Dealzmodo: $50 Off New Xbox 360, Free Shipping [Deals]

If you’ve been looking to pick up a new Xbox 360 for the price of a Wii, this deal over at Dell is the way to go. Normally $300, put in promo code ‘7V2DJL$PD6NGWZ’ at checkout and score a 60GB Xbox 360 Pro for $250. Put in promo code ‘NP?CKPRH$KTWLL’ and you will score a 120GB Xbox 360 Elite for $350. Both offers include free shipping and are good through October 6th. So cough up the cash and just buy one already, Mr. Cheapo. [Dell via Xbox360Fanboy]

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HP’s 2730p EliteBook tablet PC reviewed, seriously loved

Filed under: Laptops, Tablet PCs

HP’s exceptionally fresh EliteBook 2730p tablet was recently reviewed by the notebook mavens over at GottaBeMobile, and right out of the gate, they delivered the line that tells all: “The HP 2730p EliteBook tablet is more than worthy of your consideration as your next or your first tablet PC.” So, what did this thing do right in order to garner such a recommendation? Let’s see — overly satisfactory performance, an excellent design, smile-worthy battery life (4-hours in normal use on a single 6-cell), and perfectly implemented inking / tablet features. Granted, not everything was rosy, as the WXGA (1,280 x 800) screen left a little to be desired and the keyboard layout was similarly scolded. Overall, the unit still performed well enough to make it into their short list, but it sounds like you may want to try one in person before buying blind.

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Filed under: Robots

The Keepon dancing robot has already managed to win the hearts of most anyone that’s seen it in action, and it looks like it could soon be winning plenty more, as the bot’s creators have now formed a company, dubbed BeatBots, with the intent of commercializing it. While they eventually hopes to get the cost down to a reasonable level, they’ll apparently first be marketing a $30,000 Keepon Pro model to research institutes studying human-robot interaction — and anyone else with thirty grand to burn, we suppose. Somewhat curiously, it’ll be built with the help of Japan’s Kokoro Company, which is better known for its slightly creepy robots like the Actroid than those of the cute and cuddly variety.

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Via [Engadget]

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ASUS N10 “netbook” gets reviewed

Filed under: Laptops

We were suitably impressed by ASUS’s netbook moniker-defying N10 when we got our hands on it earlier this month, and it seems to at least be able to hold its own with Call of Duty 4, but if you’re looking for a bit more information to inform your potential purchase, you may want to hit up the link below to check out Mobile Computer’s full review of the ultraportable. As you might expect, they were especially impressed by the N10’s performance compared to standard netbooks, but they’re a bit perplexed as to exactly what the target audience for it is, describing it as an “interesting technological exercise,” but one that sits uncomfortably between traditional netbooks and regular Core 2 Duo-based laptops and ultraportables. Still, we’re guessing the N10’s uniqueness alone will win it a few admirers, and if that $700 price tag ever gets knocked down, it’d no doubt have plenty more.

[Thanks, Michael A]

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One-Person Maglev Car, Like Riding a 300MPH Roller Coaster to Work [Transportation]

It sure looks like a roller coaster, but this maglev (magnetic levitation) car is more likely in development for personal transportation. By Tyco and Gakken, the maglev system suspends the car 2-3 centimeters above the track, propelling the rider forward without friction. Since the fastest record for a full-blown maglev train is 361 mph, my guess is that an open cockpit like this one could make for one hell of a bug-faced ride. Maybe that face squeegee startup isn’t such a crazy investment after all. [nikkei BP via NewLaunches]

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KDDI Creates Phone Prototype That Can ‘See Through Walls’ [Prototypes]

KDDI announced a new prototype phone that uses six different types of sensors to see its surroundings, including other people and objects within proximity. According to Tech Radar, KDDI was hush hush about the specifics, but did reveal the sensors include GPS and multiple types of accelerometers and geomagnetic technology — which are then used to render the environment in OpenGL. Its also able to detect how many calories one has burned via walking or running, even using the microphone (?) in the process. No demo was offered, but I’ll be waiting to hear how this really works. [Tech Radar]

