Filed under: Cellphones, Features

We thought today would be, well, fitting to start our new technology law series Know Your Rights, written by Engadget’s own totally punk copyright attorney Nilay Patel. In it we’ll try to answer some fundamental tech-law questions to help you stay out of trouble in this brave new world.

Disclaimer: Although this post was written by an attorney, it is not meant as legal advice or analysis and should not be taken as such.

There’s only one legal question on everyone’s mind this afternoon, and we’re going to cut right to it, in Q and A format:

Is it illegal to unlock my iPhone?

No!

Really?

Well, no, but…

I knew it.

Continue reading Know Your Rights: Is it illegal to unlock my iPhone?

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Filed under: Cellphones

The iPhone is getting used and abused today with a second software-only unlocking solution making itself known. Uniquephones has now surprised with word that it will be offering a downloadable software unlock service between 12 and 2 PM EST tomorrow at iphoneunlocking.com. Pricing will be somewhere between $25 and $50 with a 25 to 50 percent discount for people who have already signed up for the service — apparently as many as 450,000 already have.

Read - iPhone Unlockers Lining Up
Read - iPhoneunlocking.com (not active until tomorrow)

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Filed under: Cellphones, Laptops

It seems possible that Palm took our advice when we asked the company to “stop keeping us in the dark,” because the last few days have been filled with transparency. The latest bit of see-through from the PDA-maker comes today in the form of a denial concerning the recent Barron’s news that the company’s sorta-kinda-laptop, the Foleo, would be delayed due to syncing problems. According to Palm’s director of communications, Jim Christensen, “As stated on May 30, U.S. availability for the Palm Foleo mobile companion will begin this summer. We will let you know if this changes,” which runs contrary to rumored street dates for the laptop, and to what Deutsche Bank analyst Jonanthan Goldman reported on Wednesday. The company has had its share of activity over the past two weeks, including solid news on the tiny new Centro (AKA the Gandolf), rumored delays for the Foleo, and of course our gentle prodding. We can only hope all this movement, good or bad, is working as a wake-up to Colligan and co.

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Filed under: Cellphones, Features

It’s high noon, Apple and AT&T — we really hate to break it to you, but the jig is up. Last night the impossible was made possible: right in front of our very eyes we witnessed a full SIM unlock of our iPhone with a small piece of software. It’s all over, guys.

The iPhoneSIMfree.com team called us up to prove their claim that they cracked Apple’s iPhone SIM lock system, and prove it they did. (No, we don’t have a copy of the unlock software, so don’t even ask us, ok?) The six-man team has been working non-stop since launch day, and they’re officially the first to break Apple’s SIM locks on the iPhone with software. It’s done. Seriously. They wouldn’t tell us when and how they would release it to the public, but you can certainly bet that they’ll try to make a buck on their solution (and rightly so). We can hardly believe the iPhone’s finally been cracked. No, scratch that — we just can’t believe it took this long.

Again: we can confirm with 100% certainty that iPhoneSIMfree.com’s software solution completely SIM unlocks the iPhone, is restore-resistant, and should make the iPhone fully functional for users outside of the US. Read on for details and links to our video, and check out the gallery of images below.

%Gallery-6331%

Continue reading iPhone unlocked: AT&T loses iPhone exclusivity, August 24, 2007, 12:00PM EDT

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Filed under: Robots

We’re told this type of battle is indeed legal in certain corners of the universe, but we honestly never thought we’d see the day when a gallinaceous bird came to the human’s side to fend off the impending robotic takeover.

Ryan: “That sound? Seth Green and Adult Swim filing suit over the Robot Chicken trademark.”
Thomas: “Quit your cock blocking and fight!”
Darren: “These wooden posts are such lame excuses for adequate prostheses.”
Paul: “Look, I know you’re scared. We’re all scared. But if robots and robo-chickens can’t learn to live in harmony, we might as well just let the humans have the earth all to themselves.”
Evan: “Not surprisingly, the martial arts sequel to Howard the Duck tanked at the box office.”
Don: “2019: Despite repeated protests from People for the Ethical Treatment of Robots, the title bout between Robo Chicken and BD “Boxy Hands” 209 went on as planned.”
Josh: “I love you!” — “It’ll never work!”

