Archive for May 15th, 2009

Due to the intrinsic limitations of machine translation, it’s hard to say exactly what makes Fujitsu‘s latest supercomputer the “world’s fastest,” but we’ll hesitantly believe for the time being. We’re told that the SPARC64 VIIIfx (codename Venus) can churn through 128 billion calculations per second, which supposedly bests the current champ — a chip from Intel — by 2.5 times. An AP report on the matter states that Fujitsu shrunk the size of each central circuit, which in turn doubled the number of circuits per chip. ‘Course, this beast won’t be ready for supercomputer work for several years yet, giving the chip maker’s biggest rivals plenty of time to sabotage its moment in the limelight.

[Via Physorg]

Filed under: Desktops

Fujitsu’s supercomputer-ready Venus CPU said to be “world’s fastest” originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 May 2009 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Meizu M8 may have only just recently ceased to be a figment of our collective imagination, but the always talkative J. Wong (Meizu’s CEO, if he needs any introduction) is already dropping some hints about the next version of the phone, which may or may not actually be the M9. While there’s no word on any changes to the design of the device just yet, it will apparently get a much-needed 3G upgrade (as earlier rumored), along with built-in GPS, a new and improved 5-megapixel camera with an LED flash and, no doubt, entirely new levels of KIRF. Still itching for more vague details?Just wait a bit, Meizu has this down to an art at this point.

[Via thegadgetsite]

Filed under: Cellphones

Meizu talks M8 followup: 3G, GPS, 5-megapixel camera originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 May 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

As if the Canon EOS-1D Mark III autofocus issues weren’t enough, the company has issued yet another service notice for it and its sibling, the EOS-1Ds Mark III. It looks like the cameras’ mirror box has the potential to leak lubricant — causing the excess oil to end up on the surface of the low pass filter, whereupon your award-winning pictures exhibit large, ring-shaped spots. So there you have it — it wasn’t your lousy photographic skills after all! The company has offered to repair the affected models for free, so make sure you notify customer support to get the ball rolling. Hit that read link for all the details.

[Via Adorama]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Canon’s EOS-1D / EOS-1Ds Mark III leaking oil all over your precious images originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 May 2009 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Josh Topolsky and Paul Miller walk into a bar, but the bar is a recording studio.

The bartender, who is the recording engineer, asks, “Why the long faces?”

“Sigh,” Paul says, and looks down at his feet. “Nothing but a buncha crummy phone rumors and probably fake slim PS3 pictures this week.”

“It’s hard to podcast when there’s no exciting news to podcast about,” says Josh, staring off into the distance.

The door slams open: it’s Nilay Patel. “I know what’ll cheer you guys up!” he says as he slams three stiff drinks down on the table. “Trashing AT&T about the Slingplayer app!”

Smiles creep over Josh and Paul’s faces. They nod, the engineer hits the record button, and history is made: The Engadget Podcast, volume 146.

Update: We added a video feed of your charming hosts from the recording studio after the break. It’s definitely an experiment at this stage, so let us know what you think!

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Song: Around the World

00:01:42 – Wild and slim PS3 redesign caught on camera?
00:17:20 – AT&T issues official statement on SlingPlayer’s 3G blackout for iPhone
00:28:49 - Microsoft’s latest ad: iTunes and the iPod are crazy expensive
00:37:26 – Microsoft “Pink” specs leak out: Tegra, Snapdragon, OMAP 3, oh my?
00:50:57 – Fuzzy math: Palm Pre to run about $470 full retail?
01:01:29 – Hold the phone: T-Mobile G1 v2 to really be the Samsung Bigfoot?
01:06:13 – Motorola’s first Android phone to be the T-Mobile G1 v2?

Subscribe to the podcast

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC).
[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.
[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator.
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace

Download the podcast

LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
LISTEN (OGG)

Contact the podcast

1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com.

Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @reckless @engadget

Continue reading Engadget Podcast 146 – 05.15.2009

Filed under: Podcasts

Engadget Podcast 146 – 05.15.2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 May 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Alright, so you know Guitar Hero 5 is on the way — that’s all fine, well and good. But, did you realize that the birth of that game will also enable you to destroy your den by making room for four drum kits? Yes, we’re serious. GH 5 promises any kind of musician mix ‘n match you can dream up, enabling gamers to play with three singers and a drummer, four bassists (imagine someone cloning Sting and replacing the other Police with artificial Stings) or four skin slammin’ drummers. With possibilities this endless, you know things are bound to get savage.

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Guitar Hero 5 makes room for four drummers, axe slingers or screamers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 May 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

The original Fit-PC slim may have been able to proclaim itself the “world’s smallest,” but with an 500MHz AMD Geode processor and no more than 512MB of RAM, it had a bit of difficulty with the “PC” side of the equation. Fit-PC looks to have gone some way towards improving that with its new Fit-PC 2, however, which matches the current nettop ranks by adding your choice of an Atom Z530 or Z510 processor. Otherwise, you can expect the usual 1GB of RAM, your choice of 2.5-inch SATA hard drive, built-in WiFi, a generous six USB ports, HDMI out, XP or Ubuntu for an OS, and support for full 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. From the looks of it, this one is just starting to roll out now, and will set you back between $245 and $400 depending on the configuration. Still looking for more? Then head on past the break for a quick hands-on video.

Continue reading Fit-PC 2 nettop stays slim, gets an Atom upgrade

Filed under: Desktops

Fit-PC 2 nettop stays slim, gets an Atom upgrade originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 May 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

This next item is for all of you DSLR fiends who are champing at the bit in nervous anticipation of the revamped Sony Alpha 230, 330, and 380 DSLRs that were subject to some leakage a week or so ago. It looks like the cameras in question will be the raison d’être of a press event that the company has scheduled for the 19th of May, so you may just be getting your hands on the video-less wonders in short order — y’know, if that’s what you’re into. With prices starting at €549.99 (around $738) and going up from there, these bad boys feature a revised UI, HDMI out, and Memory Stick Duo support. And if you think that’s exciting, wait’ll you get a load of the spec breakdown! Peep it after the break.

[Via Photo Rumors]

Continue reading Sony Alpha 230, 330, and 380 DSLRs out on May 19?

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Sony Alpha 230, 330, and 380 DSLRs out on May 19? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 May 2009 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Between Android and the myriad of LiMo builds out there, we’re not sure the world needs another open-source phone operating system, but Nokia and Intel seem to think differently: the two behemoths have joined up to develop oFono, a Linux-based mobile OS for GSM handsets. We don’t know many details, but he project seems to be pulling people from both Intel’s Moblin initiative and Nokia’s Maemo project, and job postings from a “major handset company” searching for a GUI designer in either Dallas or San Jose have appeared, so it sounds like something big is in the works. We’ll see.

Read – oFono web site
Read – PhoneDog post about the job listing

Filed under: Cellphones

Nokia and Intel collaborating on new Linux-based phone OS called oFono originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 May 2009 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cube already caught us off guard last month with a 1080i-capable PMP, and this month it’s outdoing itself once more. The H200D has yet to be fully detailed, but we do know that it’ll rock an expansive touchscreen, an HDMI output, RMVB support and arrive in red, blue or grey. Too bad it’ll take a flight to China to ever find one, but here’s hoping someone over on US soil takes a hint.

[Via iTechNews]

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Cube H200D PMP adds an HDMI output, a few color options originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 May 2009 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Just try to wrap your minds around this, Harmony / PS3 owners: this weekend is the last weekend that your otherwise awesome universal remote won’t be able to power on your otherwise awesome Blu-ray / media player. Wild, we know. Logitech’s heralded Harmony Adapter for PlayStation 3 — which converts the IR blasts coming from your Harmony-branded remote to Bluetooth signals that the console understands — is now shipping. You can pretty much take your pick of e-tailers, but the read link leads to a sweet 10 percent off promotion that’ll save you a few bones compared to buying from Amazon. Whatever the case, the MSRP is $59.99, so feel free to track down the best deal in all your free time.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals

Logitech Harmony Adapter for PlayStation 3 now shipping originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 May 2009 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments