Engadget

Tokyo robosuit could make you the sack lifting champion

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:11:00 EST

In Japan, the ultimate merit of a robotic suit is measured in sacks of rice. We've seen it before with the HAL-5. The latest suit created by students at Tokyo's University of Science provides enough assistance to the wearer's back to lift an additional 15 to 20 kilograms (that's 33 to 44 pounds) -- in other words, another two bags of rice for five in total. The university's previous robosuit was heavier and more bulky by comparison, in that it provided assistance to both the wearers back and arms (though clearly some support is provided based on the image above). The suit will ultimately benefit factory workers or those with physical limitations when it goes into production sometime in 2010. Outstanding. Surprisingly, nobody from the university seems willing to talk about that kid with sawblade arms in the corner.

Tokyo robosuit could make you the sack lifting champion originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buffalo busts out its first 12x Blu-ray burner, powered by USB 3.0

Paul Miller — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:24:00 EST

Sure, your computer doesn't have a USB 3.0 plug, and there's no such thing as a 12x Blu-ray disc for mass consumption just yet, but we shouldn't let those pesky details get in the way of progress. Buffalo just announced the BR-X1216U3, which is the "world's first" (er, not exactly, but anyways...) 12x Blu-ray burner, and which incidentally pulls off its wondrous feats through the power of USB 3.0. Of course, it's backward compatible with USB 2.0, for burn speeds up to 7x, but with 12x on the table that's just slumming it. The drive is out now in Japan for 39,100 yen (about $448 US).

Buffalo busts out its first 12x Blu-ray burner, powered by USB 3.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EU closes antitrust investigation into Qualcomm, doesn't levy fines

Darren Murph — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:08:00 EST

Qualcomm has spent an awful lot of time over the past few years dealing with lawsuits and nastygrams, but it looks as if things will be totally different in the new decade. Just months after Qualcomm and Broadcom settled their differences, the European Commission has agreed to drop a four-year antitrust investigation without levying the first fine or absolving the company. The reason? The entity stated that "companies that objected to Qualcomm's pricing for its technology have all withdrawn their complaints or are planning to withdraw them." Sounds like a reasonable reason to let bygones be bygones, no?

EU closes antitrust investigation into Qualcomm, doesn't levy fines originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pandora cases start arriving, production enters 'so close you can smell it' stage

Darren Murph — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:10:00 EST

The elusive Pandora handheld and the Phantom gaming system have a lot in common. Thankfully, there's one critical difference, and that's the fact that the dutiful souls behind what's sure to become the world's next favorite pocket gizmo actually have some proof that mass production is tantalizingly near. The latest update has quite a few images of the final mold, and we're also told that mass production has begun on the mainboards. All that's left to do is add a touch of paint, snap a few things together and yell "Hello World!" for all the world to hear. Hit the read link if you're badly in need of getting some drool out of your system.

[Thanks, Andrew]

Pandora cases start arriving, production enters 'so close you can smell it' stage originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MSI X-Slim X430 gets an Athlon Neo CPU, Windows 7 and Blu-ray

Darren Murph — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:16:00 EST

AMD spoiled MSI's surprise a bit by snagging an X-Slim X430 early for its VISION gala back in September, but now that Windows 7 is out and about, MSI has decided to officialize its latest thin-and-light. Unlike most of its rivals, this one shuns Intel's CULV lineup and instead relies on a dual-core AMD Athlon Neo X2 CPU, and with Win7 Home Premium at the helm, performance shouldn't be too much of an issue when it comes to handling basic tasks. There's also a 14-inch display (1,366 x 768), 2GB of RAM, a 1.3 megapixel webcam, gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, HDMI / VGA sockets, an SD card slot, a 320GB or 500GB HDD and even an optional Blu-ray drive (albeit an external one). 4 and 8-cell batteries will also be available, and at 3.3 pounds, we're guessing you won't need to bulk up before slapping this in your knapsack.

MSI X-Slim X430 gets an Athlon Neo CPU, Windows 7 and Blu-ray originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Friday deals roundup: Best Buy, Lenovo, Verizon and more

Paul Miller — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:31:00 EST

Just when you thought you'd seen enough of Black Friday deals (not to mention insightful analysis), the stragglers drop by to make you rethink the whole crazy day. Take this $197 HP G60, for instance. The laptop had been sighted for $300 at Walmart, but face it: this sub-$200 pricetag has you thinking about braving an early morning line for one of the five per store that will be available on Friday. Meanwhile Lenovo's got some pretty steep discounts across nearly its whole lineup, Verizon wants to put you in a netbook for $30, and Amazon has some pretty great deals on games -- including a PS3 bundled with Killzone 2 for $299. A lot of the online stuff starts tonight and tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled. Or be lazy and eat yourself into a coma tomorrow, we promise not to judge.

