SlingPlayer Mobile Now Open For Public Beta
Sling Media announced Friday that the public beta version of their SlingPlayer Mobile software is now available, allowing people with their Slingbox PC device and a Windows Mobile Smartphone to watch and remotely control their own TV without needing to be ...

Cingular Sues Sprint To Combat Own Legal Problems
Cingular announced Friday that it is suing rival wireless network Sprint over its avertising claim that Sprint is the most powerful network. This is easily seen as just an act of revenge over the fact that Sprint recently filed suit alleging that Cingular...

iVeri Announces New Mobile Way To Pay
iVeri, located in South Africa, announced Saturday that they have released a new application that will provide merchants with a new way to accept credit card payments over mobile phones. iVeri, which has been developing new "point of sale solutions&q...

3G Phones May Become Banned in Cambodia
Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of Cambodia, recently called for a ban on 3G phones that are capable of viewing multimedia files. This came after a petition in the country asked for the outlawing of such phones because of the potential of downloading and send...

Apple considered small chip startup over Intel?
Filed under: Desktops, LaptopsSteve Jobs' announcement -- almost a year ago, now -- that Apple was transitioning to x86 processors was one of the most shocking bits of news that the industry had ever heard, and yet there were a group of employees at a startup chip manufacturer called PA Semi who were even more shocked than most, according to reports, because right up until that keynote, they were sure that their company, and not Intel, would be chosen to supply the brains for what's now known as the MacBook family of laptops. The Register is reporting that PA Semi had a close relationship with Apple in the months prior to the switch, and that the two companies were working together to gauge the feasibility of running native PowerPC-coded software on 2GHz dual-core chips that PA Semi claims run at only a third of the 21 to 25 watts consumed by Intel's Core Duo models. Sources who spoke to El Reg say that executives were virtually positive that they'd win the contract, and that CEO Dan Dobberpuhl was understandably "furious" when he found out PA Semi had been passed over. The company still has a bright future developing chips for the embedded market and storage devices, but they'll probably never again have the opportunity to become an instantly-recognized name like Intel, AMD, or IBM.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Samsung's Q30-SSD with 32GB flash drive on sale in June!
Filed under: Laptops, StorageMark you calendars kids, 'cause June marks the commercial introduction of Samsung's solid state laptop. Sammy just announced that their sweet, sweet NAND-based Q30-SSD we first got down and dirty with at CeBIT will hit the shelves in Korea (only) from early June onward. Yeah, it'll fetch a steep $3,700 US-equiv (a roughly $900 premium) on that aging 1.2GHz Celeron M Q30 platform, but that 32GB of NAND reads 300 percent faster (53MB/s) and write 150 percent quicker (28MB/s) than normal hard drives while offering better protection against shock, 25-50% faster boots and sleep recovery times, longer battery life and reduced weight all in a completely silent, fanless package. Hoozah! Man oh man, the emergence of these high-capacity NAND drives coupled with the January release of Samsung's NAND augmented hybrid hard drives (HHDs) is nothing but good for us laptop speed junkies. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

