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[How would you change the Palm Pre?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/how-would-you-change-the-palm-pre/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/how-would-you-change-the-palm-pre/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/how-would-you-change-the-palm-pre/#comments
You knew it was on deck, and at long last, here it is. Your one and only shot (okay, so maybe that's a gentle stretch) to tell the world -- and Palm, since it's a part of the world -- exactly what you think about the Pre. Since going on sale to the general public just under a month ago, some analysts have suggested that some 300,000 or so units have been moved. We're quite confident that at least some of that bunch have their eyes peering at this here post, so we'd like to formally ask for your opinions in comments below. Is there anything you'd like to see changed on Palm's Pre? Is the build quality up to snuff? Is webOS everything you thought it'd be (and more)? Is the QWERTY keyboard doing it for you? Do you wish it supported something that it doesn't? Unleash your wrath below -- we'll keep your true identity a secret. Maybe.

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How would you change the Palm Pre? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cdmafeatureshow would you changeHowWouldYouChangepalmpalm prePalmPrepresmartphonesprintwebosFri, 03 Jul 2009 23:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Best Bluetooth mouse out there?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/ask-engadget-best-bluetooth-mouse-out-there/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/ask-engadget-best-bluetooth-mouse-out-there/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/ask-engadget-best-bluetooth-mouse-out-there/#comments
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Sang-Jung, who is desperately in search of the perfect cordless critter to take some of the strain away from that trackpad.
"I'm heading to university next year, and I've purchased a MacBook. I'm also taking my four year old desktop, just in case I'm left with no computers when the MacBook is being repaired or whatnot. With only two USB ports on a MacBook, I want a Bluetooth mouse. Budget is about $100, and of course, it needs OS X support. Thanks for the help!"
Alright folks, it's time to get serious. Do you own a Bluetooth mouse that you can recommend? Recommend against? Be sure to spill your thoughts in comments below, and feel free to send in a question of your own to ask at engadget dawt com.

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Ask Engadget: Best Bluetooth mouse out there? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>askAsk EngadgetAskEngadgetbluetoothbluetooth mouseBluetoothMousefeaturesinput peripheralInputPeripheralmouseThu, 02 Jul 2009 21:03:00 EST<![CDATA[D-Link's Xtreme N DIR-685 storage router hands-on and impressions]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/d-links-xtreme-n-dir-685-storage-router-hands-on-and-impression/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/d-links-xtreme-n-dir-685-storage-router-hands-on-and-impression/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/02/d-links-xtreme-n-dir-685-storage-router-hands-on-and-impression/#comments

Somehow or another, D-Link managed to combine a NAS, digital photo frame, secondary display and 802.11n router into a single device, and when the Xtreme N DIR-685 Storage Router was announced way back at CES this year, we were certainly interested to see how such a conglomerate would go over. At long last, the do-it-all wireless router is finally making its way out to the public at large, and with an MSRP of $299.99 (sans any internal HDD space), it's definitely one of the pricier routers out there. We've taken this strikingly unique device into our lairs for a few days of testing, and if you're interested in seeing if this bad boy is worth the price of admission, you'll need to follow us past the break.

Gallery: D-Link's Xtreme N DIR-685 storage router hands-on

Continue reading D-Link's Xtreme N DIR-685 storage router hands-on and impressions

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D-Link's Xtreme N DIR-685 storage router hands-on and impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>d linkd-linkdigiframedigital photo frameDigitalPhotoFrameDIR-685DLinkfeaturesframehands onhands-onHandsOnNASPhotoFramepicspicturesrouterseagateshareportWAPwidgetwifiWLANxtreme nXtreme N DIR-685XtremeNXtremeNDir-685Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Olympus E-P1 hands-on, test shots, and mini-review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/olympus-e-p1-hands-on-test-shots-and-mini-review/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/olympus-e-p1-hands-on-test-shots-and-mini-review/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/olympus-e-p1-hands-on-test-shots-and-mini-review/#comments It goes without saying that we've been pretty excited about the Olympus E-P1 (or "digital Pen") since we first laid eyes on the prototype the company was showing off. The Micro Four Thirds camera just seems to breed gadget lust amongst the staff, combining the best of modern tech with a throwback retro style that is somewhat irresistible. Of course, no one wants to drop $800 on a digicam unless it's actually capable of taking a decent shot -- so we thought we'd put the E-P1 through some basic paces to see if this guy is worth unloading nearly a grand on. Read on for some of our first impressions and observations.

Gallery: Olympus E-P1 hands-on

Continue reading Olympus E-P1 hands-on, test shots, and mini-review

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Olympus E-P1 hands-on, test shots, and mini-review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>digicamdigital penDigitalPene-p1featuresmicro four thirdsMicroFourThirdsolympusolympus e-p1olympus e-p1 digital penolympus ep-1olympus pen e-p1OlympusE-p1OlympusE-p1DigitalPenOlympusEp-1OlympusPenE-p1penreviewWed, 01 Jul 2009 14:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon BlackBerry Tour unboxing]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/verizon-blackberry-tour-unboxing/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/verizon-blackberry-tour-unboxing/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/01/verizon-blackberry-tour-unboxing/#comments
You might say that Verizon's brand new BlackBerry Tour 9630... ahem, took a "tour" through our offices this morning, gracing us with its QWERTY-having, global-roaming, 8830-killing presence. There's absolutely no question it's the best-looking CDMA BlackBerry to date and we also think you'll be able to stop Bold owners in their tracks as you flash this thing around town; we'd argue that the Curve 8900 is still a cuter handset when you take the company's lineup as a whole, but then again, the 8900 lacks 3G, and the Tour's keyboard might just be the best RIM's ever crafted for a phone. Bottom line, owners of any BlackBerry on Verizon or Sprint should be salivating at the sight of this thing -- and if they're not, honestly, they need their salivary glands checked. Stay tuned for our full review, but in the meantime, enjoy an unboxing and a few quick shots of the Tour taking its first breaths!

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Verizon BlackBerry Tour unboxing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9630blackberryfeaturestourunboxingverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwWed, 01 Jul 2009 12:12:00 EST<![CDATA[VholdR ContourHD wearable HD camcorder hands-on and impressions]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/vholdr-contourhd-wearable-hd-camcorder-hands-on-and-impressions/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/vholdr-contourhd-wearable-hd-camcorder-hands-on-and-impressions/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/vholdr-contourhd-wearable-hd-camcorder-hands-on-and-impressions/#commentsVholdR ContourHD hands-on and impressions We've been toying with a VholdR ContourHD helmet cam for a few weeks now, seeing how well it blends in with our adrenaline-fueled lifestyle. We've mounted it on various helmets, tried it with some moderately extreme endeavors, and, now that we've had a chance to refill our asthma inhalers, we thought we'd share a few of those adventures and give our impressions of this helmet-mounted HD shooter.

