They had a small bit about this on the site-redesign entry (aaaages ago) but it's easily missed. The logging out is important as on logging back in, it will prompt you for a user name which will then appear instead of (Unverified).

Something to watch for, that I don't think they'd originally mentioned, if you chose a name that is different to your original (user) name then it can get a little confusing as it may not match the @ replies in messages (so yours would currently appear as @GadgetGeek even though it currently appears as "Unverified").

@odobo (even though Engadget Reply insists in claiming I'm replying to "Alfred")
That's what I read as well; they're going to use (demand?) more processing power to overcome the short-falls in their own inefficient code. Sounds much like what happens with the OS (not running fast enough? then buy a faster processor).

I wonder how much faster one of the other (already faster) web browsers would run if they managed the same trick?!

@munir
Actually that was my first impression as well. Looks all very pretty but it does feel a touch busy in places; I liked the original simplicity so I'll probably just use the RSS feed from now on to bypass this.

I am quite glad that the comment system has been overhauled.

"Lastly, it's almost impossible to use the camera for "run and gun," ...without some sort of after-market stabilizing device, like a shoulder-mount or brace."

What about an IS lens?
Chad, have you tried?

No, it's not a mock-up:
"the device, shown here at the 2009 Taiwan Broadband show"

One would hope that your comment was not necessary and that no one was taken in by the "robot" and how fluidly it happened to move.
It's an impressive costume though, I'll grant them that; the way they've disguised the arms and legs (the giveaway shot was in the third vid at 1:25 as it turned round and you could see the black trunking where the [human] arm goes across to control the robot hands).

I didn't notice it before until you'd pointed out but it looks like Donald found the best frame to grab from the video (about 0:14 in) where their animators were a little care-free with their object clipping!

The awful noise I'd surmise as being audio feedback given his "invention" (it's unclear as to what the inventive step is) simply gets a phone to make a video call to a predefined (fixed) number via the solenoid press.
The feedback is because the 'receive' phone (the one pressed too close to the camera to focus) is within sufficient proximity to the 'transmit' phone (the one wired to the box) that the audio of one can be picked up by the other.

He's basically invented a box to press a button to make a video call.

"this speaks volumes about the modern cameraphone's value as a serious photographic tool"

Yes, it does in that it still isn't a serious tool, I mean, have you seen the crap that people upload with camera phones (not just iphones, but as they are the largest group they deserve the largest proportion of the blame).
Sure, there are some nice shots but it's mainly convenient detritus when compared to a camera that is over 3 years old (July '06 for the XTi).

Wales?
Er, bit of a long way off I'm afraid. They're based in Peterborough (that's on the opposite side of the country to Wales). The only hint at Wales is that they went to a *conference* in Wales (not a demo or anything though).