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Asus' Eee PC gets dissected
2007-11-03 06:09:00
  While there's not too many surprises on the inside, TweakTown's organized destruction of the budget-friendly laptop is nothing if not thorough, including eight pages of pictures and descriptions of virtually every component. Like most others, they also seem to have been fairly impressed by the laptop as a whole, saying it is "perfectly positioned to prevail," although they admit it's "not
More About: Asus

Gateway One, accidentally reviews the iMac again
2007-11-03 06:05:00
  Add in the fact that the entry-level One is $100 more expensive than the cheapest iMac and offers a smaller screen, no built-in webcam, and a slower processor, and you've got Walt telling you that the iMac is still the best all-in-one out there. Walt's got the Gateway One this week, and while he praises the machine's design and slick power brick / I/O breakout box, he's not particularly
More About: Reviews

Feature Energy-Efficient Chip in Sony Playstation 3
2007-11-03 05:27:00
Using the smaller chip will save money at both ends, as it will be cheaper to manufacture (fewer materials) and cheaper to power: The Playstation 3 will use about 135 watts, down from 200. And since it uses less power, it will run cooler and quieter. I can't really call gaming "green"--I hear that reading a book uses less power--but I can't deny its appeal. Try this new selling point: It's
More About: Energy , Sony , Feature , Playstation 3

Logitech and Skype "maried" for High Quality Video Calls
2007-11-03 05:23:00
  When asked whether the Skype platform had changed at all to accommodate the higher video quality, which will require more and faster throughput, a Skype's Don Albert, General Manager and Vice President Skype North America, stated that it was the same underlying platform with all its Supernode issues; But Logitech 's Gina Clark, Vice President and General Manager Internet Communications
More About: Video , Calls , High

Guitar Hero 3 goes on sale, gets unboxed, melts countless faces
2007-10-29 02:01:00
    Oh sure, GH2 players making the jump to 3 won't feel like any less like any less of a nerd trying to ape the genuinely cool (that is, if you actually still think The Scorpions are cool), but now your guitar is collapsible and, if you're lucky, wireless. -By the way, if you're planning on picking yours up at your local Wally world, buyer beware: they're selling GH3 with the old school guitars from GH2. We're not sure if this is going on elsewhere, but you should definitely keep an eye out. Yep, Guitar Hero 3 is officially on sale and everyone and their tattoed mother's picked up a copy (along with the new axes that accompany it). Video after the break. Rock on, Bill, Ted.    
More About: Faces , Sale , Guitar Hero

i-Garment's "smart suit" helps disaster relief agents
2007-10-29 02:00:00
  The European Space Agency recently approved the suit after a series of tests including firefighting scenarios: it's not currently planned for the US, but it wouldn't be surprising to see this or a similar system over here sometime soon. The suit also packs in location and health monitoring, with a whole infrastructure behind it including multiple stages from the field vehicle back to HQ. Designed to help firefighters communicate independently of unreliable traditional systems such as cellphone networks, i-Garment's "smart suit" does more than just enable voices to be heard.    
More About: Agents , Disaster , Smart , Relief , Suit

CSIRO developing power-generating shirts
2007-10-29 01:59:00
  We've seen a plethora of shirts made for more than just satisfying a core necessity in life, but a team of scientists over at the CSIRO's Energy Technology Division are hoping to have "power shirts" at your local flea market (or other fine establishments) within five years. Other potential applications include powering battlefield-related equipment on soldiers and monitoring systems on the elderly, but making sure it can handle the oh-so-intimidating wash cycle remains a challenge. By using piezo electrical materials, the garb could reportedly "produce electricity as you move," enabling users to juice up their DAPs, mobiles and air conditioned pants just by staying active.    
More About: Power , Shirts

Golden Crystal's KI-T12 PMP apes Nokia's 7260
2007-10-29 01:58:00
  Interestingly enough, this isn't even the first time we've seen a gizmo take a note from Nokia's 7260, but this particular copycat simply handles DMV, MP3, MPX and WMA formats, features a wee 1.5-inch color display and includes a built-in FM tuner to boot. Golden Crystal Technology's KI-T12 didn't quite make the cut for the infamous keepin' it real fake list, but even though it's not a straight-up rip, there's no denying the similitude. Per usual, you'll have to send in an inquiry to find out how much these things run, but honestly, why would you want to do that? Furthermore, you'll find six equalizer presets, your own electronic pet game (Tamagotchi, reincarnated!) and a text viewer.    
More About: Apes

Wireless picturephone prototypes headed to history museum
2007-10-29 01:57:00
History buffs and cellphone aficionados, take note: a couple of wireless picturephone prototypes (circa 1993) have recently been acquired by the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History and should soon be available for all to gawk at. Henderson's first time donating wares with varying levels of historical significance, as he's also responsible for the Casio Z7000 and Atari Portfolio that are on display. Henderson to get ahold of the two devices and related documentation, which were built to take advantage of a picture / video receiving technology known as Intellect. Reportedly, the institution joined with Daniel A. Interested in checkin' the duo out for yourself? Go on and circle summer 2008 on your calender.    
More About: Wireless , History , Proto

Best Buy's Insignia Kix: please make it stop
2007-10-29 01:56:00
  We were positively floored by the unadulterated horror of last year's NS-DVxG DAP from Best Buy's in-house Insignia brand, and now here comes the Insignia Kix to provide a low-cost, 1-inch screened entry to Insignia's shoddy lineup. Look out Apple, Microsoft, SanDisk and anyone else who actually gives a damn about DAP design, features and quality: Best Buy still has a horse in this race. The player supports MP3, WMA, WAV and Audible, sports an FM tuner, runs for 30 hours on a lithium-ion battery, and stores 1GB of your tunes for $60. We suppose we can't rag on 'em for building a USB mass storage device, but that's about as positive as we're going to get for this one.    
More About: Stop , Make

Terabyte nanotech thumb drives around the corner?
2007-10-29 01:55:00
  Wired has a write-up of a new storage technology developed at Arizona State University that could produce flash thumb drives capable of storing terabytes of data in the near future, that also happens to be cheaper and more energy efficient than flash memory. The new technology has been branded programmable metallization cell, and differs from present storage technologies in that it "creates nanowires from copper atoms the size of a virus to record binary ones and zeros. " It all sounds very interesting -- if slightly too optimistic -- to us, and we'll get to find out relatively soon just how effective the new chips are: Arizona State's business arm has licensed the technology to three companies, which may be ready to sell a product containing the chips within 18 months. Watch this space.    
More About: Corner , Thumb , Nanotech , Byte , The Corner

Mercedes museum hosts most powerful artificial tornado
2007-10-29 01:54:00
  Clearly, our cynical suggestion is not the motivation behind the creation of Mercedes -Benz's artificial tornado in the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart: their excuse was that the building had to abide by fire safety guidelines, which state that the massive open spaces in the museum required big fire doors the museum owner didn't want to put in place. How better to get visitors to your museum than to create a massive man-made tornado in the middle of the building? The solution was apparently a 34.4 meter high tornado, powered by 144 jets and capable of moving 28 tons of air designed to clear smoke from the building -- and, for demonstration purposes, stage smoke. It's certainly not anyway near as powerful as a real tornado (the video after the break attests to that), but it's definitely just as pretty.    
More About: Tornado , Hosts

Guitar Hero III's wireless guitar battery pack costs you more moolah
2007-10-29 01:52:00
  For all the innovation that the "new-gen" of consoles have brought us, there's one thing that will apparently never change: ridiculously over-priced accessories. Giving the wireless Guitar Hero III controller a feature it should have had from the get go is the $19.99 single recharge kit, which removes the need to use and dispose of single-use batteries. This continues on from the precedent that Microsoft set with its wireless controller, which only comes bundled with a case to stick a couple of AA batteries inside. You can grudgingly pick up this necessary but over-priced accessory on October 31st from Red Octane's store.
More About: Wireless , Battery , Guitar Hero

Knockoff artists take "nano" in "iPhone nano" too seriously
2007-10-29 01:51:00
  We're not disputing that it's real -- in fact, we'd be surprised if it was a Photoshop job, considering how skilled the knockoff manufacturers have become at producing iPhone clones -- we just refuse to believe at this point that Apple would inject zero innovation into the design of the iPhone's baby sib. For what it's worth, though, gadgetzone.nl says that its source absolutely insists that the shots are real and came from within Apple, which of course explains the Brand X monitor and PC keyboard in the background. Yeah, us neither, which is why we're calling out this alleged iPhone nano spy shot as a fraud. Okay, so, iPhone nano -- what do you picture? An identical clone of the original scaled down by a third? We'll believe it when Steve shows it, guys.    
More About: Iphone , Artists , Nano , Artis

Researchers fire most powerful antimatter beam ever
2007-10-29 01:50:00
  Now that the device is working, the team is looking for practical applications for the tech, including building an "antimatter telescope," which would allow even closer observations of atomic interactions. The antimatter device -- which apparently looks like a Star Trek warp reactor -- was developed as part of a two year project by NC State, the University of Michigan, and Oak Ridge National Labs. Scientists at North Carolina's PULSTAR nuclear reactor facility fired a positron bean five times stronger than any other ever created earlier this month, breaking a record previously held by a team in Germany. You know, whatever. Or they could use it to blow up the universe.    
More About: Fire , Beam , Antimatter