The 2tone MacBook keyboard
Filed under: LaptopsKodawarisan, the very same Japanese peeps first to tear open their MacBook, took it to the next step, mashing two MacBook keyboards together from each color to create a single, 2tone MacBook Ichimatsu keyboard ska enough to kick it with the rudeboys. We'd imagine it's a mite bit disorienting being that the key textures differ between the two plastics (Kodawarisan claims the black MacBook is a bit smoother to the touch), but you made Walt Jabsco proud, kids. Now let's see a lid color swap and we'll call this project complete.Update: Ah, looks like this may have actually been the handiwork of one Dr. Suyama! Just goes to show you never know what's lost in (machine) translation.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Engadget Podcast 081 - 05.23.06
Filed under: Cellphones, Features, Gaming, Handhelds, Laptops, Podcasts, Portable AudioWhat a week for product launches! Seems like out of the gate past E3 everybody wanted to get theirs out the door: Apple loosed the MacBook, Motorola and Verizon launched the Q, Sprint and Verizon launched the Palm Treo 700p, and Sony launched their UX Micro PC. But it wasn't all rosy new toys for everyone to play with, Creative and Apple are heading to court to go toe to toe over some patents, as apparently is XM and Pioneer over the RIAA-contestable recording capabilities of the Inno. Tune in to find out how it all unfurls on this week's Engadget Podcast!Get the podcast [iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3). [RSS] Add the Engadget Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically (MP3). [MP3] Download the show (MP3).[AAC] Download the enhanced show (AAC).[OGG] Download the show (OGG). [Vote] Vote for us on Podcast Alley!Host Peter Rojas and Ryan BlockProducer Randall BennettMusic J J J - 'Suits' in JapanFormat 1:00:46, 27.8 MB, MP3Program 01:00 - Motorola and Verizon announce Q: $19904:44 - Treo 700p announced08:48 - Apple's MacBook: 13-in, Core Duo, black and white17:26 - Creative sues Apple, then Apple sues Creative21:34 - Record labels sue XM over Inno recording30:00 - Sony gets official on new Vaio UX Micro PC36:28 - Xbox 360 hacks: Playing backup games, and backing up games40:01 - Listener voicemail and email59:00 - Engadget reader meetup in Merced LISTEN (MP3)LISTEN (AAC) LISTEN (OGG)Contact the podcast: 1-888-ENGADGET, Engadget (Gizmo Project) or podcast at engadget dawt comPermalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Working OLPC prototype gets its close-up
Filed under: Handhelds, LaptopsWe still miss the crank, and had sort of gotten used to the lime green color scheme. But we have to admit that seeing an actual working prototype of the computer from Nicholas Negroponte's One Laptop Per Child initiative beats all of the mockups we've been looking at for the past year or so. We don't have any specs (other than the fact that it's clearly running Fedora Linux), but from the looks of it, Negroponte has clearly done a decent job at making this kid-friendly. And the keyboard, while small, doesn't look a whole lot worse than the one on the new MacBook. If this puppy can be outfitted with WiFi, one of Samsung's new NAND drives and a couple of USB ports, customers from the industrial world may just order enough of them to subsidize that $100 price tag for developing countries (if Negroponte is willing to let us buy them, that is). [Via BoingBoing]Update: We also heard from a reliable source that final versions of the PCshouldprobably have a more fleshed out Red Hat build installed, and will have WiFi. We'll let you know more as we do!Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Dell XPS M1210 gaming notebook on sale in Japan
Filed under: Gaming, Laptops Not that we really doubted that the specs and pictures were fake, but now we have confirmation that Dell's XPS M1210 gaming laptop is indeed real, and already on sale in Japan. NotebookReview, who's been following this 12.1-inch UXGA model ever since it was leaked onto the web last month, reports that Dell Japan is offering the M1210 in configurations that max out with a 2.0GHz T2500 Core Duo processor, a hefty 4GB of RAM, 120GB of HDD space, NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 graphics, an ExpressCard slot, and the usual assortment of ports and wireless radios. Using our superior knowledge of feature sets, we had predicted that this model would be cheaper than its 17-inch big brother, the $5,000 M1710, and sure enough, you'll be able to shell out at as little as $1,189 for the opportunity to become a proud member of the XPS club.[Via NotebookReview]Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Report: Acer to offer both Blu-ray and HD DVD-equipped laptops
Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, LaptopsWe knew Acer was going to be one of the first vendors after Toshiba to roll out an HD DVD-equipped laptop, and now it looks like the company is ready to be one of the first out of the gate (after Sony, of course) with Blu-ray as well. Although Acer is refusing to comment, reports out of Taiwan are that the company will introduce both Blu-ray and HD DVD-equipped portables at the upcoming Computex 2006 trade show. We're ready to see it happen -- though what we really want is one box with both drives in it. Maybe they can follow up with that.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Creative's Live! Cam Voice sports a mic for video chat
Filed under: Desktops, Digital Cameras, Laptops, PeripheralsVideo instant messaging seems to be taking off in a big way, at least if all those new video features being added by the major IM services are any indication, so Creative has just released a microphone-sporting webcam to let you get in on all the fun. Besides a 1.3 megapixel webcam (which claims to take 5 megapixel stills, but we suspect some interpolation is going on there), the Live! Cam Voice also features a directional microphone which supposedly enhances your chat experience in crowded areas, and even does double-duty as a remotely-viewable motion-activated security cam. When you're doing the chat thing, you can select a smart-face tracking option that uses digital zooms, pans, and tilts to keep you in the picture, but also seems to throttle down the resolution to only 640 x 480. Available immediately under the model number VF1070, this model is being given a suggested MSRP of $99 by Creative, but we already saw it on Amazon for just $84.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Apple's 17-inch MacBook Pro reviewed
Filed under: Laptops You know, for all the talk about those greasy-hot, overclockin' MacBook Pros and their mysterious firmware updates, only now has PCMag completed a full review of the 17-inch flavor MBP. Alas, you won't find any real surprises in the review of this "astounding" 6.8-pound, easy toting 17-incher. Yeah, it does indeed get "too hot" by the reviewers standards, though apparently not as hot as the 15-inch model due to larger surface area to dissipate heat. And since this is PCMag, they installed Boot Camp, as you'd expect, "without a hitch" giving them the same "impressive" (for a Mac) gaming results in XP seen on the 15-inch sib. The reviewer calls the move to the 17-inch MacBook Pro a "no brainer" if you're a creative professional working heavily in graphic design or movie editing. However, if you're just looking for a "cool multimedia laptop" with plenty of screen then there are plenty of Windows-only systems available giving more bang, for that $3,099 as-tested, buck. Yeah, Mac fanboy enthusiasts, they're calling you out with that one. Still, PCMag slaps on a 4/5 editors rating which ain't too shabby, right?Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Samsung, Seagate show off ReadyDrive HDD prototypes
Filed under: Laptops, StorageNo surprises here: we've known since last WinHEC that Samsung was working on a so-called ReadyDrive hard drive that sports a 128MB flash buffer for enabling lower laptop power consumption, and just as we suspected, they've unveiled a working prototype of the technology at this year's conference. Also on hand with their own ReadyDrive was Seagate, who, like Samsung, plan to release their model when Vista finally starts shipping, as only the next-gen operating system will have the proper ATA driver command sets to allow for such a large buffer. PCMag was on the scene for one of Samsung's demos, and claim that a laptop running an office apps script only needed to access the hard drive every three to four minutes, which could result in ReadyDrive-equipped laptops sipping up to 40% less juice than models with those outdated, perpetually-spinning HDDs.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

MSI releases 12.1-inch, dual-core S271 laptop
Filed under: LaptopsMSI has just released another 12.1-inch dual-core laptop, and the specs seem very similar to their S262 ultraportable that we spotted earlier this year, except that the Core Duo processor has been replaced with an AMD Turion 64 X2. Like the S262, the S271 ships with integrated graphics, 256MB or 512MB of RAM (expandable to 2GB), 4-in-1 memory card reader (really just 2-in-1, as it accepts only SD/MMC and MemoryStick/MS Pro formats -- where's the xD love?), and a "Super Multi DVD" drive, but manages to shed a few ounces and add a 200GB HDD option. Available immediately, this model will set you back around $1,500.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Windows Vista delayed again ... maybe
Filed under: Desktops, LaptopsWe have to admit to occasionally sharing in some of the schadenfreude that surfaces on the internets every time Microsoft announces yet another Windows Vista delay. However, this time we're willing to cut them a little slack. While headlines have been screaming about a new delay all day today, most of them seem to be based on some fairly ambiguous comments by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Speaking with NEC execs in Japan, Ballmer commented that "We think we are on track for shipping early in [2007]. We've talked about the month, but we get a chance to critically assess all of the feedback we'll get from this beta release then confirm or move [the launch date] a few weeks." Ballmer also commented that he was looking forward to feedback from "hardware partners" about "when would they really like it." Now, a cynical take on Ballmer's comments would be that he's using the recently announced second beta of Vista, along with possible requests from hardware vendors, as an excuse to set the stage for a forthcoming announcement that Vista will indeed be delayed beyond January 2007. However, we'll look at the glass as half-full this time: Ballmer is truly interested in hearing from the beta testers and computer manufacturers, and really wants to factor their findings and needs into Vista's launch date. Besides, the thing is so late already; what's a few more weeks between friends, right?Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

SmackBook and MacSaber -- best two reasons to buy a MacBook?
Filed under: Laptops If you've already grown tired of impressing your friends and family with that iAlertU car alarm app for your MacBook or MacBook Pro, you might be interested in a couple new apps that should make you even prouder to be a MacBook owner. They're both based on the MacBook's sudden motion sensor, and both have the honorable distinction of not really doing much at all to improve your quality of life. The SmackBook, as demonstrated in the video, allows you to switch desktops by smacking the side of your precious MacBook. If you don't think that's enough potential endangerment of your MacBook, you might be interested in MacSaber, which makes light saber noises when you swing your computer around, and light saber clashes when you swing it really hard (peep the video by Metafilter founder Matthew Haughey). We just can't wait for reports to start flooding in of far flung laptops. Now if you'll excuse us, we're going to head down to an Apple Store and try this stuff out.[Thanks to everyone who sent these in]Read - SmackBookRead - MacSaberPermalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

MacBooks packin' heat due to covered up vent?
Filed under: Laptops Anyone who's given a PowerBook, MacBook, or MacBook Pro a good look probably knows how the ventilation system works: two inlets near the front of the computer draw the air in, a big vent grid underneath the screen hinge lets it all out. Ideally. Except Gert Stahl apparently discovered a thin layer of plastic film in his MacBook that prevented airflow, and was causing his machine to overheat; removal promptly caused his fans to shut off and the machine's heat to return to a level more manageable. What's more, apparently there was never any mention made in the manual about the removal of any such film, leading one to believe that this might be unintentional (read: manufacturing error). So, if you've got a MacBook and it's a little toasty, check that gap out for the thin plastic strip -- if you've got the film (or if you don't) then you let us know!Update: Well, it looks like the court of public opinion has ruled on this one... doesn't appear to be the real deal. If you've got a blocked vent, well, you obviously didn't speak up. So for now we're gonna close this case and move on with our damn selves.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Vaio UX reviewed
Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops, Tablet PCsEven though Sony prematurely created -- then killed -- the UMPC market a couple years back  with their U-series ultramobiles. Many seemed stoked to learn that they're back at their old tricks with their Vaio UX "Micro PC," and none too soon with competition from Samsung, TabletKiosk, and Asus. DWT got their hands on a UX and gave it a thorough once-over; seems like they were quite enamored by the 4.5-inch 1024 x 600 display (that sometimes requires use of zoom keys to actually read that tiny, tiny text), and the Japanese version's IC-card reader for SuiCa. Unfortunately the keyboard is supposedly quite terrible, with "almost no tactile feedback from key presses and typing is a real chore," and the battery life wasn't doing much more than 2 hours, dropping out at 1.5 hours under relatively heavy use. Basically it doesn't sound like they're recommending the UX all that much, but as with any Micro / ultramobile PC, if you really want to pony up the couple of grand to get one you've probably got a very decent reason why.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Google outbids Microsoft for Dell bundling deal, sez WSJ
Filed under: Desktops, LaptopsThe Wall Street Journal is reporting that Google has succeeded in outbidding Microsoft for the right to integrate its search tools into the millions of personal computers that Dell will sell over the next three years. After Yahoo dropped out of what may have been a billion-dollar auction, sources say that along with its desire to increase the exposure of its services, it was Google's frustration over the perceived difficulty in changing the default settings in Internet Explorer to non-MSN search options that ultimately motivated the company to emerge victorious. Besides winning a coveted spot on IE's default homepage, the deal also nets Google some valuable desktop real estate, as its Desktop software -- privacy concerns and all -- will now come pre-installed on Dell machines. For most consumers, this deal really doesn't mean too much, except for those of you who are really into MSN search, in which case you'll have to take a few seconds and adjust your browser settings.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Microsoft plans update to "misleading" Vista Upgrade Advisor
Filed under: Desktops, LaptopsIf you've been frustrated because Microsoft's Vista Upgrade Advisor gave your blazing-fast, three-month-old, $10,000, gaming monster PC a bad rating, you're not alone. In addition to consumers, chipmakers such as VIA and AMD have commented to Microsoft about the program's deficiencies. Now, Microsoft, admitting that the results can be "misleading," plans to revise the tool, including changes to the user interface to make information more accessible, and possibly fine-tuning the results so that they're more in line with standard industry benchmarks. So, if your PC flunked the test, your best bet is to wait a while before splurging on upgrades -- besides, it's not like you don't have plenty of time before you'll need to be Vista-compatible.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Asus' R1F Tablet PC passes FCC
Filed under: Laptops, Tablet PCsWe've all been waiting patiently for Asus' first foray into convertible Tablet PCs, but from the looks of things their R1F passed FCC muster. Which means, of course, we can't be too long now for the widescreen, Core Duo, and biometrics-equipped R1F to make its indubitably expensive self into the hands of American consumers everywhere; joy.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Protect Your Laptop With One of Thinkgeek's Finest
Thinkgeek's 11 lb aluminum case offers sturdy security for your laptop in the form of two triple combination locks.

Alcatel OT E260 Cellphone
Alcatel—who?—has released their latest slider phones, and I have to admit, it looks pretty sexy. On the inside, this phone is pretty basic. Average functions and no camera—which may...

Griffin TuneBuds Hands-On
When Griffin introduced its TuneBuds for nano ($34.99), a lanyard that competes directly with Apple's iPod nano lanyard that costs $15 more, our interest was piqued. After 24 hours of intense...

