| rss2email.ru | На что подписаться? | Управление подпиской |
 |  EngadgetEngadget http://www.engadget.com рекомендовать друзьям >> |
- Microsoft doing two new Xbox 360 colors: bright red and green
Filed under: Gaming
Come September 30th you'll be able to yourself some Microsoft Xbox 360 controllers in limited edition bright red and green colors. The packages will be slightly different, however, with the red including a Play & Charge Kit (i.e. rechargeable battery and USB cable) for $65, while the green (and how -- shown above) comes straight for $55. Unapologetically, Microsoft lists the "SKU role" for each controller as "profit driver." Indeed.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Переслать 
Сохранить на memori.ru - Water-powered clock is here to save the environment
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
If you're all about the environment, you probably have a hybrid car, monitor your power use, and recycle your detritus. But if you still have a power-guzzling alarm clock that plugs into the wall, for shame, you glutton! Fear not, though -- the eco-friendly, water-powered Bedol Wall Wave Clock is here to save the day. Powered by electrodes immersed in water that extract energy from compound particles, this thirsty clock won't be available until Augst 15, 2008. To make things less painful, though, it will only run you $19.00 when it comes to save us all.
[Via Cool Hunting]Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать Сохранить на memori.ru - iPhone 3G launch coverage roundup
Filed under: Cellphones
Even though the dust ought to have settled three and a half days later, people all over the country (and world?) are still spending hours in line for an iPhone 3G. It's a tall order for a phone, but clearly people are ravenous -- so here's all the news you need to catch yourself up on the goings on of the past few days.
P.S. -Sick of the iPhone news? Don't sweat it, we'll be live from the Sony and Nintendo E3 keynotes tomorrow!
Review!
Hands-on coverage
- iPhone 3G first look, what do you want to know?
- Video: iPhone 3G unboxing and first look
- Black iPhone 3G vs. white iPhone 3G... fight!
- iPhone activation servers back online; stock updates from around the world
- iTunes activation servers go down, iPhone 3G customers being sent home unactivated, first-gen iPhone customers stuck with dead iPhones
- Are you having problems with iPhone 2.0?
- iPhone 3G and firmware 2.0: the day after
- iPhone 3G: guts, plants, and free SMS
- iPhone 3G at one million sold and counting, App Store hits 10 million downloads
Continue reading iPhone 3G launch coverage roundup
Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать Сохранить на memori.ru - BT plans 100Mbps UK broadband service by 2012, Gigabit speeds possible
British Telecom just announced its new £1.5 billion fiberfibre-based, broadband plan for the UK. By 2012, BT hopes to have "as many as 10 million homes" (about 40% of the UK) wired for service with speeds up to 100Mbps -- potentially capable of exceeding 1,000Mbps (1Gbps) at some unspecified point in the future. BT plans to deliver 100Mbps direct to new homes or 40Mbps (and possibly 60Mbps as they test new technology) to homes with a copper link to the fiber cabinet. For the plan to be implemented, BT says that a "supportive and enduring regulatory environment" is required with the removal of current barriers to fiber investment identified as a good place to start. In other words, 2012 might easily become 2020 (without the clarity) if an agreement with regulators and rivals can't be reached.
[Via Guardian, Thanks L.Rawlins]Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Switched On: More options for getting from scribble to screen
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Peripherals
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment.
With all the hoopla around the iPhone 3G, the finger has taken center stage as the input device of choice on the go. However, last week's column on the prospects of the Livescribe Pulse was actually the penultimate one on the subject of smart pens -- at least two alternatives have entered the market. Both are based heavily on reference designs from Israeli companies that have taken a different approach than Livescribe.
Rather than relying on a camera to read small dots on special paper, these pens work with practically any paper. And unlike the bulky Pulse with its ostentatious display, they are practically indistinguishable from normal pens and both come with software that can do a decent job of converting handwriting to text. The tradeoff is that some of the electronics have been offloaded to a small receiver that must be positioned on the paper, creating a two-piece solution.
