Hasta La Gadget!

We’ve already seen some zinc-air batteries hit the market, and now it sounds like lithium-based cells will be the next type to use air as a cathode. The only problem? Those of you who were awake in 10th grade chemistry might remember that exposing lithium metal to water causes it to explode — which is why a company called PolyPlus has partnered with the government to develop a unique waterproof lithium metal-air battery that keeps the boom-boom in but lets the buzzy-buzz out. The coating allows lithium ions to seep out while preventing water from getting in, and because the membrane protects the cell, the battery won’t discharge in storage. If that sounds a little pie-in-the-sky, well, it is — PolyPlus founder Steven Visco called lithium metal “the holy-grail battery material.” Us, we’re a little more skeptical, but we’re loving the sounds of prototypes that deliver the juice of current laptop batteries at one-fifth the weight — hook us up, boys.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Waterproof lithium metal-air batteries could revolutionize portable power originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Firms like Cradlepoint have been dishing out generic portable hotspots for years now, but it wasn’t until recently that US consumers had a carrier-branded option for creating their own WiFi zone via EV-DO. Novatel’s shockingly diminutive MiFi 2200 portable EV-DO router has officially arrived on both Sprint and Verizon Wireless, and while GSM followers have been unfortunately left out for the moment, we’re still eager to hear how early CDMA adopters are faring. Are you pleased with the convenience factor here? Have you had any odd and unexpected connection issues? Are you kosher with that 5GB limit on monthly throughput? Let us know if you think this thing’s worth its asking price, and if not, what would make it so. And… go!

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

How would you change Novatel’s MiFi 2200 portable EV-DO router? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

After you’ve hit the pool or before you take up kayaking this weekend, maybe you plan on checking out J&R’s Weekend Sale. If you are, you should know that some of the retailer’s “sales” may not be worth your time.

Included in J&R’s Weekend Sale is a LaCie 500GB rugged external hard drive, an Acer notebook, a Garmin GPS watch, and an HP wireless all-in-one printer. If you don’t live in NYC where J&R stores are located, you’ll have to pay shipping costs for most of the products on sale. Let’s find out which deals are a steal and which deals are duds in today’s TechSaver Test.

LaCie 301371 Rugged 500GB USB 2.0 / FireWire Hard Drive
(Was $349.99; Now $139.99)–Bad Deal!
In the past, LaCie hard drives have earned average ratings of 3.6 out of 5 stars by PCMag analysts. This particular model has a mini USB 2.0 port, FireWire 400/800, and a scratch-protected aluminum shell. At $140, you’re definitely paying for the rugged feature for just a 500GB drive. So is it really a good deal, when you have to add about $10 for shipping (a total of $150)? (And if you’re a New York State resident, you can add tax on top of that.) NOPE! Amazon.com is selling the 500GB drive for $144.59 with free shipping.

Get more TechSaver Test results, after the jump.

Motorola’s latest attempt at a messaging phone is the Motorola
Rival, which is exclusive to Verizon Wireless. It has a sideways-sliding form factor similar to the LG Neon, and also like the Neon, has a display that acts as a touch screen only for the phone dialer. We’re …

Been getting the feeling that your laptop was missing that certain something, that little detail, the perfect touch… crocodile skin, perhaps? Well check yourself, homeboys and homegirls — Sony has just launched a line dubbed the “Signature Collection” which should suit all of your fashion / money havin’ needs. Besides offering a handful of its laptops like the CS390 in new skins (the aforementioned fake animal flesh in multiple colors, “kaleidoscope,” and all kinds of high gloss varieties), Sony is also introducing a snappier version of the VAIO P (the P699E/Q) — a glitzy black iteration that will only be available to 1,000 customers. Sure, you’ll have to shell out a totally barbaric $1,999 to get one, but it’ll come equipped with a 1.86GHz CPU and a freaking radical 256GB SSD. A glorified netbook is worth $2k in our awesome economy, right? Ponder that and other philosophical conundrums as you peruse the new selections located in the vicinity of an area adjacent to the location of that read link.

[Via Sony Insider]

Filed under: Laptops

Sony launches VAIO Signature Collection, $2,000 VAIO P originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments