News - RSS http://feedraider.com/rss-feed/j551f/ T-Mobile Complete: a $300 contract-free BlackBerry Curve 8520 with one month service http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/t-mobile-complete-a-300-contract-free-blackberry-curve-8520-wi/ Good old T-Mobile's on a roll these days with new phone plans, and this one seems perfectly catered to stocking stuffers. The quartet of phones start at $59.99, but so far we know of two: BlackBerry Curve 8520 for $299.99 and the Pearl for $149.99, according to the Best Buy stores we contacted. There's no contract commitment, and according to the press release, the first month is included in the bill from the point the phone's out of the box and activated. We don't know the details of that first month of service (data? texting?), but it's still a pretty penny for an unsubsidized handset. After that second month, of course, T-Mo's probably hoping you'll be enticed to keep with the network. If not already, you should start seeing the phones pop up at local Best Buy and select Walmart locales shortly. Press release after the break.

Continue reading T-Mobile Complete: a $300 contract-free BlackBerry Curve 8520 with one month service

Filed under: Cellphones

T-Mobile Complete: a $300 contract-free BlackBerry Curve 8520 with one month service originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:27:00 GMT Lenovo's ThinkPad X100e gets detailed: AMD Neo-based, not a netbook http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/lenovos-thinkpad-x100e-gets-detailed-amd-neo-based-not-a-netb/ We've already gotten a few brief, mysterious glimpses of Lenovo's thin-and-light ThinkPad X100e (sometimes known as the X200e), but it looks like things are now starting to get a bit more real. Contrary to previous speculation, this one's not, it seems, a ThinkPad netbook, but an "entry ultraportable," which apparently means that it is small, thin and light just like a netbook, and has a "netbook-like price point" -- it's just... not a netbook. Less nebulous are the device's specs, which include an 11.6-inch, 1366 x 768 display, an AMD Athlon Neo processor, support for up to 4GB of RAM, up to a 320GB hard drive, optional 3G and GPS and, of particular note to some particular folks, a distinctly ThinkPad keyboard, trackpad and trackpoint. Still no indication of a release date just yet, but it looks like you will at least be able to get this one in your choice of black, red or white, despite its distinctly business-minded nature.

Filed under: Laptops

Lenovo's ThinkPad X100e gets detailed: AMD Neo-based, not a netbook originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:32:00 GMT Samsung Bada phone to be announced first half of next year http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/samsung-bada-phone-to-be-announced-first-half-of-next-year/ We're still not entirely sure why Samsung feels the need to launch its own mobile operating system while still cranking out Android and Windows Mobile devices, but it seems like things are going full steam ahead: a spokesperson told CNET Asia today that a Bada phone would arrive in the first half of 2010. Sure, that sounds like a long time off, but really it's just six months after the big Bada SDK reveal in December, so we'll have to see if that's enough time for developers to sort things out and release any apps.

[Thanks, Siobhan]

Filed under: Cellphones

Samsung Bada phone to be announced first half of next year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:49:00 GMT Latest SixthSense demo features paper 'laptop,' camera gestures http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/latest-sixthsense-demo-features-paper-laptop-camera-gestures/ We've already seen MIT researcher Pranav Mistry's SixthSense projector-based augmented-reality system in some cool demos, but he just gave a TED talk and his latest ideas are the wildest yet. Forget simple projections, he's moved on to taking photos by just making a box with your fingers, identifying books and products on store shelves and projecting reviews and other information on them, projecting flight schedules on boarding passes, and even a new paper "laptop" concept that works by using a microphone on the paper to sense when you're touching it. It's pretty amazing stuff -- check out his whole talk at the read link.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Latest SixthSense demo features paper 'laptop,' camera gestures originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:11:00 GMT AT&T 'hits' back at Verizon's Map for That campaign with an 'ad' of its own http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/atandt-hits-back-at-verizons-map-for-that-campaign-with-an-ad/ Boy, AT&T sure isn't taking Verizon's Map for That campaign too well. After losing a request for an injunction (for now), the company seems to have decided that the only thing to do in the short term is to start advertising right back at Verizon. Unfortunately, it looks like AT&T threw this one together in a hurry, grabbing a bucket of magnets and a board and sticking them into some abandoned warehouse with Luke Wilson and some Apple-ad-style music. Luke didn't even have time to shave! As for the claims made by Luke's magnetic board, it's hard to take issue with them since they don't really say lot. So AT&T's present and accounted for in this newly minted ad war, but Verizon clearly still has the upper hand -- but this is clearly just the beginning. Check out the 30 second spot after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading AT&T 'hits' back at Verizon's Map for That campaign with an 'ad' of its own