Full Disclosure or Why Gizmodo Is OS-Agnostic
It may seem like we're a bunch of Apple fanboys and, for the most part, we are. However, in the interest of full disclosure and considering we now get to have by-lines, we've decided to expose the...

A MacBook Can Moo, Can You?
Many MacBook owners have complained of their fans "mooing." One industrious fellow decided to cut open his MacBook to get to the bottom of this mysterious noise. Like Encyclopedia Brown, he basically...

Lose Your Money Easier with Mobile Gambling from Las Vegas Sands
The Las Vegas Sands Corporation is going to be the first Las Vegas hotel company to use mobile gambling in their casinos. The Venetian will be the first casino to ustilize these devices. They will...

Sonica Audio Labs VHPextreme Workstation: Mac Pro Foreshadowing?
This is one badass PC tower, the VHPextreme that was just unveiled by Sonica Audio Labs. It's configured for pro audio but would work on just about anything you throw at it, with its two dual-core...

The X1R Remote-Controlled Golf Caddy
It's a little known fact that many of us here at Gizmodo are avid golfers, always looking to improve our game with each and every gadget designed by man. We're also incredibly lazy, so much so that...

Cambodia Bans 3G Phones, Blames Porn
What do you do when you're the Prime Minister of an entire country and your wife looks at porn? Make the entire country pay for it! Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's wife and friends "unexpectedly"...

Dell Releases 2 High-Brightness Projectors
In the latest step toward taking over the entire world, Dell has announced two lower-end, high-brightness projectors that are designed for the home office, classroom or maybe a home theatre. The...

iDea Wireless iPod Dock
This is a unique dock that looks like a poor man's Sonos sans the DRM problems. This dock connects to almost any audio device, including the iPod and PSP, and transmits the audio to any other...

World's Worst Tech Products. Ever.
Since Memorial Day is right around the corner, let's let PCWorld help us remember the 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time. A lot of the products on the list are software-related—in fact, we have...

ScottEVest Performance T-Shirt
While most of us sedentary bloggers don't need much in the way of performance gear for extreme sports like getting up to get another sugar free Red Bull—my knee is messed up, I...

Contest: Summer Vacation Gadgetry
Yeah, it's been a while since our last contest, so sue us. Now we are giving away the CoPilot live. This accessory can turn any Pocket PC device into a GPS device. This is perfect for that summer...

Woodflame Delecto Grill: Gas and Charcoal-Free
Do your grilling this Memorial Day weekend in a way that's fast, clean and green, too. Put one small, tightly-packed cube of recycled wood inside the Woodflame Delecto Grill's oxygen-filled...

Fidelity Digital Picture Frames
So you've just bought a really kickin' digital camera and now need a place to show off all those artistic photos. Fidelity Electronics is releasing a series of digital photo picture frames that...

Microsoft "Mystery Solved" Promotion Runs Out of Schwag
A couple of months ago, we let you know about Microsoft's "Mystery Solved" USB key drives giveaway, with the idea being that included on those drives were lots of fun facts about Windows licensing...

Meizu Miniplayer: Slick iPod Clone
You gotta hand it to Meizu for taking the iPod look and grafting it onto an otherwise plain PMP. Some of the things they stole: The white/black finish, the grey control area, the metallic backing,...

Mona Lisa Techno-Smiles
Since we're buried knee-deep in techno-goodness all day, we don't get out much, especially to art galleries. But here's some artwork we can understand, the Mona Lisa created entirely out of computer...

Updated Slingbox Mobile Ups Res, Features
If Slingbox wasn't hot enough—who wouldn't want to steal their Granny's cable?—they've added Slingbox Mobile for Pocket PC Windows Mobile Smartphones. There are few requirements,...

Coming Soon: Invisibility Cloak
In 18 short months you'll be Lupus Yonderboy-ing all over creation in your brand new invisibility cloak. Actually, we seriously doubt this will fall into our hands any time soon—they have to...

Neofree Rechargeable Battery Pack
This 4400mAh battery pack should have enough juice to keep your cellphone, iPod, PDA and PSP all charged enough for the Memorial Day weekend. A battery status indicator on the side shows you how much...

Compact G Fake DS Impresses No One
Remember the official Nintendo Seal of Quality that guaranteed the authenticity of the fine product you just purchased? I bet you won't find the seal on this, the Compact G. By the looks of it, it's...

3M Laptop Privacy Filter
Like the iPod Video Privacy Filter, this laptop filter's sole purpose is to keep lookey-loos away from your confidential data. Tailored for 12 to 19 inch screens, your coworkers sitting to the left...

