Hasta La Gadget!

C’mon — you could tell from the product description that the 2Wire-built BlockBuster MediaPoint player would be a disappointment, now couldn’t you? A full month and change after getting unboxed, the latest entrant in the surprisingly meaty movie set-top-box arena has been reviewed by the AP. You know things are headed south when the reviewer starts off by stating that “three similar devices he tested over the past two years were all better than the MediaPoint.” In fact, he straight up called BlockBuster out for not being at least as good as units that came out years ago. What could possibly be so wrong, you ask? You can’t fast-forward or reverse content until a download is complete. The on-screen interface is downright “unattractive,” and it even looks blurry on HDTVs. The remote is said to be “cluttered with cryptic buttons.” Oh, and the critic couldn’t even figure out what content was in HD and what was in SD. We’d elaborate further, but there’s really no need.

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Blockbuster’s MediaPoint player reviewed: unsurprisingly disappointing originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here at Engadget, we don’t spend an awful lot of time dabbling in operating systems, but when Phoenix Technologies offered us the chance to check out its HyperSpace instant-on OS, we just couldn’t resist. After all, it’s hard to ignore the allure of reported sub-10 second bootup times on portable-by-nature machines (often referred to as “netbooks,” for those camped under rocks). Considering that HyperSpace is well on its way to a netbook near you (we’re told that undisclosed partnerships should be completely hammered out within the next few months), why not follow us past the break to see if the system really is all it’s cracked up to be.

Continue reading Phoenix Technologies HyperSpace instant-on OS review

Filed under: CES, Laptops

Phoenix Technologies HyperSpace instant-on OS review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We already had a little hands-on time with Logitech’s G9x, but TechRadar was able to spend a copious amount of time with it. So much time, in fact, that it wrote up a review explaining the pros and cons of owning one. The gist of it was that the G9x didn’t really mess with the original formula of the G9, and the 5,000DPI sensor was stellar under pressure. The scroll wheel and buttons were also found to be solid, and the accompanying software was also satisfactory. All in all, the G9x didn’t seem to really shock and awe, but if you’re currently in the market for a gaming mouse, this one should supposedly make it onto your “shortlist of candidates.”

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Logitech’s G9x gaming mouse reviewed, deemed worth a look originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 04:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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At least overseas, Endless Ideas’ BeBook is competing most directly with Sony’s succulent Reader, and reviewers over at Trusted Reviews immediately noticed the step back in style. If you can get over that, the device was said to be delightfully light, though the user interface reverted their brief smiles back to frowns. This up and down (or love and hate, if you will) affair continued on throughout the review, with critics finding a nitpick for every glimmer of awesomeness. The real bummer came when they attempted to use USB 1.1 for mass transfers — it’s practically 2009 people, and USB 2.0 is a must. All in all, the crew couldn’t bring themselves to calling the BeBook a bad device, with the broad format support, satisfactory screen and longevous battery all earning high marks; that said, the clunky interface and sluggish overall performance really put a damper on things, particularly when you consider a Sony PRS-505 can be had for around £30 less.

Filed under: Displays, Handhelds

BeBook eBook reader gets reviewed: a library rental, at best originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iriver’s T5 was launched and forgotten in one fell swoop, but with a starting price of under $40 for the 2GB edition, it’s at least worth a look, right? Critics over at Pocketables were able to secure one of the USB stick-styled devices for review, and they even bothered to host up a plethora of unboxing / hands-on shots for those keenly interested. Size wise, the unit is just marginally smaller than your average USB WWAN modem, and while the minuscule OLED display wasn’t much to look at, it sure trumped those screen-less rivals. Under pressure, the stick delivered “surprisingly good sound quality,” and while the device overall didn’t bring anything fantastically fresh to the table, the inbuilt USB jack, integrated display and excellent audio capabilities made it a pretty good option for the gym. ‘Course, there are formidable alternatives out there (Sansa Clip, anyone?), so we’d recommend giving the linked review a closer look before breaking out the plastic.

Filed under: Portable Audio

iriver’s $40 T5 USB stick-style audio player unboxed and reviewed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 08:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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