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  1. Logitech Squeezebox Boom hits the stage

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    It's been a month since we first caught a glimpse of the sharp-looking Logitech Squeezebox Boom, but the wireless network speakers are official today, coming in at a list price of $299. Yeah, it's basically a standard-issue Squeezebox with a built-in amp and speakers, but that's a pretty solid idea, especially since we're guessing the 24-bit Burr Brown D/A converter and bi-amped 3-inch woofers and 3/4-inch tweeters will offer up some decent sound. Everything else is regular Squeezebox kit -- 802.11g WiFi, SqueezeNetwork, optical and S/PDIF out, VFD display, 10/100Base-T Ethernet -- so if you're looking to expand your system, this is probably a pretty solid way of getting it done. Expect to see this one on shelves next month. One more pic after the break.

    Continue reading Logitech Squeezebox Boom hits the stage

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    Posted on 28 August 2008 | 6:01 am

  2. SanDisk Extreme III SDHC cards hit 30MB/s

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    SanDisk's pushed both Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo and regular SD cards to 30MB/s transfer rates before, and now it's SDHC's turn with the new Extreme III series. Yep, it's a really fast memory card for DSLRs, and it'll cost you: 4GB will be $65, 8GB $110 and 16GB will set you back whopping $180 when these hit in October.

    [Via Digital Camera Info]
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    Posted on 28 August 2008 | 5:07 am

  3. BlackBerry Storm 9530 for Verizon gets boxed

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    So we might not have a physical device here, but these packaging renderings are pretty solid evidence of exactly what BlackBerry fans on Verizon -- particularly those jealous of the Bold -- can expect in a few weeks' time. It looks like RIM's first foray into the scary world of touchscreens will be officially branded the 9530 Storm, will be global (it includes a SIM card, after all), and will feature an 8GB SanDisk microSD card preinstalled. Wondering what happened to the Thunder name? Turns out that'll apparently be reserved for the version of the phone launching on Rogers up in Canada and on Vodafone across the pond. Those Storm users on the screen there sure look happy, don't they?

    Gallery: BlackBerry Storm 9350 for Verizon gets boxed

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    Posted on 28 August 2008 | 3:59 am

  4. Creative X-Fi Go! mobile sound card set to appear at IFA

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    Creative isn't showing off too much new stuff at IFA this week, but we should be hearing about the X-Fi Go! mobile sound card, which looks to be an update on the old Soundblaster Play!. The tiny USB 2.0 stick packs in quite of bit of audio-tweaking magic, with Crystallizer, CMSS-3D, EAX Advanced HD and OpenAL support, as well as 1GB of flash storage preloaded with Alchemy, WaveStudio, and other apps. Available now in Singapore for S$79 ($56), we'd guess it'll be similarly priced when it hits Stateside.

    [Via Electronista]
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    Posted on 28 August 2008 | 3:19 am

  5. JVC's NX-BD3 system enters the Blu-ray HTIB arena

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    JVC NX-BD3 Blu-ray HTIB
    The appearance of Blu-ray HTIB systems under a number of brands is an encouraging sign that the format is at least trying to move into the mainstream living room, and now JVC's thrown its hat into the ring with the 2.1-channel NX-BD3. Of course, simply pulling bits off of Blu-ray discs isn't enough entertainment value these days, so the system also sports DLNA support, a 200-Watt powered sub and a 4x55-Watt amplifier (leaving you two channels to grow into). At £799 ($1,465) for a 2.1-channel setup, you might expect to get the latest and greatest in Blu-ray tech, but Profile 2.0, DTS-HD MA and Dolby TrueHD didn't make the cut -- let's hope some sort of "market adjustment" happens between the time this appears next month and when it crosses the pond.

    [Via Electronista]
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    Posted on 28 August 2008 | 2:04 am

  6. Eyes-on with LG's NB41 Blu-ray NAS

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    Sure, it's just network attached storage, but somehow, someway, LG's dressed its NB41 Blu-ray burnin'' NAS with just enough sex, just enough appeal to coax this helpless editor into risking security's ire just to grab a few pre-IFA snaps. It's bigger than we expected -- mini-tower PC big -- but we guess those four 1TB disks need plenty of ventilation. Just check that reflection in the mirror for a sense of scale.

    Gallery: Eyes-on with LG's NB41 Blu-ray NAS

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    Posted on 28 August 2008 | 1:04 am

  7. LG injects 7000-series HDTVs with Bluetooth at IFA

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    Even though it's in nearly every phone available, only a few flat panels with integrated wireless networking have surfaced so far, and now LG's packing Bluetooth into its already highly anticipated "infinite black" PG7000 plasma and Scarlet LG7000 LCD models. Pricetags are still in the air, but LG says these flatscreens will hit worldwide starting with Europe in September.
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    Posted on 28 August 2008 | 12:28 am

  8. Two-inch-square Space Cube computer gets shown off

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    The two-inch-square Space Cube computer has apparently been making the rounds in Japan for some time now, but PC Pro has finally managed to sneak one into the UK and, thankfully for us, they've decided to share. This one packs a 300MHz NEC VR5701 processor, 64MB of RAM, a 1GB CompactFlash card, and a special version of Red Hat Linux, along with a single USB port, VGA out, built-in Ethernet and, most importantly for its target market, a SpaceWire port, which is used by the likes of NASA and the European Space Agency. Unfortunately for hobbyists that may have gotten their hopes up, while the price was initially estimated to be a reasonable $325, it now looks like it could be demanding upwards of £1,500 (or over $2,700) but the time it's officially released outside of Japan, although it seems like it will at least actually be sold to the general public.

    [Via Slashdot]
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 11:57 pm

  9. Peak's Starpex wooden guitar controller gets the hands-on treatment

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    While there's likely nothing that will convince most folks of the merits of a full-size, $180 wooden guitar controller, those still on the fence about this particular piece of excess may be interested to know that the good people of PS3 Fanboy recently got their hands on one, and they've now offered up some initial impressions. As you might expect, they found it to definitely be a hefty device, but far from an unwieldy one, with the buttons as familiar as even and the strum bar in particular a significant improvement over other Guitar Hero and Rock Band guitars. Peak also doesn't look to have cut any corners when it comes to the little details, with even the strap made of a thick fabric that makes it more comfortable to wear.
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 11:22 pm

  10. MSI rolls out EX300, EX400 laptops

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    While it may seem like MSI has nothing but the Wind on its mind these days, the company is, in fact, still in the general laptop business, and its just let loose a pair of decidedly ordinary new models to prove it. From the looks of it, the "athletic and fashionable" EX300 (pictured above) is the slightly more interesting of the pair, with it sporting a 13.3-inch WXGA display, an unspecified Core 2 Duo processor, ATI Mobility Radeon HD3450 graphics, a max 320GB hard drive, up to 4GB of RAM, and a Blu-ray drive, among other standard fare. The EX400, on the other hand, opts for a slightly less portable 14.1-inch display and some more traditional styling, along with some virtually identical specs to its more "athletic" counterpart. No word on a price for either of 'em just yet, unfortunately, nor is there any indication of a release 'round these parts.

    Read     - MSI EX300
    Read - MSI EX400

    [Via Far East Gizmos]
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 10:51 pm

  11. Sony intros TA-DA5400ES and TA-DA3400ES AV receivers

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    We thought we had seen all of Sony's 2008 ES lineup, but boy were we distinctly incorrect. Sony Japan has today revealed a trio of newcomers, two of which we've never seen before. The TA-DA5400ES packs a 120-watt x 7 channel internal amplifier, six HDMI inputs (and 2 outputs), six optical audio jacks and three sets of component inputs (among others). As for the STR-DA3400ES, the wattage steps down to 100-watts per channel and the port selection isn't nearly as robust; the STR-DG820 is already available in the States, making us believe this one's just an overseas re-release. Anywho, feel free to check out the full specifications in the read link below, and you can look for these to land (at least in Japan) this November.