Rumor: PSP Modchip Coming Soon
Rumor has it that a modchip called "Undiluted Platinum" is coming very soon for the PSP. What can it do? Boot custom firmware and load unprotected/homebrew code. That means running games from your...

Hello Kitty iPod Dock/Speakers
Want your Hello Kitty fix on something beside an ear cleaner? How about this Hello Kitty iPod Dock. An otherwise plain dock, save for the Hello Kitty-ness, this supports any iPod that fits the...

Cingular Files Against Sprint Over Fewest Dropped Calls Claim
Lots and lots of lawsuits this year. Add these two companies to the list: Sprint and Cingular.Sprint was challenging Cingular's "fewest dropped calls" claim, and Cingular filed a suit trying to...

Verizon Releases GPS-Like Services
If you're on Verizon and don't want to splurge on a full-blown GPS device, Verizon has a few services that may meet you halfway.The VZ Navigator service gives you directions, like a regular GPS,...

Digital Cowboy WMV HD/DVD Media Player
Digital CowBoy, not to be confused with Analog CowBoy, released a DVD/HD based media player. You can choose either a DVD or HD drive to put inside, and out comes a full HD video (1920x1080). Connect...

Crappy Fan With Water Spray
Not only does this piece of crap fan "cool you down" for $8, it also sprays water in your face. Now you tell us, where else besides besides the Castro in SF are you going to get something sprayed on...

Jobs Wants Your iPod Money Once A Year
Maybe it was due to Brian Williams' disarming demeanor, but Jobs just coughed up a nice quote during their interview today. Jobs: You know, you keep on innovating, you keep on making better stuff....

BenQ EF91 FCC Approved
The BenQ EF91 we mentioned earlier this month is not only landing in Europe, it's also coming to the land that brought you Knight Rider, the good old USA.Our FCC just approved the EF91 in all its...

We're Off Monday!
What's this? Sunlight? You mean we get to go outside? Hurray!We'll be on a low-post schedule Monday with us all enjoying nature's freshness. If there's any big news we'll probably pop in for a...

iPod Gaming, Fo' Sheezy?
The Apple rumor mill is once again churning. Supposedly the iPods are going to get some real official gaming action. None of this Brick Attack, Parachute or—god forbid—scroll-wheel...

XM Halts Sale of Certain Receivers
In our monthly episode of "the FCC sucks at life sometimes," XM has pulled certain units from the shelves and stopped selling the units from their online store. The only radios pulled were ones that...

DISH Network ViP 622 HDTV DVR Review
Our partner Digital Trends reviews the DISH Network ViP 622 HDTV DVR. Quote: "DISH's ViP 622 HDTV DVR can record up to 25 hours of high definition content on its 250GB hard drive. This may be your last satellite receiver. " Read th...

Verizon Brings Motorola Q Smartphone May 31st
Verizon Wireless announces that they will offer the ultr-slim Motorola Q starting May 31st in the United States. Motorola announced the Q almost 1 year ago in July 2005. The Moto Q runs Windows Mobile 5.0 and supports EV-DO. Other features inc...

NeoDigits Helios X-Line of HD Network Media Players
NeoDigits announces the Helios X3000 and X5000 HD Network Media Players both set to be launched by June 2006. The X-LineÂ’s built-in LAN, WIFI and USB ports allow connecting and sharing digital audio, video and images. The neoDigits NeoLink softwa...

LG MFJM53 8GB Slick MP3 Player
The LG MFJM53 MP3 player appeared on the UK LG site. The black stylish mp3 player features an 8GB HDD and a 1.77 inch color OLED display. Battery life is 30 hours and LG made the MFJM53 PlaysForSure compatible. Other features include MP4 video pl...

Nintendo DS Lite Gets Euro Price, Release Date
Nintendo of Europe today announced a release date for their newest handheld system, the Nintendo DS Lite. It will be available for European customers on June 23, 2006. The DS Lite, which is scheduled to launch on June 11 in the United States, is a slee...

Toshiba W44T Music Phone
Toshiba introduces the W44T in Japan for KDDI. The Toshiba W44T features a large 2.6 inch color display with QVGA resolution. A 3.2MP camera, Office file viewer, Bluetooth, miniSD slot, 19 hour music play time, FM-Tuner, IR and USB are also featured...

