Apple TV- Good Technology, Limited Sales Potential

Any company that brings a new product to market has to take risks in order to do so, but the biggest risk of all- the one that could make all of the other risks even more likely to come up and bite that company- is the possibility that consumers will meet the product with indifference. That's the situation that some TV industry analysts are anticipating with the new Apple TV from Apple Inc. (Formerly Apple Computer Inc.) Any company that brings a new product to market has to take risks in order to do so, but the biggest risk of all- the one that could make all of the other risks even more likely to come up and bite that company- is the possibility that consumers will meet the product with indifference. That's the situation that some TV industry analysts are anticipating with the new Apple TV from Apple Inc. (Formerly Apple Computer Inc.)

The Apple TV is a set top box that can wirelessly receive music, digital photos, and video at resolutions of up to 720p from a computer and then display that media on a TV set. The Apple TV is designed to provide easy access to a variety of digital media in a way that makes it easier to watch and share with friends and family through the home entertainment center than it would be directly through a computer.

While the idea of transmitting high definition video over a wireless connection is certainly impressive, there are a number of strikes against the Apple TV. One of the major strikes against this device is that it's very limited in what it can do. Sure it can put all of these types of media on your TV, but it doesn't consolidate any of the features of other home entertainment accessories. For example, some models of the TiVo perform similar functions as the Apple TV- albeit over a wired connection- but also records programming to be watched later. The Apple TV is just another piece of equipment to clutter up the already crowded home entertainment center.

The idea of the Apple TV is also a concept that consumers have rejected, or at least been lukewarm to, many times in the past already. For example, media center computers are able to do everything that the Apple TV can do, and do it better. For example, a media center computer can feed video and digital photos to a TV set, and feed music to the stereo system, just like the Apple TV. Media center computers can also record video onto their hard drives, function as DVD players (and many can burn recorded video onto DVD's as well), and serve as video gaming systems. They can also allow the user to surf the Internet on their TV's. Yet despite having so many more functions than the Apple TV, and the fact that they can consolidate many of the set top boxes that plague modern American living rooms, media center computers aren't at all popular. For that reason, combined with the fact that the Apple TV will only receive items transmitted from the computer's iTunes folder (very limiting indeed!) there is really no reason to expect the Apple TV to be very successful.

Of course, the Apple TV does have one thing going for it: it's made by Apple Inc. The cult following that Apple has will undoubtedly provide for some sales of the Apple TV, but that will only go so far. Even some of the most devote Apple followers will question the value of a relatively limited device like the Apple TV.

New Gadgets Offer Options For Recording Audio

Taking accurate notes has always been a challenge for students, journalists, and writers. Gadgets like tape recorders and portable computers (laptop, palm top, tablet, and otherwise) have helped somewhat, but now digital audio technology lets note takers record lectures and interviews with ease. The gadgets that do this are a lot like souped up MP3 players. In addition to being able to play back audio in several formats, modern digital audio recorders can also record audio and even edit it either on the fly or by uploading it to a computer.

Taking accurate notes has always been a challenge for students, journalists, and writers. Gadgets like tape recorders and portable computers (laptop, palm top, tablet, and otherwise) have helped somewhat, but now digital audio technology lets note takers record lectures and interviews with ease. The gadgets that do this are a lot like souped up MP3 players. In addition to being able to play back audio in several formats, modern digital audio recorders can also record audio and even edit it either on the fly or by uploading it to a computer.

One model in particular that's generally well respected is the M-Audio MicroTrack 24/96. This gadget makes good enough recordings to pick up even the most subtle vocal inflections and easily transfers recordings to a computer for editing or archiving. The M-Audio MicroTrack 24/96 also benefits from having removable flash memory modules to extend the amount of recording time between computer uploads. On the downside this model is expensive, bulky, and doesn't have a removable battery. The fact that this model's storage capacity can be expanded by changing out the flash memory module, but doesn't provide the option of getting more than four hours of performance between charging is definitely a shortcoming in the design.

Another model, the Olympus DS-40 is also a good contender. At two hundred dollars, it's very affordable and provides the advantage of noise canceling technology for higher quality recordings. The Olympus DS-40 also comes with an interactive feature that uses a female voice to guide the user through various menus. This model is also especially good at playing back audio files, making it a good MP3 player. The fact that this model is fairly compact offers a drawback of sorts in the form of a small screen that makes menus difficult to read (the guide feature does help to counteract this though). The software that comes with it for editing sound files on a separate computer is less than ideal as well.

The Philips Digital Pocket Memo 9600 is another more expensive model, but it comes with a number of features that make it arguably a decent value. For one thing, this model will allow users to edit audio without uploading it to a computer. For example, it's possible to add notes to go along with a lecture or interview after the fact without recording over anything in the original recording. (This in particular is something that's just not possible with a tape recorder.) Disadvantages of this model come in the form of a ridiculously expensive docking station and the fact that the unit gets really hot during use.

A fourth option is available in the form of the Panasonic RR-US470. This gadget has the two unique benefits of being able to pick out and record sounds in the specific direction in which it's aimed, and being able to translate audio from English into five other languages and back again. These features and the affordable price are offset to some extent by the small screen and confusing menus.

