Archive for September 19th, 2009

A funny thing happens when a major new handset’s released on a big carrier: matching accessories come along for the ride. Cases, chargers, armbands, screen protectors, you name it — anything to get you to double your spend before you walk out of the door with your multi-hundred-dollar phone. Of course, those accessories frequently aren’t perfectly synced with the phone itself — they ship a few days beforehand or after the fact, so stuff like this is bound to happen. In this particular case, the upcoming Instinct HD is getting some silicone protection ahead of time courtesy of Best Buy, which should go well with those invisibleSHIELDs you picked up a few weeks back. Meanwhile, the phone itself is expected just a handful of days from now, so at least it’s not totally insane to start stocking up on accessories now.

[Thanks, Matt G.]

Filed under: Cellphones

Instinct HD gear starts turning up at Best Buy originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The last time Haier really wowed us was back in 2007 when the company was peddling its “screen-on-a-stick” laptop tech. Two years later we’ve got this little beauty to drool on: the Jian i7. The 13.4-inch Core 2 Duo ULV laptop is pretty dang thin, weighs 3 pounds, and retails for a mere 6,000 Yuan (about $879 US). Where do we sign up?

Filed under: Laptops

Haier steps out of character, builds ultra-desirable Jian i7 ultra-thin laptop originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Let it be known: we liked the Zune HD before it was popular, before all the poseurs jumped on the bandwagon with their tight-fitting jeans and their hairstyles. If various stores on the internet are to be believed, the Zune HD is selling out in a pretty big way. Amazon is listing a 1-2 month wait for the 16GB model and a 1-3 week wait for the 32GB, Best Buy has the player listed as “backordered,” and New Egg shows “sold out.” Microsoft’s own store doesn’t seem to be having these stocking problems, but we suppose that’s to be expected. How about you, are you being kept from the Zune HD your heart desires? How does this make you feel?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Zune HD a major sellout? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While NVIDIA’s Ion has been getting all of the attention of late, VIA’s been doing this 1080p thing for quite some time. We actually heard earlier this year that the company’s EPIA-P710 Pico-ITXe board was capable of playing back glorious 1080p video clips, but now we’ve got video proof that the unit’s successor truly can. According to VIA, this mobo is the first from it to come with the VX855 Media System Processor onboard, which is obviously the secret sauce involved in delivering the high-res graphics. Head on past the break for a peek at the demo, and good luck resisting the urge to build a new SFF HTPC over the weekend.

Continue reading Video: VIA EPIA-P720 Pico-ITX motherboard plays 1080p, doesn’t sweat much

Filed under: Desktops, Peripherals

Video: VIA EPIA-P720 Pico-ITX motherboard plays 1080p, doesn’t sweat much originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 12:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looking for a PMP that outputs full 1080p video? Then you’ve no doubt noticed that your options are pretty limited, even from PMPs (and phones, for that matter) bold enough to call themselves “HD.” It looks like China’s Telcast could be about to swoop in and beat some of the bigger players to the punch, however, at least if its new T56 PMP actually delivers as promised. While it’s 5-inch screen doesn’t make it as portable as some may like, it does indeed supposedly boast full 1080p output from its HDMI port, or a standard 800 x 600 resolution on the screen itself. No word on storage just yet, unfortunately, but the rest of the specs seem to be fairly high-end across the board, including built-in GPS, an FM tuner, a memory card slot, and an “all-metal stamping process” — which appears to be an actual unibody-type enclosure. Of course, there’s no word on a price or release date either, so we could end up waiting a good long while for this one.

[Via thegadgetsite]

Filed under: Portable Audio

Telcast T56 PMP promises full 1080p output, unibody enclosure originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 10:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ll admit — compared to the ketchup-colored K-x, these two just seem lackluster. And, perhaps they are. But there’s still some merit to Pentax introducing a new pair of point-and-shoots, with both the M85 and E85 sporting 12 megapixel CCD sensors and relatively slim bodies. The former can also shoot 720p video and features a 3-inch touchscreen, shake reduction and face detection, while the lower end E85 gets saddled with a 2.7-inch LCD, a VGA movie mode and an awkward feeling of incompetence. Both should be available in Euroland next month for €179 ($263) and €129 ($186), respectively.

[Via Engadget German]

Continue reading Pentax debuts 12 megapixel duo: Optio M85 and E85 point-and-shoots

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Pentax debuts 12 megapixel duo: Optio M85 and E85 point-and-shoots originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By definition, the Qi Smartbook U1000 isn’t a smartbook. It’s more like a touchscreen MID, but we’ll let the semantics slide (just this once). Based on a 624MHz CPU, Windows Mobile 6.1 and a 5-inch touch panel (800 x 480), this Chinese device is also equipped with WiFi and a mysterious camera ’round back. Sadly, that’s about all we know, but those who find themselves in Shenzhen should definitely check it out. Just be wary of those KIRFs — we hear they’re kind of prevalent over there.

[Via GadgetMix]

Filed under: Handhelds

Qi Smartbook U1000 rolls with WinMo, few buttons originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 05:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It looks like Popcorn Hour’s C-200 media streamer is making its way into end-users’ hands, so prepare yourself for a flurry of reviews. Our friend Brent over at GeekTonic should be jumping into the fray soon, and has kicked things off with a preview. Yeah, the C-200 is bigger than its sibling A-100, but it brings so much to the table that we’d say Popcorn Hour has packed in just as much — if not more — goodness per cubic inch. With space available for a hard and/or Blu-ray drive, wired and wireless networking, and USB ports to round out the input connectivity, the C-200 then adds a smorgasbord of codec support just to make sure your bits will survive the translation back into entertainment. With the “it plays anything” kind of capability the C-200 is promising, we’ve got a feeling that a positive review or two might be the only thing standing between us and a $300 dent in our credit cards.

[Via ZatzNotFunny]

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

The Popcorn Hour C-200 media streamer makes its way into the wild originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 02:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Olympus’ E-P1 may be cuter, but it was Panny’s own Lumix DMC-GH1 carrying the Micro Four Thirds banner for quite some time. After an excruciatingly painful wait for it to slide from concept to production, it was largely met with praise from the industry. Of course, smaller rivals have since emerged, leaving early adopters with an expensive piece of larger-than-necessary kit. Still, we’re anxious to hear if you MFT believers that jumped at the chance to own a GH1 are still satisfied with your decision. Is the image quality where it should be? Are the controls implemented well? Do you have to keep stealing it back from your lady friend? Rip it or praise it, but whatever you do, do it in comments below.

Filed under: Digital Cameras

How would you change Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-GH1? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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	Google says Phil Schiller himself rejected Google Voice from the App Store It was always curious that Google’s response to the FCC inquiry about Google Voice and the App Store had been redacted, but now we’re starting to see why.		HTC Leo Windows Mobile 6.5 slate is capacitive? We’ve got backside action now too, sporting a big “HTCPRO.Three” stamp we presume heralds Pro3 branding whenever this 1GHz Snapdragon handset launches.
	FCC to propose new net neutrality rules disallowing data discrimination Based on what we’re hearing, a slate of soon-to-be-proposed FCC rules may stop the likes of Comcast from discriminating against P2P applications on their networks.	Other news of import HP and Dell working on 3D gaming laptops? Razer Naga MMO mouse (and Megasoma mat) unboxing and hands-on Dell Latitude Z series to include wireless charging?
	RealD figures designer glasses might help the acceptance of 3D The solution to consumers gripes over ill fitting and odd looking 3D eyewear?		INQ Mini 3G review With deep integration of Facebook, Twitter and Skype, it’s designed to be a do-it-all social networking device.
Yamaha combines receivers with subwoofers and soundbars for trio of HTIB offerings HDTV Listings for September 18, 2009		Palm’s App Catalog getting paid apps on September 24? LG New Chocolate BL20 makes dramatic video debut Windows Mobile 6.5 joins the ranks of iPhone and Android with its own app kill switch

The daily roundup: here’s what you might’ve missed originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 23:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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