Bonus: Here's a list of our most recent other Black Friday round-ups.

Black Friday deals roundup: Walmart, Target and NewEgg
Black Friday deals bonanza round up
Black Friday ads leaking all over town, we've rounded them up
Sears Black Friday ad revealed, we'll be sleeping off our tryptophan hangovers

Black Friday deals roundup: Best Buy, Lenovo, Verizon and more originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS' USB 3.0-equipped P6X58D Premium motherboard now available

Donald Melanson — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:39:00 EST

Eager to get in all the USB 3.0 hard drives, SSD drives and... other hard drives cropping up these days? Then you're in luck, as ASUS' brand new, USB 3.0-ready P6X58D Premium motherboard is now finally available to order. Of course, being an early adopter doesn't come cheap, and this particular motherboard will run you a hefty $309.99 from Newegg. That will get you a board that runs with the best of 'em, however, including support for a Core i7 processor, room for up to 24GB of RAM, three PCI-Express 2.0 slots, a pair of 6Gb/s SATA interfaces, four plain old USB 2.0 ports and, most importantly, two for USB 3.0. Setting up a rig? Feel free to let us know how it works out in comments.

[Thanks, James]

ASUS' USB 3.0-equipped P6X58D Premium motherboard now available originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Entelligence: Black Friday

Michael Gartenberg — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST

Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he'll explore where our industry is and where it's going -- on both micro and macro levels -- with the unique wit and insight only he can provide.

Black Friday is nearly here with a legion of new gadgets, devices and products all designed to seduce you with technology. Thousands of gadgets are released each year promising to enhance our lives, increase productivity and deliver a sound ROI. Often, however, it seems that many products are released before they're ready for the mainstream and any positives are negated by poor design, buggy code, or just being too far off the curve. This is the pitfall of the early adopter, but remembering Gartenberg's First Law of Consumer Electronics can help avoid some of this pain when you're doing your holiday shopping.

Remember Gartenberg's Three Laws? We're only interested in the First Law today: "There is a worldwide market of 50,000 for anything." Unless you are part of this group of 50,000 -- namely folks that install operating systems on a Sunday afternoon as a form of social entertainment -- you need to look beyond technology for the sake of technology and see if what you're about to purchase meets the three criteria below. If it doesn't, you might want to wait for version 3.0.

Continue reading Entelligence: Black Friday

Entelligence: Black Friday originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC HD2 review

Joshua Topolsky — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:37:00 EST

When Microsoft finally launched Windows Mobile 6.5 earlier this year, there may have been lots of fanfare, but there was little honest excitement. After a tepid showing at MWC in Barcelona followed by the proper launch this October, no one was exactly up in arms over the OS, though support from the big M's partners was characteristically plentiful. Still, there was nary a ray of light to be seen in the otherwise bleak and basic landscape of handset offerings... until the HD2 came along. In August of this year, HTC showed off what seemed to be one of the few Windows Mobile devices capable of generating honest enthusiasm. The massive, full touchscreen device boasts impressive specs: a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, a generous 4.3-inch, 800 x 480 capacitive WVGA touchscreen display, a 5 megapixel camera, GPS, and lots of other bells and whistles. But the centerpiece here isn't the hardware, it's HTC's totally revamped user interface, Sense, which doesn't just hide Windows Mobile 6.5 -- it all but zaps it out of existence. Sadly for Microsoft, that's the most enticing part of this equation. So, is the HD2's new face enough to quell the bad vibes of Windows Mobile and make the platform seem viable again, or is that a challenge which takes more than just a coat of paint? We've taken a hard look at the phone... so read on to find out.

Gallery: HD2 hands-on

Continue reading HTC HD2 review

HTC HD2 review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Programmer adds IE 9 graphics acceleration to Firefox

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:01:00 EST

Not so fast, Internet Explorer! We know that you have great things in the works for IE 9 -- including Direct2D GPU acceleration, the 2D / vector graphics API that we first laid eyes on in Windows 7. And believe us, that got our attention -- as well as the attention of Mozilla programmer Bas Schouten. It seems that over the weekend, the young man successfully loaded Direct2D support into an alpha build of Firefox 3.7 -- just days after you announced its inclusion in the next version of your web browser. "Things are looking very promising for Direct2D" and Firefox, said Schouten, although "older PCs with pre-D3D10 graphics cards and WDDM 1.0 drivers will not show significant improvements." And we thought that accelerometer support was wild!