Filed under: Cellphones

AT&T 'hits' back at Verizon's Map for That campaign with an 'ad' of its own originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:31:00 GMT TomTom updated to support iPod touch and original iPhone http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/tomtom-updated-to-support-ipod-touch-and-original-iphone/ Back in much simpler times, TomTom's navigation app had claimed compatibility with all iPhone and iPod touch models. Then suddenly, somewhere along the primrose path to publication, original iPhone and iPod touch support evaporated. But no more. TomTom's pushed an update that allows for turn-by-turn navigation, but of course, you'll still need the car kit to work. Was this the missing link between your $100 and owning this app? [Warning: iTunes link]

[Thanks, Scott M]

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS

TomTom updated to support iPod touch and original iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:09:00 GMT Battery-less remote gets power from button presses, aims for production in 2011 http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/battery-less-remote-gets-power-from-button-presses-aims-for-pro/ You know what you'll be doing in 2011? Everything that you've ever wanted, that's what, 'cause the world as we know will unquestionably end in 2012. Amazingly enough, one of those bucket list items that you'll be able to achieve is to change the channel on your tele without ever slipping a battery into your remote. A prototype clicker was recently shown over in Japan utilizing technologies from NEC and Soundpower; essentially, the remote turns the small vibrations from button presses into power, which it then uses to beam out signals to the nearby set. If all goes well, the two hope to have battery-less remotes shipping with televisions in just two years -- a proposition that surely exasperate the likes of Duracell and Energizer (and enraptures us to no end).

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals

Battery-less remote gets power from button presses, aims for production in 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:38:00 GMT AT&T loses request for injunction against Verizon's Map for That ads http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/atandt-loses-request-for-injunction-against-verizons-map-for-that/ Looks like AT&T's not getting its holiday wish after all -- a federal judge just ruled against Ma Bell's request to have Verizon's Map For That ads pulled off the air. That doesn't mean that this whole thing is over, though: the judge called the ads "sneaky" and said that it was possible people might misunderstand them because "most people who are watching TV are semi-catatonic." Whether or not that's enough to support a legal conclusion that the ads are misleading is a fight for another day -- specifically December 16th, when AT&T will have a second chance to argue its case. Still, this is a big win for Verizon -- everyone ready to be inundated with these ads for the next month?

Filed under: Cellphones

AT&T loses request for injunction against Verizon's Map for That ads originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:07:00 GMT Sprint pulls piping hot Hero update out of the oven http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/sprint-pulls-piping-hot-hero-update-out-of-the-oven/ We don't have details on exactly what has changed yet, but that minor Android 1.5-based update Sprint had announced it'd be pushing out to the Hero has now launched. The best-case scenario would have the SMS issue -- which causes the phone to stay awake when it shouldn't -- get resolved, but until Sprint hands out a proper changelog, it'll be a matter of testing and guessing. Just a thought: if they've managed to squeeze a proximity sensor into the update, that brings 'em up to the speed with the Droid Eris. Hey, it could happen.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Sprint pulls piping hot Hero update out of the oven originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:32:00 GMT Army, Lockheed Martin team up for DisOPS 'battlefield PDAs' http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/army-lockheed-martin-team-up-for-disops-battlefield-pdas/
Remember the Land Warrior program, which only took 15 years and half a billion dollars outfit our troops with high-tech battlefield uniforms? With DisOPS ("distributed operations") Lockheed Martin is taking a different tack. Deployed to Special Forces in Afghanistan, the system is comprised of the Connect software which runs on ruggedized laptop computers, allowing squad leaders to plan missions on a map, and View PDAs that receive info over tactical radio, cellphone, or even WiFi networks. The PDAs provide "friendly force tracking of other team and squad leaders, land navigation tools, photo capture and transmission, and the ability to annotate and share maps in realtime with other leaders." In addition to all that, the handhelds include a sniper detection system for locating the origin of enemy fire and distributing it to other units in the area. Reportedly the system is working quite well -- which means that, barring any further obstacles, DisOPS might see widespread use before 2030.

