Aug 30
T-Mobile has let slip that it plans to offer the BlackBerry Curve 3G for $80 on September 8. pOriginally posted at a href=”http://www.cnet.com/8301-17918_1-20015059-85.html” class=”origPostedBlog”Dialed In/a/p
Aug 30
Company reaches a milestone in about six weeks with this line of Android-based smartphones, which have been available via ATT and T-Mobile. Sprint is up next. pOriginally posted at a href=”http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-20015033-17.html” class=”origPostedBlog”The Digital Home/a/p
Aug 30
There aren’t a lot of things in this galaxy–or any other–that can bring two polarizing figures like Star Wars‘s R2D2 and Darth Vader together for a single cause. Both, however, can apparently get behind the idea of giving you more spots in which to charge and power your various USB gadgets.
These two hubs provide four USB ports. The also offer up “authentic” character movie sounds while charging–R2 beeps and Darth does his familiar heavy breathing. Neither so far as I can tell, however, will actually beam a hologram of a panicked Princess Leia, so hopefully that’s not a deal breaker.
If not, you can pick them up from Dynamism. The hubs are a bit pricey at $99 each–and really, if you own one, you should probably get the other, just in case. We all know the importance of restoring balance to the Force.
Aug 30
Xbox Live Gold price increasing November 1 in US, UK, Canada, and Mexico
Posted in: breaking news, BreakingNews, Microsoft, price, Today's Chili, xbox, xbox 360, xbox live, Xbox360, XboxLive
Well, this is sad and unexpected: Microsoft’s Major Nelson just announced that Xbox Live Gold will be getting more expensive in the US, UK, Canada, and Mexico starting November 1. A single month will go from $7.99 to $9.99, three months will go from $19.99 to $24.99, and the yearly sub will now be $59.99, up from $49.99. Yes, it’s super lame, but to make up for it Microsoft’s running a quickie “lock in” promo for a discounted $40 one-year Gold sub starting November 1 — a nice deal if your subscription is set to expire around then, we suppose. We’re definitely wondering why Microsoft is jacking Live prices right before launching Kinect and the gaming-focused Windows Phone 7, though — we’ve heard theories ranging from an attempt to increase Entertainment and Devices revenue to a simple inflation adjustment. We’ll poke around — and we’re guessing there’s about to be a run on Gold upgrade cards.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Xbox Live Gold price increasing November 1 in US, UK, Canada, and Mexico originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Aug 30
RIM averts BlackBerry ban in India… for now
Posted in: BlackBerry, Gmail, Google, RIM, skype, Today's Chili
It was facing an August 31st deadline before India banned BlackBerry service in the country, but it looks like RIM has now managed to avoid that scenario — at least for a little while. According to India’s Ministry of Home Affairs, “RIM have made certain proposals for lawful access by law enforcement agencies and these would be operationalized immediately,” and that “the feasibility of the solutions offered would be assessed thereafter.” Details are still a bit light beyond that, but India’s assessment will apparently come after 60 days, and there’s still no guarantee that we won’t end up back at square one at that point. Interestingly, India is also still raising complaints about Gmail and Skype, with it now saying that it wants Google and Skype to set up servers in the country that would give it greater monitoring capabilities.
RIM averts BlackBerry ban in India… for now originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Aug 30
Canon Lens Mug for Camera Geeks
Posted in: nikon, Today's Chili
Mondays require more caffeine boost than usual to get started. These lens mugs from Canon delivers the needed java in a way guaranteed to make you smile.
With stainless steel lining inside, the mugs resemble the easily recognizable Canon lens with rubber-grip focus and zoom rings. , About four-inches tall, the Canon mugs holds about 11 ounces of liquid and come with a lens cap lid for drinkers on the go. There’s even an auto-focus switch that actually switches.
A note for the photographers, these mugs are shaped like 24-105L zoom; mixing up the two will have dire consequences.
It’s a steal at $24 from Photojojo.
If you really aren’t a Canon fan, perhaps the also-a-great-deal-at-$23 Nikon AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8 ED lens cup will capture your interest.
Aug 30
It took less than 30 minutes for this Wolfhound to sniff out 10 contraband cell phones from a maximum security prison located near Bangkok, Thailand. As you can see by the picture, this wolfhound isn’t a dog but a gadget that looks like a TV remote for senior citizens. The Wolfhound is made by Berkeley Varitronics Systems of Metuchen, New Jersey, which has been making wireless devices for over 35 years.
The Wolfhound works by detecting cell phones’ RF energy, which it can do even through thick concrete walls.
The Wolfhound is an affordable alternative to other systems which require a network infrastructure of wireless sensors to be hard-wired throughout a facility. Using it requires little training and it doesn’t jam cell phones (which is illegal, since it prohibits legal cell phone use).
Aug 30
LG E720 with Android leaks: it’s no Galaxy S killer
Posted in: Android, in the wild, InTheWild, leak, LG, Today's Chili
The great thing about Android is that it does a reasonably good job scaling from the high end of the hardware spectrum all the way down to the lowest of the low — and it’s on that cautionary note that we show you this alleged LG E720 that popped up on a Polish site over the weekend. We’re apparently looking at a Froyo-equipped device featuring a 3.2 inch display — which we’re fairly certain will fall short of WVGA resolution — along with Qualcomm’s midrange MSM7227 core and a 5 megapixel camera around back. In other words, Galaxy S owners, rest easy: LG doesn’t have your phone in its sights… not with this particular model, anyhow. Pricing and availability remain to be seen, but with Android 3.0 likely in the pipeline for 2010, LG would be well advised to step on the gas.
LG E720 with Android leaks: it’s no Galaxy S killer originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Aug 30
In the market for a new portable gaming device? Why not wait a couple of weeks to take advantage of Nintendo’s newly announced price drops for the DSi and DSi XL. Both systems are getting a $20 reduction, going down to $149 and $169, respectively. The price on the older DS Lite, meanwhile, will stay the same at $129.
“We know shoppers want to get the maximum value out of every dollar they spend,” Nintendo exec Cammie Dunaway said in a release issued this morning. “Our new Nintendo DSi prices make it easier than ever for consumers to access the tremendous variety of games, applications and social tools on the Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DSi XL systems.”
Early this summer at E3 in Los Angeles, the company announced the forthcoming release of the 3DS, a glasses-free portable gaming console due out in March of next year.
The Nintendo DS in all of its various iterations has been the leading portable gaming console for some time now. Since its launch in 2004, Nintendo has sold some 42.3 million units in U.S. alone.
Aug 30
Top 10 Best iPod Destruction Videos
Posted in: diy, ipod, nano, Today's Chili, video
If you’re anything like me, you have a vehement rage towards iPods. Of course, some people will tell you “you should leave iPods alone, there’s more important things to be doing with your time than hating inanimate objects.” But these people are likely iPods dressed as humans trying to fool you into wavering from the cause. Don’t fall for it! You just scream at them “I’m too smart to fall for your dirty tricks, you iPod wearing a human suit!” And then run out of the room.
Thankfully, we live in an age where no person is forced to suffer their boiling hatred for a piece of hardware in solitude. The Internet can connect you with others who have been wronged by iPods. You can even find those who have gone all Hostel with their revenge on the portable digital device menace. Thankfully, these warrior poets decided to record their retribution and share the results with the world.
You’ll notice we didn’t choose any iPhone torture videos (and there are plenty of them) in this post. That’s because we like the iPhone. They and their smart phone ilk are going to make the very idea of a portable digital player completely outmoded. iPod, meet the true death!
But until that day of complete iPod obsolescence, they will still be among us. And they will have to pay.
Things get medieval after the jump.
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