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ThinkPad Edge E420s now shipping for $699, E220s coming in April
Don't tell us you've forgotten about Lenovo's pair of new Edge machines! Sure, they've taken a while to get to market, perhaps having been inconvenienced by a little hiccup with Intel's Core 2011 chipsets, but the first of them is now well and truly on sale and the other is looking eager and ready to go too. The 14-inch E420s is up on Lenovo's web store, starting at $699 with a 2.1GHz Core i3-2310M CPU, while its 12.5-inch sibling, the E220s, is expected on the 8th of April, judging by the roadmap doc we've uncovered below. The E420s touts what Lenovo calls an Infinity Glass display, meaning simply edge-to-edge glass, alongside a fingerprint reader, a fetching new matte black lid, a HD webcam, 4GB of RAM and 250GB of HDD storage at a minimum, and a 48.8Wh battery. A 1366 x 768 resolution is your only option, unfortunately, though you can spruce up performance by quite a bit if you opt for the i5-2410M, which does 2.3GHz at default speeds or 2.9GHz when only one of its two cores is pushed to the limit ... or should that be to the Edge? [Thanks, Chris and Abdu]
HTC Arrive now available for $200 from Sprint (update: $50 at Amazon)
It's March 20th and, right on schedule, Sprint has started taking orders for its first Windows Phone 7 handset. The HTC 7 Pro, renamed the Arrive on the Now Network, can now be had for $200 after rebate when bought with the customary two-year contract. Amazon's doing its usual thing of undercutting carriers' own pricing by offering it up for 50 greenbacks less at $150, and we suspect other online retailers will follow suit. So affordability shouldn't be a problem, but if you're still wondering if the investment will be worth it, we'll have our review of this handset early next week -- just before Sprint makes it irrelevant by blowing the doors off CTIA. [Thanks, Justin] Update: That was quick, Amazon's dropped its price to just $50.
HTC Thunderbolt now available to buy: $250 from Verizon, $180 at Amazon
Another saga put to rest. The question of just when Verizon will release its first 4G LTE handset was answered yesterday with the word "tomorrow," which makes today that day! Verizon Wireless is now taking online orders for HTC's 4.3-inch Thunderbolt, pricing the LTE lubber at $250 on a two-year contract. It comes with Android 2.2 as the OS underlying the HTC Sense 2.0 UI, an 8 megapixel camera with HD video recording, 768MB of RAM, and a 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8655 chip that will have to do its best to keep up with those crazy 4G download speeds. If Verizon's own pricing feels a bit rich to you, shop around -- we've found the Thunderbolt as low as $180 at Amazon, although the online retailer has it on back order for the moment. [Thanks, Justin]
'Soul by Ludacris' headphone series priced from $69 to $299, shipping in May
You know what they say -- if you can't Beat 'em, undercut 'em. Signeo's Soul by Ludacris headphone series -- which made its debut a couple of months ago at CES -- has just been priced, and sure enough, each pair is cheaper than what Dr. Dre and co. are charging for the Beats assortment. The top-end SL300 is set to sell for $299, while the similarly styled SL150 goes for $199. The more conventional SL100 will list for $149, and if it's earbuds you're craving, the SL99 will sport an MSRP of $99 while the low-end SL49 offers itself for just $69. Specifics on each one are hosted up after the break, and Americans can expect to see the whole crew this May. As for everyone else? There's no time table yet, but we've been assured by the company that international distribution is being worked on as we speak. Word.
Second Sight retinal prosthesis cleared for sale in Europe, a better one already in development
We'd bother with the obvious, but there's no sense in acting exasperated that this thing is finally shipping -- let's just be glad it didn't take a day longer, shall we? Second Sight, a California-based company aiming to help those with degenerative eye disease by way of technology, has finally seen its flagship product approved for "clinical and commercial use" in Europe. The product is the Argus II, and for all intents and purposes, it's a retinal prosthesis (read: implant) that can at least partially restore lost vision. It works a little like this: patients don the camera-laden glasses, where signals are grabbed and fed wirelessly to a chip implanted near ones retina. The information is beamed to around 60 electrodes that "stimulate retinal cells, producing light in a patient's view." According to Technology Review, "the process works for people with retinitis pigmentosa because the disease damages only the light-sensing photoreceptors, leaving the remaining retinal cells healthy." For now, the $115,000 device will only be available through a smattering of clinics in Switzerland, France and the UK. If all goes well, it'll be actively seeking FDA approval next year for use in the US of A, and a version with way more electrodes shouldn't be too far behind.
