‘Unique’ Bluetooth banana has truly limited applications

Some products require no explanation. Take this “Unique Banana Shaped Bluetooth Handset,” for example — either you get it or you don’t, but no amount of marketing, advertising, or sweet-talking is going to get a skeptic to appreciate its brilliance. If you’re still reading this, maybe — just maybe — you fall into the “I need this, particularly at just $17.70” camp, and for you, take heart in the knowledge that you can be just 2 to 5 business days away from talking on a simulated piece of fruit that’s connected to your phone via Class 2 Bluetooth 2.0. When’s the last time you heard “standby time” quoted for a banana, anyway?

[Thanks, Larry]

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‘Unique’ Bluetooth banana has truly limited applications originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The daily roundup: Windows 7 launch edition

Windows 7 launches

Microsoft opens retail stores

Everything Else

Other news of import

HD

Mobile

The daily roundup: Windows 7 launch edition originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox Live update preview program now rolling out

Xbox 360’s resident spokesman Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb wants you to know that the Xbox Live update preview program is now officially a go, with the first wave of registered participants getting automatically prompted to update upon sign-in (you should also receive an email, but apparently they’re behind on the notifications). More people are said to be getting the update “in the coming days,” so don’t lose hope yet — not that waiting for Twitter, Facebook, and Last.fm integration, and 1080p instant-on streaming should cause ultimate despair, but we digress. The only thing you don’t get is the Halo Waypoint preview, which doesn’t join the preview fun until next week.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

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Xbox Live update preview program now rolling out originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Engadget: a device to stream audio from one device to multiple sources?

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 Chris, who just needs a few more streams to make his life complete.

“I am looking for a device that will stream sound from one source to several recipients. For example, I want to stream sound from my TV or stereo to my phone or MP3 player that has radio and Bluetooth capabilities. I have been told that a Bluetooth device can only stream music to one device. I have looked into radio transmitters and they seem like a decent choice, but I can’t find one that uses external power (USB or from the plug) and I would want one with a transmit range of around 50 meters. Thanks!”

We can’t say for certain, but we’re guessing Chris isn’t along here. Any hardcore streamers out there figured out an optimal solution to get one source to multiple devices? Do tell in comments below.

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Ask Engadget: a device to stream audio from one device to multiple sources? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Releases Droid Specs, Photos on Web Site

droid1.jpg

Motorola tonight released the full specifications and a photo gallery of the highly-awaited Droid phone on their public Web site, pre-empting the anticipated October 28 announcement of Verizon Wireless’s first Android smartphone.

According to the Motorola site, which was first noticed by the Boy Genius Report blog but then independently confirmed and loaded by PCMag, the Droid is a large touchscreen phone with a sliding keyboard. It’s 2.4 x 4.6 x .5 inches in size and weighs six ounces. That’s relatively heavy, but slim. Its color will be “licorice w/brown sugar accents.”

The phone has an unusually high-resolution, 3.7″ 480×854 touch screen; the iPhone’s touch screen is only 320×480 resolution.

The Droid’s OS is Android 2.0, as Verizon previously showed on their teaser Web site for the device. It is the first Android 2.0 phone.

The Droid has a 550 Mhz processor, according to the site, which didn’t describe the processor architecture. The architecture is important because most Android phones up until now have run on 528 Mhz ARM11 processors, which some users consider sluggish in some circumstances. The recently announced Samsung Moment upped the ante to an 800 Mhz ARM11. If the Droid runs a newer form of architecture, known as Cortex-A8, it could be faster with a lower clock speed.

More details and photos after the jump.

Ballmer Optimistic About Win 7, But Says Vista Is “Very Popular”

As you know, I sat down with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to chat about all of his projects this year. Windows 7 was obviously the biggie, so we talked about it and its less beloved predecessor.

But unlike Bill Gates, who seemed like he wanted to admit Vista sucked, Ballmer sticks to his guns, calling it “very popular.” He says:

It’s much discussed but much used. Hundreds of millions of people are using Windows Vista…[Vista] has improved between service packs, compatibility upgrades that application vendors have done. Actually, the market environment for Vista is not anything like it was when it launched.

He contends that (poor) PC sales are “far more a function of the economy, right now” than any product, and uses that to express his continued caution about being too bullish on the Windows 7 launch.

Try as I might—and you can probably tell I was trying pretty hard—I could not get Ballmer to say or even hint that Vista sucked. It’s cool, though. To his point, although Windows 7 smokes it, Vista did get better. We are currently running Vista on a pair of totally stripped, brand-new Acer Timelines, and they’re actually doing fine (knock on wood). That had certainly not been the case when I interviewed Bill.

Stay tuned, because tomorrow we plan to run the full uncut interview video for your journalistically voyeuristic pleasure. Video by Mike Short

Steve Ballmer Exclusive Interview Series:
Part 1: Ballmer Talks Natal, Says Blu-ray Add-On for Xbox Coming
Part 2: Ballmer on the Smartphone Race: “It Doesn’t Matter What the Critics Say”
Part 3: Ballmer on Zune: Sometimes You Get It Right The Third Time?
Part 4: Ballmer on Those Crazy Ballmer YouTube Videos

Apple welcomes Windows 7 the only way it knows how, with a new commercial (video, updated)

Can’t argue with a wig like that, right? Video after the break.

Update: Two more added. Are these still fun?

Continue reading Apple welcomes Windows 7 the only way it knows how, with a new commercial (video, updated)

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Apple welcomes Windows 7 the only way it knows how, with a new commercial (video, updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Two snags to watch for when upgrading to Windows 7

Generally, I’ve been a big fan of Windows 7. From the beta to the release candidate to the release-to-manufacturing “official” release, upgrading has been a stable, sane experience. Except for two repeated problems, that is.

From the Devices and Printers window, you can see that double-clicking on a device …

Originally posted at The Download Blog

Motorola Droid’s website published a bit early, with specs galore (update: video)

A 3.7-inch, 16:9 touch screen with 480 x 854 resolution. A 5 megapixel camera with 4x zoom, autofocus, and dual LED flash. A 1400 mAh Li-ion battery for up to 385 minutes of usage time and 270 hours standby. A 550MHz processor (marginally better). A pre-installed 16GB microSD card. GPS, Bluetooth, 802.11b/g WiFi, and a micro USB port. Six ounces of weight spread out over a 2.4 x 4.6 x 0.5-inch body. We know, you were wanting the Motorola Droid‘s price and release date, too, but that’s the one detail not on this page, we’re afraid.

Update: Guess Motorola realized the error of its ways, but not to fear, we’ve got the site and specs captured in the gallery below.

Update 2: Some kind soul inhabiting middle internet managed to snag video of the Droid in action. Check it after the break.

[Via Boy Genius Report]

Continue reading Motorola Droid’s website published a bit early, with specs galore (update: video)

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Motorola Droid’s website published a bit early, with specs galore (update: video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon Kindle for PC available ‘soonish’

No, Amazon wasn’t kidding when it said it would be moving the Kindle onto devices besides, well, the Kindle. Sure, the iPhone was a no-brainer (never mind the eye strain) but guess who’s next? That’s right — your ever lovin’ PC will be getting its own free reader app. How soon? You’ll have to hit the read link and sign up as a beta tester to find out. Are you prepared to sync your digital e-book purchases to yet another device? View notes and highlights marked on your Kindle and Kindle DX? Zoom and pinch text and turn pages with the swipe of your finger (granted you are a Windows 7 touchscreen user)? Sure you are. Are you ready to skip the Kindle altogether and simply buy books on your lappie? Well, we’re guessing that Amazon isn’t too worried about that eventuality. That reminds us, we’ve been meaning to pick up a copy of Knife Music. We’ll tell you if it lives up to the hype.

[Via CNET]

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Amazon Kindle for PC available ‘soonish’ originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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