Engadget

This talking Domino's Pizza scooter will make your day infinitely more awesome (video)

Darren Murph — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 20:32:00 EST

Dearest RIM, Microsoft, Intel and Sony:

Stop spending millions on mildly successful advertising campaigns. Just modify a delivery scooter to shout your brand name between gear shifts.

Respectfully,

A now-loyal Domino's Pizza customer.

This talking Domino's Pizza scooter will make your day infinitely more awesome (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 20:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PAL-V ONE makes maiden voyage, gives new meaning to 'Flying Dutchman' (video)

Jason Hidalgo — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 05:20:00 EST

The Netherlands made a lot of noise in the tech world last year for stuff like net neutrality and the legal herping and derping between Apple and Samsung. Now it's making some noise of the whirly kind after the successful maiden flight of its very own flying car. Dutch company PAL-V christened its flying car the, uh, PAL-V ONE -- short for Personal Air and Land Vehicle. Like the Terrafugia Transition flying car, the PAL-V ONE also sports a push propeller, which it uses for forward speed. The Dutch flying car, however, doesn't have side wings and relies on an auto-rotating rotor to create lift instead. The vehicle -- which supposedly complies with all air and road traffic regulations in major markets -- chugs good, old regular gas (biodiesel and bio-ethanol versions are planned as well) for a range of 350 to 500 kilometers in the air and about 1,200 kilometers on the ground. For more adventurous land drivers, the PAL-V ONE also features a "cutting-edge system" for tilting ~~at windmills~~, allowing it to power through curves like a motorcycle. See it in action in the video after the break, along with some company PR.

[Thanks, Barry]

Continue reading PAL-V ONE makes maiden voyage, gives new meaning to 'Flying Dutchman' (video)

PAL-V ONE makes maiden voyage, gives new meaning to 'Flying Dutchman' (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 05:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Hague to Samsung: no injunction for 3G patent infringement if Apple's willing to FRAND license

Michael Gorman — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:20:00 EST

Since it's been more than 24 hours since the last bit of news in the ongoing legal battle between Samsung and Apple, we figured you could do with another litigation revelation. Late last year, the Hague shot down Sammy's request to prevent iPads and iPhones from being sold in the Netherlands. Today, the Dutch court went a step further, telling the Korean company that it can't pursue any other injunctions based upon its FRAND 3G patents as long as Cupertino's willing to talk about licensing them. Not only that, it went on to hold that those patents don't apply in Sammy's case against the iPhone 4S due to the theory of patent exhaustion. The allegedly infringing bits in the handset are made by Qualcomm, who licensed the technology directly from Samsung -- granting Apple protection under the license as a third party beneficiary -- and Apple prevailed using arguments not unlike those it made in a suit it recently filed against Motorola. Score one more legal victory for Tim Cook and company, but as you already know, the war is far from over.

The Hague to Samsung: no injunction for 3G patent infringement if Apple's willing to FRAND license originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dutch court rejects Apple appeal, says Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is legal

Amar Toor — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:33:00 EST

A court in the Hague has just cleared the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 for sale in the Netherlands, rejecting Apple's requests for a nationwide ban. As NU.nl reports, a different Dutch court had already issued a similar ruling in October, which Cupertino promptly appealed, claiming that Sammy's slate was too similar to its own iPad 2. Today, though, the Court of the Hague shot down Apple's arguments, determining that there are enough differences between the two products to legally justify their coexistence. Granted, this is only one of many patent battles that the two companies are currently waging, but for today, at least, it looks like Samsung has come out on top.

[Thanks, Rolfski]

Dutch court rejects Apple appeal, says Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is legal originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 06:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dutch officials contemplate barring KPN, T-Mobile and Vodafone from spectrum auction

Zachary Lutz — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:47:00 EST

A spectrum auction looms on the horizon in the Netherlands, but three of the country's largest players may be excluded from participation. As you know, earlier this week, Dutch authorities raided the offices of KPN Mobile, T-Mobile Netherlands and Vodafone Netherlands in a price-fixing investigation. The Netherlands Competition Authority (NMa), which carried out the raid, stressed that its visit does not mean the operators are guilty of collusion or hint at the outcome of its investigation.