Programmer adds IE 9 graphics acceleration to Firefox originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows Mobile looks to be getting new native keyboard in 6.5.3

Donald Melanson — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:28:00 EST

It's not exactly a wild accusation to say that the current native on-screen keyboard in Windows 6.5 is, well, bad, and it looks like Microsoft has now picked up on what HTC and others have been not-so-subtly hinting at. While's it's obviously still not official subject to change, that fresh new keyboard you see above has been turned up in Windows Mobile 6.5 build 28002 by the folks at XDA, and is likely similar to what should eventually hit the public in Windows Mobile 6.5.3. They also say that since the source is in a DLL file, the keyboard is prime for some customization -- we'll take ours with the "o" and "p" in their proper place, thanks.

Windows Mobile looks to be getting new native keyboard in 6.5.3 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keepin' it real fake, part CCXLIII: faux MacBook Air review (video)

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:59:00 EST

Our good friends at Shanzai.com have recently got their hands on what they believe to be the king of all MacBook Air KIRFs, and put it through the ringer. Expecting a laugh riot? Not so fast -- what we have here is a pretty decent netbook, apparently. Features include an Intel Atom N280, 13-inch display, good build quality, a form factor similar in size and weight to Apple's original, a real chicklet keyboard, a remote control, and I/O options rivaling the original (including an Ethernet port, two USB ports, and HDMI). Not bad for $260. But don't take our word for it -- peep the video after the break for the whole sordid tale.

Continue reading Keepin' it real fake, part CCXLIII: faux MacBook Air review (video)

Keepin' it real fake, part CCXLIII: faux MacBook Air review (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Camangi WebStation website goes live, orders do not

Donald Melanson — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:34:00 EST

It still won't sell you one, but Carmangi has just launched the official website for its Android-based WebStation tablet / MID, and cleared up a few remaining details in the process. As we'd heard, this one packs a 7-inch glass touchscreen and some of the usual niceties like WiFi and GPS, but it looks like the rest of the specs are decidedly par for the course, including a 624MHz Marvell PXA303 processor, 128MB of RAM, 256MB of flash storage, and 3G connectivity in the form of a USB dongle only. You will get a complimentary 8GB microSD card to boost that storage, however, and you'll soon apparently be able to get it in your choice of pink or black in addition to the basic white -- the company even has its own "Camangi Market" for apps, though it's looking a little sparse, and not all that unique at the moment.

Filed under: Handhelds

Camangi WebStation website goes live, orders do not originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LessLoss BlackBody: improve your sound for just $959 and your sense of reason

Nilay Patel — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:06:00 EST

The high-end audio market has always been more about marketing than about music, but it's hard to say if we've ever seen a product as phenomenally insane as the LessLoss BlackBody, a $959 block of plastic that designer Louis Motek says "takes advantage of the quantum nature of particle interaction" to improve your stereo's sound quality by simply being in the same room. How? "Your gear's radiation is transformed into room-temperature blackbody radiation." Yeah -- and that's just the tip of this crazy iceberg. We can't say we believe it for a second, but LessLoss says that the BlackBody is so effective at altering "electromagnetic ambient conditions" that the quality improvement is obvious to "even non-audiophiles" listening to "a noisy home PC playing through your average SoundBlaster." That sounds like a challenge to us -- hit us up, LessLoss.

LessLoss BlackBody: improve your sound for just $959 and your sense of reason originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How-to: get music, videos, and photos off your iPod or iPhone

Ross Miller — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST

To think, it's been over five years since we last tackled how to get music off your iPod, as opposed to the other way around. Back then, the classic model had only recently added the infamous click wheel (while still rocking the monochrome screen, mind you), iPod nano was still called the mini, and viewing photos was a brand new feature worthy of having its own line. It's time to take another look at how to transfer media of all sorts -- audio, video, and pictures -- from a variety of iPods and iPhones back to your Windows or Mac OS X machine.