IOGEAR's Mobile Digital Scribe, powered by Pegasus Technology, is a follow-on from a similar earlier product that required that the receiver be tethered to the PC. The Scribe can still function this way. In fact, when connected to a PC, the pen can be used to scribble (presumably for quick doodles, otherwise why not just use the keyboard?) just as its tethered predecessor could. Writing appears on an on-screen note that appears as soon as the writer begins to write, and the software can have these pages "float" on the screen as sticky notes..Continue reading Switched On: More options for getting from scribble to screen
Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Logitech introduces PS3 Driving Force wireless steering wheel
Filed under: Gaming
Logitech's put out a couple PS3 driving wheels, but the new Driving Force Wireless is the company's first wireless driving controller for Sony's console. The 2.4GHz wheel features a one-piece design with an expandable lap rest so you don't need to clip it onto a table or desk, and there's the usual wheel-mounted d-pad and buttons. Should be out in August for a cool Benny.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Переслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Xbox 360's overhauled Dashboard: the gallery
Filed under: Gaming
Oh yeah, we almost forgot that we have shots of the new Xbox 360 Dashboard -- check 'em out below. Hit up here and here for more on the big fall overhaul that will make your Xbox 360 Dashboard experience basically unrecognizable, for better or worse.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Evidence mounts for August Eee PC carnage with $299 Dell E launchRead | Permalink | Email this | CommentsDoing with a single E what takes ASUS three, Dell's mini netbook looks to be on track for an August kill sprEee. We've already seen Dell's launch timeline and specs, of course, and this morning we've got the hushed whispers of DigiTimes' "market sources" again claiming that the Compal manufactured Dell 8.9-inchers will launch in August for $299. For that price, assuming everything we've heard so far is correct, you'll get an instant-on Linux distro running atop Intel's 1.6GHz Atom processor, a 1,024 x 600 display, 3x USB, a wee SSD, integrated webcam, WiFi, and more in a 0.82-1.22-inch thick sled weighing about 2.2-pounds. With the netbook market now thoroughly saturated, we expect the Dell launch to mark the beginning of an industry shakeout. Any bets on who will survive?
Переслать Сохранить на memori.ru - BAE's GA22 unmanned blimp makes its debut, we love blimps
Filed under: Transportation
We're not sure what's going on here, but we're not going to complain: Blimps are making a comeback. There are powerful hauling blimps, sure, but BAE is hopping on the autonomous systems bandwagon with its nimble GA22. The 22-meter (72 feet) dirigible is meant to carry high-tech surveillance equipment weighing up to 330 pounds at an altitude around 6,500 feet. The unmanned craft could also be used for sporting events, floods, and forest fires, says BAE. Right now the vehicle is radio-controlled but the the ultimate release will be completely autonomous. Unfortunately, this means we can't take a ride, but, as we said, it's still a blimp, and blimps are just straight-up cool.
[Via Danger Room]Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Toshiba announces Centrino 2-based Satellite Pro S300, Tecra M10 and Tecra A10
Filed under: Laptops
Get ready for a flood of Centrino 2 laptops, kids -- hot on the heels of Intel's big announcement and Sony and Lenovo's updated lineups comes Toshiba with the new Satellite Pro S300, Tecra M10 and A10, and Qosmio X305, F55 and Cell-based G55. The Qosmios actually aren't that new -- all three of them were initially announced back in June, but they're actually available now, with the gaming-oriented X305 exclusive to Best Buy. The $1,299 Satellite Pro S300 (pictured) is a little more interesting, with a 2.4GHz P8600 Core 2 Duo on Centrino 2's 1066MHz bus and Intel 4500MD integrated graphics powering a 15.4-inch display, as well as sleep-and-charge USB ports and a docking port. The more business-oriented Tecra lappies also get a similar Centrino 2 treatment, sharing a motherboard design to reduce repair costs. The $1,399 M10 sports a 14.1-inch screen, while the 15.4-inch A10's pricing hasn't been announced. Pictures of the new Tecras after the break.
Read - Satellite Pro S300
Read - Tecra A10 and M10
Read - Qosmio X305
Read - Qosmio G55
Read - Qosmio F55Continue reading Toshiba announces Centrino 2-based Satellite Pro S300, Tecra M10 and Tecra A10
Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Tom's Hardware rescinds SSD power test, finds them more efficient
Filed under: Storage
Looks like Tom's Hardware fessed up and apologized for their slip-up in that recent controversial power test, which found SSDs consuming more juice than their spinning-platter counterparts (or, well, not exactly). We're giving 'em a pass, not just because we've always had a fond place in our heart for Tom's, but because they did another comprehensive SSD test (this time under more consistent conditions) which basically confirms that many newer SSDs are, in fact, power savers in most usage scenarios. Not all drives and scenarios, but many. Tom's also namechecks OCZ's
CoreSATA II SSD (a Samsung in disguise) as the clear winner by a longshot, having "unmatched" power efficiency. Sold.