Gallery: ContourHD unboxing and hands-on

Continue reading VholdR ContourHD wearable HD camcorder hands-on and impressions

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VholdR ContourHD wearable HD camcorder hands-on and impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>720p720p30contourhdfeaturefeaturedfeatureshelmet camHelmetCamimpressionsvholdrvholdr contourhdVholdrContourhdvideoTue, 30 Jun 2009 14:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii MotionPlus impressions: it works, but so far the games aren't worth the fuss]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/wii-motionplus-impressions-it-works-but-so-far-the-games-aren/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/wii-motionplus-impressions-it-works-but-so-far-the-games-aren/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/30/wii-motionplus-impressions-it-works-but-so-far-the-games-aren/#comments
At first glance it's a little difficult to understand the necessity of another motion-sensing add-on. What could possibly be inside this particular block of white plastic that's not inside those other countless slabs of white plastic that Nintendo has already slathered on the Wii? Sure, we know in theory that the gyroscopes that MotionPlus provides allows the controller to truly orient itself in 3D space, instead of just sensing acceleration in various directions, and breaks some of that reliance on the sensor bar, but do those theoretical advances result in a true leap in gameplay? We tested it out with EA's new MotionPlus-enabled Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 and Grand Slam Tennis -- the first such titles on the market while we wait for Nintendo to get its own Wii Sports Resort in order -- and we'd say the results are pretty inconclusive so far. Check out our full impressions after the break, along with enthralling videos of both games in action.

Major thanks to The Golf Club at Chelsea Piers for letting us test this out at their facilities, and to golf pros Herb and Marj for letting us waste some of their valuable time.

Continue reading Wii MotionPlus impressions: it works, but so far the games aren't worth the fuss

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Wii MotionPlus impressions: it works, but so far the games aren't worth the fuss originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>add-onfeatureshands-onimpressionsmotionplusnintendoreviewwiiwii motionplusWiiMotionplusTue, 30 Jun 2009 11:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Hack: use Google Voice to add visual voicemail to your G1, Dream, or Magic]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/hack-use-google-voice-to-add-visual-voicemail-to-your-g1-dream/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/hack-use-google-voice-to-add-visual-voicemail-to-your-g1-dream/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/hack-use-google-voice-to-add-visual-voicemail-to-your-g1-dream/#comments
With home screen widgets, an on-screen keyboard, great notification management, and hands-down the best Gmail experience of any platform, Android 1.5 finally makes it easy (or easier, anyway) to love Google's foray into the mobile world. Of course, if you're coming from an iPhone -- as some users inevitably will be -- there are a few features that'll be sorely missed as you make the transition. For us, a biggie was visual voicemail, and after a little trial and error, we found a cool way to add it into our device without even leaving the Google ecosystem -- and even better, it's totally free. Head on over to Engadget Mobile to find out how to do it.

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Hack: use Google Voice to add visual voicemail to your G1, Dream, or Magic originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androiddreamfeaturesg1google voiceGoogleVoicehackmagicvisual voicemailVisualVoicemailvoicemailMon, 29 Jun 2009 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Switched On: iPhone 3GS is fine, young, but not a cannibal]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/switched-on-iphone-3gs-is-fine-young-but-not-a-cannibal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/switched-on-iphone-3gs-is-fine-young-but-not-a-cannibal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/switched-on-iphone-3gs-is-fine-young-but-not-a-cannibal/#commentsRoss Rubin (@rossrubin) contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.


At least since the advent of the first camera phones, people have been wondering whether the cell phone would limit the opportunity for all kinds of other products, particularly portable electronics. Even the more pedestrian features of basic cell phones have been blamed for the declines in (or at least limiting the market for) pagers, Family Radio Service (FRS) radios, and even watches. And beyond portable electronics, cordless phones have also been in a state of decline for years as more consumers cut the cord.

But the iPhone 3GS has renewed the old debate for a number of reasons, including data that shows that iPhone users are disproportionately inclined to use their phone's advanced features and changes in the hardware and software that improve the digital camera, add video capture, and open the door to in-vehicle turn-by-turn navigation. TomTom, which has returned to its roots by demonstrating navigation software for the third-party hardware of the original iPhone 3G, can now offer that software through Apple's App Store. So, will the iPhone shutter Canon, run Garmin off the road, or make Flip flop? Thankfully, for the sake of all wishing to avoid reading headlines containing these atrocious puns, not for the foreseeable future, at least in the U.S.

Continue reading Switched On: iPhone 3GS is fine, young, but not a cannibal

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Switched On: iPhone 3GS is fine, young, but not a cannibal originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3G S3gSApplecamcorderconvergencefeaturesFlipiPhoneiphone 3g siphone 3gsIphone3gsPNDsswitched onSwitchedOnFri, 26 Jun 2009 13:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Best gaming laptop for under $1,500?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/ask-engadget-best-gaming-laptop-for-under-1-500/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/ask-engadget-best-gaming-laptop-for-under-1-500/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/26/ask-engadget-best-gaming-laptop-for-under-1-500/#commentsBelieve it, vaquero -- you just happened upon this week's episode of Ask Engadget, the only time of the week where you get the opportunity to bestow your wealth of gadget knowledge onto a fellow reader in need. Given the open-mindedness of Niko here, we couldn't help but pass on his inquiry:
"What's the best gaming laptop for under 1,500 bucks? I had my eye on the P7805u (Gateway), but it seems Best Buy has run out for the time being. Also, as a secondary question, I like the specs on brands such as iBUYPOWER and CyberPower and the like, but are they reliable? I'm a little worried about buying labels that aren't huge like Dell, Gateway, etc. Thanks!"
So, make sure those of you who've avoided the big boys chime in here -- who knows, maybe it's actually better to snag a machine from a lesser-known label. After you've contributed, feel free to send in your own question to ask at engadget dawt com.

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Ask Engadget: Best gaming laptop for under $1,500? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>askAsk EngadgetAskEngadgetfeaturesgaminggaming laptopgaming pcgaming rigGamingLaptopGamingPcGamingRiglaptoppcFri, 26 Jun 2009 01:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba's new Satellite M500 and U500 mid-tier laptops "shine" in the flesh]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/toshibas-new-satellite-m500-and-u500-mid-tier-laptops-shine-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/toshibas-new-satellite-m500-and-u500-mid-tier-laptops-shine-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/toshibas-new-satellite-m500-and-u500-mid-tier-laptops-shine-i/#comments
You know, at one point chrome accents and glossy plastics were novel additions to previously staid consumer electronics -- now they make us want to punch a hole in the nearest smarmy LCD display. While HP has tried its best to be the worst offender in its consumer line, Toshiba is really giving it a shot with the M500 and U500 series laptops -- the U500 is pretty outlandish, but at least it offers a ribbed, almost-desirable matte surface of sorts, while the M500 (pictured) makes everything else look tame in comparison, and has the plentiful finger smudges to prove it. Both of the laptops offer chrome trim, overdone speaker grills and light-up accents. The textured trackpads are probably a love it or hate it thing; in fact, most of these "style" choices could be termed as such, but we're sure you've ascertained by now where we stand. Sure, the so-called general consumer apparently eats it up, but the charm is lost on us. On a gentler note, the M505 we looked at was running Windows 7, something we more commonly see being demoed on a touchscreen PC or something otherwise Windows 7 specific. Obviously it's not shipping with that OS yet, but the pining is palpable.