Generally gadgets like these provide a good deal of options for people who need to record audio notes.

Great Entertainment and Excellent Communications Services Are Available Through Comcast

If it has been a long time since you've checked out the services that Comcast Cable Service offers, you may have missed out on the perfect solution to all of your communications and entertainment needs. Comcast has long been known for its excellent Cable television service, but the company now also offers both telephone and high speed Internet services.

If it has been a long time since you've checked out the services that Comcast Cable Service offers, you may have missed out on the perfect solution to all of your communications and entertainment needs. Comcast has long been known for its excellent Cable television service, but the company now also offers both telephone and high speed Internet services.

You are guaranteed to be completely impressed by the high speed Internet access that this company offers. With more options for everything from entertainment to education becoming available online, having a high speed connection is now a necessity. Dial up is just too slow to allow you to use the Internet in the ways that you wish. And even DSL is too slow to truly keep up with the assortment of websites available. However, Comcast's high speed Internet connection runs almost a 100 times faster than a dial up connection and thus gives you the power to access sites that you couldn't access before. This connection speed is actually about 8 Megabytes per second, which is fast enough to allow you to download even full length movies or book length PDF files in just a few minutes. This not only makes it possible for you to extend your entertainment possibilities, but it also allows you to access business forms, informational materials, and lots more.

Because getting online requires patience against threats like viruses and spyware, Comcast offers options that allow you to keep your computer safer. Each subscription comes with a free lifelong subscription to McAfee VirusScan and you can also opt to receive a firewall to further insure your computer against malicious threats. You can even keep your children safer when they are online with special access to kid-safe sites featuring music, games, and other safe content.

If you want to get the most out of your communications services, selecting Comcast for your telephone service is a really smart idea. Comcast offers special deals for customers who get this service along with one or more of the company's other services and the plans are specially designed to be extremely cost efficient. For instance, every calling plan includes unlimited domestic long distance in a flat fee and even international calls are billed at extremely low rates.

Of course, phone service would not be high quality unless you also received all of the convenient features that you are used to. That is why Comcast offers over 12 great features with every plan at no extra charge. From call waiting to caller ID you will be able to get the most out of your phone service. In fact, you even get free enhanced voice mail to make your life simpler.

Comcast still has a superior cable television selection, which is now even better than ever. Recently the entire service was upgraded to digital, which allows for improved pictures and sound and more interactive options. Plus, with a selection that now exceeds 280 channels, you are guaranteed to find more of the programming that you love. Special channels even provide the great quality of high definition television, HDTV, or On Demand programming.

You are sure to be pleased with the service that Comcast Cable Service offers and even more pleased with the savings that the company can give you. In fact, if you bundle your services under Comcast, you can receive an incredible level of savings and reduce the hassle of managing services by paying just one monthly bill.

Predictions About Future Success of Blu-Ray Technology

With the apparent victory of Blu-ray in the high definition DVD format war imminent, Blu-ray supporters have gone so far as to predict the future success of the format. Some Blu-ray backers have claimed that Blu-ray discs could become the standard- replacing standard definition DVD's- in as little as three years. With the apparent victory of Blu-ray in the high definition DVD format war imminent, Blu-ray supporters have gone so far as to predict the future success of the format. Some Blu-ray backers have claimed that Blu-ray discs could become the standard- replacing standard definition DVD's- in as little as three years.

The Blu-ray High Definition DVD format which was created by Sony is able to store enough information on an optical disc the same size as a normal CD or DVD to display an entire full length movie in HDTV format. The Blu-ray format relies on blue laser technology to more finely encode and decode data than the red laser technology that's used on standard definition DVD's and compact discs. As a result of this difference in technology, a single Blu-ray disc can store up to twenty five gigabytes of data on each side, or fifty gigabytes total.

This ability to store large amounts of information on a relatively small disc provides some huge possibilities for computing as well as entertainment. That's because, Blu-ray discs represent the possibility of being able to archive huge amounts of data in the form of digital photos, videos, music, and software. In fact, the ability to put up to fifty gigabytes of software on a single disc can make for some huge software packages.

Data storage capacity is one of the ways in which Blu-ray has its rival format- HD-DVD which was created by Toshiba- beat. HD-DVD's can only store about thirty gigabytes per disc, utilizing both sides of a disc.

Despite Blu-ray's greater capacity to store data than HD-DVD's, there are some serious barriers to Blu-ray supplanting standard definition DVD's in the next three years. For one thing, there are only a little more than five million Blu-ray discs that have been sold, but there are uncounted billions of standard definition DVD's all over the world. While this in itself isn't a huge barrier- after all, all of those billions of standard definition DVD's have been sold over the course of less than ten years- but the bigger problem is the equipment that can read and display the content of Blu-ray discs.

One of the reasons why the original DVD format was such a success was because, though like the Blu-ray format it requires a special player, standard definition DVD's and the players for them were and are compatible with standard definition television sets. Implicit in the assumption that Blu-ray discs will supplant standard definition DVD's in the next few years is the assumption that the world will be willing to replace all of its standard definition TV sets and existing DVD players with HDTV sets and Blu-ray players. Given the expense of both HDTV sets and Blu-ray players, this simply isn't a realistic expectation.

Besides the problem of replacing all of that equipment, there is the question of apathy among consumers. For example, only a small fraction of homes in the United States have HDTV sets, and the United States is one of the countries with people best able to afford them. Of Americans who are interested in HDTV sets, only a relatively small number of them understand the difference between HDTV and standard definition TV. There are also people out there who still think that standard definition DVD's display movies in HDTV format. All of these obstacles represent a lot of problems that need to be overcome for Blu-ray to ever supplant the standard DVD format, let alone in the next few years.

Ripple released newly TN120R DIY Tablet PC

Tablet PC is a newly Laptop, In Korea many gadgets are made to fulfill the demand of the gadget users. In the recent days a fresh Laptop that is really a special Laptop because in the particular Laptop, Features are exclusive and dashing.

Ripple has released, Appropriate for all those users, who believe in roaming and those guys that are totally attached to the marketing Field. In Korea Laptop are the major gadgets to demonstrate its usage among all around the world. Check this one and enjoy the great features of the particular laptop.

Features that are assembled in the particular laptop is marvalleous , a 12.1 inch LCD with a 1280×800 resolution, 120GB of HDD,a DVD Multi burner,1GB of RAM., a Core 2 T8100 (2.1GHz) and something else about the particular laptop , the particular is available in various configuration .

Thus seize the particular laptop and the Tablet PC is Known as by the DIY {Do It yourself} tablet PC TN120R. About the price there is enough information not available.

Harman / Kardon MS 100

[IFA 2008] Without doubt a very strange and huge sound system with integrated iPod dock. This is the Harman / Kardon MS 100, an audio system that integrates all in one dock for the iPod and CD player gadgets.

Although not a piece of art comes very well equipped with AV output by if you have an iPod compatibility with playing videos, the CD can read MP3 cool gadgets and WMA files.

It is also an FM radio with a 2.1 audio system, so you need practically everything you need on HiFi needs on a single computer. It will be available in October for about EUR 185.

Introduction of Blu-ray player Samsung BD-P2500 in the IFA

[IFA 2008] At the IFA has already submitted the rumored Blu-ray Disc Mp3 player BD-P2500. This gizmo and gadgets the player is one of the few Samsung gadgets if not the first to support the profile 2.0 (BD Live) that lets you interact with the content of the film extras. The BD-P2500 is climbing for DVD and audio support for Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD.

It is strange but this player has a 1GB internal memory with a USB port to connect external drives, so it can also be used for multimedia centre. The closing date is October output and price are about 350 € (in the earlier rumor talking about 450 euros).

Ude Expert 300W: This dictionary it worthwhile

Yesterday we showed a digital gadget dictionary Ude which left much to be desired. This time the same company launched the Expert 300W much better than the Discovery. According to the company said, this is the first in the world to have all its features in the same gadget.

1. WiFi Connectivity
2. Bluetooth connectivity
3. Support T-DMB
4. Integrated FM Radio

Runs on Windows CE 5.0 Professional OS, has a screen 4.3-inch WQVGA touch, 2GB of internal memory, a slot for SD memory cards, Media TV, stereo speakers and integrated codecs that will enable it to withstand files in Flash, video and audio . Finally dictionary will have 82 different languages and will cost around U.S. $ 385.

Marco display your digital photos stored on the Web

The new framework cool gadgets digital Picwing a new product is quite interesting. This model is connected to the Internet and can show you all the photographs stored in the account you have in Picwing. It has an OS based on Linux, a 7-inch LCD screen gizmo and WiFi. You can buy it for $ 249 and, as they are selling, the creator will be making more.

LG Scarlet LG6100, its thinnest LCD

[IFA 2008] LG launches the IFA in its latest gadgets LCD TV, LG6100, its LCD thinner so far, but neither hint by the thinner the world, as reflected in LG. It has a thickness of 45 millimeters what the mete directly between this range of screens that are really thin, but so far their prices are basically decorative shelves of electronics stores.

This new version gadgets of its famous line Scarlet reaches Full HD resolution (1080p), 100Hz, a dynamic contrast ratio 50.000:1, 24p… They are basically the characteristics of a high-end screen. Includes 4 HDMI ports and speakers integrated into the screen so as not to see with the naked eye. The only size so far this screen is 43 inches

Toshiba Regza series RV

[IFA 2008] Toshiba launches new series Regza RV, a new series of Full HD screens that will be available in 3 sizes: 37 “, 42″ and 46 “.

It seems that brands have agreed on some aspects of all the screens we are seeing in the IFA, at least displays a range of medium-high, as for example, are repeated in many of 100Hz, but this series Regza RV has a dynamic contrast 30.000:1, what the difference a bit.

It will be available in October, but has not been published prices for the series.

Samsung X360, ultralight notebook of 13.3 inches

[IFA 2008] Skin Apple gizmo and gadgets the MacBook Air and Lenovo X300, Samsung latest gadgets has just launched a new feature in its range of portable, the new X360. This is a 13.3-inch laptop that comes to compete with these two ultralight laptops.