[Thanks, Chuckles and SNP]Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Lenovo debuts new SL, R, T and W series ThinkPads
Filed under: Laptops
Calm down, would you? It's not like there's a brand new chipset on the scene or anything, Lenovo, what's the hurry? Lenovo just busted out four new or refreshed lines of ThinkPads, in addition to that new X200 we saw earlier, and those four new IdeaPads. It's pure and utter mayhem. First up is the brand new SL series, which is Lenovo's new grab for the small business set, with prices ranging from $699 to $1199, an HDMI port and Blu-ray option for dual purpose friendliness. There's also going to be a super cheap 3G add-on from AT&T and Ericsson for around $30, and WiMax is in the cards as well. SL will be showing up in SL300 (13-inch), SL400 (14-inch) and SL500 (15-inch) flavors. Also new is the W series (pictured), a workstation line being split off from the T series with ATI Mobility FireGL graphics and Display Port. The T series keeps its chops with Switchable Graphics, which lets you switch from discreet to integrated graphics without rebooting the computer, along with Display Port, while the R series holds of the budget end of things. Many models include options for SSD and GPS, and of course they're all Centrino 2 powered. Interestingly, the introduction of the X200 marks the death of standard ratio LCDs -- Lenovo is officially an all widescreen outfit now. The SL400 and SL500 laptops start at $799 and are available now, while the SL300 and all the others hit in August and range from $899 all the way up to the $1,999 W500.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Lenovo busts out new IdeaPad lineup
Filed under: Laptops
That new X200 isn't being left all by its lonesome, not by a long shot. Lenovo is giving its fledgling IdeaPad line quite the shot in the arm, with new Y530, Y430, Y730 and U330 models, designed to give US retail that variety of stock it craves -- and which confuses consumers to no end. The real winner here is the U330 (pictured), a premium IdeaPad of the U110 variety, only this one has a full 13.3-inches of screen, a Centrino 2 processor, HDMI and a built-in optical drive. The Y430, Y530 and Y730 are basically 14.1-inch, 15.4-inch and 17.1-inch versions of the same idea, with WXGA, WXGA and WUXGA resolutions, Blu-ray options, and a corresponding scale in graphics and processor power. The Y430 sticks with integrated graphics, the Y530 is Centrino 2 P7350-based and does up some NVIDIA NB9M GS 256MB graphics, while the Y730 runs a Centrino 2 P8400 processor and ATI M86 ME 512MB graphics, and supports dual 320GB hot-swappable drives. The Y730 comes in entertainment and gaming editions, with the "GameZone" model sporting a secondary display. Pricing is forthcoming, and these all should be landing this fall.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Intel unleashes the Centrino 2 -- finally
Filed under: Laptops
Just when we were about to forget about you, Centrino 2, here you come with your efficient bad self. Intel finally announced the new 802.11 Wi-Fi, integrated graphics-packing mobile platform after delays related to the wireless tech. Centrino 2 will come in two varieties: one for consumers and the vPro platform for the briefcase crew. The chipset can be configured for gamers, using a discrete graphics chip rather than the integrated set, if that's your thing. Of most import (or amusement) is Intel's HUGI (Hurry Up and Get Idle), which it says is the tech behind the Centrino 2's uber-efficiency -- faster speeds mean less time spent doing stuff, of course. It notes that the tech allows for an entire Blu-Ray disc to be played back for two hours on one battery charge. Finally, Intel promises a WiMax version this fall, so if you have the patience, you may want to wait for that barring further delays.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Переслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Lenovo's ThinkPad X200 is 0.8-inches thick, actually affordable
Filed under: Laptops
Gone are the days of selling off homes and loved ones to afford the latest and greatest in laptop tech, Lenovo's new (and well-rumored) ThinkPad X200 takes a cue from the X300's form factor -- though there's no disc drive to speak of -- weighing in at 2.95 pounds and measuring 0.8-inches thick. The screen has been shrunk down to 12.1-inches, and both SSD (64GB) and traditional hard drive options (up to 320GB) are on offer. The X200 runs up to a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo processor, and up to 4GB of RAM, and will include wireless options galore, including UWB, WiMax and GPS. Oh, and that super-sexy asking price? $1,199. We like. It'll be out in August.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Переслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Fujitsu keeps HandyDrive portable HDD line alive with 500GB edition
Filed under: Storage
Father Time isn't slowing things down anytime soon, so it's good to see that Fujitsu is doing its best to keep up. Merely two months after taking the HandyDrive to 400GB, the firm has introduced an all new, totally marvelous 500GB iteration. Featuring the "world's highest capacity 2.5-inch external hard disk drive (likely the MHZ2 BT)," this bus-powered unit hasn't changed a bit in design, but it will hold a half-terabyte of information (in case you missed it the first go 'round). Grab it later this month in Europe, the Middle East and Africa for €229 ($364).
