Electrilite Emergency - This Flashlight has you Covered
The Electrilite Emergency is a flashlight that has you covered in the case of an emergency situation like a hurricane. The Electrilite Emergency features 3 Mega Bright LEDs providing over 100,000 hours of light. The flashlight has an integrated ra...

Sony Ericsson Z710
Sony Ericsson introduced the EDGE supporting Z710 clamshell mobile phone. The Sony Ericsson Z710 features 2MP camera and comes with a 64MB M2 stick. This new Sony Ericsson phone supports push e-mail, RSS feeds and the Access NetFront full HTML brows...

Stylish Sharp QT-MPA10 and MPA5
Sharp introduced the QT-MPA10 and MPA5 line of portable stereo music players dubbed Music Carry. The Sharp QT-MPA10 and MPA5 look like a portable radio with cassette deck, but they actually have 1GB flash memory and 512MB respectively. The portable ...

Linksys WIP330 and WIP300 Wi-Fi VOIP Phones
Linksys announced this week the WIP300 and WIP330 Wireless-G IP Phones. The Linksys WIP330 features a built-in Internet browser. Features of the WIP330 include a 2.2 inch color screen, QoS support, 3-way conferencing and support of SIP v2 standards....

I4U Gadget Flyer: MacBook : Sony UX : Sharp AQUOS Mobile Phone
The new I4U Tech Gadget Flyer is here. Check out the Top 10 Technology news of the past week. The I4U Gadget Flyer is sent out via the I4U Newsletter every Friday. Sign-up Today! Last week in review: Sony wants to sell us a new...

Lenovo 3000 V100
Lenovo (the new owners of the IBM Thinkpad notebooks) announced a new sub-notebook dubbed Lenovo 3000 V100 - Why use two numbers in the product name? This cryptic nomenclature will also not get Lenovo back into US classified network (details). The L...

Soccer World Cup iPod nano Cases
The 2006 FIFA World Cup is starting in a couple of weeks. To get ready you could consider getting a World Cup Lava case for your iPod nano. Hong Kong based AVA offers iPod nano cases made from dust resistant silicon featuring a screen protector an...

New Casio G'zOne W42CA 3G Outdoor Mobile Phone
Casio announces a new cool G' zOne outdoor handset dubbed W42CA. Casio introduced the first G'zOne though outdoor phone in 2005. Many of you asked where this Casio phone would be available for purchase. But Casio still is only offering this phone on...

Samsung GX-2 10MP DSLR Camera Surfaced
At the Seoul International Photo & Imaging Industry Show 2006 in Korea the Samsung GX-2 10MP digital SLR camera made an appearance. Samsung entered the DSLR market in January with the GX-1S and GX-1L. Not much is known yet about the Samsung G...

Vstone Robovie-i
Japanese robot maker VStone introduced a low-priced robot kit called Robovie-i. The Vstone Robovie-i measures 165x104x145mm and weighs about 600g. Only 3 motors are enabling the tiny robovie-i to move. The robot can kind of walk (see video) and t...

Hybrid hard drives (HHDs) shipping January: faster boots, longer battery
Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, StorageWe've been wondering what impact those next generation hybrid hard drives (HHDs) for notebooks and PCs would have on performance and battery life ever since they were announced at WinHEC 2005. Well, Samsung just released some more details saying these new solid state NAND and platter spinnin' hybrids will save 8-25 seconds on boot and extend battery life by 8-10%. In other words, new HHDs will boot or resume up to twice as fast as conventional hard disk drives, last 20-30 minutes longer on battery and are up to five times more reliable. Yeah, big benefits and at only "minimal additional cost" according to Samsung's press release. Sammy will begin to "sample" these new HHDs to customers beginning July with full product launch expected in January, or whenever those Vista machines with ReadyDrive begin to ship. And yeah, it's official, these new drives will be on display at WinHEC in both 128MB and 256MB cache densities at WinHEC 2006 next week just like we heard. [Thanks, Chuckles M.] Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

