Unidentifed laptop sighting: Could this be the Alienware Allpowerful?

Fear the gaze of the Allpowerful…

(Credit: NotebookReview Forums via Engadget)

Alienware’s alien-alphabet-infused teaser site for the Allpowerful laptop has been counting down steadily, now at 15 days until the static-fringed menacing alien head reveals all there is to know in the world of ultrabeefy mobile gaming rigs. Or, it’s a teaser for a new Crystal Skull movie.

Nevertheless, new intel has dropped in the forums at NotebookReview.com: a mysterious image from “mingocr83” features the contours of and is claimed to be the Allpowerful itself. Subsequent image-brightened posts seem to clearly reveal something else……

Rivers May Have Recently Flowed On Mars: Report

NASA_Mars_ScienceNow_Rivers.jpg

More space news, this time further out into the solar system: the two Mars rovers are still trucking along, but scientists here on Earth are working on a thorny problem related to the red planet.

New research suggests that water may have flowed over Mars’ surface in at least one place over the past billion years–relatively “recently,” since the planet has been around for about the same 4.5 billion years as our own–giving more credence to the idea that life may have once existed there, according to ScienceNOW.

A while back, the rovers confirmed that water covered the surface of Mars about four billion years ago, when it was much warmer. But now that the planet is cooler and drier, we’ve only found small bits of evidence here and there. That’s beginning to change, though.

Verizon HP Mini 1151NR hands-on and impressions

We got our hands on the Verizon HP Mini 1000 (or, as it’s more properly known in this form, the 1151NR) recently, and we’ve taken the little guy — and its built-in 3G card — for a spin. The Mini itself has a standard enough spec sheet: a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270, 1GB of RAM, an 80GB HDD, two USB 2.0 ports, 802.11b/g, SD slot, and Windows XP, and there’s no special Verizon branding to be found anywhere on the unit. We can’t really take issue with the choice of machine, which is a fairly well-loved netbook with generally pretty solid performance. The important thing here, of course, is the addition of the big V’s hardwired 3G. Did we fall in love with it? Does it make sense in the face of products like Verizon’s MiFi 2200 EV-DO router? Will it alter future events forever? Read on to find out.

Continue reading Verizon HP Mini 1151NR hands-on and impressions

Filed under:

Verizon HP Mini 1151NR hands-on and impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 May 2009 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wal-Mart hopes for a Blu-ray boom

Philips Blu-ray(Credit: CNET)

Wal-Mart is trying to fill the space in consumers’ shopping bags left empty by the disappearance of Circuit City. As part of that effort, the retail giant is stepping up its Blu-ray offering.

In the next few weeks, Wal-Mart will sell two Blu-ray players priced below $200, according …

The 404 344: Where we burn our memory bras in protest

Justin's new roommate.

(Credit: The Horror Dome)

Man, we’re never going to have a complete show again. With Wilson in Boston visiting his newborn son, we invite Natali Del Conte back on the show, where we disgust and delight her with stories about gravity-defying bras, sleeping with rodents, and a $4k pair of Xbox/Nike sneakers.

After begging Natali to take me back, we move onto a story about a pair of Nike sneakers that fetched $4k on eBay this weekend. They’re custom made and feature fiber optic wiring that makes the shoes light up and glow on the wearer. You can guess how wide Jeff opened up the hating floodgates on these guys.

We’ve also got a really disgusting story about a new strain of SUPER RAT found in Europe that’s resistant to pesticides and modern poison. I’ve got my own story to tell about my ongoing battle with mice in my home, and I won’t give away any secrets, but be sure to listen to the last 15 minutes of the show to hear the rest…R.O.U.S. is a staggering understatement. Enjoy your lunch everyone!



EPISODE 344





Download today’s podcast

Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video




Originally posted at the 404

More Pentax K-7 details, pictures leak out ahead of launch

If the earlier reports are accurate, Pentax’s latest K series DSLR should be getting official real soon now, but there’s still a few days left before that rumored May 21st launch date, and that means more leaks. One of those comes in the form of a seemingly authentic ad (pictured after the break) that all but confirms that the K-7 (or K7D) will be a 14.6-megapixel DSLR, and will boast a new Prime II imaging engine, along with the increasingly standard HD video recording that we had heard about earlier. As if that wasn’t enough, a whole slew of images of the camera have just surfaced on RiceHigh’s Pentax Blog, along with a complete (but not exactly verifiable) spec list, which offers such details as a 3-inch VGA LCD, continuous JPEG shooting at 5.2 frames per second, a viewfinder with 100% image coverage, a new 77-Segment Multi-Pattern metering system, a built-in AF assist light, and an integrated HDR mode, among countless other features. Unfortunately, the one thing still up in the air is the price, although there’s still room for one more rumor before Pentax removes all the mystery.