[Via Pocket-lint]Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Sony VAIO hands-on extravaganza
Filed under: Laptops
Sony really bumped out a whole lot of laptop today, but we got a chance to handle each and every one, and came away impressed -- perhaps not blown away, but Sony certainly doesn't seem to be planning on letting the likes of Lenovo run away with the PC laptop design crown. None of the laptops felt astounding light, but they did all feel rather solid to handle, as if crafted out of a single element, instead of cobbled together -- particularly the magnesium alloy-built BZ. We'll have to get some more time with the keyboard to get a real read on them, but we like the shape of the keys and the depth of the action. Something that sort of flew under the radar in Sony's announcement is a new sort of OS X-esque dock at the bottom of the screen, with a row of icons that can be clicked on, or activated by a row of hard buttons above the SR's keyboard. The worst thing we can say about the whole lineup is how particularly chunky the Z looks in profile, despite its 1-inch thickness, but that's just because we've been spoiled by the likes of Lenovo, Apple and Voodoo, and all those ultralights aren't packing near what the Z is. Oh, and let it be known: the glowing power button thing is pretty sexy.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Sony's new VAIO Z, FW, SR and BZ laptops go official
Filed under: Laptops
Leaks, rumors and teasers have told us just about everything we'd ever need to know about Sony's new VAIO lineup before we ever laid eyes on it, but Sony has finally confirmed its new VAIO Z, FW, SR and BZ laptops. They share a common design language, Centrino 2 processors, configuration options and setup software to remove that icky trial ware, and a whole lot of Blu-ray between them. Of particular note is the VAIO Z, which packs a Blu-ray drive and HDMI into a 1-inch thick, 3.4 pound, 13.1-inch 16:9 form factor, and even discreet NVIDIA 9300M graphics and a full size hard drive bay, with an option for dual SSD in a RAID configuration (which is just rubbing it in, if you ask us). The Z, FW and SR keyboards are all of the isolated, raised key variety, which might remind people of the MacBook keyboard, but is actually a design Sony has been toying with for a while now. The 13.3-inch VAIO SR is Sony's bid at bringing its ultraportable line "mainstream" with supposedly aggressive price points, multiple color options, and a four pound form factor which leaves room for discreet graphics, but sadly no Blu-ray. The 16.4-inch VAIO FW, on the other hand, has room for it all, with a 16:9 aspect ratio screen well suited to playing back Blu-ray movies. Finally, the VAIO BZ skips over the home theater fanciness and shows a growing commitment from Sony in the business laptop space. There's a 15.4-inch screen, magnesium alloy case, spill-resistant keyboard, vPRO and all that other fancy security-related business stuff, though no HDMI or Blu-ray to speak of. The BZ and FW start at $1,000, the SR at $1,400, the FW premium at $1,750, and the Z will hit at $1,800, with an SSD option for $2,300. All should be available in the late July / August time frame.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Hello Kitty 1seg portable TV lacks effort, cuteness
Filed under: Portable Video
Word on the street is that Sanrio was looking for new Hello Kitty designers on the West Coast earlier last week, and if this sad little 1seg portable TV is any indication, we can see why the company's in search of fresh talent. Seriously, this is the least cute Hello Kitty gadget we've seen in a while, and we're basically suckers for the lil' imp. Japan-only, and your ¥21,000 ($197) doesn't get you anything special on the inside, either, just a 2.4-inch QVGA screen and built-in stereo speakers with a 4.5-hour battery life. Come on, Kitty -- make us love you again.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Переслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Apple says turn-by-turn GPS coming to iPhone, copy / paste not a high priority
Filed under: Cellphones