Jump to: Windows | OS X

How-to: get music, videos, and photos off your iPod or iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Norway's Statkraft kick-starts world's first osmotic power plant

Donald Melanson — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:08:00 EST

It may only produce enough power to heat an electric kettle at the moment, but Norway's Statkraft says that its new, first-of-its-kind osmotic power plant could be producing as much energy as a small wind farm by 2015, and continue to grow from there on out. To do that, the company guides fresh water and salt water into separate chambers that are divided by an artificial membrane, and when the process of osmosis takes place -- salt molecules pulling freshwater through the membrane -- the pressure is increased on the sea water side. That, of course, doesn't get you power on its own, but the pressure is apparently enough to drive a power generating turbine, and if you have enough of those you have a power plant. A bit of effort, to be sure, but the process doesn't emit any greenhouse gases, is completely renewable, and it doesn't depend on the wind or the sun being out.

Norway's Statkraft kick-starts world's first osmotic power plant originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pomera DM20 Digital Memo puts your old Brother to shame

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:39:00 EST

If the Pomera Digital Memo DM10 appeals to anyone (and we figure it must appeal to someone), you can chalk it up to the device's narrow scope: it's for writin' with, and for folding up and puttin' in your pocket -- and that's it. The DM20, our friends at Engadget Japan tell us, expands the brief ever-so-slightly, bumping up storage to 89MB, upping the display to 5-inches, and adding text to 2D barcode conversion, while keeping same 20+ hours operation with 2 AAA batteries. Seriously, though, in the end it's really just a word processor. Is that how you want to take notes? We didn't think so. Expect to see it hit the shelves in Japan on December 11 for ¥34,650 (just shy of $400).

Pomera DM20 Digital Memo puts your old Brother to shame originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Accessories

Darren Murph — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:10:00 EST

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.

What luck. The Secret Santa recipient that you drew already has everything, so there's little you can buy him / her that they'll actually be impressed with. Thankfully, the peripheral market is here for you, and while some may considering these things "trinkets," others will be downright giddy to unwrap 'em. And whether you'd care to admit it or not, these are easily the most fun to shop for. Yeah, we said it -- what of it? Hop on past the break for a few recommendations on knickknacks, or "accessories," as it were.

Continue reading Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Accessories

Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide: Accessories originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Inbrics announces Android MID, promises 'inspirational moments' (video)

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:44:00 EST

Inbrics, a company known in Seoul for its VoIP solutions, looks set to rock your world with an Android MID early next year at CES. All we have for you at present are the barest of specs, machine translated Korean PR that declares "a full convergence of the future," and one of those vague, uplifting videos that demonstrates the myriad of ways that its one platform can dramatically change your life -- without ever really telling you what it does. The device itself is a QWERTY landscape slider that features an AMOLED touchscreen, GPS, compass, WiFi, and an ARM Cortex A8 800MHz processor. Experience the inspirational moment after the break.

Continue reading Inbrics announces Android MID, promises 'inspirational moments' (video)

Inbrics announces Android MID, promises 'inspirational moments' (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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4iThumbs overlay adds a tactile keyboard to your iPhone... sorta (video)

Darren Murph — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:10:00 EST

The iPhone keyboard (or the lack thereof) has been a polarizing point for many, and while we've seen a workaround or two in our day, we've yet to see a solution to the lack of tactility as beautifully simple as this. 4iThumbs is a screen overlay that adds minuscule bumps on your iPhone display -- bumps that correspond to where the keys are when using the vertical keyboard. 'Course, these things are apt to bug you when using the horizontal keyboard (or no keyboard at all), but we're guessing the heavy texters in the crowd won't mind. Have a look at the videos below the break for a better idea of what you're about to get yourself into. Oh, and be sure to pick up a pair of Awethumbs while you're at it -- we hear these two go great together.

Update: A horizontal version is available, hooray!

Continue reading 4iThumbs overlay adds a tactile keyboard to your iPhone... sorta (video)

4iThumbs overlay adds a tactile keyboard to your iPhone... sorta (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tony Hawk: Ride prototype skateboards employ arcade buttons, duct tape, love

Darren Murph — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:41:00 EST

If you managed to catch the last Engadget Show, you inevitably saw our own Paul Miller carve it up a bit on Tony Hawk: Ride. Of course, Mr. Miller is known 'round these circles as a "professional skater," so there's a solid chance he could've handled just about anything the guys and gals at Activision threw his way. The reality of the matter is that not everyone feels safe and secure on something resembling a skateboard, and now we're being let in on the world of prototypes that were used to land on the final design. Within the read link you'll find randomly placed arcade buttons, trucks with no wheels, a terrifying amount of sensors and a comical amount of duct tape. Yeah -- even the whiz kids that make your dreams a reality start with duct tape. Go on, have a peek if you're in disbelief.

