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A closer look at Origin PC's Phase Change cooling system (and its new gaming laptops too)

Dana Wollman — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:36:00 EST

Believe it or not, we just spent 45 minutes with two of Origin PC's founders and weren't treated to a gaming demo. Then again, the company isn't here at CES to brag about 3DMark11 scores. Instead, it's showing off its new Phase Change cooling technology, which enables the Genesis desktop to be overclocked to 5.7GHz, and which pushes that desktop's starting price from $1,337 to $4,499. So how does that $3,000 feature work? As it turns out, not unlike an air conditioner. The setup relies on a compressor to compress gas, which liquifies first and then evaporates, absorbing heat along the way. The Little Devil chassis used for the purpose of this demo has an LED screen displaying the -40-degree operating temperature, but you won't need it: the system automatically shuts down if it gets too cold, and it won't boot into Windows until Phase Change is up and running. In addition to all this, the Genesis uses liquid cooling around the motherboard, and an air-based system on the video cards.

While we were there, we also checked out the EON15-S and EON17-S laptops, which will be available with an updated design sometime this quarter. Though the interior should look familiar to anyone who's ever laid eyes on a Clevo, Origin remodeled the lid, adding a matte finish option and race car-inspired molding (to evoke the idea of speed, natch). As for specs, Origin's founders directed us to the company's website, which suggests the internals won't change along with the design (certainly, the prices remain the same). Expect these to start at $1,539 for the 15-incher and $1,590 for the larger model -- prices that now include 24/7 free lifetime support. Find some photos below and continue on past the break for a video where you can see (and hear) that Phase Change setup in action.

Gallery: Origin PC's Phase Change cooling demo at CES 2012

Gallery: Origin PC EON15-S hands-on

Gallery: Origin PC EON17-S hands-on

Continue reading A closer look at Origin PC's Phase Change cooling system (and its new gaming laptops too)

A closer look at Origin PC's Phase Change cooling system (and its new gaming laptops too) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Origin PC boosts Genesis factory clock to 5.7GHz, reveals new EON gaming laptop design

Sharif Sakr — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:01:00 EST

Origin PC has been spitting out 5.2GHz Genesis desktops for a few months already, but apparently some people wanted more. Thanks to a new 'Phase Change' cooling system that'll be available from late Q1, they're about it get it: a Core i7 2700K system factory clocked to 5.7GHz. Cooling controls and temperature displays will help you to establish the proper balance of power and pollution, while lifetime technical support (which now applies to all Origin PCs in the US) is just a phone call away in case you need to share the rush. There's even an X79 mobo inside, offering scope for a Sandy Bridge E upgrade, plus NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 580 in four-way SLI. Origin has a little something for portable gamers too: a refreshed A-panel on the EON17-S and EON15-S laptops to help you strike the right note of grinning malice in front of your LAN victims. It's not yet clear how these updates will affect pricing, but there are plenty of clips on YouTube that'll show you how to smear thermal paste on your credit cards. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Origin PC boosts Genesis factory clock to 5.7GHz, reveals new EON gaming laptop design

Origin PC boosts Genesis factory clock to 5.7GHz, reveals new EON gaming laptop design originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Retrode 2 retro gaming adapter brings SNES / Genesis support to your PC for $85

Darren Murph — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST

We were already head over heels for the original Retrode, and we've gotta say -- version 2.0 looks mighty good in that attire. As the story goes, the product shown above is the result of some three years of toiling, with the second iteration handling cartridges for Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo. In fact, there's a pair of ports on here, enabling one cart from each console to be loaded up and carried around. Users need only to find and install an emulator on their machine, plug a cartridge and / or an associated controller into the device and then connect the Retrode 2 to one's computer via USB. Once you've loaded a ROM into your emulator, configured your controller and canceled every appointment on your calendar for the next 48 hours... well, you're in for quite a weekend of retro gaming nirvana. It's up for pre-order now in the source link for $84.99, with shipments expected to begin on January 23rd.

