Engadget

India's $35 tablet said to ship in October, do dreams really come true?

Lydia Leavitt — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 04:58:00 EST

This mysterious $35 tablet has broken our hearts, crushed our fantasies and even made unicorns cry with delay after delay. Today, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal assured us that the much anticipated slate will be released on October 5th -- promising that this time, "[It's] not just a dream." Evidently, the tablet has overcome the manufacturing problems that plagued the project previously and now production is proceeding according to a new plan. That means that five, seven and nine inch slates are said to be shipping to lucky Indian students in early October -- sadly, both the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot have advised us not to hold our breath.

[Thanks, nithin]

India's $35 tablet said to ship in October, do dreams really come true? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 04:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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India's oft delayed $35 tablet ready to ship, unicorns shed tears of joy

Terrence O'Brien — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 15:15:00 EST

India's unfortunately-named Sakshat tablet began life as a $10 laptop way back in early 2009 and, in the years since, has had more than its fair share of delays and difficulties. But, after repeatedly dashing hopes and destroying dreams it appears the $35 tablet is just about ready for take off. The Times of India is reporting the first batch of this still slightly mysterious machine will be shipped out at the end of the month to the Indian Institute of Technology for 2,200 rupees apiece -- a bit above the goal price at around $50, though government plans to subsidize the devices should cut the cost in half. With one pie-in-the-sky tablet project finally getting out the door, we're almost afraid to ask -- hows that XO-3 is coming along Mr. Negroponte?

India's oft delayed $35 tablet ready to ship, unicorns shed tears of joy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Duke Nukem Forever goes gold, will meet promised June deadline (really!)

Jesse Hicks — Tue, 24 May 2011 15:31:00 EST

Back in January, Gearbox Software released a Duke Nukem Forever trailer, and our inner 13 year-old -- only a lascivious gleam in his father's eye when the game was first announced! -- thrilled to its potty humor, gratuitous violence, and mosaic-obscured lady parts. We were skeptical about the promised May release date, since DNF has long been gaming's answer to Chinese Democracy, and sure enough that got bumped to June 10 (international) and 14 (North America). But now the game has gone gold, meaning real-life physical copies, rather than just one of gaming's longest running vaporware jokes. No confirmation that the game will ship via unicorn, but for more details devour the press release after the break.

Continue reading Duke Nukem Forever goes gold, will meet promised June deadline (really!)

Duke Nukem Forever goes gold, will meet promised June deadline (really!) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 May 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo Wii Vitality Sensor still coming to a hand near you, says Iwata

Brian Heater — Tue, 03 May 2011 20:29:00 EST

For a product with the word "vitality" in its name, Nintendo's forthcoming Wii peripheral doesn't seem to have much of a pulse these days. The oddball controller certainly piqued our interest when the gaming giant showed it off way back in 2009, but aside from some false alarms and an uncovered patent application, we haven't heard a peep. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata addressed the Vitality Sensor's conspicuous absence during a financial presentation, chalking the delay up to "differences in biological information in humans." The peripheral is still coming, according to Iwata, but it won't be released until the company can make it work well with 99 percent of consumers -- a tall order indeed. And what about the other one percent? Well, perhaps they can try these on for size.

Nintendo Wii Vitality Sensor still coming to a hand near you, says Iwata originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 20:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E-Noa's Interpad Android tablet is nowhere to be found

Christopher Trout — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 07:26:00 EST

It's been almost eight months since we introduced you to Interpad's Tegra 2-packing Android tablet, and now we're hearing rumors that the thing might never make it to market. The tablet was originally slated for a December 2010 debut, but in August the slab's maker, E-Noa, released a statement that said the tablet was on hold until January. Well, January's come and gone, and with a slew of Tegra 2 tablets getting ready to hit the market, it looks like the Interpad might get left behind. Aside from a lack of updates to the company's website, its Facebook page is devoid of any information, and according to the folks over at Tablet Guys, repeated calls to E-Noa's office have gone unanswered. Basically, the Interpad's nowhere to be found, and with Acer's Iconia Tab slated for an April 24th release and Motorola's Xoom already making the rounds, the Interpad's once impressive specs just don't seem so special anymore.