    [Via SonyInsider]
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 10:20 pm

  12. Garmin's new nüvi 7x5 and 2x5 navigators live and in person

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    We got a brief glimpse at Garmin's new nüvi navigators, the 7x5 Series and 2x5 Series. Since we weren't on the road, the 755T treated us to 3D views of the IFA building we were chilling at, spinning at a blistering 10 fps. The Lane Assist also does what it says on the box, giving you a crystal clear look at your next merge. The 265T was considerably less dramatic, and both units show a considerable amount of boredom on the industrial design front. Garmin clearly knows what it's about when it comes to navigation devices, but we could use a bit more spice with those maps to keep us coming back.

    Gallery: Garmin's new nuvi 7x5 and 2x5 navigators live and in person

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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 9:50 pm

  13. CE-Oh no he didn't! Part LVIII: NVIDIA CEO doesn't know what Larrabee is, doesn't care

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    NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang just can't resist throwing more jabs at Intel, distracting the inaugural NVISION crowd from Battlestar Galactica star Tricia Helfer with the claim that "Larrabee hasn't shipped so you don't know what it is and I don't know what it is." The fact that we do know what it is -- a next-gen hybrid CPU / GPU -- shouldn't be a concern according to Huang, because "By the time it does ship, Nvidia's technology will be so far advanced it won't matter." Besides stuffing Usain Bolt-type speed into a GPU the company will keep busy working on its WinMo smartphone hardware, and software for the not-exactly-Atom-killing VIA Nano, but forget about that rumored x86-compatible hardware 'cuz, as Jen-Hsun reminds us, "the Internet doesn't run on x86." For a company that lacks innovation, is "a joke," and at least four years behind, Intel must be doing something right, because the competition can't keep its name out of their mouths.
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 9:22 pm

  14. Garmin's Nuvifone teases its way through another trade show

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    Oh, Nuvifone, how you disappoint us. Over here at IFA we just managed to get a Garmin rep to whip out his Nuvifone prototype for a quick look, but sadly, almost a year after the device was first announced, there really wasn't anything new to see. We still aren't allowed to take video of the interface, or really see much of the phone other than the home screen, and when the rep tried to show us how the Nuvifone kicks the iPhone's ass in navigation, the Nuvi promptly crashed -- so at least those two have that in common. Not that we should be surprised, Garmin mentioned last month that the phone had been delayed into 2009, but we're quickly running out of patience, as well as any scrap of remaining hope for this thing to actually matter when it does arrive. Peep the gallery for a little bit of iPhone 3G versus action.

    Gallery: Garmin's Nuvifone teases its way through another trade show

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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 8:50 pm

  15. IFA Berlin: yeah, we're here

    16. Come now, you didn't think we'd let something like IFA pass by without shipping a few editors off to Berlin did you? We're on the ground and taking names in the best ninja gear we could sew with $5 worth of felt and tin foil. But hey, it's not the costume that keeps you coming back, it's the content. So stay tuned.
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 8:45 pm

  16. Samsung goes after low-cost laptop market with new SATA II SSDs

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    We have a strange feeling there's more marketing hoopla here than anything else, but whatever the case, Samsung sure feels like its newest line of SSDs will work just great within low-cost laptops. The outfit has begun to sample "low-density, higher-performance solid state drives that are only 30-percent of the size of 2.5-inch SSDs and highly cost-efficient to manufacture." The MLC-based drives only come in 8GB, 16GB and 32GB flavors, and read / write performance ranges from 90MB/sec to 70MB/sec, respectively. Mass production is scheduled to crank up next month, and while you'd expect SSDs aimed at netbooks to boast remarkably low price tags, Sammy doesn't even bother spilling those beans.
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 8:26 pm

  17. Sony debuts $1,500 SACD player with HDMI output

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    We have to admit, that headline makes us a little bit giddy, and Sony seems to be betting there's enough folks giddy enough to throw down their credit card to snag its new high-end SACD player, which has just made its debut in Japan. In addition to making a bold statement of non-conformity in your A/V rack, the SCD-XA5400ES is particularly notable for its inclusion of an HDMI output, which nicely complements the usual digital optical, coax, and analog audio options. According to Sony, you can also expect nearly zero distortion from the twin R-core transformer and D/A system, which is independent from the general processing chipset. What's more, unlike many such product announcements, while this one made its debut in Japan, it's already available for pre-order from at least one US retailer (JR.com), although there's no promised release date just yet (it lands in Japan in October).
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 7:54 pm

