Hasta La Gadget!

While we’re confident you just woke up from the snore-fest that was MSI’s VX600 announcement from yesterday, we’ve got some entirely more exciting news from the outfit today. First off, there’s the 14.1-inch VR430, which comes loaded with an AMD Turion X2 dual-core CPU, an ATI Mobility Radeon HD3200 GPU, up to 4GB of RAM, a 1,280 x 800 resolution panel, DVD writer, 4-in-1 card reader, WiFi, a six- or nine-cell battery, gigabit Ethernet, 1.3 megapixel webcam, ExpressCard slot and three USB 2.0 sockets. In other news, the Wind Nettop CS120 (known as the CD130 at CeBIT) is now shipping to US soil for a tantalizing $319.99. Tucked within it is a 1.6GHz Atom 230 processor, GMA950 graphics, up to 2GB of RAM, a 160GB HDD, WiFi, oodles of ports and a slot-loading DVD burner. Check it right now from outlets like NewEgg, Amazon, J&R and Mwave, and feel free to glance the full release after the break.

Continue reading MSI ships $320 Wind Nettop CS120 to US, intros VR430 laptop

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MSI ships $320 Wind Nettop CS120 to US, intros VR430 laptop originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The world knows Palm's Pre is cool; but where are the details?

(Credit: Corrine Schulze/CNET)

Palm and Sprint hosted a Webcast Thursday to discuss the upcoming launch of the Palm Pre, but they didn’t say much beyond what’s already known about Palm’s comeback hope….

Originally posted at News – Wireless

The iPhone is set to get a face lift. Apple will show off a new version of the iPhone operating system, iPhone 3.0, on March 17, along with a new version of the phone’s software development kit.

While details are scanty, iPhone 3.0 could include features such as universal search, multimedia messaging and an updated user interface.

Apple will unveil the new OS and SDK at a media event for reporters and bloggers at Apple’s Cupertino, California, campus at 10 a.m. Pacific time next Tuesday.

"In the past two weeks Apple has introduced new Mac hardware and a new iPod shuffle, for which the company simply issued a press release," Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster says in a note. "The fact that Apple is hosting an event for the iPhone OS 3.0 shows that it will likely involve meaningful changes to the iPhone feature set."

The software preview event could also be a sign that an iPhone refresh is coming this summer. Version 2.0, the last big upgrade to the iPhone OS, was released in July last year, along with the new iPhone 3G.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs will likely be a no-show at the company’s event, but Apple won’t let that hold it back. In January, Jobs said he will take five months off for medical leave. In his place, it’s possible that marketing head Phil Schiller, who keynoted at Macworld, will lead the event; iPhone software chief Scott Forstall is also a likely candidate.

Some bloggers and analysts have been suggesting that Apple will launch a new version of the iPhone at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. But new hardware will require an updated SDK and possibly a new version of the operating system. Those speculations align well with Apple’s planned event next week.

Among the features that users can expect with the new iPhone OS are multimedia messaging and tethering via Bluetooth and USB, according to the Boy Genius Report. Universal search and a redesigned user interface are also possible, says Piper Jaffray’s Munster.

Palm, which is set to release the Palm Pre phone in the next few months, will have universal search as one of its significant features. Universal search allows users to look through the contacts, e-mails and documents on their phone as well as search the internet with a single search string.

Apple’s last enhancement to the iPhone software came in November 2008, when it offered Version 2.2. The update offered features such as Google Street Views, improvements to e-mail, and measures to reduce dropped calls.

What would you like to see in the new Apple OS? Let us know in the comments.

Photo: sparktography/Flickr

Do you want a PC in your kitchen? No? Are you sure? How about now?

PC manufacturers seem convinced that you do — at least, that would explain the sudden crop of stylish, lightweight home desktops with touchscreens. Dell is the latest PC maker to introduce computer in this category, with a new product called Studio One 19 that targets home users who want a relatively lightweight machine for tasks such web surfing, basic multimedia and notes.

"You can watch HD content, play with your photos, surf the internet
or do your taxes on a machine that is full featured," says John New, a marketing executive at Dell.

Dell’s latest offering follows similar products from HP and Asus. HP has had the TouchSmart PC, which has been available for a year and a half, while Asus started offering its Eee Top touchscreen desktop earlier this year.

The Studio One 19 desktop is currently available in Japan and is expected to start retailing in the U.S. in a few weeks.

But unlike its rivals, such as Asus’ 1.6 GHZ Atom processor-based touchscreen desktop, the Studio One 19 comes with enough power to keep most people happy. The Studio One 19 PC allows users to choose between Intel’s Celeron, Dual Core Celeron, Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad Core processors for their machine. It also allows users to choose between Nvidia’s GeForce 9200 or 9400 graphics, up to 4GB of memory, 750 GB of hard disk drive, six USB ports, web camera and optional Blu-ray disc player.

The idea to give customers the kind of flexbility and customization that they are used to while buying a Dell machine, while offering them an innovative design, says New.

The most eye-catching thing about the Studio One 19 desktop is the use of fabric as a material in PC design. The Studio One 19 will come with fabric frames in different colors including blue, black, red and pink.

The desktop is priced at $700 for a non-touchscreen model and at $800 for a touchscreen version. That’s more expensive than the $500 Asus Eee Top but Dell is betting there’s more bang for the buck here.

See also:
Review: Asus Kitchen PC Cooks Up Hot Fresh Processing Power

In a webcast today with Sprint and Palm executives, the two companies let out a few new facts about the upcoming Palm Pre.

For one thing, Palm product line manager Matt Crowley said that Palm has “no plans” to license out their new WebOS “at this time.” His phrasing left room for plans to change, though. “We’re focused on WebOS 1.0 for the Palm Pre launch,” he said. That implies that WebOS may be licensed to other manufacturers further down the road – just not now.

Sprint’s David Owens also laid out the Pre’s service plans. Individuals will be able to get the Pre on Sprint’s Everything Data or Simply Everything plans. That means $69.99/month for 450 minutes, $89.99/month for 900 minutes or $99.99/month for unlimited talk, all with unlimited data.

Families will be able to use Everything Data 1500 or 3000-minute plans, or the Simply Everything plan. That means $129.99 for 1500 minutes on 2 lines, $169.99 for 3000 minutes over two lines, or $189.99 for unlimited talk on two lines, all with unlimited data.

Business customers will be able to pool minutes with an unlimited data plan.