Tony Hawk: Ride prototype skateboards employ arcade buttons, duct tape, love originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DroboPro RAID array causes reviewer to fall madly in love (video)

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:12:00 EST

Data Robotics' RAID solutions have always been a cut above the rest -- and a little more expensive, and better looking, for that matter. As one clearly ecstatic reviewer at PC Perspective will attest, the DroboPro even does you one better, sporting eight bays of storage, extremely effective cooling, and support for FireWire, USB and Gigabit Ethernet connections. Of course, no product is perfect -- and here the lack of eSATA and nearly $1,500 price tag leave something to be desired. Your inner gadget hound (sadist) will surely delight in the insane amount of torture testing this device endured for this appraisal, and you'll be pleased to know that the array came out on top. Hit the read link to get started -- but not before you check out the video after the break.

Continue reading DroboPro RAID array causes reviewer to fall madly in love (video)

DroboPro RAID array causes reviewer to fall madly in love (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TomTom XXL 540S World Traveler Edition: perfect for that dude you're jealous of

Darren Murph — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:47:00 EST

We know, our GPS gift guide has already been erected, but if you're in the unfortunate position of needing a high-end gift for someone who'll actually be in San Juan del Sur over the holidays, there's hardly a better option than this. The TomTom XXL 540S World Traveler Edition is exactly what you think it is: it's an XXL 540S, but with maps for the United States, Canada and Europe (what -- no Central America?). The 5-inch touchscreen is still there, as is the company's IQ Routes, 'Help Me!,' an increased 4GB of storage, advanced lane guidance and 7 million points of interest. It's expected to hit retail shelves in both the US and Canada early next month for $349.95 (US) / $399.95 (CAD).

TomTom XXL 540S World Traveler Edition: perfect for that dude you're jealous of originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Palm and Sprint issue statement acknowledging Profile backup issue

Darren Murph — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:18:00 EST

Even in a world full of racket, it seems that the squeaky wheel still gets the grease. In yet another blow to this whole "cloud" agenda, a vocal segment of Palm users began to notice that information transferred from their online Palm Profile was only a fraction of what it should have been. Today, both Palm and Sprint have issued a joint statement acknowledging the issue and promising to work much, much harder in order to avoid having something like this ruin your life once again. To quote:

"We are seeing a small number of customers who have experienced issues transferring their Palm Profile information to another Palm webOS device. Palm and Sprint are working closely together to support these customers to successfully transfer their information to the new device."

Between this mess and the T-Mobile fiasco, we're pretty certain we're being forced to stay on the manual backup bandwagon for the foreseeable future.

[Thanks, Mike]

Palm and Sprint issue statement acknowledging Profile backup issue originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dragon Skin body armor gains piezoelectric sensors, keeps bullet-stopping abilities

Vladislav Savov — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:42:00 EST

This Dragon Skin armor has been knocking about since 2007, but now that piezoelectrics and intelligence have been thrown into the mix we couldn't stop ourselves from taking a peek at it. The armor's strength is derived from a reptilian arrangement of overlapping ceramic and titanium composite discs, which simultaneously block incoming rounds and dissipate the impact to a wider area. What's interesting about the new design is the two piezoelectric sensors attached to each end -- one of them transfers a low voltage of power through the armor in the form of vibration, which the other picks up, and the reported energy loss is interpreted as armor degradation. Gnarlier still is the ability of these sensors to generate electricity from bullet impacts, which can then themselves give you an indication of what sort of bullet hit you. Capable of being applied to soldiers and vehicles alike, this could make the real act of soldiering a whole lot more like a video game (minus the whole "infinite respawn" thing), with HUDs showing you how much "shield" you have left. You can see an old(ish) video of the original armor after the break.