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Filed under: Robots

The Keepon dancing robot has already managed to win the hearts of most anyone that’s seen it in action, and it looks like it could soon be winning plenty more, as the bot’s creators have now formed a company, dubbed BeatBots, with the intent of commercializing it. While they eventually hopes to get the cost down to a reasonable level, they’ll apparently first be marketing a $30,000 Keepon Pro model to research institutes studying human-robot interaction — and anyone else with thirty grand to burn, we suppose. Somewhat curiously, it’ll be built with the help of Japan’s Kokoro Company, which is better known for its slightly creepy robots like the Actroid than those of the cute and cuddly variety.

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Via [Engadget]

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Sony Fondles New DS with One Hand, Bitchslaps with the Other [Nintendo]

In the wake of Nintendo’s announcement of the DSi, Sony reached out and asked if we’d like to discuss the event and get their side of the story. Sony talking about Nintendo? How could we resist??

So we asked John Koller, Sony director of hardware marketing, what he thought about the DSi. Was it an aggressive enough refresh?

Nintendo has kind of a history of these [moderate] kinds of updates, and even with DS Lite, there was a lot of discussion, “Is that enough?” And they seemed to do pretty well there.

True, Nintendo sold a lot of DS Lites. So how will the DSi do compared to its predecessor?

I can see the DSi being successful. The DS lite was obviously very successful. Will DSi do well with [the DS’s] demographic? It probably will. Will it be a product that expands their user base [beyond] under 12? I’m not sure.

Verdict: If you play DS you wear diapers. And drool.

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Guinness-Record Movie Marathon Starts Now, Ends When Everyone’s Asleep [Guinness World Records]

Today in a glass-walled room in New York’s Time Square, Netflix gathered six of the world’s brightest talents in the field of sitting on ass and watching movies. The goal was to break the current Guinness continuous-movie-watching world record of 120 hours 23 minutes. They can eat, drink and stretch as long as they don’t take their eyes off the screen, and there’s a 10-min potty break between features, but other than that, it’s about staying alert. Make no mistake. In spite of their matching Netflix bowling jackets, this ain’t no relay race. These people are out to crush each other—CRUSH!—by staring at a large plasma screen the longest. Here’s how it looks on Day One:

Reigning movie marathoner Ashish Sharma claims he will retain the title for India, but he’s a little cocky since he only stole that title in June from Germany’s Claudia Wavra, a three-time champ in her own right.

Suresh Joachim has a Heroes-sounding name and with good reason: He’s got 32 damn Guinness World Records, including TV watching, dancing, DJing and ironing clothes.

Other contenders (with maybe less of a shot) include 2003 continuous-movie-watching contender Cheryl Jones, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire champ (but non-millionaire) Jeff Jones and film lover and competitive eating champion Crazy Legs Conti.

While I am genuinely excited for these couch-bound sojourners, I am a little leery of the film choices. First they saw Iron Man, then Best in Show and then Ghostbusters, great. But by now they’re probably midway through The English Patient. WHAT? Is there a rule that says some movies have to deliberately try to put them to sleep? Going to romantic tragic period piece this early is a bad sign, especially if that’s it for the superhero, mockumentary and supernatural action-comedy genres. I will pray for you people—pray for some Batman. [Gothamist; Netflix]

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MSI Wind Modded Into a ‘MacBook Mini’ Using LEDs, Tin Foil [Fakes]

Ohmigod, it’s a MacBook Mini! Oh, wait, no it’s not. It’s a cheap MSI Wind clone with a fake Mac backing on it, put together with dremel, six white LEDs, tape and aluminum foil. Impressive, but not quite what people have been waiting for. But hey, nice work nonetheless! I’m sure it works to fool people in coffee shops. [Gadget Lab]

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