Retrode 2 retro gaming adapter brings SNES / Genesis support to your PC for $85 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlayStation Vita shown running Sega Genesis titles (video)

Darren Murph — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:39:00 EST

Still mulling whether or not to pick yourself up a PlayStation Vita? Obsessed with retro gaming titles? If you answered "yes" to both, you should probably start socking away a few extra coins, buster. YouTube user frwololo has just upped a video showcasing the Half Byte Loader running the Picodrive emulator on Sony's PS Vita -- the first major proof that this kind of wizardry is indeed a possibility. The nuts and bolts of how it happened are being kept under wraps for now, and he seems certain that Sony's inbuilt security will make the mod unusable as soon as it's released. That said, there's still a lot of hope to be found in the clip just after the break, and c'mon -- who doesn't need a little hope to kick off a year where we're all supposed to perish?

Continue reading PlayStation Vita shown running Sega Genesis titles (video)

PlayStation Vita shown running Sega Genesis titles (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maingear and Origin PC shove Intel's Core i7 2700K into gaming rigs, overclock it beyond 5GHz

Darren Murph — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:28:00 EST

Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock were both unavailable for comment, but we're guessing the pair would be quite pleased to see that the tech world's Need For Speed is hardly fading. Maingear and Origin PC have both announced this week that their high-end gaming desktops are now available with Intel's Core i7 2700K -- a beast of a processor that's clocked from the factory at 3.5GHz. Maingear's shoving this guy into its SHIFT (starting at $1,985) and F131 (starting at $1,228) rigs, with factory overclocking options pushing it beyond 5GHz. Origin is hawking its Genesis desktop with a factory speed of 5.2GHz, and yes, gratis warranties are thrown in for the paranoid. Hit the links below to give your wallet the dent it's been asking for.

Continue reading Maingear and Origin PC shove Intel's Core i7 2700K into gaming rigs, overclock it beyond 5GHz

Maingear and Origin PC shove Intel's Core i7 2700K into gaming rigs, overclock it beyond 5GHz originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OOP Tetris cartridge begs you to buy it now for $1 million

Brian Heater — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 22:19:00 EST

It may shock you to know that you're a simple lottery win away from picking up a Like New copy of Tetris for the Sega Mega Drive (that's the Genesis to us Yanks). That's right, for the low price of $1 million American, you can pick up an original Japanese Mega Drive cartridge signed by the game's creator, Alekséi Pázhitnov on eBay. No word on whether the Russian game designer will actually hand deliver the red-boxed piece of gaming history if you're the lucky winner.

OOP Tetris cartridge begs you to buy it now for $1 million originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 22:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG Genesis coming to US Cellular, enV Pro rising from Verizon's ashes

Zachary Lutz — Thu, 05 May 2011 16:05:00 EST

Hey enV fans, remember when Verizon scrapped its Android-based enV Pro citing a failure to impress? Fortunately, US Cellular is keeping the QWERTY clamshell's tradition alive with its appropriately named Genesis. Historically a feature phone, this LG is being reborn as a full-fledged smartphone, complete with Android 2.2, dual 800 x 480 touchscreens and a 1GHz Snapdragon processor. You'll find a familiar 3.5-inch display on the front, and a smaller 3.2-inch landscape screen positioned above the keyboard. The Genesis packs a 5 megapixel camera and supports DLNA sharing, though its camcorder only supports VGA resolution -- so you might want to reconsider streaming those videos to the big screen. As an added bonus, the phone serves as a mobile hotspot for up to five devices, though its price may be hard to swallow -- it retails for $249 on contract. Knowing the high cost of nostalgia, who's in on this one?