  18. Space Station laptops catch "nuisance" virus

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    While it doesn't appear to be nearly as serious as some of the computer problems the International Space Station has faced, it looks like a virus has managed to find its way onto some of the laptops used on the Station, which NASA is now describing only as a "nuisance." According to SpaceRef.com, the virus is the W32.Gammima.AG worm, which is normally used to swipe sensitive information for online games. As Wired's Threat Level reports, the worm has also spread to more than one laptop on the Space Station, which would seem to suggest that it has either been spread via an on-board intranet, or via a thumb drive. Somewhat disconcertingly, when asked by Threat Level if any mission critical systems were connected to the same network as the laptops, NASA spokesperson Kelly Humphries simply said, "I don't know and even if I did, I wouldn't be able to tell you for IT security reasons."

    [Via Threat Level, thanks a.c.e.r.]
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 7:26 pm

  19. Sony expands Nav-U GPS line with four new models

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    Sony's Nav-U line of PNDs hasn't made big waves in the States yet, but the company's keeping at it, releasing four new touchscreen navs today. The new $400 NV-U94T (pictured) takes over from the NV-U83T at the high end, featuring a 4.8-inch touch screen in a 30 percent thinner case, gesture commands, POSITION plus accelerometer and barometer (wild)-based dead reckoning in case of signal loss, Quick Links POI icons, and an RDS-TMC traffic receiver built into the cradle, as well as basic PMP functions, Bluetooth with A2DP output and Memory Stick Duo expansion; the $300 NV-U74T is basically the same package minus the PMP features and with a 4.3-inch screen and the $350 NV-U84 keeps the 4.8-inch panel but doesn't have Bluetooth, dead reckonings, or traffic. There's also a totally new 3.5-inch unit, the $250 NV-U44, which is pretty basic but seems like a fine deal: text-to-speech nav, maps of the US and Canada, and split-screen 3D views with lane guidance. All four should be out in September.

    [Via CNET]
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 6:51 pm

  20. Samsung prepping YP-Q1 PMP for IFA

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    It's not officially announced yet, but Samsung's expected to announce the YP-Q1 PMP at IFA this week. The vertically-oriented player will come in 4, 8 and 16GB varieties with a 2.4-inch QVGA screen, support for MP3, WMA, WAV, Ogg, FLAC, MPEG4 and WMV, and an FM RDS radio. No word on pricing yet, but does anyone else think it's funny that Samsung will now have two entirely different slow-selling Q1s?
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 6:24 pm

  21. UK's Advertising Standards Authority yanks iPhone ad for being misleading

    22. Filed under:

    Apple's iPhone 3G ads paint a pretty cheery picture of the device in action, but just as many of you have noted, the omission of Flash and Java means there's a big difference between what the "the real internet" and what's on the iPhone -- enough so that the UK's Advertising Standards Authority has pulled one of Apple's latest ads from the airwaves because it claims "all the parts of the internet are on the iPhone." At least two people complained to the ASA that the ad was misleading because sites that use Flash and Java don't work on the iPhone, and the board agreed, saying that "We concluded that the ad gave a misleading impression of the internet capabilities of the iPhone" because "viewers were likely to expect to be able to see all the content on a web site normally accessible through a PC rather than just having the ability to reach the website." If we had to guess, we'd say this decision is more likely to prompt Apple to be more careful with its ads in the future rather than ever bring Flash or Java to the iPhone, but you know Adobe is feeling pretty smug right about now. Check the ad after the break.

    [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

    Continue reading UK's Advertising Standards Authority yanks iPhone ad for being misleading

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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 5:53 pm

  22. NVIDIA kicks out low-end GeForce 9400 GT, starting price $59

    23. Filed under:


    While it likely won't cause the same clamoring for benchmarks that we see around the release of a new high-end NVIDIA card, those on a budget will no doubt nonetheless be pleased to know that the company's just bolstered it's low-end offerings a bit, with a new card that starts at just $59. That, of course, won't exactly get you a Crysis killer, but the GeForce 9400 GT does at least boast 16 processor cores, a 128-bit memory interface, dual-link DVI, DirectX 10 support and, in its standard configuration, 512MB of graphics memory (from the looks of it, 1GB versions are also available). Unlike something like a GTX 280 SLI config, this one also likely won't make a noticeable impact on your power bill.