E-Noa's Interpad Android tablet is nowhere to be found originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Apr 2011 07:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Evidence of Duke Nukem Forever's existence continues to mount with new trailer, release date

Donald Melanson — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 14:31:00 EST

Gearbox Software promised last fall that they'd finally, really finish and release Duke Nukem Forever, and it's starting to look like they're actually going to come through. The studio has just released a full trailer for the game, and it's announced something that many though they'd never see: a release date. Assuming nothing goes horribly awry in the next few months, you can expect the game to hit the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC on May 3rd in North America, and May 6th worldwide. Still need a bit more convincing? Head on past the break for the trailer.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Evidence of Duke Nukem Forever's existence continues to mount with new trailer, release date

Evidence of Duke Nukem Forever's existence continues to mount with new trailer, release date originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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India's $35 tablet delay dashes hopes, destroys dreams

Christopher Trout — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 06:06:00 EST

College students eagerly awaiting India's ambitious $35 tablet are going to have to put their dreams on hold -- there's been a delay. Earlier this week, the Times of India reported that the Indian government dropped HCL Technologies, the company responsible for manufacturing the great democratic tablet, for failing to follow through on the 600 million rupee (or $13,198,416) guarantee -- apparently a disagreement over production costs is to blame. Last summer, the country's Human Resource Development Minister, Kapil Sibal, made a number of appearances toting a mockup of the Android-based tablet, and promising a launch date of January 15th. Officials say the project is still on track and should be ready this summer. However, while the government seeks a replacement for HCL, skeptics continue to sound warnings that parts alone will cost more than $35. We'd like to chalk this up to haters hating, but we can't seem to forget what became of the $10 laptop.

India's $35 tablet delay dashes hopes, destroys dreams originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 06:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple on iPad competition: Windows is 'big and heavy,' next-gen Android tablets are still vapor

Vlad Savov — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:55:00 EST

Apple's COO (and current Steve Jobs stand-in) Tim Cook thinks "there's not much" competition to the company's iPad tablet. When queried about Apple's view on what the rest of the market offers, Cook was brutally candid in describing Windows-driven machines as generally being big, heavy and expensive, while current generations of Android-based slates are in his opinion merely "scaled-up smartphones." While we agree that Windows 7 isn't a terribly touch-friendly affair, we don't know that Cook's comments on Android are quite so pertinent now that Google's tablet-savvy Honeycomb iteration has been unveiled. Then again, he has something to say about the next generation of Android tablets as well, noting that the ones announced at CES lack pricing and release schedules, leading him to conclude that "today they're vapor." Ouch. As a parting shot, Tim took a moment to reaffirm Apple's belief that its integrated approach will always trump the fragmented nature of Android and its plurality of app stores. Hear his comments in full after the break.

Continue reading Apple on iPad competition: Windows is 'big and heavy,' next-gen Android tablets are still vapor

Apple on iPad competition: Windows is 'big and heavy,' next-gen Android tablets are still vapor originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Notion Ink Adam gets caught Photoshopping its bezel away

Vlad Savov — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 05:39:00 EST

How big is the Notion Ink Adam's screen? Well, it depends on what time you looked at the company's site today. If you were one of the unlucky folks who saw the image titled "preordernow.jpg," the screen's a tiny bit smaller and the bezel a tad larger than it is for all the fortunate peeps pre-ordering from the "preordernow1.jpg" pic that's currently gracing the site. Now's your chance, guys -- go grab yourself the truly magical and revolutionary tablet whose specs change with the wave of a Photoshop airbrush.

[Thanks, Andrew]

Update: To be clear, we don't know which of the two 'shops is the real deal -- technically, neither is, they're both renders -- but earlier prototypes have shown some pretty slinky bezels. It'll be on Notion Ink to demonstrate just how slim the Adam's screen surround is when it finally unveils the real deal.

Continue reading Notion Ink Adam gets caught Photoshopping its bezel away

Notion Ink Adam gets caught Photoshopping its bezel away originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 05:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gearbox Software promises to finish Duke Nukem Forever, for real

Donald Melanson — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:17:00 EST

The game, the myth, the curse -- Duke Nukem Forever has brought companies to their knees and dashed the hopes of a generation of gamers, but it's refused to go away for well over a decade; we just couldn't let it. Now a new company has stepped up to the challenge -- Gearbox Software (of Borderlands fame) has announced that it plans to finish the game, and that 2K Games will release it sometime next year for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. Will it actually happen? We can't say we'd bet on it, but we want to believe.

Update: If you still need a bit more convincing, there's an actual press release after the break.

