Archive for June, 2008
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
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June 27, 2008
Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds
The question on quite literally every WinMo fanatic’s mind as we go into the second half of the year here is, “Touch Pro or X1?” It’s not an easy question to answer, and anyone hoping to sink some cash on either one of these models in a few months is going to want to do so with a crap-ton of research and anecdotal information under their belts lest the buyer’s remorse set in particularly quickly. MobileBurn scored an early look at the Touch Pro — which won’t be available at retail for a month or three yet — and came away impressed with the all-important keyboard, saying that it was “much more” usable than the QWERTY found on Sony Ericsson’s rival superphone. Closed, it’s said to be virtually indistingushable from the Touch Diamond (which we’d say is a good thing) other than being a bit thicker to accomodate they keyboard and picking up a matte-finish rear cover. Unfortunately, HTC refused to show off the Touch Pro’s interface — apparently on account of some new tricks up TouchFLO 3D’s sleeve that haven’t already made their way into the Touch Diamond — but they did share that the new model will handle landscape mode with particular aplomb. So this one might have the X1 beat in the keyboard department, but the X1’s WVGA display takes the crown for sheer pixel count. Decisions!
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June 26, 2008
Filed under: Ask Engadget, Home Entertainment, Storage, Networking
So we’ve asked you which HD media streamer you prefer. And we’ve done the same for NAS drives. But what if you’re the type that’s looking for the best of both worlds? Take it away, Stuart:
“We have a laptop and a desktop, with plans to add another computer in the near future. I’d like something that can primarily provide a large (1TB+) storage repository that can be accessed via our network, as well as have space for data backups and media streaming capabilities. I’ve read articles on Drobo and Windows Home Server-based devices, but after a certain point my brain just starts to get overloaded. Which solution out there would be best for me? I’m trying to stay below $700 if possible.”
We think your task is pretty clear cut here, reader. Which home server out there is a notch above the rest? Would you recommend a pre-built device or a homegrown solution? After giving this one a whirl, toss your own inquiry over to ask at engadget dawt com - your very words may grace this space next week.
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June 26, 2008
Filed under: Home Entertainment
Say hello to this year’s warmed-over line of Sony’s ES 7.1 channel audio/video receivers. Now-standard features in the line include a PS3/PSP-style xross media bar interface, 1080p Faroudja DCDi upconversion, a slew of audio codec support (Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, dts High Resolution Audio and dts HD Master Audio) plus Digital Media Port connectivity to hook up iPod or Bluetooth adapters or satellite radio. The higher end STR-DA4400ES (above) packs a 120-watt amplifier, six HDMI inputs, HD video output to two zones and audio to three zones for $1,500 when it debuts this August. The STR-DA3400ES and STR-DA2400ES both include a 1000-watt amp, four HDMI jacks, the 3400 includes an IR repeater and support for a second video zone with its $1,000 price tag, while the 2400 drops those features and includes a basic interface for $800 next month. Take a peek at both after the break, then check your wallet to see where you fit in.
Continue reading Sony unveils 2008 ES receiver lineup
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Filed under: Digital Cameras, Misc. Gadgets
There’s DIY mischief and then there’s next level DIY mischief, and we’d have to say that Julius von Bismarck’s Image Fulgurator is one of the best scare-the-squares toys we’ve ever come across. A sensor detects camera flashes of nearby victims, triggering a projection of the image or text of your choice onto their subjects — and into their photos. Anyone using a digital camera will notice the trick immediately, of course, but marks with film equipment won’t ever know what hit ‘em — although they might remember the weirdo with the pistol-grip camera thing standing next to them. Check the video after the break.
[Via Core 77]
Continue reading Image Fulgurator projects images into other people’s photos
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June 26, 2008
Filed under: Storage
Imation’s Atom Flash Drive may not be the most capacious USB key you’ve ever seen — heck, it’s probably not even the smallest — but it is this company’s most diminutive of all time, and that just has to count for something. Available in 1/2/4/8GB sizes, these units feature Vista ReadyBoost compatibility and support for passwords while measuring less than 1.5-inches long and .5-inches wide. Slip one of these sub-1-ounce drives into your pocket today for $17.99 to $99.99, depending on capacity.
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June 25, 2008
Thanks to a string of updates, the HP Mini-Note gets a boost that is sufficient to make windowed video close to perfect and full-screen video bad, but not as bad. Yes, with the earlier software, video was sometimes choppy, even in windowed mode. Before you update, note that some users have noticed that “the driver for HP Mobile Data Protection Sensor (or 3D Drive Guard) is getting uninstalled and they can’t re-install it.”.
Updates
- Service Pack 1 for Vista (Vista SP1)
- Service Pack 3 for XP (XP SP3)
- New graphics driver for the Via Chrome 9 GPU
Our friends from hp2133guide have all the download links at the bottom of this page.
Permalink | Comment | Uberbargain | Uberphones
Filed under: Desktops, Laptops
While Bill Gates’ imminent retirement from Microsoft is understandably a cause for some quiet moments of reflection for some, it’s also given folks an excuse to dig up some tidbits from Gates’ tenure that have somehow gone unnoticed or unheralded in the past few years, one of the juiciest of which comes in the form of a 2003 email that Todd Bishop of the Seattle Post-Intelligence has thankfully given fresh light. In it, Gates rips into “how Windows Usability has been going backwards” as he details his long, arduous attempts to download Moviemaker and buy the then new Digital Plus pack. While there’s far to many gems to include here, a few of Gates’ stand-out observations include how “crazy” it is that it took six minutes to install “a bunch of controls” before he was able to install Moviemaker, and his disappointment that he had to reboot his machine even though he reboots it every night. Eventually, after (apparently) getting Moviemaker installed, Gates decided to go digging in the add/remove program options to ensure that it was installed, only to find it missing, which prompted him to declare that, “someone decided to trash the one part of Windows that was usable,” adding that, “this program listing was one sane place but now it is all crapped up.” Needless to say, we’d recommend hitting the read link below to check out the full must-read email.
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June 25, 2008
Filed under: Desktops
Yeah, we realize that the first two words after “HP TouchSmart IQ504 PC” are “coming soon,” but apparently the web design humanoid forgot to notice that little “Ships same day” note down there by the Purchase button. That’s right kids, HP’s latest all-in-one PC (you know, the TouchSmart 2) is all boxed up and ready to be shipped to your home or office. All’s that left for you to do is scrounge up $1,249.99 and punch in those gory details e-tailers tend to ask for.
[Thanks, jmacman1]
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June 25, 2008
The NBC Los Angeles Traffic Cam is an application that allows folks to view from over 270 cameras located along the city’s streets and highways, checking if there are nasty traffic snarls before you leave your office. I think this is more of a novelty than a useful item - imagine everyone thinking along the same wavelength, where 5pm is the peak hour NOT to leave the office, so everybody else leaves a couple of hours later only to be met by a postponed traffic jam. I suppose this is better for folks who are not from the City of Angels as they get a feel of how the city traffic is like. So far, Traffic Cam has been downloaded by nearly 40,000 people, and these include New Yorkers and Texans.
Permalink | Comment | Uberbargain | Uberphones
