Hasta La Gadget!

It’s kind of strange, really, how we can see just how near the end is, yet these so-called geniuses employed within the realm of academia are totally oblivious to their own evil deeds. Take cognitive science professor John Long, for instance, who is currently conducting a Preyro robot experiment in a Vassar College lab that intends to “allow robots to mimic animals far better than before.” To him, he’s just hoping to study evolutionary patterns in order to better understand how certain tweaks to things like fins and tails affect performance in the place we call reality. Though, there’s a very real possibility that this research could accelerate the impending robot apocalypse by at least a score. Oh, what we’d give to be incognizant of the truth.

Filed under: Robots, Science

Preyro robot experiment could enable robots to better mimic animals, kill us all originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 06:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hey, it’s just a color change but red is undeniably sexy especially when wrapped around Dell’s design-heavy Studio XPS 13 and 16 laptops. Already rumored and spied, a post over at Dell’s Direct2Dell blog makes the Merlot Red laptops official. Man, high-gloss finish with red leather accents… it’s like kissing Betty Page. Er, was that out loud?

Filed under: Laptops

Dell’s Studio XPS 13 and 16 laptops with a kiss of Merlot Red originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 06:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple seems almost ready to bridge the gap between the iPhone and the MacBook with a new type of mobile computer. What will it look like?

(Credit: Tom Krazit/CNET News)

Apple is rumored to be working on something bigger than an iPod Touch, but smaller than a MacBook. Past patent applications filed by the company and whispers from contract manufacturers point to a midsize gadget with a screen of 7 to 8 inches in the works, perhaps scheduled to debut early next year. It’s been variously described as a tablet-like device, a “media pad,” and an iPod Touch on steroids.

But the middle ground between handheld device and traditional laptop has historically been a hard sell to mainstream consumers. Apple has some experience reinventing what were thought to be staid or failed product categories, and is known for its stringent product review process, so if anyone has potential to make something compelling for this “tweener” category, it’s the company to do so.

For Apple, this could be its answer to the Netbook craze–20 million of those scaled-down PCs will be shipped to retailers this year, doubling last year’s output. Apple has been fairly clear in its distaste for them, using descriptors like “junky,” and the average selling price of around $400 wouldn’t allow Apple to keep its margins as high as it’s used to.

But there is clearly a market, particularly given the current state of the economy, for a device in that middle range between a smartphone and a laptop. Interim CEO Tim Cook recently admitted that Apple has “some interesting ideas in this space.”

Let’s say it does make one. What exactly should a tablet from Apple do and what kind of features does it need to sport to avoid the pitfalls of every other failed tablet PC, ultramobile PC, and mobile Internet device now gathering dust in the basements and desk drawers of early adopters?

Some suggestions:

…

Originally posted at News – Apple

Photographs of the next generation iPhone have shown up on a Chinese forum, and quickly disappeared, only to be preserved virtually everywhere else, most notably on the MacRumors forums where a full, human-made translation of the original thread has been made by Samac92.

The snaps, taken with the traditional “blurry-cam” required for spy-shots, supposedly show the third-gen iPhone hardware, which looks, not surprisingly, almost identical to the current hardware. In fact, the only indication that this isn’t the iPhone 3G comes in the form of a compass and an autofocus camera, the screens for which are clearly visible.

Both of these features require new hardware, and the rumors say that a new iPhone will indeed be getting a 3.2 megapixel, autofocus camera along with a magnetometer-driven compass. The shots look pretty good, and we’re inclined to believe them if only because of the Apple-like interface polish.

The shot above shows the mechanism for autofocus. The blue square is moved with a finger, and that’s where the camera focuses. The shot below shows the difference between pictures taken on an iPhone 3G (right) and the new iPhone. The difference is pretty clear. We also see the option to shoot video using the little on-screen switch at bottom right.

The compass screen could just be a mockup, but even so, it’s a very Apple-like design. Given the colander-like state of Apple secrecy in the last year, we’re certainly expecting some juicy, accurate leaks to spring in the iPhone gen-3 ship, and these might just be the first.

Photos of Next Gen iPhone in Action? Auto-Focus and Compass [MacRumors Forums]

As the world’s attention turns from netbooks to smartbooks, Psion and Intel have ceased battle over use of the former term. Remember, this ridiculous case escalated to the point of Psion claiming $1.2 billion (billion!) in damages suffered as a result of infringement on its netbook trademark for a product few have heard of outside of the highly specialized supply chain logistics area. The “amicable” agreement reached with Intel has Psion voluntarily withdrawing its trademark. What wasn’t said in the press release is how much money was extorted from the industry or the net effect on Psion sales from all the free publicity. Regardless, we’re sure it’s been a profitable exercise for Psion Teklogix. Now, could the obscure owner of the “smartbook” trademark please step forward to collect your prize?

[Via Slashgear]

Filed under: Laptops

Psion relents: ‘netbook’ ok to describe chubby cheap laptops lacking power originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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