Hasta La Gadget!

We’ve been hearing talk of thoroughly Google-branded phones since before Android was announced — and if you want to get really technical about it, you could argue that it’s already happened twice in the form of the Dev Phone 1 and the Ion. Thing is, those are strictly developer-oriented one-offs based on existing models, and TechCrunch is reporting in a rather authoritative tone today that Google’s just about to launch a consumer phone all its own designed to in-house, no-compromise specifications with signs suggesting that either Samsung or LG would be responsible for OEM duties. Allegedly, the device was supposed to be at retail in time for the holidays but ended up getting pushed back into early 2010, at which point we can expect a big marketing push — but the question is, why? Google had a heavy hand in the design and development of the chunky, geeky HTC Dream, so we already know they’re probably better off leaving the details of the industrial design to the guys who’ve been doing this for a while — and with strong new partnerships with Verizon and Motorola just now bearing fruit, it’s safe to say that Big Red wouldn’t be a launch partner. Our most interesting theory here is that AT&T — which has gone totally radio-silent for all things Android in the past six months — is responding to the probable impending loss of its iPhone exclusivity by scoring a coup on a gorgeous, aspirational device with the Google logo all over it. Given the time frame that TC’s suggesting, it sounds like we wouldn’t have to wait long to find out what’s what.

Filed under: Cellphones

Google-branded phone coming early next year? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continuing in the time-honored tradition set by the likes of Fedora 10 and Fedora 11, Fedora 12 (codenamed “Constantine”). With this release comes improvements in the realms of webcam support, video codec, audio, security and power management, as well as “bluetooth on demand” and some virtualization enhancements. The only thing absent for the devout Linux fan? A fun alliteration like Karmic Koala. Missed opportunity, if you ask us.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Software

Fedora 12 ‘Constantine’ launches with enhanced video codec and power management originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ATI just announced its latest greatest polygon cruncher on the planet: the previously leaked Radeon HD 5970. The new card card is also one of the first to support Microsoft DirectX 11 and Eyefinity multi-display (driving up to three displays at once for a 7680×1600 maximum resolution) with ripe potential for overclocking thanks to the card’s Overdrive technology. Instead of relying upon a single GPU like the already scorching Radeon HD 5870, the 5970 brings a pair of Cypress GPUs linked on a single board by a PCI Express bridge for nearly 5 TeraFLOPS of computer power, or a mind boggling 10 TeraFLOPS when setup in CrossFireX. Naturally, the card’s already been put to the test by all the usual benchmarking nerds who praise the card as the undisputed performance leader regardless of game or application. It even manages to keep power consumption in check until you start rolling on the voltage to ramp those clock speeds. As you’d expect then, ATI isn’t going to offer any breaks on pricing so you can expect to pay the full $599 suggested retail price when these cards hit shelves today for retail or as part of your new gaming rig bundle.

Read – Press Release
Read – Anandtech
Read – HotHardware
Read – PC Perspective
Read – HardOCP
Read – Hexus
Read – MaximumPC
Read – TweakTown

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming

ATI Radeon HD 5970: world’s fastest graphics card confirmed originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Does the world really need another high-end gaming PC shop? Looks as if we’ll soon find out, as Origin has just launched itself into the mix with a pair of new rigs catering to those with specific (and pricey) demands. Poised to take on the likes of Falcon Northwest, this boutique outfit has ushered itself into the sector with the new Genesis desktop and EON18 laptop. The former gets going at $1,699, and if we’re reading this right, Origin allows buyers to select “any chassis on the market, any color and design” and pretty much any other hardware they can dream of. The lappie is an 18.4-inch beast with a 1080p panel, limitless color and design options, twin GeForce GTX 280M GPUs, 8GB of RAM, a trio of HDDs, dual-layer Blu-ray burner and a starting tag of $2,599. So, who’s up for celebrating the real end of the recession?

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming, Laptops

Origin launches custom gaming rig shop, starts with Genesis and EON18 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hey impulse buyers, want a PSP Go? Amazon is offering a $50 PSN card for anyone who picks up the portable tonight, in black or white. Seeing as you’ll be having to spend that much on digital titles anyway, it’s a pretty good long-term $50 discount, bringing the suggested value of the Go to about $195. It’s still not as financially sound an option as a PSP-3000, but if you value style over price figures and disc-based media, this might be one of the best incentives before Christmas. Offer ends at midnight PT / 3:00AM ET — after that, it turns right back into a pumpkin.

[Via Joystiq]

Filed under: Gaming

Amazon offers $50 PSN card with PSP Go purchases, for tonight only originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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