Sci/Tech Hubs

Nextar intros 5-inch SNAP5 / 7-inch SNAP7 GPS units

2008-10-29T02:30:00.000-07:00

Warm on the heels of its T30 PMP, Nextar is getting official with two new GPS units in its ever-expanding SNAP family. Up first is the SNAP5 -- which predictably includes a 5-inch touch panel -- followed by the 7-inch SNAP7. Both devices check in at just 0.7-inches thick and feature stereo speakers, text-to-speech support, US / Canada Tele Atlas maps, an SD card slot, a built-in MP3 player / JPEG viewer, 2D / 3D map viewing modes, a rechargeable Li-ion battery and a magnetic docking station (hence the SNAP moniker -- get it?!). The duo is all set to debut at SEMA 2008 in early November, but they won't go on sale in the US until Spring of 2009; at that point, you can grab the SNAP of your choice for $299.99 / $349.99, respectively. Full release is after the break.

Nextar Adds Larger Screen Size & Magnetic Docking Station to the SNAP GPS Navigation Systems Family

5" and 7" Models Are Just 0.7" Thick and Feature Touch-Screen Displays, Stereo Speakers, and Text-to-Speech as well as Maps of US and Canada; Units to Be Unveiled at 2008 SEMA

Note: Nextar products will be on display in the Mobile Electronics area of SEMA in Booth #10613 in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

La Verne, CA – October 28, 2008 – Nextar™, a designer and marketer of bold and new consumer electronic products with mass appeal, is adding two models to its line of slim SNAP GPS navigation systems. The models, a space-saving 0.7" thick with Nextar's magnetic docking station, are the SNAP5 with 5" touch-screen display and the SNAP7 with 7" touch-screen display. Both come with built-in stereo speakers and text-to-speech (English) technology. The units join the SNAP3, which has a 3.5" touch-screen display. All models offer maps of the entire US and all of Canada. Nextar will introduce the two new SNAP family members at the upcoming 2008 SEMA show in Booth #10613 in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

"With the addition of these two models, our slim SNAP navigation systems line offers displays for a wide-range of needs," commented Eddy Zheng, Nextar founder. "At just 0.7" thick with Nextar's advanced magnetic docking station, these new units fit in very narrow locations. Slim design, choice of screen size, complete coverage of two countries, and lots of terrific features make our SNAP lineup the perfect solution for the most discriminating buyer."

Large, clear, colorful images of maps from all 50 states and Canada are shown on both units' 4:3 TFT touch-screen displays. Maps are provided on one 2GB SD card for easy installation. Text-to-speech technology clearly pronounces road names in English. Software support is provided for English, French, and Spanish, the three most spoken languages in the covered areas. A special automatic night mode offers additional screen lighting for easy-on-the-eye viewing. Voice-guided directions with turn-by-turn voice prompts are clearly audible through built-in stereo speakers.

Users of either of the two new Nextar SNAP navigation systems will have no trouble locating any number of hotels, shopping centers, gas stations, and restaurants along their routes, as each provides millions of points of interest. If a user misses a turn, a new route is recalculated instantly. Digital map data is supplied by Tele Atlas, a leading global provider of digital maps and dynamic content that power many of the world's most essential navigation and location-based services.

Both units have the capability of playing MP3 files and displaying JPEG images (a required SD card for these functions is not included). Addresses for favorite destinations can be stored in either model. Other features include 2D and 3D map-viewing modes, a SD card slot for additional memory, and a built-in antenna. A lightweight, built-in rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery supplies power.

SNAP5 measures 5.8" x 4" x 0.7", SNAP7 measures 7.8" x 4.9" x 0.7". Each weighs approximately 2.6 pounds.

Accessories for both units include: AC/DC adapter, car adapter, USB cable, protection pouch, suction cup, and a stylus/touch pen.

Pricing and Availability
The Nextar SNAP5 and SNAP7 navigation systems will be available at leading retailers across the U.S. in Spring 2009. SNAP5 has a SRP of $299.99; SNAP7 has a SRP of $349.99. Both come with a one-year limited warranty. They are packaged in eye-appealing full-color boxes.

