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Pogoplug second generation debuts, coming this holiday with enhanced web interface

Ross Miller — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST

Well, well, looks like Cloud Engines, Inc. is doing what it can to poise Pogoplug as a much more consumer-friendly device, both in hardware design and expanded web interface. The second generation Pogoplug solves one of our chief complaints of the first -- namely, four USB ports instead of just one -- while at the same time still sticking with ethernet as its sole internet connection of choice. It's also much more stylish in design, with an elongated clear casing and a pink strip of plastic serving as the faceplate, stand, and the cable organizer. A bit bulkier, sure, but it's certainly something we don't mind being seen on our desk. As far as the new UI goes, it's a simple drag-and-drop interface, multimedia slide shows (worth it if you have good taste in music, but the statistics aren't in your favor), and options for instant sharing to Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace, via links to the specifically selected pogoplug content. It can autosync with popular multimedia apps like iTunes, Windows Media Player, and iPhoto. One nice bonus is direct playback of video from the interface -- works on iPhone, too, but in both cases it's a pretty low res presentation.

At $129, it's a little costlier than the old model, but the company's promising no additional service fees. It's coming out in time for this holiday season. Fan of the first generation hardware? The good news is that it'll be updated with all the new features, giving you the same experience minus the new style and extra USB ports. The bad news is, the older model's on the outs -- from now on, it's a second generation world. We're looking forward to some serious sit-down time here, but in the meantime, please check out images from our brief hands-on at an event earlier this week -- press release is after the break, too, if you're interested.

Gallery: Pogoplug second generation hands-on

Continue reading Pogoplug second generation debuts, coming this holiday with enhanced web interface

Filed under: Peripherals, Storage, Networking

Pogoplug second generation debuts, coming this holiday with enhanced web interface originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Battery-less remote gets power from button presses, aims for production in 2011

Darren Murph — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:38:00 EST

You know what you'll be doing in 2011? Everything that you've ever wanted, that's what, 'cause the world as we know will unquestionably end in 2012. Amazingly enough, one of those bucket list items that you'll be able to achieve is to change the channel on your tele without ever slipping a battery into your remote. A prototype clicker was recently shown over in Japan utilizing technologies from NEC and Soundpower; essentially, the remote turns the small vibrations from button presses into power, which it then uses to beam out signals to the nearby set. If all goes well, the two hope to have battery-less remotes shipping with televisions in just two years -- a proposition that surely exasperate the likes of Duracell and Energizer (and enraptures us to no end).

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals

Battery-less remote gets power from button presses, aims for production in 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tony Hawk Ride ready to rock indoor tricks in the US (video)

Vladislav Savov — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:58:00 EST

After that false alarm about an October release date, the Tony Hawk Ride bandwagon was all set for departure on November 17 and that's exactly what's happened. Available for a cent under $120, the new game / peripheral combo will allow players to shimmy, gesture, and ollie their way to (simulated) skateboarding immortality on the PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii. The earliest European availability we can see is offered by Amazon UK, which indicates a December 4 launch for the Queen's isles and a discounted £89 ($149) price. You can check out our own feets-on with that wireless controller right here or, if you so wish, peruse the full PR at the read link. What's not optional, however, is missing the bonus "making of" video for that most radical of peripherals, which we've lovingly prepared for you just after the break.

Continue reading Tony Hawk Ride ready to rock indoor tricks in the US (video)

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Tony Hawk Ride ready to rock indoor tricks in the US (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CyberPower adds USB 3.0 and SATA 6G to entire Gamer Xtreme desktop line

Darren Murph — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:46:00 EST

While we wait for the big boys to get their acts together and standardize around USB 3.0 and the newest SATA protocol, the more nimble outfits are already looking to capitalize. Take CyberPower, for instance, who has just announced that its entire Gamer Xtreme desktop range will soon boast USB 3.0 and SATA 6G as standard features. In fact, prospective buyers can customize a rig right now with both of those features onboard, and of course, both are backwards compatible in order to work with your existing slate of accessories and peripherals. The Gamer Xtreme line gets going at $749, and yes, we too hope this introduction sparks a revolution across the board.

Continue reading CyberPower adds USB 3.0 and SATA 6G to entire Gamer Xtreme desktop line

Filed under: Desktops, Peripherals

CyberPower adds USB 3.0 and SATA 6G to entire Gamer Xtreme desktop line originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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STMicroelectronics' 3-axis MEMS gyroscope gives a new level of control to your mobile

Darren Murph — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:32:00 EST

Man, talk about timely. We heard right around 11 months ago that MEMS gyroscopes would be hitting an array of handsets in 2009, and while it's looking like that estimate will be just a touch off, you won't catch up kvetching with "early 2010." STMicroelectronics has just announced its new 3-axis MEMS gyroscope, which promises 360 degree "angular-rate detection for high-precision 3D gesture and motion recognition in mobile phones, game controllers, personal navigation systems and other portable devices." The gyro is said to provide two separate outputs for each of the three axes at the same time: a 400dps full-scale value for slow motion, and a 1,600dps full-scale value to detect and measure speedy gestures and movements. We're told that samples of the tech are available now with mass production scheduled for Q1 2010; and yeah PSP, it's totally cool if you keep sweating. NGage is about to be back... with a vengeance!

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals

STMicroelectronics' 3-axis MEMS gyroscope gives a new level of control to your mobile originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BrailleNote Apex claims to be the thinnest, lightest notetaker for the blind

Paul Miller — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:39:00 EST

We don't know what it's like to be blind, but we often suffer from acute blogger's eye fatigue and would love nothing more to pound out our ramblings in a no-look manner -- if only we could read them back afterward without letting all those ultra-harsh light particles and / or waves back into our brains. Well, a Braille display and Braille keyboard obviously solves that problem, and the BrailleNote Apex from HumanWare is purportedly the thinnest and lightest notetaker for the blind yet. It runs Windows CE 6, with a decent variety of accessible software, and is targeted at serious students and professionals, with 8GB of built-in flash storage, an SD card slot, WiFi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and a trio of USB ports. No word on a price or release date, but it sounds pretty kitted out, and these things typically don't come cheap.

Filed under: Peripherals

BrailleNote Apex claims to be the thinnest, lightest notetaker for the blind originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vestax Spin might just be the USB-based DJ rig of your dreams, only shinier

Donald Melanson — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:25:00 EST

Your USB-based DJ-ing options aren't exactly all that limited these days, but there's few rigs out there quite as eye-catching as this new Spin controller developed by Vestax and Algoriddim. Designed for Mac users only, this one packs two touch sensitive jog wheels front and center, along with a full multi-channel audio system complete with the requisite sliders, mic input (and included microphone), audio output, and of course that USB connection, which also eliminates the need for a power adapter. On the software side of things you'll get Algoriddim's djay 3 mixing application, plus some out-of-the-box integration with iTunes to let you easily pull tracks for your mix. Sold? Then you can snag this one right now for $250.

Filed under: Peripherals

Vestax Spin might just be the USB-based DJ rig of your dreams, only shinier originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Regen's ReNu solar panel system in the flesh

Paul Miller — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:23:00 EST

While great in concept, solar powered gadgets just never seem to be very practical at the end of the day. Regen's tweak on the formula might help a little, by stuffing a battery into the solar panel itself, meaning you don't have to keep your iPod plugged in for a painfully long trickle charge or juggle multiple elements to make it work (there's a USB plug on the side). ReNu also has batteries in its various docking accessories as well, all of which can be charged by the ReNu panel or by AC power. It's not going to turn the emerging market on its head, and at $199 for the ReNu unit by itself it's not cheap either, but it seems like a logical direction for sun-fueled devices -- and looks pretty cool doing it.

Gallery: Regen's ReNu solar panel system in the flesh

Filed under: Peripherals

Regen's ReNu solar panel system in the flesh originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Optoma's screen-in-a-bag actually makes a lot of sense

Paul Miller — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:49:00 EST

Optoma doesn't have a price, release date or even a name for this thing, but it's a pretty solid idea: a portfolio-style case with slots for a pico projector and miscellanea on one side, with a pop-up miniature projector screen on the other half. We guess you could call it a "pico screen" if you don't mind odd looks from math nerds who actually know what pico means. We'll let you know if this thing gets any more official, or if we think of a better title for it.

