedly the brother of the HD DVD Super-Multi, which only supports CD, DVD+/-RW, and HD DVD-ROM. Both units supposedly measure in at just 5.04- x 4.96- x 0.51-inches and weigh 5.82 ounces, and best of all, they're said to be available right now across the pond for £200 ($403).
[Thanks, nfinity]
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
If a couple of new HD DVD players weren't enough for you, Toshiba is also launching an ultrathin, highly portable HD DVD burner for playing back high-definition flicks and writing massive amounts of data to single or dual-layer HD DVD-Rs whilst on the go. The simply titled HD DVD-Writer is reportedly the brother of the HD DVD Super-Multi, which only supports CD, DVD+/-RW, and HD DVD-ROM. Both units supposedly measure in at just 5.04- x 4.96- x 0.51-inches and weigh 5.82 ounces, and best of all, they're said to be available right now across the pond for £200 ($403).
[Thanks, nfinity]
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
Source: Engadget
03-Sep-07 14:16:00
Filed under: Peripherals
While everybody was busy with that BioShock "rootkit" false alarm -- and subsequently busy playing BioShock -- the folks at F-Secure were uncovering a new, legitimate rootkit problem in the software packaged with Sony's MicroVault USM-F fingerprint reader drives. It took Sony a little while to respond, but now the company says it has launched an investigation into the software, which was developed by a third-party, and will offer a fix by mid-September. The drives models had already been discontinued, though you can still pick them up at a few stores, and the rootkit is not as serious as the Sony BMX XCP DRM, but the software is still dangerous enough to allow malware authors to hide folders, so we're glad Sony's going to run clean up here.
Read - Sony confirms security problem
Read - Sony's USB Rootkit vs Sony's Music Rootkit
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs...
While everybody was busy with that BioShock "rootkit" false alarm -- and subsequently busy playing BioShock -- the folks at F-Secure were uncovering a new, legitimate rootkit problem in the software packaged with Sony's MicroVault USM-F fingerprint reader drives. It took Sony a little while to respond, but now the company says it has launched an investigation into the software, which was developed by a third-party, and will offer a fix by mid-September. The drives models had already been discontinued, though you can still pick them up at a few stores, and the rootkit is not as serious as the Sony BMX XCP DRM, but the software is still dangerous enough to allow malware authors to hide folders, so we're glad Sony's going to run clean up here.
Read - Sony confirms security problem
Read - Sony's USB Rootkit vs Sony's Music Rootkit
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs...
Source: Engadget
