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Guitar modded to integrate laptop with music visualizer
2007-11-26 11:32:00
Old laptops are a geek modder's best friend: this particular example is one of the better mods we've seen to incorporate an old lappie, with a guy called Ben sticking his old machine behind the strings of an electric guitar. He then linked up the sound produced by the guitar to a visualizer in the laptop, allowing it to pump some psychedelic-looking sound waves out to onlookers. Beats the usual sticker decorations, dontchafink?[Via Technabob]
More About: Music , Laptop , Guitar

Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and DDR get cheap rip-offs
2007-11-26 11:30:00
When you're out trawling for a copy of the rapidly selling out Rock Band , you may run into a cheap knock-off or two of the rhythm game genre. Our tipster spotted several units including a Guitar and DDR imitation in Macy's, and a Drum game in another store. All of them plug directly into a TV, but none are particularly cheap at around $40 each. The usual target audience for these kind of gadgets are unsuspecting parents looking for a present for the kids, so make sure you include a rigorous education program in the perils of game rip-offs when you hand in your holiday wish-list.[Thanks, Seth]Read - Guitar SuperstarRead - Dance ManiaRead - Drum Star
More About: Cheap , Hero

Guitar Hero: it shreds, and, yes, it blends
2007-11-26 11:27:00
Quick, before some pretentious post-postmodern indie band rips the idea and integrates it into their set: check out the video after the break of the will it blend dude sticking a Gibson X-Plorer's fender into one of their machines. Yeah, we're total suckers for the Guitar Hero games, and we love to see Guitar destruction as much as the next rock fiend, so you can probably guess the result.[Via Joystiq]
More About: Guitar Hero

The "999,999,999 in 1 Super Game" system
2007-11-25 07:48:00
We have no idea if this thing is real, but if it is you can probably expect to pick one up from nondescript street markets across China. With a claim to fame of one less than a billion games included, the "999999999 in 1 Super Game " should give the "big three" consoles a run for their money.[Thanks, Rico]
More About: System , Stem

Motorola Q9c, i335 / Blackberry Pearl 8130 on sale at Sprint
2007-11-25 07:48:00
It's not like you didn't know this day was coming, but Sprint users eagerly awaiting the actual release of Motorola 's Q9c / i335 or the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 can quit sitting on their hands. That right folks, as of now, all three of the aforementioned handsets are available on Sprint, and while we're sure you're up to speed on all the specs, here's the down low on prices. After a two-year agreement and mail-in rebate, the i335 will run you $49.99, while the Q9c demands $149.99 and the Pearl 8130 rings up at $199.99. Take your pick -- the trio is on sale now online and in Sprint stores everywhere.Read - Motorola Q9c / i335 on sale at SprintRead - BlackBerry Pearl 8130 on sale at Sprint
More About: Blackberry , Sale

UK OQO announcement early next month?
2007-11-25 07:45:00
OQO has been sending out invitations to a London press conference which will include a pre-launch unveiling of an unspecified product. They're also announcing with jkOnTheRun calls an Anytime / Anywhere Computing Environment, which is so vague that it could mean almost anything. The CEO of the company will be at the event too, so we know this probably isn't going anything as insignificant as a point update to existing models.[Via Boy Genius Report]
More About: Announcement , Early , Handhelds , Month , Anno

Play Famicom games on your DS with the Cyber Familator cart
2007-11-25 07:44:00
Using a simple but bulky cart from Japan, it's possible to make your DS play Famicom games. It'll also play NES games if you can get your hands on an adapter for the different cart shape. Mark this down on your shopping list before you make your compulsory, once-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Akihabara.[Via Technabob]
More About: Games , Play , Cyber , Cart , Mico

Rock Band gets a patch, but problems persist
2007-11-25 07:43:00
Following up on yesterday's news of Rock Band hardware concerns, developer Harmonix has issued a software patch meant to mend issues that players have been having with downstrumming. Unfortunately, the software fix doesn't seem to be taking for everyone -- some users are reporting fully functional axes, while others are still plagued by the strum problem. Worse yet, other gamers are reporting that the patch has caused their strums to double up -- thus making the game considerably more crappy. On the silver-lining flip side, EA is actively honoring warranties for the Rock Band gear, though they say guitar replacement will take nearly two weeks -- which will put you dangerously close to not being able to jam through X-mas.
More About: Problems , Patch