Gallery: Optoma's screen-in-a-bag actually makes a lot of sense

Filed under: Displays, Peripherals

Optoma's screen-in-a-bag actually makes a lot of sense originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Razer gets back to basics with $50 Abyssus gaming mouse

Darren Murph — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:54:00 EST

Razer's been on somewhat of a tear here lately with new input peripherals, and while most of the new stuff has been somewhat radical (or extremely radical, in some cases), the outfit is taking a step back with the Abyssus. The ambidextrous wired gaming mouse is just about the most vanilla product Razer has ever slapped its name on, but that's not to say it's unviable. In fact, many may appreciate the normalcy in design coupled with the 3.5G 3500dpi infrared sensor and on-the-fly sensitivity switching. It's available now in the outfit's webstore for $49.99 (or €39.99 in Europe), while the rest of the globe should see it emerge next month.

Gallery: Razer gets back to basics with $50 Abyssus gaming mouse

Filed under: Peripherals

Razer gets back to basics with $50 Abyssus gaming mouse originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MacBook Pro battery flies off the handle, busts wide open

Darren Murph — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:23:00 EST

Here's the thing: that horrifically swollen, completely destroyed battery you're peering at above isn't as rare a sight as it should be. If you'll recall, we've personally covered at least four MacBook Pro battery explosions, and we've also seen a similar amount of volatility over on the PC side. The story behind this one is as follows: a 17-inch (non-unibody) MBP owner was using his machine on a desk (thankfully), when suddenly an odd noise began to increase in volume; following that, the entire machine "jumped up" slightly and turned off, and this battery is to blame. Oh, and if this all-too-commonplace occurrence happens to you next, let's hope you aren't actually using your laptop on your, um, lap.

Gallery: MacBook Pro battery flies off the handle, busts wide open

Filed under: Laptops, Peripherals

MacBook Pro battery flies off the handle, busts wide open originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yeti USB Condenser Mic gets certified by THX, fellow Yetis

Darren Murph — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:26:00 EST

Blue Microphones, the same company responsible for the heralded Snowball, is today introducing the planet's first THX certified microphone... or so it says. The hilariously named Yeti USB Condenser Mic ($149.99) touts condenser capsules in a triple array, four total patterns (omni, cardoid, stereo, bidirectional), a zero-latency headphone output (with volume control for direct monitoring), an adjustable microphone gain control and a mute button. As expected, the USB mic will play nice with both Mac and Windows-based systems, and if you've been looking high and low for a mic that gets an oh-so-coveted stamp of approval from Sir Abominable Snowman, you can finally call off the hunt next month.

Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio

Yeti USB Condenser Mic gets certified by THX, fellow Yetis originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Matrox pushes eight displays with a single-slot PCIe x16 GPU

Darren Murph — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:27:00 EST

Matrox has been distancing itself from the consumer market for awhile now, but even we couldn't resist this one. Hailed as the planet's first single-slot octal graphics card, the M9188 supports up to eight DisplayPort or single-link DVI outputs, and if you're up for getting really crazy, you can hook up a pair to drive 16 displays from a single workstation. The card itself packs 2GB of memory and supports resolutions as high as 2,560 x 1,600 (per output), which should be just enough to create the Google Earth visualization system you've always dreamed of. In related news, the outfit also introduced the far weaker 1GB M9128, which can drive a grand total of two displays for $259. Oh, and as for pricing on the octal guy? Try $1,995 when it ships later this quarter.

Filed under: Peripherals

Matrox pushes eight displays with a single-slot PCIe x16 GPU originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Emotiv EPOC human-computer interface supposedly on track to ship next month

Paul Miller — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:29:00 EST

Remember that Emotiv EPOC mind-controlled USB controller from last year? Well, we've been dreaming of controlling a game of pong with merely our thought waves ever since, and it looks like our wish might at last be granted. According Emotiv's site, the $299 headgear will be shipping in limited quantities to US customers on December 21st, just in time for your thoughts of the holidays to coalesce into a concentrated, computer-controlling tip. The device works with 14 "saline sensors" applied to the head, in addition to a gyroscope for controlling a camera or cursor, and it comes with the "EmoKey" software to define keyboard shortcuts to be activated by your various expressions and thoughts. Will computer use ever be the same? Yes, probably.

