Archive for May 9th, 2009

We’re actually sort of surprised that we haven’t seen many more iPod dock / USB hub / card reader hybrids, but the Dexim MHub here is the only one we can recall seeing apart from the Griffin Simplifi. At a steep $70, it’s certainly not the cheapest way to add three USB ports and an SD card reader, but it certainly does look nice. Should be on sale now.

[Via Gear Diary]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Dexim MHub mixes up an iPod dock with a USB hub originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 May 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve been hearing vague murmurs of revised Sony Alpha DSLRs all week, but now we’ve got some actual proof: these shots of the new Alpha 230, 330, and 380 went up briefly on Sony’s Russian website earlier today. The biggest improvements seem to be smaller cases, a revised interface, and HDMI out, but there’s also a new “handbook” to help new users get started and a Bravia control mode that allows the camera to be controlled by your TVs remote while it’s displaying pictures. A nice enough upgrade, but unless these are somehow super cheap we’d say the omission of a video mode is going keep most people focused on the Nikon D5000 and Canon T1i. Bigger screenshot with the full feature list at the read link.

[Via Photo Rumors]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Sony Alpha 230, 330, and 380 DSLRs leak out a little early originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 May 2009 14:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve always suspected our Roomba was actually performing a complex dance loaded with hidden meaning and bewitching charm instead of just bouncing around, and now we’ve got proof — check out this long-exposure shot of a Roomba’s path over 30 minutes. You can see the initial spiral path in the center, but after that it’s a free-for-all that somehow manages to cover the entire room. Now if someone would just make a high-speed video set to the Benny Hill music, we’d be all set.

[Via DoobyBrain]

Filed under: Robots

Roomba’s journey shown to be endless, beautiful originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 May 2009 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here’s an interesting new mandate for all of Missouri School of Journalism’s incoming freshman: equip themselves with iPhones and iPod touches. Actually, let’s go ahead and clarify what “mandate” means here, as associate dean Brian Brooks has stated that no one will a be punished for not buying / owning one. While noting the audio recording and playback capabilities were motivation for this decision, he explains the reason it’s classified as a requirement is because it lets students include it in their financial need estimate — wholly beneficial when you’re figuring out scholarships and loans. It doens’t look like there’ll be any direct discounts from U of M, however, unlike some other schools with similar initiatives. It’s a clever loophole, to be sure, but we’d wager there’s more than a few undergraduates who are none too pleased at the Apple favoritism, and to be honest, we love nothing more right now than imagining a large group of S60 and Zune supporters gathering in a field for frisbee, picnic, and lots of protesting.

[Via Macworld]

Filed under: Cellphones

Missouri School of Journalism’s iPhone “requirement” a clever interpretation of financial aid rules originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 May 2009 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Robot bartenders are nothing new, but rarely does one shut down drunks as adorably as SOBEaR here. Built as a “robot friend for anyone who does not know their own limits, or has problems controlling themselves,” the cuddly little bot dispenses drinks based on the user’s blood-alcohol level — you breathe into his face, and he pours the right ratio of cranberry to fun vodka into your glass. Of course, that implies that there’s a pre-programmed max BAC in the code somewhere, so we’re guessing some hardcore party panda mods are soon to come. Video after the break.

Continue reading SOBEaR the robot panda bartender thinks you’ve had one too many

Filed under: Robots

SOBEaR the robot panda bartender thinks you’ve had one too many originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 May 2009 07:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Despite not being its official US carrier, T-Mobile still seems to wanna maintain an amicable relationship with all those who came over with an iPhone in tow. According to a report by The Consumerist, a recent update to the carrier’s voicemail system caused some of the smartphones, including Apple’s touchscreens, became unusable, with a volley of blank text messages dated from the future arriving instead. Those who contacted customer service were called later to acknowledge the issue and offered an one month service credit. Said the rep, “T-Mobile, though they do not offer the iPhone, and that they are committed to supporting users on their network who have them” — not too surprising a stance, but a kind gesture for sure. The problem has since been fixed, and everyone lived happily ever after.