Now, Dutch lawmakers and the country's Minister of Economic Affairs must come to a decision about the auction that's set to take place in the spring of 2012 -- which is likely to be well in advance of any final report from the NMa. One option tossed around has been to postpone the auction, though, as lawmakers point out, this could hinder the development in the mobile space and further limit competition. Alternately, had any of the named companies actually profited from the alleged collusion, there's a risk that these monies could be used to purchase additional spectrum and further extend their dominance. Those discussing the matter hope to move quickly, though it certainly seems difficult to make any decision of this magnitude lightly.

Dutch officials contemplate barring KPN, T-Mobile and Vodafone from spectrum auction originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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T-Mobile, Vodafone and KPN raided in Dutch price-fixing probe

Terrence O'Brien — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:23:00 EST

Details are pretty slim at the moment, but it appears that Vodafone, KPN and T-Mobile are among the companies that have been raided by Dutch regulators in a price-fixing investigation. The country's competition authorities, NMa, swept through the carriers' offices as part of a probe into alleged "cartel agreements" exposed by whistleblowers. All three of the companies have agreed to cooperate with the investigation and have denied wrong doing but, they're starting with a dark cloud of suspicion hanging over their heads already. It was only ten years ago that the same three mobile operators were fined for illegally coordinating on pricing and fees. Obviously, it's wrong to jump to conclusions, but what are the chances these huge corporations just haven't learned from their past mistakes?

T-Mobile, Vodafone and KPN raided in Dutch price-fixing probe originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dutch court turns down Samung's request to block Apple products

Donald Melanson — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:27:00 EST

There's still no further word on Samsung's recent attempt to block sales of the iPhone 4S in France and Italy, but the company's now been dealt a blow in its similar efforts in the Netherlands. According to Reuters, a Dutch court has turned down Samsung's request for a ban on certain Apple products, and rejected claims that they infringe on Samsung's patents (it's also rejected Apple's counterclaims in the case). The particular patents in question here are not related to software or the design of the devices, as in other cases, but rather their 3G capabilities, which Samsung had claimed Apple was infringing on with the various iterations of the iPhone and iPad.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Dutch court turns down Samung's request to block Apple products originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS Eee Slider update: 32GB model in September, 3G edition in 2012

Darren Murph — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 03:34:00 EST

You know, it wouldn't even bother us if it didn't look so amazing. But alas, the Eee Slider from ASUS is easily one of the most anticipated Honeycomb tablets around, and our unending love for the since-departed HTC Advantage ensures that the flame for this guy will keep burning, too. Just a few weeks after hearing from ASUS' UK branch that the Slider was being delayed until 'autumn,' in flies word from The Netherlands that we may be able to fix our gaze on September. Based on reports from Tablets Magazine, the 16GB model will be canned altogether in favor of a lone 32 gigger, which should sell for €499 across the pond. As for the 3G-enabled variant? We aren't apt to see that surface until Q1 2012. It's tough to pinpoint the reason for the holdup, but our guess is software -- earlier in the week, a hands-on video emerged showcasing the Slider with Android 3.1, paying particular attention to the newfound USB accessory support. Have a gander at the video just past the break, and feel free to console one another in comments.

Update: Seems that ASUS' Polish arm thinks that the 16GB model may ship in that corner of the world. Hmm... maybe these folks should start talking to one another.

Continue reading ASUS Eee Slider update: 32GB model in September, 3G edition in 2012

ASUS Eee Slider update: 32GB model in September, 3G edition in 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 03:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Ignite and Prime surface on Dutch e-tailer, may indeed be coming soon

Darren Murph — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 08:31:00 EST

Second time's a charm? Here's hoping. Just months after seeing the so-called HTC Ignite and Prime surface alongside the Pyramid (which already launched as the Sensation 4G), it seems as if the remaining duo have found a home over at The Phone House. For those unaware, that's the Dutch version of the UK's Carphone Warehouse, a top-tier mobile shop that doesn't steer folks wrong too often. The Ignite looks to be a Windows Phone 7 handset with an 800MHz processor, 3.7-inch display and an otherwise understated motif. The Prime, on the other hand, sports a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a 5 megapixel camera and Microsoft's homespun OS. There's no mention of a price tag on either (nor any other specifications), but that whole "coming soon" thing most certainly has our interest piqued.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

HTC Ignite and Prime surface on Dutch e-tailer, may indeed be coming soon originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dutch parliament passes strict new law regulating cookies -- the non-edible variety

