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Dell releases Inspiron 1525 in the US
Well it missed a 2007 release by just days, but now Dell's Inspiron 1525 -- upgrade to the 15.4-inch 1521 -- is finally available for purchase in the US, starting at just $500. Of course, it'll cost quite a bit more to configure one of these colorful rigs to a power user's specifications, and even then, you're capped off at a 1,200 x 800 screen resolution being pushed by integrated graphics. Still, even the starter model provides quite a few nice features, including integrated 2 megapixel webcam, travel remote, HDMI port, and perhaps most exciting of all, built-in Wireless USB. You can hit up the Read link for more info and instructions on how to order.
Samsung's BD-UP5000 leaking into stores?
While Samsung's BD-UP5000 still shows as unavailable until next month over at Amazon, it appears that the combo player is nevertheless leaking into select big box retail locations. Currently, the unit is out of stock online at both Circuit City and Best Buy, but a quick zip code check revealed that it was actually in stock and begging for an owner in select New York, Texas and New Mexico locations (just to name a few). Of course, it looks as though CC is charging a whopping two bills less than its scorned rival, so we'd probably head that way if at all possible. We're calling on you, dear readers -- let us know where the BD-UP5000 is (and isn't). After you snag your own, of course.[Thanks, Bill M.]Read - BD-UP5000 at Best BuyRead - BD-UP5000 at Circuit City
Sony Ericsson's W580i Walkman lands on AT&T
Just weeks after Sony Ericsson's sexy W580i Walkman phone went live on Rogers, AT&T customers can now get their hands on the mobile, too. According to AT&T's own listing of the handset, this svelte slider will (obviously) tout a two-megapixel camera, video recording / playback, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP, a built-in pedometer, Memory Stick Micro support, quad-band connectivity, and even PacMan / Ms. PacMan games (huzzah!). You can snap it up right now for $269.99 sans a contract, or $79.99 after inking your name to a two-year agreement and waiting for a pesky rebate to return.[Thanks, Bernard]
Check iPhone availability at your local Apple Store
Here's a little detail I missed the first time I read today's missive from Apple: you can now check the availability of iPhones at the Apple store nearest you. Simply go to this website, select your state, and you'll get a list of the Apple Stores in that states with a circle next to them. Green means they have iPhones, and red means they are plum out. There is no word on how real time this availability checker is, but it has the potential of saving you some time.Update: It was pointed out in the comments that this availability status is updated nightly. Therefore you can check to see if your Apple Store has iPhones the day before you go, but they might sell out before you get there (and the page will still say they are available until the next day).
Leopard Watch: iCal with CalDAV
Apple's iCal Leopard page reveals that the upcoming Leopard version of iCal will support a subset of CalDAV, the distributed authoring and versioning calendar protocol. CalDAV allows collaborative creation and maintenance of shared calendars and events. With the new iCal, you won't have to send around a memo saying "give me your open dates in November". Instead, you can use iCal's "Auto Pick" capabilities to select a meeting time when everyone is free using their shared CalDAV calendars. (And, if your office uses an iCal room reservation system, you can even pick the room and block out the time you need it.) Of course, this new technology only works if everyone in the office--including that Jim-guy in the corner office who still refuses to switch from Windows--is in on the calendaring system.
Wiis at Kmart this Sunday
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Wiis_at_Kmart_this_Sunday'; It will be months before manufacturers will be able to meet the Wii demand and end its shortage, but you might not have to wait until then to get your hands on the supply-constrained console. Kmart's latest circular advertises that the retail chain's stores will have Nintendo Wiis in stock next Sunday, but we doubt that the systems will stay on shelves longer than a few minutes. It was just this morning when a few of you confessed to us about not being able to acquire a Wii yet, so this must be a sign from the heavens! Or from Ace of Base! If you're still looking for an opportunity to buy the console, especially considering this week's Super Paper Mario release, here's your chance. You won't even have to go broke over outrageous eBay prices or offer up your unsullied body on Craigslist! Jump past the post break for the Kmart flyer.[Via CAG]
SanDisk Sansa Connect sneaks into availability
You know, a portable WiFi audio player, complete with internet radio streaming and subscription service compatibility, is nothing to be ashamed of, but for some reason SanDisk isn't quite ready to trumpet its Sansa Connect player's availability, even though a few of 'em have already made it onto Circuit City shelves and that retailer's online store. SanDisk also lists the player on its own online store, but has a bogus description for it, along with a "Sold Out" sticker that seems to imply that either SanDisk hasn't stocked the players yet, or it did and we missed it -- we're guessing the former. We've still got a few unanswered questions about this player, but if SanDisk doesn't fess up before too long, we'll have one in hand to give you the skinny either way.Read - Sansa Connect at Circuit City's storeRead - Sansa Connect at SanDisk's store
Who won't be getting the iPhone?