Gallery: Toshiba's new Satellite M500 and U500 mid-tier laptops "shine" in the flesh

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Toshiba's new Satellite M500 and U500 mid-tier laptops "shine" in the flesh originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featureshands-onm500m505satellitesatellite m500satellite m505satellite u500satellite u505SatelliteM500SatelliteM505SatelliteU500SatelliteU505toshibau500u505Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Netgear MoCA Coax-Ethernet adapter reviewed by Engadget HD]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/netgear-moca-coax-ethernet-adapter-reviewed-by-engadget-hd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/netgear-moca-coax-ethernet-adapter-reviewed-by-engadget-hd/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/netgear-moca-coax-ethernet-adapter-reviewed-by-engadget-hd/#commentsNetgear MoCA-Ethernet adapter Have you ever wondered why you can't use the existing coax cable in your house to stream things like HD around the house? Sure WiFi and powerline modules work for some, but unfortunately they don't for everyone. So if you're still looking for a way to stream data like HD around your house and are at wit's end, head over to Engadget HD to learn how the Netgear MoCA Coax-Ethernet bridge handled the most demanding HD needs.

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Netgear MoCA Coax-Ethernet adapter reviewed by Engadget HD originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FeaturedFeaturesMCAB1001MoCANetgearNetgear MCAB1001Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:39:00 EST<![CDATA[PSPgo video hands-on quickie]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/pspgo-video-hands-on-quickie/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/pspgo-video-hands-on-quickie/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/pspgo-video-hands-on-quickie/#comments
Yeah, the PSPgo made the rounds at a little show you might've heard of called E3, but we tracked the thing down in the wilds of NY the other day, and thought you might like to see the wild slider action for yourself. We have to admit, the handheld looks better in person than it does in press shots, but only just barely. It's perfectly playable and comfortable to hold, but it almost seems a regression in design sense for Sony. In comparison to the PSP-3000, the PSPgo feels just a teensy bit lighter, but that's to be expected with the UMD drive kicked to the curb. At least it doesn't feel cheap. Because it isn't cheap. Video is after the break.

Continue reading PSPgo video hands-on quickie

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PSPgo video hands-on quickie originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>engadget videoEngadgetVideofeatureshands-onpsppspgosonyvideovideo hands-onVideoHands-onThu, 25 Jun 2009 15:31:00 EST<![CDATA[HP ProBook 4310s hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/hp-probook-4310s-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/hp-probook-4310s-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/hp-probook-4310s-hands-on/#comments
While we might gripe about the style choices of HP's consumer line, HP has done wonders for its "professional" image with the ProBook line. The new ProBook 4310s merely carries on that tradition, but it still cuts a nice figure in the flesh. While we normally like to play it safe on color choice, we have to say that the matte lid of the crimson version (pictured) really triumphs in a sea of gloss. Our only gripes are that it's a tad bit thick and heavy -- totally standard for this tier of laptop, but annoying nonetheless -- and that the sharp, square chiclet keys aren't perfect for touch typing, and are actually a little mushy in practice. We'd also much prefer some two finger scrolling to the piddling sidescrolling on offer, but we're grumpy like that.

Gallery: HP ProBook 4310s hands-on

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HP ProBook 4310s hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4310sfeatureshands-onhpprobookprobook 4310sProbook4310sThu, 25 Jun 2009 15:01:00 EST<![CDATA[BlackBerry Tour hands-on, wild sibling confrontation with Curve and Bold]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/blackberry-tour-hands-on-wild-sibling-confrontation-with-curve/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/blackberry-tour-hands-on-wild-sibling-confrontation-with-curve/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/blackberry-tour-hands-on-wild-sibling-confrontation-with-curve/#comments
While some interesting things may or may not be happening under the hood, the freshly announced BlackBerry Tour for Verizon and Sprint (pictured in Verizon garb on the left) is hardly a departure on the surface. It mostly appears to be a minor modification to the Curve (right), though it does seem inexplicably thicker. The Bold seems positively overwrought in comparison. We didn't get much time to play with the OS, but the screen and the keyboard are pure new-generation BlackBerry charm.

Gallery: BlackBerry Tour hands-on, wild sibling confrontation with Curve and Bold

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BlackBerry Tour hands-on, wild sibling confrontation with Curve and Bold originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blackberryblackberry tourBlackberryTourboldcomparisoncurvefeatureshands-onhead to headHeadToHeadrimtourThu, 25 Jun 2009 14:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Canon PowerShot D10 review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/canon-powershot-d10-review/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/canon-powershot-d10-review/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/canon-powershot-d10-review/#comments For the longest while, your options were highly limited in the waterproof / rugged point-and-shoot arena. In fact, it was arguably better to just buy a standard P&S camera and a waterproof casing for said camera than to worry over any of the standalone waterproof alternatives. When Canon introduced its PowerShot D10 earlier this year, we immediately noticed that this waterproof shooter was quite unlike the models before it. Outside of a somewhat bulbous casing, it didn't look drastically different than some of the thicker, non-waterproof options out there. Not to mention the respectable 12.1 megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom and ten meter waterproof rating. Needless to say, we couldn't resist the opportunity to grab this bugger and test it out for a week along the shores of Playa Tamarindo in Costa Rica and Lago Cocibolca in Nicaragua, so follow us past the break to find out if this cam is the perfect accessory for your upcoming beach holiday.

Gallery: Canon PowerShot D10 hands-on

Continue reading Canon PowerShot D10 review

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Canon PowerShot D10 review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canond10digicamdigital cameraDigitalCamerafeaturespoint and shootpoint-and-shootPointAndShootpowershotpowershot d10PowershotD10Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Motorola Endeavor HX1 ears-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/motorola-endeavor-hx1-ears-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/motorola-endeavor-hx1-ears-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/25/motorola-endeavor-hx1-ears-on/#comments
We've been playing with Motorola's recently-announced Endeavor HX1 for the past few hours, and we're just going to come right out with it: this is the best Bluetooth headset we've ever used. Moto claims that the HX1 is the world's first consumer headset to use "true bone conduction technology," a veiled (but obvious) reference to the external cheek-resting sensor found on Jawbone's devices -- and indeed, the Jawbone Prime is the most obvious direct competitor to the HX1. Both devices offer decent styling, feature optional earloops and a selection of earbuds for a tighter fit, are being positioned as premium headsets, and -- most importantly -- pack a ton of innovative circuitry all in the name of cutting noise in harsh surroundings. Head on over to Engadget Mobile for our quick take!

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Motorola Endeavor HX1 ears-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bluetoothendeavorfeatureshands onhands-onHandsOnheadsethx1motomotorolaThu, 25 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Zune HD video hands-on quickie]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/zune-hd-video-hands-on-quickie/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/zune-hd-video-hands-on-quickie/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/zune-hd-video-hands-on-quickie/#comments
Sure, we've been chummy with the Zune HD in the past, but we just took it for a quick spin on video so you can check out those smooth transitions for yourself. Unfortunately, the unit we were playing with had zero content loaded on it, but you can check out the slick unlock mechanism, swooping screen-change animations and a bit of pre-loaded Zune video on the gorgeous OLED screen. Plus we tossed together a few pics and a shot of the Tegra chip that's doing all the work into a gallery below. Video is after the break.

