$100 Nova Navigator cloud-powered nettop in the wild

PCs have fallen wildly in price over the past couple of years, but while the prospect of a “real computer” (well, almost) for a mere $100 isn’t completely outlandish these days, it’s still rare. The Nova Navigator, built for the India market, is actually down from its originally-projected $199 pricepoint, and commands a monthly subscription fee in the vicinity of $15 and up — the more you pay the more online storage you get, with 50GB as a baseline. On its sparse 256MB of built-in storage, however, you get a full build of Linux with Firefox and OpenOffice, and the ability to access Windows with a Remote Desktop client. The unit doesn’t come with a keyboard monitor or mouse, so once you get around to supplying all that and paying for a few months of service, you might’ve been better off with a cheap netbook, but the expansion and peripheral-compatibility afforded by this desktop form factor might just make it worth the hassle.

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$100 Nova Navigator cloud-powered nettop in the wild originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 22:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Class-action Settlement Makes Toshiba Pay For Faulty DLP TV Lamps

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Last week, a federal district court in New York approved a settlement declaring that people who bought certain models of rear-projection DLP TVs from Toshiba between January 1, 2004, and September 18, 2008, are eligible for cash refunds.

Toshiba_tv_2The class-action lawsuit, Ersler v. Toshiba of America Inc., had a claim that Toshiba ‘knowingly misrepresented the life span of the bulbs in the lamps contained in the lamp assembly component of its 2004 and 2005 DLP television models.’ If true, this would mean the sale of the TVs had brought about a ‘breach of express and implied warranties,’ and a violation of the State’s consumer Fraud Act.

In DLP TVs, the lamp provides the light source, and is placed in between the DMD chip and the color wheel to create images.

During sales, Toshiba had estimated the life of the bulbs to last almost 8,000 hours. Instead, many people found them to burn out after only 300 hours, about 4% of the estimated life, or two months of normal use.

That had to be truly infuriating for many, since the sets at that time were seen as a fairly good deal, at a price of about $2,500 for a 50-inch set. Apparently, the replacement bulbs cost about $300 each.

By settling in court, Toshiba has agreed to provide six-month warranty extension for replacement bulbs to anyone that purchased a 2004 or 2005 model Toshiba DLP television in the U.S. If anyone that owned this TV had to go out and buy replacement bulbs in order to extend the life of the TV, they are also eligible to submit a claim for cash refunds.

If you own one of the TVs and know have the right to the claim, you can go to the site created for the settlement at www.dlplampsettlement.com, or you can call the toll-free 1-800-894-1766.

2282866912_1b11a8cf21_o_3It’s easy to forget how popular DLP TVs were early in the decade, especially since they were overtaken by Plasma TVs and then LCDs in the last five or six years.

For many, DLPs TVs were the best large screen TVs available for the best price early in the decade and Toshiba, Panasonic, and Hitachi were among the leaders. By the first quarter of last year, though, they were hardly moving: only 124,000 rear-projection TVs were sold worldwide, a pittance compared to LCDs, which sold over 20 million units in that quarter alone.

By the start of this year, Toshiba was no longer selling rear-projection TVs and neither, it seemed, was anyone else. The only company currently selling rear-projectioners is Mitsubishi, with its newfangled Laser technology that is quite different and more highly developed than the old DLPs from the mid-2000s.

Check out all of the models eligible for the Toshiba refund after the jump:

Owners of the following 2004 or 2005 model Toshiba DLP televisions are eligible to receive the refund:

  • 44HNHM84
  • 46HM84
  • 46HM94
  • 46HM94P
  • 52HM84
  • 52HMX84
  • 52HM94
  • 52HMX94
  • 62HM84
  • 62HM94
  • 62HMX84
  • 62HMX94
  • 62HM194
  • 46HM85
  • 46HM95
  • 46HMX85
  • 52HM85
  • 52HM95
  • 52HMX85
  • 52HMX95
  • 56HM195
  • 56MX195
  • 62HM85
  • 62HM95
  • 62HMX85
  • 62HMX95
  • 62HM195
  • 62MX195
  • 62HM15
  • 62HM15A
  • 62HM15B
  • 72HM195
  • 72MX195

