Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Switched On: The 2008 Switchies]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/19/switched-on-the-2008-switchies/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/19/switched-on-the-2008-switchies/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/19/switched-on-the-2008-switchies/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.
The fourth annual Saluting Wares Improving Technology's Contribution to Humanity's awards were not held in the opulent imaginary venue of previous galas due to the subprime lending crisis of 2008. Rather, they were hastily distributed behind the Engadget trailer at CES 2009. Also, due to budget cuts and with the imaginary gold for the statuettes at record highs, we've had to consolidate the portable and home awards into a single ceremony.

Last year's Product of the Year was the Apple iPhone, which became the reference point for other touchscreen smartphones after its release. While Apple added important improvements and unleased thousands of applications with the iPhone SDK, the 2008 Switchie for Product of the Year goes to the T-Mobile G1. While its body may be a little out of shape, the first Android phone sports a wide keyboard, strong browsing and mapping capabilities, and an open development environment should enable a wide array of follow-on handset models to deliver a stronger consumer experience than they do today. There is also much potential for Android to creep into other kinds of devices, as was shown by the Movit Mini at CES 2009.

Honorable mentions in the cell phone category are awarded to the sleek Nokia N73, the solid Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1, and the integrated Samsung Instinct.

Continue reading Switched On: The 2008 Switchies

Switched On: The 2008 Switchies originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20082008 switchies2008Switchiesawardscolumncolumnseditorialfeaturedfeaturesswitched onSwitchedOnswitches 08Switches08switchiesMon, 19 Jan 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget up for three Bloggies!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/23/engadget-up-for-three-bloggies/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/23/engadget-up-for-three-bloggies/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/23/engadget-up-for-three-bloggies/#comments Wow, what can we say, we're totally honored. Your humble source for all things tech and gadgety has officially been nominated for three Bloggies this year -- Best Computers or Technology Weblog, Best Group Weblog, and Best-Designed Weblog (go design team!) -- the most nominations that we've ever received in this annual competition. Unlike the Weblog Awards, which allow you to vote once every 24 hours, the Bloggies have a strict one-vote-per-person rule, and actively discourage cheating by incorporating captchas and verification emails into the procedure. You have until 10:00PM Eastern on Thursday, January 31st to cast your ballot, but doing so earlier will help us all avoid these annoying reminder posts. Also, please remember: winners never cheat, and cheaters never win!

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Engadget up for three Bloggies! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008 weblog awards2008WeblogAwardsawardsbloggieshonorsvotingWed, 23 Jan 2008 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: The 2007 Switchies, Home Products]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/06/switched-on-the-2007-switchies-home-products/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/06/switched-on-the-2007-switchies-home-products/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/06/switched-on-the-2007-switchies-home-products/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment.


The last Switched On presented the Switchie awards for portable products. This special edition of Switched On highlights the award winners for home products.

The "Hi-Def Heaven" and the Home Product of the Year goes to the TiVo HD. It's not so much that TiVo's DVR functionality has advanced to become that much more compelling than those of cable-supplied DVRs. However, TiVo has evolved into a jack-of-all-trades that integrates traditional programming sources with Internet content and even homebrew applications when it has access to a PC. TiVo also wins points for enabling the Lifetime Subscription Transfer option, which unfortunately does not enable the reincarnated to take TiVo into their next lifetime.

The "Great Googoloplex" award goes to Vudu Labs' Vudu for a device that virtually obsoletes the video rental store, offering thousands of movies with instant access and an expedient way to navigate around them. Honorable mentions in the broadband set-top box category go to Apple TV and the Netgear EVA8000 -- the former for integrating a sync-and-store process that removes the vagaries of network performance and the latter for its support of high-definition content and Internet services.

The "Blue in the Face" award goes to Samsung for the Samsung BP-U5000 dual format Blu-ray and HD-DVD player for its attempt at reconciling the high-def disc format wars. The player's embrace of both camps' interactivity standards and lower introductory price has lent strength to the argument that two formats are sustainable.

Continue reading Switched On: The 2007 Switchies, Home Products

Switched On: The 2007 Switchies, Home Products originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Jan 2008 09:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2007 switchies2007Switchiesawardsfeatureshome productsHomeProductsSwitched OnSwitchedOnSun, 06 Jan 2008 09:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: The 2007 Switchies, Portable Products]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/02/switched-on-the-2007-switchies-portable-products/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/02/switched-on-the-2007-switchies-portable-products/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/02/switched-on-the-2007-switchies-portable-products/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment.


