Ugly
Latest
Chinon's Avi Stylix iPod / iPhone docking station packs 7-inch LCD, streams Netflix*
It doesn't scream quality (or maybe the legion of professional stock photographers were all on vacation last week), but the June-bound Avi Stylix does have something that the vast majority of me-too iPod / iPhone docking stations do not: an embedded 7-inch LCD. The usual suspects are also here, including a Dock Connector port, twin two-watt speakers, USB port, SD card slot and a bundled remote. The kicker is its ability to stream Netflix, but there's an obvious catch; you'll need an iPhone or iPod touch with a live internet connection in order to do so. There's no actual WiFi module built into the main unit, so you'll need to rely on your connected device to pull in the content. Still, for $99.99, it might not be a bad bet for your guest room. Or your office desk, since you know you aren't getting any actual work done.
Wicked Audio's 3D headphones aren't what you think, border on unsightly
Okay, so maybe "border" is being generous. Wicked Audio is well known for its -- shall we say, vivacious -- line of earbuds and headphones, but none compare to the outfit's new 3D series of cans. Set to officially debut at CES next week, this line actually has embossed logos on each ear cup, enabling you to "feel" the graphics on the side. Hard to say who exactly this benefits, but for those who love raised artwork upside their noggins, we suppose it's perfect. As for specs? Keep dreaming -- all we know is that you'll be choosing the least offensive design from the three above next month when they go on sale for $29.99 at FYE.
Urban Ears Tanto multicolor headphones are a grab bag of ugly, but still cooler than you
Everyone knows that the only way to prove your non-conformity is to wear multi-colored headphones. At least that seems to be the theme Urban Ears is hinting at via its Tanto headphones, which are assembled from randomly colored parts at the factory -- if that somehow wasn't clear enough from the image above. Besides a terrible aftertaste of the 80s, these cans feature handmade 40mm drivers, an inline remote with a multi-function button for answering calls / controlling music, and even a microphone -- making them ironically friendly for modern-day smartphone owners. Urban Ears even includes a few additional cables to ensure the headsets work with stereo sources and Nokia phones. These vivacious fellows are on sale now for $47 in limited quantities -- if you like what you see, grab a pair before the remainder-part supply bins run dry.
Lamborghini Spyder handset totally unnecessary, available in Hong Kong
If you have a Lamborghini, a surfeit of money, and an absence of good taste, have we got the phone for you! Out now in Hong Kong, the Tonino Lamborghini Spyder Series of handsets feature a 2.2-inch display, 3 megapixel camera, 4GB internal storage, 316L-grade stainless steel casing, and -- if you shell out a little extra -- a crocodile skin back. Sort of makes Vertu look reasonable in comparison, eh? No, we suppose not. Prices start at HK $13,800 (that's about $1,781 here in the states) and climb upward fairly quickly. Get a closer look after the break.
Dell's Inspiron 15R Alloy Edition makes the wrong kind of waves
An "Alloy Edition" laptop sounds like something that should look pretty decent, right? Well, ideas and execution are two entirely different things, as evidenced by Dell's new Inspiron 15R Alloy Edition. While the alloy part of the equation isn't bad, it's unfortunately only available in a "waves" pattern that we can only hope looks better in person. As for the laptop's specs, you can expect the usual choice of Core i3, i5 or i7 processors, a 15.6-inch 1,366 x 768 display, integrated Intel graphics or an optional ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650, up to 8GB of RAM, and up to a 750GB hard drive. Somewhat curiously, while the laptop is up on Dell's site with a "customize" button, it isn't yet actually available to customize, and there isn't a starting price or release date to be found. [Thanks, Nik G]
Lesance GSN801GAW gaming laptop packs 18.4-inch LCD, oodles of ugly and serious muscle
Is it actually possible to construct an 18.4-inch gaming laptop that isn't unsightly? Our bets are on no (unless HP's Envy line creeps up a bit in size), but as your mum always proclaimed, it's the beauty on the inside that truly counts. Following in the footsteps of Eurocom's frighteningly similar X8100 Leopard, the Lesance GSN801GAW packs an 18.4-inch display (1920 x 1080 resolution), a potent quad-core 1.73GHz Core i7 940XM Extreme Edition CPU, 8GB of DDR3-1333 memory and your choice of an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480M (2GB) or two ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870's in CrossFire. There's also a Blu-ray burner, 160GB worth of SSD (in a RAID 0 configuration), USB 3.0 sockets, Windows 7 Home Premium, an ExpressCard slot, multicard reader, HDMI / DVI output, gigabit Ethernet, WiFi and an inbuilt webcam. Naturally, an ideal runtime is but 1.5 hours, and it weighs just over a dozen pounds -- if neither of those tidbits faze you, it'll be topping out soon in Japan for ¥439,800 ($5,420).