Continue reading Gearbox Software promises to finish Duke Nukem Forever, for real

Gearbox Software promises to finish Duke Nukem Forever, for real originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Life after death: Phantom game console remembered in design mockups

Darren Murph — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:19:00 EST

Man, talk about a blast from the past. The Phantom game console aimed to change the video game landscape as we knew it back in the wild days of 2004, but for one reason or another, the box never actually materialized. Of course, just because you never saw one on a Walmart shelf doesn't mean that no mockups ever existed, and core77 managed to dig up the industrial design firm who was responsible for engineering the admittedly handsome box. Robrady won't ever get the credit it deserves for piecing together a shell that never went anywhere, but you can visit the links below to hand over your own tribute.

Life after death: Phantom game console remembered in design mockups originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Emblaze's First Else in danger of becoming a smoldering slab of vaporware?

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 08:51:00 EST

We have word from an industry insider that the First Else handset running the ALP OS is in trouble. Not a surprise since Emblaze, the company behind the handset, has been dead quiet about Else ever since CES where it promised a March beta and Q2 launch. From what we hear, the software simply isn't ready and Emblaze has been unable to sign on any major carriers as the components continue to age inside a cellphone first demonstrated in November of 2009.

We've also been told that Emblaze has instructed its employees not to speak to the press about First Else. And indeed, when we called the number that formerly belonged to the Emblaze Mobile marketing manager we were greeted with a very casual "hello" without any mention of the company or the person with whom we were speaking. After confirming that we were indeed speaking with Emblaze Mobile, we related the news about First Else and were promptly transferred to the voicemail of Emblaze's legal representation. Curious don't you think? Your move Emblaze.

Emblaze's First Else in danger of becoming a smoldering slab of vaporware? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 08:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel kills Larrabee discrete GPU, will focus on integrated graphics

Nilay Patel — Tue, 25 May 2010 15:50:00 EST

Intel's been promising to blow up the graphics market with its Larrabee GPU for over three years now with virtually nothing to show for it, and it looks like the company has finally decided to can the entire project after downsizing it to a "software platform" last year. A new Intel blog post on the matter says the company won't bring a discrete graphics chip to market, and will instead focus on integrated graphics for everyday computing and highly-parallel multicore processors for high-performance computing. Now, Intel's obviously still in the graphics game, and it's already made a strong move towards integrated graphics by building GPUs right into the Atom N470 and much of the Core 2010 line, but on a much broader level the decision to drop Larrabee means that Intel is now essentially pursuing the same strategies as its competitors: AMD is famously behind schedule with its Fusion project but plans to ship ATI-powered hybrid CPU / GPUs next year, and NVIDIA has been pushing its multicore GPU-based Tesla high-performance computing platform for a while now.

We're also curious about how Intel intends to address the gaming market in the future -- its own integrated graphics obviously aren't up to the task, and it's still fighting with NVIDIA over a Core 2010 chipset license, so that's a big question mark going forward as more and more focus is placed on low-power and integrated solutions. We'll see what happens -- it's not too often the death of a vaporware product has the potential to shake up the entire industry.

Intel kills Larrabee discrete GPU, will focus on integrated graphics originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 May 2010 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No, we didn't get an Enso zenPad

Sean Hollister — Tue, 25 May 2010 11:11:00 EST

Hey folks, it's just come to our attention that Enso -- a ~~French~~ Italian startup that received notoriety for selling vaporware tablets -- has been using Engadget's good name to convince irate customers that its product actually exists. We gave Enso the benefit of the doubt at first, but let's put things in perspective: we have not received an zenPad tablet, and in fact, we no longer expect to. Enso has now promised us a review unit on five separate occasions beginning in early April, and missed each deadline it set for itself. We do not endorse the supposed product, and we'd appreciate it if you pay no attention when company founders tell you otherwise -- or set up fake review websites, for that matter. That's just not cool.

Update: Wonder of wonders, we received a package from Hong Kong... and inside was a bona fide Enso zenPad. Guess the sixth time's the charm! We'll have impressions for you soon.

No, we didn't get an Enso zenPad originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 May 2010 11:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SED's dead, baby: Canon abandons development of new HDTVs, we take a look back

Richard Lawler — Tue, 25 May 2010 03:24:00 EST

Oh, surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED). We still remember the halcyon days of 2005 when we first laid eyes upon your black as a CRT / thin as a plasma or LCD self, and equally recognize the pain of each false start and delay that followed, each leading up to today's announcement by Canon that it is abandoning SED HDTVs entirely. It had held out hope as late as last spring that the technology could have a future in professional displays, but Japan's The Nikkei reports it simply couldn't bring down costs enough. There's still the possibility for a future in "image diagnostic equipment" but all those prototypes will never see the light of mass production. Check after the break for some of the highlights along the way, or just to imagine what might have been if not for lawsuits and technical issues.

