Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Gibson's Firebird X robot guitar finally ready to ship after a very, very long delay]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/gibsons-firebird-x-robot-guitar-finally-ready-to-ship-after-a-v/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/gibsons-firebird-x-robot-guitar-finally-ready-to-ship-after-a-v/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/gibsons-firebird-x-robot-guitar-finally-ready-to-ship-after-a-v/#comments Gibson Firebird X Like the Droid Bionic of the guitar world, the Firebird X was announced almost a year ago, packed with piles of impressive technology, and delayed so many times that practically everyone forgot it existed. Well, on September 30th the Firebird X will finally start filtering into retail channels for the rather excessive price of $5,570, in your choice of either Redolution of Bluevolution finishes. On board are a boatload of effects as well as an automated tuner, which we've come to expect from the so-called "robot guitar" series. The Pure-Analog sound processing engine is also open to developers, allowing owners to add on new effects and sounds down the road. But, enough with our ramblings. You know the drill, gallery below and PR after the break.

Gallery: Gibson Firebird X

Continue reading Gibson's Firebird X robot guitar finally ready to ship after a very, very long delay

Gibson's Firebird X robot guitar finally ready to ship after a very, very long delay originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 23:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>availabledelayfirebirdfirebird xFirebirdXgibsongibson firebirdgibson firebird XGibsonFirebirdGibsonFirebirdXguitarguitarsinstrumentmusicmusical instrumentmusical instrumentsMusicalInstrumentMusicalInstrumentspure-analogrobot guitarRobotGuitarshippingWed, 28 Sep 2011 23:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Scaled Composites and Northrop Grumman's new Firebird spy plane: pilot optional]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/10/scaled-composites-and-northrup-grummans-new-firebird-spy-plane/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/10/scaled-composites-and-northrup-grummans-new-firebird-spy-plane/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/10/scaled-composites-and-northrup-grummans-new-firebird-spy-plane/#comments
Scaled Composites is best known for creating commercial spaceships for Sir Richard Branson, but it turns out the firm can construct more conventional flying machines, too. The company has joined forces with Northrop Grumman to build the Firebird, a flexible new plane that's a veritable surveillance Swiss Army knife. Part Predator UAV and part traditional aircraft, the Firebird can take to the skies with or without a human at the controls as it combs the earth for enemies of the state. What's more, the airframe's HD video and infrared cameras, radar, and communications gear in the fuselage are able to gather info simultaneously to find the bad guys, and those payloads are easily swapped for other equipment through a universal interface. It's scheduled to strut its intelligence-gathering stuff during a military exercise in a couple weeks, and if all goes according to plan, it'll become another terrorist tracking tool in the U.S. arsenal. Video of the brand new bird in action is after the break.

Continue reading Scaled Composites and Northrop Grumman's new Firebird spy plane: pilot optional

Scaled Composites and Northrop Grumman's new Firebird spy plane: pilot optional originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 May 2011 06:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We've seen the future of guitars, and it's an app store. At least that's what Gibson would have us believe, as it announces that it's opening the Pure-Analog Engine and the whole Firebird X platform to third party devs. Didn't know it was a platform, did you? Thought that it was an over-priced guitar with features that we didn't need (and a headstock we didn't particularly care for)? Same here. Apparently the company will soon be unleashing all sorts of Pure-Analog guitars upon the world, at all different price points. We don't know what this means for rock'n'roll, although we are fairly certain that the guy from Muse already owns three of these. Hit the source link for all the awesome deets.

Robo-guitar shocker! Gibson opening Firebird X platform to third party developers, app store imminent originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appapp storeAppStoreaudiodeveloperdevelopmentfirebirdfirebird xFirebirdXgibsonguitarmusicmusic makingMusicMakingpure-analogpure-analog enginePure-analogEngineshockerthat guy from MuseThatGuyFromMuseMon, 24 Jan 2011 12:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Gibson announces $5,500 Firebird X robot guitar]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/01/gibson-announces-5-500-firebird-x-robot-guitar/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/01/gibson-announces-5-500-firebird-x-robot-guitar/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/01/gibson-announces-5-500-firebird-x-robot-guitar/#comments
 Gibson's been riding the wave of tech for quite a while now -- launching several "robot" guitars featuring functions such as fully automated tuning systems. For that, we give them credit: guitar purists are a tough bunch, and one that is most definitely resistant to change. So we can't help but welcome (on principle alone) the Firebird X, even if our standard Firebird is way, way better looking. The Firebird X -- which will retail for about $5,500 when it launches in December -- features the robo-tuning head found on the Dark Fire, and a seriously sick range of built-in effects, including modulation, echo, reverb, compression, EQ, and distortion. Hey, purists may grimace at that non-Firebird headstock, but let them: you'll be jamming with some sweet effects.

