Hasta La Gadget!

We’re confused as to how technology that was supposed to be available in 2006 can still be featured at an Emerging Tech conference in 2009, but so it is for General Electric’s attempt at holographic storage. Predicting drives for archival purposes in two or three years with consumer products around two years after that, manager Peter Lorraine claims Blu-ray has “two to four years of life to go” and expects licensees to clean up with speedy 3ms access time, 1TB+ storing (up from a mere 200GB), backwards compatible hardware. The latter portion, plus other breakthroughs in cost and reliability are listed as reasons to believe the market will catch HVD anytime soon, but right now it’s about as likely returning to a matching 2006-era MySpace page or believing Wolf was staring at anything other than a mark on the floor on Election Night.

[Via Physorg]

Filed under: HDTV, Storage

GE shows off 1TB holographic discs but Wolf Blitzer remains skeptical originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 23:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We know you’ve got questions, and if you’re brave enough to ask the world for answers, here’s the outlet to do so. This week’s Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Magnus, who really, really wants Apple to make an iPod with integrated WiFi streaming. Or something.

“For a very long time I have been searching for a portable device where I can store all of my CDs in MP3 format and then stream the songs wirelessly to my HiFi system. The portable device must I’ve tried FM transmitters, they all suck. I don’t want a docking station. Any help? Thanks!” have a display so that I easily can scroll through the playlists (I don’t want to use a TV or monitor). I suppose that there must also be a second device that is connected to the HiFi system that would receive the wireless streams from the portable device.

Our first thought is to get a Bluetooth-enabled PMP and a BT-equipped stereo. Of course, our first thought could be awful. For any of you with experience in this field, why not throw this fellow a bone in comments below? He’ll be eternally grateful, we’re sure.

Filed under: Ask Engadget, Portable Audio, Wireless

Ask Engadget: Best wireless PMP for audio streaming? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Pentagon has been dreaming of portable pain guns for as long as we can remember, and if it has its druthers, said fantasy could soon become a reality. The Thermal Laser System (or the IR-Lesslethal device, if you prefer) has been brewing since at least 2005, but just recently the weapon prove to testers that it could create a beam strong enough to cause alarm and pain without actually damaging the skin or retina. Think of it as a portable crowd controller (or your worst nightmare, either one). Of course, there’s still quite a bit of testing to get through before it’s actually rolled out for military or police use, and there’s the fact that leaving no marks leaves open the possibility for undocumentable abuse. Not like that would ever happen, though.

[Image courtesy of Deeper Thought]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Portable pain gun could replace Colt 45s, logic in robot-controlled future originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s hard to keep us out of the kitchen, for no other reason than we just really enjoy food! Today we offer up a dilectable assortment of gourmet gadgets.

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EPISODE 156

Cocoon Cooker Grows Meat In Your Kitchen (thanks Bill!)

Ultrasonic dishwasher cleans your plates with waves of sound (thanks Sam!)

Ravi cools wine at the very moment it is poured

Cosentino turns minerals and woods into truly unique surfaces

LED Grabbing Tool Picks Valuables From Where Fingers Fear To Tread

Taylor Digital Measuring Cup Scale

…

Originally posted at Gadgettes, the blog

The release of webOS 1.2 got all of the stars aligned for a barrage (or, at the very least, a trickle) of paid applications to start hitting the Pre, and the word on the street is that the first of those will be dropping tomorrow, October 2 — for users in the US, anyhow (Canadians apparently need to wait a while longer, a problem that Android users up there are all too acquainted with). The company will smartly be tying purchases to users’ Palm Profiles, meaning you’ll be able to redownload previously bought apps on any device you choose as long as your account is currently tied to it. Of course, the big question is what apps will be available to blow some cash on in the first round of Catalog approvals — what’s everyone hoping for?

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Paid apps hitting the Pre tomorrow? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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