Features Found in SNAP5 and SNAP7 Models:
Touch-screen display: Provides interfacing capability while map is being viewed
Built-in speaker: No extra wires or speaker to connect
3D building display: Buildings can be shown in 3D to serve as landmarks, helping the driver know exactly when to turn
Text-to-Speech: Safety feature that allows driver to keep eyes on the road while getting directions; clearly pronounces names of streets encountered during drive
Points of Interest: Name or description of a specific location that user may find useful or interesting; generally indicated by an icon on the map
Lithium -Ion Battery: Lightweight, holds charge longer, and does not suffer from memory effect compared to similar batteries
SD card slot: Provides additional memory and is used for MP3 playing or JPEG image viewing
Day and Night modes: Night mode offers additional lighting on screen for easier viewing
MP3 playing: Allows driver and/or passengers to listen to favorite MP3 files while in vehicle
JPEG viewing: View photos and other graphics while in vehicle
Favorite address storage: Quick, easy way to find addresses of frequently visited destinations
Route recalculation: Instantly changes route if driver misses turn
Built in antenna: Ensures reception of signal without running additional wires
Stylus: Allows user to point more accurately than using a finger to small areas on the display screen

Sanyo introduces WiFi-enabled R227 tabletop radio

2008-10-29T02:29:00.000-07:00

Internet radios aren't anything new, but Sanyo's putting its own spin on things with the WiFi-packin' R227. Aside from offering standard FM reception, this tabletop device also tunes into thousands of internet stations / podcasts, and it enables listeners to search by country or genre. You'll also find a pair of stereo speakers, one-button on / off, a bundled remote, an Ethernet jack, auxiliary input for DAPs and an audio output for connecting to larger, more robust sound systems. For now, it seems the unit will be exclusive to Canada where it will be offered in a black wood gloss finish for $219.99.

Psystar slaps Apple around, releases Mac clones with Blu-ray / GeForce 9800GT

2008-10-29T02:27:00.000-07:00

While suits from Psystar and Apple are currently attempting to work things out via alternative dispute resolution, the former company is doing something the latter company won't: offer OS X-capable machines with built-in Blu-ray and NVIDIA's GeForce 9800GT. Showing no mercy whatsoever in a recent release, Psystar calls Steve Jobs out for his controversial "bag of hurt" comment and proceeds to inform the general public that it's "now shipping" OS X-compatible PCs (better known as Open Computers) with Blu-ray optical drives and the GeForce 9800GT GPU. Based on pricing figures gathered from the company's website, a 6x Blu-ray writer is a $310 upgrade over a dual-layer DVD burner, while the 512MB GeForce 9800GT will set you back $200 more than the 8600GT. Whatcha got to say now, Steve? Huh? Huh?

Cowon brings the flash-based O2 PMP stateside: starts at $219.99

2008-10-29T02:23:00.000-07:00

Atta boy, Cowon. Before we Americans even had a chance to forget about the O2's Korean introduction and the overseas hands-on, the outfit is going ahead and bringing the unit to US soil. Hailed as the company's first flash memory-based PMP with a 4.3-inch widescreen display, this simple-yet-classy media player packs an SDHC expansion slot and a Power Management System that helps it eek out 18-hours of audio playback and 8-hours with video; you'll also find a revamped user interface and world class codec support. Those who've discovered their dream machine can snap one up now from JetMall, Amazon, NewEgg or a variety of other e-tailers for $219.99 (8GB), $249.99 (16GB) or $299.99 (32GB).

NDrive rolls out new NDrive Touch GPS units

2008-10-29T02:19:00.000-07:00

NDrive's GPS units may not ever make it over here, but it looks like folks in Europe now have two more models to choose from, which the company says are a full 40% thinner and lighter than anything else on the market. Those include the 3.5-inch NDrive Touch and 4.3-inch NDrive Touch XL, which are each available in 1GB and 8GB versions and include all the usual the GPS-related features, plus a few slightly less than common ones like a light sensor and, perhaps most notably, "gesture support," though it's not clear exactly what that entails. There's no word on an exact release date just yet either, but it looks like they'll run you between €139 and €249, or roughly $170 to $310.

$99 60GB Xbox Live starter pack to be released next week

2008-10-29T02:17:00.000-07:00

Hints of a 60GB Xbox Live Starter Pack popped up in Europe in August, but according to GameStop and a leaked Circuit City ad, the $99 upgrade should land in American stores sometime next week. Just as we'd heard, the bundle will include three months of Live Gold, a wired headset, and a 60GB hard drive -- just the thing to meet that new 128MB New Xbox Experience storage requirement. Too bad Microsoft isn't going to discount this bundle quite as heavily as that $30 20GB package for Arcade owners, but we won't complain too loudly -- hell, if MS would just cut the price on that ridiculous $149 120GB unit, we'd be all smiles.