Razer's Chimaera 5.1 wireless Xbox 360 surround sound headset up for pre-order, ships in April
We were told back at CES that Razer's Chimaera 5.1 would soon be on sale, and sure enough, the company's keeping its word with today's launch. As of... oh, right about five minutes ago, the wireless Xbox 360 headset has been listed for pre-order, with $199.99 (or €199.99 in Europe) netting you a 5.1 channel Dolby surround sound headphone, 5.8GHz wireless technology, a docking base station (up to four are supported), adjustable circumaural ear cups, independent audio and microphone controls on the ear cups and a flexible microphone boom and detachable Xbox Live communication cable. We're told that they'll keep up the good fight for eight hours on a full charge, which should be plenty for even the hardest of hardcore single-session freaks. Word on the street has these shipping in April, but there's no time like the present to commit. %Gallery-117308%
Nomad capacitive brush turns your iPad into an art canvas for $24 (video)
We didn't have much luck using the oStylus as a paint brush, but even the creator confessed that it was never intended for such chores. Thankfully, the Nomad Brush was concocted specifically for those chores. What you're looking at above is a paint brush that's designed for use with capacitive screens, and it could very well spark a modern day renaissance... or something of the sort. The brush is topped with capacitive fibers that the iPhone, Galaxy Tab and iPad (among other tablets and phones) can recognize, enabling you artsy folk to express yourselves even when it's impractical to tote around a suitcase full of watercolors. Head on past the break for an (admittedly impressive) video, and pop the source link to hand over $24 in exchange for a shipping label. Just promise us you'll keep it away from any actual paint buckets, okay? Update: Looks like there's a cheaper alternative floating around from Blackbox, if you're down for it.
AT&T Motorola Atrix 4G now on sale, $149.99 at Amazon or RadioShack (update: $129.99 at Walmart)
The hotly reviewed and already rooted Atrix 4G is now on sale at AT&T. As expected, the privilege of buying direct from the carrier will set you back $199.99 with a two-year contract in the range of $39.99 per month for the Nation 450 on up to $69.99 for the Nation Unlimited with another $15 per month for a 200MB DataPlus plan or $45 per month for a Data Pro 4GB + tethering plan. Or shop on over to Amazon (or RadioShack) who lists the same HSPA+ device for $50 less with a 24-hour ship time. Remember, if you just have to have the laptop dock then you'd best do it now while it's offered with the handset in a $499 bundle (after $100 mail-in rebate and purchase of the Data Pro plan with tethering add-on) -- the same laptop dock purchased separately will cost you $499.99. No, really. Update: Walmart is offering the Atrix 4G handset for a measly $129.99 for those of you activating a new account before Thursday. [Thanks, Zizo and Hoodean]
Nanocade kit now on sale in the USA, somewhat less pricy at $229
If you asked us to drop $350 for 23 pieces of laser-cut plastic, we'd probably shoo you away, but it's hard to resist the incredible charm of the Nanocade. Besides, designer Rasmus Sorensen's actually selling the miniature arcade cabinet parts for just $229 right now, which makes the decision to finally build your own MAME machine a wee bit more affordable. You'll still need to supply all the internals yourself, including buttons, an arcade stick, a monitor and glue, and even should you succeed, good luck prying guests away from your new coffee table conversation piece. Find the basic kit in your choice of Midnight Black or Arctic White at our source link. Note: It's a bit of a bummer, but the Nanocade website says that handsome curved control panel displayed above actually isn't part of the initial kit -- it comes with a pair of flat pieces that meet at a (seemingly) wrist-chafing angle instead.