Photos: FixYourDLP.com/flickr, horaceko/flickr

Piaggio MP3 Hybrid trike hits the streets in early 2010 for around $9k

It’s certainly an odd beast, but Piaggio’s “MP3 Hybrid” scooter / trike / whatsit has itself a ship window and a vague pricetag. Piaggio hopes to start selling the vehicle in the US by Q1 2010, with a price ranging around $8,000 or $9,000. The plug-in hybrid can run off of a standard charge for 40 miles, and has a gas-powered generator (like the Volt) for extra power, with a promised 141 mpg overall. It’s packed in with some regenerative breaking, a high-performance battery-boosted mode to make one pretty hot scooter — if you can get over those looks and the extra wheel.

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Piaggio MP3 Hybrid trike hits the streets in early 2010 for around $9k originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EETI to purportedly ship 7- and 12-inch capacitive touchscreens this year

It doesn’t take much to make us happy — in fact, just mention the word “capacitive” and you’re already halfway to winning us over. Throw in “multitouch,” and you’ve got us hook, line and sinker. According to an admittedly dodgy DigiTimes report, Taiwan’s own EETI is gearing up to ship laptop-grade 7- and 12-inch capacitive touch panels in the the latter half of this year, and if you’re to believe it, that’s word straight from company president Mei Tsai. EETI has already begun shipping smaller capacitive touch panels, so larger ones for use in netbooks and ultraportables is just a logical extension of the business. Of course, just because these things ship to OEMs doesn’t mean we’ll see them right away in commercialized products, but we feel pretty good about seeing a few near-final units at CES 2010.

[Via Slashgear]

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EETI to purportedly ship 7- and 12-inch capacitive touchscreens this year originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 17:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony’s VAIO P going for €599.95 with T-Mobile Germany data contract

Thinking of picking up a VAIO P for your left rear pocket? Do you call Deutschland home? In need a mobile data plan? If you’ve somehow managed to answer yes (or “ja,” as it were) to all three of those inquiries, T-Mobile Germany has a deal for you. Sony’s WWAN-packin’ VAIO P — which has seen itself subsidized in America on Verizon Wireless — is currently being offered for just €599.95 (VAT included) with a web’n’walk Connect L data plan. For those too uninspired to search, that’s a €400 discount from what it costs to buy outright over there. Tempting, nein?

[Via Pocketables]

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Sony’s VAIO P going for €599.95 with T-Mobile Germany data contract originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer planning mildly tweaked Aspire One netbook?

We snooped around pretty heavily at Acer’s CeBIT booth here in Hannover, but we definitely didn’t see a single Aspire One with a port layout like this. That said, we wouldn’t put it past the company to push out an oh-so-barely different version of the Aspire One netbook that has already proven remarkably popular. macles* has it that Acer is planning to release a slightly revamped version, possibly dubbed the D250, that’ll sport a new motherboard, port layout and a larger hard drive. Outside of that, everything should remain the same, which basically means that it’s pulling an ASUS. Awesome.

[Via PortableMonkey]

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Acer planning mildly tweaked Aspire One netbook? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RTEV begins taking orders for Wheego Whip electric car

If you’re the type of Earth-loving individual who ain’t got nowhere to go in a hurry, RTEV’s ready and willing to take your order a brand new Wheego Whip. The company’s first street electric LSV (low speed vehicle) will begin shipping to early adopters in May, and it’s primed to carry up to two individuals and a few empty cola bottles anywhere you need to go — so long as there’s an AC outlet waiting at Point B. It’s retailing for under $19,000 and includes an MP3 stereo system, remote keyless entry, air conditioning and a sweet 10 percent Federal Tax credit. Of note, RTEV has plans to eventually produce a higher speed model of this very car, and there’s a trade-in program available (with terms that aren’t half bad) for those interested. For all the fine print, give that read link a tap.