There's been a lot of random misinformation about the iPhone 3G floating around out there, like David Pogue's baffling comment that the device's GPS antenna is "too small" to support turn-by-turn directions, and Apple's iPod and iPhone marketing head Greg Joswiak recently sat down with AppScout to clear up some of the confusion. Greg says that Apple has an internal priority list of features for the iPhone, and that the company went as far down the list with the 3G as it could -- and that copy / paste support simply didn't make the cut. Similarly, there are no technical issues preventing turn-by-turn directions, just other "complicated issues" (read: legal agreements) that need to be sorted out, and Josiwak expects developers to "amaze us." as things "evolve." Hopefully that means that nav app TomTom's got in the labs will evolve its way into the wild sometime soon. Finally, Joswiak said that he's not aware of any technical reasons an office suite isn't already in the App Store, but that the lack of a cross-application file structure could impede development. Yeah, and maybe the lack of copy / paste, you think?Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Переслать Сохранить на memori.ru - MSI Wind starts arriving, gets unboxed
Filed under: Laptops
Sure, the MSI Wind's taken its sweet time to start shipping here in the States, but it looks like a few units finally started trickling out last week, and that means its time for a torrent of unboxing pictures and videos to flood the tubes. Adam Smith has the first video we've seen -- head on after the break to watch his very-visible hands pull a black Wind running XP blinking into the world for the first time.
[Thanks, Cameron]Continue reading MSI Wind starts arriving, gets unboxed
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать Сохранить на memori.ru - PSP firmware 4.05 goes live with new visualizers
Filed under: Gaming
Sony's official blog says PSP firmware 4.05, out now, contains "other features" in addition to a couple new music visualizers, but it's not clear what they are, apart from a slightly tweaked XMB animation if you've got a wallpaper set up. Go forth and download -- let us know if there's anything earth-shattering in there, won't you?
[Via Joystiq]Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Fujitsu to launch FLEPia color e-ink e-books in the fall?
Filed under: Handhelds
We first saw Fujitsu's FLEPia e-books with the company's color e-ink tech over a year ago, but rumor has it they're finally getting close to launch. That's the word according to Nikkei, which says that the A4-sized readers won't feature an integrated backlight, but still be able to run for up to 50 hours on a single charge. The WiFi-capable unit is said to cost ¥100,000 ($941), but other specs are still up in the air -- hopefully they'll be changing the name as well.
[Via CrunchGear; warning, read link requires subscription]Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Teclast M26 gets reviewed -- behold its lameness in video form
Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video
Teclast's budget-priced touchscreen-based M26 PMP seemed interesting enough at first, but as more and more details about it trickled out, we quickly got disenchanted by the player. Now, MP4 Nation has confirmed most of our suspicions with a video review of the device. While the reviewer is quick to point out that many of the players problems could be due to its pre-release firmware, it's pretty clear that the player's resistive touchscreen leaves a lot to be desired, with scrolling less than responsive and some tasks requiring numerous taps before the player gets the hint. That's to say nothing of the device's interface lag, the inexplicable button on the front of the player that does nothing but blink annoyingly whenever the touchscreen is in use, or such "features" as a calendar that simply shows you the date. Head on past the break to see for yourself.Continue reading Teclast M26 gets reviewed -- behold its lameness in video form
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Build your own Bluetooth handgun handset, or don't
Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Want to attract attention (and the police) every time you answer your cellphone in public? Then perhaps this build-at-your-own-risk Bluetooth handgun handset project is for you. As far as DIY mods go, this one looks to be simple enough (if somewhat time-consuming), with it involving nothing more than stuffing a disassembled Jabra Bluetooth headset into a suitably realistic-looking airsoft gun, which apparently fits just right so that the trigger operates the call start/end button. If you're still on board, you can find all the necessary details by hitting up the link below.