[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]

Axiotron Modservice takes your sad, disused Macbook, converts it into swanky new tablet

2008-10-29T02:16:00.001-07:00

If you happen to have a spare MacBook lying around, and you're at all intrigued by Axiotron's ModBook tablets, you'll probably be stoked to hear that the company is now taking orders on their website to convert personal MacBooks into the devices. Prices start at around $1,300 -- far less than buying a new one, which go for a base price of $2,290. Modification kits are being sent out to a network of authorized modders, the nearest of which will contact you once you place your order to set up an appointment for the so-called "transformation." You're totally out of luck, however, if you were looking to have your brand new, aluminum MacBook "transformed" because they're apparently "too cool" to submit to the keyboard denuding-degradation Axiotron requires. As if.

[Via Notebooks.com]

Audi's A1 Sportback hybrid concept surfaces

2008-10-29T02:14:00.000-07:00

Audi confirmed its pure electric automobile plans earlier this month, and now the automaker's back with yet another green vehicle based on its A1 hybrid concept. In hybrid mode the five door "sportback" (sporty!) will go from 0-62 MPH in 7.9 seconds, reach a top speed of 124 MPH and squeeze up to 72.4 miles from a gallon of fuel. When in electric mode, however, the vehicle will take you more than 60 miles on a single charge. The adjustable drivetrain / drive shaft / shock absorber system allows drivers to choose between two modes: sport mode (for optimum acceleration) and efficiency mode. The latter not only makes best use of the lithium-ion battery but also ties into the vehicle's on-board navigation, taking your route (and the car's altitude) into consideration when computing things like power usage and regeneration phases. The A1 also allows select cellphones to act as a mobile control unit for WLAN access to the vehicle's navigation, audio and remote monitoring of the security system. For more juicy details -- and some pics -- hit that read link.

[Via Inhabitat]

HP's new Mini 1000 and MIE Linux make netbooks fun again

2008-10-29T02:13:00.000-07:00

We've been struggling to keep awake for the large majority of this year, as netbook after netbook lands in our laps with identical specs, form factors and general shoddiness. No longer. HP is giving the market a shot in the arm with its new "clutch-style" skinny form factors, polished Linux OS and aggressive price points -- even if the specs are about as boring as the Mini-Note 2133. As rumored, HP's new Mini 1000 netbook is ditching VIA and going the Atom route (1.6GHz N270, in case you hadn't guessed). Also new is an option for a 10.2-inch display, though it's a mere 1024 x 600 instead of the 1280 x 768 display on the 2133 -- for a bit cheaper you can get a 1024 x 600 8.9-inch display, but that would just be boring. HP is offering 512MB, 1GB and 2GB RAM configurations, though the XP option limits you to 1GB (thanks, Microsoft). For storage you can score a 60GB 4200 rpm HDD or your choice of a 8GB or 16GB SSD. If you go the SSD route there's also room for a 2, 4 or 8GB "HP Mini Mobile Drive," which is a regular USB drive that inserts all the way into a special slot for added integration. There's also an SD slot, VGA webcam, 802.11b/g, optional Bluetooth, Ethernet and dual USB plugs. Where things get extra interesting is in choice of OS. You can go the standard XP route, or for $20 less you can go for HP's brand new Ubuntu-based Linux "experience," MIE, which reminds us not just a little of HP's TouchSmart interface. The XP version is available today starting at $399, with a 10.2-inch version costing just a little bit more. The Vivienne Tam Edition, which brings a whole lot of style but little substance to the offering, will go for $699 in mid-December, and the MIE version will land in January for a mere $379.

New Xbox 360 Experience hands-on and impressions

2008-10-29T02:11:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a special blessing from the folks in Redmond, we've had an opportunity to thoroughly give the rejiggered Xbox 360 Dash (AKA, the New Xbox Experience) a serious run through, and we've got the lowdown on the future of your gaming life. As you probably already know from the numerous posts we've done and generally available info (Microsoft has been pretty forthcoming with this stuff), the Xbox team has completely revamped the Dash experience, giving the system not only a visual overhaul, but trashing the underlying tech and rebuilding things from the ground up. The result is a beautiful, intuitive interface which loses almost nothing from previous versions while adding a considerable new feature set to the mix. Read on for our first impressions.

