May 20

Symbian Foundation boss talks up Symbian for netbooks, and more

Posted in: netbook, os, symbian, Today's Chili

We’ve already seen Symbian ported to an Atom-based PC for kicks, but it looks like Symbian Foundation boss Tim Holbrow already has some considerably grander plans, and says that we could actually see some Symbian-running netbooks in stores before too long. As TechRadar reports, when asked if we’ll see Symbian netbooks on the market, Holbrow replied “I think so, yep,” before intriguingly adding that he thinks the real question is “will netbooks carry on being netbooks?” Apparently, Holbrow sees netbooks becoming nothing more than a “single processor” that people carry around and use to access data from various sources — letting folks use a wireless keyboard and display at home and have the UI adjust automatically, for instance, or what Holbrew calls “superconvergence.” Of course, Holbrow isn’t making any firm promises just yet, although he does say he can “see world in two or three years’ time where mobile devices start to eat into the world of laptops and netbooks.”

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Symbian Foundation boss talks up Symbian for netbooks, and more originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 May 2009 21:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 20

New iPhone could go on sale July 17

Posted in: Today's Chili

What's coming? We only can guess.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)

Forgive us for repeating rumors, but when you’re writing about future Apple products like the next version of the iPhone, rumors are all you have until the thoroughly tight-lipped company officially spills the beans.

Today’s rumor–well, actually it’s yesterday’s rumor–comes courtesy of AppleiPhoneApps.com. Through its very own Deep Throat–aka a source who is “closely connected to Apple’s hardware development team”–the Web site posted some details on just what the third-generation iPhone will offer. What’s more, it names Friday, July 17, as the release date.

We can’t verify anything right now, but some of the predictions make more sense than others. A July 17 release date is very plausible. Both the iPhone Classic and the iPhone 3G went on sale on Fridays (June 29, 2007, and July 11, 2008, respectively). Apple likes to respect tradition.

Here’s a list of what the new iPhone could offer, along with my comments. AppleiPhoneApps is also predicting that the $199 and $299 price tags will remain.

…

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May 20

Multicard-lovin’ dual SATA HDD dock keeps the dream alive

Posted in: external hard drive, ExternalHardDrive, hard drive, HardDrive, reader, Today's Chili

It’s funny, really. Years back, we figured this SATA HDD dock was a one-off device that would get swept under the rug as quickly as it reached prominence. And yet, here we are in May of 2009 looking at the latest iteration of a product that won’t ever stop reinventing itself. Brando‘s Dual SATA HDD Multi-Function Dock with One Touch Backup (yeah, seriously) doubles up on elder models by holding two 2.5- or 3.5-inch hard drives, and it also accepts a litany of flash cards. Lastly, this adds an eSATA connector to the traditional USB 2.0 socket for a bit more flexibility, but we still can’t justify the $89 price if you already own a predecessor (or three).

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Multicard-lovin’ dual SATA HDD dock keeps the dream alive originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 May 2009 20:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 20

ASUS delivers full specs on Eee PC 1005HA Seashell

Posted in: ASUS, netbook, Today's Chili

ASUS’ Eee PC 1008HA hasn’t even had a moment to enjoy its spot in the limelight, and already the company is pushing out even more machines in the rapidly expanding Seashell range. The Eee PC 1005HA is slated to launch with Windows XP Home, a battery good for 10.5 hours (we’ll believe it when we see it) and a 160GB hard drive. There’s also 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1, a 10.1-inch LED-backlit display (1,024 x 600 resolution) and your choice of Intel’s played-out Atom N270 or N280. The rest of the innards could be guessed in your sleep: 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 0.3 or 1.3 megapixel webcam, VGA output, three USB 2.0 sockets, Ethernet, a multicard reader and audio in / out. Fans of colorful machines will appreciate the white, black, pink and blue motifs, but you’ll need to muster up a little more patience before finding out a price and release date. One more look after the break.

