Gadget Train

WiBrain’s M1 has seen a pretty rocky road to launch since it first arrived on the scene way back last summer, but it looks like the company is finally moving forward with it, and reportedly kicking the UMPC into production. Despite its extended stay in prototype form, however, there doesn’t appear to be too many changes to the device, with it still packing a 4.8-inch 1,024 x 600 touchscreen, along with an Atom Z520 processor, up to 1GB of RAM, a max 16GB SSD, and all the connectivity options you’d expect, plus some (presumably optional) HSDPA. The one big change from the early prototype is the slide-out QWERTY keypad, which now opts for some membrane-style keys that could make an already difficult typing situation even tougher. No word on a price or expected release date just yet, but it seems likely that it’ll remain a Korean exclusive, at least initially.

[Via jkkmobile]

Filed under: Handhelds

WiBrain M1 UMPC gets more real, but still not completely real originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

View Original Post Here

We’ve already seen Samsung’s Q2 and U5 media players out and about, but just today the company has made the pair official here in the US of A. Starting with the YP-Q2 PMP, you’ll find both 8GB and 16GB variants with 50 hours of battery life, a 2.4-inch QVGA display, black and white color options, DNSe 3.0 sound enhancement technology, FM radio / recorder, a text viewer and a Smart Button that allows the user to designate a specific function for quick access. The YP-U5, on the other hand, was tailor made for gym rats; said audio stick sports a touchpad, 1-inch OLED display, USB connectivity, up to 20 hours of playback, an FM radio module and 2GB of internal storage. Check ‘em this April for $99.99 (8GB Q2), $129.99 (16GB Q2) and $39.99 (U5).

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Samsung officially intros YP-U5 and YP-Q2 media players originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

View Original Post Here

Olympus just announced it’s “new” E-450 four thirds shooter. Really though, it could have just as easily been announced as the E-420 plus, a tweak to “world’s smallest DSLR” announced last year. Both cams share the same 5.1 x 3.6 x 2.1-inch and 13.4 ounce dimensions, 10 megapixel Live MOS sensor with live view, 3.5fps continuous shooting, 2.7-inch LCD, ISO 1,600 max sensitivity, and four thirds lens mount. So what’s new? Well, the E-450 has a newer TruePic III+ image processor, a longer 30-minute exposure, improved flash control, and now several “art filter” modes like “pop” and “soft focus” — pointless if you’re doing any kind of post processing on a computer. Then again, it’s only $699 when bundled with the ED 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 and ED 40-150mm f4.0/5.6 Zuiko zoom lenses. To prove just how entry-level this shooter is, it’ll be available exclusively on QVC (yes, that QVC) on May 9th.

Continue reading Olympus E-450 four thirds shooter is a tweaked E-420, still small

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Olympus E-450 four thirds shooter is a tweaked E-420, still small originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 04:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

View Original Post Here

It seems we’re living in a world where everybody is trying their best to accommodate Apple’s iPhone, and next in the line to have a dedicated iPhone version of its site is Volkswagen. If you’re reading this article via your iPhone, you can pop over to http://www.vw.com/mobile/iphone to check out what we’re talking about. Of course, the results will be less than spectacular if you’re planning to check it out using a PC. Users who visit the link will be able to browse all the current VW talks, find a dealer by entering a US ZIP code and best of all, there is an Emergency Roadside Assistance feature, with a button to help you get connected with emergency assistance. Guess it pays to own an iPhone, huh? From Uberphones.

Permalink: Volkswagen Comes Up With iPhone Site from Ubergizmo | Cheap | Hot: Apple’s Netbook | Hot (FR): Test du Palm Pre

View Original Post Here

Microsoft still hasn’t nailed down all the specifics about its much talked about Windows 7 Starter Edition, but it looks like the company is all too happy to talk up a few of the potential side effects of the OS variant, including the promise of some actual $200 netbooks by this coming holiday season. Apparently, Microsoft sees netbooks running Windows 7 Starter Edition as all but replacing current entry-level Linux-based netbooks, which it says see a “disproportionate amount of returns,” although the company insists that it will still market Home Premium as the default option for most netbooks. Microsoft also says that’s it’s going out of its way to make Windows 7 as accommodating for netbook manufacturers as possible, adding that it has cleaned up the system tray and “made some other concessions for the OEMs to help with branding.”

