Archive for July, 2009
Windows 7 Family Pack Pricing Confirmed at $149 [Windows 7]
 In case you’re interested in upgrading to Win 7 (you should be, BTW), and want to get the rest of the family in on that action, know that the Windows 7 family pack will offcially cost $149.
The Family Pack upgrade will net you three copies of Home Premium edition for legal consumption—BUT WAIT…there’s more! Also know that single license upgrades from Starter to Home Premium will run you about $80, Home Premium to Professional will go for $90, and if you ACT FAST and call in the next FIVE MINUTES (just half the time it takes to upgrade!), going from Professional to Ultimate will cost $140.
These prices are all in the ballpark of what was rumored earlier in the month, though no mention has been made of a pre-release promotional discount. [Cnet via Engadget]
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The Onkyo ND-S1 iPod Dock is Speakerless But Abounds With Outputs [IPod Docks]
 Onkyo’s Japan-only (for now) dock lacks speakers but makes up for it with optical/coaxial digital audio outputs, regular old composite video output and a USB connection for syncing with iTunes. It’s meant for higher end AV systems. [AVWatch via Engadget]
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Lenovo slips out IdeaPad U450p, won’t let you order one
Hey Lenovo, that’s a pretty sweet landing page you’ve got there for this newfangled IdeaPad U450p. In fact, we’re crushing pretty hard on that glossy 14-inch display, ultrathin frame and patterned lid. If you’re really looking for candor, we’d even go so far as to say that the “energy-efficient ULV processor” and “integrated optical drive” have us all sorts of hot and bothered, but the inability to actually see a full build sheet or order a unit for ourselves is simply disheartening. Care to fix that? Thank you so much.
-Signed: The Internet
[Thanks, alsyl]
Filed under: Laptops
Lenovo slips out IdeaPad U450p, won’t let you order one originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Apple’s eBook Store Probably Won’t Belong to Apple [Rumor]
 Although it wasn’t the most enticing of the flurry of rumors floated in the FT’s Apple tablet report, the claim that iTunes might grow an eBook arm certainly raised eyebrows. It turns out, though, Apple might actually outsource this one.
This from BusinessInsider, whose source eagerly pooped on the idea of an Apple-run book store:
The answer is no, according to a source connected to the e-book business. Based on our conversation with this person, it seems that any Kindle-killing the Apple tablet does will have to come from third-party e-book sellers, like Amazon (AMZN), Barnes & Noble (BKS), etc.
What pushes this over the line that divides quibbling counter-rumors from Real Interesting Things is a little story that’s been unfolding over at Amazon as of late:
The device team has the job of making the most remarkable purpose-built reading device in the world. We are going to give the device team competition. We will make Kindle books, at the same $9.99 price points, available on the iPhone, and other mobile devices and other computing devices.
That’s Amazon honcho Jeff Bezos, explaining his comfort with the idea of hardware from other companies—including Apple, which already tacitly supports Amazon eBooks by way of a Kindle iPhone app—sending customers to the Kindle store. In the absence of an in-house system, a Kindle app for the tablet just makes sense.
In other words, “Jeff Bezos’ worst nightmare” might actually be Jeff Bezos, and not much of a nightmare at all. UPDATE: As commenters have noted, Apple’s biggest precedent for something like this is Audible—an Amazon subsidiary. So! [BusinessInsider]
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iPhone Firmware 3.0.1 Is Out, Fixes SMS Vulnerability [IPhone]
 This iPhone OS update adresses the hullabaloo about SMS vulnerability. Get it while it’s hot. Update:
Here’s a statement from Apple on the software update:
We appreciate the information provided to us about SMS vulnerabilities which affect several mobile phone platforms. This morning, less than 24 hours after a demonstration of this exploit, we’ve issued a free software update that eliminates the vulnerability from the iPhone. Contrary to what’s been reported, no one has been able to take control of the iPhone to gain access to personal information using this exploit.
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LG Offers Up ‘Seamless’ SL80 and SL90 LCD TVs [Televisions]
 LG’s new SL-series LCD TVs are noteworthy because of their “seamless” design which makes the bezel, LCD panel and speakers all look like a single piece. The 47-inch SL90 is LED-backlit with a 240Hz refresh rate.
