Archive for July 30th, 2008

More netbooks on the way from Lenovo, Sylvania and Intel

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

by Donald Melanson, posted Jul 30th 2008 at 5:52PM
It looks like the number of netbook hold-outs just keeps on dwindling, with Lenovo and Sylvania now entering the fray, and Intel coming back for another kick at the can. While details are light on Lenovo’s offering, the company is reportedly looking at launching it as soon of September of this year, and it’ll apparently be targeting both consumer and enterprise markets with it. Sylvania, on the other hand, is going squarely after the average user with its new “g netbook MESO” (pictured above), which it’ll apparently be offering in addition to its recently announced Cloudbook iteration. This one is said to boast an 8.9-inch display, along with the usual 1.6GHz Atom processor, an 80GB hard drive, a built-in card reader, a webcam, and your choice of Windows XP or Ubuntu Netbook Remix for an OS. No word on a price just yet, but the lack of SSD would seem to suggest it’ll be on the lower end of things. Lastly, we have word that Intel is already hard at work on the third version of its Classmate PC, although the company apparently isn’t going any farther than to say that it’ll have a “new look and feel,” and that it’ll get both hardware and software upgrades. And really, is there anything more you need to know than that?

Read - Out of the Box, “Sylvania to enter expanding netbook market”
Read - DigiTimes, “Lenovo to launch netbook by the end of September” [Via Electronista]
Read - Crave, “Third-generation Classmate PC on its way”

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Filed under: Laptops

Brando’s SATA HDD Multimedia Dock includes video-out, media player

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 30th 2008 at 7:02AM
Brando’s SATA HDD Stage Rack doesn’t stay the same for very long, as it seems a new iteration keeps popping up every month or so. The latest (and greatest, might we add) is the SATA HDD Multimedia Dock, which enables users to slap in any ole 2.5- / 3.5-inch SATA hard drive and access it via USB. That’s not all, though. This one also provides an SD card slot, S-Video / composite / component outputs and a bundled remote — what for, you ask? So you can play back MPEG1/2/4, XviD and DivX (among others) files, of course. This takes multifaceted to an entirely different platform, huh?

[Via Coolest-gadgets]

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Filed under: Home Entertainment, Storage

Targus introduces checkpoint-friendly Zip-Thru laptop case

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 30th 2008 at 8:53AM
As we surmised earlier this month with the formal introduction of Mobile Edge’s trio of TSA-approved laptop bags, the flood of competitors are now rushing out. One of the first out of the gate is Targus, delivering its Zip-Thru 15.4-inch Corporate Traveler Laptop Case. Just the first in the outfit’s sure-to-be-long line of checkpoint-friendly bags, this one measures in at 16.93- x 6.5- x 13.98-inches, weighs 3.74-pounds, is constructed from durable black ballistic 1680 denier nylon and can — of course — slip under those airport scanning machines with your precious machine still tucked inside. Unfortunately, it won’t be available for summertime travel (look for it to land in October), but you can go ahead and budget in $99.99 well before Q3 gets sticky.

[Via CrunchGear]

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Filed under: Laptops, Peripherals

ASUS moving forward on ZX1 cancellation, adding two other phones?

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

by Joshua Topolsky, posted Jul 30th 2008 at 9:14AM
CNET Asia has apparently received word that not only will ASUS’ Lamborghini-branded ZX1 smartphone be canceled (as we mentioned earlier this month), but the company will also be putting the brakes on its forthcoming P560 and M536 phones as well. In a statement issued presumably to CNET, the company claims that the project has been postponed due to the “technical immaturity of a key component from one of our suppliers,” though they seem to have left the door open for a reboot. We know one thing for sure — it’s clear that the P560 and M536 weren’t those “more important devices” the company made reference to previously. They probably need the resources for another 25 versions of the Eee PC.