Donald Melanson — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST

Well, it's certainly been an interesting month for those interested in all things technology-related in the Netherlands. Just last week, the Royal Dutch Mint showed off some new coins emblazoned with QR Codes promising untold "surprises," and this week the Dutch parliament made a bit of history by passing the first net neutrality legislation in the EU. Now it's taken aim at another target: internet cookies. Despite warnings that it could cause websites to flee en masse to less-restrictive countries in Europe, the parliament has also passed an amendment to the net neutrality law that drastically changes how cookies are handled on the web. Specifically, websites will have to prove that visitors explicitly agreed to allow cookies, which likely means an extra click or a pop-up window before anyone's able to actually visit a site. Of course, there's also the possibility that it could lead to a drop in a cookie use in the country, although that seems about as likely as a drop in actual cookie consumption.

[Thanks, Lucian; image: The Bygone Bureau]

Dutch parliament passes strict new law regulating cookies -- the non-edible variety originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dutch net neutrality first in EU, mobile operators side-eye KPN

Joseph Volpe — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:04:00 EST

KPN may have shot itself in the foot, but the Dutch parliament certainly helped pull the trigger. Following a very public brag earlier this year that the operator was using deep packet inspection to throttle service and charge users for unintended network usage comes a massive industry buzz kill in the form of mobile net neutrality legislation. Pending approval by the Senate, wireless network operators in the Netherlands will no longer be able to shiv customers for using that nifty rival messaging, or VoIP service of their choice -- Skype and Whatsapp, for starters. The country's telcos put on their lobbying best to whine the usual lines about higher consumer prices, and shaky quality assurance, but the Dutch government called that bluff. Though the ruling bans traffic discrimination, it doesn't preclude tricksier tiered data pricing -- sneaky little carriers. While this win is a first for Europe, OG credit goes to Chile for paving the way. Not yet banned in the Netherlands? Amazing airports, tulips, and cheese wheels.

[Image credit via Arbor Media]

Dutch net neutrality first in EU, mobile operators side-eye KPN originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dutch coins feature QR codes, promise 'surprises'

Brian Heater — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 01:29:00 EST

Governments cram all manner of bizarre imagery onto the back of currency, so really, what's a few little QR codes between treasury departments? And heck, who are we to suggest that these new coins from the Royal Dutch Mint aren't the beginning of a larger barcoded money trend? The mint is celebrating its centennial with two new QR-packing collectable coins. The codes bring their owners to the mint's website, which promises a "surprise," once the coins are officially available later this month. Some sort of cloud-based vending machine, perhaps?

Dutch coins feature QR codes, promise 'surprises' originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Jun 2011 01:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dutchman integrates a 4.5GHz water-cooled rig into his d3sk

Vlad Savov — Fri, 20 May 2011 08:14:00 EST

Cooler Master's 2011 Case Mod Competition looks to be the gift that keeps on giving. After serving up a Tron lightcycle and an architectural marvel, it's now playing host to a mod that redefines the idea of an all-in-one PC. Peter from the Netherlands has managed to fit a pretty bombastic set of components -- 4.5GHz Core i7-980X, two ASUS GeForce GTX 580 graphics cards in SLI, over 12TB of storage with an SSD boot disk, and two PSUs providing 1,500W of power in total -- together with a water-cooling setup and the inevitable glowing lights inside one enclosure, which just so happens to also serve as his desk. The three-piece monitor setup is also a custom arrangement, with a 27-inch U2711 IPS panel being flanked by two 17-inchers. Admittedly, this isn't the first water-cooled and over-powered desk we've laid eyes on, but that shouldn't prevent you from giving the links below a bash and checking out the amazingly neat design of Peter's l3p d3sk.