User interface

The first thing you'll notice is that this new interface looks nothing like what you've known. Gone are the EXTREEEEEEEEME GAMERRRRR "blades" from the previous iteration of software -- they're now replaced with sparse "channels" containing "slots" of live content. The look is sophisticated and spacious, with soft gradients, smooth fades, and classy design touches throughout. From a visual standpoint, the NXE is roughly ten million times more pleasant and accessible than the previous version. For families weighing this and the Wii come holiday season, a lot of this will be tremendously appealing... especially those avatars (more on that in a moment). There are a variety of swappable themes which skin the entire system -- nothing drastic, but a handful of handsome backdrops and color palettes that should please most users. You'll surely see a slew of this content hitting when the NXE is in wide availability.

Navigating the new Dash is simple. You jump up and down with the control stick through channels, and move side to side in slots. Slots contain all manner of content, though they tend towards animated promos and the occasional video (sound kicks on if you move over something in playback). Users can duck into and out of content with X and B buttons, as you'd expect. If you're a stickler for those blades, you can still get a mini version of them (quick access from wherever you are) by tapping the Xbox Guide button.

Beyond the look, what's notable is the speed of the system. There's no lag at all when moving from channel to channel or through the slot content -- and even hitting one of the bumpers, which flies through left-to-right slot data, is super speedy. If people complain you've got an instant gratification problem, you're going to love the NXE.

Avatars

The comparisons of the NXE's avatars and implementation to the Wii's Miis will be unavoidable. We'll just call it like we see it -- Microsoft is making a play for that moneyed "casual gamer" audience and hoping to stoke deeper user engagement by stealing a trick from Nintendo... and who can blame them? Like Miis, the avatars are adorable, cartoonish, huggable bundles of virtual joy that will have kids oooh'ing and mommies pocketbooks' hitting the counter. Like Miis, they can be customized with different facial features, heights and weights, though the NXE adds jewelry, clothing, and other accessories to the mix. While the characters don't give you exactly the same kind of customization you're used to on the Wii, they sport a pretty wide range of options, and most users should find something to like. Reps from Microsoft tell us they'll be adding avatar content as they go, as well, such as game-related clothing and accessories.

The avatars aren't just static, either -- they can be incorporated into games (like Scene It? Box Office Smash), feature animations that can be triggered with the controller, and are used to interact with friends in the dash. Bonus? You get to take driver's license-style snapshots of your character for your profile picture.

Netflix

This is one of the big daddy features as far as we're concerned, and the two companies have pulled off this integration to near-perfection. The Netflix slot is offered in the "Video Marketplace" channel, and takes you speedily to an app which allows you to shuffle through movies in your queue. Unfortunately for right now, you can only add selections on a computer -- we hope that they expand the service to allow for adding and deleting choices right from the console. Once you've made your selection, you get a screen of info about the movie or TV show where you can also change its star rating. Once you jump into the content, the service determines your play quality based on bandwidth and transports you to the player. The player boasts a "scene" rewind and fast forward which Netflix is using in its Silverlight player, a nice touch that skirts around the narrow pipeline.

Video quality was excellent on our end, with SD content looking terrifically watchable. A small perk -- but huge deal as far as we're concerned -- is the inclusion of a limited amount of HD content. We previewed Heroes in HD, and the quality was stunning. Right now there's only about 300 titles on offer, but we think after folks get a taste of this, they'll be begging for some expansion.

With the inclusion of the service for Gold members, it's clear the system is moving further outside of the straightforward gaming realm into a larger market. This combo has loads of appeal.

Friends channel

The NXE greatly expands on the interactivity between you and your Xbox LIVE friends. Now there's a channel dedicated to viewing their current activities and avatars which also gives you options to ping them with messages or invite them into a party, all in a glorious, quasi-3D setting.

The party mode is interesting because it allows you to join up with friends engaged in different activities or games, all the while keeping a conversation going. You can invite people into games or simply talk to them while you're in separate games (or not playing at all), and it endeavors to keep parties together even if you're logged out for an update. The system isn't quite perfect yet -- but there's loads of potential for it, and generally its implementation was solid. Where it succeeds most is limiting that break in flow when you want to change up titles, or someone needs to take a quick break, and it makes planning activities far easier.

Marketplace

The Marketplace for content and games hasn't drastically changed, but it's much easier to find what you're looking for and see how it connects to what you already have. You can now browse for titles alphabetically, by genre, or by more esoteric groupings like "most popular." Game titles now have virtual boxes with art, give you full screen sample pictures, and skin the background when you browse. Regardless of how they dress it up though, it's now a pleasure instead of a chore to find content, and it puts an end to the mess that was the Marketplace.