Gallery: Zune HD video hands-on quickie

Continue reading Zune HD video hands-on quickie

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Zune HD video hands-on quickie originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>engadget videoEngadgetVideofeatureshands-onmicrosofttegrazunezune hdZuneHdWed, 24 Jun 2009 17:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Lenovo IdeaPad U350 thin-and-light hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/lenovo-ideapad-u350-thin-and-light-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/lenovo-ideapad-u350-thin-and-light-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/lenovo-ideapad-u350-thin-and-light-hands-on/#comments
A month after Lenovo announced its new IdeaPad U350 the thing is finally ready for the prime time, and let us tell you: it wasn't hard to spot. While in theory this is "just another thin-and-light" in a rapidly growing, CULV-aided market segment, the craftsmanship and materials used on the U350 make it our favorite bit of Lenovo design since the U110, and very well might set it apart from the budget-minded pack. We're particularly digging the textured rubber back, but the ribbed metal palm rest also excellently avoids the glossy-plastic-of-death. Otherwise the laptop settles pretty nicely into a thin-and-light groove, with both of those particulars in spades and CULV under the hood. We would prefer some NVIDIA 9400M to Intel's integrated graphics, but at least there's HDMI out, and Intel's chipset tends to be a bit better on the power sipping front. Check out the gallery for some head-to-head shots with Lenovo's T400s -- which is clearly superior in most regards, but goes for double the price.

Gallery: Lenovo IdeaPad U350 thin-and-light hands-on

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Lenovo IdeaPad U350 thin-and-light hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featureshands-onideapadideapad u350IdeapadU350lenovothin and lightThinAndLightu350Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:43:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC Hero hands-on: Flash, keyboard and ruminations (updated!)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/htc-hero-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/htc-hero-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/htc-hero-hands-on/#comments We're going to need some real time with the device to make a final opinion, but we're cautiously optimistic that HTC has a winner with its new Hero. Here's what we've got from our first looks at the phone in London and NY:
  • The beveled edges along the back makes the handset sit comfortably in the hand, and while the teflon coat doesn't necessarily feel revolutionary, it's going to make a world of difference after a couple of months riding in our grubby pockets. It's certainly solid, but much more so than other "brick" phones.
  • The Sense UI (or as HTC terms it, "user experience") riding a capacitive touchscreen offers a people-centric approach to managing your information that is absolutely dreamy at first blush -- though it shares a lot of TouchFLO heritage. In fact, HTC promises to have a very similar Sense-branded experience for Windows Mobile.
  • The on-screen keyboard also seems quite useable with a nice simulated haptic forced-feedback bounce when you strike each key in either landscape or portrait mode (which can naturally be deactivated). HTC has built its own touch keyboard from the ground up, and in our brief couple of tests we'd say it's probably the best touchscreen typing experience we've ever felt. It never lags behind, and has great colorful visual cues for its auto-corrected words -- green means it's suggesting a correctly spelled word, red means we've gone off the beaten path, and the T9-style multiple suggestions are heavenly.
  • This intuitive one-hander isn't shy with the specs either as we've already seen in the official press release. Our only concern is possible sluggishness from the Qualcomm processor that cause the graphic transitions to stutter a bit and results in screen rotations that feel dangerously uncomfortable.
  • We were told that the device we saw was running pre-production firmware so there's still time to tweak -- though not much with a July European launch.
  • The Hero is not a "Google Experience" device. As such, you won't find the Google logo anywhere (no big deal) but you also won't be downloading any firmware updates over the air -- sideloading only kids. Not a deal breaker but an annoying and seemingly arbitrary limitation nonetheless. There's still a small lack of clarity of how updates will work with HTC's "mods" living on top of basic Android -- even if they're able to port in new Android versions seamlessly, we imagine there will be some breakage.
  • For a device without a physical keyboard, the Hero seems a little thick up against its HTC Magic, Nokia N97, and iPhone 3G counterparts, but not overly so.
  • HTC has confirmed that whichever (unspecified) carrier gets the phone in the US will have a modified version, both in software (carrier-specific services) and in hardware chassis tweaks. Just don't take our teflon away, ok HTC?
  • Battery is the same larger slab that's in the myTouch, and HTC also claims to have done some vague, unspecified things OS-side to improve battery life as well. "Heavy users will be able to get through a day."
  • The camera is responsive and seems to do a fine job at autofocus, but wasn't astonishingly great at first glance.
  • The phone will be available for free on T-Mobile UK -- if only we could be so subsidy lucky in the US.
There are four videos for you after the break. The first shows Flash running at full screen on the HTC Hero courtesy of YouTube. The second, however, shows it failing when running a trailer from Yahoo Movies, just like Adobe did -- in fact, it crashed all four times that we tried it on what we were told was a Hero running the final build of the OS. Third one is a quickie showing the on-screen keyboard rotating from portrait to landscape and back. Lastly, we demonstrate the hardware a little bit and show off our lightning speed at typing. For the real completists, there's also a new gallery of hands-on shots from the NY launch event right below.

Gallery: HTC Hero hands-on


Gallery: HTC Hero additional hands-on

Continue reading HTC Hero hands-on: Flash, keyboard and ruminations (updated!)

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HTC Hero hands-on: Flash, keyboard and ruminations (updated!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidfeaturesgooglegoogle experienceGoogleExperienceherohtchtc heroHtcHerosensesense uiSenseUiuiWed, 24 Jun 2009 11:56:00 EST<![CDATA[HP Mini 5101 cleans up nice, shows the serious side of netbooks]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/hp-mini-5101-cleans-up-nice-shows-the-serious-side-of-netbooks/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/hp-mini-5101-cleans-up-nice-shows-the-serious-side-of-netbooks/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/24/hp-mini-5101-cleans-up-nice-shows-the-serious-side-of-netbooks/#comments
Just when you thought you were safe from the netbook horde, along comes HP's new Mini 5101 to tempt you with the same basic specs once again, but this time with a slick aluminum and magnesium chassis to appeal to the "mobile professional" or anyone else with a bit of class. In a crazy twist, HP has finally moved the mouse buttons below the trackpad (because only professionals like clicking), and has included other perks like a 7200 RPM hard drive, Bluetooth 2.0, 2 megapixel webcam, and options of either a WSVGA (1024 x 600) or "HD" (1366 x 768) 10.1-inch LED screen. There are also options for 80GB or 128GB SSD drives, four-cell or six-cell batteries, with the latter rated at an improbable eight hours of runtime, and of course WWAN. There's a start price of $449, but with some of these options we could see that shooting up pretty fast -- especially if you pick the optional USB-powered external disc drive, external speakers or port replicator. It's not cheap being cheap. The Mini 5101 goes on sale in July.

Gallery: HP Mini 5101 press shots


We got a quick hands-on with the netbook, and were fairly impressed. The square chiclet keys are much easier to hunt down than Mini 1000-series flush keys, and the proper trackpad configuration is naturally a huge bonus. We'd much prefer multitouch scrolling to the side-scrolling action, of course, but at least it's an improvement. The overall build quality is near the top of any laptop or netbook we've played with in this price range -- it's not perfect, and there's some of that telltale keyboard flex, but it's a big improvement over its largely plastic competitors and predecessor.

Gallery: HP Mini 5101 hands-on shots

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HP Mini 5101 cleans up nice, shows the serious side of netbooks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5101breaking newsBreakingNewsfeatureshands-onhphp minihp mini 5101HpMiniHpMini5101minimini 5101Mini5101netbookWed, 24 Jun 2009 00:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Panasonic DMP-B15 hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/23/panasonic-dmp-b15-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/23/panasonic-dmp-b15-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/23/panasonic-dmp-b15-hands-on/#comments
While we got a quick look at the thing a few months ago, we were finally able to get our mitts all over Panasonic's new DMP-B15 portable Blu-ray player. With its bigger-than-a-laptop size and wild pricetag (for a consumer device), it's obviously a niche product, but that's not to say there aren't hints of consumer friendliness in here. Overall the hardware is light and strong, and while we felt a bit of heat venting out the sides, it's not uncomfortable, and the disc operation is virtually silent. Startup time and disc load times are comparable to most dedicated home Blu-ray players -- certainly not best in class, but passable -- and we couldn't get the player to skip despite our best efforts. The screen is really great, with a good amount of viewing angle and brightness for the category and plenty of resolution to differentiate HD content. We spotted a bit of pixel crunch in menus and stills, but once the motion started we could barely differentiate pixels. Sure, it's hard to imagine a reason for most people to pick up a DMP-B15 over a cheapish Blu-ray playing laptop -- the thing is monstrously thick, and can't even handle a traditional laptop-style screen orientation, only everything but -- but the hardware is reliable enough for kids to handle on the road, and the single-use makes it a good home Blu-ray player for plugging into that second HD-starved TV. Still, we're guessing most will wait to see what next year's (sure to be flush) crop has to offer.

Gallery: Panasonic DMP-B15 hands-on

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Panasonic DMP-B15 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu-raydmp-b15featureshands-onpanasonicpanasonic dmp-b15PanasonicDmp-b15portable blu-rayportable blu-ray playerPortableBlu-rayPortableBlu-rayPlayerTue, 23 Jun 2009 15:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Lenovo ThinkPad T400s hands-on and impressions]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/23/lenovo-thinkpad-t400s-hands-on-and-impressions/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/23/lenovo-thinkpad-t400s-hands-on-and-impressions/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/23/lenovo-thinkpad-t400s-hands-on-and-impressions/#comments
We know a lot of people out there who take any changes to the ThinkPad line very seriously, so it's easy to see why Lenovo didn't make any huge revisions to the T400 formula when designing the new T400s. Sure, it's slimmer, lighter, and all around sleeker than big brother, but it's still a ThinkPad, and it's still tough as nails. You might think of it as the internals of the T400 stuffed into a slightly thicker version of the X300's case -- it might not quite fit into a manila envelope, but it's still pretty easy to forget you've got it in your bag. Of course, it's hard to cut down on size without sacrificing performance, and the T400s is no exception -- although our tester's 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo was more than capable of handling our day-to-day workload, the only graphics option is Intel's integrated 4500MHD chip, and that means hardcore image processing and most intense gaming are out. Good thing ThinkPad owners are all business, right?

Continue reading Lenovo ThinkPad T400s hands-on and impressions

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Lenovo ThinkPad T400s hands-on and impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredfeatureshands-onimpressionslenovot400t400 st400sthinkpadthinkpad t400thinkpad t400sThinkpadT400ThinkpadT400sunboxingTue, 23 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ASUS Eee PC 1005HA hands-on and impressions]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/23/asus-eee-pc-1005ha-hands-on-and-impressions-dont-post-or-you-wil/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/23/asus-eee-pc-1005ha-hands-on-and-impressions-dont-post-or-you-wil/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/23/asus-eee-pc-1005ha-hands-on-and-impressions-dont-post-or-you-wil/#comments
ASUS has certainly changed the netbook game a bit with its Eee PC Seashell line, aesthetically-speaking, anyway. Slimmed down and sleek, the Seashell's one of the handsomest netbooks we've seen. When we reviewed the 1008HA just a few weeks back, we had just a few minor issues with it, but overall, found it to boast a solid user experience. The Eee PC Seashell 1005HA is nearly identical to its elder brother, but presents some small changes for the better without sacrificing these now famous looks. Read on for our full impressions and hands-on photo gallery.

Continue reading ASUS Eee PC 1005HA hands-on and impressions

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ASUS Eee PC 1005HA hands-on and impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1005haasusasus eee pcasus eee pc seashell 1005haAsusEeePcAsusEeePcSeashell1005haatomeeeeee pceee pc 1005haeee pc seashellEeePcEeePc1005haEeePcSeashellfeaturefeaturedfeatureshands-onimpressionslaptoplaptopsnetbooknetbooksreviewseashellTue, 23 Jun 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Disney Netpal hands-on (with video!)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/22/disney-netpal-hands-on-with-video/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/22/disney-netpal-hands-on-with-video/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/22/disney-netpal-hands-on-with-video/#comments
We got a quick look Disney's little Netpal Eee PC rebadge, and found our not-too-high expectations slightly exceeded by the fairly slick skin Disney has slapped on top of XP. The Netpal platform is really Disney's primary contribution here, since the computer underneath is vanilla Eee PC other than the fairly stylish "boy" and "girl" skinning job. The shell, however, is a locked down environment that allows parents to white list web sites and email addresses for kids to access, along with a list of allowable apps -- kids aren't restricted to just Disney's set of experiences, little Bobby can master PowerPoint in between play dates if his parents don't mind. Standard netbook sluggishness is of course a drawback, but the extensive parental controls, kid-friendly interface and $350 retail price are all good omens for rising above the general shoddiness and usual misnomer of "kid tech." Video is after the break.

Gallery: Disney Netpal hands-on


Gallery: Disney Netpal press shots

Continue reading Disney Netpal hands-on (with video!)

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Disney Netpal hands-on (with video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disneydisney netpalDisneyNetpalfeatureshands-onnetbooknetpalMon, 22 Jun 2009 15:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia N97 review: a tale of two bloggers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/22/nokia-n97-review-a-tale-of-two-bloggers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/22/nokia-n97-review-a-tale-of-two-bloggers/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/22/nokia-n97-review-a-tale-of-two-bloggers/#comments
Recently, Engadget editors Thomas Ricker and Chris Ziegler received Nokia N97s just days apart from one another. Already established pen pals, the two immediately began to correspond across the Atlantic via carrier pigeon, discussing their very different experiences using Nokia's most powerful smartphone to date. This is a recounting of those letters.

Thomas,

I hope this letter finds you well. I understand that you've received an N97 from Nokia Nederlands recently and was wondering what you thought of it? As luck would have it, I've happened across a unit myself -- the US was the first country to get them, interestingly, which is really big deal for a company accustomed to delivering its best hardware early and often to Europe. I've been flogging it for a few days now, just enough time to form some opinions.

Gallery: Nokia N97 NAM unboxing


Gallery: Nokia N97 review

Continue reading Nokia N97 review: a tale of two bloggers

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Nokia N97 review: a tale of two bloggers originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featureshands onhands-onHandsOnn97nokianokia n97NokiaN97reviews60s60 5th editionS605thEditionMon, 22 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How would you change T-Mobile's Sidekick LX 2009?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/21/how-would-you-change-t-mobiles-sidekick-lx-2009/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/21/how-would-you-change-t-mobiles-sidekick-lx-2009/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/21/how-would-you-change-t-mobiles-sidekick-lx-2009/#comments
T-Mobile's Sidekick LX 2009 represented a huge leap forward in the hiptop sector. Not only was the swiveling motion as smooth as ever here, but this was the first Sidekick that seemed to really take its user interface seriously. To that end, we're interested in knowing how you -- the opinionated consumer -- feel about Danger's latest effort. Are you impressed by the grown-up features? Does the form factor still have a place in your life? Is the UI snappy enough? Do you still get enough stares from potential mates when you whip it out on the subway? The floor's yours, make it good.

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How would you change T-Mobile's Sidekick LX 2009? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Jun 2009 07:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featureshiptophow would you changeHowWouldYouChangehwycsidekicksidekick lxSidekick LX 2009SidekickLxSidekickLx2009T-MobileSun, 21 Jun 2009 07:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon Kindle DX review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/19/kindle-dx-review/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/19/kindle-dx-review/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/19/kindle-dx-review/#comments
Here's the one-line summary of the Kindle DX: It's a Kindle 2 with a larger screen, hair-trigger orientation sensor, and an awful keyboard. Seriously awful. Yes, we know we should be focused on things like PDF support or even content partners like newspapers and textbook publishers, but we're having a hard time getting over the keyboard -- it's emblematic of some puzzling design choices Amazon made with the Kindle DX. What do we mean? Read on.

Continue reading Amazon Kindle DX review

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Amazon Kindle DX review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazondxfeaturedfeatureskindlekindle 2kindle dxKindle2KindleDxreviewFri, 19 Jun 2009 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Movie Gadget Friday: Runaway]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/19/movie-gadget-friday-runaway/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/19/movie-gadget-friday-runaway/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/19/movie-gadget-friday-runaway/#commentsAriel Waldman contributes Movie Gadget Friday, where she highlights the lovable and lame gadgets from the world of cinema.

Previously on Movie Gadget Friday, we tapped into the near dystopian future of fear in Brazil. Keeping on that 1980's near-future vibe (but with a slightly more sentient twist), this week we check out Michael Crichton's Runaway, starring Tom Selleck, Gene Simmons, Cynthia Rhodes and Kirstie Alley. Filled with circuitry and hardwired chips, the movie reinforces wholesome family values by featuring warranty voids as the gateway hack to murder.



Leaping Insect Robot

Measuring in around the size of a human head, these six-legged, spider-like, autonomous robots are mechanical in movement but shockingly precise in killing prey. The autonomous insects have the ability to propel themselves up to seven feet in the air, allowing for attacks on unsuspecting victims. Dual-functioning, the legs are able to crawl and grasp a multitude of surfaces, albeit awkwardly and rather slowly. After programming targets into a mainframe, the robots are able to identify and kill victims by injecting them with acid via a probe before short circuiting and eventually exploding into a ball of flames. Sadly, the robots lack any sort of remote control, making human errors in target-programming unable to be edited.

Continue reading Movie Gadget Friday: Runaway

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Movie Gadget Friday: Runaway originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1980s1984bulletcircuitsfeaturesgene simmonsGeneSimmonskirstie alleyKirstieAlleymichael crichtonMichaelCrichtonmovie gadget fridayMovieGadgetFridayrobotrobotsrunawaytom selleckTomSelleckFri, 19 Jun 2009 13:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple unleashes iPhone 3G S on well-prepared US public (with video!)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/19/apple-unleashes-iphone-3g-s-on-well-prepared-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/19/apple-unleashes-iphone-3g-s-on-well-prepared-public/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/19/apple-unleashes-iphone-3g-s-on-well-prepared-public/#comments
As the international date line swung around to the States and rain finally stopped in NY, a few hundred people lined up outside the Fifth Avenue Apple Store today for Apple's new iPhone, with the those The iLife guys up front descending into the store at 7AM to the sound of applause from the cheery horde of Apple Store employees. It was a far sight from the mayhem of previous launches -- the whole line was able to be contained in the elevated portion to the right of the store, no sidewalk necessary -- but it was still a fairly impressive turnout for a spec-bumped phone and a rainy night. Stand by for video from the launch, and be sure to send in your own launch impressions.

Update: Video is after the break!

Gallery: Apple unleashes iPhone 3G S on well-prepared public

Continue reading Apple unleashes iPhone 3G S on well-prepared US public (with video!)

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Apple unleashes iPhone 3G S on well-prepared US public (with video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple storeapple store fifth avenueAppleStoreAppleStoreFifthAvenuefeaturesiphoneiphone 3gsiphone 3gs launchiphone launchiphone lineIphone3gsIphone3gsLaunchIphoneLaunchIphoneLinelaunchlineFri, 19 Jun 2009 08:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony unveils 15.5-inch VAIO NW with BD-ROM and $880 price tag, we go hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/18/sony-unveils-15-5-inch-vaio-nw-with-bd-rom-and-880-price-tag-w/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/18/sony-unveils-15-5-inch-vaio-nw-with-bd-rom-and-880-price-tag-w/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/18/sony-unveils-15-5-inch-vaio-nw-with-bd-rom-and-880-price-tag-w/#comments Sony announced today a new entry into its VAIO series, the NW, complete with a Blu-ray drive and what they're hoping is an aggressive pricing point. It's packing a 15.5-inch WXGA display with XBRITE, 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P7350, ATI Mobility Radeon HD4570 with 512MB VRAM, a 4x BD-ROM drive, 4GB of DDR2 RAM, webcam, 802.11a/b/g/n, a 400GB HDD, and a Li-ion battery that's at best 5.5 hours in large capacity and at worst 1.5 hours with the standard-sized version. Port-wise, we've got VGA and HDMI output and Memory Stick Pro, ExpressCard, and SD card slots.

We got a chance to get some hands-on time with the portable, and we gotta say, it's a pretty impressive little number. It's not the most slender 15-incher, but at six pounds, it's lighter than we expected. The chiclet keys -- dubbed "isolated keyboard" by Sony PR -- are comfortable to use, as is the textured trackpad. Body and hinge felt sturdy, with an intentionally rugged and stylistic feel to it, and as one rep was excited to show, the metallic "Vaio" logo on the back makes a great reflection in the sun. From what we saw, Blu-ray playback was smooth, but we did notice horizontal viewing angles weren't the best. We'll reserve judgment when we get some play time with the unit and see how hard we can push the software, but for now we're pretty happy with what we've seen. Starting price isn't too shabby, at $880 equipped with the BD-ROM and $800 without, and it comes in three colors: white, grey, and dark brown. Striking your fancy? Look for it to ship out pretty quickly, as in some time next month.