LG Genesis coming to US Cellular, enV Pro rising from Verizon's ashes originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 May 2011 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sega Genesis CDX now portable thanks to Ben Heck (video)

Christopher Trout — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 08:49:00 EST

It's no Bill Paxton Pinball, but Ben Heck's portable Sega Genesis CDX is certainly up there in terms of superfluous gaming mods. As Heck points out, a lot of the console's games were "FMV nonsense," but, like most gaming systems, the 1994-released CDX had its ardent supporters. For those of you who fit the description, Heck's combined the CD drive and motherboard from an old CDX with a chopped six-button Genesis controller, an old camcorder battery, and a four-inch LCD screen to bring you a bulky but portable console. Now you can enjoy a game of Snatcher at the laundromat while your Sonic the Hedgehog Underoos hit the spin cycle. Check out the video after the jump.

Continue reading Sega Genesis CDX now portable thanks to Ben Heck (video)

Sega Genesis CDX now portable thanks to Ben Heck (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 08:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Origin PC takes Genesis and Big O gaming desktops to 5GHz with overclocked Core i7 2600k

Darren Murph — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST

Who says you need a vat of liquid nitrogen and a voided warranty to push your gaming rig to 5GHz? Here at CES, Origin PC has just announced one killer upgrade for its Genesis and Big O desktop range: an overclocked Core i7 2600k processor that's pushed to 5GHz from the factory. Naturally, the release coincides with Intel's new Sandy Bridge rollout, with this particular chip touting Turbo Boost 2.0 and an integrated memory controller. You'll also get three-way SLI, a customized liquid cooling setup (phew!) and a refreshed EFI BIOS from ASUS that features "convenient mouse controls and an entirely new user interface." If you're looking for something a wee bit more portable (but not exact bantam), you'll be thrilled to know that its Eon 15 and 17 gaming laptops will also start shipping soon with Intel's second-generation Core i5 / i7 CPUs; pair that with a GeForce GTX 485M, an optional TV tuner and four slots of DDR3 memory, and you'll have yourself a sufficient little LAN party rig. There's no mention of dollars and cents, but we're confident the build sheets will be updated soon on Origin's order pages.

Continue reading Origin PC takes Genesis and Big O gaming desktops to 5GHz with overclocked Core i7 2600k

Origin PC takes Genesis and Big O gaming desktops to 5GHz with overclocked Core i7 2600k originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexmark intros Genesis all-in-one printer with camera-based scanning, we go eyes-on

Sean Hollister — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST

You've probably seen quite a few flatbed scanner bars in your lifetime, but the $400 Lexmark Genesis printer doesn't have one of those -- it's got a 10 megapixel digital camera with a fish-eye lens that produces nigh-instant images. 750 milliseconds after you close its front-facing scan bay, the CMOS sensor generates a preview on the 4.3-inch color touchscreen, and 2.2 seconds after that, it's got a full 300 dpi image saved on your USB-connected computer or winging its way across 802.11n WiFi. The company's calling the system FlashScan, and the raw speed was definitely impressive when we saw it in San Francisco this week, even though other parts of the print system left something to be desired.

The printer uses special algorithms to translate the fish-eye image back into a flat sheet and reproduces text quite well, but the twin RGB flashes it fires to reproduce color didn't always do an accurate job, and we were disappointed to find a number of features (including some obvious oversights like image rotation for copies) weren't accessible via the touchscreen. It does have a number of neat web apps for completely untethered use, however, including the ability to scan right to Evernote and Photobucket and Box.net, and Lexmark told us it's working with a number major photo hosting services, Twitter and Facebook to let Genesis users directly upload. See it in action on video after the break, along with the full press release.

