Archive for December 29th, 2009

Netbook sales have been on a solid upward tick for about as long as the product category has existed, so it shouldn’t come as much surprise that research firm DisplaySearch is now forecasting that shipments will exceed a hefty 33.3 million units by year’s end, which translates to a full 103% jump in growth over the previous year. What is somewhat surprising, however, is that the firm is also predicting that growth will slow considerably in 2010 (down to “just” 20%) as more and more laptops with ultra-low voltage processors dip under the $500 mark. Of course, 20% growth still means that netbook shipments should be in the neighborhood of 40 million for 2010, and DisplaySearch even estimates that growth will hold steady at about 20% for 2011, so we wouldn’t be so quick to put them on deathwatch just yet.

DisplaySearch says netbook sales will slow as ULV laptops get cheaper originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pocket Radar promises to be world’s smallest speed radar originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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At first glance, this looks a tiny bit like a flip phone of yesteryear, sure. Closer inspection, however, will prove it to be… a tiny dictionary! Korean company Unichal’s recently shown off its newest pocket dictionary, the DIXAU DX3. This tiny source of knowledge boasts a built-in camera which can scan unknown words and deliver definitions on the front facing stylus-enabled touchscreen. The unit boasts a microSD card for multimedia storage, and is also equipped with the ability to speak back words to you — in case you really can’t be bothered to read them for yourself. It’s available now in Korea, and though we doubt it’ll ever make its way to the US of A, we’ll keep watch for you. There’s one more shot after the break.

Continue reading Unichal unveils portable, pocketable DIXAU DX3 dictionary

Unichal unveils portable, pocketable DIXAU DX3 dictionary originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/gadgets/Google_to_hold_Android_event_January_5th_Nexus_One_likely’; Well well. Look at this. Taking a page from the CES-challenging Apple / Macworld playbook, Google has announced a press event on January 5th (just like we told you) in Mountain View, stating:

With the launch of the first Android-powered device just over a year ago, we’ve seen how a powerful, open platform can spur mobile product innovation. And this is just the beginning of what’s possible.

Please join us in Mountain View on January 5, for an Android press gathering.

If this lines up with the news we’ve seen recently, it’s likely a Nexus One announcement will be the order of the day, and most (if not all) of your nagging questions will get answered. You know we’ll be there live… so hang on to your hats, and mark down the date!

Google announces Android press conference for January 5th originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The last time we saw Concord Keystone around these parts our minds were collectively blown by something called the QuantumGravity watch. It looks like its newest product, however, is a little more… conventional. The Easy Shot Clip is a plain-looking, 2-inch long camcorder with 2GB of storage (for up to 2 hours of 640 x 480, 30 fps video), mounts for a neck strap, stand, shirt clip, bicycle mount, and a helmet, and one solitary button. But the best thing? Even if it does retail for $70, we’re sure it’ll be hitting bargain bins and dollar stores in short order. Look out for it at CES next week, or everywhere else in February.

Easy Shot Clip camcorder is pretty small, pretty cheap, but not very pretty originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/gadgets/iPhone_reception_issues_plague_O2_too’; It would appear that AT&T isn’t the only carrier in the world suffering from a horrible and nagging case of the iPhones. In an interview with the Financial Times, O2 head Ronan Dunne apologized to customers for the poor performance the network has been experiencing since the introduction of the iPhone to its airwaves this summer. Just as US customers (particularly those in dense, urban areas) have learned to struggle through dropped calls, the inability to make or receive calls, or weak data connections, our brethren on the other side of the pond have felt a similar sting. Says Dunne, “Where we haven’t met our own high standards then there’s no question, we apologise to customers for that fact,” adding that the carrier had fixes at the ready and that the issues would be “more than addressed” shortly. Unlike the widespread problems here, the O2 mess seems to be relegated largely to London, though it’s curious to know that AT&T isn’t alone in being hamstrung by a network clearly not prepared for the onslaught of data being pushed up and down its virtual pipes. Also unlike the AT&T situation is the fact that O2 has solutions in mind (including the installation of 200 additional mobile base stations in London), and they’re clearly taking ownership of the situation. Ahem, Ralph.

iPhone reception issues plague O2… too originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 09:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Egad. We had such high hopes for the Camangi WebStation, but as with a few other non-phone devices that have attempted to use Android, it seems as if this 7-inch slate falls a bit short in practice. The gang over at Laptop was able to corral a unit for a brief sit-down, and while they admired the exceptionally light and portable hardware, they kvetched about the lowly 800 x 480 screen resolution, sluggish performance when opening applications and the limited / confined feel of the Camangi Marketplace. They also barked about the resistive screen’s inability to accurately recognize finger presses, and while they’re still holding out some hope that this thing could be useful in at least a few scenarios, it’s fairly clear this piece isn’t for everyone. Peek the source link for the full skinny.

Camangi WebStation gets a few first impressions: ‘sluggish’ and ‘confined’ originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Look, let’s not beat around the bushes — Verizon Wireless will one day stock Palm’s Pre. It’s a rather well documented fact, and at this point the only real question is “when?” Judging by a mysterious Wi-Fi Certificate that just popped up, we’re beginning to think that the waiting period is nearly up, and with CES 2010 happening in a week, there’s hardly a better time for us to really start believing. If you’ll recall, Sprint’s Pre snagged a Wi-Fi Certificate number of P100EWW, and just this summer we spotted a few leaked Palm devices within VZW documents with “P101″ and “P121″ monikers; lo and behold, the certificate for this elusive dual-mode (WiFi and cellular) smartphone boasts a P101EWW label. We aren’t trying to read too deeply between the lines or anything, but if this isn’t a Pre destined for Big Red, we’re eager to know what kind of new mobile Palm has lined up for its presser at CES.

[Thanks, Rehman]

Continue reading Mysterious Palm smartphone pops up in WiFi certification database: is this Verizon’s Pre?

Mysterious Palm smartphone pops up in WiFi certification database: is this Verizon’s Pre? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So you’re cruising along, in your GPS-equipped SUV, taking your dear wife back home to Reno. The trusty onscreen guide instructs you to “turn right” and you follow its typically reliable instructions. At what point in the next three days of plowing deeper and deeper into snow-covered Oregon do you start suspecting that maybe something is amiss? Alright, so this isn’t quite on par with others driving buses into low-clearance tunnels, dipping their cars into rivers, or jamming heavy load trucks into unsuitably tight farm lanes. But we don’t discriminate here, all instances of idiotic GPS dependency deserve their moment in the sun, so here’s to Mr. John Rhoads and his tastefully named wife, Mrs. Starry Bush-Rhoads, who are now safe and sound after their phone pinged out its coordinates to emergency services when it began losing signal.

GPS leads couple into Oregon wilderness, lack of common sense keeps them there 3 days originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PosiMotion announces Helix gaming grip for iPhone / iPod touch originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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