An emerging component of the Marketplace seems to be the Community Games slot, which allows XNA developers to distribute their games in an App Store-like environment. The inclusion of this as a feature in the NXE gives the impression that Microsoft hopes to stoke an all-in, user-created-content fire, and we're definitely for that. Right now there's not a load of games on offer, but we assume as they work up to the November 19th release, this slot will seriously flesh out.

The guts

When we spoke to Marc Whitten, general manager of LIVE and one of the driving forces behind this update, he made it clear that this wasn't just about surface -- this is an overhaul inside and out. The team has revamped this platform to not just look pretty, but has changed its core functionality. The NXE now operates more like an OS rather than a closed set of static panes -- developers can build off of it with apps like Netflix and Photo Party, and the long view is that what we see now is just the tip of the iceberg.

On top of the beautification and betterment of the Experience as a whole, the team has also continued to embrace its core gamer market by adding in new features like the ability to copy games to the hard drive -- which the company claims cuts down load times by 30 to 50 percent (and kills system noise by 7dB). In our experience (and the experience of other gamers we know), the load times weren't as noticeably cut as we'd like them to be, but there's a definite bump in speed for segues, and we're not exactly complaining.

Wrap-up

Overall we're highly impressed with what Microsoft has done. This isn't just PR-speak or phony praise -- the company has demonstrated a tremendous understanding of the needs of the market and its customers, both with this software update, and the recent price cuts on the low-end Xbox 360 packages. If this is "just the beginning" -- as the team claims it is -- we're going to see some pretty exciting stuff in the future. For now, however, the combo of rock-solid, next-gen game console, multi-tiered entertainment delivery system, and robust social networking engine leaves little to be desired. Let's just hope that developers can live up to the system's potential.

Further reading

Hit up Joystiq's massive video expose of the whole thing. Just follow these links to the multi-part feature:

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

HP Mini 1000 hands-on

2008-10-29T02:10:00.000-07:00

If our overly fannish announcement post didn't give it away, we're pretty excited about the HP Mini 1000. It has little to do with the specs -- the drop in screen resolution from the 2133 is a little disappointing, plus we would've liked to at least see what one of these netbooks could do with a VIA Nano under the hood -- and everything to do with the fit and finish HP is bringing to this pricepoint ($399), in both hardware and software. Peep our impressions after the break.

Hardware

We'd be the first to gripe about HP's aesthetics in the consumer space, but for some reason the Mini 1000 just works. Perhaps it's the small form factor that leaves little room for the gaudy and yet a whole bunch of room for a great keyboard, screen and halfway-decent touchpad. The lid of the netbook has a fancy shiny pattern worked into it, which is subtle enough to be tasteful, and the chrome speaker grill in the hinge isn't bad at all. There's an edge-to-edge glass-ish surface in front of the screen, which is probably about 0.75 MacBooks on the glare-o-meter.

The overall build is pure quality, and we can't emphasize enough how important it is for a computer, especially a small, super-portable computer, not to feel like a toy in your hands. This puppy weighs 2.4 pounds in the 10.2-inch configuration, and hardly flexes a millimeter, with a solid screen, hinge and body. It's only slightly less than one inch thick, which is bested handily by the Eee PC S101, but the shrunk-to-fit 16:10 form factor means that "clutch" moniker is more than just marketing speak, it's a whole new way to carry your laptop, and we find it to be plenty small.

We're especially inspired by the edge-to-edge keyboard, which is easily the nicest we've used on a netbook, or really any laptop smaller than 12.1-inches (and bests many larger than that). HP did move a few things around a bit to make it all fit, but all the right keys are right where you need them, and our large hands were pounding out mistake-free sentences brimming with wit on our first try.

Unfortunately, HP hasn't seen the error of its ways when it comes to the trackpad, so we're stuck with right and left click buttons on the right and left of the trackpad -- the exact wrong place to reach them from. Luckily, it's a good and large trackpad, with good sensitivity, good tap-to-click, and good scrolling -- all of which you'll rely on heavily to avoid those dreaded side buttons.

The LED-backlit screen is disappointingly low resolution, but is quite bright and plenty vibrant -- a lot better than it looks in our pictures, trust us. The standard battery is a three-cell, but HP will be offering a six-cell in January. 3G should be available in December.

For expansion there's a removable HP Mini Mobile Drive in the SSD versions of the Mini 1000, which is a straightforward USB drive, but disappears completely when you slide it into its designated slot, flush with the machine. Also, intriguingly HP plans to offer an optional "HD video decode accelerator mini-card." We're not exactly sure what that entails, but it sounds fun.