Gallery: Lexmark Genesis camera-based AIO printer, hands-on

Continue reading Lexmark intros Genesis all-in-one printer with camera-based scanning, we go eyes-on

Lexmark intros Genesis all-in-one printer with camera-based scanning, we go eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Notion Ink Adam priced at $498, lives up to promise of being below $499

Vlad Savov — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:47:00 EST

Notion Ink, the plucky Indian startup intent on shaking up the tablet industry, was most recently spotted turning over the sofa cushions looking for spare change, but that isn't stopping the company from announcing pricing for its mythical first product. The Adam, it has now been revealed, will be available for $498 with WiFi, 3G, GPS, and a Tegra 2 system-on-chip powering things, with prices dipping down to $449 if you exclude either the 3G or Pixel Qi display option, and $399 if you drop both and make do with a WiFi-only LCD-based tablet. That certainly adheres to the promise of aggressive pricing, but the Q3 launch -- which in itself was a slip from a Q2 pledge -- has now also been definitively scratched off the board of possibilities, as the device won't be submitted to the FCC for certification until November. Notion Ink claims that from there on it'll be just a matter of waiting on the FCC to clear the Adam for its US launch, which could happen in late 2010 or CES 2011 at the latest. Or, you know, never.

Notion Ink Adam priced at $498, lives up to promise of being below $499 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Origin PC stuffs 4.4GHz Core i7-980X, Fermi-based GTX 470 and 480 into Genesis desktop

Darren Murph — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST

Hope you didn't just pull the trigger on a new Origin PC Genesis, else you'll be forced to know that your rig was made obsolete in record time. Okay, maybe not obsolete, but there's precisely no doubt that you'd rather be rocking a new Fermi card than whatever you've got now. Right on cue, NVIDIA has launched its latest pair of powerhouse graphics cards, and as of right now, prospective Origin PC buyers can opt for either the GTX 470 or GTX 480 on the Genesis desktop. Better still, you can buy 'em in single, dual or triple SLI configurations, and in case you're down for paying the premium, a 4.4GHz overclocked Core i7-980X Extreme Edition CPU can sit alongside of it (or them).

Origin PC stuffs 4.4GHz Core i7-980X, Fermi-based GTX 470 and 480 into Genesis desktop originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Origin PC offers overclocked 4.3GHz Core i7-980X Extreme Edition on Genesis desktop

Darren Murph — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 02:01:00 EST

You know what's better than a stock 3.33GHz Core i7-980X Extreme Edition CPU? Not much, but we're guessing that a 4.3GHz overclocked version of the same chip just might be. If you're thinking the same, and you've got $1,044 to spare in order to find out, upstart gaming rig maker Origin PC has the means to get it to you. The outfit's Genesis desktop can now be ordered with Intel's freshest slab of silicon for $895, or you can snag an extra gigahertz for another $149. We know you'll make the right call.

Origin PC offers overclocked 4.3GHz Core i7-980X Extreme Edition on Genesis desktop originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 14 Mar 2010 02:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Origin's Genesis gaming desktop gets reviewed: blisteringly fast, but oh-so-pricey

Darren Murph — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:10:00 EST

The latest high-fashion gaming outfit (known as Origin 'round these parts) has just started shipping its beastly Genesis out, and if you've ever wondered what five large could get you in the land of desktops, wonder no more. The crew over at Hot Hardware managed to procure a darn-near-loaded machine, complete with a Core i7-920 CPU (overclocked from the factory to 3.8GHz), 6GB of Corsair DDR3 RAM, twin ATI Radeon HD 5970 GPUs, a liquid cooling system, 80GB SSD boot drive and pretty much every other top-of-the-line component you could imagine. How'd it stand up to testing? Well. Really well. It crushed every benchmark that dared get in its way, and we're told that when pressed, the company's explanation of its warranty was truly best in class. What's interesting is that the MSRP of the test unit can be halved by simply opting for a few marginally weaker pieces, and we're guessing that the overall performance wouldn't suffer a huge deal. Hit the source link for all the bars, charts and in-depth analysis you can handle.