Gibson announces $5,500 Firebird X robot guitar originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>firebirdfirebird xFirebirdXgibsongibsonusamusicrobotrobot guitarRobotGuitarMon, 01 Nov 2010 18:35:00 EST<![CDATA[HP Firebird 802 gaming rig gets $500 price drop]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/19/hp-firebird-802-gaming-rig-gets-500-price-drop/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/19/hp-firebird-802-gaming-rig-gets-500-price-drop/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/19/hp-firebird-802-gaming-rig-gets-500-price-drop/#comments
Well, it's only been available for a few short months but HP has already seen fit to give its flagship Firebird 802 gaming desktop a fairly sizable price drop -- $500, to be specific. That includes a $150 cut to the $1,799 base price and a $350 instant rebate that brings the price down to a pretty darn reasonable $1,299, questionable keyboards aside. For those that haven't been pricing gaming rigs lately, that'll get you a Core 2 Quad 9400 processor, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive, and dual NVIDIA GeForce 9800S graphics cards (with 512MB of DDR3 memory on each card). Of course, any price drop of this size also invariably bring of the question "why?" and, in the case, the reasons are still a bit hazy. While HP discontinuing the line outright seems to almost certainly be out of the question, a slight revision does seem at least possible, if not necessarily imminent -- although, any way you shake it, $500 off is $500 off, so we're not complaining.

[Thanks, Ali]

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HP Firebird 802 gaming rig gets $500 price drop originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Apr 2009 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP was nice enough to send us a prototype Firebird 802 gaming rig, and while we haven't had a chance to fire it up and start sucking at Crysis quite yet, we thought we'd throw up a quick unboxing for you. It's pretty slick stuff, all around -- the box has big plastic latches that pop open, and the machine itself is held in by swing-out cardboard panels, giving everything that "top-secret missile codes" feel you'd expect from a gaming PC. The Firebird itself looks just as nice in our living room as it did at CES, but there are some sad surprises here -- the super-heavy external power brick has a troublesomely lame connector, and the included wireless keyboard is pretty simply crap -- the slightest downward pressure basically bends it in half. Plus, we're not at all sure why the mouse and keyboard require a plug-in USB dongle -- why not just build the receiver into the gigantic chassis? We're guessing the lameness of these two is why HP also sent along a Gaming Keyboard and Laser Gaming Mouse with our tester -- we'll have those two unboxed along with our in-depth Firebird impressions a little later. For now, hit up the gallery for the full unboxing!

Gallery: HP Firebird 802 unboxing and hands-on

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HP Firebird 802 unboxing and hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 15:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After arguably the biggest hype-fest of late 2008, HP's Firebird with VoodooDNA was revealed as Rahul Sood's ambitious little secret. The miniaturized gaming rigs began shipping out during CES, and we've no doubt that a few of you with space constraints and a lust of high frame rates have already chomped on the bullet. So, does the machine live up to the hype? Is it worth the asking price? What features weren't included that should have been? Has it handled your gaming demands with ease? Feel free to sound off below -- who knows, maybe Mr. Sood will tune in and hear you out.

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How would you change HP's Firebird gaming rigs? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 23:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We know it's a little easy to lose track of time with the world's craziest consumer electronics show steaming ahead, but today actually is January 9th. The meaning of that? HP's two Firebird gaming towers are go for purchase. Both the Firebird with VoodooDNA 802 and 803 are available for purchase right now, with starting prices pegged at $1,799 and $2,099, respectively. The primary difference between the stock configurations are the CPUs (a 2.66GHz Core 2 Quad versus 2.83GHz Core 2 Quad), the hard drives (2 x 250GB verses 2 x 320GB), the sound card (the 803 has a Creative X-Fi mini-PCI audio card) and the fact that the 803 comes packed with a slot-loading Blu-ray drive. Hit the read link to get your shopping on.