Continue reading Dutchman integrates a 4.5GHz water-cooled rig into his d3sk

Dutchman integrates a 4.5GHz water-cooled rig into his d3sk originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 May 2011 08:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sharp walk-in display over-stimulates 32 guests at a time in Japanese theme park

Zach Honig — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 22:52:00 EST

We've seen plenty of building-sized televisions -- like the 80,000-square-foot ceiling screen in Beijing, or that record-breaking monstrosity that the Cowboys installed in Dallas -- but those single-dimension LCD's have nothing on this "5D" cube opening on Friday. Constructed from 156 Sharp 60-inch HD displays, the 5D Miracle Tour can only be found at Huis Ten Bosch, a "residential-style resort built after a medieval 17th-century Dutch town" located in Sasebo City, Japan. The unique attraction accommodates 32 guests at a time, and consists of one main front screen, surrounded by additional panels on the top, bottom, left and right. Lasting eight minutes, the tour presents the story of a mermaid named Sirena, though content will occasionally change -- given the transient nature of mermaids, of course. We've only been able to dream of the modern-day curiosities we'd encounter while visiting 17th-century Holland, but we certainly hope this magical place won't elude us the next time we're near Nagasaki.

Continue reading Sharp walk-in display over-stimulates 32 guests at a time in Japanese theme park

Sharp walk-in display over-stimulates 32 guests at a time in Japanese theme park originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 22:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TomTom user data sold to Dutch police, used to determine ideal locations for speed traps

Tim Stevens — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:53:00 EST

We like it when the accumulated speed data from GPS devices helps us avoid traffic incidents and school zones. As it turns out, though, there are some other uses for the same stats. Dutch news outlet AD is reporting that such data captured by TomTom navigation devices has been purchased by the country's police force and is being used to determine where speed traps and cameras should be placed. TomTom was reportedly unaware its data was being used in such a way, but if the police would only agree to sell the data on the location of its speed cameras and traps back to TomTom, why, this could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

Update: TomTom has issued a statement, which we have embedded after the break. To be totally clear all this data is being collected anonymously and the police have no idea exactly who is speeding, just that speeding has taken place.

Update 2: We have an English-language video from TomTom CEO Harold Goddijn embedded after the break. In it he says that the company will "prevent that type of usage" of the navigation data going forward. So, no need to turn off the 'ol GPS when you're late for work tomorrow morning.

Continue reading TomTom user data sold to Dutch police, used to determine ideal locations for speed traps

TomTom user data sold to Dutch police, used to determine ideal locations for speed traps originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amsterdam orders 125 public EV charging stations, hastens the death of internal combustion

Michael Gorman — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 06:06:00 EST

Amsterdam is known for its affinity for two-wheeled transportation, but the cycling-crazed city is also making a serious commitment to EVs for those Dutch who prefer driving. As a part of a plan introduced two years ago to eliminate internal combustion from its streets by 2040, the Netherlands' capital is looking to add to its existing 100 EV charging stations. The City Council has charged Dutch power company Essent with the installation of an additional 125 public plug-in points this year, with the possibility of adding 625 more. These new chargers may make it easier to juice up your electric car, but given the current price of EVs, we aren't sure how many Amsterdam residents will trade in their Kalkhoffs for Fiat 500s and Smart ForTwos. PR's after the break.

Continue reading Amsterdam orders 125 public EV charging stations, hastens the death of internal combustion

Amsterdam orders 125 public EV charging stations, hastens the death of internal combustion originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Apr 2011 06:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPad 2 gets a magnetic cherry cover to top off its delicious hardware cake (video)

Vlad Savov — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 06:11:00 EST

Killing time until the iPad 2 finally becomes available across Europe later today? Well, now you can stoke the flames of anticipation by taking a gander at this here wood cover made specifically for the magnet-infused new Appletablet. It comes from a single piece of cherry wood and rolls up into a stand, providing a pair of landscape positions and a sturdy base for keeping the slate vertical should you wish to gaze upon it in portrait mode. Frankly, Apple should've been the one to come up with this refinement on its Smart Covers, though at least a small company like Miniot spares us the overblown rhetoric about life-changing gear purchases. Price isn't too bad, either, with orders starting at €50 later on today.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading iPad 2 gets a magnetic cherry cover to top off its delicious hardware cake (video)

iPad 2 gets a magnetic cherry cover to top off its delicious hardware cake (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 06:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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John's Phone review: 'the world's simplest cellphone'

Thomas Ricker — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 11:59:00 EST

It's said to be "The world's simplest cellphone." That's a bold claim from anyone let alone a previously unknown (in gadget circles anyway) Dutch team of creatives over at John Doe Amsterdam who wanted to build a basic phone -- the most basic phone ever -- that wasn't as dull and boring as other affordable phones on the market. So is it? Well, it certainly is basic. In the age of smartphones and cheap featurephones, John's phone is more clearly defined by what it lacks than what it has: no fancy color touchscreen display; no camera; no 3G radio, WiFi, Bluetooth or even GPRS data; no FM radio; no user-accessible storage; and no music player or apps of any kind. It can't even send a text message. It's just a quad-band GSM phone with an ink pen and paper notepad tucked neatly into its capacious recesses. That's right, pen and paper. So, it's definitely basic, but is it simple to use? Read on to find out.