[Via Wired]

Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops

Army, Lockheed Martin team up for DisOPS 'battlefield PDAs' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:07:00 GMT The next Engadget Show tapes November 22nd with HTC's Drew Bamford and Chris Grant of Joystiq http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/the-next-engadget-show-tapes-november-22nd-with-htcs-drew-bamfo/ The Engadget Show is happening again, humans! Next Sunday, November 22nd, we'll be bringing that live magic back to the stage as we sit down with Drew Bamford (you can read a bit about him here), director of HTC's Innovation Center (the place where things like the Sense UI are born). We'll also be joined by Joystiq's Editor-in-chief Chris Grant for a special roundtable discussion focused on gaming. As a bonus, we've got giveaways for everyone in the audience, plus one of the lucky attendees will walk away with that Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 bundle we just got our hands on!

The show takes place at the Tishman Auditorium at Parsons The New School for Design. As you may already know, we film live in front of an audience once a month -- but if you can't make it, don't worry. We're bringing the video back home to Engadget (and as a free download here, in the iTunes Store, or the Zune Marketplace) for your viewing pleasure.

The beautiful venue (which you can see in a photo after the break) is located at 66 W. 12th Street between 5th and 6th Aves. Seating is limited and tickets will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis -- which means if you want to join us in the audience for the show, you'll have to arrive early and be prepared for a little wait.

Here are the facts you need to know about the show:

  • The show is graciously sponsored by Nokia, and hosted by Parsons The New School for Design
  • The total show length will be around an hour
  • The amazing Glomag will be performing live!

Here is what you need to know if you want to be part of the audience:

  • There is no admission fee -- tickets are completely free
  • The event is all ages
  • The venue seats just over 450 people
  • Parsons students are welcomed, and we encourage them to come!
  • Tickets will be available for pickup at the Tishman Auditorium at 2PM on the 22nd, and we're strongly encouraging people to get their tickets and not stand in line -- if you have a ticket, you'll have a seat!
  • You'll need to hold onto your ticket stub to be eligible for the giveaways
  • You cannot pick up tickets for other people -- if you want your friend to get a ticket, bring your friend!
  • The show begins at 5PM, and doors will open at 4:30PM

If you're a member of the media who wishes to attend, please contact us at: engadgetshowmedia [at] engadget.com, and we'll try to accommodate you. All other non-media questions can be sent to: engadgetshow [at] engadget.com.

Continue reading The next Engadget Show tapes November 22nd with HTC's Drew Bamford and Chris Grant of Joystiq

Filed under: Announcements

The next Engadget Show tapes November 22nd with HTC's Drew Bamford and Chris Grant of Joystiq originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:45:00 GMT Microsoft leaks a screenshot of Windows Mobile... something http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/microsoft-leaks-a-screenshot-of-windows-mobile-something/ Microsoft's been pretty cagey with the future of Windows Mobile so far, but apparently the Office Mobile 2010 team just doesn't care -- in addition to leaking a new interface in that confidential slide deck last month, they've now included this screen shot on the Office Mobile 2010 beta website. Here's what's wild: this design language completely matches the first set of Windows Mobile 7 leaks we saw nearly two years ago, so either Microsoft hasn't made any changes in that time, or what we're seeing here is something else entirely. Combine that with rumors that WinMo 7 isn't due to hit until the end of next year, and we're starting to think there's something bigger afoot here -- the only other alternative is that Microsoft has waiting nearly three years to launch what's little more than a refresh of its current interface, and even Redmond can't be that slow to execute... can it?