    [Via Computer Monger, thanks Ivana]
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 5:27 pm

  23. Immersion to pay Microsoft $21 million, Sony groans

    24. Filed under:

    Dual Shock 3
    Immersion, the company that owns virtually every vibration and haptic tech on earth, is getting a taste of its own medicine now that it owes Microsoft $21 million. You may remember back in 2003 when Microsoft floated an unknown sum of cash in the direction of Immersion in order to include patented vibration technology in its Xbox 360 controllers. Around the same time, Sony told us all that we don't need no stinkin' vibration and passed on paying up. Last year, though, Sony bowed to customer pressure and paid Immersion $121 million in order to unleash the Dual Shock 3. Immersion was supposed to share some of that Sony booty with Microsoft -- and they didn't. So there we have it: we all got a piece of Sony and we have the DualShock 3. Everyone happy now?
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 4:33 pm

  24. Reconfigurable Performance Display to show off engine stats in select GM cars

    25. Filed under: ,


    We'll be honest -- we still kind of prefer the days when hacking Wiimotes and other household gadgets was the preferred method for extracting more enjoyment from one's vehicle, but we suppose there's no stopping progress. Starting in 2009 (a few years too late for the Fast & Furious crowd), General Motors will begin to offer up a $295 Reconfigurable Performance Display option in the Cobalt and HHR SS. Said display will enable easily distracted drivers to quickly see how many Gs they're pulling, enable / disable Traction Control, Stability Control and Competition Mode, and get a visual on boost, cam phaser angle, spark advance, engine torque, etc. Oh, and it totally adds 10-horsepower when installed alongside a spare NoS sticker.

    [Via Autoblog]
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 4:08 pm

  25. Virtual mirror destroys all the fun you have trying on outfits

    26. Filed under: ,

    The always-imaginative gurus at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft never cease to amaze, and at this year's IFA, they're delivering once more. The so-called "virtual mirror" gives to-be garb buyers an accurate look at what different outfits look like on their person without requiring them to try a single thing on. Granted, shopaholics are apt to detest this thing, but anyone with better things to do than try on four sweaters to see which one makes them look fat should be completely in love. The concept here is far from new, as we've seen both virtual makeover machines and fitting room enhancers before. Still, Fraunhofer's dream of getting you suited up and out of the store in mere minutes is one we'd love to see come true. Just don't ditch the traditional stalls too soon -- we wouldn't want any kind of worldwide uprising.

    [Via Physorg, image courtesy of Flickr]
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 3:44 pm

  26. Microsoft's new "Blue Track" mouse spotted?

    27. Filed under:


    We're not really sure if Microsoft is peddling a revolution here or just the mousing tech flavor of the month, but we've got ourselves a much better idea of where things might be going. After that little "Say Goodbye to Laser" teaser turned our pointing device world upside down, a reader spotted this MS Explorer Mini Mouse with "Blue Track" technology over on Amazon.de. Coincidence? We're guessing no. We followed a bit more of the PI work done by our fine commenters and discovered Blue Track to be based on a blue LED combined with a wide-angle lens that's supposed to work on more surfaces than laser and optical. Microsoft only really seems to be aiming this at the portable spectrum, hence the wireless adapter and miniature size, so perhaps Blue Track isn't the end of laser after all.

    [Thanks, awesome commenters]

    Read - Amazon.de's Blue Track gallery
    Read - Blue Track explained... in Italian
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 3:13 pm

  27. Garmin releases a handful of underwhelming nüvi GPS units

    28. Filed under:


    Garmin continued its contribution to the general, incremental advancement of technology today by spitting out a handful of new satnavs destined to be suctioned to your windshield in the very near future. The company introduced updates to its low-end 2x5 series, including the 265T, 265WT and 275T. The models include lifetime traffic alerts via NAVTEQ Traffic, Bluetooth connectivity, and are offered in 3.5-inch or 4.3-inch touchscreen iterations. Garmin also updated its higher-end 7x5 lineup, bringing the 755T, 765T, and 775T into the mix. The devices sport 4.3-inch touchscreens, those same NAVTEQ Traffic updates, 3D transparent building views, accelerated graphics rendering, and HotFix (which stores "critical satellite information"). No word yet on release date or pricing for the new models, though we expect to see them on display at IFA.