Continue reading SED's dead, baby: Canon abandons development of new HDTVs, we take a look back

SED's dead, baby: Canon abandons development of new HDTVs, we take a look back originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 May 2010 03:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mysterious StreamTV fails to arrive on schedule

Richard Lawler — Fri, 07 May 2010 21:47:00 EST

A month ago the intriguing StreamTV family first showed up on Amazon promising 500GB HDD, "Super Blu-ray Player" and vaguely worded 3D capabilities. We have now reached their announced release date of May 7 and... nothing. The news of Mitsubishi's 2010 HDTVs with Stream TV (Vudu Apps by another name) seemed like a possible indication of what was to come, but since then we've heard nothing and honestly don't expect to. Anyone out there keeping $5,999 on deck just in case?

[Thanks, William]

Mysterious StreamTV fails to arrive on schedule originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 May 2010 21:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Enso's zenPad finds the funds to become reality

Sean Hollister — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:41:00 EST

With only 500 units ordered and 30 scheduled to ship on May 8th, it's clear the Enso zenPad won't blow up the world, but it's nice to see a startup make good on its promises. We've yet to receive one of the cheap Android tablets ourselves, but we do finally have proof they're on the way: Enso CEO Alberto Armandi just sent us an official, signed receipt for the purchase of 500 MID-560A tablet computers from OEM SMiT, along with a bank document proving they have been bought and (mostly) paid for. What happens now is threefold: The 250 buyers who held out receive a rebranded SMiT tablet, the 250 who didn't get their money back (anecdotal reports indicate refunds are underway), and the whole mess hopefully fades into obscurity, letting the three young entrepreneurs who brought us this niche Chinese device get on with their lives. See the slightly redacted proof Enso actually purchased these things, right after the break.

Continue reading Enso's zenPad finds the funds to become reality

Enso's zenPad finds the funds to become reality originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kogan announces $200 HD tablet, with networked TVs, Agora handset, and leprechauns to follow

Joseph L. Flatley — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:54:00 EST

Ah, Ruslan Kogan -- we can't help but want to see this starry-eyed dreamer succeed, even if we still haven't got our Android handset. According to Australia's APC, the man's gunning for the iPad market with an as yet unnamed tablet of his own. The goal? A full HD, ARM 600MHz-powered capacitive touchscreen device with 512MB RAM, 2GB storage, and an SDHC card for under $200 (presumably that's Australian dollars, meaning about $180 US). Apparently the above prototype runs Windows, Android and Ubuntu, although Windows won't be an option if -- and we do mean if -- this thing ever solidifies, due to production costs. As for that display, it's tipped to be 800 x 480, the sting of which is taken out by the unit's 1080p HDMI output. You say you're not in the market for a slate? Kogan's also said to be working on networked TVs ("probably by the end of the year") and a Blu-ray player with WiFi and YouTube widgets. As for the aforementioned Agora handset? "[S]oon," he says. "I can't give a time frame on that, though. It'll be as soon as we're allowed to." This is one mysterious man indeed. We can't help but wonder when he's going to get serious and tackle something big, like perpetual motion.

Update: We just realized that this is none other than SmartQ 7 MID first handled, oh, back in May!

Continue reading Kogan announces $200 HD tablet, with networked TVs, Agora handset, and leprechauns to follow

Kogan announces $200 HD tablet, with networked TVs, Agora handset, and leprechauns to follow originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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InPhase out of business, assets seized for back taxes

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:36:00 EST

It's been something like five years that we've been eagerly waiting for InPhase to finally release that revolutionary holographic storage solution, and while there has been plenty of drama in the way of release dates promised and pushed back, and even some layoffs to keep things interesting, the company has been pretty, pretty quiet lately. As it turns out, this has been due to the fact that employees have been busy enough updating their resumes. "We were expecting it for a long time," said one employee, among the sixty or so who picked up their final paychecks last week. "So it wasn't a big surprise." To put a finer point on things, it's been announced that the Colorado Department of Revenue has seized the company's assets for non-payment of taxes. According to The Register, the state has changed the locks and announced that everything on the premises will be auctioned off, down to the fixtures and furniture. This is certainly an ignominious end to a once great idea, but as you know every cloud has a silver lining: If you're looking to get into the holographic storage business, drop us a line. We've heard that some equipment is becoming available soon -- and at a great price.