[Via IntoMobile]

Filed under: Cellphones

Microsoft leaks a screenshot of Windows Mobile... something originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:27:00 GMT MSI's 21.5-inch multitouch Wind Top AE2220 all-in-one now shipping http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/msis-21-5-inch-multitouch-wind-top-ae2220-all-in-one-now-shippi/ MSI's 21.5-inch multitouch Wind Top AE2220 all-in-one now shipping MSI is on a roll with its Wind Top line of all-in-one machines, the AE2220 being the latest and, for the moment at least, the greatest. Its 21.5-inch screen (curiously .1'' smaller than when originally announced) supports multitouch, backed by Windows 7 Home Premium to ensure you'll never have a completely smudge-free image coming from the ION chipset. 4GB of DDR2 memory is included along with either a 2.2GHz T6600 or 2.1GHz T4300 Intel processor, while storage is now provided by a 500GB drive. Dual PCIe expansion slots gives it some hope of being upgradeable in the future, and VESA wall mount compatibility means you won't even have to clean up your desk. It hasn't shown up at retailers just yet, but Amazon is still listing a pre-order page at $699, $50 under MSRP and what we'd consider to be a very fair price indeed.

Filed under: Desktops, Displays

MSI's 21.5-inch multitouch Wind Top AE2220 all-in-one now shipping originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:16:00 GMT OCZ's Colossus desktop SSD line ships next week http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/oczs-colossus-desktop-ssd-line-ships-next-week/ OCZ Technology has been trumpeting its Colossus SSD desktop solution since June, but due to some strange issues with the housing that have been troubling engineers for the past few months, the company has been forced to quietly push back the expected release date. At any rate, the company has informed us that the drives -- which will arrive in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB flavors and tout maximum read / writes rates of 260MB/s -- will begin shipping to retailers "next week." If you're lucky, you might catch one or two e-tailers selling their stock early, but first you'll need to figure out where exactly that $300, $650, $1,200 or $2,200 (in order of mention) is going to come from.

Filed under: Storage

OCZ's Colossus desktop SSD line ships next week originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:52:00 GMT Rihanna kitchen scale features iPod dock, Heavy D's scale plays vinyl http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/rihanna-kitchen-scale-features-ipod-dock-heavy-ds-scale-plays/ If you haven't yet invested in an iPod dock for the kitchen, the kids at ADE (a German company that manufactures cooking equipment for commercial and home use) have something right up your alley. The Rihanna kitchen scale features an iPod dock, an LCD display, and a 2 watt speaker that sits demurely beneath glass weighing area. This bad boy will handle up to 11 pounds (graduated in .04 ounce steps). Look for it soon-ish for around $105. And no, it has nothing to do with the popular recording artist of the same name.

[Via CNET]

Continue reading Rihanna kitchen scale features iPod dock, Heavy D's scale plays vinyl

Rihanna kitchen scale features iPod dock, Heavy D's scale plays vinyl originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:28:00 GMT XPERIA X10 hands-on: lukewarm edition (now with video!) http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/xperia-x10-hands-on-lukewarm-edition/ We've seen the new Android-based XPERIA X10 from Sony Ericsson at a fast pace and a snail's pace, but have we ever seen it so stunningly middle of the road? We just got a chance to play with the phone in person for the second time, and from our random sampling of three or four different handsets, it seems that performance is very contingent upon how much content is loaded into the device and what particular thing it's trying to perform. Sometimes we'd fly through the stacks of faces, while other times we'd sit there waiting for the simplest thumbnails to load up. The good news is that we have until next year to see this thing really come together, and the word is that the software is improving and at a rapid pace. The big change about this phone is the "Nexus" UX platform, which actually all takes place in two "apps" at the moment, Timescape and Mediascape. Timescape is an integrated view for social networking and messaging, with an "infinite view" to see all types of communications for a particular person, while Mediascape is a more tame media app with a modicum of internet and social integration. It all seems very logically placed, and we like the fact that SE hasn't really sacrificed the Android experience -- you can still do Gmail and the Android Market and so forth, with very familiar UIs -- but it's going to have to be a lot more bulletproof before it hits the market if Sony Ericsson really expects us to use this day to day. Oh, also: the soft keyboard is terrible. We hear they're working on it, but boy does it need work.

Update: We've added the video below, go check it out!

Gallery: XPERIA X10 hands-on: lukewarm edition

Continue reading XPERIA X10 hands-on: lukewarm edition (now with video!)

Filed under: Cellphones

XPERIA X10 hands-on: lukewarm edition (now with video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:03:00 GMT Transcend introduces 1.5TB StoreJet 35T external hard drive http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/transcend-introduces-1-5tb-storejet-35t-external-hard-drive/ It ain't flashy, but so long as you don't ever plan on having more than 1.5TB of junk to store on an external hard drive, Transcend's latest should do the trick. The StoreJet 35T promises average write speeds of 42MB/s, and the one-touch backup feature enables your mind to be at ease with the simplest of gestures. You'll also get intelligent backup scheduling, StoreJet Elite software that offers 256-bit AES file and folder encryption and... well, little else. Mum's the word on pricing and availability, but for those who find this one too rich for their blood, a 1TB model should be landing soon as well.

[Via FarEastGizmos]

Filed under: Storage

Transcend introduces 1.5TB StoreJet 35T external hard drive originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:41:00 GMT Next-generation Flip Video camcorder rumored to boast WiFi http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/next-generation-flip-video-camcorder-rumored-to-boast-wifi/ Oh c'mon, don't act surprised. It's just the natural evolution of things. Sony already upended the pocket camcorder market by adding GPS to one of its models, and now with Cisco at the helm (who, by the way, is a networking giant), it looks as if Flip Video's next product will sport an internal WiFi module. Granted, we were already assuming as much after listening to Pure Digital's founder speak of the device's future post-acquisition, but word on the street has it that a new Flip with WiFi will land sometime in 1H 2010. Furthermore, a Cisco spokesperson has been quoted over at Pocket-lint as saying that a new edition will feature "a large screen that slides to reveal the record and menu buttons underneath." We're guessing that we'll hear more about this mythical product as CES draws near, but that MinoHD you were about to buy? Yeah, might wanna lay off.

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Next-generation Flip Video camcorder rumored to boast WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:18:00 GMT Dual Electronics XML8110 in-dash iPhone dock announced http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/dual-electronics-xml8110-in-dash-iphone-dock-announced/ It always seemed to us that plugging in your iPod with a cable (or worse yet, an FM tuner or cassette adapter) was an inelegant solution to listening to your Namesakes Series MP3 audiobooks on the road (the shorter works of Washington Irving as read by Dr. J, for example). Lucky for us, the motor heads from Dual Electronics have devised the XML8110. This 200 watt AM/FM docking station sits in your dash under the guise of a mild-mannered car stereo, featuring a solid state "mechless" design, optional steering control input, remote control, Bluetooth for hands-free operation with caller ID, and more. Coming soon for a reported $99, with an iPhone app in the works. Now all you need is some wheels! get a closer look after the break.

[Via Dvice]

Continue reading Dual Electronics XML8110 in-dash iPhone dock announced

Filed under: Transportation

Dual Electronics XML8110 in-dash iPhone dock announced originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:54:00 GMT Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: GPS devices http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/engadgets-holiday-gift-guide-gps-devices/ Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! The team here is well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties of the seasonal shopping experience, and we want to help you sort through the trash and come up with the treasures this year. Below is today's bevy of hand curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season.

Look, we all know "that guy / gal." The one that never seems to end up at a meeting place on time, who incidentally is the same one that always gets tied up at the local fuel station asking for "directions." We've always heard that true friends don't let friends drive sans a robotic navigator, and if your BFF is still traversing the highways without any sort of GPS device on board, it's time for that situation to be remedied. There's a whole slew of options out there, so we'll be breaking 'em down as best we can based on how much dough you're willing to spend. Whatever you decide, just make sure you get one with the maps of your own country; after all, you wouldn't want that special someone to end up like this guy, right? Read on!

