NPR Mobile: iPhone’s First NPR App [Npr]

If our googling serves us right, NPR Mobile is the first NPR application for the iPhone. So who wants to experience the unique sensation of falling asleep while jogging? (We kid, we kid.)

Free to download, NPR Mobile allows you to browse and stream NPR programs, plus it includes a handy-looking NPR station finder along with descriptions of each local spot. For fans of the old public radio, NPR’s mobile site is already iPhone-optimized. But since NPR Mobile is free anyway, it might be worth checking out the new app to see if you prefer it to the website.

Oh, and in the spirit of NPR and the holiday, here’s an exclusive look into their studios compliments of SNL:
[NPR Mobile via Pinch Media]

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Official Nvidia Mobile GPU Drivers Available Online [Software]

Though mobile graphics drivers have historically been available only from the laptop manufacturer, Nvidia finally posted their official drivers on their site. Say goodbye to those 3rd-party hacked and often buggy drivers!

Mobile GPU drivers were so scarce because those drivers are very customized, from hotkeys to smooth suspend and resume functions on each individual laptop. As a result, many advanced users have had to scour forums for drivers hacked together by other users, and that’s not the most reliable way to upgrade or update software. So it’s great to see Nvidia offering broad support for driver updates on their own site, especially since they say they’ve been hard at work to ensure compatibility and retention of features across all manufacturers. Hopefully these official releases will be more stable than the unofficial hacks. [Notebook Review via Engadget]

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Microsoft extends Windows XP deliveries to May 30, 2009
Man, Microsoft just can’t bring itself to kill Windows XP dead — it just extended the final OEM and reseller delivery date for the venerable OS to May 30, 2009. Vendors will still have to place their orders before the official cutoff date of January 31, but they won’t have to take delivery (or pay, we’d imagine) until May. All of this is supposed to alleviate the problem of vendors stockpiling copies of XP — it wouldn’t be good for Microsoft if manufacturers start charging a demand-related premium for XP licenses after Redmond goes Vista-only. Of course, Microsoft also recently extended the Vista “downgrade” deadline for OEMs to July 31 and netbooks will still be able to kick it old-school until at least June 2010, so chances are you’ll be able to get XP one way or another until Windows 7 ships — let’s just hope all this waffling on XP means that 7’s going to be as good as we think it is.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Microsoft extends Windows XP deliveries to May 30, 2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft and Mitsubishi’s NanoTouch Technology Lets You Work Your Gadget From Behind [Touchscreens]

Microsoft and Mitsubishi have refined their translucent touchscreen, LucidTouch. The new NanoTouch outlines your fingers on the screen as you use the touch sensors on its back, keeping the screen visible while you touch away.

Traditional touchscreens, like that iPhone everyone’s been talking about, can sometimes be tough to see and operate at the same time. After all, your fat hands are blocking the screen while you tap. If you’ve ever tried to film yourself using a touchscreen, you’ll know how annoying it can sometimes be. This tech provides a translucent screen, and the touch sensors are actually on the back of the screen itself. You can see the outline or an impression of your fingers on the display, but the entire screen is now uncovered while you control it. This apparently allows for much smaller virtual buttons, since you can see exactly what you’re touching.

LucidTouch, NanoTouch’s predecessor, was a cool proof of concept but was far too bulky and ungainly to be of much use. The new NanoTouch has much the same tech, but in a slim 2.4 inch package that’d be perfect for phones, mp3 players, and other pocketable kit. The makers are excited about its use in wearable tech and fashion, but I’d be plenty excited to see any example of wearable touchscreens that aren’t powerfully female-repellent. [New Scientist]

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Gizmondo Delayed for Massive Redesign: Will Christmas Ever Be the Same? [Gizmondo]

The six of you who have been following Gizmondo know that a new version was promised for this Christmas season. But surprise, surprise: it’s been delayed due to economic instability and general crappiness.

A Swedish blogger met up with Gizmondo founder Carl Freer to discuss the future of the scandal-ridden handheld maker. Freer admitted that the worldwide economic implosion forced most of his investors to drop out, and he’s had to totally redesign the product. He plans to launch the new Gizmondo as an OEMed pocket PC, a bit like an HTC smartphone with gaming guts. It’ll be focusing on downloadable games and other content, like Apple’s App Store, and will come in two versions: Windows CE and Android. Since it’ll be based on a smartphone design, it will also be a phone, but it won’t come cheap.

By now we all know to take everything anybody associated with Gizmondo says with a giant mountain of salt. It’s anybody’s guess as to whether this new Gizmondo will ever go into production. But this is one enormously entertaining company, so I hope they stick around at least until the next scandal. [The Nordic Link via Engadget]

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Dell VP criticizes Apple’s ‘green’ initiatives, pot and kettle laugh in unison

Dell VP of Communities and Conversations Bob Pearson is ragging on Apple for its MacBook “Greenest Family of Notebooks” ads. In a post titled “The Real Meaning of Being Green,” Pearson accuses Apple of not discussing environmental issues, making inaccurate claims and stating no goals, while touting Dell’s energy efficient Latitude E-series and use of PVC / BFR-free components. Of course, the PC maker has had its fair share of eco-unfriendly practices over the years, including accusations from the ever-fickle Greenpeace last month that the company has withdrawn from its commitment to stop using PVC / BFR in its computers by the end of 2009 — but why let little details get in the way of a good schoolyard fight?

Filed under: Laptops

Dell VP criticizes Apple’s ‘green’ initiatives, pot and kettle laugh in unison originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 21 Dec 2008 02:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Play In a College Football Bowl Game, Get Piles of Free Gear [Swag]

There’s more to playing football in college than a potential NFL contract and a sound education—there’s stacks of free gear and gadgets to be had too!

Just as an example, the players that butt heads in the Rose Bowl will receive a package that includes:

# Sony DVD camcorder
# Commemorative Fossil watch
# Commemorative Ogio backpack
# Commemorative New Era 5950 fitted hat
# Commemorative plaque
# Commemorative autograph football
# One-year subscription to ESPN the Magazine

And the title game between Florida and Oklahoma? Try a $300 Sony Gifting Suite (player’s choice up to $300 in Sony electronics), a Tourneau Watch, and a Blockbuster video movie rental subscription. Even the lowly Poinsettia Bowl, which I hadn’t heard of until today, nets players an iPod touch and some Best Buy gift cards.

Oh, how I hate my decision to go into journalism. All I have to show for it is a drinking problem and the ability to toss anonymous snark around the Net with the grace of a disgruntled gazelle. Sigh. [FOX Sports]

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Motorola Prizm Gives Diet Advice [Cellphones]

Motorola’s new touchscreen Motoprizm in Korea that appears to be a takeoff on the Krave—albeit with a few tweaks. Oddly enough, word is that the device also gives daily diet and lifestyle suggestions.

Features:

•DMB support
•E-wallet function
•3.5mm headphone jack
•USB 2.0 connectivity
•Bluetooth 2.0
•Memory card slot
•2.8″ 260k color TFT touchscreen at 240 x 400 resolution
•3 megapixel camera

Whether or not it will be bossing fatties around in the states anytime soon has not been determined.
[Uberphones and AVING]

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