State Department bans Lenovo PCs from classified work
Filed under: Desktops, Laptops Remember a few months ago when the US State Department ordered thousands of Lenovo PCs despite concerns by some that the boxes could be infested with evil Commie spyware? Well, the computers have apparently been delivered, and the government has now decided those concerns should be taken seriously. The 16,000 Lenovo computers will basically be quarantined from other government computers, and won't be used for any classified work. Which we assume means they'll be used for games of Solitaire and BitTorrent downloads of patriotic anthems. C'mon guys, let's get real here. Sure, Lenovo's  computers are made in China. But so are plenty of other computers, including Apple's shiny new MacBooks. And ThinkPads and ThinkCenters were made in China, in the exact same factories, even when IBM still owned the brands. The fact is, if Chinese spymasters really wanted to use PCs to check in on the US government, they could do it without Lenovo. We're not suggesting that the government not be wary of international espionage. But if they really want to get serious about it, there are better ways to do it than buying 16,000 computers and then limiting their use to back-office functions.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Symantec gets litigious to stop Windows Vista
Filed under: Desktops, LaptopsSymantec is suing Microsoft to hold up development of Windows Vista, which they say wrongly uses Symantec's Veritas storage technology. For its part, Microsoft claims the suit is unfounded, citing a 1996 agreement between the two companies that gave Microsoft the right to use Veritas technology in Windows NT. However, that was when Veritas was an independent company -- Symantec only acquired Veritas in 2004, hence the dispute. In addition to asking for unspecified damages, Symantec is also demanding that Veritas be removed from other Microsoft products, including Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003. According to PC World, this suit has been brewing since 2004, when Symantec first learned of Microsoft's plans for Vista. Symantec may have a point, but it seems like Microsoft is doing a pretty good job at holding up Vista without the court's help.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Warning from Apple: don't put our laptops on your lap
Filed under: LaptopsWe've heard the stories about overheating MacBook Pros, and have even heard that Apple has quietly updated the line's firmware to resolve the problem. However, the company apparently still doesn't want to take any chances on users getting a little overheated while using the new MacBooks, so they've included a warning in the computer's manual (which also appears in the manual for the MBP), advising customers not to use their laptops on their laps: "Do not leave the bottom of your MacBook Pro in contact with your lap or any surface of your body for extended periods. Prolonged contact with your body could cause discomfort and potentially a burn"  Apple's solution to this is to recommend that customers put the computer on a desk or other flat surface. And, not surprisingly, the word "laptop" does not appear once in the MacBook's manual. Now, if you'll excuse us, we're off to chew on an iPod shuffle for a bit.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Lenovo's new ultraportable V100 notebook
Filed under: Laptops We're using the term "ultraportable" a bit generously here, since the new V100 from Lenovo is a whole 1.25-inches thick, and weighs four pounds. Of course, this unit does include a disk drive -- as opposed to the lighter and thinner X60 ThinkPads from Lenovo -- along with a 5-in-1 card reader and optional 1.3 megapixel camera and fingerprint reader. The V100 will also be retailing for considerably less than those X60s, starting out at around $1000. Processors range from 1.66Ghz Intel Core Solo to the 2.0GHz Core Duo, the optical drive comes as a CD-RW/DVD combo unit or as a DVD burner, and hard drives range from 40GB to 100GB. The screen is a 12.1-inch affair, with a 1200 x 800 WXGA resolution. So yeah, you can walk out the door with brand spankin' new Lenovo sporting an Intel Core processor, but it looks like you'll have to select quite a few options to get this guy up to the level of even the $1099 MacBook.[Via MobileMag]Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Apple MacBook reviewed
Filed under: Laptops Alright, after a week of everyone going crazy-go-nuts (or not) over those new MacBooks from Apple, we've got our first review from the boy at Ars Technica. They're rather glowing in their praise, but that might just be due to the high amounts of heat this things puts out. That's right, for all their laptop innovations Apple doesn't seem to have managed to figure out how to keep these Dual Cores cool, and it looks like you might have to resort to thermal paste shenanigans to keeps this thing cool enough to sit on your lap. Also, in Notebook Review's first impressions writeup of the MacBook they encountered serious instability from heat, making the laptop almost unusable. The only other serious problems Ars had with the MacBook were the relatively slow integrated graphics -- even though they were able to run more casual gaming titles just fine in OS X and Windows XP -- and the love it or hate it glossy screen. Otherwise, the laptop looks like quite the deal and a decent performer. Along with that redesigned keyboard, the MacBook has a wider trackpad (how big are these things going to get?) and has an ability to do a "right click" by placing two fingers on the pad and clicking. The iSight, MagSafe and Front Row aren't anything different from the MacBook Pro, which is to their credit. In benchmarks the MacBook performs much closer to the MacBook Pro than its iBook predecessor, and its easy expandability and multitude of pro-ish features make it fairly easy to recommend -- if you can stand the heat.Read - Ars Technica reviewRead - Notebook Review impressionsPermalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

The Pipeline: Pundits dish on MacBooks, XM Inno and Treo 700p
Filed under: Features, Misc. Gadgets, Handhelds, LaptopsWelcome back to The Pipeline, a weekly feature where we dig through the mainstream media and see what the pundits, prognosticators and and pencil pushers have been discussing over the past week.Unlike some recent weeks, there was no single tech story that dominated the mainstream media this week. Yes, most journos dutifully covered Apple's two big events -- the launch of the MacBook and the opening of the company's New York store -- but Apple didn't get the same sort of monolithic coverage that, say, the Samsung Q1 garnered a couple of weeks ago. In fact, one of the few mainstream media MacBook reviews we came across this week was written not by The New York Times' David Pogue or The Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg, but by blogger Glenn Fleishman, slumming it in his day job at the Seattle Times. Fleishman praised the new non-laptop for its upgradability, iSight camera and ability to add a second display, but pointed out that its integrated graphics make it a less-than-ideal choice for anyone doing video-intensive work -- which we assume is part of Apple's plan to find a way to get at least some consumers to pay $2,000 and up for the MacBook Pro, with its ATI Radeon X1600 GPU.Elsewhere, Walt Mossberg had a timely review of the Pioneer Inno -- timely, of course, because the product is now the subject of a lawsuit by the RIAA over its ability to save tunes from XM radio for timeshifting purposes. He found the Inno's "reception problems" to be a "killer flaw," pointing out that he had a hard time getting a clear signal in Washington, DC, a low-rise city that is home to XM's HQ. Mossberg also found the device's software confusing and frustrating, and said that the Inno was the kind of product unlikely to appeal to anyone other than "hardcore XM fans." Alas, we somehow doubt this will stop the RIAA from trying to sue it out of existence.In The New York Times, David Pogue checked out the Treo 700p, and declared it "a communicator with immense power." Comparing it to the 700w, Pogue said that the Palm OS version's software is "a help instead of a hindrance."  While we have to admit to something of an affinity for the Palm OS , we can't help but think that Pogue's review is a little of an apples-and-oranges job. A better comparison would be between the Treo 650 and the 700p, given that both run the same OS, and the latter is essentially an upgrade to the former. Based on such a comparison, we'd agree with Pogue's pleasure at having EV-DO built in, and being able to use DUN out of the box, features that could make this a worthy upgrade if you're a Palm OS fan and want high-speed access. However, we're still frustrated by the lack of WiFi, and can't help but notice that Palm OS 5.4 is starting to feel a little old. But until an ALP-based Palm shows up (or we break down and learn to love WinMo -- which is becoming more likely with each passing day), this will have to do.  The Seattle Times - New MacBook more than a better iBook The New York Times - May's Treo leapfrog's past January's The Wall Street Journal - A portable player, for both satellite radio, MP3s The Christian Science Monitor - Backstory: a natural SegwayPermalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