Continue reading Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: GPS devices

Filed under: GPS

Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: GPS devices originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:10:00 GMT Palm Pixi one step closer to free, now $25 on Amazon http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/palm-pixi-one-step-closer-to-free-now-25-on-amazon/ Start placing your bets folks,'cause it now looks like its almost certainly no longer a question "if" the Palm Pixi will drop to a free-on-contract price, but "when?" The latest stop on the saga is none other than Amazon, which is now offering the webOS-based phone for a mere $24.99 with a service plan, beating Walmart's already bargain price by a full five dollars -- which should be just enough to let you buy a second Pixi next month at the rate things are going.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Cellphones

Palm Pixi one step closer to free, now $25 on Amazon originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:43:00 GMT Qualcomm Mirasol-equipped color e-book reader said to be on track for late 2010 http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/qualcomm-mirasol-equipped-color-e-book-reader-said-to-be-on-trac/ Qualcomm's Mirasol displays have already found their way into quite a few products, but the company looks to really be branching out into some new territory with its latest prototype: an e-book reader with a full-color, 5.7-inch display. Of course, Qualcomm isn't planning to sell this one itself, and it isn't revealing any OEM partners just yet, but it has set the somewhat ambitious target of getting it on the market in the "latter part of 2010." From the looks of it, however, it doesn't seem like it'll have too much trouble attracting interest, considering that the XGA (220ppi) Mirasol display is not only full-color, but allows for video playback, is supposedly readable in direct sunlight, and reportedly has a "minimal impact" on battery life. Other details on the e-reader itself are expectedly light (and subject to change), but you can get a closer look at it courtesy of SlashGear at the link below.

Filed under: Displays, Handhelds

Qualcomm Mirasol-equipped color e-book reader said to be on track for late 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:19:00 GMT NVIDIA's Fermi-based GeForce 100 GPU makes a Twitter appearance http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/nvidias-fermi-based-geforce-100-gpu-makes-a-twitter-appearance/ We'd been hearing that NVIDIA's Fermi chips had been delayed, but they're apparently far enough along for spokesperson Brian Burke to tweet this image of the new Fermi-based GeForce 100 GPU running the Unigine Heaven DX11 benchmark earlier today. That's certainly one way to hit back at ATI's launch of the fastest graphics card ever, the Radeon HD 5970, but we'd much rather have some hard info to work with. We've pinged NVIDIA, we'll let you know if we hear anything.

[Via bit-tech; thanks, Alex]

Filed under: Gaming

NVIDIA's Fermi-based GeForce 100 GPU makes a Twitter appearance originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:57:00 GMT ASUS ships Windows Home Server-packin' TS mini NAS drive http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/asus-ships-windows-home-server-packin-ts-mini-nas-drive/ The Windows Home Server train has all but stopped this year, but with CES just around the bend (and Microsoft's software engineers free from the burden of readying Windows 7 for launch), it looks as if the steam is picking up once more. Hot on the heels of its first 3D laptop, ASUS has introduced its TS mini NAS drive for home media junkies. Outfitted with a 1.66GHz Atom N280 processor, 1GB or 2GB of DDR2 RAM, a gigabit Ethernet socket, six USB 2.0 ports, an eSATA connector and a smattering of LED indicators, the drive can be purchased as we speak in 500GB and 2TB editions. Aside from streaming multimedia throughout your home network, the device can also back up ten total PCs automatically and subtly make you dependent on its reliability. Which, as you know so well, is just a precursor for bowing down when the Robot Apocalypse gets underway.

Continue reading ASUS ships Windows Home Server-packin' TS mini NAS drive

Filed under: Storage

ASUS ships Windows Home Server-packin' TS mini NAS drive originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:34:00 GMT IBM simulates cat's brain, humans are next http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/18/ibm-simulates-cats-brain-humans-are-next/ Almost exactly a year ago we noted DARPA pouring nearly $5 million into an IBM project to develop a computer capable of emulating the brain of a living creature. Having already modeled half of a mouse's brain, the researchers were at that time heading toward the more ambitious territory of feline intelligence, and today we can report on how far that cash injection and extra twelve months have gotten us. The first big announcement is that they have indeed succeeded in producing a computer simulation on par, in terms of complexity and scale, with a cat's brain. The second, perhaps more important, is that "jaw-dropping" progress has been made in the sophistication and detail level of human brain mapping. The reverse engineering of the brain is hoped to bring about new ways for building computers that mimic natural brain structures, an endeavor collectively termed as "cognitive computing." Read link will reveal more, and you can make your own cyborg jokes in the comments below.

Filed under: Science

IBM simulates cat's brain, humans are next originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:11:00 GMT