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Filed under: Robots

Yeah, we’ve seen some pretty fancy robotic arm work already this year, but Festo is out to show ‘em all up with its fluidic muscle-packin’ Airic’s_arm. This robotic prosthesis sports a “bone structure” which mimics that found on a real live human, and can be moved via the 30 “muscles” built within. Essentially, Festo’s approach to movement relies on “an elastomer tube reinforced by aramid fibers, which contract quickly and exert a pulling force when they’re filled with a blast of compressed air or liquid.” Of course, you’ll notice it doesn’t offer quite the same range as less bionic alternatives, but this thing’s pretty accurate, indeed. Check it out for yourself, the video’s right down there.

[Via DesignNews]
Read - Festo’s Airic’s_arm
Read - Video of Airic’s_arm in action

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Filed under: Robots

According to Japan’s Nikkei Business, Toyota is set to purchase Sony’s robotics division. The whole shebang: robots and researchers. Apparently, Sir Howard Stringer is looking to rid Sony of the money losing division to Toyota’s delight. Does this mean the resurrection of little AIBO? No telling (though it’s surely a quick way to win converts… hint), but we’re pretty certain that the news will raise the eyebrow of Honda’s Asimo, you know, if he had any.

Update: Sony just issued a statement denying the sale (but confirming their lack of a soul).

[Via GetRobo]

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Filed under: Cellphones, Laptops

It seems possible that Palm took our advice when we asked the company to “stop keeping us in the dark,” because the last few days have been filled with transparency. The latest bit of see-through from the PDA-maker comes today in the form of a denial concerning the recent Barron’s news that the company’s sorta-kinda-laptop, the Foleo, would be delayed due to syncing problems. According to Palm’s director of communications, Jim Christensen, “As stated on May 30, U.S. availability for the Palm Foleo mobile companion will begin this summer. We will let you know if this changes,” which runs contrary to rumored street dates for the laptop, and to what Deutsche Bank analyst Jonanthan Goldman reported on Wednesday. The company has had its share of activity over the past two weeks, including solid news on the tiny new Centro (AKA the Gandolf), rumored delays for the Foleo, and of course our gentle prodding. We can only hope all this movement, good or bad, is working as a wake-up to Colligan and co.

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Filed under: Laptops

For those of you out there who are actually interested in this thing (and we know there’s a few), we’ve got some additional details and a slew of photos on the new Dell XPS M1730 that should make you very happy. The first juicy tidbit concerns the graphics chipset, which now looks like it will be two NVIDIA GeForce GO 8700M GTs coupled using SLI, which should make the performance somewhat blazing (and the temperature downright fiery), additionally, the system can / will utilize high capacity SSDs (a feature which we’ve seen in other gamer-targeted laptops lately). If you really wanna get to know the guts of this monstrosity, however, you should hit the photo gallery.

%Gallery-6354%

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Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops

We’ll be straight with you: we wouldn’t send a dime to this place just yet, but a strange e-tailer appears to be offering up three different Eee PC models for pre-order, with availability showing “1 to 2 weeks.” A little digging has revealed that this webstore opened up shop this May, is registered to a Canadian address, and has very few reviews (positive or negative) from shoppers across the web. Of course, all signs thus far are pointing to shady, but the price points listed are actually right in line with rumors we heard just days ago. Ah well, hopefully this means that Asus‘ wee PC is headed our way sooner rather than later, but we’d certainly wait it out just a bit longer before taking the bait.

[Thanks, Mike]

UPDATE: Thanks to a few Canucks tuning in, we’ve learned that the master site — NCIX.com — is actually a “very reputable retailer in Canada.” Fine by us, maybe this sign is more legitimate than previously assumed.

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