Archive for November 3rd, 2009

Whoa — we just got word that AT&T is suing Verizon for false advertising over Big Red’s “There’s a map for that” ads. We’re reading the complaint and motion to stop the ads, but here’s what AT&T says is the big problem:

In essence, we believe the ads mislead consumers into believing that AT&T doesn’t offer ANY wireless service in the vast majority of the country. We think they launched the campaign as a response to our leadership in smartphones.

AT&T also says its network reaches about the same number of people as Verizon’s, so it’s a little miffed that it’s begin portrayed as an also-ran here. We’ll update as we learn more, keep it locked!

Continue reading AT&T sues Verizon over ‘There’s a map for that’ ads

Filed under: Cellphones

AT&T sues Verizon over ‘There’s a map for that’ ads originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uh, Archos? You do remember telling us that your Archos 9 media tablet would ship on October 22nd for $499 back in late September, right? ‘Cause if our eyes are being truthful to us, that’s not at all what’s happening here. The outfit’s official web store has the 8.9-inch device listed (complete with Windows 7 Starter, WiFi, Bluetooth and a 1.3 megapixel camera) for $549.99, and worse still, it’s only up for “pre-order.” You know what happens after the second strike, right guys?

[Thanks, Trini]

Filed under: Handhelds

Archos 9 up for pre-order in America for $50 more than anticipated originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Laptops, Tablet PCs

OLPC shakeup: dual-screen XO-2 out, ARM-based XO 1.75 in originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We suppose dreams really do come true. Nearly a full year after we heard that VIA was toiling on a new processor line to really give Intel’s aging Atom a run for its money, the company has come clean and confessed that those whispers were indeed true. The Isaiah-based Nano 3000 Series is a range of six new CPUs clocked between 1GHz and 2GHz, all of which boast an 800MHz FSB, 64-bit support, SSE4 instructions, Windows 7 / Linux compatibility and power ratings that check in some 20 percent more efficient than existing VIA Nano processors. There’s also the promise of 1080p multimedia playback, and VIA swears that we’ll see these popping up in all-in-one desktops as well as thin-and-light laptops in the very near future. How soon, you ask? Samples are shipping now to OEMs, with mass production slated for Q1 2010.

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

VIA Nano 3000 CPU series finally launches to rival Intel’s Atom originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember the “platform sales boost” that Sony was tauting after the PSPgo’s release in the US? The question on everyone’s minds was of course how much of that boost was buoyed by the new kid on the block, and while Sony still hasn’t given us any domestic figures (nor will it ever, probably), we now know that the thing sold 28,000 units on its first day of availability on its home turf in Japan. That’s certainly better than the measly 1,000 units moved in Australia over the same period, but hardly encouraging when you look at its predecessors. According to Media Create the original PSP sold 171,963 units in a day in Japan. The PSP-2000? 130,000. UMD may be hated by everyone, but it seems to still have legs.

Filed under: Gaming, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Sony’s PSPgo sells 28,000 units on first day in Japan, physical media points and laughs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you weren’t up all night following Engadget (and why wouldn’t you be?), the first place you’ll want to visit this morning is our extensive hands-on of Sony Ericsson’s inaugural foray into Android territory. There you’ll find the full XPERIA X10 announcement details and spec sheet, which is highlighted by a 4-inch capacitive display and a deeply customized user interface. With plenty of time to go before that first quarter of 2010 release date, though, we thought we’d get the anticipation revved up a few notches with a selection of handsome images of the device below, and a pair of videos — one a spit-polished advertising promo, the other a useful demo of Speed Forge 3D — after the break.

Continue reading Sony Ericsson lets XPERIA X10 videos and press shots loose

Filed under: Cellphones

Sony Ericsson lets XPERIA X10 videos and press shots loose originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cartel’s CT-1000 brought about lots of laughs here at Engadget HQ, and frankly, we’re shocked and amazed (and glad) these guys are still hanging tough two years later. The newest in-car handset system is the predictably titled CT-2000, which includes a Bluetooth-enabled handset that’s meant to be permanently installed within your vehicle and wired to your audio system. Once installed, all of your mobile calls can be routed to this — because, you know, chatting on a corded phone circa 1992 is entirely more safe than chatting on your mobile or using a handsfree solution. The only difference we can spot between the new guy and the aged sibling is the addition of music control, a “slimmer” (albeit wider) design, room for your phone contacts and one-touch speed dialing. There’s no mention of a price, but trust us, you’re better off in the dark.

[Thanks, Martin]

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals

Cartel’s CT-2000 in-car Bluetooth handset adds music control, can’t shake the retro originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Can you live without physical media? Are you ready to buy into owning a license without any physical property to show for your purchase? We hope so ’cause that’s the future. Today Best Buy will announce confirmation of its rumored partnership with CinemaNow in a deal that will stream first-run DVDs directly to consumers. Better yet, according to an AP report, the software required to access CinemaNow’s video library “will be included on all the Web-connected devices sold in Best Buy’s more than 1,000 U.S. stores.” If taken literally then wow, just wow… that’s a lot of devices. However, since Best Buy sells Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch, and there’s no way that Apple’s going to let a retailer tamper with its devices, we think the AP‘s wording is a bit ambitious.

The idea here is simple: pay once for a DVD then eventually be able to play it on any device be it a television, Blu-ray player, PC, smartphone or some other connected device. The new Best Buy-branded service will launch “early next year” according to Chris Homeister (yes, that’s his real surname), as Best Buy gets “into this business in a big way.” Remember, Best Buy already announced a streaming Netflix deal and partnerships with TiVo and Napster that will be launching early next year as well. And we’ve already seen Sonic Solutions, CinemaNow’s owner since last year, bunging its 1080p-capable CinemaNow service into every connected-device imaginable — even 3D content for 3D Vision-ready displays. The whole concept sounds very much like Disney’s Keychest which already sounded very much like the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (or DECE) consortium. Hopefully Best Buy will clear up the details later today when this gets really official. The future is now — too bad US broadband is so yesterday.

Read — AP report
Read — New York Times

Best Buy partnering with CinemaNow to stream first-run DVDs to ‘all web-connected devices sold’ originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Only on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon could the TwitterPeek overshadow Verizon’s DROID. Fact of the matter is, it’s easier to grasp the idea of a dedicated tweeting device than a Verizon phone touting “open development” as one of its main features. TwitterPeek is available now for $200, a price that includes lifetime service, or $100 for a 6 month subscription. Check the Late Night buffoonery after the break.

** Qlorigan is a trademark of Fallon Corp.

Continue reading Josh reveals TwitterPeek on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Qlorigan** (video)

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Josh reveals TwitterPeek on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Qlorigan** (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint has a time-honored tradition of screwing up its ads. Remember the Palm OS-powered (yes, Palm OS, not webOS) Motorola Q2? How about the Pre’s mythical tethering capability? Here’s a new one to add to the history books: the “WiFi capable” Pixi, yours for just $99.99 after mail-in rebate. Count us in.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Cellphones

Sprint touts Palm Pixi’s nonexistent WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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