The consumer technology landscape shifted somewhat in 2007. Companies that were once major forces, including Gateway and Thomson Consumer Electronics, better known to most Americans as RCA, were acquired as their fortunes declined. MVNOs such as Amp'd and Disney Mobile closed their doors as did PC retailer CompUSA. Palm, forced to kill its "third platform" of Foleo, was saved from a similar fate by an influx of capital. Delivering alternative programming into homes proved too challenging for set-top boxes from Akimbo and MovieBeam. And there were changings of the guard at Dell, Sprint, AT&T, Motorola and Logitech, to name a few.

However, amidst all this tumult, a number of products were released that deserve recognition. In many industries, there is a defining award that recognizes excellence. Today, though, these products will have to settle for a Switchie, the third annual Saluting Wares Improving Technology's Contribution to Humanity award.

The "The Right MultiTouch" and Product of the Year Award goes to the Apple iPhone. While it was difficult to find news about this obscure device in 2007, the iPhone's slick user interface, polished applications and appealing interface navigation methods outweighed its EDGE network limitations and touch-screen keyboard compromises. With a sleek design taken for granted in Apple products, the iPhone was noteworthy for straddling the traditionally fragmented worlds of smartphones and fashion phones. The announced arrival of an SDK next year offers tantalizing possibilities.

Continue reading Switched On: The 2007 Switchies, Portable Products

Switched On: The 2007 Switchies, Portable Products originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2007 Switchies2007Switchiesawardsfeaturesportable productsPortableProductsSwitched OnSwitchedOnswitchiesthe switchiesTheSwitchiesWed, 02 Jan 2008 16:49:00 EST<![CDATA[2008 Bloggies nominations now open]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/01/2008-bloggies-nominations-now-open/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/01/2008-bloggies-nominations-now-open/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/01/2008-bloggies-nominations-now-open/#comments This is a friendly reminder that nominations for the 2008 Weblog Awards (a.k.a. "the Bloggies") are now open, with dozens of empty text boxes just waiting for your input. There are actually a number of categories in which this scrappy young publication would seem to fit nicely, such as best sports blog perhaps (just take a look at this selection), or maybe best gossip blog (again, our record speaks for itself). Not that we would be so bold as to try and influence your selections in any way, so we'll simply point you to the Read link and wave goodbye with our biggest, toothiest, most political smile.

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2008 Bloggies nominations now open originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Jan 2008 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008 bloggies2008 weblog awards2008Bloggies2008WeblogAwardsawardsnominationsTue, 01 Jan 2008 11:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget nominated in the 2007 Weblog Awards, voting still open]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/06/engadget-nominated-in-the-2007-weblog-awards-voting-now-open/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/06/engadget-nominated-in-the-2007-weblog-awards-voting-now-open/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/06/engadget-nominated-in-the-2007-weblog-awards-voting-now-open/#comments Yeah, we know you've been hearing a lot about the 2007 Weblog Awards in the last couple of days as your source(s) for news across a variety of topics have likely been shamelessly whoring for votes in a bid for a little recognition. Well, as you may have learned, our little site has been honored by being nominated to run against a number of other fine publications for the title of Best Technology Blog. Much love to everyone who's voted for us (and continues to do so) up to once daily per IP address until November 8th. Oh, and let the best blog win. And we mean the best blog.

VOTE

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Engadget nominated in the 2007 Weblog Awards, voting still open originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Nov 2007 08:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2007 weblog awards2007WeblogAwardsawardsvotingweblog awardsWeblogAwardsTue, 06 Nov 2007 08:55:00 EST<![CDATA[FIRST Robotics champion crowned, Dean Kamen elated]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/17/first-robotics-champion-crowned-dean-kamen-elated/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/17/first-robotics-champion-crowned-dean-kamen-elated/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/17/first-robotics-champion-crowned-dean-kamen-elated/#commentsTossing up autonomous robots into the galaxy to perform a variety of prototypical tests is intriguing to say the least, but a trio of high-school teams were able to bring robotic competition a bit closer to home as they took home the gold in the highly-anticipated FIRST Robotics corrivalry. Cooked up by Dean Kamen (you know, the Segway inventor) in 1989, the challenge garnered entrants from a whopping 23 countries this year, and teammates from Bobcat Robotics from South Windsor, Connecticut, Highrollers from Las Vegas, Nevada, and Gompei and the HERD from Worcester, Massachusetts were able to craft the most dexterous and successful machine. Their creation reportedly excelled at "completing simple -- albeit goofy -- tasks such as shooting balls or stacking inner tubes," but we can already imagine the evil potential these innocent bots already posses. Apparently, "thousands of screaming high-school participants" were in attendance to witness the unveiling of a new champion, and if the popularity of this contest is any indication, we could be seeing these uber-intelligent, entirely autonomous robot armies being constructed an awful lot sooner than previously expected hoped.