T-Mobile USA making announcement about 3G on December 6?
2007-11-25 07:41:00
If we ignore all the nonsensical parts of this Inquirer article, then we see that T-Mobile USA might be about to make an announcement regarding their US 3G offering. According to a rep, the company will be making an announcement on December 6th on the subject, which sounds to us like the Government might have finally shifted off of T-Mobile 's turf. That's all the relevant details we have, so set your calendars if 3G networks news announcements are your kinda thang.[Thanks, Frank P.]
More About: Announcement , T Mobile

Rock Xtreme 770 notebook with GeForce 8800M GTX reviewed
2007-11-25 07:40:00
NVIDIA's recently rolled out GeForce 8800M GTX has already made its way into a laptop, specifically Rock 's Xtreme 770, specially updated to integrate the new chip. The 770 features a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo, a 7200RPM 200GB HDD, 2GB of RAM, a 17-inch 1920x1200 display, and that all important GeForce 8800M GTX graphics card. The new card is certainly no disappointment, kicking the 8700M by a factor of two in most gaming benchmarks (although that also says a lot about the 8700M's lackluster performance.) The bottom line with the 8800M GTX is that it enables acceptable performance in Crysis at reasonable resolutions, which is more than can be said of most desktops. However, you might want to hold off until the GPU reaches lappies other than the Rock Extreme 770, which costs £2,199: that's over $4,500 at the current exchange rate.[Thanks, Angelus Cat]
More About: Notebook , Geforce

ThirstyLight keeps watch on plants so you don't have to
2007-11-25 07:38:00
While it won't keep watch on your plants and water them like some devices we've seen, the so-called ThirstyLight will at least handle one part of that equation, with it sending out a signal in the form of a blinkin' LED light when your plants' soil gets dry. That's handled by a "Drypoint Digital Circuit," which checks moisture levels once per second and is able to discern between five different levels of dryness (relayed to you by blinking patterns of increasing urgency). If that sounds like the solution to your plant problems, you can pick one up now for $10, or get 'em in bundles of three, six, or twelve at a discount.
More About: Watch , Gadgets , Plants

Researchers developing advanced electronic nose
2007-11-25 07:37:00
Creating minuscule devices that can mimic olfactory systems is nothing new, but an international team of researchers are reportedly working to improve an existing design by basing it on metal oxide nanowires. Granted, the actual technology is a bit above our noses, er, heads, but according to Dr. Andrei Kolmakov, the team's aim was to "demonstrate the excellent performance of a practical device made by combining bottom-up fabricated SnO2 nanowires / nanobelts as sensing elements with a multi-electrode KAMINA [e-nose] platform." More specifically, these gurus decided to implement a "completely new morphology of the sensing layer" composed of tin oxide nanowires rather than the traditional thin-film sensing element. Not surprisingly, those working on perfecting the device are hoping to one day have it installed in areas where intelligent sensor systems are used, but we wouldn't overlook the possibility of finding these things embedded in shirts of the future for those paranoid about...
More About: Electronic , Gadgets , Nose , Vance

Broadcom accepts verdict, owed $19.6 million by Qualcomm
2007-11-25 07:35:00
We're tempted to believe that the latest news in the ongoing quarrel between Broadcom and Qualcomm is foreshadowing some form of closure, but considering just how long this thing has been going on, we suppose we shouldn't be so hopeful. Nevertheless, Broadcom has just announced that it will not seek a new trial and will accept the $19.6 million in damages originally awarded in a patent infringement case. The proclamation came after a federal judge affirmed the jury verdict that Qualcomm infringed on Broadcom patents but "removed an award of double damages." Of course, you knew these two bitter enemies couldn't just shake hands and call it even, as Broadcom did note that it would gladly pocket the near-$20 million award and "pursue an injunction against Qualcomm's infringing products." Surprised? Nah, we didn't think so.
More About: Million , Verdict , Accept

Chrysler's Jeep Renegade concept is pure Halo
2007-11-24 08:18:00
Let's face it, car designers need to look deeper for next-generation designs these days. In a more carefree time, you could put two nasty, rectangular hunks of metal on top of one another, stick on a few over-sized tires, mount a faux-wood steering wheel to the dash, and call it a Ford. These days, it's a buyer's market -- and you need to step up your game. Enter Chrysler's Jeep Renegade 2008 concept, a design boosted directly from the collective unconscious (namely, the minds of Halo players everywhere) that looks like a tank, yet runs on a lithium ion-powered electron motor and a small Bluetec diesel generator, giving this never-to-be a combined 110 MPG range. Roof mounted gatling gun and Covenant-destroying missiles not included.
More About: Transportation , Pure , Concept

PlayStation controller cuff links impress Sony interviewers
2007-11-24 08:16:00
For the ladies out there, we've no doubt that rocking a set of Wiimote earrings would totally increase your chances of lookin' good stupendous in a Nintendo interview room, but for the folks hoping to get a leg up on the competition for that open spot at Sony , here's your ticket. These sterling silver cuff links each measure 0.75- x 0.5-inches and closely resemble the famed PlayStation controller, and in case that wasn't overboard enough, you can even opt to engrave the backing with Sony's stock ticker symbol for extra brownie points. Sure, $150 seems a bit steep for the pair, but practically guaranteeing yourself employment is probably worth the cost. Click on for an on-shirt shot.
More About: Playstation , Links , Controller , Impress

AT&T in talks with Google over the Open Handset Alliance?
2007-11-24 08:15:00
According to a report from Bloomberg, Apple-BFF and mobile-telecom-extroidinaire AT&T is in talks with Google about joining the Open Handset Alliance . In an interview today, Ralph de la Vega -- chief executive officer of the company's wireless unit -- said that the provider is, "Analyzing the situation," concerning the use of Google's Android operating system for some of its handsets. Although Mr. de la Vega hasn't personally met with the search-engine giant, the fact that AT&T is even considering joining the Alliance could have a palpable impact on the industry's perception of the forthcoming mobile OS contender. As you'll recall, T-Mobile and Sprint have already jumped on the OHA bandwagon (though to what extent no one knows), and adding the de facto US leader to the mix might really get this stew boiling over. [Warning: read link requires subscription][Via Information Week]
More About: Open Handset Alliance

Valeswood's Pearl: the hydrogen powered bike
2007-11-24 08:13:00
Listen -- we know you want to do your part for the environment, but you don't have to wear jean shorts while doing it. By all means, take a gander at the Valeswood Pearl hydrogen-fueled, power-assisted bicycle, which motors up to 15 MPH and takes you about 80 miles before you need to juice the batteries. When you're finished with all the hard labor of pedaling, the bike folds up neatly and can be tucked away in the trunk of your 9 MPG SUV. If you're the eco-centric cat or kitten that we think you are, you're not going to be too miffed about that $4000 price tag, and we're sure the only kind of short you'll be rocking will be of the organic hemp variety. We wish we could say the same for the chap in the photo.
More About: Transportation , Hydrogen , Bike

Vista's SideShow coming to Windows Mobile devices?
2007-11-24 08:11:00
Word on the street (er, internet) is that Microsoft's oft-ignored Vista component, SideShow, could be making its official way to your favorite Windows Mobile -flavored device before long. If you'll recall, SideShow acts as a kind of mini-OS which is distributed to devices separate from a PC, such as remotes or external displays on laptops, and can be used to access information like contacts, maps, calendar appointments, and e-mail messages in a low-power, always-on state. Apparently, in a new SDK beta which the SideShow team "showed" off recently, features like a UI designed for portrait QVGA displays, a universal driver that supports USB and Bluetooth communication, and new Bluetooth menu commands have led some folks to speculate that the system could be coming to mobile devices sometime soon. Of course, this all unconfirmed rumor at this point, so don't feel compelled to believe it.[Via the::unwired]
More About: Windows Mobile , Devices , Sideshow

Keepin' it real fake, part XCVII: Nabaztag's sad little knock-off
2007-11-24 08:10:00
You know the Nabaztag -- the lovable, WiFi-sporting, olfactory-equipped plastic rabbit which wormed its way into our hearts. Sure, everyone wants to nestle up to the little critter's twinkling LEDs and soothing expression, but what about Nabaztag's pitiful, cheap, single-function cousin, the Rabbit Sensor Night Light? That's right -- not a lot of love for this one-trick-pony, a simple night light which won't play back your favorite podcasts, recognize the scent of a carrot, read you a book, or act as your Cha'Dich during your trial on Qo'noS concerning the attack at Khitomer... but it will glow softly through its pink plastic casing. Look, it automatically turns on when it detects movement, and it's dirt cheap ($12.99) -- isn't that enough?[Thanks, kristofer b]
More About: Gadgets , Fake , Real , Part , Knock