Gallery: Sony unveils 15.5-inch VAIO NW with BD-ROM and $880 price tag


Gallery: Sony VAIO NW hands-on

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Sony unveils 15.5-inch VAIO NW with BD-ROM and $880 price tag, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>15.5-inchchicletfeaturedfeatureshands onhands-onHandsOnisoalted keyboardIsoaltedKeyboardisolatedsonysony vaiosony vaio nwSonyVaioSonyVaioNwvaiovaio nwVaioNwxbriteThu, 18 Jun 2009 20:11:00 EST<![CDATA[MacBook Pro (mid 2009) in-depth impressions]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/18/macbook-pro-early-2009-in-depth-impressions/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/18/macbook-pro-early-2009-in-depth-impressions/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/18/macbook-pro-early-2009-in-depth-impressions/#comments
Let's be straight here: we're a little perplexed by the new MacBook Pro line. On one hand, Apple didn't really make enough changes to warrant a whole new review of the unibody lineup, and minor speed bumps aside, briefly using one of the new machines feels pretty much like using most any recent Mac: it's OS X on a really nice, albeit extremely glossy screen. On the other hand, after a week in the trenches, it's clear that all those seemingly minor changes will have a big impact down the line -- especially the move to sealed-in batteries across the board, which is a decision with decidedly mixed consequences. What's more, we think these changes impact the 13-inch and 15-inch models very differently -- the $1,199 13-inch configuration might have a shiny new Pro label on it, but even Apple admits that it's an entry-level consumer machine, and consumers and professionals don't have the same needs.

So while this isn't going to be a full-on review, we think just slightly more than just our usual bullet-pointed impressions are in order -- and we think it's important to actually break things down by model. How do Apple's latest laptops stack up? Read on for more.

Continue reading MacBook Pro (mid 2009) in-depth impressions

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MacBook Pro (mid 2009) in-depth impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>13-inch macbook pro13-inchMacbookPro15-inch macbook pro15-inchMacbookProapplefeaturedfeaturesimpressionsmacbookmacbook promacbook pro mid 2009MacbookProMacbookProMid2009reviewThu, 18 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Hands-on with SPRXmobile's Layar augmented reality browser for Android]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/18/video-hands-on-with-sprxmobiles-layar-augmented-reality-browse/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/18/video-hands-on-with-sprxmobiles-layar-augmented-reality-browse/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/18/video-hands-on-with-sprxmobiles-layar-augmented-reality-browse/#comments We had a chance to go hands-on with Layar, the new augmented reality browser from SPRXmobile. Launched yesterday on Android Market in The Netherlands, we were curious to see how the software, that looked damn-impressive in the promo video, would function in actual use, in this case, from the living room of SPRXmobile's Maarten Lens-FitzGerald just outside of Amsterdam. Our take? it's the real-deal, especially for a v1 release. The software looks rock-solid and the initial data layers -- ATMs, social joints like cafes and clubs, and job listings -- appear fully populated and thus, useful. The ATM and cafe/club layers (or layars) are definitely helpful for serendipitous discovery though we're still scratching our heads over the job search layar. See, what you're discovering are jobs you can apply for from that particular employment office, not jobs necessarily available in that specific neighborhood or office building. Next month, Layar will have access to what could be its killer app (or killer data layar) called Funda, the site in The Netherlands for finding places to rent or buy. Of course, you can imagine travel guide companies like Let's Go and Frommers jumping into this with huge effect as well. And really, it's content that's going to make this type of augmented reality software a success. Maarten tells us that more partner announcements are expected this week with expansion into the US, Germany, and UK anticipated later this year on Android devices and on the iPhone 3G S (compass required). Check the interview and demo after the break.

Update: New layers announced including Google local search (that's a ton of content), Tweets Nearby (exactly what it sounds like), and ANWB (Dutch AAA) coming in July.

Continue reading Video: Hands-on with SPRXmobile's Layar augmented reality browser for Android

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Video: Hands-on with SPRXmobile's Layar augmented reality browser for Android originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>augmented realityAugmentedRealityfeatureshands onhands-onHandsOnlayarSPRXmobileThu, 18 Jun 2009 07:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Josh, Jimmy Fallon, and the iPhone 3 Ga-Speed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/18/video-josh-jimmy-fallon-and-the-iphone-3-ga-speed/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/18/video-josh-jimmy-fallon-and-the-iphone-3-ga-speed/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/18/video-josh-jimmy-fallon-and-the-iphone-3-ga-speed/#comments Johnny Carson may have had his monkeys, but Jimmy Fallon has, well, Josh. Our very own Jack Hanna of late night gadgetry. Watch Josh school Jimmy in the ways of the iPhone 3G S in the video after the break -- don't worry, it's been edited down for the safety of children. Sure, Mr. Topolsky (as he makes us call him) is a big shot now, but you can still remember him when.

Continue reading Video: Josh, Jimmy Fallon, and the iPhone 3 Ga-Speed

Video: Josh, Jimmy Fallon, and the iPhone 3 Ga-Speed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuresjimmy fallonJimmyFallonjosh toploskyJoshToploskyjoshua topolskyJoshuaTopolskylate night with jimmy fallonLateNightWithJimmyFallonvideoThu, 18 Jun 2009 01:42:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone 3GS review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/17/iphone-3g-s-review/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/17/iphone-3g-s-review/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/17/iphone-3g-s-review/#comments
If it ain't broke, don't fix it -- right? We know countless reviews of the iPhone 3GS may begin with that cliché, but there's little chance you'd find a better way to describe the strategy that Apple has just put into play with its latest smartphone. In many ways, the 3GS is a mirror image of the iPhone 3G; externally there's no difference. It's inside where all the changes have happened, with Apple issuing a beefed-up CPU, new internal compass, larger capacities for storage, and improved optics for its camera. More to the point, the release of the 3GS coincides with the launch of iPhone OS 3.0, a major jump from previous versions of the system software featuring highly sought after features like cut, copy, and paste, stereo Bluetooth, MMS, tethering, video recording, landscape keyboard options for more applications, and an iPhone version of Spotlight. At a glance, what Apple seems to be doing is less a reinvention of the wheel and more like retreading the wheel it's already got (and what a wheel, right?). So, do the iPhone 3GS and OS 3.0 tweak the details in just the right places, or has Apple gone and gotten lazy on us? Read on to find out.