"Undercover" software helps recover your stolen MacBook
Filed under: LaptopsSo you coughed up some dough for that iAlertU program to protect your MacBook, but wouldn't you know it, your laptop got jacked anyway by a clever thief who simply removed the battery before taking off. Luckily for you, all is not lost, at least not if you'd installed another program called Undercover on your machine, which not only sends out an IP-address-containing SOS if it's reported stolen, but actually uses your machine's built-in iSight to snap a photo of the perp before simulating a screen failure that makes the Mac unusable. Every six minutes, Undercover pings a database maintained by developer Orbicule to check if the machine it's installed on has been stolen; a positive reply from the server initiates a sequence of events that hopefully ends with law enforcement officials breaking down the door of the nefarious Macjacker's pad and recovering your beloved notebook. In case the crook was smart enough to never reconnect to the Internet after the heist, however, you'll still need to file an insurance claim and head down to the old Apple store -- looks like they still haven't found a software solution that beats the trusty Kensington Lock.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Dual Screen Dream
Transform your desktop pc monitor or old notebook into a second screen for your laptop using DoubleView software.

Core Solo Lifebook - Fujitsu Q2010
Housed in magnesium, this thin and light Lifebook from Fujitsu tips the scales at just 2.2 pounds, and has a profile of only 19.9mm.

ABC Online Video Downloads Hit 3 Million Mark
ABC launched its online video service earlier this month and in just two weeks, the shows have racked up 3 million downloads of four of its most popular programs, including Desperate Housewives and...

Rollei da6324 Digital Camera
German firm Rollei is rolling out (oh my, the puns!) the latest entry to its compact digital camera line, the da6324. Not surprisingly, Rollei has tried to put as much camera as possible into the...

NAB Host to HDTV Camera Heist
As some of your intrepid Gizmodo editors walked the aisles of last month's National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention in Las Vegas, little did we know that there were thieves afoot. Even...

Shock and Aww: Wired War in Iraq is a Flop
Looks like the "shock and awe" campaign in Iraq is not so awesome after all. The top-down data network communication that was going to be so devastating seems to be lost in a quagmire of missed...

Motorola Q Not Really Launching On Verizon Next Week?
Either Motorola CEO Ed Zander is confused, or some spokesperson is going to get a whuppin'.Contradicting Zander's statements earlier this week, a Verizon spokesperson claimed that there is going...

Rumor: Nintendo Wii Faked at E3?
Accusations are flying and pictures are surfacing of behind-the-scenes fakery going on at Nintendo's demonstration of its Wii console at E3 a couple of weeks ago. Take a look at all these wires...

Ready Your iPod for the World Cup With These Not-Cheap-At-All Country Cases
Some of us here at Gizmodo are genuine soccer fans who are very much looking forward to the World Cup. That's why there's no shame (OK, maybe a very little bit) in talking about these World...

Samsung Anycall SCH-B540
Comm Korea 2006 is going on, and that's where Samsung rolled out a nice-looking handset it lovingly calls the Anycall SCH-B540. This one is equipped for digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB), MP3...

Nintendo Physically Augmented Reality Amusement Park
Our second favorite class from when we were in grad school at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program was taught by game designer Frank Lantz of area/code. The best project—certainly the...

Tanita Scale With Fat Sensor and Bluetooth
There's a reason why the Japanese aren't nearly as fat as Americans. Tanita's BC-502 scale can measure your weight and send a small current through your body to tell you your BMI and fat...

Marantz DV6600 Universal DVD Player
Now that HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are almost upon us, regular vanilla DVDs are on their way out. However, like with console games, the best products are always released near the end of the lifecycle. In...

Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor Program
We know what the official Vista requirements are now, so most of us are well informed and on our way to Best Buy. But isn't there an easier way to tell if your PC is Vista ready? Microsoft thought...

LED Faucet Looks Nice, Doesn't Make Doing the Dishes any Better
This LED faucet was designed by the Lichtenstein-based company, KWC Faucets. This one is designed in a way that makes the LED more visible if the room is darker, but I guess that happens with all...

Arcade In A Box
Ed Farias wrote in to tell us about his product, Arcade in a Box, an all-in-one arcade console with computer guts built directly in the controller that can be plugged directly into external video...

iPodweek - The Best of iLounge
This week on iLounge: It's been a crazy week for iPod speakers. Reviews of Monitor Audio's i-Deck component system and iH30 boom box from clock radio maker iHome topped the site, while new First...

Toshiba's Next Round of HDTVs
Toshiba, that Japanese fireplug of a company, introduced its next generation of HDTVs today. Nine models, either available now or by August at the latest, will round out the company's product line....

Blue Pearl Life Headsets For Her
These tiny bluetooth headsets are the perfect fashion accessory for the woman who is more geek than chic. Weighing 7.9 grams and sporting interchangeable face-plates, these headsets are actually...

Google Reader Available For Cellphones
Subscribe to RSS feeds on your phone with Google Reader, now available on mobiles. Catch up on all the newest Gizmodo news on the toilet, in the car, on the bus, at work, even making love with your...

Christie's Auctioning Off 40 Years of Star Trek Memorabilia
CBS Paramount cleaned out the Star Trek garage and is putting its finds up for sale at Christie's New York this October, putting 4,000 lots of over 1,000 items on the block in conjunction with the...

LINDY WiFi and Bluetooth Finder
Similar WiFi finders are on the market—allowing you to quickly see whether there is an open hotspot without pulling out your laptop—but very few allow you to also scan for Bluetooth...

Strobe Light Bicycle Vest
With summer right around the corner, it's time to get back on that bicycle you swore that you'd ride every day and get into some semblance of shape. Unless you live in the Arctic Circle, however, the...