InPhase out of business, assets seized for back taxes originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FED apparently not dead, baby, Field Emission Technologies sells out to AUO

Richard Lawler — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:42:00 EST

Returning just in time to do battle with LPD for vaporware of 2010 award, Field Emission Display technology is still kicking. We'd heard that Field Emission Technologies was closing its doors, but here's the president of Field Emission Technologies Shohei Hasagawa (left) clasping hands with the CEO of display manufacturer AUO, Dr. L.J. Chen, and FET Japan prez Jun Yamazaki celebrating the sale the technology. Apparently AUO plans to develop the CRT-rivaling flat-screen displays for high end display applications. Can it pick up where Sony left off? We're doubtful, but the sale means at least a slim hope professionals could be looking into something even sweeter than plasma or LCD sometime soon.

FED apparently not dead, baby, Field Emission Technologies sells out to AUO originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FusionGarage plans media event to tell its side of the CrunchPad story

Nilay Patel — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:47:00 EST

Michael Arrington may have declared the CrunchPad dead, but that's not stopping his former partners at FusionGarage, who've scheduled a video conference with CEO Chandra Rathakrishnan so he can "share his side of the story." Chandra will also be demonstrating the 12-inch capacitive web tablet -- which, somewhat amazingly, will be the first time we've ever seen proof that the elusive device actually even exists and functions. We're definitely curious to hear what Chandra has to say and how he rebuts Arrington's grandiose and melodramatic tale of woe, but let's be honest -- we're also at least mildly suspicious that this whole mess is just a calculated PR stunt. Stay tuned.

FusionGarage plans media event to tell its side of the CrunchPad story originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The CrunchPad disappears in a puff of vapor

Nilay Patel — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:46:00 EST

Michael Arrington's CrunchPad has never had a particularly firm basis in reality, and although we'd been promised that the ~~inexpensive~~ browser-based tablet would be launching soon, the sky's come crashing down: Mike says Fusion Garage, the company he hired to build the CrunchPad, has reneged on their deal, and that he's about to file "multiple lawsuits." What happened? Well, it's not exactly clear: according to Mike, the CrunchPad was ready to be launched on November 20, but on November 17 Fusion Garage decided to cut TechCrunch out of the deal and sell it directly. Oh, it's a sad tale, especially since Arrington claims a wide variety of industry heavyweights were lined up to support his tablet -- including development assistance from Intel complete with sweetheart pricing on Atom CPUs, a "major multi-billion dollar retailer" who offered to sell it at "zero margin," and even venture capital firms "waiting to invest in the company." Making matters worse, Mike's no longer buds with Fusion Garage CEO Chandra Rathakrishnan, who he thought he'd be friends with "for the rest of our lives." Tear. Now, we're not sure we've heard the last of the CrunchPad -- if anything, Michael Arrington is irrepressible -- but we can't say we're surprised the first chapter has ended in such fantastic fashion. We're assuming several major Hollywood studios are already lining up to buy the rights, and we've heard unconfirmed reports that George Clooney has signed on to star for free because he believes in the project so deeply.

The CrunchPad disappears in a puff of vapor originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pandora cases start arriving, production enters 'so close you can smell it' stage

Darren Murph — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:10:00 EST

The elusive Pandora handheld and the Phantom gaming system have a lot in common. Thankfully, there's one critical difference, and that's the fact that the dutiful souls behind what's sure to become the world's next favorite pocket gizmo actually have some proof that mass production is tantalizingly near. The latest update has quite a few images of the final mold, and we're also told that mass production has begun on the mainboards. All that's left to do is add a touch of paint, snap a few things together and yell "Hello World!" for all the world to hear. Hit the read link if you're badly in need of getting some drool out of your system.

[Thanks, Andrew]

Pandora cases start arriving, production enters 'so close you can smell it' stage originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cranberry DiamonDisc: the $35 DVD that'll last longer than your ghost

Darren Murph — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:40:00 EST

We've seen outfit after outfit trumpet their long-lasting optical storage wares before, but Cranberry seems different. Rather than promising that whatever miracle they've just unearthed will be available "in the very near future," this company is selling its wonder product right now. The so-called DiamonDisc -- which is reportedly constructed from "diamond-hard stone" -- is designed to store precious memories for 1,000 years or more, and it's even built to withstand "temperatures extending up to 176 degrees Fahrenheit as well as UV rays that would destroy conventional DVD discs." Unfortunately, each disc holds just 4.7GB of information, and each one will run you $34.95 if purchased individually. Oh, and it's only playable on "most" regular DVD drives, so across-the-board compatibility seems less than likely. The more we think about it, the more sense that whole "just carve it into stone for future generations to see" mantra makes. Kudos, cavemen.

