Disney and ASUS announce Netpal netbook for kids

Past Disney gadgets may have been heavier on the Disney than the gadget, but we’re guessing there’ll be at least a few parents out there a little envious of ASUS’s new Disney-branded Netpal netbook for kids, which will be available in your choice of “Princess Pink” or “Magic Blue” colors (the latter replete with tiny Mickey Mouse icons). In addition to that eye-catching exterior, each netbook also packs a custom, kid-friendly Disney interface, along with a range of built-in parental controls, and some customizable themes based on Mickey Mouse, Toy Story, Wall-E, and other Disney properties. As you might expect, however, the netbook itself is just a standard 8.9-inch Eee PC, but it is at least available with either a 16GB SSD drive or a standard 160GB hard drive. No word on a release date just yet, but it looks like this one will set you back $350.

[Via GadgetMix.com]

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Disney and ASUS announce Netpal netbook for kids originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Game not over: Wallets made from game carts

The best part is...

The best part is…

(Credit: NilesZ/Etsy)

I’m a sucker for geek nostalgia. If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you are, too. Or you know someone who is.

Enterprising Etsy seller NilesZ repurposes old Atari cartridges into wallets. Yep, that’s right. You just pop …

VuNow’s internet video-to-TV streamer finds a home in Sherwood receivers

The VuNow platform is sitting a lot prettier, as it has grabbed an OEM deal to be included in Sherwood’s upcoming line of receivers. Already making an appearance as the Netgear ITV2000 standalone unit, now high end amps and surround sound systems will have access to a variety of internet video sources without additional hardware. Verismo’s said it will be pursuing many different opportunities for its technology, we’ll wait and see where the YouTube / CNN / ESPN and more streaming hardware shows up next, though your cable box would appear to be a safe bet.

Continue reading VuNow’s internet video-to-TV streamer finds a home in Sherwood receivers

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VuNow’s internet video-to-TV streamer finds a home in Sherwood receivers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kingston Data Traveler 200: Industry’s first 128GB USB flash drive

(Credit: CrunchGear)

USB flash drives are getting so commonplace we might as well start using them as currency. I’m noticing more and more public relations companies handing out USB drives loaded with press releases and relevant product data sheets as opposed to the stack of paper it would’ve …

Apple’s glossy screens will ‘mess you up,’ University report warns

Attention, ergonomics buffs: an advisory recently published by Queensland University of Technology is predicting a rash of injuries as a result of users straining to get a clear look at Apple’s “high gloss” screens, and the ergonomically unsound postures and positions that result. If you should find yourself in possession of one of these “torture displays” (as we think Apple should refer to them in their advertising from now on), Queensland Tech offers many suggestions for staying healthy, including: Placing the monitor so that screen is at a 90 degree angle to overhead lighting, closing the curtains or blinds to minimize glare, and adjusting the contrast / turning down the brightness. Of course, we’re sure you’ve already tried all those things if you’re one of the parties effected — what, then is a strained MacBook user to do? We don’t know, but maybe the Grippity guy will come up with something.

[Via Apple Insider]

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Apple’s glossy screens will ‘mess you up,’ University report warns originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Edge Tech announces cheaper 128GB USB flash drive, still not very cheap

Kingston got all the bragging rights by rolling out the first 128GB USB flash drive but, with that business now out of the way, other companies are now free to try to one-up ’em, and Edge Tech looks to be among the first to take a crack at it. While it does away with some of the added security and ruggedness of Kingston’s offering, Edge Tech’s latest DiskGO drive does match that magic 128GB storage capacity, and you will still get a seemingly durable aluminum housing, along with some basic encryption software for a bit of extra protection. Most importantly, however, Edge Tech’s drive is more than $150 cheaper than Kingston’s. Unfortunately for you and us, it’s still $390. Look for it to start shipping on July 31st.

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Edge Tech announces cheaper 128GB USB flash drive, still not very cheap originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Altec Lansing introduces affordable ‘pro’ headphones

The BackBeat Pros are available now for $99.99.

(Credit: Altec Lansing)

When we reviewed Altec Lansing’s line of BackBeat earphones, we were pleasantly surprised that they sounded as good as they did for what they cost. Expounding on the bang-for-the-buck theme, Altec’s now introduced the line-topping BackBeat Pro UHP606

PopcornHour’s latest C200 media box is Blu-ray (& anything else) ready

The followup to the popular PopcornHour media streamer series has finally been announced, and the list of features makes it look worth the wait. Revealed in a post on the Networked Media Tank forums the C200 contains an upgraded Sigma SMP8643 667 Mhz processor, HDMI 1.3 out, two SATA slots, a drive bay for mounting your own HDD, DVD or even Blu-ray drive (requires internal HDD or 1GB USB stick) and supports a list of networking standards, codecs and containers far too long to recount here. At first glance, only DivX jumps out as missing from the list, have a look at the forum posting and let us know if you spot. Of course, there’s already a video unboxing available, seen after the break (along with the copied list of specs) or check out the full Google translated early hands on impressions from HomeTheater.co.il. The most pressing questions of when will these be available and for how much, will have to be answered at another time.

[Via HomeTheater.co.il & Geek Tonic]

Continue reading PopcornHour’s latest C200 media box is Blu-ray (& anything else) ready

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PopcornHour’s latest C200 media box is Blu-ray (& anything else) ready originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CyberPower Xplorer X7-Xtreme S1: Gaming Laptop

xtremes1.jpg

Intel Core i7 processor, X58 chipset, 6 gigs of memory, and an Nvidia GTX 280M… Anyone want to play Crysis?

This is no desktop mash-up I’m talking about, but a 17-inch laptop. CyberPower announced today the release of its latest gaming computer, the Xplorer X7-Xtreme. This notebook is one of the first, alongside Falcon Northwest and other custom computer builders, to feature an Intel Core i7.

Some bonus features of the Xtreme S1 are a Blu-ray player, HDMI port, and 3.1-megapixel Webcam. The computer comes preloaded with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium. CyberPower offers further customizable options than the base configuration specs listed above.

The price for the Xtreme S1 starts at $2335. 

Base specs listed after the jump.

94 God-Awful iPhone Apps Designed in MS Paint

In lieu of a Photoshop Contest this week, we held an MS Paint contest asking you to design your dream iPhone apps. Now we know why you should never, ever design apps in Paint; these are absolutely terrible.

No top three this time because, well, none of them really stood above the rest to me. Maybe you guys disagree. What were your top three favorites?