Software

Windows XP is naturally Windows XP, but HP's MIE is truly another thing entirely. HP seems to have taken the best of all worlds, borrowing from its TouchSmart interface for good looks and ease of use, an Ubuntu base for power and extensibility, and some of the lightweight convenience of "instant-on" operating systems to make it all netbook-appropriate.

The OS starts up at a respectable pace, and once you've booted you're faced with a home screen that's actually preloaded your primary apps to save you the trouble. Web Browser (Firefox) shows you a few favorites and a search bar, Email (Thunderbird) shows you your recent messages, and Music and Photo apps just sit there looking pretty. There's a nice big app switcher "dock" of sorts across the bottom, and from anywhere in the OS you can tap the "Windows Key" to jump back to the home screen.

There's a fundamental shift here from the file browser and window manager-first approach of most desktop operating systems, but unlike some instant-on operating systems that really do limit you to pre-loaded applications and stripped down functionality, most everything's still here. You can file manage to your heart's content, install programs from Ubuntu's extensive repository, run pre-loaded apps like Open Office, and we're sure someone will manage to make this switchable to Ubuntu's traditional desktop view before long. Unfortunately, HP's not open sourcing any of its MIE interface, which is a little sad seeing how much the company has obviously benefited from existing open source work.

The real weakness here is HP's media applications. Granted, we were seeing a fairly early version of the software, and were warned those apps were particularly rough, but we've been none-too-impressed with HP's existing media apps for TouchSmart, and the Front Row-esque setup for shuffling through the applications here feels a bit to derivative.

That also brings us to our biggest "mistrust" of the interface, if you will. Everything's sort of buried under this layer of HP. In some cases that's a good thing, and makes the netbook more of an internet-connected, rich media appliance -- like a modern day smartphone with the power and convenience of a full computer operating system. Where that could be a bad thing is in the case of shoddy, irreplaceable apps that are inextricably integrated into the system and get in the way of us enjoying the computer how we'd like to. In short, we're expecting quite a few Engadget-types out there to chafe under HP's rule and install their own preferred flavor of Linux, perhaps running Ubuntu's netbook interface on top, but for a good majority of users, MIE is all they'll need, and we'd say it's delivering Linux in one of the most user-friendly packages yet.

Wrap-up

Overall we're very impressed with HP's new offering. While ASUS is busy charging $699 for its "designed" version of a netbook, HP is delivering a beautiful computer with a "thin enough" chassis at a really aggressive price point -- though you can certainly go Vivienne Tam nutso if you'd like. We, being the nerds we are, will always want more power than Microsoft and Intel are allowing / providing currently, but these netbook things are finally reaching the point of maturity to bring the category out of its pimply gimmick phase and into the "recommend to people we don't dislike" phase. MIE is just gravy, but certainly shows a lot of promise.

pureSilicon's rugged Renegade SSD touts hardware-based encryption

2008-10-29T01:36:00.000-07:00

pureSilicon isn't offering up the first rugged SSD or anything, but its Renegade line is still tough enough to be compliant with MIL-STD-810F (and this guy's) standards. Hailed as the first solid state drive to integrate hardware-based encryption approved by the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS), the device boasts up to 128GB of capacity, a dedicated on-board cryptographic processor, hard-anodized unibody enclosure and the ability to withstand most anything that you could put it through (save for a blender). Select customers have already received samples, but if you're dumbstruck by such a notion, you'll have to wait with the rest of the citizenry and nab yours in Q1 2009.

Philips reveals Bluetooth-enabled GoGear LUXE DAP

2008-10-27T01:10:00.001-07:00

Philips' GoGear line hasn't exactly sent us into uncontrollable fits of jubilation of late, but the latest DAP to fall under the aforesaid umbrella doesn't look half bad. Boasting a prism-like motif and integrated Bluetooth 2.1 functionality, this unit will actually pause your tunes and allow you to answer a call if your BT-enabled phone is nearby and paired up. It also features 10-hours of playback time and 100-hours in standby, and there's an FM tuner included in case you roll through 2GB of jams and just can't bear to hear any of them again. Word on the street has it that this bugger will surface in Singapore next month for around S$139 ($92), though other Asian countries should see it pop up shortly thereafter.

[Via PMPToday]

Westinghouse teams with photographer Anne Geddes for new digiframes

2008-10-27T01:09:00.001-07:00

As Westinghouse realizes that the digital photo frame market is about as over-saturated as possible right now, not to mention just how boring the whole notion has become, it has resorted to pulling in a "world renowned" name in photography in order to help push its forthcoming line. But it doesn't end with just a namedrop -- oh no, Westy's latest release has completely and entirely failed to divulge any information whatsoever on the specifications of any of its impending frames. No screen sizes, no resolutions, no capacities, nothing. Just paragraph after paragraph of how awesome it will be to have some of Anne Geddes' photographs mixed in with your own lame attempts at capturing life's most precious moments when you buy one of these elusive units this winter (at undisclosed price points, no less). Nice going, Westinghouse.

Dan Hesse sez Android "not yet good enough" for Sprint brand

2008-10-27T01:04:00.001-07:00

Look, Dan Hesse is an intelligent individual, which means he knew good and well that he'd start a flame war when making one particular comment to the National Press Club in Washington. The CEO of Sprint casually proclaimed that he didn't feel Android (in its current form) was "good enough to put the Sprint brand on." In all fairness, Sprint has shown a friendly side to Google in the past, and he did promise to sell an Android-powered phone "at some time in the future," but asserting that Sprint is in the position to shy away from what's arguably the most exciting thing to happen to the mobile realm since the advent of the iPhone is, um, questionable at best.

[Via Android Authority]

Oprah calls Kindle "her new favorite thing," gives everyone $50 off

2008-10-27T01:03:00.000-07:00

Been waiting patiently for the next-generation Kindle(s) to hit the market? Growing increasingly frustrated with the wait? Thanks to the Amazon e-reader becoming Oprah Winfrey's "new favorite, favorite thing in the world (can't you see the jubilation on her face?)," you might just have to finally pull the trigger on the existing iteration. As a special offer for Oprah Show viewers (and by extension, everyone who reads this post), Amazon.com is now offering $50 off of the Kindle's $359 price tag by simply entering the code OPRAHWINFREY at checkout and envisioning Tom Cruise leaping on your computer desk. Better act fast, though -- the offer's only good through November 1st, and yes, that Tom Cruise bit is required.

Nikon D90's 720p movie mode gets critiqued

2008-10-27T00:58:00.001-07:00

While being the first DSLR to shoot HD video sounds mighty excellent on paper, it's not worth much if the execution isn't there, right? The general consensus was that Nikon's D90 was a stellar DSLR, but the 720p movie mode was simply a so-so cherry on top. The gurus over at CamcorderInfo decided to take things one step further and actually write up an in-depth review on the movie mode alone. The long and short of it is this: the D90's movie mode simply can't produce the same results as a dedicated HD camcorder, and while it was "often able to produce impressive results (especially in moderately low light)," the unfortunate "wobble effect" really put a damper on things. In essence, the aforementioned problem causes objects to look like Jell-o when the user pans quickly from left to right, and the only real way to avoid it is to utilize a tripod or slow down your pans -- neither of which are terribly convenient. Critics did find quite a bit to praise, and they certainly appreciated the inclusion in an otherwise amazing camera, but it's still far from being ideal in all scenarios.

Nikon D90's 720p movie mode gets critiqued

2008-10-27T00:58:00.000-07:00

How-to video shows 3G implant into Aigo P8860 MID

2008-10-27T00:54:00.000-07:00

Aigo's P8860 MID was already a potent, handsome piece of machinery in its factory form, but adding in 3G is like adding melted chocolate to a glazed hot doughnut from Krispy Kreme -- it's just better, even though it's tough to accomplish and potentially harmful to your health. Far-reaching metaphors aside, our pals over at jkkmobile have put together an all-telling 18 minute video that explains how to add 3G HSDPA to this here MID. For seasoned DIYers, the process of opening it up, soldering a mini PCI-e connector / SIM card slot and tossing in a 3G card / antenna won't seem that difficult. For everyone else, we'd recommend watching thrice to make sure your confidence level is at the appropriate position before delving in. Vid's after the break, per usual.

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Toshiba's decade-old automated volleyball bot resurfaces: where's ours?

2008-10-27T00:53:00.000-07:00

If this here press releases didn't have a date of February 1997 on it, we'd swear this was some sort new fancy new development. Sure, robots have been playing sports for ages, but seeing this here creature revived begs the question: why don't we all have one or two of these laying around the house by now? The prototype seen in the video linked below can recognize spoken commands, react to incoming spheres, identify actions of nearby humans and spike volleyballs in your grille all day long. In all honesty, Tosh probably converted this into some sort of elderly assistant bot that didn't catch nearly as much press, but we're still holding onto a sliver of hope that this thing is just about ready for commercial release.

