Gadgets Base

Posted Mar 31st 2008 5:14PM by Paul Miller
Filed under: Misc. gadgets
Bug Labs announced in January that it’d be busting out a BUG+EDU program for getting units into the hands of impressionable youngsters, and now that they’ve sold out of the first crop of units they’re getting those educational discounts off the ground. Students (with relevant ID) can now purchase modules at a 10% discount, while K-12 schools and secondary education institutions can buy Bug for 25% off. K-12 schools can also participate in Bug giveaways, while undergrad and postgrad programs can develop coursework in conjunction with Bug — long story short, some kids out there are going to get themselves some fun edumicatin’.

Posted Mar 31st 2008 7:09PM by Ryan Block
Filed under: cellphonesApril Fool’s day joke? Could be, but we’re hearing it might be real: the long standing bastions of iPhone hacking, the iphone Dev Team, posted a note to their site stating that “[today] the DevTeam was approached by an unnamed party to sell all of the intellectual property and related applications. After much consideration [What, hours? -Ed.] the offer was accepted and the [Dev Team] has ceased.” Seems a bit outlandish. For those not in the know, the Dev Team is the same group that posted jailbreaks to 2.0 (before it was out), 1.1.3, 1.1.1, developed the AnySIM unlock, and are thiiiis close to releasing the Pwnage tool (which promised total unsigned firmware control of the iPhone). So yeah, it may well be a prank, we wouldn’t put it past them. Funny thing about the hacker community though, one goes down and 10 more spring up.

[Thanks Andrew, Erica]

Update: Yep, it’s an April Fool’s joke. We’re just going to go offline until April 2nd, peace.

I’ve been contemplating picking up an Asus Eee PC for those times when I’m on the road and don’t really want to mess with carrying my larger laptop around. Don’t get me wrong, I like having all of the functions and features of my Windows machine, it’s just that when you’re covering a big show, you don’t want to lug something that large around. So why haven’t I picked one up yet? Because I want to actually be able to see it and use it first. Thankfully I’ll be able to walk into my local Best Buy and do just that.

According to Asus, their new 4GB Windows XP (yes, Windows) version will soon be stocked at Best Buy stores throughout the country. The system will be identical to the original 4GB model, with the only difference being the operating system. Expect to see these at your local store during the first half of April for $399.

Source: CrunchGear

Posted Mar 31st 2008 12:58PM by Donald Melanson
Filed under: Laptops HP’s not one to let its laptops sit on the shelf too long without a revamp, and it’s now let loose yet another raft of updates for its Pavilion line, albeit only in Europe for now. The big news here is the addition of Blu-ray drives across the board, which obviously replaces the hd dvd option previously found on the models they’re replacing. That desirable feature finds its way onto the new Pavilion dv2800, dv6800 and dv9800 series models, which boast 14.1, 15.4, and 17-inch displays, respectively, along with your choice of Core 2 Duo or Turion 64 X2 processors, integrated graphics or NVIDIA GeForce 8400M or 8600M (depending on the model) and even a Blu-ray burner on the 17-inch model. If you’re looking for something other than a traditional laptop, HP’s also busted out an update to its monster HDX-9000 desktop replacement series in the form of the HDX-9300, and a new Pavilion tx2300 tablet pc (only the former boasts a Blu-ray drive). Otherwise, you can expect the HDX-9300 to pack Penryn T8100 or T9300 processors, 3GB of RAM standard, and a beefy NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTS graphics card, while the tx2300 rolls in with a Turion 64 X2 TL-60 processor, 2GB of RAM, NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 graphics, and a DVD burner standard. No word on pricing or availability for any of ‘em just yet, unfortunately, nor is there any word of a release ’round these parts.

Read - Notebook Italia, “HP Pavilion dv2800, dv6800, dv9800 with Blu-ray”
Read - Notbeook Italia, “HP Pavilion HDX9300 and tx2100 tablet PC”

Posted Mar 31st 2008 12:29PM by Darren Murph
Filed under: Displays, Peripherals
Folks hanging on the Mac side of life have surely been waiting in tense anticipation for DisplayLink to become OS X friendly, for like, ever. As promised, the first drivers have emerged in order to give Intel-based Macs (yes, macbook air and mac mini are included) the ability to connect with up to four monitors over USB. Granted, the beta software has no 2D acceleration and no OpenGL 3D acceleration, but both limitations are known and will hopefully be ironed out in the final release. So, what are you waiting for? Tap the read link below to get your download on — but be sure to read up on the documentation before forging ahead without a care in the world.