Read – RiceHigh’s Pentax Blog
Read – PentaxForums, K7 ad

[Via Electronista]

Continue reading More Pentax K-7 details, pictures leak out ahead of launch

Filed under:

More Pentax K-7 details, pictures leak out ahead of launch originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 May 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tired of Your Netbook? Turn It Into a Pet Cam

3541766092_5e4a52eed6After eight months, Gadget Lab’s Charlie Sorrel still adores his Hackintosh netbook (even though at some point a software update broke his keyboard and mouse, requiring him to format his drive and reinstall Mac OS X — a detail he didn’t bother to mention). Now that he and his Crapintosh have traversed their rough patch, Charlie make believes he’s P Diddy by hosting decadent parties, passing the netbook around to guests to use it as a (gasp) wireless music player.

I’m glad he’s finally caught up to the year 2000, but I’ve found a more clever use for my netbook Hackintosh, which I deemed an impractical nuisance after six months of quick wear and tear. I propped it on top of my refrigerator and pointed the webcam at my five-week-old kitten Cuddy, whom I adopted two days ago. I also downloaded a $5 iPhone app called iCam enabling me to view the camera feed. Now, wherever and whenever I wish, I can check on Cuddy by simply opening the iCam app on my iPhone. If she appears to be going bonkers, I can hurry home to her rescue.

One major disadvantage: The audio in the webcam doesn’t work with the hacked version of Mac OS X, for which there is no fix, meaning all I can do is see, not hear, the kitten. So this pet-cam setup doesn’t make me take back my statement about Hackintoshes being all about the chase (that is, the thrills of hacking the netbook) but a failure in delivery.

3541769672_acab8daf8d

See Also:

Photo: Brian X. Chen/Wired.com


Astronauts On Final Hubble Spacewalk

NASA_Hubble_Repair_Shuttle.jpg

Two NASA astronauts are on a spacewalk performing the last repairs to the Hubble, and will be the last two humans ever to touch the aging space telescope, according to Space.com.

Atlantis astronauts John Grunsfeld and Andrew Feustel are working in the shuttle cargo bay to add new batteries, insulation and a guidance sensor to the Hubble Space Telescope. Over the weekend, the crew ran into some minor trouble with a stuck bolt and a dead battery in one of the tools, so the repairs are slightly behind schedule.
Nonetheless, the new guidance sensor will help the telescope keep its camera steady and aid in tracking star positions and motions, according to the article. So far, the astronauts have installed a new deep-space camera and a new spectrograph, and have refurbished Hubble’s advanced camera and older spectrograph.
Finally, they’re also adding a special docking ring so a robotic spacecraft can help guide the Hubble many years from now into the Pacific Ocean when it is decommissioned. (Image credit: NASA)

AT&T considering cheaper iPhone plans?

We’re getting close to WWDC, which means the Apple rumor mill is nearing redline — today it’s BusinessWeek saying AT&T’s working on cheaper iPhone data plans. It’s not clear exactly how that would play out, but the most popularly-discussed option is a $20 “limited-access” plan potentially offered alongside a cheaper iPhone to be introduced at WWDC — an option that’s almost certainly being discussed as the two companies sort out that exclusivity extension. Of course, we’re extremely curious to see what “limited access” means, given AT&T’s recent SlingPlayer debacle — cheap certainly isn’t worth it if you’re not allowed to do anything worthwhile. Phil, you have anything to say?

[Via AppleInsider]

Filed under:

AT&T considering cheaper iPhone plans? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 May 2009 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Xbox/Nike foot protectors fetch $4,000 on eBay marketplace

That's a spicy meatball.

(Credit: Jeantastic/eBay)

As a reformed sneakerhead, I understand the mentality behind getting the latest gear, but my mind was officially blown after seeing a pair of custom Xbox Nike Dunks sell for $4,000 on eBay this weekend.

Glow in the dark sneakers: …