[Via iLounge]

Filed under: Cellphones

T-Mobile provides support, good vibes to its iPhone-using clientele originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 May 2009 03:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple’s freshest Mac Pro, which was the first machine of any kind to ship with Intel’s newest Nehalem-based Xeon processors, has been on the block for a few months now. By our estimation, that’s plenty of time for the pros (and “prosumers,” if you will) to get a good feel of their new workstation. Design wise, not a lot has changed in the machine, but we’re anxious to know how you feel about the more subtle changes as well as the internal overhauling. Apple’s charging a small fortune for this bad boy, so we fully expect you to be critical here. What’s it missing? What should’ve been included? Are you still bitter that WiFi is a $50 option on a multi-thousand dollar machine? Sound off below!

Filed under: Desktops

How would you change Apple’s Nehalem-based Mac Pro? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 May 2009 00:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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	T-Mobile G1 revision revealed? If this looks vaguely familiar, that’s because it likely is — we suspect this image out of Boy Genius Report is a newer (or older) render of the “G1 v2″ called out on the recently-leaked Android roadmap out of T-Mobile.		Nokia XpressMusic 5900 leaks out? Sure, this could just be a really nice KIRF, but we’ve got a hunch these pics of an upcoming Nokia XpressMusic 5900 are the real deal — it’s just too understated to be shanzhai.
	Video: Tonium Pacemaker in action We’ve been playing with the Tonium Pacemaker pretty much non-stop since we got it, and while we’re not terrible DJs, we thought we’d bring in some big guns for a demo	Other news of import PVI’s color e-ink delayed until 2010, big-screen Sony Reader coming? Robot that can jump twenty-five feet in the air coming to the US military Switched On: Big Kindle on Campus
	HD 101: What is ATSC, PSIP, QAM, and 8-VSB? Once you buy an HDTV it doesn’t take long before you get confused by all the acronyms.		T-Mobile’s Magic / Sapphire / myTouch / G2 getting 5 megapixel cam? It’s pretty unusual for a manufacturer to take a global model and swap out a component as significant as a camera for one carrier.
Panasonic slashes price of 103-inch plasma Panasonic and Sumitomo see eye to eye in this OLED game, big screens due in 2010		Other Mob links Sony Ericsson president: PlayStation phone “could happen” Nokia’s Ovi Store said to be launching with 20,000 ‘items,’ unknown number of apps

The Daily Roundup: here’s what you might’ve missed originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 May 2009 22:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NASA’s grabbed Microsoft’s fancy Photosynth software once again to build virtual tours of the International Space Station and a full-scale model of NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory rover. The interface lets you dive through endless, 3D-oriented photographs of the station’s modules, both inside and out, and gives a really good impression of the size and complexity of the lab-on-wheels NASA is prepping for a 2011 mission to Mars. It’s not like being there, but it’s a good way to kill a lazy Saturday morning.

[Via PhysOrg]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Robots

NASA’s new virtual tours of the Space Station and new Mars Rover exactly approximate the sensation of not being in space originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 May 2009 21:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Harmon Kardon has decided to jump into the Blu-ray pushing business with its first player, the BDP 10. This slick number’s got all the features you’ve come to know and love in Blu-ray — BD-Live and Bonus View capabilities for online content, advanced audio codec support, 1080 / 24p playback, plus USB ports for DiVX and JPEG display. It’ll also boast HDMI 1.3a, Ethernet, coaxial and optical audio outputs plus good old two-channel analog audio outputs. The BDP 10 has only been formally announced for Europe so far, though it’s expected elsewhere (including the US) in the coming months. The player has a price tag of about €700 (around $940). Hit the read link for full spec sheet — but fair warning: it’s a PDF.

[Via Electronista]

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Harman Kardon intros its first Blu-ray player, the BDP 10 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 May 2009 20:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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