Filed under: Storage

Cranberry DiamonDisc: the $35 DVD that'll last longer than your ghost originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Switched On: Developing a sense of rumor

Ross Rubin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

We're proud to congratulate Ross Rubin (@rossrubin) on five years of Switched On, a column about consumer technology. Check out the first-ever Switched On right here -- we're looking forward to five more years!

Good morning, students. My name is Dr. John Fleming and I welcome you all to MKTG 503: Fictional Technology Product Development. Hopefully, you've all fulfilled the prerequisites to this class, MTG 324: New Product Development and any accredited undergraduate Government class in plausible deniability. As your professor this semester, I'd like to provide a brief overview of the material we will be covering in the emerging field of developing and marketing products that generate incredible amounts of media attention and consumer interest but do not actually exist.

Phase 1: Customer Requirements. Disciplined product development requires acute attention to addressing both stated and unstated customer needs and creating products that fulfill the promise of expectations while maximizing profitability for the organization. In our class, we will learn how to ignore these goals and create figments that have incredible gee-whiz factors that safely ignore considerations such as marketplace pricing and target demographics. Students will generate buzz for a three-paneled OLED ereader that is powered by solar energy while acting as a tanning bed for the burgeoning tween market.

Continue reading Switched On: Developing a sense of rumor

Switched On: Developing a sense of rumor originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Millenniata's Millennial Disk should last longer than you, your memory

Darren Murph — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:09:00 EST

Considering that we're still waiting ~~patiently~~ for any company (we're looking at you, Call/Recall) to produce a commercially viable holographic storage solution, we're required to tackle Millenniata's newest assertion with a sprinkle of skepticism. The claim? It's specially lubricated, fortified and homogenized Millennial Disk is said to last some 1,000 years, making it the world's finest and most longevous archive solution. If it's legitimate. We're told that digital information is carved into layers of hard, "persistent" materials, and somehow, those carvings are able to stay fresh and readable for more years than you care to count. Still, we reckon the robot apocalypse will be in full effect by the time 3009 rolls around, so even if it only lives up to half of its claims, we'll still be impressed.

[Via Slashdot]

Filed under: Storage

Millenniata's Millennial Disk should last longer than you, your memory originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Morega's curious Qew may or may not eventually stream your media

Darren Murph — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:37:00 EST

Call us skeptical, but we're not so sure that Morega's Qew is anything more than a mere figment of someone's imagination. The outfit has a thing for showing up just before CES in an apparent attempt to drum up interest, but the outfit's Qew teaser site just screams vaporware. We're never actually shown what it is, though we're told that it can stream, archive, transport and share multimedia. Hmm, sounds a lot like the abilities of some other box we know of.

[Thanks, Mark]

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Morega's curious Qew may or may not eventually stream your media originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Morega's curious Qew may or may not eventually stream your media

Darren Murph — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:37:00 EST

Filed under: Media streamers

Morega's curious Qew may or may not eventually stream your media originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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InPhase delays Tapestry holographic storage solution to late 2009

Darren Murph — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:33:00 EST

Wait, wait -- you're telling us InPhase Technologies may be the latest and greatest poster child for vaporware? Say it ain't so! After promising (and promising) a holographic storage solution for upwards of three years now, the outfit is delaying its dead-to-the-world Tapestry solution yet again, this time to late 2009. In theory, the company would introduce a drive that could record up to 300GB on a $180 CD-sized disc around this time next year, but with Blu-ray already up to 50GB and Royal Digital Media introducing a 100GB alternative, who's to say 300GB won't look puny by November '09? And besides, we're also hearing that GE's Polymer Systems Lab is developing a "layered approach to holographic storage" that will soon result in -- you guessed it -- 300GB discs. The difference? GE is a real company.

Filed under: Storage

InPhase delays Tapestry holographic storage solution to late 2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CherryPal $249 cloud PC delayed again, gets 8GB SSD as consolation

Donald Melanson — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:49:00 EST

Continuing its long, slow trek into computing infamy, CherryPal has now let out word that its $249 Cloud PC has been delayed yet again, with the new, anything-but-certain release date now listed as November 4th of this year. In an apparent attempt to prevent a wave of cancellations, the company has also announced that the previous 4GB C100 model is being replaced with a new 8GB C114 model, and that all previous orders would be automatically upgraded to the new model free of charge. If you're ready to take the chance, you can get your order in at the link below.