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RTEV begins taking orders for Wheego Whip electric car originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Solestrom’s new nano-bikini doesn’t hold water

Last year the brain trust in Zurich announced their high-tech leisure suit that never gets wet, and now Solestrom International (the UV-detecting bikini company) has announced its own water-repellent nano-material. Called Sun Dry, each fiber of the new fabric is surrounded by an invisible barrier that allows water to pass through it rather than being absorbed into it. Essentially, the swimwear can’t soak up liquid, is resistant to chlorine, and is rated SPF 50. Running the gamut from black to maroon to red, the clothing is in the $29 – $99 price range. Perfect for your next trip to Rockaway Beach.

[Via Telegraph]

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Solestrom’s new nano-bikini doesn’t hold water originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 12:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How to: Install Unofficial Apps on Your iPhone 3G or iPod Touch, Easily and Safely

If you want to install cool apps on your iPhone or iPod Touch for free, easily, breaking Apple-imposed limitations without breaking your warranty or Applethingie, here is the how-to guide for Mac and Windows users.

What is a jailbreak?

Jailbreaking is the process required to install applications in your iPhone or iPod touch. It is a very easy procedure. It’s also safe: There are no risks in this operation*, as you can easily use iTunes to restore your iPhone or iPod touch to the default factory settings. When you do that, the iPhone will be like new.

Why jailbreak your iPhone or iPod touch from Apple’s iron fist?

You should jailbreak your iPhone or iPod if you want to install really cool and useful applications that are not in the iTunes App Store. Many of these apps are a complete must for any iPhone user but are not allowed by Apple in their iTunes App Store.

This is what you can do with a phone that has been jailbroken:

• Use your iPhone as a 3G modem with your laptop.
• Record video using Cycorder.
• Unlock your iPhone installing a simple program, so you can use a pre-paid card when you go out on vacation instead of paying outrageous roaming charges.
• Follow speech turn-by-turn directions in a GPS program.
• Copy and paste (yes, copy and paste).
• Play Nintendo Entertainment System games and other emulated classic cames (like Monkey Island!)

In other words: Do it.

*WARNING* Of course, the usual do this at your own risk and we are not responsible caveats still apply, but this process is really fool proof thanks to Apple’s iTunes factory reset. If you are looking to unlock your iPhone now or in the future, DON’T USE THESE INSTRUCTIONS or you won’t be able to unlock it. You will need a different process, which we will explain in another How To.

Opening the backdoor (Mac Users only)

The first thing you need to do to install free apps in your iPhone or iPod is putting it into DFU mode, or Device Firmware Update mode. Don’t worry, this isn’t anything weird: It’s what your device goes through every time you update the operating system in it. With this step, you will be making the iPhone go into this state.

This is the only long part of this tutorial because—since the 10.5.6 update—Apple has made it difficult to easily connect your Mac to a manually DFU’ed iPhone or iPod. This can be solved by replacing some USB drivers from a previous version of Mac OS X. If you have 10.5.6 installed, follow these instructions:

Step 1. To do this, you need to get yourself a free Apple Developer Connection account. Since you are using iTunes with your device, you are already almost there: Just log in with your Apple ID from here. The form will ask you to answer a couple of questions (just answer whatever you want), and you’ll be done as soon as you click the Accept button.



Step 2. Now you need to download and install the drivers. Go to this page and look for this file:

IOUSBFamily-315.4-log.dmg” for Mac OS X10.5.5 Build 9F33

Once it’s downloaded, disconnect ALL USB peripherals except for your Apple keyboard and Apple mouse and install the package included in the disk image.

Once you restart after the installation, you will be ready to run QuickPwn, the program that will allow you to install the applications.

Important: Once you complete the jailbreaking process, you have to restore the previous USB drivers. Go to to this page and download IOUSBFamily-327.4.0-log.dmg” for Mac OS X 10.5.6 Build 9G55, then repeat the same operation. Once you restart, Mac OS X 10.5.6 will be restored to its original state.

Freeing your iPhone or iPod touch (all users)

Here’s the easiest part: Running QuickPwn. QuickPwn is a program that will easily “jailbreak” your iPhone or iPod touch. Jailbreak, as the name says, just means breaking Apple’s limitations on accessing your device, allowing you put anything you want in it. This means installing any application you want, and not only the ones that Apple allows you to install.

