Dell offers up Blu-ray equipped Inspiron 1525 for $879

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Laptops

Grabbing a laptop with a built-in Blu-ray drive isn’t at all difficult; finding one that’s reasonably affordable, however, is. Starting today, users looking to pick up a new BD-equipped lappie can get their kicks for under nine bills, as the base model Inspiron 1525 can be fitted with a Blu-ray combo drive (and the requisite 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo T5550 processor) for the low, low price of $879. Kicking things up to a Blu-ray burner will tack on another $200, and given the 1,280 x 800 screen resolution, we get the idea you’ll be utilizing that HDMI output in order to enjoy the 1080p capabilities (if it’ll even reach above 720p). Still, the aforesaid configuration is pretty lacking in most respects (1GB of RAM, 80GB HDD, and a woefully underwhelming GMA X3100 graphics accelerator), but hey, at least you’ll have Blu-ray! Grab yours now if you’re situated in Canada, Europe or the US of A.

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Creative Presents Cease-and-Desist Note to Developer Hero [Corporate Greed]

After Vista’s release, Creative’s Audigy Sound Blaster series lost a lot of their in-built functionality. Developer, good-guy and all around hero, Daniel_K stepped up to the challenge, putting together his own drivers and asking for non-obligatory donations in recognition of his effort. Daniel_K’s drivers restored functionality, and added some extra features to boot. That’s great news, right? Apparently not; Creative is pissed.

We’re not too sure why Creative wouldn’t want their old products having proper cross OS support implemented. Sure, they do provide beta drivers, but word is they aren’t to stable, plus we’re guessing their newer, shinier and more expensive replacement devices have something to do with it. Frankly, those won’t sell if some asshole is putting down his own, backward compatible drivers to bring old hardware up to speed. Checkout what Creative had to say below:

Daniel_K:

We are aware that you have been assisting owners of our Creative sound cards for some time now, by providing unofficial driver packages for Vista that deliver more of the original functionality that was found in the equivalent XP packages for those sound cards. In principle we don’t have a problem with you helping users in this way, so long as they understand that any driver packages you supply are not supported by Creative. Where we do have a problem is when technology and IP owned by Creative or other companies that Creative has licensed from, are made to run on other products for which they are not intended. We took action to remove your thread because, like you, Creative and its technology partners think it is only fair to be compensated for goods and services. The difference in this case is that we own the rights to the materials that you are distributing. By enabling our technology and IP to run on sound cards for which it was not originally offered or intended, you are in effect, stealing our goods. When you solicit donations for providing packages like this, you are profiting from something that you do not own. If we choose to develop and provide host-based processing features with certain sound cards and not others, that is a business decision that only we have the right to make.

Although you say you have discontinued your practice of distributing unauthorized software packages for Creative sound cards we have seen evidence of them elsewhere along with donation requests from you. We also note in a recent post of yours on these forums, that you appear to be contemplating the release of further packages. To be clear, we are asking you to respect our legal rights in this matter and cease all further unauthorized distribution of our technology and IP. In addition we request that you observe our forum rules and respect our right to enforce those rules. If you are in any doubt as to what we would consider unacceptable then please request clarification through one of our forum moderators before posting.

Phil O’Shaughnessy
VP Corporate Communications
Creative Labs Inc.

How very, very greedy, Mr Creative. On a side note, I’ve been having a pretty bad CS experience with Creative myself; anyone calling in agreement / disagreement?

Update: DirkusMaximus has given us Phil’s email address (poshaughnessy at creativelabs.com.) Drop him a line to let him know how much this sucks. [Creative; Daniel_K Drivers. Picture via DK Images]

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HDD USB Dock Gets USB Hub Integrated, Still Plugs in Like NES Cartridges [Brando]

The USB HDD Dock we saw a few months ago just got a USB hub upgrade. Not only does it still take 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch SATA drives in the top like a Famicom cartridge, there’s an added 4-port USB hub on the front. Because if you’re going to take up one of your machine’s precious USB ports for something, it’s even better when that something gives you 3 extra ports in return. [Brando]

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Filed under: Robots

It looks like professor Noel Sharkey isn’t the only one stirred up about autonomous killing machines. An anti-landmine group in London called Landmine Action is now calling for the ban of robots capable of killing people all on their lonsome. The group believes these bots fall under the same category as landmines — which are outlawed in 150 countries — and is pressing governments to keep control in the hands of a human operator. The group is also campaigning to put a stop to autonomous cluster bombs (which self-detonate), and feels these bots fall under the same category. Says spokesman Richard Moyes, “Our concern is that humans, not sensors, should make targeting decisions. So similarly, we don’t want to move towards robots that make decisions about combatants and noncombatants.” Of course, if the bots can pass a Turing test, how will we know the difference? Needless to say, Skynet could not be reached for comment.

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Via [Engadget]

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Nokia’s NAVTEQ acquisition draws probe from the EU

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS

It may have won approval from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and NAVTEQ shareholders alike, but it looks like the EU’s European Commission needs a bit more time to think over Nokia’s acquisition of the company, and it’s now launched an “in-depth” probe into the matter. According to Reuters, the Commission said that the “proposed merger raises serious doubts with regards to … competition concerns,” although it was quick to add that the decision to open the inquiry does not prejudge the result of the probe. Among other things, the probe will apparently attempt to asses whether whether the purchase would affect the cost of maps for other companies providing navigation services on cellphones. If all of this has a familiar ring, it should, because it wasn’t all that long ago that the EU launched a similar probe into TomTom’s similar acquisition of map-maker Tele Atlas.

