BIOS update for Alienware M15x laptops turning them into bug-eyed bricks?

BIOS update for Alienware M15x laptops turning them into bug-eyed bricks?
We’ve received a slew of tips this morning that Dell’s latest BIOS update for the Alienware M15x laptop is causing some pretty ugly issues. According to reports this is a different sort of update, run from an application rather than installed separately, and after the first reboot the machine gets to the POST screen then… nothing. Multiple users are complaining of this issue and one claims that Dell is shipping him a new motherboard to fix it. We’re still waiting to hear back from Dell to confirm this either way (hello weekend!), and until then we’d advise sticking with your existing version. In the mean time you can feel free to ponder just what the heck is going on at Dell’s QA department.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

BIOS update for Alienware M15x laptops turning them into bug-eyed bricks? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 10:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Notion Ink Adam stripped bare and our in-depth video hands-on

You have to have a pretty special product to get two Engadget posts discussing your wares during the maelstrom of CES, but this Adam thing just won’t leave us alone with its Pixel Qi display, Tegra 2 innards and bona fide potential to blow the bloody doors off the homogeneous tablet market. We’ve gone back and grabbed video of the device in direct sunlight and it just kept on impressing us. The screen resolutely refused to be overpowered by the light, whether its backlight was on or off, but that was merely the tip of the iceberg as far as the happy impressions. Come past the break to find out more about buttery smooth 1080p playback (with a handy HDMI out), Notion Ink’s plans for modifying the Android OS, and more on the likely pricing of the device which is set to land in quarter two of 2010. Oh, and yea — we totally ripped it open and photographed the insides. Check that out below.

Continue reading Notion Ink Adam stripped bare and our in-depth video hands-on

Notion Ink Adam stripped bare and our in-depth video hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Engadget app is now available for BlackBerry!

That’s right folks — this isn’t a dream. The much-loved Engadget application (also for the iPhone / iPod touch and webOS devices) has made its way to the BlackBerry platform. You can download the free application and enjoy the same breathtaking, emotionally moving experience that has been driving all the other kids wild. All you have to do to get your hands on this baby is point your phone’s browser to our download page, and you can almost immediately begin living the dream. We’ve got even more stuff coming down the pipeline (like an Android app), so stay tuned!

The Engadget app is now available for BlackBerry! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows Mobile 7 coming to MWC in February, not just ‘evolutionary’

We’d heard some rumblings, but apparently Robbie Bach let the cat out of the bag at an analyst briefing this week, stating that we should expect a showing of Windows Mobile 7 at the Mobile World Congress show in Spain, which begins on February 15th. He also added that the OS (which he’s played with, surprisingly) will “set the bar forward not in (just) an evolutionary way,” and that Microsoft is going to be “more engaged” with OEMs in its “go to market approach.” We love a good buzzword or three, but the hope here is that Microsoft has learned its lesson from iPhone and Android and is ready to compete in the next-gen smartphone game in a big way — a WinMo 7 showing just four months after the release of Windows Mobile 6.5 certainly smacks of that.

[Thanks, Matthias]

Windows Mobile 7 coming to MWC in February, not just ‘evolutionary’ originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The HP Slate

Here we go — press images of the HP Slate just hit the web, right as Ballmer showed it off during his CES keynote. The prototype device is said to be coming later this year, and it’s running Windows — Ballmer showed it running the PC Kindle app. It’s also multitouch, and can do some gaming — they showed it playing Frogger. Check one more pic and the teaser vid after the break. And trust us — we’re going to find out everything about this thing before we’re done.

Continue reading The HP Slate

The HP Slate originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft CES keynote PR leaks early: HP slate device is just a PC, Natal in holiday 2010

Microsoft’s CES keynote has been marked by disaster: first the power went out, knocking the PCs on stage into recovery mode, and now the PR for Ballmer’s speech has posted early. The big news is no news — that HP slate device is a Windows 7 PC, not the rumored Courier tablet. We’re sure HP and Microsoft will have some interesting things to say about it, but a lot of hearts are breaking out there. Other big items: Project Natal will launch around the holidays in 2010, the HTC HD2 will hit T-Mobile as expected, and the Mediaroom 2.0 IPTVs service will bring on-demand programming to PCs and phones. The full PR is after the break, but we’ll post highlights here if we see anything else as we comb through.

[Thanks, Andrew]

Continue reading Microsoft CES keynote PR leaks early: HP slate device is just a PC, Natal in holiday 2010

Microsoft CES keynote PR leaks early: HP slate device is just a PC, Natal in holiday 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MSI dualscreen e-reader hands-on (update: video!)

We have been hearing about dualscreen laptops (and readers) for too long now, but it’s MSI to be the first to show off a real working unit. And it’s everything we have ever dreamed of — well kind of. Though MSI is calling this dual 10-inch screen device an e-reader, it’s really a netbook with two screens since it’s got an Atom Z Series processor and Windows 7 Home Premium. But it’s how the two screens work together that we can’t get out of our minds. Hit the break for some more impressions and to see this crazy thing on video.

Continue reading MSI dualscreen e-reader hands-on (update: video!)

MSI dualscreen e-reader hands-on (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Backflip now official, Cliq promised Android 2.1 and Droid Flash 10.1

AT&T’s quick tease this morning has finally materialized: introducing the Motorola Backflip, a QWERTY device with WiFi, five megapixel camera, and Android 2.1. It’s not a slider; instead, it’s got the keyboard on the outside and flips outward. Motoblur‘s the skin of choice here, and before you say anything, Sanjay Jha himself says “we’re still working on battery life.” He wouldn’t confirm a carrier, but “unique form factor” and previous leaks all but guarantee this is its inaugural Ma Bell Android phone. And don’t fret Cliq / Droid users, Jha wants you to know that Android 2.1 is coming to all its Motorola devices, including Cliq, and Droid’s getting Flash 10.1. So hey, there’s something you can really look forward to.

Continue reading Motorola Backflip now official, Cliq promised Android 2.1 and Droid Flash 10.1

Motorola Backflip now official, Cliq promised Android 2.1 and Droid Flash 10.1 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony introduces Dash Internet Viewer touchscreen tablet (Update: it runs Chumby OS!)

We’ve got another one, folks: Sony’s doing a tablet. The Dash Internet Viewer is a touchscreen WiFi device which can be propped up like a digital photo frame or toted around the home like… a tablet. Still, a Chumby comparison might be more appropriate: the 7-inch device can run Chumby apps (there are over 1,000 free ones out there already), to which Sony will be adding its own Sony Music and Sony Pictures properties for movie trailers, music videos and so forth. The $199 unit can be stood on end or tilted quasi-flat for a variety of hands-free viewing angles, and works as an alarm clock, waking users up to the sweet sounds and visuals of internet videos. The Dash ships in April.

Update: We just confirmed that this device runs Chumby OS and is not portable (as in, there’s no built-in battery). Rest assured, this is no slate / tablet rival — in fact, it’s more like a sophisticated alarm clock.

Sony introduces Dash Internet Viewer touchscreen tablet (Update: it runs Chumby OS!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pioneer AVIC-X920BT brings Pandora streaming music to your satnav via the iPhone

Your car’s dash just got a tad bit more interesting with the introduction of Pandora music streaming in Pioneer’s latest navigation unit. The double-DIN in-dash device exploits your iPhone’s cellular connection to glean tunes from the ether and comes with a 6.1-inch display, Bluetooth, 3D video accelerator, and 4GB of built-in memory expandable by MicroSD. Coming out in March for $1,200, this is slated to be a direct challenge to satellite and old school radio services, and for more on the greater market impact of its introduction, you can see the WSJ coverage below. For the full specs of this new flagship device, as well as a new AVIC-U220 add-on nav unit, hit the source link below.

Pioneer AVIC-X920BT brings Pandora streaming music to your satnav via the iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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