BodieLobus PS2 Controller With Trackball
The controller with a funny name and even funnier appearance made a show at E3 2006, and IGN's peepers were all over it. The BodieLobus replaces the right analog stick of the Playstation 2 controller...

db clay Gaffer's Tape Wallets
Forget boring old duct tape wallets. The crew behind Portland accessories design company db clay handmakes gorgeous billfolds out of gaffer's tape canvas that they stencil, print and paint on. They...

Solar Powered Battery Charger
Out here in sunny California, people are always going out to the beach or the pool or the park. Not us though, we're inside blogging, just the way we like it. But even indoors, we can take advantage...

Automatic Golf Tee
It seems fans of golf take every precaution to not get any exercise at all when playing the "sport". Caddys to carry your clubs, golf carts to whisk you from here to there—why is Tiger Woods...

Motorola Q and Samsung i-320 Video
Taken at Israel Tech Ed last week, the video shows off both the Motorola Q and the Samsung i-320. The Q's UI looks pretty responsive, and the screen's quality is pretty good. The Samsung's keys...

Vodafone Announces Sharp V201SH Cellphone for Prepaid
As far as candybar phones go, this Sharp V201SH has the looks of an emaciated teenage model that ran away from home. That is to say, it's thin and looks good.Coming in both black and white models,...

Mac OS X Driver for Xbox 360 Controller
An enterprising Mac gamer (I thought they all dual booted to Windows?) created a USB driver for your Xbox 360 controllers to use on OS X. It's released under GPL, so if there are any problems you can...

FCC Approves Nokia 6135i, 5500 Sport, 7370
Our friends at the FCC gave the sexy schoolmarmish nod to three new phones from Nokia.Nokia 6315: Clamshell, EVDO, 2 LCDs, 1.3 megapixel camera, speaker phone, bluetooth, USB, Video/Music on...

MacBook, or Lethal Jedi Weapon?
Few people will deny that the Apple's MacBook and MacBook Pro are two pretty decent machines. Yet, how many of these people are willing to transform their fancy new computers into a whooshing and...

Vivadi Saturn HD50 50-Inch Plasma Media Center Reviewed (Verdict: Great, But Hope Your Kids Like TV More Than College)
Running at an obscene $20,000, plus another $9,400 for custom speakers, you'd think this 50" has one Zero too many in its price. How does Vivadi justify this price? By making this a decorative unit...

Memorex Releases Four MP3 Players And Nobody Notices
When consumers hear Memorex, what comes to mind? Most likely CDRs, DVDRs and burners, not MP3 players. But Memorex is trying wedge itself into an already tight market like your wife into her jeans...

Samsung Patents Sliding-Clamshell Cellphone Design
Cellphone designs that hide the screen when not in use have traditionally been separated into two designs, the clamshell and the slider. People have preferred the clamshell because they're compact,...

Princeton PTV-WWTV7 WiFi 7-Inch LCD TV
Perfect for the kitchen, bathroom, or other room where there's no cable outlet, the Princeton WiFi LCD TV lets you enjoy the big game no matter where you are. Grabbing another snack and dropping the...

Microsoft Tool to Test Your PC's Winodows Vista Readiness
Microsoft just released the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor Beta tool. This software will check your PC's hardware and tell you what you need to upgrade in order to run Windows Vista. I downloaded the 3.5MB tool and after the install it asks a couple ...

ELP Laser Turntable - Plays Your Vinyl Records without Touching Them
Japanese company ELP offers a Vinyl Record player that uses a Laser instead of a needle. If you play your old vinyl with a standard turntable, and you hurt every time a little bit having the little needle carving along the grooves, then this product...

Home Heartbeat - Home Monitoring Alert
You no longer have to guess wheether you've left the stove on or left the iron plugged in or left the back door open. With the Home Heartbeat from Eaton, various sensors attached to important items...

Alu Media Wall - Flat Screen Wall Mounting Simplified
Bought a new flatscreen LCD or Plasma but don't know how to mount it on your existing wall, or live in an apartment where you can't? The Alu Media Wall is a home entertainment center and faux...

Homi USB Gadget Keeps You Sitting Straight
The USB Vision and Posture Reminder keeps you sitting straight and holding proper distance to your computer monitor. This USB gadget would drive me mad. The device chimes and flashes when you are too close to the screen. I have a slouching problem...

Sharp AQUOS 905SH 'One Seg' Digital TV Mobile Phone
Vodafone, soon to be called Softbank Mobile Corp., announces in Japan the Sharp AQUOS 905SH digital terrestrial TV mobile phone. The Sharp AQUOS 905SH features a Mobile ASV LCD screen based on Sharp's AQUOS LCD TV line. With 4 hours of continuous...

Mobile TV Launches in Germany on May 31st - For Real!
I have seen mobile TV working in Germany yesterday. It is DMB based and will commercially launch on May 31st in 8 cities across Germany. At an event dubbed the 'Audience of One' in Munich yesterday evening, Mr. Henrik Rinnert (photo), CEO of Mobiles...

New 3G Sony Ericsson W850 Walkman Phone
Sony Ericsson announced four new mobile phones today. One of them is the slider-style Sony Ericsson W850 Walkman phone with UMTS connectivity. The W850 walkman music phone features a 2 inch QVGA screen, a 2MP camera with 3x digital zoom and a LED li...

Iris Scan Camera Jiris JCP1000
Fingerprint biometric access control became already standard PC accessories. The next step for your secure access to your PC is Iris Scan, like you know from high security buildings in movies. The Jiris JCP1000 from Jiristech recognizes your eyes si...

Sony Ericsson Z550
Sony Ericsson announces the Z550 clam-shell mobile phone. The Sony Ericsson Z550 comes in brushed metal casing and features a 1.3MP camera with 4x digital zoom. The 20MB onboard memory can be expanded with M2 sticks to 1GB. Of course it features ...

Sony Ericsson W710 Sports Walkman Phone
Sony Ericsson introduces besides the W850 Walkman Phone also the W710 walkman phone targeted at sporty people. The Sony Ericsson W710 has a motion sensor and new fitness applications that measure your running speed, distance and time, or simply co...