Taking up only 1.15-inches in the thickness department, the SL90 also has a 3,000,000:1 contrast ratio and an ambient light sensor for dynamic brightness adjustment. The SL80 nixes the LED-backlighting, cuts contrast ratio to 150,000:1 and fattens up to 1.8-inches of thickness—all in an effort to cut costs. But seeing as LG hasn’t released pricing or availability for the SL90, it’s unclear exactly how much money is saved.
In any case, the SL80 will be available in August in 42-, 47-, and 55-inch variants for $1600, $1900, and $2800 respectively. [Electronista]
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When It Grows Up, the iiView A2 Wants To Be a MacBook Air [IiView A2]
 If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery than Apple is a-blushing and a-giggling right now. iView’s iiView A2 is hitting Singapore next week and, aside from running Windows 7 RC 1 of all things, it seems a bit familiar.
Sleek and sexy, this $467.78 netbook looks good enough to slice cake with. Its design mimics that of Apple’s MacBook Air, right down to hidden monitor-out and USB ports. No word on how the lack of an optical drive is being dealt with though.
The specifications don’t have anything worth getting excited about except for that last item:
- Atom 1.6GHz processor
- 2GB RAM
- Intel 945 chipset
- 12.1-inch 1,280 x 800-pixel resolution
- 320GB HDD
- Two USB ports, mini-HDMI port, 2-in-1 headphone/mic jack
- 802.11b/g, 10/100 Ethernet
- Six-cell battery
- Windows 7 RC1 with Vista Home Premium license
Yes, the iiView A2 runs Windows 7 RC1, but comes with a Vista Home Premium license so that you can upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium when the time is right. iView explains that this OS decision was made because Vista just doesn’t “provide an adequate experience” on netbooks. (Does it provide an adequate experience on anything?)
This is the best looking netbook I’ve seen so far and a great deal for those craving the style of Apple’s line, but dreading the price tag. All that’s left is the wait until the iiView A2 hits US shelves. [CNET]
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We essentially can’t get enough of advanced robots doing things that look human — probably in the same way we can’t get enough of pretending our dog understands English. Anthropomorphism aside, Toyota’s humanoid running robot is really impressive. It’s got a super impressive sense of balance, and he’s quite fast on his feet — running at an average of 7 km an hour (yes, that’s faster than ASIMO can run), too. We can say with 100 percent certainty that we’d like to hang out with this guy — check out the video after the break.
Continue reading Toyota’s humanoid robot was born to run
Filed under: Robots
Toyota’s humanoid robot was born to run originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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 Via [Engadget]
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Acer further bolsters Timeline lineup with new 8000 Series
It may seem like only yesterday (or a couple of months ago) that Acer was rolling out its very first Timeline laptops to much fanfare, but it’s now already turned things around and kicked out a whole new addition to the line-up: the 8000 series. Apparently aimed at both business users and average folk, this one will be available in 13.3-, 14- and 15.6-inch variations, and pack the usual Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Solo ULV processors, 4GB or 8GB of RAM, a 160GB or 500GB hard drive (or even an 80GB Intel X25-M SSD, for those looking to go all out), and either some basic Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics or a ATI’s 4330 dedicated GPU — not to mention some bonuses like a multitouch trackpad and optional 3G (at a later date, it seems). No word on pricing or availability just yet, but it seems safe to bet that at least the entry-level models will be sub-$1000, if the current Timelines are any indication. Filed under: Laptops
Acer further bolsters Timeline lineup with new 8000 Series originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted by: admin in Gaming
Who’s this little guy? Oh, that’s just Robochan — the Kondo KHR-2HV bot with a fully-functioning iPhone 3GS fused to his head. Not interested? Well, hear us out — because we, too, have seen many an iPhone mod project in our day, leaving us jaded, easily susceptible to waking in the middle of the night to find ourselves shrieking out “fanboy!” for no reason, and finding that in general at this point — merely cranking the word iPhone into your DIY project is the easiest way to send us to Snoresville. But we’ll admit it: Robochan drew us in within ten — nay, five — seconds. His dance moves are killer, and his faces have stolen whatever remnants of a heart we had left. So take our advice: watch the video, which is after the break.
[Via Gearfuse] Continue reading Robot with iPhone 3GS head reminds us of a cuter, more magnanimous Steve Jobs
Filed under: Cellphones, Robots
Robot with iPhone 3GS head reminds us of a cuter, more magnanimous Steve Jobs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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 Via [Engadget]
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In case you’re interested in upgrading to Win 7 (you should be, BTW), and want to get the rest of the family in on that action, know that the Windows 7 family pack will offcially cost $149.
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