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FIRST Robotics champion crowned, Dean Kamen elated originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Apr 2007 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atlantaautonomousawardawardsceremonyConnecticutDean KamenDeanKamenFIRST roboticsFirstRoboticsgeorgiaHypnobotsMassachusettsnevadasuper bowlSuper Bowl of SmartsSuperBowlSuperBowlOfSmartswinnerTue, 17 Apr 2007 07:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Japan crowns top robots in lavish Tokyo ceremony]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/21/japan-crowns-top-robots-in-lavish-tokyo-ceremony/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/21/japan-crowns-top-robots-in-lavish-tokyo-ceremony/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/21/japan-crowns-top-robots-in-lavish-tokyo-ceremony/#comments
With all these award ceremonies going down to close out the year, it's only appropriate to crown a few winners in the robotic realm as well -- you know, since they'll be law-abiding citizens someday. The Robot Awards were set up earlier this year by the Japanese government to "promote research and development in the robotics industry," and just ten creations took home prizes out of the 152 entries. The cream of the crop started with the currently-available My Spoon feeding contraption, which helps the elderly and disabled to eat with a "joystick-controlled swiveling arm." Not far behind was the Paro seal, who rocks a furry, huggable outfit with sensors beneath its whiskers that allows it to "open and close its eyes and move its flippers" when petted and held by folks in hospitals. In another instance of "robots replacing human jobs," a "mammoth, automated vacuum cleaner that uses elevators to travel between floors" was highly praised for its sucky actions. So if you're interested in seeing what other bots are taking home the jewelry (as well as the how to enter yourself in the future), be sure to hit the read link and bust out your broken translator, um, translator.

[Via Yahoo]

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Japan crowns top robots in lavish Tokyo ceremony originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Dec 2006 17:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>awardawardsceremonygovernmenthospitaljapanmy spoonMySpoonparosealservicevacuumThu, 21 Dec 2006 17:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: The 2006 Switchies -- Home Products]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/20/switched-on-the-2006-switchies-home-products/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/20/switched-on-the-2006-switchies-home-products/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/20/switched-on-the-2006-switchies-home-products/#commentsEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment:

Last year marked the first annual Saluting Wares Improving Technology's Contribution to Humanity awards, also known by its laboriously contrived simpler name, the Switchies. The Switchies honor some of the year's best products by coming up with a category to fit them into, since great products often break out of the accepted boundaries. This year saw so many product introductions that I'll be covering the awards in two columns, focusing on home and portable products. With that said, let's roll out the red carpet for the former:

The "Setting Things in Motion" award (and Device of the Year) goes to the Nintendo Wii. Navigating between the Scylla of Sony and the Charybdis of Microsoft and accused of relying too heavily on its stable of retro-friendly character franchises, Nintendo built upon its maverick strategy success with the Nintendo DS to buck the trend of the graphics wars. It also followed my advice to bundle in Wii Sports with the console.

Company insiders admit that they wish they could have accommodated high-definition graphics with the Wii, and it remains to be seen whether gamers will tire (perhaps physically) of the novelty offered by the Wiimote control scheme. For now, though, Nintendo has not only recaptured the respect of its rivals, but is offering innovation at a price that resonates with the sweet spot of where the console market has long been. The Wii's channels and WiiConnect24 features could achieve everything from an affordable way to get photos to grandma to the functionality of WebTV without the monthly fee.

Continue reading Switched On: The 2006 Switchies -- Home Products

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Switched On: The 2006 Switchies -- Home Products originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Dec 2006 21:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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