How would you change the second-generation Apple TV?

No one said that hobbies were easy to throw away, and it’s pretty clear that the Apple TV still holds a dear piece of Cupertino’s heart. In fact, we’d argue that the box’s streaming abilities now tie into Apple’s overall mission more than ever before, and with iOS 4.2.1 for the iPad (and the accompanying introduction of AirPlay), it’s feeling less like an afterthought and more like a focal point. That said, we’re curious to know if early adopters feel satisfied by their $99 box. Have you found it to function as-advertised? Still fuming over those output and / or color issues? If you were given the keys to the design kingdom, how would you turn the Apple TV into your perfect media streamer? Ditch the iTunes integration? Offer access to more content portals? Paint it pink and line it with LEDs? It only costs $0.02 to play, and the deposit slot’s just below.

How would you change the second-generation Apple TV? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Dec 2010 22:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you change Roku’s XDS media streamer?

2010 may arguably be the year of the tablet, but darn if media streamers aren’t breathing down their neck. This year, we’ve seen an explosion in the quantity and quality of media streamer options, with even the mighty Google buying in via its Google TV solution. One of the earlier birds, Roku, decided to dole out an updated box just a few months ago, and now it’s competing against the Apple TV, a few WD TV Live units, D-Link’s Boxee Box and scores of integrated options within HDTVs. At $99, there’s an awful lot of choices on the market, but we’re curious to know how XDS early adopters would tweak and / or overhaul things if given the golden opportunity. Would you change the exterior at all? How about the user interface? Add any content partners? How’s the remote control situation treating you? Think of comments below like you would an AA meeting — speak your heart and wait for nods. We’re all one in this brainstorming bubble.

How would you change Roku’s XDS media streamer? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 23:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you change Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 9 Beta?

It’s not often that a web browser makes into our HWYC lineup, but it’s also a rare occurrence for Microsoft to issue an entirely new web browser. Internet Explorer 9 Beta has been in the wild (and thus, on your PC) for a few months now, and seeing that the browser wars are raging harder than ever these days, we felt it prudent to ask how you’d change things in the world of IE. After all, being that this is a beta, there’s still plenty of time for Microsoft to actually heed your wisdom and implement changes prior to the full, final, non-beta release. So, have you been pleased with performance? Tab layout? Any tweaks you’d make to the user interface? Compatibility? Go on and get sophisticated down in comments below, won’tcha?

How would you change Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 9 Beta? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 22:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you change Apple’s iPod nano (2010)?

Without question, Apple’s latest iPod nano is its most interesting one yet. And considering that it’s the first nano with a color, multitouch LCD slapped onto it, it’s also one of the most multifaceted. The engineers in Cupertino certainly cut away from the nano’s past in order to create this new shuffle-like form factor, and it’s expectantly drawn quite a bit of heat from both side. Now, let’s say you were allowed inside the Apple lairs, and told that you could revamp the nano in any method you pleased. Aside from figuring out if it would blend or not, how would you go about tweaking the new nano? Enlarge the device (and thus, the screen) just a bit? Throw a second display on the rear for kicks and giggles? Throw in a pair of Bluetooth headphones? Talk to us in comments below.

How would you change Apple’s iPod nano (2010)? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 23:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you change Sony’s PlayStation Move?

Is it Sony’s play against the Wiimote, or the Kinect… or both? Hard to say exactly, but there’s no question that the PS3 is no longer on the outside looking in when it comes to motion gaming. Now that it’s been on the market for a few months, we’re looking to hear from early adopters — have you enjoyed your time with the Move? Has it lived up to your expectations? Any quirks with gameplay that you’d iron out? Any particular games that you’d prefer to see play nice with the apparatus? Set yourself in the mindset of a SCEA designer for a tick and let us know how you’d do the Move differently down in comments below. And yeah, sticking with “Arc” is totally an acceptable suggestion to make.

How would you change Sony’s PlayStation Move? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 22:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you change Sprint’s Epic 4G?

It’s the only Galaxy S variant to offer 4G connectivity, but it’s also the only one that requires a $10/month data surcharge to use. That boost in cost will undoubtedly bring higher expectations, and we’re eager to hear from early adopters on how their Epic 4G experience has been. For those who skipped over the EVO 4G in order to get this, we’re keenly interested to find out if you’ve been satisfied with the decision. How’s that slide-out QWERTY keyboard treating you? Would you have changed up the UI any? Would you have added any of the quirks from those other Galaxy S versions to this guy? Speak loudly in comments below. But not too loudly. More like a stern whisper.

How would you change Sprint’s Epic 4G? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 22:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you change Motorola’s Droid 2?

You’ve already told us (and the world, we might add) how you’d change just about every other Droid phone out there, so why not? Motorola’s Droid 2 has been in the hands of loyal can-doers for a few months now, giving the user base plenty of time to nitpick and stew about things that aren’t… quite… right. We had a few bones to pick with the handset during our August review, but as the regulars know, this space isn’t about rekindling old flames. It’s about you telling us how you’d change things if given the lead design position on this here phone. Would you have upgraded the camera? Changed the slide? Tweaked the Android build? Offered it on another carrier? Hit us with your best shot in comments below.

How would you change Motorola’s Droid 2? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 30 Oct 2010 01:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you change Amazon’s Kindle DX Graphite?

We both know you didn’t need a Kindle with a 9.7-inch display, but you went and did the deed anyway. Now that you’re a proud owner of Amazon’s Kindle DX Graphite, you’re obligated to tell the world what exactly you’d change about it if given the ability to do so. We noted back in our review that the revised display was indeed a lovely extra, but is it enough to justify the lofty premium over the standard 6-inch model? Would you have changed up the keyboard? What about the enclosure? Thrown in a kickstand? Added a helmet mount? Go on and tell us how you’d make the Kindle DX Graphite an ideal device down in comments below. We’re all ears, you know.

How would you change Amazon’s Kindle DX Graphite? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Oct 2010 22:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you change RIM’s BlackBerry Torch?

It’s the first BlackBerry to ship with BB OS 6, and it’s the first to boast both a touchpanel and a conventional slide-out QWERTY. But is it capable of standing up to the rest of today’s modern smartphones? We definitely had a few bones to pick with RIM’s latest flagship device when we reviewed it a few month’s back, but if you’re a regular, you’ll know that this segment isn’t about us — it’s about you, particularly if you own a Torch. Are you satisfied with the revised OS? Happy with the touchscreen response? Would you have bumped the screen resolution? Changed the keyboard in any way? Thrown a CDMA module in for Sprint / Verizon support? RIM’s betting quite a bit on this new operating system (and this new design), so feel free to sound off in comments below with ideas on how you’d change things for version two dot oh. Keep it classy, though — cool?

How would you change RIM’s BlackBerry Torch? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 22:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How would you change HP’s Envy 14?


The gaming laptop of 2010? Maybe so, but it’s unquestionably one of the most hyped and most highly anticipated. HP’s 14-inch Envy hits a sweet spot in the size department, and during our time with it, it also managed to hit a slew of other high notes. Of course, it wasn’t without its flaws, but that’s not what this section is about. We’re anxious to hear how you folks feel about your newly (or not-so-newly) acquired Envy 14. Any qualms with the trackpad? Loathing the lack of a VGA output? Still uninstalling bloatware? Frustrated by the lack of a Radiance display option at the present time? Go on and tell us what you really think in comments below, particularly how you’d change things if you and Rahul Sood (or similar) switched shoes for a day.

How would you change HP’s Envy 14? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 22:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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