Origin's Genesis gaming desktop gets reviewed: blisteringly fast, but oh-so-pricey originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Origin launches custom gaming rig shop, starts with Genesis and EON18

Darren Murph — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:21:00 EST

Does the world really need another high-end gaming PC shop? Looks as if we'll soon find out, as Origin has just launched itself into the mix with a pair of new rigs catering to those with specific (and pricey) demands. Poised to take on the likes of Falcon Northwest, this boutique outfit has ushered itself into the sector with the new Genesis desktop and EON18 laptop. The former gets going at $1,699, and if we're reading this right, Origin allows buyers to select "any chassis on the market, any color and design" and pretty much any other hardware they can dream of. The lappie is an 18.4-inch beast with a 1080p panel, limitless color and design options, twin GeForce GTX 280M GPUs, 8GB of RAM, a trio of HDDs, dual-layer Blu-ray burner and a starting tag of $2,599. So, who's up for celebrating the real end of the recession?

Gallery: Origin launches custom gaming rig shop, starts with Genesis and EON18

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming, Laptops

Origin launches custom gaming rig shop, starts with Genesis and EON18 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SNES / Sega Genesis USB cartridge adapter now available for pre-order

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:04:00 EST

Looks like our old friend, Matthias -- the developer of the USB SNES cart reader -- is back on the scene, and this time he's going commercial. His newest project, Snega2USB, adds Sega Genesis, read and write for battery-backed SNES games, open source firmware, and up to four gamepads to the homebrew fave of classic gaming fanatics world o'er. This is a work-in-progress, but all the pieces are in place to have all orders met on the December, 2009 street date. Pre-orders will be taken until October 31 for $90 in the United States or €75 in Europe. Video after the break.

[Via Gadgetoid]

Continue reading SNES / Sega Genesis USB cartridge adapter now available for pre-order

Filed under: Gaming

SNES / Sega Genesis USB cartridge adapter now available for pre-order originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sega-licensed "Retro Gen" might have you hunting for cartridges

Donald Melanson — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:35:00 EST

Sega's already given its seal of approval to a few Genesis / Mega Drive-based handhelds, but never one like this new "Retro Gen" device from Innex, which makes use of actual, dust-collecting cartridges instead of just some mere on-board memory. Of course, not everyone has a stack of Genesis carts at their disposal (a sad state, indeed), so the handheld also apparently comes pre-loaded with 20 unspecified games, and you'll supposedly even be able to eventually load some "licensed ROMs" onto an SD card using a special cart. While it's still not clear exactly how widespread of a release it'll get, at least one retailer does already has it up for pre-order for just $49.99 (discounted from $59.99), and it's promising a ship date of July 25th.

[Via Softpedia]

Filed under: Gaming

Sega-licensed "Retro Gen" might have you hunting for cartridges originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Genintari project is finished and ready to make you envious

Donald Melanson — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:12:00 EST

DIY game consoles are hardly the rare occurrence they once were, but this so-called Super Genintari project (previously known as Leviticus) is definitely a step above most, and more than enough to make us a little green with envy. As you may be able to discern from the project's name, this behemoth of a console brings the Atari 2600, NES, SNES and Genesis together at long last, with each system available at the push of a clickety-clackety button and ample controller ports provided for each. What's more, while there's quite the mess coming out of the front of the console with all the controllers attached, the rig does at least neatly connect to a TV with a single AV cable. Be sure to head on over past the break to check out a video of it action, and hit up the link below for the fully story and plenty of pictures.

[Thanks, Jenn]

Continue reading Super Genintari project is finished and ready to make you envious

Filed under: Gaming

Super Genintari project is finished and ready to make you envious originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Genesis emulation comes to the Wii

Joshua Topolsky — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:02:00 EST

Alright, things are starting to get really good with these hacks. Just after seeing a GameCube / Wii Tetris, Linux build, SNES emulator, and the first homebrew MP3 player for Nintendo's money-maker, we're getting a totally radical, native Genesis / Megadrive emulator for the console. Coder-extraordinaire Eke-Eke has created not only the first of its kind for the Wii (and GameCube), but it's also the first ever that's capable of playing Virtua Racing, a milestone in Genesis emulation. This latest feat utilizes the same backdoor Twilight Princess hack, which is proving to be the best thing that happened to Wii development since... well... ever. Hit the read link and check it out yourself.