Read - Volleyball robot video
Read - Original volleyball robot press release

HTC CEO expects to move 600,000 G1s this year, more in 2009

2008-10-27T00:52:00.000-07:00

With all sorts of outlandish figures being bandied about regarding sales / expectations for the T-Mobile G1, someone intimately close to the situation has finally chimed in with his take. Peter Chou, chief executive and co-founder of HTC, stated in a recent interview that it expects to ship over 600,000 G1s this year, and while he wouldn't come clean on an exact figure for 2009, he did proclaim that "in general, we think we can do more next year." We aren't betting the farm that his prediction will come true or anything, but it certainly falls within the realm of feasibility. Oh, and if you were wondering how Mr. Chou planned on convincing potential iPhone buyers to opt for the G1 instead, he reckons that the full QWERTY keypad will handle that for him -- after all, "Americans are very keyboard-oriented."

[Via mocoNews]

Garmin nuvi 785T reviewed

2008-10-27T00:25:00.001-07:00

Garmin launched its updated 7x5 series of nuvi navigators back in August, but the high-end MSN Direct-equipped 785T is just hitting stores, and GPS Magazine says it's a solid improvement over previous nuvis -- but if you're not willing to pay the $50 / year for the MSN service, you're probably not going to miss it. The 785T drew high marks for its fast frame rate, nice 3D lane guidance / upcoming turn features, and semi-realistic building displays, but the MSN Direct traffic implementation was less accurate than the free traffic service built into lesser T-series nuvis, and download speeds for the service weren't particularly swift. We're not all that sold on the connected GPS concept yet, so we're inclined to take the reviewer's advice and pick up the otherwise-identical non-connected 765T, but click on for the full exhaustive review to decide for yourself.

10-inch Mini 1000 appears on HP website

2008-10-27T00:24:00.001-07:00

HP's obviously getting ready to expand its netbook line beyond the well-received Mini-Note 2133 -- the company recently started teasing the Vivienne Tam Digital Clutch, and now images and pricing for a "Mini 1000" have appeared on the HP shopping site. As expected, the new rig is basically a non-glam version of the Digital Clutch, and specs appear to be right in line with what we've seen: 10-inch screen, sub-1-inch thickness, and 2.25-pound starting weight -- and we're guessing the Mini 1000 also gets the upgrade to an Intel Atom over the 2133's VIA C7-M. Not bad at all for a starting price tag of $399 -- hopefully we'll find out a lot more soon.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

NASA demos 2020's 12-wheeled, pressurized lunar rover concept car

2008-10-27T00:23:00.000-07:00

We've all seen black and white footage of astronauts on the moon hot doggin' it over craters and dunes in a trick electric buggy, but that was over thirty years ago. In 2020, when a new generation of astronauts head there, they'll need a new generation of whip too, and that's just what NASA recently demonstrated to the public. Called the Small Pressurized Rover Concept, it looks to be an evolution of the 12-wheeled Chariot prototype we saw earlier this year, pimped out with an air-tight cabin that sleeps two and some bitchin' gold dubs. Inside a pair of explorers can go lunar RVing for up to two weeks at a time, covering 625 miles on one charge at a leisurely 6 mph, hopping out through rear-mounted (non-next-gen) spacesuits when something interesting catches their eye. You know, like aliens or something. Could happen.

Dell launches the Inspiron Mini 12

2008-10-27T00:22:00.000-07:00

We knew more Inspiron Minis were in the works, and Dell's just officially announced the next member of the family, the Inspiron Mini 12. Yep, the same machine we first spotted all the way back in June, and nothing much has changed in the meantime -- you're looking at either a 1.3GHz Atom Z520 or 1.6GHz Atom Z530 processor (a step up from the usual 1.6GHz Atom N270), up to an 80GB drive, 1GB of RAM, Bluetooth / WiFi, and that 12-inch, 1280 x 800 display, all in a 2.72-pound package less than one inch thick. The bad news? It's Japan-only for now, but it'll hit the States late next month with a starting price under $600. That's a pretty hot price / performance ratio on paper -- if this thing performs like it should, it could potentially take away sales from more full-featured ultraportables like the Envy 133 and the MacBook Air. We'll see how it goes -- the netbook market suddenly got interesting again, eh?

Update: It's worth pointing out that this netbook runs Vista Home Edition, albeit sluggishly according to APC (XP and Ubuntu variants by end of year). It also ships standard with a 3-hour 3 cell battery or optional $79 6-cell battery for up to 6-hours of power.

Read - Dell announcement
Read - Laptop hands-on
Read - APC hands-on
Read - Dell Q+A