    [Thanks, Tim]

    Read - Garmin Expands Affordable nüvi 2x5 Series, Offering Hands-Free Calling and Lifetime Traffic Alerts
    Read - Garmin Introduces nüvi 7x5 Series with Lane Assist, Giving Drivers a Clear Picture of the Road Ahead
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 2:52 pm

  28. Gigabyte shows off robust Core i7 prototype motherboard

    29. Filed under:


    Surely you've been wondering what types of motherboards would be surfacing to support Intel's Core i7, no? Regardless of your answer, we're pretty sure the gamers and performance mavens in the house will appreciate Gigabyte's latest effort. The prototype mobo, coined Extreme Edition, was recently displayed at NVIDIA's NVISION 08 expo, and if the final version is anything like this, we'd say some records are in real danger of being obliterated. The unit was said to be based on the X58 chipset and provide support for up to six graphics cards, 24GB of DDR3-1333 RAM (or 6GB of DDR3-1900/2000 using overclocked 2GB DIMMs) and a separated 12-phase power supply for the CPU. Interested yet?
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 2:48 pm

  29. Internet Explorer 8 (Beta)

    30. TK

    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 2:37 pm

  30. Kyocera KR2 Mobile Router

    31. Kyocera KR2 Mobile Router Kyocera’s latest EV DO router adds support for 802.11n and for more types of connection cards and makes setting up a wireless network on the road fast and easy. 249

    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 2:26 pm

  31. Epson stirs pot, conjures up 4-inch high-res LTPS LCD

    32. Filed under:

    It's one thing to take good pictures. It's another to show 'em off on a good display. Epson Imaging Devices has just made official its new 4-inch high-resolution LTPS LCD, which is featured in the forthcoming P-6000 / P-7000 photo viewers. The diminutive display has an 80-degree viewing angle (from all sides) and covers 94% of the Adobe RGB color gamut. Built upon the Photo Fine Premia technology, Epson is hoping that this newfangled screen will find its way into digital cameras and PMPs so owners can be proud of playing back photo slideshows on the go. Funny thing though -- we're never told just how "high" high-resolution really is. Is the sky the limit, or what?

    [Via Physorg]
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 2:22 pm

  32. Linux Street Fight: Linpus Lite on the Acer Aspire one vs. Xandros on the ASUS Eee PC

    33. Linux Street Fight Linpus Lite on the Acer Aspire one vs. Xandros on the ASUS Eee PC Two open source operating systems battle to become king of the mini notebook space.

    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 2:01 pm

  33. Dell's Inspiron 13 already reviewed: basic, but capable

    34. Filed under:


    Look, we know you've spent the last three or so hours toying around on Dell's build-to-order page, but be honest with yourself -- are you really willing to pull the trigger on an Inspiron 13 without taking one tiny peek at a review first? NotebookReview has snagged one of the new 13-inchers and taken it for a ride on the test bench, and overall, things are lookin' up. Reviewers found the design to be "sleek," the specifications to be "reasonable" and the price point "attractive." Beyond that, it also found the battery life to be surprisingly satisfactory, though the "cheap palm rests and noisy slot-loading optical drive" were small (albeit noteworthy) nuisances. In the end, critics summed things up by suggesting that if you're scouting "a basic mobile companion with good looks and a low price tag, then this is probably the right notebook for you." Hit up the read link for the full writeup and even a few benchmarks.
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 1:51 pm

  34. DLO introduces HomeDock HD Pro: its latest upscaling iPod dock

    35. Filed under: ,


    One thing's for sure: DLO's pretty attached to its HomeDock brand, and evidently it could care less about just how confusing these naming schemes are to customers. Let's clear some cobwebs real quick -- this isn't the HomeDock Pro, nor is it the HomeDock HD. Rather, it's the HomeDock HD Pro, a glorious combination of the two (or something). Aimed at home theater enthusiasts and home installers alike, this upscaling iPod dock takes stored content to 720p or 1080i over HDMI, and you'll also find an HDMI extension socket, optical digital audio port, RS-232 control connector and IR output for supporting universal remotes. Expect this one to set you back $399 when it arrives this fall. Full release after the jump.