[Thanks, Elijah]Переслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Dell's Latitude XT tablet goes multi-touch with a free upgrade, offers 128GB SSD for $649
Filed under: Displays, Laptops, Storage
As promised, Dell is offering a free software upgrade for its Latitude XT tablet, unleashing the multi-touch capabilities of its capacitive touch screen at last. The free download allows you to do two finger scrolling, zooming and use programmable double tap functions directly on the screen. Dell's also adding a new 128GB SSD option for $649 to its Precision and Latitude systems, with the XPS and Alienware laptops to follow next week. The Latitude XT software and new SSD drives will be available tomorrow, and Dell promises a brand new Latitude laptop line "in the coming weeks," which we're sure will be taking advantage of Intel's new Centrino 2 chips. Video of multi-touch in action is after the break.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Переслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Netflix on Xbox 360 and fall's revamped Dashboard / Guide details
Filed under: Gaming
US Xbox 360 got some huge news today in Microsoft's new partnership with Netflix, but the Dashboard's got us pretty damned excited, too. We got a chance to sit down with Microsoft, including Shane Kim, VP of Strategy and BizDev for Xbox. Here's what you need to know:
Netflix
- For now, Netflix will only stream in about-SD resolution.
- As Netflix transitions to HD, Microsoft said it stands to reason that streaming HD to the Xbox should be feasible. (Read: eventual.)
- Netflix will be for Xbox Live Gold members only, so you'll be paying that $50 per year if you want it.
- Netflix video sharing ONLY works with other Netflix / Xbox Live Gold subscribers. You can't share video with a Silver member, or who doesn't subscribe to Netflix.
- Microsoft doesn't seem to have concerns about redundant content between Netflix and XBLM, or Netflix cannibalizing XBLM sales. Makes sense -- if you had content available to rent or stream with Netflix, you probably weren't going to pay to rent it on XBLM anyway.
- "No functionality goes away" in new Dash -- so you won't be missing anything you have now.
- Microsoft's Shane Kim says the company has "no plans to create a [Sony] 'Home'-like environment. ... It's about delivering base functionality at the service level." So it sounds like the avatars won't have a Home-like virtual theme-park to run around in.
- No comment was made about Xbox price drops or how long it will take to get to the all-important $199 price point.
- There will be no increase in your number of Xbox Live friends. Psh.
- Don't like the new Dashboard look or avatars? Sorry, sucka, it's a mandatory update. Hey, at least it's free.
- Microsoft didn't have any comment on what it intends to do about the whole modded controller thing.
- The content Marketplace will be overhauled and revamped to ensure it's easier to navigate and much more scalable for the huge amount of content it's got.
Переслать Сохранить на memori.ru - DIY biped robot makes your desk a happier place
Filed under: Robots
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
While some DIY bots understandably creep us out, there's just as many that bring a smile to our face, and this so-called BiPed robot V-3 from Alex V of Instructables definitely falls into the latter camp. Further adding to our appreciation is the fact that this one is built almost entirely from scratch, right down to the custom made framework cut by a CNC machine. You'd be hard pressed to pick it out from line-up of kit robots, however, with it boasting a full range of movement designed to mimic the human lower body which, as you can see above, even extends to it being able to stand on one leg with ease. Be sure to hit up the link below for a couple of videos and, of course, the instructions for building your own.Переслать Сохранить на memori.ru - ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 gets previewed
Filed under: Gaming
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
AMD's ATI Radeon HD 4870 has been a bit of a mystery since word of the card first leaked out alongside the slightly lower-end Radeon HD 4850, but it looks like things are finally clearing up, with AMD itself first getting official about the card and the first hands-on previews of the card now turning up. As [H] Enthusiast reports, it looks like this one was well worth the wait, with it saying that its gameplay experiences with the card were "phenomenal." That includes being able to play Crysis at 1920x1200 with all in-game settings cranked to "high" -- a recipe for disaster on most cards, but apparently more than playable on the 4870 X2 (with some other suitably high end hardware to match, of course). What's more, the site says the card's performance could get even better by the time it's officially released, as its test card was using a beta firmware that still leaves some room for improvement. Until then, you can hit up the link below for all the current numbers.Переслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Microsoft details other 360 improvements, including hard drive game installs
Filed under: Gaming
Microsoft sure had itself a doozy of a press conference this year, but there's still more in store for Xbox 360 users than what was detailed during the keynote. First off, with the upcoming update, Microsoft will let users store and play back games from their hard drives. You'll have to have the disc in your drive for piracy reasons, but it won't be spinning during game play, which means quieter gaming and quicker load times (and more 60GB sales, we thinks, how convenient). Next up, Microsoft will let users make Xbox LIVE Marketplace purchases on the web, which are then automatically downloaded to your 360 for your enjoyment when you get home -- or walk across the room. The old "blades" Dashboard interface will be moved to the new Xbox Guide, which will provide a quick way to access everything on your 360. Finally, the 360 will support the 16:10 aspect ratio over VGA or HDMI, and work in 1440 X 900 and 1680 X 1050 resolutions.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Переслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Hannspree introduces three gimmicky sport LCDs, additional gimmicky LCD
Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment
Okay, so we don't necessarily see the appeal of having a 19-inch LCD TV shaped like a basketball invade the swank minimalism of Engadget HQ, but we're certain some of you need to furnish your basement rec rooms or something, and Hannspree's got you covered with a new trio of sports-themed LCDs. For $279, you get your choice of basketball, soccer ball, or baseball (which, oddly, is black), each of which features the same middle-of-the-road 1280 x 1024 panel with 5ms response time and a 1000:1 contrast ratio. There's also a $239 model called the "slamma," which sports a different 1440 x 900 19-inch panel with a 700:1 contrast ratio. No word on availability, but Hannspree is calling this its "summer lineup," so we're guessing sometime soon. More pics after the break.