Thermaltake Level 10 GT case polishes up a classic, available now for $280
The Thermaltake Level 10, arguably the sweetest-looking enclosure to ever hit the mass market, has managed to find a chassis worthy of being called its successor in the shape of the behemoth you see standing before you, the Level 10 GT. It softens the aggressively modular aesthetic of the original, but in exchange delivers a more performance-focused design, replete with three 200mm fans, air filters everywhere you look, a neat little window so you can peek inside your full-sized tower of doom, and enough space to fit the very largest of modern graphics cards. Thermaltake is asking for $280 on its online store and you can order one up today. Video awaits after the break, though we wouldn't skip out on the Flickr gallery below, either.
Olympus E-PL2 Micro Four Thirds camera now shipping, Penpal still has us buzzing
Right on cue, Olympus' latest entrant into the world of Micro Four Thirds is now shipping. Just a month after receiving its official unveil at CES, the E-PL2 is finally taking over for the E-PL1. Aside from an ISO range topping out at 6,400, a 3-inch rear LCD, an SDXC slot, RAW image support and a newfangled accessory port, this guy's also fully compatible with the Penpal Bluetooth dongle. For those unaware, that enables photos to be shared and uploaded on the fly so long as your BT-enabled, 3G-ready smartphone is by your side, though it looks as if the camera itself has beat said accessory to market. The camera's yours for the taking at $599.99 (bundled with a ED m14-42mm f3.5/5.6 zoom lens) at the source links below. [Thanks, Tom]
WebOS-based Veer, Pre 3 and TouchPad leaked on HP's site, likely on sale today
Now that HP's full slate of webOS reveals has been made, it looks as if the web admins are testing the waters. On HP's Home & Home Office shopping page, there's a drop-down under "Deals & Offers" that quite clearly reveals the outfit's planned triumvirate: the HP Veer (a name HP filed a trademark for back in December), Pre 3 and TouchPad. Those are slated to bring webOS in "S, M and L" flavors, though it's unclear whether the Veer or Pre 3 will be the smallest. HP has managed to yank the teaser from its US portal, though it still looks live internationally. There's no guarantee that any of this will ship momentarily but seriously, why list something like this if all three weren't going to be on sale by sundown? Here's hoping!
Verizon iPhone 4 now available to order / reserve for in-store pickup
Apple and Verizon's long-awaited partnership is nearly upon us, folks, and the final piece to the puzzle is general availability of the hallowed iPhone 4. You're now able to order or reserve your own at the online stores of both carrier and phone maker, though shipping dates for early orders are listed at a distant February 18th. We'd just reserve one and go down to our nearest physical outlet to pick it up tomorrow. Update: We're now hearing that only Apple stores will take in-store reservations, while Verizon is first-come, first-served and only while supplies last. You may get lucky, but it seems the rule is that VZW won't reserve or hold phones in-store for any reason. [Thanks, S.!]
Best Buy opens up in-store pre-orders for HTC Thunderbolt: $50 to claim yours
And with that, it's officially On Like Donkey Kong. A flood of tipsters have confirmed this morning that Best Buy stores around the nation are now accepting pre-orders for HTC's titillating Thunderbolt. We knew good and well this day was coming, but if you've got $50 socked away to put towards it, today's the day to get in line. We're hearing from numerous stores that the phone will be available for pickup on February 14th, so feel free to pre-order two -- you know, for that special someone in your life. Let us know how your experience goes in comments below. Update: We've got it on good authority that new and upgrade pricing for this here handset is set at $249.99 with a two-year contract. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
XIM3 Xbox 360 keyboard / mouse / etc. adapter goes on sale... sort of
Well, ain't that a shame. The XIM3 mega-adapter you've been waiting patiently for went on sale this week, and within 3.299 seconds, the company managed to blow through their entire stock. If you've been out of the loop, this here peripheral is designed to bring keyboards, mice and all sorts of other controlling devices to the average Xbox 360 owner, and it's obviously far more sophisticated than its predecessor. The good news is that it's only $149.99, but the bad news is that the source link currently directs you to a sign-up form to be notified of when stock is refreshed. It's pretty clear that the company's having trouble keeping 'em around, so we'd keep a pretty constant check on the site if you'd like to be a part of the first second wave. Oh, and don't be shocked to see your online skills mysteriously decline over the weekend -- something tells us a few folks will have an unfair advantage on the other side. Check out a Black: OPS example just after the break. Update: Looks as if the store may be up and down (but mostly down) through Monday due to the crushing order load. A good problem to have, we suppose. Thanks, Tom! [Thanks, Richard]
Verizon iPhone will go on general sale at 7AM on February 10th, you can reserve one on February 9th
Apple has just announced that tomorrow morning's early Verizon iPhone pre-orders will be available through its online Store as well -- starting at 3AM, available to current VZW subscribers only, and sold on a first-come, first-served basis. More pertinent news, however, can be found deeper in the company's press release, which states that pre-orders will be opened up to the general public on February 9th, when you'll be able to reserve or have one delivered on launch day, February 10th. Shops will open their doors early, 7AM -- matching AT&T's early opening for the iPhone 4's original launch way back in June -- and availability will be broad, encompassing Apple's brick and mortar Stores, Verizon's 2,000+ retail locations, select partners, and even a zany 1-800-2 JOIN IN phone number you can call. So, really, the only people left without a Verizon iPhone on February 11th should be those that don't actually want one.
Digital Storm's slim Enix desktop takes Sandy Bridge to 4.7GHz
Overclocked, custom-built PCs are nothing new, and neither is 4.7GHz from the factory. But Digital Storm has managed to take one of Intel's newest Sandy Bridge chips to that height, and it's doing so in a case that's far sleeker than most of the towers out there. The all-new Enix relies on a Micro-ATX system board, vertical heat dissipation and a mobo that's rotating 90 degrees -- a move that's being made in order to "take advantage of heat's natural tendency to rise." Consumers can order one starting today, with the $1,132 base unit boasting a Core i3-2100, 4GB of DDR3-1600 memory, NVIDIA's 1GB GeForce GT 220, a 1TB hard drive and a copy of Windows 7 Home Premium. The high-end model tops out at just north of two large, with each model offering a hot-swap bay and a pair of USB 3.0 ports. Eye candy is below, and the source link shouldn't be ventured to unless you're fairly immune to impulse buys. %Gallery-114981%
Teenage Engineering OP-1 synthesizer now available for pre-order, we tour its shiny new features (video)
In an era of synth-toy overload, the OP-1 is definitely doing its thing to set itself apart from the pack. It wouldn't have surprised us if it never came out, simply vanishing into the ether like most too-good-to-be-true hardware tends to do. But the fine Swedes of Teenage Engineering are in Anaheim for NAMM with a production model on the floor, and now it's really, truly up for pre-order (please allow 8 weeks for manufacturing and processing) for $799 at their site. There are boatloads of updates from the OP-1's we've seen in the past: the little white slab with the colorful LCD now sports a raft of different sequencing modes, new stunningly visualized effects (like the boxer up above for punch...get it?), an accelerometer, and an FM radio, of all things. Video tour of all the shiny new features after the break.
Dell implants Sandy Bridge CPUs within biz-minded Vostro 460 mini tower
Tried booting your corporate PC lately? Dollars to donuts it takes longer than three minutes to complete. The point? You need Sandy Bridge, and you need it now. Dell's hoping your IT department will agree, with the introduction of the Vostro 460 mini tower bringing along Intel's second generation Core processors (Core i5 and Core i7 options are available), Turbo Boost 2.0 and an understated design. Customers can also load it up with as much as 3TB of storage, a Blu-ray drive, 1GB NVIDIA or AMD discrete graphics card and a USB 3.0 expansion card. You'll also get a tool-less chassis, eight USB 2.0 ports, inbuilt security services from Trend Micro and a starting price of $599. Surely that fits into the Q1 budget somewhere, right?
Apple drops iPhone 3GS to $49 on contract, we pretend the timing is coincidental
Hey, a phone that Apple introduced back in 2009 (that'd be the iPhone 3GS) is now selling -- brand new with a two-year voice / data agreement -- for $49, both at AT&T and through Apple directly. Of course, you could get the far more capable iPhone 4 for a fair amount more, or you could wait until tomorrow so you'd actually have an option when it comes to carriers. Your call, obviously.