Gallery: John's Phone review

Continue reading John's Phone review: 'the world's simplest cellphone'

Filed under: Cellphones

John's Phone review: 'the world's simplest cellphone' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows 8 about two years away, according to Microsoft Netherlands

Sean Hollister — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 19:07:00 EST

When will Microsoft bring Windows 8 to market? 2012's looking like a safe bet -- not only was it slated for that date in an allegedly leaked product roadmap, but Microsoft Netherlands hints that the OS is just two years away. Buried at the bottom of a press release celebrating the first birthday of Windows 7, you'll find the above Dutch phrase, which Google Translate returns as "Furthermore, Microsoft is of course the next version of Windows. But it will take about two years before "Windows 8" on the market." There are certainly plenty of reasons why Microsoft's riskiest product bet might not hit its target date, but the machine translation seems clear. Here's hoping the OS will ship with some suitably futuristic hardware.

Windows 8 about two years away, according to Microsoft Netherlands originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Oct 2010 19:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nonstop gaming world record has been shattered, victors sleep right through their parade

Darren Murph — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:50:00 EST

Prior to this past weekend, the world record for nonstop gaming stood at 40 hours. As of today, you'll need to rock 'n roll for 51 hours in a row if you'd like to claim this crown. A half dozen lunatics managed to game for 50 straight hours over the weekend in Rotterdam, playing Red Dead Redemption on Sony's PlayStation 3 until their eyes gave way. Of note, they utilized the TwistDock in order to keep their controllers juiced the entire time, and they walked away with €1,000 for their trouble. Last we heard, though, they're all in hibernation for the foreseeable future. Plenty of Dutch celebration awaits you in the video.

Continue reading Nonstop gaming world record has been shattered, victors sleep right through their parade

Nonstop gaming world record has been shattered, victors sleep right through their parade originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Legend already trickling into customers' waiting hands?

Chris Ziegler — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:16:00 EST

That certainly was a timely review, wasn't it? Dutch site Tweakers.net is reporting through a number of its forum members that previously ordered HTC Legends are being scheduled for delivery as early as today, beating the phone's announced early second quarter availability by a solid three weeks. That's great news for anyone comfortable sticking with a lower-res display and a middle-of-the-road processor in exchange for one of the slickest, most metallic shells on the market today -- but for those hoping for something a little more... ahem, Desire-able, the wait continues. And yes, we'd like to apologize profusely for that pun.

HTC Legend already trickling into customers' waiting hands? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spin polarization achieved at room temperature, elusive miracles now less elusive

Darren Murph — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 06:47:00 EST

Spintronics -- much like Cook-Out milkshakes and cotton candy for all -- seems like a pipe dream at this point. We've been beaten over the head with theoretical miracles, but we're getting to the point where it's put up or shut up. Thankfully, a team of Dutch boffins are clearly in the same camp, and they've been toiling around the clock in order to achieve spin polarization in non-magnetic semiconductors at ambient temperature. The amazing part here is that "temperature" bit; up until this discovery, spin polarization was only possible at levels of around 150 K, or at temperatures far, far cooler than even your unheated basement. If spintronics could effectively be enacted at room temperature, all those unicorn-approved phenomena we mentioned earlier would have a much greater chance of sliding into the realm of reality. Here's hoping they get this stuff ironed out prior to 2012.

Spin polarization achieved at room temperature, elusive miracles now less elusive originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Nov 2009 06:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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777 copies of Windows 7 for Seven Houses, Netherlands, says Microsoft seven times fast

Ross Miller — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:32:00 EST

Not content with letting a good numeric opportunity pass it by, Microsoft Netherlands has announced that it'll be handing out up to 777 copies of Windows 7 to residents of the small town of Zevenhuizen, the name of which translates to "seven houses." The installation requirements are a bit peculiar, however, as Microsoft won't actually give you a disc, instead opting to either make you ship it to them or actually bring a technician to your house to do the dirty work. The offer isn't valid to Windows employees, those younger than 18 years, or people who use Macs or Linux machines as their primary computer -- however they prove that. Zevenhuizen residents who read Engadget (hallo!) can point their browsers to the read link for all the relevant details -- signups end tomorrow, and installations will occur from October 17th through October 23rd.

