Hasta La Gadget!

We’re truthfully not sure what’s cooler: the fact that the above pictured washing machine tweets when it’s done, or the fact that the above pictured washing machine still works. We’re guessing that the geeks in the crowd would argue that it’s clearly the former, and for those interested in a little proof / explanation, you can head on past the break for a video demonstration. But just so you know, it’s highly unlikely that your Twittering washer will have any diehard followers.

[Via technabob]

Continue reading Washing machine hacked to tweet when the load’s done: @maytag, you listening?

Filed under: Household

Washing machine hacked to tweet when the load’s done: @maytag, you listening? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 03 Jan 2009 06:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We hate to harsh on Toshiba here, we honestly do, but what in the world is it thinking? As if its clearly unimpressive Super Resolution Technology wasn’t embarrassing enough, we’re now hearing that the outfit is expected to release a line of prototype players at CES next week that tout SD card slots. Why, you ask? To accept the flash card movies that — you guessed it — no one on the entire planet is interested in. Okay, so maybe a handful of people (you know, the same characters who thought slotMusic was a solid idea) will buy in, but seriously, this has failure written all over it. The move comes hot on the heels of a Toshiba / Mod Systems tie-up to establish kiosks that sell films on SD cards, though we’re still curious as to whether these SD card players will be of the standalone variety or integrated into upscaling DVD decks. We’ll keep an open mind ’til we see the final product(s) at CES, but it’ll take a belated Christmas miracle for this to be even halfway awesome.

[Via Video Business]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Storage

Toshiba introducing SD-friendly players for flash card movies that no one buys originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 03 Jan 2009 03:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well, here’s an interesting twist to this story. That mysterious and completely enraging “Zune bug” that cropped up on the final day of 2008 may not have been restricted to Microsoft PMPs. A much smaller cadre of Toshiba Gigabeat users reportedly experienced similar issues, and some even noted that the whole “discharge and re-date” rigmarole fixed their unit right up as well. Upon further investigation, it seems that the issue may actually reside in the Freescale MC13783 processor, which — coincidentally enough — is used in the Zune 30 and a few of Toshiba’s alternatives. We suppose it’s a little late to ask, but did any non-Zune owners experience similar issues just prior to the dawn of ’09? Or were you too busy, um, partying like it was 1999?

[Thanks nywytboy68]

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Y2K8 Zune quirk really a Freescale bug? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 03 Jan 2009 02:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Knowing that it is unlikely that Apple would ever release an iPhone Pro with physical keyboard, Mat Brady from planetmat has sent me another image of a potential accessory. It looks great.

Mat says that he created the accessory answering readers’ feedback on sliding keyboards.

The slide-out keyboard has generated the most response from any of my suggested features. The general consensus stands firm on two opposing viewpoints:

1. Most people would prefer to have an optional slide-out keyboard,
2. but don’t believe Apple will ever “go backwards” and release anything like this.

In response to one comment (Mike) I have created what might be an answer to a third-party product which could solve this dilemma.

Actually, not a bad idea at all. It would be even cooler if, instead of being a third-party accessory, Apple actually released a modular iPhone, one that could admit different accessories like these but without the added bulk of building them around the original design. [Planetmat—Thanks Mat]

HP recently announced a cool photo printing app for the iPhone, but if a recent report is correct, the company could be worrying over an international trade transgression over the next week instead of celebrating its innovations at CES.. 

According to the Boston Globe, the company is in trouble for selling their printers in Iran through a third party distributor. HP is accused of signing a deal with the Dubai-based Redington Gulf company in 1997 in light of U.S. trading sanctions, and that because of the deal, HP printers have enjoyed great popularity in the region. An estimated 41% of all printers sold in Iran were said to be HPs. .

The U.S. has sanctioned several counts of trading with Iran since the government passed an embargo in April of 1995. In 1997, the Iran–Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA) was passed, which sought to prevent other countries from trading with Iran. Other sanctions have followed over the years.

An HP spokesman said that the company "has a policy of complete compliance with all U.S. export laws."

Only two weeks ago, HP announced its upcoming iPrint Photo application, which allows an iPhone user to send wireless commands to its printers to create 4 x 6-inch prints of iPhone photos.

Despite the embargoes, many American consumer items eventually end up in Iran. Among the most boisterous Iran techy fans are those of the iPhone (where mostly unlocked and overpriced versions can be found) and they’ll probably figure out a way to use HP’s new app with their printers. HP and the U.S. Gov’t, on the other hand, will probably not want those transactions to be advertised.

See also:

• HP Announces Wireless Printing App for iPhone

Photo: Paul Sakuma/AP