With a weight of only 1.27Kg dangerously approaching the barrier that a kilogram are now weighing the ultraportatiles as the Aspire One or Asus EEA.

His screen reaches a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels, with an Intel Centrino 2 ULV low consumption of 1 to 4GB of RAM DDR3 and the option to choose between a durod and 120GB hard drives or 64GB of SSD or 128GB with its obvious increase in price. There is nothing wrong, as the MacBook Air lacks optical drive, but maintains an HDMI port, VGA output, 3 USB ports and card reader 7 to 1. 2.0 Bluetooth and WiFi 802.11n a webcam of 1.3 megapixel closing their characteristics

Breadboard

What is a breadboard?
A breadboard is used to build and test circuits quickly before finalizing any circuit
design. The breadboard has many holes into which circuit components like ICs and
resistors can be inserted. A typical breadboard is shown below:




The bread board has strips of metal which run underneath the board and connect the holes
on the top of the board. The metal strips are laid out as shown below. Note that the top
and bottom rows of holes are connected horizontally while the remaining holes are
connected vertically.





To use the bread board, the legs of components are placed in the holes. Each set of holes
connected by a metal strip underneath forms a node. A node is a point in a circuit where
two components are connected. Connections between different components are formed
by putting their legs in a common node.
The long top and bottom row of holes are usually used for power supply connections. The
rest of the circuit is built by placing components and connecting them together with
jumper wires. ICs are placed in the middle of the board so that half of the legs are on one
side of the middle line and half on the other.
A completed circuit might look like the following.






Breadboarding tips:
It is important to breadboard a circuit neatly and systematically, so that one can debug it
and get it running easily and quickly. It also helps when someone else needs to
understand and inspect the circuit. Here are some tips:
1. Always use the side-lines for power supply connections. Power the chips from the
side-lines and not directly from the power supply.
2. Use black wires for ground connections (0V), and red for other power
connections.
3. Keep the jumper wires on the board flat, so that the board does not look cluttered.
4. Route jumper wires around the chips and not over the chips. This makes changing
the chips when needed easier.
5. You could trim the legs of components like resistors, transistors and LEDs, so that
they fit in snugly and do not get pulled out by accident.

ECS G10IL: Stateside September for $399

ECS has been teasing the netbook market for months now with its G10IL -- meticulously surveying the competition and batting its eyelashes at US consumers. Fortunately, LAPTOP was able to sit down with Henry Kwan of ECS to help bring the flirtatious cycle to a satisfying end. Accordingly, we now know that the G10IL will ship in 8.9- and 10-inch models with the latter most likely shipping to US soils. It'll be available at an entry-level price of $399 in September running Linpus Lite 9.4 Linux off an 8GB SSD. It'll also be configurable with XP on an 80GB disk and EDGE/HSDPA/HSUPA data for much more. No sentimental delusions of educating the world's children here, the G10IL is meant for serious business use only. How refreshingly direct ECS.

Amex Digital gets a little too inspired with new portable Super Multi Drive

so we definitely appreciate a slim little external DVD burner that cooperates with more than one computer (natively), but no matter how hard we try to peer around the similarities, there's just no denying the likeness here. Amex Digital's Portable Super Multi Drive is, for all intents and purposes, a direct rip of Apple's MacBook Air SuperDrive. The unit gets all the power it needs from a spare USB port, arrives in black or white, burns dual-layer DVD media at 10x (single-layer at 20x) and sports a palatable $89 sticker. Can you imagine what this thing would cost with actual R&D overhead factored in?

Panasonic's Toughbook CF-U1 gets reviewed

While Panny's Toughbook CF-U1 looks mighty novel, is it really worth the cost to have it added to your gadget collection? For those who've never quite been able to wrap their noodle around the whole UMPC concept, TrustedReviews bets that you'll be able to overlook this one without losing any sleep. All in all, the CF-U1 seemed to make the best of an awkward situation by excelling at tasks that would likely take place in everyday field work, but the average joe / jane may want to see one in person before buying blind. Yeah, hot-swappable batteries, an Atom CPU and a full QWERTY keypad are lovely additions, but if you've never needed a UMPC before (let alone one built for extreme scenarios), you aren't apt to gain a whole lot from owning this one. Hit the read link for the full spill.

BlackBerry Thunder not ready, disappointing, and kills puppies

Just when we were finished telling you that the BlackBerry Thunder's haptic touch screen keyboard was the greatest thing evar, it turns out that things may be a bit of a mess over in RIM development land. According to one of Boy Genius' sources, the BlackBerry Thunder is lagging far behind on development time and is "in no way shape of form market-ready." And that awesome keyboard? Not so awesome. Reports are that it's annoying to type on and the screen ripples when the touchscreen is pressed. Meanwhile, UI response times are pretty bad, buttons don't click right, and RIM's new touch-and-drag method of selecting items isn't up to snuff. In short, says BGR's source, "Most of the people who have handled it thinks it's a joke." We haven't seen the thing ourselves lately, but if this report is true, it looks like you'll be waiting a while before you get your hands on a Thunder.