[Via Ars Technica]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Software

777 copies of Windows 7 for Seven Houses, Netherlands, says Microsoft seven times fast originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 01:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSP Go refused by game retailer as Blockbuster fiddles

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:21:00 EST

Do you run a brick-and-mortar store that primarily sells media? Yeah? Then lean in real close, we've got a little trend that you may have overlooked. The physical media you carry -- be it films, music, or games -- is going digital and moving on-line for direct-to-consumer downloads. Still, Dutch gaming-house Nedgame has a statement on its website saying it will not be selling the UMD-less PSP Go. It lists six reasons framed in a way that makes them sound like they're fighting for the rights of the consumer. However, as a seller of gaming media that boasts two new store openings on its home page, the primary beef likely stems from the shop's inability to sell physical media to the download-only PSP Go. Maybe a search on the tag Blockbuster could help with expansion planning?

[Via GamesIndustry.biz]

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

PSP Go refused by game retailer as Blockbuster fiddles originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Palm Pre cameo on Dutch carrier Hi's website much ado about nothing, says spokesman

Ross Miller — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:01:00 EST

Alright, move along folks, nothing to see here. Remember that Palm Pre support page that showed up on Dutch provider Hi's website? Seems like that'd indicative a possible future collaboration, but according to a spokesman for KPN (of which Hi is a part), it's all a misunderstanding. While not meant for public viewing at this time, the page in question was apparently intended to explain what settings you'd need for using a Hi SIM card, whether you got the device from them or via another provider. Still seems fishy, if you ask us. Of course, he added the company is very interested in the Pre (as if we thought otherwise), but that nothing's been announced at this time anywhere in Europe. Let's just hope that rumored UK announcement pans out this week, and maybe the rest of the continent will follow suit.

[Thanks, Wesley]

Filed under: Handsets, Palm

Palm Pre cameo on Dutch carrier Hi's website much ado about nothing, says spokesman originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Palm Pre cameo on Dutch carrier Hi's website much ado about nothing, says spokesman

Ross Miller — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Palm Pre cameo on Dutch carrier Hi's website much ado about nothing, says spokesman originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Palm Pre in cahoots with Dutch provider Hi?

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:56:00 EST

The GSM version of Palm's Pre looks all set for a UK announcement next week on O2. Now we get this, a Pre spotted on the support site for Dutch carrier Hi in The Netherlands. Fine, but what you may not know is that O2 and Hi (part of KPN) are also deeply intertwined with Telefonica -- O2 being owned by Telefonica and KPN being an "integrated carrier" with a long history of Telefonica courtship rumors. So, putting two and two together might equal a September launch if that previous Telefonica rumor was true.

[Via Tweakers, thanks Harm H.]

Filed under: Handsets, Palm, Palm OS, GSM, HSDPA

Palm Pre in cahoots with Dutch provider Hi? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Palm Pre in cahoots with Dutch provider Hi?

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:56:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Palm Pre in cahoots with Dutch provider Hi? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: SPRXmobile's Layar is world's first Augmented Reality browser for cellphones

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:55:00 EST

This one's been a long time coming but it looks like Dutch company SPRXmobile has launched the world's first Augmented Reality browser. Layar, as it's called, runs on Android and aggregates the data from the cellphone's compass and GPS coordinates to understand where you're standing and what you're looking at. A "radar view" then applies a visual information layer on top of the camera display as you pan around your environment. Content partnerships including a local bank, social networking site, and a realty company allows Layar to identify houses for sale, nearby ATMs, and local clubs and bars all laid out visually on your cellphone's display. Layar will be available this month in The Netherlands via the Android Market for phones such as the G1 and HTC Magic. It will launch in the US, Germany, and the UK sometime later this year with the iPhone 3G S listed as a primary target platform. Looks great with plenty of data populated in the video sample (posted after the break) but we have to wonder how well it works in day-to-day reality.