Augen's $150 Android tablet hits Kmart circular, coming to stores later this week
We can't say we've heard of Augen before, but the company certainly sparked our interest (and that of Kmart circular readers) this weekend with its $149.99 7-inch Android tablet. Oh yes, you heard right shoppers -- the small Florida-based shop is bringing an Android 2.1 tablet with WiFi, 2GB of storage and 256MB of RAM to a store near you for just 150 buckaroos. And according to an Augen spokesperson, it will have access to the Android "Market App Store." That sounds pretty awesome for the pricetag, but we -- along with a number of readers we've heard from -- haven't been able to locate the 7-inch tablet at any Kmart retail location just yet. (Yes, we even spent a lovely ten minutes on hold with our local store while they checked the inventory.) We're told by Augen that the device should be hitting shelves later this week, though the company was unsure it would ever land on Kmart's online store. In addition to the 7-inch tablet, Augen has also released its $89 TheBook e-reader with a similar 7-inch LCD. It doesn't run Android, but you can check out an in-depth look at its Linux OS in The eReader's video review after the break. We'll be keeping an ear to the ground on the availability of the tablet and will be trying to get one in our hands to confirm the preloaded Market, but let us know in the comments if you've had any luck yourselves. [Thanks, Matthew] Update: We've been hearing from a bunch of readers that many Kmarts are giving out "rainchecks" and that they will be calling customers when the Augen tablet arrives later this week. Update 2: Yep, Kmart's updated its blog with info on the "rainchecks." Update 3: Rdearth53 got his very own tablet! Check the video after the break. We're still tracking one down!
Getac tosses 1.2GHz Core i7 into ultra-rugged V100 convertible laptop, drops it from atop ugly tree
Getac's long-standing V100 has never been a thing of beauty, but you'd think it may get a little easier on the eyes over the years, wouldn't you? Regrettably, we're still left looking at a fairly industrial little machine, but at least the improved innards make it that much easier to focus on the Device Manager rather than, well... the device itself. Boasting a 10.4-inch sunlight viewable display, 320GB shock-mounted HDD and an 83-key waterproof backlit rubber keyboard, the revamped V100 is ready to chew through all sorts of computations while laying low from jungle cats and pools of quicksand. The 1.2GHz Core i7 within is the real standout, and it's joined by a multitouch-capable LCD, 2 megapixel webcam, SD card reader, inbuilt Bluetooth, optional 3G and a GPS system. There's no telling how much this five pounder will set you back, but we're guessing it'll run somewhere between "way up there" and "you've got to be kidding me."
NEC LifeTouch Android tablet isn't exactly a beauty
Hey, they say beauty's in the eye of the beholder, but we're going to go out on a limb here and call this one like we see it: NEC's LifeTouch Android tablet isn't a looker, in our opinion. That said, this 7-incher runs Android 2.1 and packs an ARM Cortex A8 processor. Although it's scheduled for release in Japan in October, it turns out that it'll be sold directly to businesses, so don't hope to grab up one of these -- unless you have the best employer ever, that is. Hey, at least it's original looking. Video below.