[Via Slashgear]

Continue reading ASUS delivers full specs on Eee PC 1005HA Seashell

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ASUS delivers full specs on Eee PC 1005HA Seashell originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 May 2009 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 20

Dialed In 80: Busy summer ahead

Posted in: Today's Chili

This summer will be extremely busy for all of us here at CNET. Not only is the Palm Pre coming in June, but we’re expecting iPhone news at WWDC, a new Nokia N97 for North America, the LG enV3 and enV Touch, and more. Phew! We discuss all that, …

Originally posted at Dialed In Podcast

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May 20

Video: Intel-backed Volkswagen infotainment system gets demonstrated

Posted in: Apple, concept, germany, intel, prototype, Today's Chili, video

Volkswagen has been known to dabble in exotic places when it comes to in-dash entertainment, and while it’s latest initiative isn’t totally far-fetched, it’s still worth a peek. The automaker has recently teamed up with Intel in order to develop a prototype head unit that’s completely self-enclosed, meaning that there’s no carputer hanging out in the trunk handling the dirty work. The touchscreen-based infotainment center shown in the video past the break is rocking Windows XP underneath and gladly accepts a number of gesture-based inputs. For example, motorists can swipe down to play or pause a track, while swiping left or right anywhere on the panel moves the playlist forward or back. The project manager doesn’t bother to say when this stuff will actually hit the showroom floor, but CNET has it that you’ll be waiting at least three years — and that’s if you’re lucky.

[Via CNET]

Continue reading Video: Intel-backed Volkswagen infotainment system gets demonstrated

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Video: Intel-backed Volkswagen infotainment system gets demonstrated originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 May 2009 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 20

Creative Quietly Rolls Out New Zen MP3 Players

Posted in: MP3 Digital Audio, mp3 player, Today's Chili

Creative Zen MX.JPGCreative’s last MP3 player, the Zen Mozaic, began shipping in the United States in August 2008. Now, nearly nine months later, Creative has announced its next two iterations in the Mozaic line: the Zen Mozaic EZ300, and the Zen MX.
 
The Zen Mozaic EZ300 is available in an 8 Gbyte model, for $79.99, beginning in June. A 4-Gbyte model is also listed on the Creative Web site, but the price isn’t listed.

Additional features include a 1.8-inch TFT color display, FM radio, built-in speaker, voice recorder and alarm clock. Contacts and a calendar are also included. I’d include specifics, but the “specifications” page linked to from the Creative site generated a “404” page-not-found error.

The Zen MX looks slightly more interesting.

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May 20

Hack: Nintendo DS Controls Open Source Robot

Posted in: Hacks, Mods and DIY, Robots, Today's Chili

Surveyor makes open source robot controllers that have quite a fan following among do-it-yourself drone enthusiasts. The company’s core product is the SRV-1, a  programmable mobile robot controller that is open source,wireless and video enabled.

Peter Dove, UK-based developer, has created a nifty way to control the Surveyor SRV-1 module’s camera and the base using a Nintendo DS game console. Dove used the SRV-1 console’s built-in WiFi link to remotely control the motorized robot base and view pictures and video transmitted by the robot. And as the video shows the buttons on the DS’s console work perfectly for the purpose.

The attempt is similar to how some enthusiasts had used the Google Android G1 phone to control a robotic blimp.

For detailed binaries and source code on how Dove brings together the DS and the Surveyor moduel, check out his blog.


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May 20

HTC passes CDMA / GSM hybrid Touch Pro2 through the FCC

Posted in: HTC, Today's Chili, Windows Mobile, WindowsMobile

Remember that Touch Pro2 we saw in Sprint livery yesterday? A leaked roadmap indicated that this would be a global roaming device packing both CDMA and GSM radios — and Telus’ inventory system certainly corroborates the existence of such a device. Further proof now comes to us in the form of an FCC filing for yet another variant of the Rhodium (HTC’s codename for the Touch Pro2), and while only CDMA is being tested here, there’s also some assurance from HTC that the FCC needn’t worry about the locked-down GSM radio lying dormant in there. In other words, it’ll only be used outside US borders — places the FCC doesn’t give two flips about. Even better, there are actually two versions being referred to here — the RHOD400 and RHOD500 — which could very well represent separate bodies for Sprint and Verizon. As if you needed another reason to upgrade from the original Touch Pro, Sprint folks… well, here you go.

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HTC passes CDMA / GSM hybrid Touch Pro2 through the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 May 2009 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 20

Teen Truck-Struck While Rescuing iPod

Posted in: car, ipod, Media Players, Today's Chili

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You know you’re too attached to technology when you risk your life for a gadget. That’s what a 16-year-old did in Tampa, Florida when she dropped her iPod in the street and ran back to retrieve it, only to be hit by a pickup truck.

The teenager suffered a broken leg. Police did not disclose the name of the victim or the condition of the iPod.

Teen Takes Pickup Truck Hit To Save iPod [Wesh via Gizmodo]

Photo: A totaled 1975 Nissan-Datsun pickup truck (not the vehicle involved in the accident in this story). scalpel/Flickr


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