[Thanks, Mike]

At first glance, you wouldn’t think that HP’s new Elite Autofocus Webcam is actually a webcam. It looks more like desk lamp minus the fluorescent lighting. But yes, the product spec sheet does say that the odd-looking device is really a webcam, and a powerful one at that.

In fact, the HP Autofocus Webcam touts of a 12-megapixel still image capturing feature using software interpolation. It’s got a 3-megapixel sensor with autofocus and will let users get high-definition video quality which are sharp and focused.

The Elite Autofocus Webcam is compatible with AIM, Windows Live Messenger, Skype and Yahoo Messenger. Using an instant chat button, users just need to tap a button that will automatically fire up any of those IM clients, depending on user’s preference. Complementing this chat feature is the Elite Autofocus Webcam’s integrated stereo microphone and plug and play USB connection, making it easy for anyone to install the device on their machines.

Now, going back to the odd look of the Elite Autofocus Webcam, HP must have not designed the webcam that way if not to serve a purpose. It look like the webcam was designed that way to make the stable, secure and easy to attach on the monitor’s edge.

Adding value to the the Elite Autofocus Webcam are 4 resolutions of varying speed – 640×480 with 30fps, 800×600 with 20fps, 1280 x 920 with up to 8-9 fps and 1600 x 1200 with 5-6 fps.

Finally, the HP Elite Autofocus Webcam comes with software to help users manage their online chat. The included programs are ArcSoft Magic-i to capture, edit and share short videos and HP Photosmart Essential for editing and retouching purposes.

Via [Digital Home Thoughts]

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Posted Mar 31st 2008 11:58AM by Darren Murph
Filed under: Laptops
MSI seems to be in quite the contradictory mood, as that “Innovation with Style” slogan certainly doesn’t apply to the laptop it’s plastered on. We had to triple-check to ensure the VR340 wasn’t actually introduced ages ago, but in fact, this 13.3-incher is incredibly fresh. Packed within the way-too-heavy 4.85-pound frame is an elusive dual-core Intel CPU, WXGA panel, up to 3GB of DDR2 RAM, dual-layer DVD burner, a trio of USB ports, 5-in-1 multicard reader and a six-cell battery for good measure. Mum’s the word on a price, but chances are that won’t hurt too many feelings.

[Via FarEastGizmos]

LG has upgraded its previously released mobile phone LG-LH5000 with 3 new exciting flavors – vanilla, strawberry and pistachio. I know it sounds ridiculous and you might think that I must be kidding, but actually I’m not. LG has really introduced three new colors flavors for the LH5000. Hopefully, you don’t get it to it thinking that you are actually holding an ice cream.

The LG-LH5000 ice cream phone is a thin flip-phone that boasts 3G connectivity, a 2.2-inch color display with QVGA resolution and 2.2-megapixel camera. The LH5000 ice cream phone lasts through 140 hours of standby time and 150 minutes talk time. The LG ice cream phone also sports an LED lighting in the keypad area which complements the different colors of the phone.

Other than this, there’s not much information available for the LG ice cream phone. The LG-LH5000 is currently available only in Korea.

Via [I4U News]

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I may love Twitter, the site where you have 140 short characters to tell the world what you’re up to, lovers may love Twitter, but I do understand that Twitter’s not for everyone. Some people don’t want to share the details of every thought, meal or bathroom break with the rest of the Internet and find the constantly updated details of other people’s every thought too much to keep up with.

If you’re one of these people, allow me to introduce you to the anti-Twitter: dawdlr. As the website puts it, “dawdlr is a global community of friends and strangers answering one simple question: what are you doing, you know, more generally?”

Instead of typing in what you’re up to, you send dawdlr a postcard detailing your activities, and some are chosen for the site. (Current postcards include “trying not to look back” and “enjoying living in London”). It’s basically a humdrum version of Postsecret, as well as a satire on our rush-obsessed society.

If you want to join in, you have plenty of time: the site’s updated around twice a year, with the next update due on May 21st.

Hop to it! Or y’know, don’t . . .

I knew it! I knew it was too good to be true! Plus, the presence of that little dual-LED flash alongside the rumored Xenon flash should’ve been my biggest clue. But it is only now that I realize that I’ve actually been staring at the photo of a… fake. This is not a ”leaked photo of the Nokia N96 with Xenon flash.” Indeed, it’s just a regular modified photo.

A Nokia Port forum admin named ExiTuS led me to the light. In a post, he puts the original Nokia N96 “template” photo in comparison with the allegedly leaked image pictured above. Obviously, the Xenon flash was just cropped from another phone, perhaps the N82 or 6220 Classic, and then slapped onto the N96 on top of its dual-LED flash. I sure hope Nokia doesn’t take any design cues from this one. They can do a better job than this.

Via [Nokia Port]

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