Samsung's $280 SC-MX20 camcorder is YouTube-friendly

We won't fault you for forgetting all about Samsung's SC-MX20 -- after all, it was crammed deep beneath a host of other Sammy camcorders when announced at CES earlier this year. Nevertheless, we've received a few more vital details about said shooter today, and aside from boasting a 680K pixel CCD sensor (720 x 480 resolution), this one also features a 34x optical zoom, Advanced Image Stabilization, face detection, an SD / SDHC card slot, a battery good for three hours, a 2.7-inch LCD monitor (on a swivel, no less) and ten automatic scene modes for extra good times. Additionally, the unit packs a special shooting mode that captures in a resolution and format perfect for YouTube, so those terrified of converting will surely be breathing a sigh of relief. Expect this one to land next month in red, white, black and blue for a very manageable $279.99.

Neuros-powered WhereverTV brings international channels to your TV

Not only is this thing powered by Neuros , it even resembles the Neuros OSD. Announced today at the SINO Consumer Electronics Show, the brashly named WhereverTV acts as a liaison between your internet-connected PC and TV, delivering "hundreds of live international television channels in more than 40 languages from almost 100 countries around the world." The 5- x 5- x 1-inch box must be simultaneously connected to your router and TV, and once the tele is flipped on, you'll be able to browse, manage and stream scads of international TV channels from wherever you are in the world. Granted, we still prefer the flexibility of the Zv Box (which allows you to tap into all facets of internet video, not just one segment), but for just $199.99 with no activation or recurring charges (available now at Amazon), this could be just the thing for foreign television junkies or folks currently living outside of their homeland.

Hong Kong's iPhone 3G gets an unboxing

On top of a piano, no less. China might be a bit late to the party by now, but they've sure got class. Taiwan retailer ePrice has unboxed 3's Hong Kong version of the iPhone for your viewing pleasure, and they even did a bit of Chinese handwriting recognition just for kicks. There's video as well (we embedded one after the break), so you really can't go wrong with this one, we promise.

Update: For the record, this is a Hong Kong version of the phone, running what is purportedly a Chinese Traditional (Taiwan's language of choice) UI, unboxed by a Taiwanese retailer. We update the post to reflect those facts, conspiracy theorists can return to their daily lives.

Hitachi introduces second-gen 1TB Deskstar 7K1000.B hard drive

Remember the day you drooled all over your keyboard when Hitachi introduced a 1TB internal hard drive? Yeah, like a year and a half ago? The outfit's most recent HDD announcement isn't likely to have nearly the same effect, but those who skipped the first-gen version in order to get a more refined product the second go 'round will surely be delighted. Today marks the debut of the 1TB Deskstar 7K1000.B, which goes down as "the world's most energy-efficient 7,200RPM one-terabyte hard drive." Said drive features a new three-disk design which improves idle power consumption up to 43% over its 1TB predecessor, but unfortunately, there's no telling how long you'll have to wait to actually buy this currently unpriced overlord of storage.

Lamborghini-branded ASUS ZX1 said to be canceled

It's been touted and shown off for a few months now, but it looks like ASUS may have finally given up on its luxurious Lamborghini-branded ZX1 smartphone, at least if Alex of MoDaCo is to be believed. According to him, ASUS has cancelled the planned summer launch of the device in order to ensure that "more important devices" scheduled for Q4 of this year are released on time. No word if that means we may still eventually see the pricey phone released sooner or later, but we wouldn't recommend holding your breath at the moment.

Acer's Aspire One on sale in America

Acer played it safe early last month by telling Americans to expect its Aspire One "later this year," but just a month and change after UKers had the privilege of toying with one on video, here she comes. So far, we're seeing a couple of variations for sale here in the US, two of which include the $399.99 A110-1295 (8GB SSD) and the $422.99 A150-1006 (120GB HDD). We're also hearing that select e-tailers are already slapping those shipping labels on there and moving 'em out to anxious consumers, so be sure and chime in when your confirmation arrives. Wait, what? You already own six netbooks? Ah well, what's another one amongst family?

Casio touts "Blanview" transmissive LCD for outdoor use.

Casio sure seems to be confident in its new transmissive LCD panel, so confident that it apparently thinks it can make it with a name like "Blanview." The big innovation here, Casio says, is that it's managed to develop a new system that pulls outside light into the LCD panel to make the transmissive LCD usable outdoors without backlighting, eliminating the need for so-called "semi-transmissive" LCD panels that are more commonly used today. What's more, it says this new method also increases the transmittance of the panel by about 30% and cut its power consumption for outdoor use by upwards of 50% compared to current panels. Unlike some other promised LCD technology, it also seems like this one is actually fast approaching commercializtion, with sample panels ranging in size from 2.7- to 6.5-inches set to begin shipping this month.

Drobo gets dev community and SDK beta: run UPnP, BitTorrent

Looks like Data Robotics just started up their Drobo Developer Community (DDC) and SDK program, kicking off on their eventual goal to let users develop their own apps and servers for their Drobo storage device. For the first "DroboApp" and proof-of-concept, they've already whipped up a working UPnP / DLNA server for streaming audio and video content directly from the Drobo to compliant devices (like the Xbox 360 and PS3, for example), and they hope the early beta offering will spur the community into developing drop-in servers for things like iTunes music and AFP, Rsync, FTP, web, BitTorrent, and anything else you can think up. (One Linux developer has already ported the Drobo Dashboard app to Linux using the SDK).

The DroboApps themselves are compiled for Linux, stored on the Drobo, added via drag and drop into a simple directory on the file system, and run on the Linux-based DroboShare hardware (meaning you won't be able to take advantage of DroboApps with a bare Drobo). Exciting stuff for the storage geeks in the house, especially those looking for some of the extensibility of Microsoft's Windows Home Server platform

Polaroid PoGo portable photo printer hands-on

Polaroid may not be dead just yet! A trusty reader was nice enough to give us some hands-on time with his new polaroid pogo zink-based printer. The diminutive device is clearly meant to give us that old-school insta-print social feeling with its 2 x 3-inch photos, but results were less than a barrel o' monkeys. Engadget reader David says that while the unit is "cute," there's nothing very instant about it as prints take at least 60 seconds -- not including connection in or Bluetooth pairing time. On the plus side, prints are sturdy and don't tear easily, but David couldn't resist burning one of them just to see how the thermal paper reacted. In the end, he says this is a decent gadget for those in the know, but you're not going to put this at the center of a party like you would an old-school Instamatic. Peep the gallery for David's hands-on goodness.

Nyko's Media Hub for PS3 inelegantly adds USB ports, multicard reader

Nyko's got a knack for delivering some of the ugliest, most preposterous third-party peripherals on the planet, yet -- for whatever reason -- we can't help but love 'em. The latest abomination from the outfit that begins to grow on you almost immediately is the Media Hub for PlayStation 3. For those that went cheap on the 40GB PS3 and missed out on a multicard reader and the full array of USB ports, this here adornment presumably connects to one of those USB sockets and adds three more while tossing in the card reader you've so dearly missed. Thankfully, Nyko's only charging $19.99 for this, so you should be okay even if your ship has yet to come in.

Sony pulls 2.40 firmware update after reports of bricked PS3s

Sony has pulled the 2.40 firmware update from both its in-console update and website after some users reported that the firmware has bricked their system. SCEA PR director Patrick Seybold told Joystiq that Sony is "looking into it right now and will work with those customers directly to address any issues they may be experiencing." Has it bricked your system?

ASUS Eee PC 900

If you're tired of waiting for ASUS to offer a touchscreen option for the Eee PC 900 (or you're the proud owner of an existing unit), jkkmobile is happy to show you their shortcut to touchy-feely nirvana. As we've seen on all those other fees, installing the touch panel into the 900 doesn't seem to be extraordinarily difficult for those with a few mods under their belt and a reliable Chinese parts supplier. For those who'd prefer to simply watch from the sidelines, you can peek the video after the break and lots more photos in the read link.

Leadership crisis facing Samsung.

When Samsung Electronics named Yoon-Woo Lee as vice chairman and CEO a few months back, we were hoping that all that rioting and poster burning would subside. Although we haven't heard of any more breakouts of late, things are apparently still rocky on the inside. Lee Soo-Bin, chairman of Samsung Life Insurance and current representative for the Samsung Group, admitted that "without a captain or rudder, Samsung now faces a complex crisis, with each unit meeting cut-throat competition independently." He continued to say that the group "was able to ride out a previous crisis together thanks to former chairman Lee Kun-Hee's strong leadership and the guidance of the Strategic Planning Office, [but] now it could not do so." From the outside looking in, it's a bit tough to really understand what he's getting at, but whatever the case, those are most definitely not the words you want coming from the mouth a head exec.

ASUS confirms intent to drain Eee brand with Eee Monitor

this isn't the Eee-branded HDTV. That's another Eee monitor. Seriously ASUS, you deserve some kind of award, nay, banquet to celebrate this crowning achievement. You've single-handedly managed to drive a lust-worthy name six feet below the surface, and now the mere mention of "Eee" just puts us in a foul mood. Nevertheless, we'll attempt to crack something of smile while taking a look at the Eee Monitor, which -- unless that assortment of ports 'round back is completely for show -- isn't just a monitor at all. Rather, this looks to be some sort of all-in-one PC, or a totally fruity docking station at the very least. As with every other ASUS product, there's no pricing or release information coming until who knows when, but you can burn the Eee logo even deeper into your brain by checking out the gallery in the read link below.

Sanwa's CD-RE1AT repairs beat up discs

We understand that not everyone practices safe spinning, so for those of you who've been burned by neglecting those Disc condoms , Sanwa's cranked out what amounts to your morning after pill. The CD-RE1AT actually looks like a Sony Discman circa 1986, but instead of playing back your favorite Gin Blossoms jams, it spends its time removing scratches and repairing discs. Seems a pretty simple solution if it actually works, but we're not going to be the first to drop our ¥7,350 ($70) in order to find out.

Electric bandages

Finally, a use for electrocution besides your own, twisted interests. A company in Arizona has created a bandaging system which uses electrically activated wound-dressings to heal injuries. Dubbed the CMB Antrimicrobial Wound Dressing with PROSIT (or CMBAWDWP as we like to call it), the bandage works by utilizing a single-layer polyester fabric which can carry a low-level electrical charge when wet. Over a short period of time, the charge can greatly reduce bacteria and infections in the treatment area. Also, it's fun at parties.

Tetra T-Pad - The Toughest Cell Phone Ever

Ever since Motorola was tossing the Tetra name around in 2005, the brand has catered to those operating in less-than-beautiful conditions. The T-Pad smartphone is no exception to the rule, boasting a shock-proof (MIL-STD-810F) casing, IP65 waterproof rating and a keypad that resists dust, debris and any other manner of matter. Specs wise, you'll find a 640 x 480 resolution display, Intel's Xscale 400MHz CPU, Windows CE.Net 4.2, Bluetooth, 64MB of SDRAM, USB connectivity and optional WiFi / GPS. Unfortunately, this little bugger is reportedly stickered at £1,300 ($2,592), so unless your employer is picking up the tab for you to have a mobile while wrestling polar bears at the North Pole, we'd probably recommend a cheaper alternative.

Dash Express gets big v2.1 June08 software update

That first traffic update was only the beginning -- Dash is announcing today its first proper software update to the Dash Express. Dubbed June08 (or v2.1), users now get three new trademarked names (among other things):

• FasterFind - uses SiRFInstantFix for acquiring GPS during startup, so your Dash Express is aware of its location much faster than before.
• MyRoute - your Dash Express learns your routes to common destinations and offers them up in comparison to its recommended routes (so you can see if your usual way really is faster).
• Search Along Route - pretty much what it says. Allows you to find points of interest en route without gumming up your destinations. This seems like the most useful new feature, behind the faster acquisition time.
• Road closure support - another self explanatory addition. If the Dash finds out a road is closed through Inrix or another means, it will completely black it out of your routes.
• Performance and UI enhancements - We gave it a short test, and things really did seem a bit snappier and cleaner looking. Icons are better polished, arranged, and rendered, and simple stuff like navigating menus or switching between 2D and 3D views is quicker.

Still no way to quickly bypass the route selection screen (which is one of our bigger pet peeves), but as it's populating you can now make your choice, which will save you a bit of extra time. It's available for download via your Dash's WiFi this morning, and is free for all users. Videos of MyRoute and Search Along Route after the break.

iriver's Lplayer

You've seen it toyed with, you've seen it unboxed and you've read the review. Now, the moment of truth has arrived. iriver's Lplayer is officially on sale here in the USA, with the 4GB models going for $109.99 and the 8GB editions demanding $159.99. You'll also have to choose between white, pink and black, but don't sweat the details, okay?

MSI Wind desktops to hit Europe and Asia in September

It looks like MSI's taking another page from ASUS's Eee playbook -- the Wind netbook is getting a desktop sibling. MSI was actually showing off the Atom-based minitower at Computex last month, and while final specs and pricing aren't official, it sounds like the machine will include Windows XP, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB drive, DVD drive, and WiFi for somewhere between $200 and $300 when it goes on sale sometime in September -- but you'll have to be in Europe or Asia to snag one, as MSI says they won't make it to the US. That's a shame, as the power-sipping machine is pretty intriguing: the 1.6GHz system at Computex was able to play back 720p video using just 30 watts of power -- compared to 242 watts for a normal PC. (MSI says the Wind desktop isn't quite capable of 1080p playback yet, but it hinted that future versions will get there.) Hopefully MSI will have a change of heart between now and September.

Gateway Helps Students Get Ready for School with New Notebook and Desktop PCs

Merely months after Gateway thrilled your soul with the introduction of all sorts of new desktops, the outfit has apparently received the upgrade bug. Starting right now, the 17-inch P-Series, 15.4-inch M-Series and 14.1-inch T-series laptops can be ordered with Intel's latest Core 2 Duo chips, more spacious hard drives and dual-layer DVD writers. For those eying a tower, the FX Series, DX Series and GT Series now provide (up to) a Core 2 Quad Q9300 CPU, 6GB of RAM, an overclocked NVIDIA GeForce 9800GT and price tags starting as low as $549.99. For more on these absolutely riveting upgrades, hit the read link and try not to fall out of your seat.

heads up -- the E71's half of the story with Nokia's new line of business sidekicks. For those of us who bust out T9 text with aplomb, the E66 might be the better option, especially when you factor in its narrower form factor, arguably (okay, very arguably) nicer look, and an utterly brilliant slide mechanism. Having trouble deciding? Perhaps our little look at the E66 over on Engadget Mobile can be of assistance.

MicroU2E-MV USB to Multi-Voltage ExpressCard Adapter with AirQueue and WWAN ExpressCard

MicroU2E-MV USB 2.0 to USB Mode ExpressCard 34|54 Multi-Voltage Host Adapter. Use with AirQueue to deploy 3.3 and 1.5V USB ExpressCards like the Option Globetrotter Max 3.6 Express with the MacBook Air.

Looking for technology that never gets old?

Consider the new Samsung Blu-ray BD-P1500 Blu-ray Disc player. Our next generation Blu-ray Disc player. Providing you full 1080p resolution the highest available - 6 times higher than a regular DVD. Consider that your average DVD is 720x480 = 345,600px compared to Blu-ray 1920x1080 = 2,073,600px. The difference is pretty compelling. Add TrueHD surround sound and your Full HD experience is complete.

With its built-in Ethernet connection, it's future ready. The BD-P1500 can be constantly updated with the latest firmware and features. Soon, BD-Live will enable you to take advantage of enhanced interactivity as it becomes available for your Blu-ray titles

Lenovo official with Idea Centre K210 desktop

We heard that Lenovo was shuffling its lineup a bit earlier this month, and sure enough, that IdeaCentre brand is getting its 15 minutes today courtesy of a fresh press release. Hailed as the outfit's "global entry into the consumer desktop market outside of China," the IdeaCentre K210 comes with a variety of hardware choices including Intel's Core 2 Quad processors, up to 3GB of DDR2 RAM, a GMA X3100 integrated graphics set (or a 512MB ATI Radeon 2600 XT), optional Blu-ray drive, gigabit Ethernet, a 16-in-1 multicard reader and an anti-microbial keyboard that comically stands out more than it was likely intended to. Nevertheless, the tower also includes VeriFace facial recognition technology that enables users to log in by simply gazing into the webcam; if it performs anywhere nearly as poorly as it did on our U110 review unit, however, we'd recommend switching the feature off and logging in as usual. Units are available now from a variety of e-tailers starting at $379 (after mail-in rebate).

Genius' SP-T1200 speaker system loves to be touched

So you could argue that most any speaker system would appreciate some TLC, but Genius' latest really adores it. The SP-T1200 2.0 Touch Speaker System comes with a black-onyx finish and enables owners to rely on a touch screen to control function, volume, bass or treble. When touched, the panel lights up to visually show that contact has been made, and while these promise 30-watts of skull-rattling sound, we wouldn't count on audiophile type results. Grab 'em now if you wish for $99.

American Airlines to test in-flight WiFi tomorrow

You heard right, folks. American Airlines is planning to open up the world wide web to passengers on board an unspecified round-trip flight from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Los Angeles. The Gogo service, provided via Aircell, will be free for patrons tomorrow, but will eventually run users $12.95 for flights greater than three hours and $9.95 for trips under said threshold. We're also told that more trials are expected to get going on flights between New York and San Francisco and New York and Miami, though no time frame is given for when the service would escape the beta stage and hit mass implementation. Additionally, the Gogo system is supposed to "prioritize the flow of data so that passengers downloading movies or large documents won't prevent other passengers from getting their email," so don't expect to use that excuse for not sending in those Q2 close reports.

Motorola gets official with GPS-packing MING A1600, A1800

Motorola hasn't exactly been doing the best job keeping these two handsets under wraps, but it now looks like it can now rest a bit easier and let the details fly, as it's finally gotten official with both the MING A1600 and MING A1800. As we've seen, the two handsets are nearly identical, with each packing a 2.4-inch QVGA touchscreen, a 3-megapixel camera, integrated Bluetooth, a microSD card slot, an FM radio and, of particular note, built-in GPS (but no WiFi, as previously rumored). The MING A1800, however, adds two SIM card slots, which will let you hop between GSM and CDMA networks with relative ease. Still no official word on pricing or availability, unfortunately, but we'd expect those details to be making themselves known soon enough.

Force3D, Asustek, GeCube roll out Radeon HD 4850, 4870 series cards

AMD has already gotten its official business with its new Radeon HD 4850 series out the way, and it now looks like the flood of various iterations is in full swing, with at least three manufacturers already pushing cards out the door. Among the first out of the gate is relative upstart Force3D, which has not only let loose a Radeon HD 4850 card, but a Radeon HD 4870 as well, the latter of which AMD still seems to be staying mum about. As HEXUS.net reports, however, this particular version will boast a core frequency of 750MHz, along with 512MB of GDDR5 memory and an effective clock speed of 3,600MHz. According to DigiTimes, Asustek also has a pair of similar Radeon HD 4870 cards set for release, along with a pair of HD 4850 cards packing 1GB and 512MB of DDR3 memory, while GeCube seems to be content to launch just a single 4850 with 512MB of DDR3 memory. Hit up the links below for the full rundown of specs, which unfortunately doens't include prices just yet.

Intel's 2.8GHz Core 2 Extreme Mobile X9000 gets tested

you need a desktop chip packed within a 3-inch thick, 15-pound beast of a "laptop" to get decent FPS while at a LAN party? Intel's speedy Core 2 Extreme Mobile X9000 checks in at 2.8GHz (prior to overclocking, of course), and promises to punish today's latest games while sipping less power and generating less heat than the aforementioned alternatives. The gurus over at HotHardware were able to sit down with said chip and put it to the test; overall, the Mobile X9000 "proved itself to be as fast as its desktop counterparts in many scenarios, all the while consuming less power as a complete system in the Dell XPS M730 notebook testbed." If you're the type that gets all hot and bothered by benchmarks and graphs, there's plenty of those in the read link below.