[Thanks, Dan]

Filed under: Peripherals

Emotiv EPOC human-computer interface supposedly on track to ship next month originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple's Mini DisplayPort gets VESA stamp of approval

Darren Murph — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:48:00 EST

We already knew that Apple's homegrown Mini DisplayPort connector was being baked into the DisplayPort 1.2 specifications, but now said socket has even more validity in the marketplace thanks to a ringing endorsement from the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA). As of now, the diminutive connector has managed to comply with all of the signaling and protocol capabilities defined in the DisplayPort Standard Version 1, Revision 1a, and we're told that DisplayPort 1.2 -- which incorporates mDP and doubles available bandwidth to 21.6Gb/second -- is nearing finalization. Looks like we can finally look forward to seeing products take advantage of this socket aside from those Designed In California (and copied shamelessly in the outskirts of Shenzhen).

Filed under: Displays, Peripherals

Apple's Mini DisplayPort gets VESA stamp of approval originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OpenOffice distances itself from OpenOfficeMouse, joins everyone else

Donald Melanson — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:48:00 EST

Well, the OpenOfficeMouse rightly caused a bit of skepticism when it was officially announced earlier this week, and it turns out it is something non-involved after all -- just not the way you might think. Yes, the multi-buttoned mouse is still all too real (in prototype form, at least), and supposedly set for a release... sometime, but it seems that mouse's creator got a bit ahead of himself in slapping the OpenOffice name on it. As it happens, the mouse was apparently officially presented at the recent OOoConference in Italy to judge the reaction from the OpenOffice community, but the relationship ended there, and the mouse's creator was never given permission to market the mouse with the OpenOffice name (probably a wise move). Not one to be deterred, WarMouse now seems to simply be referring to the mouse as the OOMouse -- don't worry though, you can still call it "ugly."

Update: The OOMouse creators have contacted us to give their side of the story, claiming that they have emails granting permission to use OpenOffice.org's logo. In their words, "Due to the massive confusion about OpenOffice.org producing the mouse and the numerous questions about the mouse working with programs other than OpenOffice.org, we have mutually agreed with Sun to change the name of the mouse and cease using the OpenOffice.org logo."

Filed under: Peripherals

OpenOffice distances itself from OpenOfficeMouse, joins everyone else originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PowerGenix NiZn rechargeable AA batteries: finally, some cells worth buying

Darren Murph — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:22:00 EST

It's rare if a month flies by without some random university or DIYer proclaiming that the next major jump in battery technology is just over the horizon, and yet, here we are -- in the year 2009 -- still buying overpriced AA cells from Duracell and Energizer that deplete far too quickly given the technology available. Heck, even those standard rechargeable cells have seen their performance degrade hastily in our experiences, and we've been longing for a rechargeable cell that was actually worth its salt for a long, long time. Frankly, we passed off the PowerGenix NiZn battery as just another slice of vaporware when it was first uncovered in late 2008, but after they went on sale this summer, we decided to really put a set through the paces. Click on to find out how we feel about 'em after months and months of hardcore usage.

Continue reading PowerGenix NiZn rechargeable AA batteries: finally, some cells worth buying

Filed under: Peripherals

PowerGenix NiZn rechargeable AA batteries: finally, some cells worth buying originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yamaha intros more affordable Tenori-On 'Orange'

Darren Murph — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:25:00 EST

It's been well over a year since we published our take on Yamaha's perplexing, beautiful and all-around intriguing Tenori-On concept, and evidently the masses have spoken out. This week, the company announced that it will soon be shipping a "more affordable" version with the name Tenori-On 'Orange,' with some vendors already leaking a £649 ($1,077) MSRP. Put simply, the new Orange version will retain all of the musical functionality that the original had (or has, as it were), but the magnesium casing will be replaced by a rugged plastic one and the battery / back panel LED options will also be removed in order to shave costs. Still, we're all for peeling back on the flash in order to get more music makers into more hands, so we'll certainly look to wrap our own paws around one when it starts shipping in December.

Update: Engadget Japanese just did a quick hands-on with the Orange, check it out!

Gallery: TENORI-ON standard model "TNR-O"

[Via MusicRadar]

Filed under: Peripherals

Yamaha intros more affordable Tenori-On 'Orange' originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Easy Piano bringing keys to the DS Lite in 'early 2010'

Darren Murph — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:23:00 EST

We've got a sneaking suspicion that the DS Lite will be ~~old~~ ancient news by the time Easy Piano hit the market, but those who've learned to be content in life (and have somehow managed to resist the urge to snap up a DSi in place of their older handheld), have probably been hunting for this date. Valcon Games has just announced that its piano-teaching title (and the highly comical / interesting 13-key accessory) will be landing in North America in "early 2010," but it didn't go so far as to fess up to an MSRP. Not like it matters -- you know you're totally lining up to snag this during a midnight launch, regardless of how many heirlooms are forced onto Craigslist.