Evesham releases 12.1-inch, dual-core Quest A230 laptop
Filed under: LaptopsOur favorite UK laptop rebadger is back with a new 12.1-inch member of their Quest series, called the A230, that offers dual-core technology for around $1,500. Featuring AMD's Turion 64 X2 processor, Evesham's A230 also comes with 1GB of RAM under the hood, integrated two-flavor WiFi, a built-in ExpressCard slot, X-Bright screen technology, and almost certainly, integrated graphics. British shoppers looking for an ultraportable around 4-pounds (that refers to the weight, not the price, wiseguy) can pick up their very own A230 immediately.[Via Core Duo Info]Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Apple considered small chip startup over Intel, sez El Reg
Filed under: Desktops, LaptopsSteve Jobs' announcement -- almost a year ago, now -- that Apple was transitioning to x86 processors was one of the most shocking bits of news that the industry had ever heard, and yet there were a group of employees at a startup chip manufacturer called PA Semi who were even more shocked than most, according to reports, because right up until that keynote, they were sure that their company, and not Intel, would be chosen to supply the brains for what's now known as the Macbook family of laptops. The Register is reporting that PA Semi had a close relationship with Apple in the months prior to the switch, and that the two companies were working together to gauge the feasibility of running native PowerPC-coded software on 2GHz dual-core chips that PA Semi claims run at only a third of of the 21 to 25 watts consumed by Intel's Core Duo models. Sources who spoke to El Reg say that executives were virtually positive that they'd win the contract, and that CEO Dan Dobberpuhl was, understandably, "furious" when he found out PA Semi had been passed over. The company still has a bright future developing chips for the embedded market and storage devices, but they'll probably never again have the opportunity to become an instantly-recognized name like Intel, AMD, or IBM.Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Apple Green in Chicago Since '03
Who cares about Apple's crystal cathedral on Fifth Avenue, when you can have a green-roof facility in the Windy City? We like this much better, where surrounding the skylight atop Apple's Chicago...

We Want to Work at Google
Any place where you can ride around on Segways and Pocket Bikes and still get to hang out with the freaks who used to play Magic near the computer lab in college and are now making more money than...

Apple Store Panorama
Dudes and dudettes: this is just a store. It's a pretty store, sure, but it's a big cube and, when Apple goes bankrupt in a decade, they will turn it into a Duane Reade with a really nice elevator....

Xbox 360 Modchip Closer to Reality
Last week we mentioned that the firmware of the Samsung disc drive in the Xbox 360 was hacked—allowing you to play 1:1 backups of games but not run unauthorized code—but that it required...

Dodge Magnum Case Mod
Every once in a while our Gawker brothers at Jalopnik join in on the geekfest, and this time they showed us a case mod from PC Rides that wraps up an Intel Core Duo inside your choice of a Dodge...

How to Create a FireWire Network
Our lady friend at LifeHacker posted a Firewire networking how-to that we might just use next time we try to copy huge video files over an 802.11g network. The process is pretty...

The Gizmondo Story From Top to Tails
The Times has written up an excellent chronology of the whole Gizmondo mess, which tells the tale of dot-com excesses, foolish businessmen, and greed. Great stuff.Not to be a douche, but we always...

Do-It-Yourself USB Ultrasound
So the stork has brought you a brand new bun in the oven but you're still not sure as to the sex of the little one. Sure, you could go all the way to the hospital to have a professional administer an...

WMD Case Mod: Jack Bauer Computing
Tell me where the bomb is! The guys at bit-tech tried to create a custom-build case that looked exactly like a bomb on 24. The result? Explosive chrome goodness.The naughty bits: water cooling, a...

Black DS Lite in Euroland
Europe always gets the good stuff! First the World Cup, and now the black DS Lite. Everybody knows that the United States has the highest population of angsty emo-goth teenagers who thrive on having...

Harmony Home Automation Windows Media Center Plugin
Control fetishists rejoice! A new plugin for Harmony users is coming in just a few weeks. This updated MCE plugin allows users to load scenes, dim lighting, and control devices all with the standard...

MobiBLU DAH-1900
Two words: 153 hours. Yes, this MP3 player has 153 hours of battery life. That is over six days' worth of constant playing before the battery will die. What kind of a situation would you be in...

Mickey Mouse iPod Nano
And now something for all the Mouseketeers out there, a special edition of the iPod nano completely decked out in Mickey Mouse regalia. In addition to the surprisingly well-done Mickey Mouse...

DISH ViP 622 HDTV DVR Reviewed (Verdict: Convergently Great)
The TV junkies over at i4u reviewed the DISH Network HDTV DVR and found it a worthwhile purchase. The 250GB hard drive allows for 25 hours of HD programming or 180 hours of SD programming.The...