Sennheiser HD435 Review
Our partner Digital Trends reviewed the Sennheiser HD435. Quote: "When trying to pick a good set of headphones, the common response for anyone seeking advice is, “It’s all subjective. Listen before you buy!” That’s fine if you live in th...

Nokia E50
Today is one of those mobile phone announcement days. Nokia has announced the new E50. The Nokia E50 is aimed at business users, who also want to use the phone in their leisure time. For instance has the Nokia E50 the ability to have two phone numbe...

The Louvre Has a Glass Pyramid, The New Apple Store Has a Glass Cube
The highly anticipated Apple flagship store in New York will open tomorrow. The store design reminds strongly on the glass pyramid of the Louvre in Paris. The store itself is under ground. It will be open 24 hours every day of the year. This even...

Dell has another Latitude on the way
Filed under: Laptops, Wireless We almost thought we were off the hook with these Latitude updates, after seeing the D520, D620 and D820 all receive Core Duo goodness fairly recently. Well Dell just revealed another Latitude in the works, the D420, which has a 12-inch screen and seems to hold up the ultracompact end of the spectrum. Not to be outdone by its larger siblings, the 420 will also include 3G data, but that's all we know for now. The notebook, which is due in about a month, was casually revealed during an on stage conversation with Michael Dell during the Future in Review conference today. Dell also mentioned that the company is doubling its India staff from 10,000 to 20,000 over the next three years, so get ready for some (more) hilarious phone support hijinks.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Sony gets official on new Vaio UX Micro PC
Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops, Wireless Just don't call it a UMPC. Like the "we don't need no stinkin' WMCE" days of yore, Sony is launching into a new market segment with little regard for the generally accepted Microsoft or Intel standards. They have just announced their new Vaio UX Micro PC, which seems more akin to an OQO device than a UMPC. For starters, this unit obviously has a hardware keyboard, which doesn't seem that bad of decision given the difficulty of using current-gen UMPC keyboards. The UX is also powered by a full on Core Solo processor (don't ask us how they got it in there), and runs Windows XP Professional. As rumored, the device also includes Bluetooth, WiFi, WWAN (EDGE connectivity) and a fingerprint reader. Along with the front camera for video conferencing, there is a camera in the rear for snapping pics, and the UX also can plug into a VGA adapter for powering an external monitor. The 4.5-inch screen is capable of a 800 x 600 resolution and accepts stylus input. We're not sure if the UX has another pointer device, but the unit can be docked to allow for desktop use, including VGA, Ethernet, IEEE-1394, three USB 2.0 ports and AV out, so you can use a regular mouse in those situations. We wish Sony would mention their battery life predictions for this mini beast, but they did let us know that the UX will be out in July for around $1800.[Thanks, Stan]Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Sony announces Vaio AR laptop with Blu-ray
Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Laptops Part two of Sony's minor attempt at viral marketing -- which just brought us the Vaio UX Micro PC -- is Sony's new Vaio AR series of laptops with 17-inch screens and an option for a Blu-ray drive. The specs aren't much of a surprise, with that 17.8-inch 1920 x 1200 display leading the charge, accompanied by a 50GB Blu-ray burner, internal TV tuner, HDMI out, and 256MB GeForce Go 7600GT graphics (check our prior coverage for the rest of the juicy details). The good news is that beyond this $3500 model, there will be a "stripped down" version for $1800 that lacks the Blu-ray and TV tuner, but still does the WMCE thing and houses that ginormous 17-inch display.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Apple launches MacBook: 13-in, Core Duo, black and white cases
Filed under: Laptops As expected, Apple has launched its new consumer laptops, under the MacBook brand. The new models all share one case design, a 5.2-pound box available in black or white, with a 13.3-inch, 1280x800 display and full-size keyboard. All are based on Intel's Core Duo processor, at speeds from 1.83 GHz to 2.0 GHz. Apple claims a six-hour battery life for the new models, though we imagine that's reduced substantially if you spend that time watching DVDs. Like other recent models from Apple, the MacBook also includes an integrated iSight webcam, a remote control, gigabit Ethernet, WiFi and Bluetooth. The new models are available immediately from Apple's online store at prices from $1,099 to $1,499. If you want black, you'll have to pay more: the $1,499 model is the only one one in the color scheme; other than the case color and an 80GB drive, its specs are identical to a $1,299 white model (the 80GB drive is available as a $50 upgrade for the white version, making the price for the black case $150). And, yes, you can now bid farewell to the iBook name. Now, what on Earth is Apple going to announce at Thursday's press event?Click through for more pics.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

MacBook Pro gets processor upgrade, glossy display
Filed under: LaptopsIf you've been ogling Apple's new MacBooks, and have decided that you'd rather spend a little more and get a Pro model instead, Apple's got you covered. While the lower-end models have hogged the limelight this AM, their brethren haven't been forgotten. Apple has bumped up the processor speeds on the MacBook Pro series, with the base model getting an upgrade from 1.83GHz to 2GHz, and the 2GHz model moving up to 2.16GHz -- not a surprising move, given that you can now get a 2GHz MacBook for $500 less than the cost of a base Pro, and get it in black, to boot. Apple is also making the Pro series available with an optional glossy display, similar to those announced for the MacBook earlier today.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

