Archive for April 13th, 2009

We’ve heard whispers of Netflix heading to other, non-Xbox 360 game consoles before, and now adding to the susurrus is a job listing from the company for Engineering Lead – Gaming Platforms. The description calls for someone familiar with the technical hurdles of current-gen consoles for building a small team to “rapidly prototype and iterate on a variety of platforms.” Whether or not this means we’ll be seeing PlayStation 3 or Wii services in the near (or even distant) future is anyone’s guess, but with Microsoft’s version so far a streaming success, we wouldn’t be surprised if the company took a few steps to increase the probability that 3 billionth delivered flick is digital.

[Via Joystiq]

Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment

Netflix on the lookout for gaming platforms engineering guru originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sick of Pre rumors? We certainly hope not, because some magical font of believable Pre data seems to have started gushing fresh information recently with no signs of slowing down. Latest to the table is a sticker price for the Touchstone dock, an inductive charger that’ll work with a special magnetized non-stick battery cover for the Pre to juice your baby’s batteries without a plug — and it looks like you’re going to have to pony up some serious cash for the pleasure. Screens on some computer somewhere deep inside Sprint are apparently pegging the Touchstone at a stiff $69.99, which is an awful lot to pay to simply charge your phone in style; cool, sure, but $70 worth of cool?

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Touchstone dock for Palm Pre to run $69.99? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oop, it looks like Japanese retailer Softmap pulled the trigger on its Nikon D5000 page a little early — it went briefly live earlier today, confirming that the rumored DSLR with articulating 2.7-inch display is indeed real, and most likely set to be announced at tomorrow’s Austrian press event. Apart from the movable screen, it looks like the D5000 will be a pretty hot blend of the D60 and D90, complete with D-movie mode, 11-point AF system, and ISO 3200 sensitivity, all for a body-only price of ¥76,320 ($762). Whether or not that pricing will make it to the US and tempt would-be Canon T1i buyers right out of their shoes remains to be seen — we’ll let you know as soon as we find out.

[Via Electronista]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Nikon D5000 with articulating display leaks out on Japanese retailer’s site originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s been a little while since AOpen last popped up on our radar, but the company certainly hasn’t stopped cranking out tiny media PCs in the interim, and it looks like it might have a winner on its hands with its new XC Encore OE700 model. While the core specs of your choice of Core 2 Duo processor and up to 4GB RAM aren’t exactly anything remarkable, the system does employ a number of measures to ensure it stays as quiet as possible, including a Smart Anti-Vibration System that dampens hard drive noise, and a new case design dubbed SNSS (or Smart Noise Suppression System) that promises to keep all the other noises in check. You’ll even get a home theater-friendly VFD display and, of course, a Media Center compatible remote control — assuming you live in Japan, that is, as there’s still no indication of a release ’round these parts.

[Via Electronista]

Filed under: Desktops, Media PCs

AOpen rolls out XC Encore OE700 media PC originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not that JVC‘s been avoiding the 3D bandwagon or anything, but it has yet to formally introduce a 3D HDTV to really take advantage of the in-home 3D revolution that 3D backers just swear is right around the bend. The GD-463D10 is a 46-inch LCD HDTV with a native 1,920 x 1080 resolution, 2,000:1 contrast ratio, twin ten-watt speakers and support for three-dee material. We’re also told that the set will come bundled with a pair of polarized glasses when it ships in Japan early next month. The only problem? That ¥700,000 ($6,978) price tag, which seems particularly painful with no real 3D programming to speak of. Yet, of course.

[Via Impress]

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

JVC intros 1080p GD-463D10 3D LCD monitor in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve been made privy to some Sprint planning documentation that implies that the carrier is looking to get all its Pre ducks in a row by May 16, which would suggest that there’s no way in hell it’s launching any earlier than that. Ultimately, that could mean we’re looking at a launch on the 17th — a Sunday, as Sprint launches often are — or any time after that, but since Palm continues to reaffirm its first half commitment, we’d say that we’re now down to a window between 5/17 and 6/30. Awesome.

Filed under: Cellphones

Palm Pre launching no earlier than May 16 according to leaked doc? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We can’t vouch for the authenticity of these shots, but the fact that there’s fully five of them posted certainly lends some element of legitimacy. What’s more, the first half ’09 window is still very much confirmed by Palm, so let’s be honest: there pretty much have to be Pres floating around in some circles at this point. We didn’t necessarily anticipate “some circles” to mean “two peeps chilling at San Francisco’s Bring Your Own Wheel race,” but hey, whatever works. Catch another glorious shot in the wild after the break.

[Via Boy Genius Report]

Continue reading Palm Pre spotted just minding its own business in San Fran?

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Palm Pre spotted just minding its own business in San Fran? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/gadgets/Engadget_s_Dell_Adamo_review_No_MacBook_Air_killer’; From the beginning, Dell’s Adamo line of laptops have been anything but status quo. Starting with the company’s viral “leaks” on phony fashion sites, straight on to the weird launch / non-launch at CES, and culminating with a burst of PR boasting the systems’ surprisingly low-powered internals and freakishly high price-point, it’s been nothing if not noteworthy. Now we’ve finally had a chance to see how Dell’s answer to the MacBook Air (and X301 for good measure) performs in the real world. The big question? Is this beauty worth the time and trouble… and that big outlay of green? Read on for an in-depth look at what the Adamo does — and doesn’t — deliver on.

Continue reading Dell Adamo review

Filed under: Laptops

Dell Adamo review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not even two weeks have passed since we first spotted HP’s 640GB MediaSmart Server LX195 in boxed form, care of Mr. Blurrycam, and now we’ve got what appears to be a couple of official press photos. Stylish aesthetics aside, it’s sporting four USBs, an ethernet port, and DC input for a power brick. What we’re not seeing is any way to swap out or add storage, so it looks like that “single drive server” speculation might be on the money. Speaking of which, the company still hasn’t made this official, and as such, there’s no word on pricing or availability.

[Via MediaSmartServer.net]

Filed under: Media PCs, Storage

HP MediaSmart Server LX195 lights up in leaked images originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve already seen a fair bit of evidence suggesting that humans can quickly form bonds with robots, and it looks like ITP‘s Kacie Kinzer has now thrown some additional, adorable fodder into the mix. Apparently, she’s spent the past few months sending a robot, or “Tweenbot,” aimlessly wandering through New York’s Washington Square Park in the hope that passers-by would take time from their busy day to help guide it from one corner of the park to the other — or at least point it in the right direction. As you may be pleased to know, it turns out that plenty of folks were more than happy to help out the little bot, and it was even able to complete its journey in as little as little as 42 minutes with the help of 29 people. Of course, no one sends a smiling cardboard robot out into the wild without capturing a bit of video, so head on past the break for it, and hit up the link below for glimpse at some future Tweenbots.

[Via MAKE]

Continue reading Tweenbots project finds people really do care about robots, for now

Filed under: Robots

Tweenbots project finds people really do care about robots, for now originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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