Continue reading Dragon Skin body armor gains piezoelectric sensors, keeps bullet-stopping abilities

Dragon Skin body armor gains piezoelectric sensors, keeps bullet-stopping abilities originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iBuyPower lets out five liquid-cooled gaming desktops

Darren Murph — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:14:00 EST

It's never too early to start thinking about that desktop that you really, really need under the tree by the third week in December, and rather than waiting until the last moment and getting stuck with some random configuration and a lofty overnight shipping fee, iBuyPower is encouraging you to have a gander at the five new liquid-cooled rigs that it just unveiled at NewEgg. The low-end is propped up by the Gamer Extreme 922 SLC at just $989, while the spec'd-out Gamer Supreme 979SLC will set Santa back just under four large. At the top, you'll find luxuries such as Intel's Core i7 975, a Blu-ray drive, 128GB SSD and 1.5TB of HDD space, while lower-end systems snag the likes of a Core i7 860, 4GB of RAM and a 500GB HDD. Peek the via link below for a more robust look at the specifications, and feel free to get your order in now if you like resting easy.

Gallery: iBuyPower lets out five liquid-cooled gaming desktops

Continue reading iBuyPower lets out five liquid-cooled gaming desktops

iBuyPower lets out five liquid-cooled gaming desktops originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft opens PC lounge in Saks Fifth Avenue for holiday season

Vladislav Savov — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:46:00 EST

We all know Microsoft's feeling pretty smug -- and with good reason -- about Windows 7 right now. In an effort to drum up yet more hype for its latest OS, and perhaps to try and gauge customer interest in an East coast Store, Microsoft has decided to open up a cozy "PC lounge" inside Saks Fifth Avenue's flagship New York store -- you know, the one that actually is on Fifth Avenue. As part of the agreement, Windows 7 will be used to drive Saks' window displays, and opportunities will be provided for customers to interact with the new software throughout the building. The lounge itself will be populated by Windows 7 laptops and Microsoft experts, who'll probably answer your questions in the sort of overly peppy, commercial way that makes us wonder why anyone goes to offline shops in the first place.

Microsoft opens PC lounge in Saks Fifth Avenue for holiday season originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lenovo's ThinkPad doyen Arimasa Naitoh speaks about life, liberty and the T400s

Vladislav Savov — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:18:00 EST

First thing's first: the video beyond the break is certainly not up to our usually stellar standards. That said, the voice recording is clear enough, so you may consider it an audio presentation with the bonus of a shadowy figure making occasional hand gestures in time with what's being said (lighting also improves as you go along). Arimasa Naitoh is the man behind the ThinkPad line, having joined the product engineering team at IBM during the 1970s and shifting with the ThinkPad brand on to Lenovo in 2005. Currently the VP for Notebook Development and the head of the Yamato Development Labs, Naitoh-san was kind enough to do a presentation in London yesterday, in which he touched on the history of the fabled laptop line and was also not shy about trumpeting the key advantages of the latest T400s flagship model. So click past the break, turn your speakers up, and get educated by one of the true founding fathers of mobile computing as we know it today.

Continue reading Lenovo's ThinkPad doyen Arimasa Naitoh speaks about life, liberty and the T400s

Lenovo's ThinkPad doyen Arimasa Naitoh speaks about life, liberty and the T400s originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia N900 now shipping in the land of Ford freedom trucks

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:50:00 EST

Love to tinker and tweak your smartphone? Find running beta apps a challenge, not a burden? Then you'll be happy to hear that Nokia's N900 running Maemo 5 is now shipping in the US, a week later than the press release suggested. This Cortex-A8 phone with 32GB of on-board storage is ripe with potential and the perfect holiday gift for grandma as long as she's comfortable dropping into the X Terminal for the occasional "rm -R /home/user/.microfeed" command. It's still listed for $649 unlocked from Nokia direct though that price will be dropping soon enough.

[Thanks, Alex]

Nokia N900 now shipping in the land of Ford freedom trucks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Go netbook gets $100 cheaper with one-year Times Reader 2.0 subscription

Darren Murph — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:12:00 EST

Publicly, at least, The New York Times has seemed perfectly kosher with the way things are moving in the newspaper industry. Rather than freaking out and wondering why they didn't make the move to digital earlier, it's apparently looking to push the digital distribution of its content via discounts and partnerships with hardware providers. In a rather unique and unprecedented move, the paper has today announced that prospective readers can receive $100 off of a Samsung Go netbook if they subscribe to Times Reader 2.0 for a year. The machine will come pre-loaded with the Adobe AIR-based application -- which pushes published content to one's machine on the double -- and will be sold exclusively through J&R Music and Computer World. Of course, NYT wants $179.40 for a one-year sub, so the deal's not exactly awesome or anything, but the offer stands for first-time subscribers until March 2010 if you're interested.