Read - Hannspree Basketball
Read - Hannspree Baseball
Read - Hannspree Soccer
Read - Hannspree SlammaContinue reading Hannspree introduces three gimmicky sport LCDs, additional gimmicky LCD
Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Microsoft brings Netflix streaming to the Xbox 360 for Live Gold members
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment
After months of speculation and rumors, Microsoft just announced that it's partnering with Netflix to allow Xbox 360 owners to stream movies from their Netflix queues for no extra charge. Microsoft says the 360 will be the only game system that allows Netflix access for no additional cost -- which isn't entirely accurate, since it sounds like only Live Gold members will get access. Streaming movies can also be shared with your Live party, allowing you to watch content together. Users will have instant access to their Netflix instant access queues, but it's not clear what resolution the content will be streamed at -- we'd guess it's roughly the same DVD-quality res that Roku's Netflix streamer is getting for now, but hopefully that'll change when the service launches in the fall with the new dashboard.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Переслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Microsoft giving the Xbox 360 a totally new Dashboard
Filed under: Gaming
Microsoft just announced at E3 that they'll be giving the Xbox 360 a total software overhaul this fall. "When people turn on their Xbox 360s this fall, they'll get an entirely new interface and Dashboard, an entirely new Xbox through the magic of software," said John Schappert, head of Live services. New features will include those fancy new Mii-like 3D Avatars, a new emphasis on community with IM, video chat, and photo sharing, along with a brand new 3D slide interface for the main Dashboard screen. Avatars will be integrated into your GamerCard, but you can also create a "Live party" and invite your friends, with as many as 8 of your three dimensional homies hanging out at once -- though you're not hanging out in an actual 3D environment. You can use your avatar in certain Live Arcade games like Uno, and even in third party titles such as the upcoming Scene It? title. It sounds like Microsoft is taking cues from the Wii, Sony's Home and Facebook all in one fell swoop, not bad at all.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Engadget & Joystiq live from Microsoft's E3 2008 keynote
Filed under: Gaming
We're here! The line is already mad long, but we must admit, it feels great to have E3 back at the convention center.
9:47 am PT: Alright! We're waiting in line for the MS press conference! We're feigning excitement through gratuitous use of exclamation points!
9:49 am PT: An MS representative asks us if we have our "passports." We assume she means our press badges and isn't about to whisk us to another country. Mind you, we've always wanted to see the Swiss Alps. Oh, and the chocolate and... okay, we're getting sidetracked.