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Easy Piano bringing keys to the DS Lite in 'early 2010' originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OpenOfficeMouse isn't free, isn't pretty

Donald Melanson — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:33:00 EST

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.

Filed under: Peripherals

OpenOfficeMouse isn't free, isn't pretty originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DIY sewable iPod remote takes just ten minutes, will absolutely warm your heart

Darren Murph — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:52:00 EST

Okay, so we fully anticipate that creating the downright adorable object you see above will take far longer than ten minutes if you a) don't have a stash of circuits and fabrics laying around and / or b) you've never done anything like this before, but for seasoned DIYers, this is about as easy as it gets. The "10-minute sewable iPod remote" can actually be any character or design you feel like making, as the crux of this project relies on the circuit chip that is actually fitted inside the dock connector. From there, you just connect a few strands of conductive fabric, attach your kitty cat (or dragon, as the case may be) and begin to enjoy your homegrown iPod remote. Hit the read link for the full how-to, but only if you're immune to cuteoverloaditus.

Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio, Portable Video

DIY sewable iPod remote takes just ten minutes, will absolutely warm your heart originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thrustmaster T-Freestyle NW is your next Wii skate / snowboard controller

Darren Murph — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:41:00 EST

Too broke to pay Tony Hawk's royalties on a Wii skateboard / snowboard? Yeah, we feel you, and evidently Thrustmaster does too. Said peripheral outfit has just introduced its newest Wii accessory, the T-Freestyle NW. Designed with work with any skate or snowboard game that lands on Nintendo's money-maker, the board is crafted from genuine maple and sports a totally stereotypical "skull" design on the top. There's also a safety stopper to prevent any sort of toppling disaster, and best of all, this thing will be available at the end of the month for just $29.99. Gnarly, dude.

Gallery: Thrustmaster T-Freestyle NW is your next Wii skate / snowboard controller

Continue reading Thrustmaster T-Freestyle NW is your next Wii skate / snowboard controller

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Thrustmaster T-Freestyle NW is your next Wii skate / snowboard controller originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS retools Eee Keyboard, swaps in capacitive touchscreen

Darren Murph — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:02:00 EST

At this point, we're beginning to wonder if we'll ever see ASUS' Eee Keyboard on store shelves. Heck, we've even see it drop by the all-knowing FCC, yet the company has apparently delayed the official debut once more. The kids over at Register Hardware were able to sit down with a tweaked version of the device, which is now slated to ship in early 2010. What's different? ASUS threw out the old resistive touchscreen that we'd played with before and swapped in a capacitive panel like the one in SE's XPERIA X10, Apple's iPhone and Nokia's X6. Engineers assert that touch response was far better with capacitive, and at least in this application, it simply made more sense. We're also given a good look at the external WiFi / UWB antenna that we spotted in the aforesaid FCC filing, which is being used over a sleek internal option due to possible interference from the metallic enclosure. Other than that, most everything else has remained the same, though we are told that a non-metallic iteration is in the works for those who hate awesome things.

Filed under: Peripherals

ASUS retools Eee Keyboard, swaps in capacitive touchscreen originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bang & Olufsen's multifunctional BeoTime gets carefully handled

Vladislav Savov — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:50:00 EST

It's rare that we get to see magic wand-shaped remote controls, and rarer still for them to have integrated alarm clocks. The Bang & Olufsen BeoTime is just that sort of exotic specimen, and its $375 touch-sensitive aluminum body has now been tested for our amusement. Being able to turn on your other B&O products by simply grabbing the remote or setting an alarm for the desired time struck positive notes, and those bite-sized displays earned praise too. With automatic backlighting, built-in accelerometer, and full channel readouts, they ensured the minimum of strain for the user (which is probably still pretty high considering they're tiny!). There wasn't much to complain about, but at that price point you wouldn't expect it either. Full hands-on gallery can be found at the read link.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals

Bang & Olufsen's multifunctional BeoTime gets carefully handled originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cartel's CT-2000 in-car Bluetooth handset adds music control, can't shake the retro