Keepin' it real fake: phoney Armani handset borrows some of that Samsung glamor
When we reviewed the Samsung Omnia II, we forgot to mention one major drawback: the lack of Giorgio Armani branding. Luckily the KIRFmeisters of Shenzhen have picked up where the original manufacturer dropped the ball. And they threw in a QWERTY keyboard to boot! No word on price or availability of the KIRF Samsung Omnia Pro Giorgio, but that's probably for the best. And yes, it has dual SIM cards. [Thanks, Hiroshi] Update: Egads! We totally forgot about the actual Samsung Omnia Pro Giorgio! But let's be honest here -- it is highly forgettable.
Creation Tech's $65 UMPC is cheap and unlovable
If you're in the market for another Vivienne Tam-designed masterpiece, keep looking! Coming straight outta Shenzhen, Creation Tech's CTEB7G is a 7-inch UMPC featuring damn near everything you could reasonably expect from a $65 UMPC, including a 533MHz VIA VT 8505 CPU, 128MB RAM, 2GB flash storage, 7-inch (800 x 600) display, WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Ethernet, keyboard with built-in touchpad, three USB 2.0 ports, SD card slot, built-in speaker, microphone, and Windows CE 6.0. This thing is underpowered and underpriced, and it looks it -- but we're sure that Ruslan Kogan can find an excuse to rebadge it nonetheless. Please direct all order inquiries to the source link below.
The Daily Grind: Careful where you point that thing
There are parts of the game that you look at it without a great deal of affection. They're bland but functional, the sort of thing that doesn't show up in pre-release screenshots for obvious reasons. Then there are the parts that you look at that could curdle milk based solely on the visuals. They bring you to a state of Lovecraftian horrible knowledge about the hideous true nature of the universe. Maybe something has been modeled to be something particularly ugly, or perhaps it's a combination of poor polygon counts and bad choices in terms of color. In creator-heavy games such as City of Heroes and Champions Online, you might wind up with a character whose calculated appearance is eye-searing. What's universal is that they are so ugly that even if you're used to playing games with unskinned conglomerates of polygons, they strike you as downright hideous. What have you seen in your favorite game that made you just recoil in shock, horror, and possibly disgust? Was it a badly-designed model, or something that was meant to be horrific and succeeded far too well? Did you take screenshots to prove how nauseating it was, or did you just get away and never look back?
JXD V3 handheld is confused, confusing and altogether interesting
We won't front -- there's little chance we'd actually use JXD's V3 handheld, but it's not for lack of interest. This here PMP / game player hybrid isn't apt to leave the shores of Asia, but for those in that neck of the woods, this unit offers up emulators for a slew of game consoles, a 4.3-inch display, a 5 megapixel camera and plenty of file format support to handle your favorite music and video. Reportedly, the device even features an FM radio tuner, and in case you're curious as to why there are two D-pads on this thing, it's because you'll need 'em to get through certain Game Boy / NES titles. Or so they say. We can't say we're stoked about the $112 price tag, but in a way, we're kind of in love with the whole flip-top design.
Sungale adds a touch of sleek, a pinch of ugly to 4.3-inch Kula TV PMP
Approximately 7.234 Earthlings showed any semblance of caring about Sungale's 4.3-inch Kula when we reported on it back in December, and that's clearly due to the blatant omission of a huge, inappropriate antenna on the top. Inexplicably, the Kula TV -- which is essentially the exactly same 4.3-inch PMP with 2GB of internal storage space -- ships with a flip-up WiFi antenna that's supposed to net you better signal than the month-old Kula. We can't say we're eager to ever find out if said claim is true or not, but you can be our guest this March when it ships for $199.99.