[Thanks, Simon K]

Filed under: Desktops

CherryPal $249 cloud PC delayed again, gets 8GB SSD as consolation originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CherryPal's $249 cloud PC delayed for another fortnight, vaporware status achieved

Darren Murph — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 07:22:00 EST

Okay, so we're pretty sure a fortnight after August 7th was August 21st, and while CherryPal was adamant it would finally release its $249 cloud PC then, it has since hit another snag. This go 'round, the company is blaming a "glitch with the graphics processor," which "absolutely needed to be addressed." Comically enough, it's suggesting that the unit will now ship -- gasp! -- two weeks from now, though we're more apt to believe you'd want to make out with Android if given the chance than to trust anything coming from the doors of CherryPal.

Filed under: Desktops

CherryPal's $249 cloud PC delayed for another fortnight, vaporware status achieved originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Sep 2008 07:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MTI Micro showcases fuel cell-powered GPS prototype

Darren Murph — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:14:00 EST

MTI Micro is edging dangerously close to vaporware status, but until 2009 comes and goes, we suspect we still owe it the benefit of the doubt. The ever-boastful company is at it once again, this time showing off a purported fuel cell powered-GPS prototype at the International Small Fuel Cells Conference in Atlanta. The Mobion-powered device promises to provide "three times as much energy as GPS devices powered by four disposable AA batteries," meaning that users could see up to 60-hours of continuous use on a large, full-color screen navigator. You'll also find an integrated USB port for using it as an energy source, so you could theoretically utilize your NAV to charge your handset / PMP / ray gun. At this point, however, we wouldn't get too excited here -- it's not like there's any guarantee that we'll ever see this thing in commercial form.

[Via I4U News, image courtesy of John S.]

Filed under: GPS, Handhelds

MTI Micro showcases fuel cell-powered GPS prototype originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 May 2008 11:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is Axiotron's ModBook actually about to ship?

Joshua Topolsky — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 19:33:00 EST

For a device which has lived solely in the hearts and minds of hopeful buyers for such a long time, the ModBook has certainly seen its fair share of news. The latest dispatch comes in the form of a letter from the "Other World Computing Team," marketers for the Axiotron-made tablet Mac, detailing expected shipment dates and new configuration options which are being made available. If you believe what you read, actual ModBook hardware will be shipping to buyers starting January 11th -- of course, they've been claiming a ship date for about a year, so we recommend you take this one with a hefty grain of you-know-what.

Is Axiotron's ModBook actually about to ship? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Dec 2007 19:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Laser TVs delayed again, SED begins to get envious

Darren Murph — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 23:09:00 EST

It seems that SED's reign as the most perpetually delayed television technology in recent memory may be getting a run for its money, as the Laser TV sets we were totally expecting (ahem) by Christmas aren't making it onto Santa's sleigh after all. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, vice-president of Arasor Scott Wilkie admitted that the sets wouldn't be available by the year's end, but he unsurprisingly passed the blame onto "other key component manufacturers" that "haven't quite ramped up as fast as was expected." Still, Frank DeMartin, vice-president of marketing and product development at Mitsubishi Digital Electronics, supposedly stated that we could see some Laser TV-based announcement at CES 2008, but we wouldn't be shocked if it was simply an updated timetable and a subtle plea for patience. January's just around the bend -- hopefully this will get sorted out soon enough.

Filed under: Industry, Displays, Mitsubishi, Others, Samsung

Laser TVs delayed again, SED begins to get envious originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 23:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Call/Recall boasts of 1TB optical disc, reeks of vaporware

Darren Murph — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 22:52:00 EST

Our vaporware alert hit yellow earlier this year when Call/Recall bragged about a multi-terabyte optical storage solution while providing no real proof that it existed, but now we're afraid that's been ratcheted up to orange. The latest from the company -- which still seems to believe that no pictures are necessary to substantiate its claims -- is the "industry's first 1TB optical disc." This device has reportedly been developed and tested behind closed doors, and unsurprisingly relies on its own 2-Photon-3D technology. Additionally, the company purports that it is "entering into product design and discussion with leading manufacturing partners," so we ought to see something coming down the pike relatively soon if all of this is legit.