[Thanks, Craig]

Filed under: Gaming

Genesis emulation comes to the Wii originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mega Drive Portable gets rebadged, available to order

Donald Melanson — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 23:07:00 EST

It looks like that Mega Drive Portable we caught sight of a couple of months back is no longer exclusive to retro-happy gamers in Brazil, as a suspiciously similar-looking device has recently turned up for order at Play-Asia.com. As with the TecToy version, this one from AtGames is apparently officially licensed by Sega, and includes the very same line-up of twenty Genesis titles, including Golden Axe and Altered Beast, among other games with decidedly less hacking and slashing. Best of all, this incarnation the handheld is also a good deal cheaper than the TecToy, with it setting you back just $40. According to some early buyers, however, it seems that the emulation isn't entirely faithful to the originals, but at that price it's hard to complain too much.

[Via technabob]

Filed under: Gaming

Mega Drive Portable gets rebadged, available to order originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Dec 2007 23:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Genesis 2 loudspeaker system isn't for the faint of heart

Darren Murph — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 07:51:00 EST

If you thought a 6.5-foot tall loudspeaker was a touch too much for your needs, we've all ideas the Genesis 2 system will also exemplify overkill in your mind. For those who don't mind pushing the envelope (and emptying their wallets in the process), the four-speaker G2.2 could be just what you're after. The system actually places the tweeters and midrange ribbon transducer in one 6.25-foot tall cabinet while the eight 8-inch ribbed-aluminum cone subwoofers reside in another tower of equal height. As a whole, it can handle up to 1,000-watts of pure solid state power, and considering the 720-pounds of heft this thing's packin', we highly doubt you'll be rearranging the foursome whimsically. For those champing at the bit to place their order, we certainly hope you've got copious quantities of cash to burn, as the G2.2 setup will run you a cool $63,000 in the traditional high gloss black motif.

[Via Widescreen Review]

Filed under: Speakers, Others

Genesis 2 loudspeaker system isn't for the faint of heart originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Dec 2007 07:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brazil's TecToy cranks out Mega Drive Portable handheld

Donald Melanson — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:27:00 EST

While Sega's Nomad handheld didn't exactly take off, Brazil's TecToy nonetheless looks to be ready to take its own shot at a portable Genesis console, although it's new "Mega Drive Portable" appears to be decidedly more limited than Sega's offering. The biggest drawback, as you might have guessed, is that the handheld drops the clunky cartridges in favor of twenty built-in games, including Altered Beast, Ecco, Kid Chameleon, and Sonic & Knuckles, to name a few. On the upside, it does at least appear to be a good deal more portable than the Nomad, and you'll also apparently able to hook the device up to your TV for some bigger screen gaming. If that's enough to put you in a nostalgic mood, you'll be able to grab one of these for about $110 when it hits Brazil on December 5th.

[Thanks, Sapuca]

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

Brazil's TecToy cranks out Mega Drive Portable handheld originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DIY wireless Sega controller for Wii Virtual Console

Evan Blass — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 09:02:00 EST

It's literally been ages since we've held a piece of Sega hardware in our hands -- even our trusty old GameGear finally made the trip to gadget heaven -- but we'll never forger the first time we picked up a Genesis controller and were floored by the future of gaming. Its name? Altered Beast. Well as we all know, Sega ended up getting lost in the shuffle during the 20th century console wars, and all that's left today is a steady stream of new games and some classics that have found their way onto the Virtual Console. Isn't it appropriate, then, to get into the Sega spirit by playing these retro titles with genuine Sega controllers? Well you ain't gonna find them on shelves anymore, but if you've got an old gamepad lying around like Daniel Hearn did, its not all that difficult to roll your own wireless pad. All the parts you need -- save for the controller body itself -- can be found at the Sparkfuns and and RadioShacks of the world, and the linked guide gives you all the programming / construction resources you'll need. Big ups to the first reader who combines this project with the Mega Drive controller MP3 mod, creating a DAP whose functionality even the iPod can't touch.