Shooting Cubicle Alarm System keeps your stapler, paperclips safe
2007-10-29 01:50:00
Put simply, the three devices can be set up around your personal space, and while the first unit simply flashes, emits a blast and simultaneously alarms the other two, the second device actually throws out an uber-terrifying (okay, so maybe that's a stretch) red beam to further startle the invader. If you're truly trying to protect wares that actually posses a substantial level of worth, we'd recommend a few alternatives more suited for the job, but if you're simply trying to keep the office snoop from "borrowing" your red stapler, this cubicle defense system ought to suffice. Yeah, it's not exactly intimidating, but if you've nothing better to do than watch a demonstration of the $39.99 system in action, check it out after the jump. If he / she persists, the final unit launches two non-lethal missiles to let that encroacher know that you mean business.    
More About: System , Shooting , Alarm , Safe , Shoot

White PS2 with Singstar hitting store shelves
2007-10-29 01:48:00
  The venerable PlayStation 2 just turned seven years old, and getting all dressed up for the occasion -- that hot Ceramic White slim PS2 Sings tar bundle we saw a while back should be hitting stores this weekend, with availability everywhere by November 4, according to Sony's PlayStation Blog. The $150 bundle includes Singstar Pop, a matching white DualShock 2, and two microphones -- just the thing to spice up those holiday parties.      
More About: Store , Shelves

XROAD V4050 GPS coming stateside
2007-10-29 01:47:00
  The 4.3-inch touchscreen PND -- a rebrand of the Takara GP43, according to Navigadget -- comes with a 2GB SD card preloaded with US and Canadian map data and features the oh-so-popular SiRFStar III chip, a 400MHz Samsung CPU, Bluetooth, and MP3 and AVI support. The cool kids might cruise in their cars on Friday nights, but you know we kick it old-school and troll the FCC database for hot new gadgets -- which is how this Capoint XROAD V4050 GPS turned up in our sights. No word on pricing or availability, but that Takara unit sold in Europe for €500 ($719).    

Kinwei KW-P4 PMP: no buttons, no labels
2007-10-29 01:46:00
Format support for the 2GB player is the usual mix of the standard and obscure, with MP3 and WMA audio support bracketed by "MTV" and "AWV" video formats, and you're also getting an FM tuner, ebook reader, and games built in. In a sharp departure from the usual DIGITAL SOUND PROCESSING label overload, the KW-P4 instead features a virtually unmarked touchpad below its 2.4-inch screen. We've seen some dramatically pared down interfaces on portable media devices before, but this PMP from China's Kinwei takes minimalism to a whole new level. Of course, it's not at all clear how to actually use this thing, but at least it's calming, no?    
More About: Labels , Buttons

Neonode N2 makes its FCC debut
2007-10-29 01:45:00
  For those not up to speed on it, the N2 boasts a 2-inch touchscreen that fills up most of the front of the handset, along with a 2 megapixel camera, a miniSD card slot, and quad-band GSM / GPRS capabilities (no WiFi though). From the looks of the tests reports, however, the touchscreen-based handset doesn't seem to have picked up any of those much-desired 3G capabilities in its trip across the Atlantic, although we suspect it'll still find its share of fans. Hit up the gallery below for a few more pics courtesy of the FCC, and keep it locked here for any word of a release. It's been out in Europe for a good few months already, but the Neonode N2 has now finally landed into the FCC's all-important hands, which would seem to suggest that a US release isn't all that far off.    
More About: Debut

Sandisk Unveils 8GB1 MicroSDHC and M2 Flash Memory Cards
2007-10-29 01:43:00
SanDisk is getting the word out on the new cards using the unfortunately named "Slot Education" campaign, which is "aimed at raising awareness both of the presence of a card slot in the majority of today's new mobile handsets and of the benefits available to those who use it. The 8GB micoSDHC and M2 cards are designed with the with the growing multimedia use of mobile users in mind. Two new flavors of SanDisk Flash memory cards are making their debuts on store shelves today.    
More About: Memory , Flash Memory , Cards , Sandisk

Hands on With the Swiss Gear Notebook Cooler
2007-10-29 01:42:00
  Out of the box, the cooler comes in a compact case--you just slide out the drawer to reveal the two fans and place your laptop on top. On the bottom of the cooler is a cord keeper where you can stow away the USB cable when it's not in use. Compatibile with PCs and Macs, the cooler is powered by USB and I found the included cord was more than long enough. Intrigued by this premise, I decided to take the cooler for a spin. My notebook is a 12-inch widescreen--the Dell Inspiron 700m, but the cooler accommodates up to 17-inch models. ) is the Swiss Gear Notebook Cooler . Available in black and pink, the Notebook Cooler not only acts as a platform for you laptop, but it also has two integrated fans to help keep your machine from overheating. That's where laptop stands come in, and it's a growing market. A laptop's meant to go on your lap, right? The latest one to land on my desk (lap? Well, not when it's hot enough to burn your legs.    
More About: Hands