Darren Murph — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:16:00 EST

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]

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals

Cartel's CT-2000 in-car Bluetooth handset adds music control, can't shake the retro originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Plantronics Voyager PRO UC headset does Bluetooth and VoIP

Darren Murph — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:11:00 EST

Considering that Bluetooth headset makers are now dealing with the harsh realization that consumers don't actually like these things any more, Plantronics -- a staple in the sector -- is hoping to snag some dollars from the unknowing corporate purchasing managers in attendance. The Voyager PRO UC is a dual-mode headset that packs integrated Bluetooth capabilities and ships with a USB dongle that allows softphone conversations (think Skype) to take place on your headset rather than through your laptop's built-in microphone / speaker. Users can even stream audio over it and hear alerts when a VoIP call rings in, and as expected, there's quite a bit of noise nixing technology baked in. The only problem? The $199.95 price tag that'll be affixed to it when it ships later this month.

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Wearables

Plantronics Voyager PRO UC headset does Bluetooth and VoIP originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Baby and Me' special edition includes Wiimote-ready doll

Paul Miller — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:51:00 EST

A new, janktastic Wii title dubbed Baby and Me (not to be confused with the new 50 Cent song, "Baby by Me") is shipping in limited quantities as a special edition that actually includes a doll "accessory" in the box. The regular game is designed to work with the Wiimote attached to any old doll, but in case your child is looking for a premium fake baby experience, we suppose this special edition is the way to go. The actual game play includes motion sensitive baby-rocking, Balance Board support for teaching the child avatar to walk, and the sound of gurgles and burps output through the Wiimote's built-in speaker. It sounds exactly like caring for a real child.

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

'Baby and Me' special edition includes Wiimote-ready doll originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fake iPhone comes with magical external QWERTY keyboard you've always fantasized about

Paul Miller — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:13:00 EST

Alright, would you look at this, Apple? We know you require your employees to pay in blood for every single button or moving part that makes it onto a shipping product, but would it really kill you to work in some proper Bluetooth keyboard support for the iPhone so we could enjoy the magical freedom of external QWERTY pads if we so choose? Take this particularly stunning KIRF, for example. Sure, you might find the iPhone-miming handset it's paired with offensive, but is there really so much wrong with this flip-out QWERTY action? Do you enjoy our suffering? Please? iTwinge just isn't cutting it.

[Thanks, facelessloser]

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals

Fake iPhone comes with magical external QWERTY keyboard you've always fantasized about originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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USB 3.0 and SATA 6G put to good use: benchmarks

Paul Miller — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:26:00 EST

The fine folks at both HotHardware and PC Perspective have run the new ASUS P7P55D-E Premium motherboard through its paces, which has the particular distinction of handling both USB 3.0 and the up-and-coming SATA 6G through controllers by NEC and Marvell, respectively. Lucky for us, both sites' tests came to similar conclusions. The Seagate Barracuda XT SATA 6G drive has almost zero improvement over SATA 3G, other than in some burst speeds due to the fancy cache on the 6G -- the bottleneck here is the drive, not the controller. Meanwhile, USB 3.0 has speeds that are roughly 5 to 6 times faster than USB 2.0 with the same drive, a huge win for fans of external storage the world over. Perhaps even better news is that an ASUS US36 controller card with USB 3.0 and SATA 6G support is a mere $30, so this stuff is already basically within reach to the average desktop user.

Read - HotHardware
Read - PC Perspective

Filed under: Desktops, Peripherals, Storage

USB 3.0 and SATA 6G put to good use: benchmarks originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 01:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DROID Phone Holder and Multimedia Station go for $30 apiece

Paul Miller — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:36:00 EST

Already got your DROID pre-order in and wonder what else you can blow your non-assured holiday bonus on? Well, that Phone Holder car dock and Multimedia Station home dock (pictured, our hands-on gallery is here) have just gotten price tags: $30 a pop. About in line with the general worldwide dock population, but horrifically overpriced in comparison with our own homebrew dual-purpose solution.