[Via Wii Fanboy]

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

DIY wireless Sega controller for Wii Virtual Console originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Klegg Genesis GPS V-12 G01 / G02 navigation systems

Darren Murph — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 12:51:00 EST

While Klegg Electronics is typically known for its array of television sets and diminutive DAPs, these folks are now throwing down a new pair of GPS navigation systems in society's favorite color schemes. The Genesis V-12 G01 sports a trendy white / grey enclosure, 3.5-inch QVGA touchscreen LCD, a couple of LED indicators, rechargeable Li-ion battery, SD / MMC card slot, headphone jack, optional integrated microphone, audio / video playback, photo viewer, in-car mounting kit, and of course, the obligatory turn-by-turn guidance directed by a presumably robotic sounding dame. The G02 (pictured after the jump) features a black mesh motif, and interestingly enough, Klegg doesn't elaborate on why the ebony unit is superior to the G01, as both units tout the exact same specifications (sound familiar?), but the company does manage toss in a 1GB SD card with each unit. Although there's no hard details concerning price or availability, the G01 should reportedly end up running you somewhere close to $300 whenever these siblings land.

Read - Klegg GPS V-12 G01
Read - Klegg GPS V-12 G02
[Via MobileWhack]

Continue reading Klegg Genesis GPS V-12 G01 / G02 navigation systems

Filed under: GPS

Klegg Genesis GPS V-12 G01 / G02 navigation systems originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Jan 2007 12:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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3GATE intros 23-inch 2310W LCD, mimics Dell

Darren Murph — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 11:23:00 EST

Korea's own 3GATE has announced the upcoming availability of its 23-inch 2310W LCD, which boasts a 1,920 X 1,200 resolution, 400cd/m2 brightness, 700:1 contrast ratio, and a striking resemblance to Dell's own 2407WFP and (to a "smaller" extent) 3007WFP. Aside from sporting the thin, black bezel and v-shaped stand, 3GATE's rendition touts a "Genesis chip that enhances image quality," as well as a plethora of ports including VGA, a pair of DVI inputs, composite, component, S-Video, and audio in / out. Although we don't have any pricing details to share, it probably won't deviate too far from its oh-so-similar competitors when it hits shelves in November.

[Via AVing]

3GATE intros 23-inch 2310W LCD, mimics Dell originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Oct 2006 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung BD-P1000 shipping with picture-degrading chip

Evan Blass — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 14:25:00 EST

If you shelled out over $1,000 for Samsung's BD-P1000 Blu-ray player only to discover that the picture quality wasn't as impressive as you'd expected, fear not: it looks like a faulty-but-fixable chip may be responsible for the sub-par video. After noticing a "softness" in each of the titles he viewed with the P1000 -- especially compared to the performance of Toshiba's HD-A1 HD DVD player -- Perfect Vision editor Scott Wilkinson initiated a chain of events that has culminated with Samsung VP Jim Sanduski confirming that there is indeed a hardware problem with the initial rollout. Apparently, the machines have been leaving the factory with the Genesis scaler chip's noise-reduction circuit enabled, and after comparing a repaired unit to one out of the box, Wilkinson agrees that the fix does indeed result in a sharper picture. Future P1000's will be shipping with noise-reduction disabled, and luckily for current owners, Samsung will be releasing a firmware update that you can download, burn to disc, and pop into your player. So the lesson we've learned here is: early-adopters beware, because even though this problem has a relatively easy solution, next time you may not be so lucky.

[Via HDBeat]

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Samsung BD-P1000 shipping with picture-degrading chip originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Jul 2006 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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