Step 1. Download QuickPwn for Mac OS X or Windows from any of the following links:

Windows
QuickPwn 2.2.5 for Windows: Get the official release via Torrent here.

Unofficial mirrors
http://miphone.ca/iphone-dev/QuickPwn225-2.zip
http://foskarulla.com/QuickPwn-225-2.zip
http://downloads2.touch-mania.com/QuickPwn-225-2.zip
http://www.applei.ph/devteam/QuickPwn-225-2.zip
http://phonenews.com/phones/gsm/apple/QuickPwn225-2.zip
http://rabstalk.bplaced.net/mirrors/QuickPwn-225-2.zip
http://www.evil-crew.de/QuickPwn-225-2.zip
http://daniel14.com/QuickPwn-225-2.zip

Mac OS X
QuickPwn 2.2.5: Get the official release via Torrent here.

Unofficial mirrors
http://iphone-dev.fgv6.net/QuickPwn_2.2.5.dmg
http://iphone.schwarzmetall.cn/QuickPwn_2.2.5.dmg
http://rabstalk.bplaced.net/mirrors/QuickPwn_2.2.5.dmg
http://jmcoon.net/QuickPwn_2.2.5.dmg
http://www.iphone-storage.de/QuickPwn_2.2.5.dmg
http://downloads2.ipod.backshot.eu/QuickPwn_2.2.5.dmg
http://miphone.ca/iphone-dev/QuickPwn_2.2.5.dmg

Step 2. Run QuickPwn and pick the kind of device you have: iPhone, iPhone 3G, or iPod Touch.

Step 3. Follow the instructions on the screen. QuickPwn is completely automated:

• Firstly, it will download all the necessary components from Apple on its own.

• Then the software will build a custom iPhone operating system, which includes Installer and Cydia, the two programs that will allow you to install the iPhone applications outside of the iTunes Apps Store microsystem.

• When QuickPwn asks you to enter your system password, do it. It’s not malicious. It just needs this to work.

• Finally, follow the precisely timed instructions on the screen to put your device on DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode. QuickPwn will do the rest.

If something doesn’t work, don’t worry. Start the process again. If your device gets a bit nutty, restore it to default factory settings using iTunes, and you will be back to square one, no harm done.

Step 4. Be patient as your iPhone restarts. Once it’s done, you are done too. It’s fun time.

Installing the applications

This is where the fun starts. You will notice two new icons in your iPhone or iPod touch’s springboard: One says “Installer” and the other says “Cydia”. These are the two competing systems for installation of software. It doesn’t really matter what you use to install your software. Most applications can be installed from both—there are exceptions, like xGPS, which can only be installed on Cydia—and both allow you to browse and install software from a a variety of sources.

• Browsing the catalogs. Whatever system you choose, installing applications is as easy as going through the available catalogs and picking the application you want.

• Manually adding applications. There will be times in which you will discover applications on the web which are not in the default catalogs in Cydia or Installer. Fortunately, you can add these by just entering the URL provided by the developer in the web page, a process that is referred to as “Adding a source”. Here’s how to do it:

In Cydia

• Click on “Manage.”
• Click on “Sources.”
• Click on “Edit” and then “Add.”
• Enter the address in the dialog field.
• Click on “Add source.”

In Installer

• Click on “Sources.”
• Click on “Edit” and then “Add.”
• Enter the address in the field.
• Click “Done” and get back to sources by clicking on “Sources.”

And that’s it. Now you can install any application you want using either program. Have fun!

Pyramid PC casemod will look really cool on your desk next to your Crysis poster

Casemods range from the peculiar to the spaceage, but this one — a pyramid PC case — kinda takes things to the next level of outrageousness. Weighing in at 7.5 pounds (just for the case) this 25-inch high beast is not exactly compact, with a 19 x 19-inch base. Modder polo360x made it from a customized Luxor pyramid case, and, and in our opinion, it fits in nicely with his home decor choices. Check out another two shots and hit the read link for many, many more, plus a full specsheet.

[Via Geeky Gadgets]

Continue reading Pyramid PC casemod will look really cool on your desk next to your Crysis poster

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Pyramid PC casemod will look really cool on your desk next to your Crysis poster originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Mar 2009 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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