Continue reading Video: SPRXmobile's Layar is world's first Augmented Reality browser for cellphones

Filed under: Software, Android

Video: SPRXmobile's Layar is world's first Augmented Reality browser for cellphones originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: SPRXmobile's Layar is world's first Augmented Reality browser for cellphones

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:55:00 EST

Continue reading Video: SPRXmobile's Layar is world's first Augmented Reality browser for cellphones

Video: SPRXmobile's Layar is world's first Augmented Reality browser for cellphones originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netherlands' SBS seeking nominal yearly fees to pay for HD broadcasts

Darren Murph — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:19:00 EST

No one ever said the spoils of high-definition came free, and no one knows that better than Dutch commercial broadcaster SBS. The outfit is reportedly holding its hand out and covering its face while asking for payments between €2 to €3 per year, per subscriber, from cable operators in order to pay for HD broadcasts. That's according to Eric Eljon, MD of SBS Productions, who hopes to begin high-def simulcasts within a few months should a deal be reached. In The Netherlands today, there is no license fee at all, with the public broadcasting system paid for out of the general budget; additionally, there's currently no way to recoup the massive increase in cost when switching to HD via advertising alone. C'mon, cable carriers / consumers -- just think of the HD starved children.

[Thanks, Wouter]

Filed under: Industry, Regulatory, OTA, New content

Netherlands' SBS seeking nominal yearly fees to pay for HD broadcasts originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Netherlands takes baby steps towards HD

Steven Kim — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:45:00 EST

We've been awfully hard on Toshiba's super-resolution upscaling pitch, but it looks like the tech may be a good fit for the Netherlands, where HD subscriptions are having a hard time getting off the ground despite an explosion in the number of HDTVs taking up residence in Dutch homes. Estimates put the number of households receiving HD signal at a paltry 85,000 in a country where 1.2 million HD sets are supposed to sell through this year alone. Maybe those people are waiting for the free OTA HD stuff, but based on what's in the pipeline, there's no telling how long it will be before HD pixels become abundant.

Filed under: Industry, Displays, New content

The Netherlands takes baby steps towards HD originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dutch public broadcasters hitting the HD switch in 2009

Darren Murph — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:29:00 EST

Now here's a trend we can really get behind. Just weeks after four French national channels decided that the grass was greener (or at least clearer) on the high-def side, a trio of Dutch broadcasters have announced their intentions to follow suit. Beginning in Q2 2009, Nederland 1, 2 and 3 will begin broadcasting in high-definition, and initially 15% of all primetime content will be shot in HD; the rest will "upscaled to HD," which frightens us just a wee bit. We're also told that carriage negotiations are already underway with "all major distributing platforms including cablers UPC and Ziggo," but only time will tell if anyone is willing to sacrifice the bandwidth for the sake of high quality.

Filed under: Industry, OTA, New content

Dutch public broadcasters hitting the HD switch in 2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Forbes: iRex to introduce 10.2-inch E-Ink Reader 1000 on Monday

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 01:51:00 EST

If you don't like spoilers then look away, now -- seems Forbes has all the details related to iRex's 22 September announcement. The Netherlands-based group is set to release an evolved iLiad e-reader called the iRex Reader 1000. Like Plastic Logic, iRex is targeting business users with its new 10.2-inch E-Ink e-reader able to display "any file format" including PDF, Word, and HTML-rendered documents -- sorry, no video, no color. The Reader 1000 brings a stylus with touch-screen for making notes and markups for up to 80 hours on a single charge. The base Reader 1000 is boldly expected to start at $650 (compared to the $359, 6-inch Kindle). It then ramps to $750 for the writable screen version before topping out at $850 to add WiFi, Bluetooth, and 3G data connection. Now get to it CIOs, we suspect you'll need some time to argue the case why some personnel require a laptop, smartphone, and e-reader to get through the day.

[Via mobileread, Thanks Spencer H.]

Filed under: Displays

Forbes: iRex to introduce 10.2-inch E-Ink Reader 1000 on Monday originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 01:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ons Net offering up free HD programming in The Netherlands

Darren Murph — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:16:00 EST

Ons Net, a FTTH provider in The Netherlands, has just cranked up a new promotion that should be music to the ears of consumers in that area of the world. Starting on September 1st, HDTV programming will be offered up for free with the purchase of its digital television package. Currently, said tier contains 51 channels for €7.50 ($11), and an additional 20 channels can be purchased for €3.95 ($6). Granted, you will need to purchase a set-top-box for €149.95 ($223), but that's a minuscule price to pay for gratis access to Discovery HD, Brava HD and soon-to-come HD versions of Dutch and Belgian public channels, right?

