Hasta La Gadget!

It’s hard to argue that Windows Phone 7 Series’ Metro UI concept isn’t utterly unique in the mobile world, but it was wasn’t the only option Microsoft considered — far from it, in fact. The company has published a bunch a design concepts it churned through on its wild, wacky journey to finalizing Metro as we know it today, and one thing’s for certain: they’d clearly planned on simple, square lines, partially-obscured typography, and in-your-face colors pretty much from day one. After careful consideration of everything they’ve got here, we still think we like the production design best, but that’s kind of besides the point — why, pray tell, couldn’t these have just been user-selectable themes?

Windows Phone 7 Series’ cutting room floor is an extravaganza of bright colors and chunky fonts originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yesterday we brought you pictures of the touchscreen-loving user interface on Sony’s genre-straddling camera concept, so what better way to improve on that than with video and a few specs? Beyond the break you shall find one of those excessively stylized promotional vids you know and love to hate, but tolerating the fluff with reward you with some nice hints about how the shooter is operated plus finally some word on what’s inside. An Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor is touted, along with the accompanying capability to shoot 1080p AVCHD video. While we still find the design of these interchangeable lens cameras ridiculously appealing, there is one thing we have to complain about and that’s the clunky naming scheme. Please Sony, give us something sexier to call it than an “ultra-compact camera concept” — how about the Sony Beta, it comes after Alpha and is typically used to denote an unfinished product. You can have that one for free.

Continue reading Sony’s ultra-compact concept shooter will come with an APS sensor, UI shows up on video

Sony’s ultra-compact concept shooter will come with an APS sensor, UI shows up on video originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Who knows what’s actually housed in the device, but judging by the accompanying placard, MSI is playing the aesthetic card with this one. Designed as both a PC and a decoration for the home, it’s certainly pleasing on the eye. And like the sign says, “don’t try to put in toast” — cute, but we’d rather that line had a commitment to releasing this sucker. Or a price range. Or some hint as specs. Or anything tangible, really.

MSI Toast PC catches our eye, and that’s all she wrote originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Um, we’re sure there’s something sensible to be said about this Porsche concept, but we’re not altogether capable of coherent expression at present. We want to own one of these so badly, we don’t even care if it has an engine. And boy does the 918 Spyder have an engine. A 3.4-liter V8 petrol burner is combined with electric motors to put out 500bhp, while featuring the mind-altering acceleration to go from a standing start to 62mph in just 3.2 seconds. Topping out at 198mph and offering a very respectable 78mpg fuel economy, this is pretty much the stuff dreams are made, which is quite naturally why you shouldn’t expect to see it in any purchasable form any time soon. If you do care to see more of it, however, you can do so at the Geneva Motor Show this year or just past the break, the choice is yours.

[Thanks, Zach]

Continue reading Porsche 918 Spyder concept is the most beautiful hybrid we’ve ever seen

Porsche 918 Spyder concept is the most beautiful hybrid we’ve ever seen originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Concept cars are like unicorns — they’re so prevalent and vaporous, they’re hardly worth remarking upon. Every so often, though, one pops out into the ether that’s really worth a second look. Lotus’ Evora 414E Hybrid concept certainly fits into that category.This plug-in car boasts (or would boast, should it come into existence), 1.2 liter, three-cylinder engine, independent electric motors for the rear wheels, with a range of about 300 miles. The glass engine cover pictured above, however, is just one of the features we find ourselves double-taking here. The Evora 414E would also pack some ‘vroom vroom’ noises by way of its audio system to take care of the ever-pressing danger of silent auto engines. The engine can operate on alcohol-based fuels or regular old gasoline, and the battery-only range is in the neighborhood of 35 miles. The Lotus Evora 414E hybrid will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show.

Lotus outs wild Evora 414E Hybrid plug-in concept car originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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