9:51 am PT: So, if you were trying to spot us in this line, we'd be the ones holding laptops in one hand and typing with the other. We keep bumping into the person in front when the line comes to a halt, what with our eyes glued to our screens. Also, person behind us. STOP READING OVER OUR SHOULDERS. ALSO, YOU SMELL BAD.Continue reading Engadget & Joystiq live from Microsoft's E3 2008 keynote
Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Microsoft announces Lips karaoke game with motion-sensitive mics
Filed under: Gaming
We pretty much knew it was coming, but Microsoft just officially announced the Lips karaoke game official. Just like we'd heard, the singalong title will come with a motion-sensitive mic that lights up in time to your voice. The game interface is somewhat similar to Rock Band or Singstar, where you have to hit various pitches accurately to rack up points -- but in addition to the game content, you'll be able to sing along to your own music off a Zune or iPod.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Переслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Microsoft adds Universal, NBC to Xbox Live Marketplace, calls #1 in HD
Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment
Microsoft just announced Universal, and NBC Universal programming is coming to Xbox Live, delivering The Office, Monk, Battlestar Galactica, The Mummy, Bourne Supremacy and others to the service. Xbox Live Video Marketplace now claims over 10,000 movies and TV shows on the marketplace, which it says puts it as the number one HD provider. MGM and Constantin are pushing things forward in Europe, adding 700 new titles to the library starting today. Check out more details from the E3 keynote in the live blog.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Переслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Lucid Logix HYDRA tech brings together any GPUs for powerful matrimonyThere's a lot of tech speak to cut through, but if Lucid Logix's claims are true, we might be looking at a revolution in the high-end gaming segment. Lucid is building a new "real-time distributed processing engine" system on a chip called HYDRA, which can mix and match any GPU from any manufacturer and work with any chipset, and piles it all together for performance scaling that Lucid claims is "near-linear" or "above-linear." It's the above-linear part that particularly makes no sense -- how can you squeeze more power out of cards than is there to begin with? -- but we're gonna give Lucid the benefit of the doubt for the moment and wait for the benchmarks. HYDRA is slated to come to market in the first half of 2009.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
Переслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Nintendo's Wii MotionPlus add-on makes the Wii Remote a true 1:1 motion controller
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals
While we saw it hinted at in patents, Nintendo is springing quite the doozy on us at E3 in the form of its new Wii MotionPlus add-on. Perhaps in a preemptive strike against supposed Wiimote competition from the likes of Microsoft and Sony, Nintendo is beefing up its motion support with this add-on, which is supposed to proved "an unmatched level of precision and immersion," with sensors to supplement the accelerometer and sensor bar to provide 1:1 motion -- as in, I move my arm this much, my character moves his arm that much. So far that's all we know about the unit, Nintendo will be detailing more at its E3 media briefing tomorrow.
[Thanks, Erie T.]Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать Сохранить на memori.ru - ASUS points finger at Intel over lack of Eee PC 901s in the UK
Filed under: Laptops
As if we needed any further developments to muddy the Eee PC waters, it seems that there's a curious lack of Linux-based Eee PC 901s available at stores in the UK at the moment, and ASUS is apparently laying the blame squarely at Intel, not Microsoft. As Register Hardware points out, that word comes after some speculation that Microsoft may have pressured ASUS to push the Windows XP-based Eee PCs more heavily, but an ASUS spokesperson insists that the company produces Linux and XP-based systems in equal amounts. The spokesperson adds, however, that Intel hasn't been able to supply enough Atom processors to allow ASUS to keep up its pace, which seems to suggest that the Linux-based 901s are harder to find simply because they're sold out. It looks like folks in the UK won't have to wait too much longer to get their Linux-fueled netbook fix, however, with some unspecified suppliers now pointing to increased availability in late July.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Переслать Сохранить на memori.ru - Crab Fu's Flapper fish bot creeps us the hell out
Filed under: Robots
Remember that one time when you went fishing with your dad, and you got a bite and lugged the fish onto the dock, only to watch it thrash around on the dock for a little bit like the most pitiful thing alive, so then you felt bad and threw it back, but even then you still knew he would hate you forever for putting him through that? Yeah, well Flapper is that in robot form. It's Crab Fu's latest RC robot project, featuring that trademark uncanny valley look and motion of Crab Fu, in a convenient fish form factor. Video is after the break.
Continue reading Crab Fu's Flapper fish bot creeps us the hell out
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsПереслать Сохранить на memori.ru
Читайте в блогах:
- Смотреть тем, кто занимается ПРЯМЫМИ ПРОДАЖАМИ!!!
- Как получить 503 подписчика с помощью RSS2EMAIL.RU
| rss2email.ru | отписаться: http://www.rss2email.ru/unsubscribe.asp?c=5265&u=159068&r=612724252 управлять всей подпиской: http://www.rss2email.ru/manage.asp |