Hasta La Gadget!

Build it, and they will come. We suspect the same is true with shipping papers. Go Solar USA most certainly hopes so, as it has just inked a deal with Chinese developer Yosion to bring the much-hyped Apple Peel 520 to the US of A. For those unaware, this slip-on case effectively turns your iPod touch into an iPhone, as it equips your PMP with a SIM card slot and the software needed to make / receive calls and texts. Granted, it’s not without its flaws, but for “around $60,” it’s not a half-bad alternative to handing over your cellular soul to AT&T. Both companies have reportedly agreed to work together to distribute it in the United States, but it’s unclear when those shipments will start and how much it’ll retail for once it arrives. Oh, and don’t hold your breath for compatibility with the latest and greatest touch — just sayin’.

Continue reading Apple Peel 520 coming to US shores shortly for an undisclosed amount

Apple Peel 520 coming to US shores shortly for an undisclosed amount originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 07:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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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Another contender has entered the fray in the great tablet wars of 2010. It’s the $500 Olive Telecom OlivePad, a seven-inch, 800 x 480 capacitive touchscreened device. Announced back in July, Indian television show TechGuru snagged one for review a few weeks back where they, predictably, squared it off against an iPad. The Android 2.1 device looks nice enough, but, according to the translation recently provided by Netbooknews, doesn’t compare to Apple’s device in terms of visual appeal. It is, at least, a licensed version of Android, with access to the Market and the standard Google apps, all of which look to run very well on its 600MHz ARM CPU. 512MB of internal memory is paired with 512MB of ROM, naturally with microSD expansion. There is also a three megapixel camera on the back and a SIM slot not only providing wireless data but also enabling phone calls — though we’d advise taking advantage of the device’s Bluetooth capabilities to avoid holding this chubby slate to your head. The full video is available for you after the break, but don’t blame us if you only understand every third or fourth word.

Update: We’re a little overwhelmed by the responses we’ve received from this post, lots of readers offering to provide a full translation. Savvy was kind enough to provide a closed-caption subtitled version of the video, which we’ve placed below (click through to YouTube to turn on the subtitles). And Sasha Chhabra e-mailed us a full transcription of the entire segment, which we’re also including below. You guys rock!

Continue reading Olive Telecom’s OlivePad reviewed, we wish we spoke Hindi (video)

Olive Telecom’s OlivePad reviewed, we wish we spoke Hindi (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ah, the dream does live on. If we’re being straight with you, we didn’t exactly have the highest hopes for Aceeca’s PDA32 to ever make it out of the dreamworld in which it was created, but apparently it’s well on its well to commercialization. For reasons unknown, of course. The good folks over at TamsBlog managed to get ahold of a prototype device, powered by one of yesteryear’s greatest operating systems and encased in a comically large shell. It’s important to note that this isn’t a finalized retail unit, but it’s still fairly fascinating that an object like the one you’re looking at above is actually about to ship in the year 2010 A.D. The overview is about what you’d expect, noting that the screen is above average, the enclosure itself is downright “fat,” and the whole thing seems far more sensible in the enterprise realm than the consumer one. Sadly, there’s no real talk of software performance, but we suspect that’ll come when the final product ships out. Hit the source link for a fascinating look at a device you’ll never buy.

Aceeca’s PalmOS-based PDA32 gets reviewed, albeit in prototype form originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Aug 2010 14:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leapster inadvertently (or not) spilled the beans on a forthcoming learning handheld way back in May, and with nary a peep from the company, it has managed to launch said unit just as the next school year was fixing the start. The $70 handheld ain’t the cheapest in the world, and considering that the “learning” cartridges are $25 a pop, it won’t take long for this investment to get serious. USA Today‘s Ed Baig managed to wrangle one for review, and while he certainly let his kids do the dirty work, he couldn’t help but express frustration by the inability to use older games with this new system. Forward progress aside, Ed found his kids enamored by the device, and while that led to him making quite a few digital Leaplet purchases (downloadable games), it also kept his youngsters occupied and engaged in something beneficial. All told, he handed out 3.5 of 4 shiny stars to the minuscule device, and so long as you’re cool with daily demands for new software from Johnny and Jane, this might be the best back-to-school gift ever.

Leapster’s $70 Explorer learning handheld gets reviewed, loved by a father originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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