[Thanks, chauco]

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Filed under: cellphones

GamePark’s GP3X leaked in spy shots, called the ‘Wiz’

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

by Joshua Topolsky, posted Jul 30th 2008 at 12:08PM
Apparently, a leaked shot of GamePark’s next iteration of the GP2X — the GP3X (not to be confused with the Pandora project) — has gone and gotten itself leaked onto the interblogs. According to a post on GP2X News, the new system (which is being called the “Wiz”) isn’t set in stone, but will contain some form of a system-on-a-chip, and apparently will allow GP2X emulators to run after a bit of recompiling. There’s not a whole lot of information available right now, but we’ll keep you posted — in the meantime, enjoy the photo.

[Via GP2X News]

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Filed under: Gaming

Nine in ten dentists recommend carving up that iPhone dock your own dang self

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

by Paul Miller, posted Jul 30th 2008 at 7:33AM
But not this guy. Seriously, he’s gonna stick drill that in somebody’s mouth after this? Not ours, no thank you. Tipster Adam Marcus wanted to make some room for his iPhone 3G in his old iphone dock, and got a teeth fixin’ out of the whole deal, but we’d say somebody should call the dentist police on the both of them.

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Filed under: cellphones

Sony Ericsson’s G705 slider leaks onto internet, shows hope for the future

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

by Joshua Topolsky, posted Jul 30th 2008 at 9:59AM
An undeterred Sony Ericsson appears to have a handsome new slider on its way out in the near future — according to a slew of pictures leaked to the se4m forums — meant to sit beside the previously spied (and supposedly forthcoming) Remi. The device — dubbed the G705 — will feature GPS, WiFi, a 2.4-inch display, a 3.2 megapixel camera with flash, 128MB of internal memory, and will run atop the A2 software platform. There’s not a ton of info to go around right now, but if you hit the read link you can feast your eyes on a wide array of succulent photos. We’re including another shot after the break, just in case you don’t like traveling.

[Via Navigadget]

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Filed under: cellphones

Heart Robot loves to be hugged, express emotions

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 30th 2008 at 2:03PMHere’s your afternoon dose of cuteness, ready or not. David McGoran’s Heart Robot has made its way into London’s Science Museum, and for good reason. This intelligent robot not only possesses a face with moving eyes and an external heart that blinks depending on what’s happening, but it actually encourages people to hug and cuddle it like a real human. Seen as being “among the first robots to signify a new era of emotional machines used for medical treatment and enjoyment,” this creature could one day become a mainstay in nursing homes where the elderly could interact with it and hopefully benefit in some metaphysical manner. Check out the read link for a video oozing with adorableness.

[Via TimesOnline]

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Filed under: Robots

Northrop Grumman’s aircraft-mounted laser moves forward in testing

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

by Darren Murph, posted Jul 30th 2008 at 1:10PMWe’re beginning to think the US government is playing tricks with our head. Let’s see, in late 2004, a Boeing anti-missile airborne laser achieved first light; in October of 2006, a laser-equipped 747-400F was deemed ready for testing; in January of 2007, an MD-10 with Northrop Grumman’s Guardian anti-missile system took off; now, we’re back to the testing stage? Something doesn’t add up. Whatever the case, we’re being fed information that leads us to think that the US Air Force’s Airborne Laser has moved on to some “other” stage of testing. More specifically, engineers are making sure its “sequencing and control” functions are operating normally. Unsurprisingly, we’re left in the dark as to when this thing will see action (again?), but consider our interest piqued for a reason The Man didn’t intend.

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Filed under: Transportation

Purebuds earbuds use Reverse Sound Technology to save your ears

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

I rarely use earbuds with my ipod because, among other reasons, I’m afraid they’ll do damage to my hearing, which, I suspect, isn’t that great to begin with (I can never hear my cell phone ringing unless it’s set at the highest volume). I also don’t enjoy being totally cut off from my surroundings (it’s a dangerous world, even inside my own house), so when I do use them, I keep the sound at a very low volume, like an old lady.

Purebuds from Amazing Tech Products promises a different kind of listening experience. These earbuds use Reverse Sound Technology, which reduces discomfort and potential damage to eardrums by, among other design elements, placement of the speaker unit facing opposite the ear so that there is no direct impact to the eardrum.

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