Samsung Go netbook gets $100 cheaper with one-year Times Reader 2.0 subscription originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone to be sold by Tesco in the UK, hemorrhages cachet

Vladislav Savov — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:30:00 EST

So we know the iPhone has been slumming it and selling itself on Walmart shelves in the US for a while now, but it's retained a somewhat more dignified cachet over here in Europe. Until today, that is. Just "in time for Christmas," British retailer Tesco will make it possible for you to buy your socks, no-frills groceries, and shiny smartphone all in the same place. You'll still be riding O2's network, thanks to the Tesco Mobile service, but the department store chain is likely to price its contracts more aggressively, as it already has a £30 per month plan that includes unlimited calls, texts, and web surfing. Maybe there's something to this whole "competition" thing after all then, eh?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

iPhone to be sold by Tesco in the UK, hemorrhages cachet originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kindle 2.3 software update available, generation 1 owners need not apply

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:05:00 EST

We gadget nerds have to endure unspeakable atrocities in order to slake that early adoption jones: first-run gear shipped DOA, buggy pre-release software, and months of waiting after a product leaks only to be greeted by a jacked-up price premium at launch. So we feel your pain, original Kindle owners, after Amazon announced a major firmware update that brings native PDF support to the 6-inch Kindle 2 and DX readers with the promise of a staggering 85% increase in battery life to all Kindle 2 devices -- if you haven't already received it OTA, the 2.3 software update is now available for download and installation via USB tethering. At least owners of "some earlier versions of Kindle" (quote from the press release) will receive native PDF support whenever the 1st generation firmware update (currently at version 1.2) is released. It's worth noting that Amazon's PDF reader lacks a zoom function which makes many PDFs entirely unreadable on the device. Good thing Amazon's store is chock full of easily zoomable books in a proprietary format then, huh?

Kindle 2.3 software update available, generation 1 owners need not apply originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US Air Force orders up 2,200 more PS3s -- for thinking, not gaming

Vladislav Savov — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:39:00 EST

We were as surprised as anyone when the USAF threw down the cash for 300-odd PlayStation 3s back in March of last year, but what's more shocking is that it's now back for more -- seven times more, in fact. Already employing its PS3 cluster for research into high-def video processing, the Air Force Research Lab wants to expand its capabilities significantly and it seems that Sony's Cell processor is still its weapon of choice. We would use this opportunity to make a few jibes about lazy engineers upgrading their setups in time for Modern Warfare 2, but we're better than that. We'll also totally avoid noting that the US government's skimping on costs now is leading it to commit to an instruction set tailored specifically to the Cell processor, which contrary to the latest Xeons -- pricier though they may be -- is not guaranteed to keep updating in pace with the USAF's needs. Those are things we'll leave for someone who isn't afraid of death lasers and autonomous attack drones to say.

US Air Force orders up 2,200 more PS3s -- for thinking, not gaming originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba Natural Selection laptops get celebrity paintjobs, good causes

Vladislav Savov — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:04:00 EST

Alright, we're not too happy with the Natural Selection moniker implying that being a celebrity is somehow a marker of evolutionary prowess, but we'll forgive Toshiba this one time. The Japanese company has recruited a quartet of famous folks to help promote its wares with limited edition laptops painted to their specifications. Aerosmith guitar legend Joe Perry, the no less mythical Rainn Wilson, Pittsburgh Steeler Hines Ward and his coach Mike... oh wait, that's Omar Epps, have put their own personal stamps on a selection of Toshiba's latest 505 laptop models from the A, P, M, and Qosmio X series. These will be auctioned off on eBay starting this Friday, with all proceeds going to charity. Any more questions before you start the bidding? No? Good.

Gallery: Toshiba Natural Selection laptops

Toshiba Natural Selection laptops get celebrity paintjobs, good causes originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG bows its GW880 OPhone for China Mobile, we start packing our things

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:32:00 EST

We don't know what exactly China Mobile is putting in its manufacturer partners' tea during contract negotiations, but considering how rapidly China's largest carrier has grown its OPhone line into the most desirable single-network lineup of Android handsets in the world, we'd strongly recommend they continue to do it. Rumors of an LG entry back in August have now come to fruition in the form of the GW880, a full touch handset launching this month featuring a solid 3.5-inch WVGA display, 5 megapixel camera, and support for a pair of pretty important homegrown standards -- TD-SCDMA for 3G and CMMB for mobile TV tuning. For comparison, LG's only other announced Android phone -- the GW620 Eve for global distribution -- steps down to a HVGA display, so yeah, if you'll excuse us, we've got a Mandarin lesson in a couple minutes.