High Score: The Best of Kotaku
Now that the E3 news is settling in, let's get caught up on everything that happened last week at Kotaku.One thing that's putting me into Console Launch Panic Mode is that EB and Gamestop won't...

Lenovo ThinkPad T43 Review (Verdict: Reasonable)
ThinkPad has always been the Volvo of laptops—sensible, sometimes attractive, and always expensive. Well, now that Lenovo is riding the IBM ThinkPad logo like a mule, their latest models are...

LiteFast: A Real Experience
A kind reader pointed out this unusual signage. He's actually working on creating content for these things and it can display three copies of one 800x600 image around its circumferance. An internal...

What's Really In the Cube
Revealed here for the first time: Steve Jobs' secret plan to amaze the world with his feats of derring-do and pickled, pruny handshakes![Thanks, Garnumber] Comment on this postRelated:...

Turbo Charger Portable AA Cell Charger
Our husbands are always getting on us about not charging our cell phones. No longer! Using this Turbo Charge battery charger, you can stick in a simple AA battery and plug it into your phone to fill...

Downloadable Paper Camera
Not sure why we like these paper cameras so much, but heres one you can download, print, and fold yourself. The plans come in PDF form and you simply cut it out and paste it together. It apparently...

The Long Pen in the Wild
Editor John went to BookExpo America last week and all he saw was Dr. Ruth looking like someone's small, lost grandmother. However, he should have checked out the Long Pen, the tool Margaret Atwood...

PT33 Personal Tracking System
Assuming that you get lost in the woods more often than not, then the PT33 personal tracking device from StartsNav may be worth a look. Besides looking like a toy, the PT33 promises to alert whomever...

802.11n Delayed Even Further
Wi-Fi Networking News got tipped off by an anonymous IEEE member (it wasn't us, we only joined for the magazines) that the 802.11n draft is going to be very delayed.Instead of receiving the...

Belkin XM Boombox F5X007
Combine high tech satellite technology with 1970s design with the Belkin XM Boombox. A white, water-resistant cover shields the player from the sweaty half of sweating to the oldies. The other half,...

Strange Automata Gallery (Robots)
We love weird robots as much as anyone else, but if we had to look at this gallery of strange automatons for more than a few minutes, we wouldn't be able to achieve an erection again ever.Among...

iBall Digital Camcorder Concept Design
While not officially an Apple product, the iBall certainly looks like something straight out of Cupertino. It's an otherwise ordinary video camera, but one with an ergonomically sound round,...

LG MFJM53 8GB Music Player
LG shows that black is the new black with the MFJM53 portable music player. Shipping with an 8GB hard drive—like the iPod mini that Apple forgot—the MFJM53 has a slick finish but...

DIY Radio, Kind of
Believe it or not, this radio is marketed to be built by you, but still purchased. Not only do you have to spend money to be trendy, you have to put some work into it, also. This radio was designed...

LG KG320 Ultra-Slim Phone
With a thickness of only 9.9mm, compared to the 11.5mm of a Motorola SLVR L7, this LG is thinner than Nicole Richie after a three-day hobo-killing, dog-strangling, Herbie-the-Love-Bug-stealing coke...

Shoes Straight from the World of Tron
Why hide your nerdiness from the world when you can walk around town in shoes inspired by that movie of movies, Tron? From Addidas and available in the UK for ÂŁ65 (about $122), these...

Cozy Tunes Speaker Pillow
Plug in the speaker pillow and fall asleep to the soothing sounds of Michael Bolton. Black, pink, blue, purple and green makes this hard to fit into your existing decor, but if you're one to buy this...

Fostex Japan eA Any-Surface Speakers
Similar to the Nimzy Vibro Blaster, Fostex Japan's eA speakers can be placed on any flat surface and turn it into a speaker. With a blue glow on the bottom reminiscent of the Griffin Powermate, the...

Netgear DG834N 802.11n ADSL2+ Modem Router
We have to hand it to Netgear. When they say they're going to support something, say the 802.11n draft, they really support it. Never mind the bullocks difficulties, they're releasing the first draft...

Reviewed: Sweex 5.1 Home Theater Headphones (Verdict: Unimpressive)
Pocket-lint in the UK took the time to review the Sweex 5.1 Home Theater Headphones, putting them though the paces, only to come away with a bewildered look on their face. It seems that the...

iPod Firewire Dock Cable $9.99
Amazon has the Griffin iPod Firewire dock cable for $9.99. Compare with the Apple store, which has the official cable for $19.00. Only works for iPod 1G through 4G. The 5Gs don't support...