To find out that the Apple iPhone (heard of it?) would roll out locked to Cingular on a multi-year exclusivity agreement was difficult enough for some folks to swallow. Imagine, then, the pain and suffering that'll be experienced by those in areas that Cingular has forsaken. Case in point: the Burlington Free Press has noted that Cingular offers not a sliver of coverage in the quaint state of Vermont, leaving well over half a million good citizens (Ben and Jerry included, we reckon) without their fix. While our initial instinct might be to buy the phone elsewhere and just roam 'til the cows come home (literally -- this is Vermont, after all), Cingular policy states that a customer's address must lie in a directly covered area -- and even for the few that manage to skate by that one, the carrier's known for canceling accounts that roam excessively. Of course, Cingular points out that eager buyers are more than welcome to buy it contract-free without activating an account, but there's not a lot of fun in that; meanwhile, Apple's staying mum on the subject, perhaps for fear of further agitating hundreds of thousands of irate Vermonters. And the problem is by no means limited to Vermont: residents of large parts of Maine, Virginia, West Virginia, New Mexico, the Dakotas, Arizona, Montana, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and Colorado (among other states) might find that Apple has passed them over come June, unless Cingular goes into turbo mode lighting up new service areas. Anyone out there willing to move for a cellphone?[Thanks, Craig]
All kinds of crazy Wii production
According to some silly subscription-only news service (briefing.com, for the unabashedly curious), Nintendo has completed production of some 2 million units in Q3 alone. Nintendo, remember, had only promised 4 million by the end of the calendar year, and 6 million by fiscal year's end (March 31st). But with all of October and half of November to roll out the units, the figures may jump up even higher. The report claims that Nintendo has at least 7 million planned for Q4 production, and even up to 9 million seems feasible. That's potentially eleven million Wiis by year's end. It seems that the later-than-expected release date of November 19th was not a result of hardware shortages, but rather to give software developers a chance to properly finish their titles. While all these consoles sitting around, having tea and just waiting for the 19th is a nice picture, it's also important that Nintendo maintain the image of must-have and hard to find. It's a delicate balance, to supply the demand and yet seem like you can't ... hopefully, Nintendo can pull it off. [via Joystiq]
Sidekick 3 available to current T-Mobile customers
It pays to be a T-Mobile customer: while the rest of the country will have to endure nearly two more weeks of excruciating waiting to get their hands on a Sidekick 3 (well, except for us), current Mobbers have been snatching up the new device since it became available at one minute after midnight. Agreeing to a one-year contract extension will net you an SK3 for $350, while two more years of living the Mob life will knock off another fifty bucks, and a "naked" unit will set you back an even $400.[Thanks to everyone who sent this is]
MacBook Pro availability changes to 3-4 weeks
Over the last couple of days I've been hearing some rumors that the MacBook Pro availability might get pushed back to March, but I didn't want to post on it until something legitimate happened - and it has. TUAW reader Oliver noticed that the MacBook Pro's availability from apple.com/store has changed to 3-4 weeks, essentially pushing it back to March.Whether this means no one is getting their MacBook Pro until March is yet to be seen. I have yet to hear of shipment confirmation emails, but it is already a week into February. Here's hoping this is just a sign of surging MacBook Pro orders.
1GB iPod shuffle is sold out at Apple online
There are no more 1GB iPod shuffles to be had at the Apple online store. The product description says simply: "Currently Unavailable. . . Sold out for holiday. Expected availability mid-January."Mid-January, of course, is after the expected product announcements at MacWorld. There has been speculation about a smaller iPod shuffle or perhaps no iPod shuffle at all. In the meantime, you can still order the 512MB iPod shuffle from the Apple store. If you really want a 1GB version, you might still find one at online. My Simon found a few, but not the usual quotient, of online stores reporting availability, and several are up for auction on Ebay.