RIP, PowerBook: 1991-2006
Filed under: Laptops When Apple Computer introduced the first PowerBook in 1991, it was a dud. Not technologically -- as a relatively lightweight laptop with the power of a desktop Mac, it was a marked improvement over Apple's first attempt at portability, the hulking Mac Portable. But, like many Apple products, the PowerBook was initially priced at a level too high for the market to bear. Repriced at about $1,000, the model took off, and launched a line that would become nearly synonymous with Apple for years to come. Until today, that is. As part of the launch of the MacBook, Apple apparently removed the last remaining PowerBook, the 12-inch model, from its site earlier today (Apple also killed the iBook brand, but we don't really see anyone missing that nearly as much). While not unexpected, the retirement of the PowerBook does mark the end of a brand with a long, storied history as a sturdy, reliable workhorse, which later -- after Steve Jobs' return to the company -- morphed into a sleek and stylish object of desire for visual and creative artists. It also marks the end of the line for one of the last Apple brands still remaining from the interregnum between Jobs I and Jobs II: only the vestigial Power Mac G5 remains from that period. Will Apple retire that one as well, or will Jobs allow one product to carry the legacy of the Sculley, Spindler and Amelio? Yeah, when put like that, we'd vote to kill it, too. So, we'll wipe the tears. Now, bring us that Intel desktop already, Steve. Whatever you decide to call it.[Thanks, Jonathan]Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Sony throws party for Vaios, fakes Blu-ray demo
Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, LaptopsWho'd you think you were fooling, Sony? You go throw some big huge party celebrating the 10 year birthday of the Vaio and the launch of the Vaio UX Micro PC and your new flagship Blu-ray playing AR series 17-inch powerhouse laptop, replete with demo of early Blu-ray title House of Flying Daggers. And then you get done caught red-handed by a meddling reporter who discovered the Blu-ray playback is actually coming straight off a typical, normal old DVD R. It's a sham, Sony, the whole thing's a sham! How are you gonna make a case for your laptop -- let alone Blu-ray as a format -- now that you tried to pawn off a DVD as a Blu-ray tech demo to a room full of industry professionals? We hope at least it was playing back a high def trailer, or something; now go to your room, you're gonna have some serious alone time, little mister.Update: To be honest, we never thought this one would take off the way it has, but it looks like we underestimated the forensic skills of the collective. The latest word is that someone claiming to be from Sony has posted a comment on Gearlog saying that there were two laptops, one with the DVD-R of "House of Flying Daggers," and the other with the Blu-ray version, so that folks could make a side-by-side comparison. Gearlog's reporter apparently popped the latch on the DVD version, and didn't check the Blu-ray one. We have no way to independently verify this version (or Gearlog's original take), though Notebook Review does have some pics clearly showing two laptops on display at the Sony shindig. All of this leads us to one conclusion: Next time, Sony should just invite us to their parties, and we'll get it straight. And we may even like the tinfoil-flavored cake, too.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Hands on with the Apple Macbook
Filed under: Features, LaptopsYeah, we have no shame. We marched ourselves down to the Apple store yesterday afternoon and shoved through braved some lines to get our grubby mitts on Apple's latest, the consumer-oriented MacBook. You've probably already seen some pics of this thing in the wild, but we'll hook you up with our five minute rundown.With the MacBook you're getting a full fledged Mac machine: Core Duo processor -- not Core Solo as some had expected -- WXGA display, digital video out to power that 24-incher, Bluetooth, a slot loading DVD burner (depending on your model), the whole megillah. What you aren't getting, however, is slightly more subtle. Yes, you're not getting that 15.4-inch display or the ExpressCard slot (remember, the iBook before the MacBook didn't have a PC Card slot, either), nor are you getting that fancy ATI Mobility Radeon X1600, but you're also forgoing that notably larger MacBook Pro power brick, mechanical latches, and a dimmer (though less reflective) display. Click on for more!One of the first things we were curious about was the keys. This Mac's keyboard was visually quite different from every other we've seen in the past, and is obviously its most aesthetically striking and distinctive feature.The flat square keys lack side or top ridges, making touch typing a little unusual (and possibly somewhat difficult), being that the only physical key delineation is the space between them. What made up for this, however, was the notably more tactile key feedback when compared to the PowerBook and MacBook Pro, which share the same lame, mushy keyboard.Yep, keyboard felt great, looks good, but might be annoying to learn to type on. It's a risk / reward trade off we'd probably be willing to make, and we fancy ourselves something of laptop keyboard snobs.That IR sensor is a little