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Nokia’s NAVTEQ acquisition draws probe from the EU

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS

It may have won approval from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and NAVTEQ shareholders alike, but it looks like the EU’s European Commission needs a bit more time to think over Nokia’s acquisition of the company, and it’s now launched an “in-depth” probe into the matter. According to Reuters, the Commission said that the “proposed merger raises serious doubts with regards to … competition concerns,” although it was quick to add that the decision to open the inquiry does not prejudge the result of the probe. Among other things, the probe will apparently attempt to asses whether whether the purchase would affect the cost of maps for other companies providing navigation services on cellphones. If all of this has a familiar ring, it should, because it wasn’t all that long ago that the EU launched a similar probe into TomTom’s similar acquisition of map-maker Tele Atlas.

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Filed under: Robots

It looks like professor Noel Sharkey isn’t the only one stirred up about autonomous killing machines. An anti-landmine group in London called Landmine Action is now calling for the ban of robots capable of killing people all on their lonsome. The group believes these bots fall under the same category as landmines — which are outlawed in 150 countries — and is pressing governments to keep control in the hands of a human operator. The group is also campaigning to put a stop to autonomous cluster bombs (which self-detonate), and feels these bots fall under the same category. Says spokesman Richard Moyes, “Our concern is that humans, not sensors, should make targeting decisions. So similarly, we don’t want to move towards robots that make decisions about combatants and noncombatants.” Of course, if the bots can pass a Turing test, how will we know the difference? Needless to say, Skynet could not be reached for comment.

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Via [Engadget]

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Best Buy Pressured Microsoft To Create Crippled Vista Label; Intel Off the Hook? [Microsoft]

A month ago, everyone wanted to vilify Intel for pressuring Microsoft into approving the crippled “Vista Capable” label for certain low-grade PCs. But new evidence suggests A) that Best Buy was instrumental in approving the sinister two-tiered Vista approach very early on and B) that all of this hare-brained scheming seems to have originated at Microsoft itself.

According to CRN ChannelWeb, Vista marketing director Rajesh Srinivasan and others devised the now infamous two-tiered Vista Ready/Vista Capable plan— the latter category known to be incapable of handling the nice Vista Aero visual interface because of paltry Intel integrated graphics support—in the summer of 2005. Srinivasan pitched the idea to Best Buy as early as August 2005, and Best Buy was apparently gung-ho on it.

It was clear, at least to Srinivasan, that Best Buy liked the fact that “100% of PCs” would be associated with Vista, thanks to the creation of a “Vista Capable” category.

Here’s where it gets funny, though. Originally, Srinivasan recommended that Vista Ready PCs got a logo, while Vista Capable PCs did not. Somewhere along the line, though, this changed and colorful Vista-friendly labels were stuck on both the geniune and crippled systems. (The article doesn’t stipulate who pushed whom on this particular matter.)

As for hapless Intel, its involvement appears to have begun six months later, when Intel is said to have been happy that Microsoft dropped the ban on lower-end Aero-incapable chipsets like the 915. Better still, Srinivasan at one point suggested in an e-mail that Microsoft “put pressure on Intel to end of life by 915 by Oct 06,” so it’s very hard to call Intel the bully.

After looking at lots of evidence, CRN draws the most intelligent conclusion: “At the end of the day, Microsoft may have botched Vista Capable all by itself.” I’ll drink to that. [CRN via Inquirer]

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Runtriz Touchscreen Communication Displays Networks Up Your Luxury Home’s Kitchen [Gadgets]

This Runtriz touchscreen is something we’d want in the kitchen area of our home. Not because it’s totally necessary, because it isn’t, but because it display stocks, weather, news, recipes, wine organization, and even send emails and text messages to people on the outside. Why would we use this? One example is to make up a grocery list on the device (assisted by the recipes so we know exactly what to buy) and then emailing it to our phones so we can see it at the store. Or better yet, email it to the person who’s actually at the supermarket so they know what to buy. That seems more likely. [Runtriz]

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Dell offers up Blu-ray equipped Inspiron 1525 for $879

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Laptops

Grabbing a laptop with a built-in Blu-ray drive isn’t at all difficult; finding one that’s reasonably affordable, however, is. Starting today, users looking to pick up a new BD-equipped lappie can get their kicks for under nine bills, as the base model Inspiron 1525 can be fitted with a Blu-ray combo drive (and the requisite 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo T5550 processor) for the low, low price of $879. Kicking things up to a Blu-ray burner will tack on another $200, and given the 1,280 x 800 screen resolution, we get the idea you’ll be utilizing that HDMI output in order to enjoy the 1080p capabilities (if it’ll even reach above 720p). Still, the aforesaid configuration is pretty lacking in most respects (1GB of RAM, 80GB HDD, and a woefully underwhelming GMA X3100 graphics accelerator), but hey, at least you’ll have Blu-ray! Grab yours now if you’re situated in Canada, Europe or the US of A.

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