Hasta La Gadget!

Toshiba has just announced the availability of a new embedded NAND flash memory chip, which can hold up to 64GB of data. These are the chips that sit inside the iPhone and iPod Touch.

One reason that the iPod Touch usually has more memory than the iPhone is that, despite its skinny form, there is more room inside. Consequently, the Touch can fit in two chips where the iPhone only has space for one. This new release from Toshiba, then, means that the iPhone could double-up on storage and the iPod Touch could again leap ahead.

Of course, pricing of these chips will have a lot to do with when Apple actually starts to buy them. This, in combination with the now well-established launch schedule of iPhones in the summer and iPods in the Autumn means that we might be waiting a while. On the other hand, if Apple goes ahead with a camera-equipped Touch as expected, we may get a New Year surprise.

One thing we are sure of is that the days of the hard-drive based iPod Classic are now numbered.

Toshiba Launches Highest Density Embedded NAND Flash Memory Modules [Toshiba]

Advancements in silicon-germanium have been going on for years now, but a team at UCLA is convinced that their discovery really is “the next big thing.” For scores now, microchip makers have struggled with miniaturizing transistors as the public at large demands that things get smaller and smaller. Thanks to researchers at the aforesaid university, it’s looking like silicon-germanium nanowires could be the key to making the process a whole lot easier. According to study co-author Suneel Kodambaka, the new nanowires could “help speed the development of smaller, faster and more powerful electronics,” also noting that they’re so small that they can be “placed in virtually anything.” Which is great, because the Adamo XPS is just entirely too pudgy.

UCLA nanowire discovery could lead to faster, stronger, smaller electronics originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Novero has unveiled a series of five cell phone accessories that build on the company’s existing TheFirstOne Bluetooth headset.

TheTalkyOne is a Bluetooth speakerphone that works with calls and music, and is designed for home, office, and in-car use. Next up are two car kits: TheTrulyOne (pictured) is a Bluetooth car kit with a remote control and an LCD display. TheTrustyOne is a more basic hands-free Bluetooth car kit.

Finally, there are two new chargers. The TravelOne is a microUSB wall charger that comes in white or black, and includes adapters for North America, the EU, the UK, and Australia and New Zealand–193 countries in all. Finally, TheCarOne is a universal microUSB charger that works with any car’s cigarette lighter.

All products will see an official unveiling at CES on January 7th, and will soon be available at Amazon.com and other retailers.

It’s pretty rare that a tech demo starts with the phrase “you know what I’m gonna do?” But, this one certainly does, a dark, shaky, but thoroughly comprehensive exploration of the recently rumored Motorola Opus One smartphone. Jive- or profanity-averse readers (or anyone who hates zebra cake) will probably want to skip the four videos embedded below, but we’ll give you the highlights: iDen is confirmed, Android 1.5 Cupcake is currently installed with Motoblur frosting, there’s a five megapixel camera on the back, and with its push-to-talk this one looks to be going to Nextel or Boost Mobile. Those are the deets, but click on through if you want to do that video, dawg.

[Via iNicc0lo]

Continue reading Motorola Opus One caught on video, dawg

Motorola Opus One caught on video, dawg originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 09:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Young American woman travels over to Jerusalem to meet some friends, see the sights, live the life. Overzealous border security officers ask her a bunch of questions, take issue with her answers, and a few well-placed bullets later she is allowed entry into the country with a somewhat altered MacBook in tow. So what can we all learn from this incident? Firstly, back up all the data you consider important; B, Israeli policemen don’t mess about; and 3, distressed laptops look gorgeous no matter how they got there — just look at the way the glass trackpad has wrinkled up from the force of the bullet penetrating near it, it’s a borderline work of art. The young lady in question has been promised compensation, but lest you think this is a one one-off you can see pictures of an equally dead Dell at the Flickr link below. We’ve got a couple more close-ups of the ravaged MacBook after the break.

[Thanks, Itai N.]

P.S. – As always, we encourage a discussion. A sensitive, intellectual, worldly discussion. If you can’t infer what it is we’re asking of our dear readers tempted to intone on this matter, then please skip commenting on this thread, mkay?

Continue reading Border security guards kill — literally kill — a MacBook

Border security guards kill — literally kill — a MacBook originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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