Crapgadget CES, round 3: Moneual's $45K HTPC
There are some that might challenge the very idea of anything this expensive being a "crapgadget," but closer inspection of this item leaves little room for doubt. Indeed, it looks like Moneual's still around with its jewel laden "luxury" PCs, and we were fortunate enough to come across this delightful specimen on the floor of CES. The 701 Jewelry HTPC is handcrafted with gold and brass and adorned with 3500 Swarovski elements -- as well as HDMI, Blu ray, and Windows Vista Home Premium. Your cost? A mere $45,000. "The price of gold is going up," the helpful chap at the company's booth pointed out. This isn't a media PC, then -- it's an investment. Before you call your broker, take a closer look at the gallery below. %Gallery-82394%
Atom-based PsiXpda UMPC gets handled on video
Remember that retro-looking PsiXpda UMPC we spotted earlier this month? Turns out it looks just as old school in person. That said, we're still curiously attracted to the device, which sort of resembles an enlarged Touch Pro2 with a pinch of 1997 mixed in for good measure. The device was whipped out in the wild over at the LeWeb conference in Paris, and we were told that it was rocking Bluetooth, 3G WWAN, 1GB of RAM and a 16GB SSD, and we also learned that Windows XP was chosen due to its ease of integration within a corporate environment (though Ubuntu, Jolicloud and a host of other Linux-based operating systems can and will work). The QWERTY keyboard underneath is backlit in nature, the CPU is a 1.1GHz Atom and the removable battery is good for 2.5 hours of usage (with WiFi on) or 4 hours if using it offline. Hop on past the break for a peek of it in action, but keep the £500 price tag in mind before getting too excited. [Thanks, Charbax]
Kindle Kradle aims to be to 'holding things' what the Kindle is to paper
We're not entirely certain, but there seems to be at least a decent chance that this is a case of the name coming before the actual product. In any event, the so-called Kindle Kradle is nothing if not ugly unique, and promises to finally get rid of that pesky need to actually hold the Kindle while you use it. As the folks at Wired's Gadget Lab discovered during their hands-on time with the unit, however, the Kradle proved to be somewhat less useful than laying the Kindle flat on a table, and its one seeming advantage (being used as a dock) doesn't exactly live up to its potential since it's apparently a chore to thread the cable through the stand. You can get it in your choice of brown or graphite colors though, and in sizes that'll accommodate the Kindle DX or a variety of Sony Readers as well.
OpenOfficeMouse isn't free, isn't pretty
Think it's only gamers that require mice with more buttons than a scientific calculator? Then you've probably not met a die hard OpenOffice user, who now finally have a mouse to call their own in the form of the OpenOfficeMouse. Developed by WarMouse in partnership with the OpenOffice.org community, this corded point-and-clicker packs no less than 18 programmable buttons (each with double-click functionality), along with support for up to 63 separate profiles, a clickable scroll wheel, an adjustable resolution from 400 to 1,600 CPI, and, get this, a built-in analog joystick that can itself be used to store up to sixteen different keys or macros. Still no firm word on availability, it seems, but you can expect to pay $74.99 for this one.
Cartel's CT-2000 in-car Bluetooth handset adds music control, can't shake the retro
Cartel's CT-1000 brought about lots of laughs here at Engadget HQ, and frankly, we're shocked and amazed (and glad) these guys are still hanging tough two years later. The newest in-car handset system is the predictably titled CT-2000, which includes a Bluetooth-enabled handset that's meant to be permanently installed within your vehicle and wired to your audio system. Once installed, all of your mobile calls can be routed to this -- because, you know, chatting on a corded phone circa 1992 is entirely more safe than chatting on your mobile or using a handsfree solution. The only difference we can spot between the new guy and the aged sibling is the addition of music control, a "slimmer" (albeit wider) design, room for your phone contacts and one-touch speed dialing. There's no mention of a price, but trust us, you're better off in the dark. [Thanks, Martin]
Vuzix Wrap 310 video eyewear ships out to virtual big-screen lovers
Vuzix's $249.95 Wrap 310 is probably the least hideous / heinous of the video eyewear options on the market today, and while it's still take a few bottles of Jack to get us to rock these with a smile, those who are just high on life can now make a set their own. In case you're forgotten, these things provide a virtual 55-inch screen in front of your eyes, and there's support for iPod / iPhone connections as well as basic sources such as DVD players and the like. And hey, there's also the possibility that these could be used in augmented reality applications in the future, so feel free to considering this some sort of futuristic investment. Just like those Y2K preparedness tapes you bought in '99.