Cool Gadgets You Can't Buy in the U.S.
2007-10-29 01:41:00
And we dial in Jen's "lovah" Eric, who details the travails the two of them had trying to run Ubuntu on their home machine (call them Windows re-converts). In the second half of the show, Terrifying Tim Gideon stops by to scare us with a PC Magazine Labs ghost story--and it's all truuuuuue! And Brian Heater talks about what technology companies are doing to help the people affected by the California wildfires. Of course, we also have Brian's Hot Five in Five--the top tech news of the week, delivered at lightning-fast speed. This week we're joined by Corinne Iozzio, who gives us the lowdown on a range of wonderful gadgets that are readily available--just not here. And Jen's Weird Gear this week is perfect for masochistic FPS fans. Then Dan proposes age limits on social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace--and as usual, gets argued with. Tune in and check it out.    
More About: Gadgets , Cool

Haiku Review: Toshiba Qosmio G45-AV680
2007-10-29 01:40:00
Redesigned chassisHD DVD burnerNot inexpensive   —Molly K. McLaughlin
More About: Review , Haiku , Toshiba , Qosmio , Toshi

Haiku Review: Falcon Northwest Mach V (GeForce 8800 Ultra SLI)
2007-10-29 01:39:00
PC for 10G'sForward-looking tech showpieceAn overclocked rig   —Molly K. McLaughlin
More About: Review , Ultra , Haiku , Northwest , Falcon

Freddy Krueger.
2007-10-29 01:33:00
So wasn't I thrilled to stumble upon the Michael Myers With Sound: an 18-inch-tall Michael Myers doll with a motion-activated sensor that triggers the Halloween theme song. Bring Michael Myers into your home this Halloween for $49.98 at ThingsYouNeverKnewExisted.com. But the character who still gives me chills would definitely have to be Michael Myers. These are some of the most terrifying horror film characters of all time. It's the freaky white mask, slow walk, and eerie music that make me want to hide under the covers (well, until the scary parts are over).   Myers wouldn't be complete with his two knives, too.   Jason Voorhees.    
More About: Freddy , Reddy , Krueger

PC Mag's "The Best Tech You Can't Get"
2007-10-29 01:31:00
  Whatever the reason, there's plenty of cool tech that US resident will never get to see--without making a trip overseas or having access to an importer and a significant amount of extra spending money. If you're an avid reader of tech blogs, you constantly come across countless exciting products that will never make it to our shores. In the case of phones, for example, it usually comes down to the lockdown on telecommunications by the big four wireless carriers. Sometimes that's due to the tight control that a handful of manufacturers possess in certain categories.    
More About: Tech

Wake Up to a Robotic Alarm Clock
2007-10-29 01:30:00
He gives you fortunes, speaks the time, reacts to light and motion, winks and blinks, and plays music from your MP3 player and the AM/FM radio. So rise and shine, and get this robotic alarm clock for $79.99 at SkyMall.com. Now this is one freaky alarm clock. Clock Radio is a robot's head perched on a radio alarm clock. If there's one thing this robot will get mad about, it's if you hit the snooze button too many times. But that's not all. It can wake you up in over 30 different ways, including a gentle voice or a shouting drill sergeant.    
More About: Robotic , Wake , Alarm , Wake up

Roboboa slithers its way to the USA
2007-10-16 08:49:00
While WowWee's dancing Robo boa robot has already made its way into a few select parts of the world, those in the US have so far had a considerable harder time getting their hands on one. That looks to have now changed in a big way, however, as the so-called "alien with attitude" is now available directly from WowWee for an even $100. As WowWee is quick to point out, the bot can do more than just dance (although surely that would have been enough), with it also able to double as a desk lamp, an alarm clock, and even a "scanning room guard." Just don't let it get near your modded Robosapien, unless you want things to get ugly.[Thanks, Robert]
More About: Slither

Fabrik launches SimpleTech Pro drives, online backup service
2007-10-16 08:49:00
Fabrik hit us up with a double dose of news today, so we'll get right to it. First up is the firm's new line of SimpleTech Pro / Duo Pro Drives ($229.99 to $799.99), which are aimed at digital media enthusiasts, prosumers and business users and come equipped with up to 2TB of storage space, eSATA and USB 2.0 connections. Next we're looking at the outfit's Ultimate Backup , which is hailed as "a simple, affordable and secure way to protect your most coveted content both offsite and online." For under five bucks a month, the service provides users with "unlimited capacity to securely store important files and media collections remotely and automatically," and moreover, all files are "encrypted with 128-bit SSL encryption while in transit, with an option for a private encryption key, to the company's remote 448-bit Blowfish encrypted servers (in other words, it's secure)." For more details, be sure and give the read links below a gander.
More About: Service , Online , Fabrik