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals

DROID Phone Holder and Multimedia Station go for $30 apiece originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How-to: hack your own DROID dock with magnets and cardboard

Paul Miller — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:10:00 EST

You know what's magical? Magnets. They're so magical, in fact, that Motorola decided to use them in its new DROID car and "multimedia station" docks. Based on the positioning of a couple of magnets, the phone auto-loads the pertinent application -- the multimedia station at least offers a charging plug, but the car dock is all stand. Lucky for us it's not hard to figure out where to place a couple of magnets (we used some nerd-approved "Buckyballs") and spoof the phone into acting like it's docked. We're sure with some additional craftmanship we could have a dock that actually holds the DROID upright, but we won't get ahead of ourselves. For now check out our very own multipurpose homebrew DROID dock after the break.

Continue reading How-to: hack your own DROID dock with magnets and cardboard

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals

How-to: hack your own DROID dock with magnets and cardboard originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nyko ships $25 Zoom Case for DSi: because your DSi totally needs a zoom lens

Darren Murph — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:23:00 EST

Remember that wacky zoom lens attachment for Nintendo's DSi that was launched back in January? Amazingly, the product design team convinced everyone else in the company to move ahead with plans for production, and now it's making its way out to cold, steel shelves. $24.99 buys you a hard shell case for your handheld along with a detachable optical zoom lens, which supposedly gets your sensor eight times closer to a given subject than Nintendo ever intended. You'll also be mocked eternally if you're ever caught using this in public, but hey, maybe you're thick-skinned.

Gallery: Nyko ships $25 Zoom Case for DSi: because your DSi totally needs a zoom lens

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Nyko ships $25 Zoom Case for DSi: because your DSi totally needs a zoom lens originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Houston newscaster dictates slide transitions, goes bowling with Wiimote

Darren Murph — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:14:00 EST

We're not sure who's winning the ratings war in Houston, but we're going to give the upper-hand to KHOU based on these shots alone. As you can clearly see in the image above (and the enlarged versions there in the gallery), this newscaster is wielding a Wiimote. It's hard to say if the news station actually has their slide transitions setup to change with a swing of the controller, or if weather map zooming is handled with something typically used for gaming, but one thing's for darn sure -- lightning rounds of Wii bowling during commercial breaks are definitely happening.

[Thanks, Edmar]

Update: Whoa, looks like this was indeed the real deal. Check the details here!

Gallery: Houston newscaster dictates slide transitions, goes bowling with Wiimote

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Houston newscaster dictates slide transitions, goes bowling with Wiimote originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony recalls 69,000 AC adapters due to shock hazard

Donald Melanson — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:52:00 EST

Oh, Sony. You've been doing so well with not making things blow up lately. Even a seemingly minor fizzle turned out to be a false alarm. While it's not laptop batteries this time, it seems that Sony has run into a bit of trouble with some of the AC adapters used for its VAIO all-in-one desktops and docking stations. Specifically, the insulation used in adapters for the company's VGC-LT and VGC-JS2 series desktops and VGP-PRBX1 and VGP-PRFE1 docking stations can apparently fail over time and pose an electrical shock hazard for users, although there have been no reports of injuries to date (and only four reports of any short circuiting). Still, it's probably a good idea to take Sony up on its offer for a free replacement. Hit up the link below for all the necessary details.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Peripherals

Sony recalls 69,000 AC adapters due to shock hazard originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS changes course, unveils 'first' USB 3.0 / SATA 6Gbps motherboards

Darren Murph — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:46:00 EST

Can it be? Has the same company that dashed dreams by axing its USB 3.0-laden P6X58 motherboard back in July really just revived our hope in humanity? Out of nowhere, ASUS has just unveiled the first range of motherboards to support USB 3.0 and the newest SATA specifications, the latter of which brings along 6Gbps data throughput. The one-two punch belongs to the Xtreme Design P7P55D-E series of mainboards, which support the latest Core i5 and Core i7 processors. Sadly, just two USB 3.0 ports are onboard, while a total of ten dedicated USB 2.0 sockets are scattered about. Feel free to pore over the detailed specs in the release past the break, and get ready to find the P7P55D-E Premium mobo ($299) and U3S6 expansion card ($29) at retailers next month.