Olympus E-3 DSLR gets the hands-on treatment
2007-11-24 08:07:00
Olympus' E-3 DSLR may not have been released yet, but that hasn't stopped the folks at LetsGoDigital from getting a hands-on with the camera, which they got to check out at an Olympus junket in Istanbul, Turkey. More specifically, they got to check out a pre-production model of the camera, although judging from the picture above and the sample shots at the read link below, it sure appears to be pretty close to the real thing. They are still reserving final judgment 'til they get their hands on a production model, however, but sure do seem to have been impressed by the camera, saying that while it's not a professional DSLR camera, "it certainly has the features of a professional one." They were also especially impressed with the camera's waterproof construction and, most importantly, the quality of the images captured, which you can check out for yourself at the link below.[Thanks, David]
More About: Olympus , Treatment , Hands , Hands On

Zhuhai Aimei's SD-217 -- a genuinely puzzling PMP
2007-11-23 13:11:00
Ah c'mon, it's just too easy to look at Zhuhai Aimei's SD-217 and bash it for being puzzling -- after all, who in their right mind would opt for this piece when they could grab an equally unrefined knockoff just down the street? Regardless, this laugher features an SD expansion slot for loading up your media, USB 2.0 connectivity, seven equalizer presets and support for MP3, WMA, WMV, ASF and WAV file formats. As an added bonus, the D-pad design was practically ripped from another ripoff, which ratchets the respectability here down even further. Of course, those still confident that they could move these units in their newly created trinket shop can snag 'em in blue, red or green and in capacities ranging from 128MB to 4GB. The price, however, remains a mystery -- right along with what the creators were thinking when sending this atrocity to the production line.[Via PMPToday]
More About: Tech

NEC's Powermate P series breaks free
2007-11-23 13:09:00
Not sure how we missed this the first time around but NEC has an interesting little all-in-oner set to break from its Japanese borders. The Powermate P (P5010 to be specific) combines that 17.1-inch 1440 x 900 pixel display with a 1.6GHz AMD Turion 64x2 TL-52 processor, integrated ATI Radeon X1200 graphics, up to 4GB of memory and 200GB SATA disk, WiFi, and slot loading dual-layer DVD writer. Ok, not a workhorse, but not too shabby for a 4-kg (8.8-pound) slab. Available now in Australia and New Zealand (and Japan of course) for about $1,741 of the US green or $1,999 of that local Aussie stuff.[Via AVING and Gizmag]
More About: Series , Free , Breaks

Jeremy Mayer turns inoperative typewriters into art
2007-11-23 13:08:00
Nah, Jeremy Mayer's typewriter-based creations aren't anything new for him, but he's used his years of practice to get a few installations on display at the Nevada Museum of Art. Most notable is the human-like creature above, which was assembled head to toe with now-defunct typewriter parts. So if you just so happen to be in the area, why not stop on by (before December 2nd) and see if you can hack it to send out an email or something.[Via MAKE]
More About: Gadgets

Fuji Television demonstrates visible light communications system
2007-11-23 13:05:00
It's not like visible light communications is the new kid on the block or anything, but Fuji Television was busy showcasing a new flavor of the technology at Inter BEE 2007 that could assist deaf / hearing impaired individuals when watching TV. In the demonstration, a LED-backlit LCD TV displayed content while simultaneously beaming out information sans wires to a nearby PDA; the handheld was able to receive the textual data and display words to accompany the on-screen action. Not surprisingly, the communications system was developed by NEC, and it even supported selective distribution in order to transmit the correct information to the appropriate individual. No mention was made of an expected commercialization date, but feel free to check out a couple more shots of the setup after the break.
More About: System , Gadgets , Light

Black Friday Giveaways (part 3): Plantronics Discovery 640 Bluetooth headse
2007-11-23 13:04:00
Ok everybody, here goes round three. This time we're got a Plantronics Discovery 640 Bluetooth headset. Ready? Here's the deal.We'll put up a gadget on the site, and you can only enter it until the next gadget lands (usually within a couple of hours). If you miss your shot, sorry, we're moving on to the next gadget. Good luck!Oh, and don't forget the rules. (Yeah, there are always rules.)Leave a comment below. That's it! Who loves you, baby.You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.) You can enter different giveaways in today's Black Friday giveaways, but you can only enter this one once.If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine.Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone),...
More About: Giveaways

Black Friday Giveaways (part 2): Microsoft LifeCam VX-7000
2007-11-23 13:00:00
Ok everybody, here goes round two. This time we're got one of Microsoft 's new LifeCam VX-7000s. Ready? Here's how this thing works.We'll put up a gadget on the site, and you can only enter it until the next gadget lands (usually within a couple of hours). If you miss your shot, sorry, we're moving on to the next gadget. Good luck! Oh, and don't forget the rules. (Yeah, there are always rules.)Leave a comment below. That's it! Who loves you, baby.You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.) You can enter different giveaways in today's Black Friday giveaways, but you can only enter this one once.If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine.Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding an...
More About: Giveaways , Part

Black Friday Giveaways : Neruos OSD
2007-11-23 07:42:00
Whether you've found yourself camped out in a line this early winter morning or just up late to see what we're giving away on Engadget, we'd like to welcome you to our Black Friday giveaways. We've got over a dozen gadgets we're giving away today, so be sure to check frequently. First up on the block: a Neuros OSD. Ready? Here's how it works.We'll put up a gadget on the site, and you can only enter it until the next gadget lands (usually within a couple of hours). If you miss your shot, sorry, we're moving on to the next gadget. Good luck! Oh, and don't forget the rules. (Yeah, there are always rules.)Leave a comment below. That's it! Who loves you, baby.You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.) You can enter different giveaways in today's Black Friday giveaways, but you can only enter this one once.If you enter more t...
More About: Giveaways

Ricoh's new Caplio RR770 sports 3-inch LCD
2007-11-22 17:33:00
Continuing its trend of pushing out evolutionary -- rather than revolutionary -- digital cameras, Ricoh has just introduced the new Caplio RR770, a model barely distinguishable from the now two-generations-old RR730. Just as the move from the 730 to the RR750 brought with it little more than a minor resolution bump, the 7.16 megapixel RR770 improves upon its predecessor by simply upgrading the LCD to a 3-incher -- but retaining the ho hum 3x optical zoom and limited scene selections of Caplios past. Price and release are currently shrouded in mystery, but don't expect to spend much more than $250 on this unremarkable shooter.
More About: Sports , Inch

Toshiba's Mike Eves wackily compares format war to fuel
2007-11-22 17:32:00
Although one has to consider Toshiba's obvious bias in the format war, we still can't quite wrap our heads around what Mike Eves is trying to get at here. Reportedly, the company's retail marketing executive for its consumer products division told Pocket-Lint that the "HD DVD / Blu-ray battle is like petrol versus diesel at the pumps," and somewhat clarified his thoughts by asserting that "both would probably exist together rather than a single format winning out." Of course, that last statement doesn't deviate too far from the sentiments issued by Sony's Howard Stringer just days ago, and while he couldn't be coerced into admitting whether or not combo players were a good thing, another spokesman did state that he wasn't keen on having two units under his TV. Whatever the case, we can't imagine that having two formats for the duration would be a boon for consumers, but regrettably, we're hardly any closer to seeing a clear-cut winner today than we were on the day these two...
More About: Fuel , Format , Ares , Pare

Hush Technologies' HS1 Home Server now available
2007-11-22 17:31:00
Don't get down on yourself if you can't remember the last time you saw anything interesting from Hush Technologies -- we had to scour the archives ourselves -- but the German firm is storming back with a stylish home server dubbed the HS1. The Windows Home Server -powered device features a sexy aluminum chassis (available in three colors), a fanless design, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, an Ethernet jack, HDD kit for a pair of 3.5-inch drives and a 90-watt power supply. Interested consumers can customize the unit with up to 2TB of storage space and a gigabit Ethernet upgrade, but considering that the base configuration will run you €923.53 ($1,362), maxing this bad boy out won't come cheap.[Via WeGotServed]
More About: Logi