more discreet than on the MBP.Also missing are those awful looking iBook speaker-circles, which have been conveniently repositioned to the rear of the machine, completely out of sight. Praise be to minimalism.The side panel's pretty simple. You've got your MagSafe, gigabit Ethernet, digital out (to a DVI dongle), FireWire 400, two USB 2.0, and audio in / out. Missing: analog modem, which is available as a USB add-on.Are you really willing to pay the $200 more it costs for the 20GB extra drive space and the matte black finish? Well, we sure as hell wouldn't (not that we have anything against black finish computers).The glossy screen seemed to worry some people. If you've ever used a Sony XBRITE display (like the ones we use day in and day out here at Engadget HQ), you know a glossy display. The MacBook's was in fact a bit glossy, but was less glossy than a Sony -- all in all a pretty good trade off between enhanced brightness and contrast without any over the top reflectivity.About as thin as its Pro brethren. And that latch -- ahh the feeling. If you thought the MagSafe snapped home with a satisfying click, check out the latch on this thing. A very confident closure, but a very reasonable opening, too -- it's positively magnetic (wahh). Just don't go jamming your credit carts along the bezel, who knows what'll happen.What can we say -- if you configure a white MacBook the same as a MacBook Pro, you save just under a $1,000. Actually, we'd say that's a pretty freaking great value. So what about our precious EV-DO, you ask? Well, whatever, there's Bluetooth DUN or tethering -- we'll find a way to make it work. Unlike the iBook, which felt really truly low end, the MacBook strikes us as an amazing portable value -- both PC and Mac -- that's either going to go unsung, or sell an insane amount of units. Now Steve, seriously man, two mouse buttons. Make it happen.Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Toshiba's Satellite U200 ultra-portable
Filed under: LaptopsWith Apple and Sony generating all the portable hubbub bub, let's take a moment to check-in on some of those other laptop manufactures. Toshiba, for instance, just dropped their new U200 series of ultra-portables into their Satellite range where quality and affordability are meant to merge. Starting at just 4.1-pounds and measuring-in at 1.4-inches thick, this 12.1-inch laptop maxes-out with a 2.16GHz Core Duo T2600 CPU, 4GB DDR2 RAM, 100GB of 7200 RPM SATA disk and still manages to slap in a pair of stereo speakers, 6-in-1 media adapter, fingerprint reader, 802.11a/b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR, and DVD dual-layer writer. All that goodness and yet they only offer measly Intel 950 graphics acceleration. Of course, if you can only muster the $929 starting price, your config will drop considerably to a Celeron M, 256MB RAM, 40GB disk, and CD-RW/DVD-ROM sans Bluetooth or WiFi. Yeah we were thinking the same, that entry-level $1,099 MacBook or $699 Dell D520 are both looking pretty sweet right about now.  [Via CoreDuoInfo]Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Toshiba's 12.1-inch Tecra M6 Core Duo-powered laptop
Filed under: Laptops'Tis the season for ultraportables, and now yet another Core Duo-powered model has hit the market, the 12.1-inch Toshiba Tecra M6. Also available with either Celeron or Core Solo processors, the M6 seems like a slimmed-down version of the 14.1-inch M5 we spotted earlier this year, as the $1,059 base configuration only gives you 256MB of RAM, no WiFi, a 40GB hard drive, and that pokey 1.6GHz Celeron M. It costs a little over $1,600 to put together a decent system, which includes a 1.83GHz T2400 Core Duo chip, 1GB of RAM (which also gets you a free Vista-ready logo!), 100GB HDD, 802.11a/b/g, and Bluetooth, but only integrated graphics and no DVD burner. Targeted more towards the light-traveling businessperson than the hardcore gamer, the M6 also sports such security-conscious features as a fingerprint reader, Trusted Platform Module, and a Security Assist Console, as well as hard drive protection, a spill resistant keyboard, and shock absorbing design for turbulent plane rides.[Via Core Duo News]Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Apple updates MacBook Pro firmware, won't say why
Filed under: LaptopsSure, there are few glaringly obvious reasons to fix the MacBook Pro firmware, such as its "too hot to touch" running temperatures and random whining noises prodigiously documented by users, but Apple ain't saying nothing. They've just released a firmware update for their Intel-based systems cleverly titled: "SMC Firmware Update 1.0," with zero explanation as to the purpose of the update. The SMC, or System Management Control, does manage heat related issues, including the fans, so it's a reasonable guess that the new firmware is meant to address the issues at hand with the MacBook Pro, but you sure wouldn't know it from the way Apple is acting. Luckily, the rabid fan base is already testing out the new firmware, and most have found it to fix their heat issues. The verdict is still out when it comes to the whining noises, with some reporting an improvement and some not. All the same, it would really be nice of Apple to let people know what's up. The first step is admitting you have a problem.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