Continue reading ASUS changes course, unveils 'first' USB 3.0 / SATA 6Gbps motherboards

Filed under: Desktops, Peripherals

ASUS changes course, unveils 'first' USB 3.0 / SATA 6Gbps motherboards originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Elecom's simplistic multicard reader mounts nicely on walls, desks

Darren Murph — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:20:00 EST

Still using that heap from 1999 that shipped sans a multicard reader? We know, it's tough. As does Elecom, who has just pumped out a foursome of new flash card readers for those less fortunate among us. The token one, however, is the sticky guy pictured above, which can actually be mounted on one's wall or desk side in order to maintain your precious desk space up top. You know -- 'cause all that paperwork scattered about is so critical. Mum's the word on a price or release date, but if we had to guess, we'd say "cheap" and "soon enough."

[Via Akihabara News]

Filed under: Peripherals

Elecom's simplistic multicard reader mounts nicely on walls, desks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Titanium Mouse by Intelligent Design costs $1,200, might be worth a little less

Vladislav Savov — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:59:00 EST

No matter how bad the global economy gets, you can always rely on there being a select few people with (a lot) more money than sense. Exclusively for them, Dutch outfit Intelligent Design has put together this handcrafted Bluetooth laser mouse, which boasts a neodymium scroll wheel, high quality plastic resin and a grade 1 titanium body. We didn't know you could handcraft titanium and we challenge anyone to explain what neodymium has to do with good input ergonomics, but then maybe that just shows how little we know about luxurious items like this. So, if you have $1,200 (or €800 in Old World money) to spare, why not add this unnamed mouse to your shopping list, just under the Mnemosyne USB drive? More snaps can be found after the break.

[Via HardOCP]

Continue reading Titanium Mouse by Intelligent Design costs $1,200, might be worth a little less

Filed under: Peripherals

Titanium Mouse by Intelligent Design costs $1,200, might be worth a little less originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kids Guard USB stick is guaranteed to frustrate, encourage circumvention

Darren Murph — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:19:00 EST

The concept here is far from new, but that doesn't mean that the latest iteration isn't way more frustrating. For kids just looking to "discover themselves" somewhere on the world wide web, the Kids Online Guard USB Stick is a nightmare of the worst kind. Designed to keep your offspring away from files, websites and folders that you deem inappropriate, it seems to work by triggering limits when plugged in, and when unplugged, the whole PC likely locks everyone out. Of course, we're guessing that this is just the thing to train your kid to become the planet's next great circumventer / hacker, so if viewing this as a "training tool" makes you sleep easier, you can get one headed your way for $21.69.

[Thanks, Frank]

Filed under: Peripherals, Internet

Kids Guard USB stick is guaranteed to frustrate, encourage circumvention originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GlideTV Navigator gets a thorough hands-on and critiquing

Darren Murph — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:44:00 EST

If you're not down with snapping up an HTPC-centric keyboard with an integrated trackpad or trackball, controlling the likes of Hulu, Boxee and ZeeVee's Zinc TV viewer can be a real chore. Dave Zatz was able to wrap his paws around the problem-solving GlideTV Navigator, and while he deemed the actual remote trackpad "the best he'd ever used," he couldn't unequivocally say that this beauty was worth a buck-fifty. He also found that the remote could be used one-handed with a bit of practice, and he expressed understandable concern about this thing's ability to stay functional as the software around it evolves. If you've been waffling on pulling the trigger here, you owe it to yourself to give the read link a look.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals

GlideTV Navigator gets a thorough hands-on and critiquing originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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USB 3.0 held back by lack of Intel chipset support?

Vladislav Savov — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:07:00 EST

Ruh roh. A senior tech manager at a "top tier PC maker" has come out with some entirely unofficial and equally ominous thoughts on what he (or she) sees as the tough road to proliferation for SuperSpeed USB. Pointing out that the new interconnect "won't get real traction until it gets integrated in the chip sets," the source opines that Intel won't be offering motherboard integration before 2011 -- an assertion Intel has declined to comment on. AMD and NVIDIA have been vocal critics of what they see as purposeful delays by the Pentium maker, and if this latest scuttlebutt is accurate, their wild finger-pointing will have been at least somewhat vindicated. Although Intel did release the 3.0 controller spec eventually, this wouldn't be the first (or probably last) time when it has been seen to drag its feet where doing so is in its interest (eh hem, Light Peak). For our money, plenty of people who've been waiting for the new standard to show up in machines before pulling the trigger on an upgrade will be disappointed by such news, especially as 3.0 devices are just beginning to ship.

[Thanks, Jacob]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Peripherals

USB 3.0 held back by lack of Intel chipset support? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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