[Thanks, fikhl]

Filed under: Laptops

Windows 7 Starter Edition to pave the way for $200 netbooks? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

View Original Post Here

It’s legit; Skype is coming to the iPhone on Tuesday, BlackBerry devices in May. While we’ve seen plenty of Skype-capable apps on the iPhone, the poor, often echo-infected calls should be easily bested by the official Skype App that doesn’t need the extra audio transcoding workaround required by the existing crop of unofficial apps. The Skype app works over WiFi only (not over EDGE or 3G data) and supports calls to SkypeOut contacts in addition to many of the other features you’ve used from the desktop client. iPod touch owners will require earphones with an embedded mic to talk. CNET has a hands-on preview of the App just as long as you can muster the energy required to hit the read link below.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Cellphones

Skype App coming to iPhone on Tuesday, Blackberry in May originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 07:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

View Original Post Here

Though not quite as extravagant as checking into a space motel, booking a stay in the Hotelicopter is pretty stupendous. Hailed as the world’s first flying hotel, the Soviet-made Mil V-12 has been extended and completely renovated since being purchased in 2004, and starting this summer, it’ll host 18 decidedly affluent individuals on a fortnight long roundtrip jaunt that begins and ends in New York, stopping at Charleston, Freeport, Montego Bay, Santo Domingo, Nassau, Miami and Charlotte along the way. There’s also a California and European tour planned for July, and the ‘copter can even be rented out for what will undoubtedly be the zaniest episode of My Super Sweet 16 ever. There’s no word on how pricey this five-star flying hotel will be, but if you have to ask, you probably can’t even afford a walkthrough.

[Thanks, Kyle]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Transportation

Hotelicopter: it’s like a cruise, but through the air originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

View Original Post Here

9.9.99 will always hold a special place in our hearts, and so long as hackers are making the most of Sega’s last great console, we’ll continue to pay attention. Today, we’re doing our best to wrap our minds around the Dreamcast SD Adapter, which could be used to easily bring SD-based homebrew apps and emulators over to the console. It’s still a touch unclear what exactly the device would be used to deliver, but needless to say the potential is mind-boggling. Right now, the creators are feeling out the market to see just how many Dreamcast loyalists would be willing to hand over €20 ($26), so if you think you’re willing to pony up, tap that read link and let ‘em know.

[Thanks, Craig]

Filed under: Gaming

Dreamcast SD adapter could make for homebrew magic originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 19:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

View Original Post Here

If you’re on the planet tomorrow night, you may just want to check out Engadget’s own podcast producer, Trent Wolbe, on his WFMU radio show. Sure, Trent can be found assaulting the airwaves there every single Monday, but this coming one (March 30th), the show will be live from the Solar One facility on the East River in NYC, and the broadcast will be entirely solar-powered. Oh, there’s going to be live performances by some great 8 bit / handlheld, artists too. We love that. Hit up WFMU.ORG for all the details, or to listen to the show live tomorrow night, from 8-10 PM EST. Should be awesome, friends.

Filed under: Announcements

Solar-powered broadcast on WFMU New York Monday night may just change your life originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

View Original Post Here

ASIMO and his Earth-loving robot compadres pulling the strings at Honda have once again managed to find a way to save us humans from ourselves. All it took was an affordable hybrid, apparently, and Honda is showing off its new Insight by turning those LED headlights into one gigantic animated Lite-Brite in an upcoming commercial. The spot’s called “Let it Shine,” and the video’s after the break. Hit up the read link for the making of video and a detailed carbon footprint breakdown of the shoot — you know you want to.

Continue reading Honda’s “Let it Shine” commercial turns a grid of Insights into giant LED display

Filed under: Displays, Transportation

Honda’s “Let it Shine” commercial turns a grid of Insights into giant LED display originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 03:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

View Original Post Here