[Via PCLaunches]

Filed under: Storage

Call/Recall boasts of 1TB optical disc, reeks of vaporware originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Nov 2007 22:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McPerson's 37-inch I-TV does it all... or nothing

Darren Murph — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 18:57:00 EST

There's a select group of red flags that appear when a product is, or is dangerously close to becoming, vaporware, and we've seen just about all of 'em when looking at McPerson's I-TV. Apparently, this so-called do-it-all LCD TV first appeared last year, but now it sports a different look and a flashy website that will make you wish your speakers were inoperative. The set supposedly functions as a home automation controller, DVR, DVD player and Media Center PC, and just in case you doubted its prowess, this thing is somehow Viiv-certified and able to run OS X. Specs wise, you'll find a 37-inch 1080p panel, dual 40-watt speakers (um, right), 7.1-channel audio out, built-in WiFi / Bluetooth, gigabit Ethernet and a slew of ports. Considering McPerson threw nearly everything in here save for the proverbial kitchen sink, it's not all that shocking to find a £3,924.49 ($8,235) pricetag floating around the intarweb, and if anyone has any proof that this thing will actually ship if ordered, feel free to dash our doubts in comments.

[Thanks, Giorgio]

Filed under: Displays, Media PCs, Media streamers, Other hardware, Players, Tuners, Others, LCD

McPerson's 37-inch I-TV does it all... or nothing originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Nov 2007 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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McPerson's 37-inch I-TV does it all... or nothing

Darren Murph — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 18:57:00 EST

There's a select group of red flags that appear when a product is, or is dangerously close to becoming, vaporware, and we've seen just about all of 'em when looking at McPerson's I-TV. Apparently, this so-called do-it-all LCD TV first appeared last year, but now it sports a different look and a flashy website that will make you wish your speakers were inoperative. The set supposedly functions as a home automation controller, DVR, DVD player and Media Center PC, and just in case you doubted its prowess, this thing is somehow Viiv-certified and able to run OS X. Specs wise, you'll find a 37-inch 1080p panel, dual 40-watt speakers (um, right), 7.1-channel audio out, built-in WiFi / Bluetooth, gigabit Ethernet and a slew of ports. Considering McPerson threw nearly everything in here save for the proverbial kitchen sink, it's not all that shocking to find a £3,924.49 ($8,235) pricetag floating around the intarweb, and if anyone has any actual proof that this thing exists, feel free to dash our doubts in comments.

[Thanks, Giorgio]

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, Media PCs

McPerson's 37-inch I-TV does it all... or nothing originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Nov 2007 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Phantom Entertainment returns, aims to infiltrate hotel rooms

Darren Murph — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:36:00 EST

Those terribly saddened by the recent drought of Phantom Entertainment news now have something to celebrate, as the current king of vaporware has seemingly inked an utterly worthless marketing agreement with ProGames Network to "place the Lapboard and Phantom Game Service content in [select] hotels." Reportedly, the two have agreed to place Phantom's not-yet-available wares into hotels found in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australasia (fancy, huh?), but to no one's surprise, neither firm mentions a target launch date.

Filed under: Gaming

Phantom Entertainment returns, aims to infiltrate hotel rooms originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Medison promises money back if it can't deliver... in three months

Darren Murph — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 09:45:00 EST

That $150 Medison Celebrity we glanced a few days back seemed to smell a bit fishy from the get-go, and a recent press release from the firm does a fairly terrible job of assuring us all otherwise. Typically, one's in dire straits if it has to address mass concerns of scamming, and Medison is now blaming the unexpectedly large amount of orders and "tremendous" amount of website hits and support calls for an apparent "shift in the time frame" in which customers will receive their orders. Granted, the company still promises that it will deliver, and now claims that your money will be returned if your machine isn't received in three months. Ah well, it's not like you had better things to do with your cash than let someone else earn interest on it while you fret over ever seeing it (or a laptop in its place) ever again, right?

[Thanks, Valdi I.]

Filed under: Laptops

Medison promises money back if it can't deliver... in three months originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jul 2007 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Phantom inks $1.3 million in funding to do more nothing

Darren Murph — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 13:41:00 EST

There's just no way to celebrate the ushering in of a new CEO than to ink a loan agreement worth some $1.3 million, right? Just a day after Phantom Entertainment's, um, head honcho, stepped aside and gave the reigns of the vaporware wagon to Greg Koler, the outfit has now announced that it will be using the newfound fundage to "manufacture product lines this year with Alienware and IONE Technologies." We know, it's hard to stifle the chuckling, but apparently Phantom really believes that this time will be different, as it's busting out radical plans to "initiate marketing, sales, and distribution of the Phantom Lapboard." We'd feel sorry for the lenders, but they should have known better.

Filed under: Gaming

Phantom inks $1.3 million in funding to do more nothing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jul 2007 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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