Gallery: iPhone 3G S unboxing and hands-on

Continue reading iPhone 3GS review

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iPhone 3GS review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3g s3gSappleattengadget reviewEngadgetReviewfeaturesiphoneiphone 3g siphone 3g s reviewiphone 3gsiphone 3gs reviewiphone reviewIphone3gSIphone3gSReviewIphoneReviewreviewWed, 17 Jun 2009 14:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung's Omnia family hands-on, Samsung Jet and Pixon 12 come along for the ride]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/15/samsungs-omnia-family-hands-on-samsung-jet-and-pixon-12-come-a/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/15/samsungs-omnia-family-hands-on-samsung-jet-and-pixon-12-come-a/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/15/samsungs-omnia-family-hands-on-samsung-jet-and-pixon-12-come-a/#comments
Samsung just pulled a bit of a "Samsung" and completely blew out its Omnia lineup. We just got some face time with the new Omnia II, Omnia Pro, Omnia Lite and the Omnia-inspired Jet, along with the Pixon 12 -- which runs the same in-house Samsung OS as the Jet, but packs a 12 megapixel camera. It's hard not to notice the stunning AMOLED screens on these phones, especially up against the dull-by-comparison Omnia Lite with its petty LCD. Unfortunately, while the build quality is good and the specs are certainly all there, all the phones were fairly slow in regular operation. The Jet and Pixon were passable (and the Jet certainly ought to be, with an 800MHz "application processor"), but we can't imagine anybody finding any pleasure in the molasses Windows Mobile 6.1 experiences on the Omnia trio. The Jet has a fun little 3D UI "cube" gimmick, which involves the pointless spinning of a cube to access different media apps, but most of what we saw was pretty standard TouchWiz. We did like the speed of Pixon's camera, which does a Pre-style trick of sending photo processing duties to the background so you can snap another photo with little delay in between -- it's also pretty good at auto focus and color accuracy for a phone, but we won't be trading in our regular point and shoot in the near term. None of the phones we looked at had network access, so we weren't able to test out the WebKit browsers, but it sounds like a major win for the Jet and Pixon. Let's just work on that Omnia responsiveness a bit, yeah Samsung? Perhaps Windows Mobile 6.5 (the Omnia II and Omnia Pro are 6.5-ready) will help.

Update: we added a video of the Omnia II and Omnia Pro after the break!

Gallery: Samsung's Omnia family hands-on, Samsung Jet and Pixon 12 come along for the ride

Continue reading Samsung's Omnia family hands-on, Samsung Jet and Pixon 12 come along for the ride

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Samsung's Omnia family hands-on, Samsung Jet and Pixon 12 come along for the ride originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12 megapixel12Megapixelfeatureshands-onjetomniaomnia iiomnia proOmniaIiOmniaPropixon 12Pixon12samsungsamsung jetSamsungJettouchwizwebkitwindows mobileWindowsMobileMon, 15 Jun 2009 13:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Panasonic DMC-ZS3 hands-on and review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/15/panasonic-dmc-zs3-hands-on-and-review/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/15/panasonic-dmc-zs3-hands-on-and-review/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/15/panasonic-dmc-zs3-hands-on-and-review/#commentsPanasonic DMC-ZS3 impressions
We've seen a lot of innovation in the consumer point-and-shoot market over the past year or so, from capturing homemade action sequences at 1000fps to shooting 720p video underwater. Many of these innovations are borderline overkill, like 12 megapixel sensors wedged in behind cheap lenses, so we're happy to report that, despite its impressive specs, the latest superzoom shooter from Panasonic is respectable all the way through. The DMC-ZS3 doesn't offer any crazy features that are completely unheard of elsewhere, nor does it suffer from any rock and roll-style excesses for the sake of arbitrary "world's greatest" claims. It's just a solid camera, but at $400 is it the sort of thing you want in your pocket, capturing your family's precious moments this summer?

Continue reading Panasonic DMC-ZS3 hands-on and review

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Panasonic DMC-ZS3 hands-on and review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10.1 megapixel10.1Megapixel12x optical zoom12xOpticalZoomdmc-tz7dmc-zs3featurefeaturedfeaturespanasonicpanasonic dmc-tz7panasonic dmc-zs3PanasonicDmc-tz7PanasonicDmc-zs3reviewreviewedreviewstz7zs3Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Push notifications go live on iPhone courtesy of Tap Tap Revenge]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/15/push-notifications-go-live-on-iphone-courtesy-of-tap-tap-revenge/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/15/push-notifications-go-live-on-iphone-courtesy-of-tap-tap-revenge/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/15/push-notifications-go-live-on-iphone-courtesy-of-tap-tap-revenge/#comments
iPhone OS 3.0 may not be available to the masses for a couple days yet, but that's not stopping Tapulous (nor Apple's App Store overlords, apparently) from rolling out a new version of its ridiculously popular Tap Tap Revenge that's fully ready to take advantage of push notifications right here and right now. We've taken the new build for a spin, and in brief, it works as designed -- notification times ranged from near instantaneous to just under a minute. One of our editors here was testing on a cellular connection and the other was on a SIM-less iPhone 3G running just WiFi, so it looks like this setup will work pretty seamlessly regardless of what kind of connection you happen to be enjoying / tolerating / loathing at the moment. Follow the break for a quick video demo.

[Thanks, Brandon]

Continue reading Push notifications go live on iPhone courtesy of Tap Tap Revenge

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Push notifications go live on iPhone courtesy of Tap Tap Revenge originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 02:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applebreaking newsBreakingNewsfeaturesiphoneiphone osiphone os 3.0IphoneOsIphoneOs3.0notificationspushpush notificationsPushNotificationstap tap revengeTapTapRevengetapulousMon, 15 Jun 2009 02:01:00 EST<![CDATA[How would you change Canon's T1i DSLR?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/13/how-would-you-change-canons-t1i-dslr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/13/how-would-you-change-canons-t1i-dslr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/13/how-would-you-change-canons-t1i-dslr/#comments
Last week all the Nikon fanboys supporters were out in full-force critiquing the D5000, so we couldn't let another week slip by without giving Canon advocates (and haters, we don't discriminate) a similar chance with the T1i. Hitting the market at just about the same time, this well-specced entry-level DSLR packed a few niceties than alternative units simply did not: 1080p video, a 15.1 megapixel sensor and a price tag below $1,000. That said, there are still some areas that we reckon Canon could've improved upon, and if you feel the same way, we'd love to hear about it. Are you kosher with the 20fps 1080p mode? Is the image quality up to snuff? How's that stock lens treating you? Cut loose, won'tcha?

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How would you change Canon's T1i DSLR? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canondigicamDSLReos rebel t1iEosRebelT1ifeatureshow would you changeHowWouldYouChangeHWYCrebelt1iSat, 13 Jun 2009 00:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Best PC speakers for the office?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/12/ask-engadget-best-pc-speakers-for-the-office/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/12/ask-engadget-best-pc-speakers-for-the-office/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/12/ask-engadget-best-pc-speakers-for-the-office/#commentsWe know you're struggling to take it in, but you really have just stumbled upon this week's episode of Ask Engadget. Fascinating, the timing, yeah? Now that you're here, we're going to ask you to stick around, answer Chris' question below and then send in one of your own to ask at engadget dawt com. First things first, though:

"My desktop is wired through my home theater, so everything sounds great when I listen to music at home, but when I'm at the office I only have little Harman/Kardon speakers that came with my Dell. I work in an office that is music friendly, but no one has any decent speakers. I was hoping the Engadget community might have some good suggestions for reasonably priced computer speaker sets that sound good. You know... so I can share my extensive Matchbox 20 bootleg collection with the rest of my colleagues. Thanks!"

First off, congrats on working in a "music friendly" environment. And for everyone else, why not give this guy a little advice before hitting him up for job opportunities?

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Ask Engadget: Best PC speakers for the office? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>askask engadgetAskEngadgetaudiofeaturesmusicspeakerspeakersFri, 12 Jun 2009 00:21:00 EST