Hasta La Gadget!

You know the drill — new handset, new problems. It’s pretty much inevitable that sporadic reports of bugs and hardware problems are going to start popping up by day two of any major phone launch, and sure enough, complaints are starting to circulate on two biggies for the G2. First off, some of the phones are shipping with loose hinges; the most obvious symptom is that holding it upside down causes the screen to hang down, but perhaps more annoyingly, holding it at some angles causes the screen to snap shut if it’s open — still not a huge deal since most humans don’t use their phones upside down, but it seems like they could’ve tightened up a few springs to prevent this from happening.

Secondly — and more strangely — at least some G2s in the field appear to have half the promised storage space of 4GB, clocking in at a total of 2GB, which just happens to be the amount promised on the phone’s Desire Z doppelganger. We’re not sure how that kind of mix-up happens… but if it’s legit, T-Mobile’s got to take back the units or offer really big microSD cards to affected customers, if you ask us. More on this as it develops — and let us know your experiences so far in comments.

[Thanks to everyone who sent these in]

Continue reading T-Mobile G2 trouble roundup: loose hinges, missing storage?

T-Mobile G2 trouble roundup: loose hinges, missing storage? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 16:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Zune HD may not have seen quite the explosion of apps that many had hoped for, but it’s just gotten a pretty big one: Windows Live Messenger. That will naturally give you much of the same functionality of its desktop counterpart (also receiving an update today), including the ability to keep watch on updates from various social networking sites, and even use Facebook Chat. It’ll also display the music you have playing right in the app and, just like the desktop version, it’s free. Look for it in the Zune Marketplace right now.

Microsoft rolls out Windows Live Messenger for Zune HD originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 16:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Colorware’s been making the products you buy look better (or worse, if you’d like) for years on end, but up until now, it has never actually created a product from scratch. Enter the Grip for iPad, a simplistic new iPad holster that’s less of a case and more of a handle. It’s a metal frame that you bolt around the edges of your tablet, and as you can tell, it adds a major grabbing point to the side. But here’s the rub: it’s $300. Yeah, three Benjamins. We get that it’s manufactured in Minnesota using that high-priced American labor, but seriously? The major problem is just how awkward that $300 price tag looks beside the $499 MSRP of the device it’s supposed to hold; imagine buying a $13,000 set of tires for your $17,000 vehicle. It just doesn’t sit well in the cranium. And then there’s the problem of using it.

You see, as nice as it is to have a handle on your tablet at all times, it makes actually using the iPad in portrait mode practically impossible. You’re constantly trying to figure out how to work around that bulge that’s now there on the left side. Furthermore, it does essentially nothing for protection. The back is still wide open and susceptible to drops / scratches, and the front isn’t recessed in the least. Adding insult to multiple injuries, there’s not enough room to have a case wrapped around your iPad while it’s inside of the Grip. Oh, and did we mention that the slightest bump against a rough surface will rip the paint right off of the device? We’d love to love the Grip — it’s mighty pretty and it’s built like a tank — but it simply makes no sense whatsoever at $300. Even at $100, you’ve got way better options when it comes to actually protecting your iPad.

Continue reading Colorware ships its first original product: the $300 Grip for iPad (hands-on)

Colorware ships its first original product: the $300 Grip for iPad (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you just so happen to be in the market for a new yacht, you may want to consider the Tang: a new green alternative from International Battery and Electric Marine Propulsion. The 60 foot long, carbon fiber boat is currently being tested in South Africa.

The Tang features propellers, which turn a pair of 18-kilowatt propulsion motors that then send the electricity to the boat’s lithium battery. It provides enough power that yacht owners won’t have to give up their luxurious lifestyle, as the system is able to provide enough electricity to power items such as “a 37 inch flat screen TV, Bose entertainment system, LED lighting, café-size espresso machine, two refrigerator-freezers, dishwasher, microwave, conventional oven, gas or electrical burner top, washer-dryer, air-conditioning, and a water maker,” according to International Battery.

Additionally, the batteries can also be charged either through the traditional plug-in method, or via on-board diesel generators that kick in in the event that there’s not enough wind.

Via CNET.

Mini isn’t the only one showing off small electric vehicles at the Paris Motor Show, as Kia has announced that the previously teased Pop will be making its debut at the show as well. The three seat, three meter long electric car can reach speeds of up to 140km/h and can reach distances of up to 160km on a single charge. The battery itself takes just six hours to fully charge.

Design wise, the Pop features a number of unique, almost sci-fi features. Its purple interior is home to a transparent, organic LED screen that displays pertinent information like speed and battery charge, and the majority of the car’s functions are controlled via an animated touch screen. No word on when the Kia Pop will eventually hit the streets.

Via Engadget.