[Via Broadband TV News]

Filed under: Fiber, New content

Ons Net offering up free HD programming in The Netherlands originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nederland 1 testing 1080i instead of 720p after PQ complaints

Richard Lawler — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:22:00 EST

Rekindling the 1080i vs. 720p HD debate, Dutch pubcaster NPO is offering an HD version of Nederland 1 HD in 1080i as opposed to 720p because of complaints about picture quality. Apparently many of the complaints stemmed from the Euro 2008 matches after the native feed was made to do the 1080i/720p switch by technical partner Technicolor, and resulted in many complaints. The 1080i feed is in testing now on several broadcasters, so any of our Dutch readers give it a shot and see if you notice the difference. As ignorant Americans we generally avoid such issues by simply ignoring sports outside our borders, but highlights of Euro 2008 looked pretty good on ESPN HD's 720p feed, so we're leaning more towards equipment or compression problems as being behind the gripes until proven otherwise.

Filed under: Sports

Nederland 1 testing 1080i instead of 720p after PQ complaints originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canal Digitaal adds VOOM HD to basic high-def tier

Darren Murph — Tue, 20 May 2008 04:53:00 EST

Shortly after Canal Digitaal launched its first HD channels in the Dutch market, the satcaster has announced plans to pick up VOOM HD in June. With the addition, the outfit's high-definition lineup will consist of Discovery HD, National Geographic HD, BravaHD and -- from the summer onwards -- Nederland 1 HD. Mum's the word on a price hike, so here's to hoping subscribers won't have to pony up anything extra to enjoy the stations that DISH Network just dropped like a bad habit.

Canal Digitaal adds VOOM HD to basic high-def tier originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 May 2008 04:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dutch cyclists lobbying for external airbags on cars

Darren Murph — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:34:00 EST

Sure, there's always the airbag-equipped motorcycle, but for those who prefer to power their own two wheel transporters, you're pretty much on your own. The Dutch Cycling Federation has just cranked out a study showing that some 60 lives could be saved each year (though we're not sure if that's worldwide or region-specific) if airbags were installed on the hoods of vehicles. These external safety devices could also slash serious cycling injuries by 1,500 a year, and while you're likely passing this off as completely infeasible, Sweden's own Autoliv has already developed a bag that "inflates from the bottom of the windscreen." Of course, these timid cyclists could just wait until 2010 and strap on a wearable airbag of their own, but where's the fun in that?

[Via Autoblog]

Filed under: Transportation

Dutch cyclists lobbying for external airbags on cars originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canal Digitaal gears up to launch its first HD channels in Dutch market

Darren Murph — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:03:00 EST

As the European HD changes continue to roll out, along comes news that Canal Digitaal is getting set to launch its first HD channels in the Dutch market. Details are fairly scarce at the moment, but we are hearing that National Geographic HD and Discovery Channel HD will indeed be landing in April, and negotiations are still ongoing to throw Dutch Classic Music Channel BravaHDTV into that mix. Reportedly, the HD tier will cost a stiff €9.95 ($15) per month after the first free month that's provided to all that wish to accept, but here's to hoping that becomes a bargain as more channels are added in.

[Thanks, Richard]

Filed under: Discovery-HD, Satellite, New content

Canal Digitaal gears up to launch its first HD channels in Dutch market originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Netherlands goes open-source in 2008

Thomas Ricker — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 05:30:00 EST

April 2008. That's the date when the notoriously progressive Dutch government goes open source. The plan was approved unanimously yesterday in a meeting of two parliamentary commissions. The policy dictates that government organizations at the national level must be ready to save documents in the Open Document Format (ODF) by April, and the state and local level by 2009. Use of proprietary software and file formats from the likes of Microsoft will have to be justified under the new policy. The government expects to save $8.8 million a year on city housing registers alone by making the switch. Tough week, eh Microsoft? You'll have to get your OpenDocument plug-ins for MS Office ISO approved on the quick if you want to avoid further trouble.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

The Netherlands goes open-source in 2008 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Dec 2007 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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