    Continue reading DLO introduces HomeDock HD Pro: its latest upscaling iPod dock

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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 1:20 pm

  35. Nikon's new D90 in full, gory detail

    36. Filed under:


    So, Nikon finally fessed up to its new D90 prosumer DSLR, which means all that's left for us is to do is to pick through the spec sheets, drool on the product shots and imagine ourselves taking the film industry by storm with that D90-shot indie flick we're plotting.
    INT. SUBURBAN HOME - DAY

    BLOGGER sits at his computer typing. He looks inspired, witty, unkempt. The camera's short depth of field captures the writer in his element.
    Oh, right, the tech specs:
    • New 12.3 megapixel Nikon DX-format CMOS image sensor with Integrated Dust Reduction System.
    • Low-noise from ISO 200 to 3200, ISO 6400 available.
    • D-Movie mode records in 320 x 216, 640 x 424 or 1,280 x 720 in AVI format.
    • Scene Recognition System based on 420 pixel RGB sensor for improved autofocus, autofocus and auto white balance, in addition to Face Detection.
    • Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus with 11 AF points.
    • 3-inch, VGA Live View LCD.
    • 4.5 fps continuous shooting, 0.15 second startup, 65ms shutter release lag.
    • SD / SDHC storage.
    • HDMI output
    • 5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0-inches.
    • 1 pound 6 ounces without battery.
    • $1,299 kit price.

    Gallery: Nikon's new D90 in full, gory detail


    Read - Nikon D90
    Read - D90's "D-Movie" samples
    Read - D90 tested out by Chase Jarvis
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 12:50 pm

  36. HP Photosmart A636 Compact Photo Printer

    37. HP Photosmart A636 Compact Photo Printer It’s not fast, but the A636 offers pretty good photo quality at an affordable price along with built-in editing capabilities. 149 86135942 HP Photosmart A636 Compact Photo Printer Review It’s not fast, but the A636 off

    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 12:21 pm

  37. Dell's new Vostro A860 and A840 laptops do Ubuntu, headed for emerging markets

    38. Filed under: ,


    While the Vostro 2510 might be Dell's primary bid for dual-use small business computers, that doesn't mean they have to keep beating the rest of the Vostros with the ugly stick. The new Vostro A860 and A840 feature spiffed up looks and aggressive prices for emerging markets. Unfortunately, "emerging markets" means we won't be getting these in the States for the time being. Both laptops are naturally light on specs, with 1GB of RAM, 160GB or 120GB hard drives, CD or DVD burners, WiFi and optional Bluetooth. The 15.6-inch A860 sports an "HD" resolution, while the 14.1-inch A840 runs at WXGA. Processors range from Celeron to Core 2 Duo, both laptops can be outfitted with Vista or Ubuntu, and they both weigh in around 5 pounds. Oh, and if you're more of a desktop sort, Dell is also offering the new Vostro A180 and A100 desktops, with the A180 offering a range of specs and both OS choices, while the A100 sticks with an Intel Atom processor and Ubuntu. No word on price for any of these yet, since pricing will vary from country to country, but we might be looking at a new low for Dell in both categories.
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 12:07 pm

  38. Epson releases MovieMate 55 projector with built-in DVD player

    39. Filed under: , ,


    We're not at all pleased by Epson's refusal to reveal the native resolution of its MovieMate 55, but judging by the $699 estimated street price, we'd bet it's no better than 1,024 x 768. At any rate, the 8.4-pound unit is designed more for sleepovers and summer camps than home cinema applications, as it boasts a built-in DVD player rather than a Blu-ray unit (and the resolution to match). You'll also find a pair of 8-watt speakers, 1,200 ANSI lumens, E-TORL lamp and a built-in handle for good measure. Snag one for the youngin' this October at resellers all across the land.
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 12:06 pm

  39. Microsoft hints at new mice: "Say Goodbye to Laser"

    40. Filed under:


    We'd say the jump from traditional optical mice to laser mice was pretty momentous, and it sounds like Microsoft is getting ready to jump again -- Microsoft Hardware put up a teaser this afternoon for a September 9th announcement featuring the tagline "Say Goodbye to Laser." Yeah, that's not exactly subtle, is it? We're hoping a return to old-school trackballs with grimy little wheels is in order, but we're just sentimentalists at heart.