LG bows its GW880 OPhone for China Mobile, we start packing our things originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wireless USB keyboard / touchpad is more than the sum of its parts

Donald Melanson — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:44:00 EST

A free PDA that came with a magazine subscription in 2002? An early Peek prototype? No, this is the humbly named USB Wireless Handheld Keyboard and Touchpad that's now available from USB Geek, and it just might be the sort of device you never knew you were looking for. As the folks at CrunchGear have noted, while the device is simply being marketed as an all-in-one wireless touchpad and keyboard, it actually has all the makings of an ideal HTPC controller -- not to mention an entirely reasonable price of $62. No multitouch, no LCD -- just a plain old trackpad, a wireless USB dongle, and a QWERTY keypad that should be adequate enough for tweeting your reaction to the TV show remake du jour. Video after the break.

Update: And here comes a review!

Continue reading Wireless USB keyboard / touchpad is more than the sum of its parts

Wireless USB keyboard / touchpad is more than the sum of its parts originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Razer Imperator gaming mouse ships with adjustable side buttons, disdain for southpaws

Darren Murph — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:58:00 EST

Tired of getting shafted, lefties? Never gets old, does it? At any rate, Razer is momentarily stepping away from its ambidextrous ways in order to craft a mouse that fits especially well in the hands of righties. The new Imperator gaming mouse houses the same 3.5G laser sensor that has become common on the outfit's critters of late, but this one includes a smattering of "adjustable side buttons" that can actually slide and lock into place wherever you find them most comfortable. It's up for order now for $79.99 (or €69.99 for those across the pond), and if the gallery below doesn't get you close enough, a demonstration vid is just past the break.

Gallery: Razer Imperator gaming mouse ships with adjustable side buttons, disdain for southpaws

Continue reading Razer Imperator gaming mouse ships with adjustable side buttons, disdain for southpaws

Razer Imperator gaming mouse ships with adjustable side buttons, disdain for southpaws originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GE Global Research holograms increase security, redefine 'going green'

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:56:00 EST

GE Global Research in collaboration with SABIC Innovative Plastics has developed a new class of holographic materials that can be processed in plastic to create a wide range of novelty products, credit, or identity cards. Instead of just being stamped onto the surface of the card like typical holograms, these new cards rely upon thermo-plastic based volume holography to store the data (binary images, 3D images of your face, fingerprints, and even animations) within the card itself for an extra degree of tamper-free security. And because the holographic material can be injection-molded, it could ultimately be applied to a variety of personalized products including laptops and cellphones. GE Global Research is intent on commercializing the new holographic materials by 2012, until then we've got a video that gives a good idea of how your 3D mug might look pressed into those government or corporate mandated ID cards of the future. Check it after the break.

Gallery: GE Global Research holograms increase security

Continue reading GE Global Research holograms increase security, redefine 'going green'

GE Global Research holograms increase security, redefine 'going green' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sciphone's Android-loving N21 gets some time on video

Laura June — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:04:00 EST

There's just something about Sciphone's Android-based handset, the N21, that we can't get enough of. This KIRF-tastic little dude has attitude in droves, to go with its clunky exterior. The 3-inch touchscreener boasts a 5 megapixel cam, WiFi, and an onscreen keyboard -- not to mention what looks like a killer stylus experience. In the video (which is after the break), you can check out the many and varied features of this looker of a device.

Continue reading Sciphone's Android-loving N21 gets some time on video

Sciphone's Android-loving N21 gets some time on video originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blobo squeezable game controller bounces through the FCC

Donald Melanson — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:38:00 EST

Befuddled by the Blobo squeezable game controller developed by an upstart company out of Finland? The FCC probably was to, but that didn't stop 'em from putting it through their usual battery of tests, tearing it apart, and giving us a glimpse at the user manual and our first real up-close look at the device itself. Of course, it is just a rubber ball packed with Bluetooth and sensors -- but if you're curious, you can find more pics where this one came from at the link below. And if, by chance, you missed out on all the Blobo details earlier this week, you'll no doubt want to check out the helpful and informative video after the break.

Continue reading Blobo squeezable game controller bounces through the FCC

Blobo squeezable game controller bounces through the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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