AMD launches Turion 64 X2 to fight Core Duo
Filed under: LaptopsNow it's on. After letting Intel run amok with the performance per watt crown for a few months with that well received Core Duo processor of theirs, AMD is jumping into the game with their new Turion 64 X2 chips. The chips range from 1.6GHz to 2.0GHz, and range in price from $184 to $354 in bulk purchases. Of course, it's just not nice these days to call a chip by its clock speed, so the models go by names like TL-50 (1.6GHz), TL-56 (1.8GHz) and TL-60 (2.0GHz). Turns out the wattage, when in an active state at least, is a bit higher than that of the Core Duo, but AMD claims that the Turion 64 X2 won't zap as much power in the down times, so it might turn out to be a wash. No matter how it works out for performance per watt per dollar per lame model number scheme, more competition in the mobile space should be fun. At least for our benchmarks if not for our wallets.[Via MobileMag]Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

MacBook innards exposed!
Filed under: Laptops These days you're not a real gadget unless somebody splays you across their workbench for all the world to see. Apple products are especially privy to such treatment, and the MacBook is proving no exception, going from announcement to dissection in roughly 24 hours. The dissasembler over at Kodawarisan responsible for this was quite thorough, and along the way displays a couple of the niceities of the MacBook. First off, the RAM slots are quite convenient. You just remove the screws from the memory door and you have access to the two slots, with little ejector tabs to help you with your efforts. Replacing the hard drive is just as easy (pictured bottom left), which means you can finally replace your own drive without voiding the warranty. Perpendicular storage here we come![Via Tuaw, Zatz Not Funny]Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Sony Vaio UX previewed
Filed under: Handhelds, LaptopsDigital World Tokyo got an early hands-on look at the Sony Vaio UX50 micro PC when launched in Tokyo earlier this week. The obvious difference between this and those much maligned first gen UMPCs is the sliding keyboard. However, it's not  exactly a tactile wonder as DWT reports. The reviewer found the keyboard "difficult to use" as the keys are almost flush with the case and don't move much when pressed. Still, he managed to enter text without any misspellings. The 4.5-inch screen was "sharp and bright" and its 1,024 x 600 resolution (UMPCs go 800 x 480 on a 7-inch display) made full screen web browsing possible if you don't mind uh, "squinting" a bit with those "handy" buttons along the right-side of the case giving a quick zoom when necessary. Although the reviewer notably only had a few minutes with the device, it's certainly a promising start for this micro device with massive features mirrored in its expected $1800 price tag. We'll reserve judgment, however until some proper full-reviews hit the sheets or we nab a UX for ouselves when they drop Stateside in July.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Lenovo beefs up R60 Core Duo laptop
Filed under: LaptopsIn addition to the Z61series laptops we mentioned earlier this week, Lenovo is also upgrading the specs of its R60 series. Like its big brother, the upgraded R60 gets a Core Duo processor, the option of integrated or separate graphics processors, and built-in Verizon EV-DO support. RAM can be expanded up to 4GB, and displays come in 14 or 15-inches. Pricing starts at about $1,200 with a 14-inch display, 512MB RAM and a 40GB drive.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Apple shows 24x7x365 NYC flagship store
Filed under: Desktops, Misc. Gadgets, Laptops, Portable Audio, Portable Video New York City nightlife used to mean hanging out in smoke-filled nightclubs at the edge of town and stumbling home as the sun came up. But, from what we hear, you can't smoke in the clubs anymore (not that we're really too upset about that), the real estate boom has squeezed a lot of them out of town, and there's even been talk of more aggressively enforcing the city's decades-old anti-nightclub statute. So, what's a denizen of the night to do? Well, it looks like Apple's come up with the answer. As previously rumored, the company's new midtown store, which opens tomorrow, will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The store, which has gotten a lot of buzz for its five-story, glass encased, Jobs-designed, cube-shaped entryway, will feature 4,000 square feet of retail space, most of it underground, and will be able to satisfy those musical and computing urges, day or night. Word is that the store will also be giving away one MacBook an hour to lucky visitors over the next couple of days (starting with tomorrow's 6pm opening), so we expect some pretty sizable crowds to show up. Yo, Steve: Add a dance floor and teach your Geniuses to really tend bar, and we may just drop by one night and pick up one of those pods of yours. [Thanks, Jake]Photo courtesy Dave Thorup.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Sony's UX latest to get naked
Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops, Tablet PCsYou must know by now how much we adore gore n' guts of new toys -- especially those particularly small, compact devices that boggle the mind as to how they fit all that junk inside. One thing we didn't realize about Sony's UX UMPC Micro PC was that it was so freaking thick, but that said, it's still something of a little marvel of engineering that they got all that gear into a package as small as the UX appears to be. So sate yourself and look into the delicate, fragile inner workings of a device we're sure could not possibly be properly reassembled after being torn down.[Thanks, Jan]Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Microsoft launches "Get Ready" program for Vista upgrades
Filed under: Desktops, LaptopsMicrosoft has officially launched its Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor, as part of a new "Get Ready" program designed to convince consumers to rush out and buy new hardware and keep the PC industry afloat, er, we mean, help consumers prepare for Vista before it arrives early next year. If you run the program on any recently purchased PC, chances are you'll get a thumbs up for basic Vista functions. But be forewarned: if your graphics card isn't up to snuff, you'll probably get a warning that you'll need to upgrade if you want that fresh Aero look. And forget about getting advice from Microsoft about upgrading peripherals; just about everything connected to your PC is likely to be met with a suggestion that you "contact the manufacturer." Not that we're worried; chances are that by the time Vista is finally released, we'll have gone through at least a couple of upgrade cycles on our desktop, and should be ready to run whatever it is that Microsoft finally throws at us.[Via CNET]Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Keep Your Notebook in the Shade
Does sun glare make outside screen viewing mission impossible? The Comp Shade is a nifty product that shuts out most light above and at the sides of your laptop's display.

Hola Macbook! - Ciao iBook?
Laptopical's Todd Gold writes about Apple's new Macbook, which supercedes the popular iBook, and comes with two color choices - black or white. Like it's older sibling - the Macbook Pro - it boasts a core duo processor, 120 GB hard drive, and a built in iSight camera. The new Macbook does not boast the robust power of the desktop replacement pro, however it is more affordable and portable. It will likely be popular with students and web designers looking for a feature rich, dual core laptop on a budget.

New NYC Apple Store Unveiled Ahead of Schedule
We'd heard the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue (a.k.a. Steve Jobs' Glass Cube) was going to have its big unveiling this Friday, as it opened to the public, but lo and behold the wraps came off last night...

Wii Wets You Suwf De Web
The Nintendo Wii wiw come with a copy of Opewa, says Opewa head Jon won Tetzchner, de CEO of Opewa. This means you'd be awbew to bwose de web with your Wii wemote contwower just like a big boy....

Fuji Raises Price of Film
Blaming the price of crude oil and silver, Fuji Photo Film is raising their film prices by up to 20 percent. Considering that Fuji and Kodak are the only folks still making commercial film, this is...

PS3 Controllers Don't Vibrate Because They're Cheap
The PS3 won't have vibrating controllers because the plastic they're made of is cheap and flimsy, says Immersion, maker of vibrating controllers. These sound like harsh words until you consider that...

ElephantDrive: Unlimited Online Storage, Free Beta
ElephantDrive is a website that offers unlimited online storage for any of your data. The company touts military-grade encryption, and lets you access your files from anywhere, letting you designate...

Cardboard SLR
Strange stuff, this is. Apparently someone has built a single lens reflex camera out of cardboard and toothpicks. The coolest thing about this is that it uses a pencil to advance the film and even...

Why the Da Vinci Code is Full of It
Amidst all the chatter—"Jesus wasn't divine and slept with the ladies," "Tom Hanks has bad hair"—very few people were brave enough to bring up the real issues in Dan Brown's smash best...

MSI MegaBook MS-1058
A pox on thee, MacBook. Can you beat a 12-inch AMD Turion notebook with ATI Radeon XPRESS 200M graphics and DVD burner? No, you can't. This will be one of the first laptops running the Turion chip....

Skype Calls Through Your Cellphone
This seems like a bit too much trouble for some free skyping, but what do I know. IPdrum has created a product that transmits Skype audio back and forth to a cellphone which then calls you on your...

Apple Quietly Releases Firmware Update for MacBook Pro
Apple sneaked through a firmware update on Tuesday for MacBook Pro notebooks, failing to mention that it was intended to fix overheating issues in the laptops. The firmware update dealt with the...

D-Link Wireless 3G Router
D-Link has introduced a wireless router that features the ability to share a 3G Internet connection, simultaneously burning a hole in your pocket and upsetting 3G providers worldwide. For those not...

Samsung 16GB Flash Drive for Sale?
Something's a bit fishy about this, so we'll put it in the "rumors and conjecture" category, but we heard about Samsung showing off a 16GB solid-state drive a year ago, but haven't heard of any for...