    [Via Seattle PI, thanks Spencer]
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 10:54 am

  40. Palm Treo Pro

    41. Palm Treo Pro The sleekest Treo yet packs in Wi Fi and GPS, strong call quality, and some handy shortcuts. But you’ll pay a pretty penny. 549

    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 9:24 am

  41. iLuv intros the iMM173 dual-dock iPod / iPhone alarm clock

    42. Filed under:


    Putting two iPhone / iPod docks in an alarm clock is a simple and clever idea that's so far only shown up in the JVC NX-PN7 (which we have and love), but it looks like iLuv's getting in the game as well with the new iMM137. Apart from the two shielded iPhone 3G-compatible docks up top, it's the usual iLuv kit with 5 watt jAura sound, an aux input, and dual alarms -- not a bad deal for an MSRP of $129 that'll almost certainly be lower at retail when this hits in September.
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 9:02 am

  42. HP EliteBook 6930p

    43. HP EliteBook 6930p HP’s flagship business notebook offers an elegant, business rugged design, fast performance, and smart software. 1,399 HP EliteBook 6930p HP’s flagship business notebook

    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 8:59 am

  43. Samsung's SpinPoint N2 drive gets a glossy black case

    44. Filed under:


    Samsung was pretty boastful about its high-capacity SpinPoint N2 1.8-inch drives when they launched back in June of 2007, and now the company's decided to show them off a bit -- check out this hot new credit-card-sized external model in glossy black with a flip-out USB connector. Specs are the same as before -- 4200rpm, 27MB/s read and 23MB/s write -- but sadly the most important spec is that it's China-only for now and pricing is in the stratosphere, with the 120GB version clocking in at RMB1999 ($293). Yeah, we'll stick with saving our pennies for an SSD.

    [Via Everything USB]
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 7:29 am

  44. Nokia 6650 flip coming to AT&T to redeem the N75

    45. Filed under: ,


    Well, here's one we didn't see coming: it seems that AT&T has wised up to the fact that Americans like their Symbian (well, at least a few of 'em do, anyway) and wants to keep S60-equipped options on the table. Yes, granted, AT&T is a founding member of the Symbian Foundation, but the proof is in the pudding, and the last Nokia smartphone to land there was the N75 in May of last year -- an eternity by mobile standards. More recently, the N75 grew up, got sexy, picked up some brushed metal, and emerged in Europe as the 6550; now, it's surprisingly and unexpectedly been retooled as the 6650 for North American 3G spectrum. It's got a 2.2-inch QVGA primary display, 160 x 128 secondary, 2-megapixel cam, AT&T Navigator (which means GPS), push-to-talk support, and HSDPA 850 / 1900 to compliment quadband EDGE. We don't know exactly when it's coming, but for S60 fans who cringe at the thought of having to blow several hundred on an unlocked set every time they want some fresh hardware, this should be welcome news.

    [Thanks, Al and Oscar M.]
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    Posted on 27 August 2008 | 5:44 am

  45. Nikon D90 outed by USA Today (Update: Now official)

    46. Filed under:


    Sure, the Nikon D90 isn't going to be any huge surprise when it arrives at this point, but it looks like whatever ta-da moment Nikon had planned just got upstaged by USA Today, which is running its piece on the new cam just a little early, complete with quotes from Nikon's senior technical manager. Nothing we don't know about here: 12.1 megapixels, 3-inch Live View screen with HD video recording and a kit price of $1,299. Not bad -- and that HD video mode certainly sounds intriguing. At least detailed specs will still be a tiny surprise, eh?

    Update: Nikon press release makes it official. Read it here.
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