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HP's Firebird with VoodooDNA 802 / 803 now available starting at $1,799 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We just hit up HP's booth to check out the new Firebird gaming rig, and it's pretty slick looking, although it's a lot bigger than we expected / hoped. The side panels are actually a cool translucent smoke finish, and the blue LED lighting might be the first classy gaming PC light kit we've ever seen. HP was demoing the Firebird with Left 4 Dead and Crysis, and the gamers on hand seemed pretty pleased -- we'll have see how the $1,799 machine's 2.83GHz Core 2 Quad and dual NVIDIA GeForce 9800S graphics cards benchmark out when it's released on February 1st. Check it all in the gallery!

Gallery: HP Firebird hands-on

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HP Firebird with Voodoo DNA hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cesces 2009Ces2009ces2009breakingfirebirdfirebird 803Firebird803hands onhands-onHandsOnhewlett-packardhpvoodoovoodoo dnaVoodooDnaThu, 08 Jan 2009 13:39:00 EST<![CDATA[HP officially launches Firebird with Voodoo DNA]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/06/hp-officially-launches-firebird-with-voodoo-dna/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/06/hp-officially-launches-firebird-with-voodoo-dna/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/06/hp-officially-launches-firebird-with-voodoo-dna/#comments
We figured it was destined for a CES release, and HP has confirmed that today's the day. The hotly anticipated Firebird with Voodoo DNA has been properly introduced to the world, and within it will come an Intel Core 2 Quad CPU, twin NVIDIA GeForce 9800S graphics cards in an SLI configuration, hot-swappable 320GB hard drives (two of 'em) and an advanced thermal management system to keep things cool, calm, collected and quiet. As we'd heard, the rig will be available starting on January 9th for as little as $1,799 directly from Voodoo, while those too frightened to hand over their credit card information online can hold tight 'til it hits select retailers (read: Best Buy, most likely) on February 1st. Have a look at Rahul Sood and team gloating ad nauseum over this thing just after the break.

Gallery: HP officially launches Firebird with Voodoo DNA



[Via DesktopReview]

Continue reading HP officially launches Firebird with Voodoo DNA

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HP officially launches Firebird with Voodoo DNA originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It'd be a gross understatement to say that we weren't remarkably excited about the HP Firebird 803 when we caught wind of it last week, but now you can safely say that our emotions have settled down after hearing the price. Granted, the $1,799 starting figure for the Firebird 802 isn't totally unexpected -- after all, the Blackbird 002 went for upwards of three large -- but we still see the sticker as a touch high given the weaker innards and the lack of upgrade options. Those of you who vehemently disagree can certainly hand over your wallet starting on January 9th, or you can wait for the boxes to hit unnamed retail outlets in February.

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HP Firebird gaming towers with VoodooDNA to start at $1,799 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We always loved us that Voodoo-designed HP Blackbird 002, but it was certainly a behemoth. Now it looks like the duo are going for a more realistic size -- and hopefully pricepoint -- with the all-new HP Firebird PC 803 that just fell in our lap, a gaming tower which flips the disc drive and most other components on their sides to save on space. The resulting kit seems to have more in common with gaming consoles than desktop PCs in terms of design, with very little configurability or expansion available, but the leaked specs are still quite palatable to the modern PC gamer:
  • NVIDIA nForce 760i SLI chipset
  • Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83GHz processor
  • 4GB of RAM
  • Dual NVIDIA GeForce 9800S cards
  • Two 320GB SATA drives
  • Blu-ray
  • 5-in-1 card reader
  • 6 USB, 1 FireWire, 2 eSATA, 1 S/PDIF and 1 DVI dual-link
  • Bluetooth
  • 802.11n WiFi
To save on space (and heat), the Firebird actually uses an external power supply, but we suppose the included wireless keyboard and mouse should help to make up for that clutter. As you've probably gleaned from the specs, those small form factor 9800S cards aren't going to be putting away the frame rates quite like the cutting edge cards from NVIDIA and AMD, and the seeming lack of expandability makes the (theoretical) up-front cost savings seem a bit less exciting, but for a certain type of gamer the Firebird could be a welcome respite from monstrous, unrealistic and just-as-quickly-outmoded performance towers.

P.S.: Rahul's dubious rant about the boutique gaming industry -- which Voodoo still serves -- makes a lot more sense in this light. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Gallery: HP Firebird 803 tower with VoodooDNA leaked!

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HP Firebird 803 tower with VoodooDNA leaked! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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