Hasta La Gadget!

We’ve been waiting since December to get our hands on the Neato XV-11 robot vacuum. In preparation we steadfastedly refused to sweep up a single flake of dust, going on something of a cleaning strike until the thing finally hit retail. Of course, that wait was supposed to be a mere three month affair, and we’ve certainly gone that long without vacuuming before. The further six months of delays, however, left us questioning our resolve as Engadget HQ became less and less livable. Finally we’ve been able to unleash this smartypants vac onto our filthy floors, and all we can say is that it was well worth the wait.

Continue reading Neato XV-11 robotic vacuum review

Neato XV-11 robotic vacuum review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 12:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Logitech dropped its Alert Video Security System on our laps just before we were allowed to tell the world about it — not nearly enough time to put it through its paces. Since then we’ve spent a week beneath its piercing gaze, afraid to scratch inappropriately lest that movement be recorded forever onto the cold, merciless memory of network-attached storage. In that time we found living with Alert to be generally entertaining, sometimes frustrating, and occasionally disconcerting. How so? Read on to find out.

Continue reading A week under surveillance: Logitech Alert Video Security System review

A week under surveillance: Logitech Alert Video Security System review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While it’s not too difficult to see what’s going on inside your DVR from anywhere in the world these days, keeping an eye on what’s happening inside your house is sadly a little bit more complicated. Sure, there are solutions, but few are entirely plug and play — and those that are tend to be far from affordable. Logitech’s new Alert system is certainly easy to set up and, at around $300, won’t exactly break the bank. Announced today and available later this month it’s a simple, albeit somewhat limited, solution for home security and remote monitoring of… well… anything you can point a camera at. And, with mobile apps for iPhone, Blackberry, and Android, you can do that monitoring from just about anywhere. Click on through for the full details, some early impressions, and a little sample video.

Continue reading Logitech announces Alert series of high-def security cameras, we go hands-on (updated with video!)

Logitech announces Alert series of high-def security cameras, we go hands-on (updated with video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 04:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While Sony may have its pricey NEX-VG10 camcorder sucking up the limelight at yesterday’s showcase, let’s not forget the electronic giant’s more humble photographic devices. Just a few steps away we stumbled upon these near-identical Alpha A390 and A290 entry-level DSLRs, with the former donning a tilting LCD and live view capability to live up to its bigger price tag. We can’t comment on picture quality due to the lack of sample shots, but we were certainly impressed by both cameras’ build quality — kudos to Sony for the much improved grip, and we also liked the firm chassis (plus its various knobs and flaps) that didn’t feel cheap despite sounding hollow. On a similar note, the 2.7-inch LCD looked sharp and served us well for all purposes, although we didn’t get to test it outdoor. What really bewildered us was the lens continuously auto-focusing while the camera remained stationary — that couldn’t be good for the battery, and we’d like to see how battery life fares in upcoming reviews. Anyhow, enjoy our hands-on photos.

Sony Alpha A390 and A290 DSLRs hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Archos has been a player in the PMP market for a few centuries now (a rough estimate, anyway), and to say that the universe was jazzed at the mere thought of a 7-inch tablet for under $200 would be understating things dramatically. We found more things wrong with the Archos 7 Home Tablet than we could’ve ever imagined going in, but still, for under two C-notes, we have to believe that a few of you flipped on the blinders and made the purchase anyway. For those in that camp, we’re interesting to find how you feel about it now. Is the size right? Is the OS as impressive as you thought it would be? Are you longing for a larger display? Imagine you had the keys to Archos’ design lab and had the power to overhaul this bad boy, then have a sip of your favorite fruit juice and drop your thoughts in comments below. In that order, por favor.

How would you change the Archos 7 Home Tablet? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 22:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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