4/12 Engadget

Please add updates@feedmyinbox.com to your address book to make sure you receive these messages in the future. Engadget Elan Microelectronics demonstrates its eFinger multitouch tech running on Android April 12, 2009 at 11:25 am Would you look at this. Those folks at Elan Microelectronics might seem a bit slow on the lawsuit front, but they certainly look to have the tech to back up their claims of Apple multitouch patent infringement. They're showing off what they call "eFinger Transparent Touchpad" technology, running on top of Android, and it's looking pretty slick -- we could really get used to this sort of smooth interactivity in Android, lawsuit or no. Check out the video after the break. [Thanks, Phelipe H] Continue reading Elan Microelectronics demonstrates its eFinger multitouch tech running on Android Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds Elan Microelectronics demonstrates its eFinger multitouch tech running on Android originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Apr 2009 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments CUBE B52HD PMP handles codecs galore, HD out for silly cheap April 12, 2009 at 9:34 am It's not like we're ever going to bump into this in our local electronics store, but boy is this CUBE B52HD portable media player tempting. The thing has a 5-inch 480 x 272 LCD, all the codecs we could ask for (including fan faves like FLAC, OGG, along with plenty of video options), 1280 x 720 video out, 8GB of built-in storage and an expansion slot of some sort. We're not sure about input methods, but hopefully the interface involves Brendan Fraser to some extent. The best news? All this can be theoretically yours for a mere 499 yuan, about $73 US. [Via PMP Today] Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video CUBE B52HD PMP handles codecs galore, HD out for silly cheap originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Apr 2009 08:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Steam powered USB charger keeps your iPod alive with Victorian sensibility April 12, 2009 at 6:41 am We love this steam powered USB charging device. It's well built, useful, loud, and totally anachronistic -- the same could be said of many of our editors here. According to the inventor, the thing is based on a Jensen #75 steam engine, which is used to drive a Lego Technic motor. The motor, in turn, feeds into a voltage regulator circuit, providing a continuous 5V charge to which ever USB device you might connect to it. This prompts us to ask a few obvious questions, including: "when is someone going to build us an appropriate steampunk PMP to go with the thing?" And, of course, "aren't Legos awesome?" Video after the break. Continue reading Steam powered USB charger keeps your iPod alive with Victorian sensibility Filed under: Misc. Gadgets Steam powered USB charger keeps your iPod alive with Victorian sensibility originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Apr 2009 05:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Dream Cheeky's USS Enterprise webcam exudes charm and class April 12, 2009 at 3:11 am Now that it's legal for George Takei to get married in Iowa, what better way to celebrate than by letting your "Trek flag" fly in your home or office? The USS Enterprise-themed USB webcam features an adjustable focus, and the red engine lights (or whatever they are) actually, you know, light up. For maximum realism, we guess. And the cable is adorned with the Star Fleet Insignia although, sadly, it will not function as a communicator. It is just a TV series, you know. No word on release date or price, but we're keeping our eyes peeled. Filed under: Digital Cameras Dream Cheeky's USS Enterprise webcam exudes charm and class originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Apr 2009 02:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Solar boat crew heading out on a fantastic voyage around the world April 11, 2009 at 11:50 pm A group of engineers, scientists and sailors have banded together to form a team they call Solar Planet. The group are now building a 8-foot-long solar-powered boat, for the express purpose of sailing all the way around the world using nothing but the delicious power of the sun. The $13 million dollar vessel -- which is currently in construction in Kiel, Germany -- will have 5,059 square feet of photovoltaic cells, and should be able to circumnavigate the earth in about 120 days, at a rate of about 10 knots. The project is being funded by Swiss company Rivendell Holding AG, that has committed to investing in green technology. The group hopes to set sail sometime next year from Marseilles, France, with various stops off along the way. They will undoubtedly tire of hearing that Daft Punk song long before they ever leave the shore. Check out a sweet render of the boat after the break. Continue reading Solar boat crew heading out on a fantastic voyage around the world Filed under: Transportation Solar boat crew heading out on a fantastic voyage around the world originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Apr 2009 22:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Researchers develop laser-guided microhoverbot, Engadget coins new word April 11, 2009 at 9:38 pm We could have sworn that one of our commenters had already invented this, but maybe not. Researchers at the University of Waterloo in Ontario -- led by Professor Mir Behrad Khamesee -- has developed a microbot weighing in at about three-hundredths of an ounce that hovers and moves about on a three dimensional parabolic magnetic field. Altering the flow of the electromagnetic current distorts the field and propels the robot. Additionally, the device has pincers that open when heated by a laser, closing once they're allowed to cool. The device is monitored by laser sensors and by camera, and since the it floats free of any sort of wiring (and power is supplied from outside the robot) it is ideal for working in clean rooms or hazardous environments. Not too shabby, eh? At the very least, we got to use the word "microhoverbot." [Via CNet] Filed under: Robots Researchers develop laser-guided microhoverbot, Engadget coins new word originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Apr 2009 20:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments ASUS equips P30 and P80 laptops with Intel's Anti-Theft Technology April 11, 2009 at 7:40 pm Remember Intel's Anti-Theft Technology that debuted around this time last year? You know, that wicked cool invention that you've heard absolutely nothing about ever since? Evidently it's still alive and kickin', as ASUS has just announced that two of its lappies will come loaded with it. The P30 and P80 will both arrive with the so-called theft deterrent system, enabling owners to send a "poison pill" (it's words, not ours) remotely, rendering their computer inoperable by "comprehensively shutting it down." If you manage to reacquire it in one piece, a passphrase can be inputted in order to reactivate things. Still, we have to wonder how this will really detract thieves from snapping up unattended machines -- we mean, do they really stop to check out the anti-theft software before wheeling away with your rig? We're guessing not. [Via HotHardware] Filed under: Laptops ASUS equips P30 and P80 laptops with Intel's Anti-Theft Technology originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments HTC Fiesta is "an Android phone," so says Bluetooth SIG April 11, 2009 at 6:17 pm We know from countless encounters with our dear, dear friends at the Bluetooth Special Interest Group that their certifications aren't as... shall we say, "detailed" as their counterparts at the FCC; frequently, we don't even bother with them because there's simply nothing there to talk about. Android phones are still pretty difficult to come by, though, so whenever we see the platform mentioned in a certification of any kind, we're bound to sit up and take notice -- particularly when said certification comes via HTC. Tipster Jeff came across a filing for an HTC "Fiesta" in the SIG this time around, descriptively noted as "an Android phone" that'll be available in Asia, Europe, and North America. Other than that, we can count on it having Bluetooth (would be funny if it didn't, wouldn't it?), but that's about it; the G1 / Dream was the Kila, the Magic was the Sapphire, so what's this gonna be? [Thanks, Jeff] Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds HTC Fiesta is "an Android phone," so says Bluetooth SIG originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Crapgadget: USB abomination edition (with a pinch of superhero) April 11, 2009 at 4:50 pm Seriously, just listen at this and try to stifle your sighs. "Bling Bling USB optical mouse." "Jewel Necklace USB flash drive." "Turtle-Look USB 2.0 Hub with a tray." "Magic Sensor LCD Alarm Clock." "Insect USB Mini Fan." Yes, friends, this is the type of utter garbage we're dealing with in this episode of Crapgadget. Honestly, we're simultaneously astounded and deeply depressed that anyone would even consider dishing out their hard-earned cheddar for any of this rubbish, but we're doing our darnedest to pretend that these were simply created for us to have a laugh at.The week's strongest contender? Some superhero magnet pixels... and that's saying something. Read - Bling Bling mouse Read - Jewel necklace USB drive Read - Turtle USB hub Read - Sensor alarm clock Read - Insect fan Read - Magnetic pixels View Poll Filed under: Peripherals Crapgadget: USB abomination edition (with a pinch of superhero) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Apr 2009 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Dell Adamo torn to shreds for science and bragging rights April 11, 2009 at 3:34 pm The fine folks at iFixit and TechRepublic have teamed up to show us the innards of Dell's new thin-and-sort-of-light ultraportable Adamo. They also set the laptop up against Apple's MacBook Air to compare build quality and specifics. For instance, the Adamo packs a 11.1 volt 40 Watt hour battery, compared to the Air's 7.2 volt 37 Watt hour battery, and comprises a greater percentage of the weight of the computer than its Air counterpart -- who knew? Overall the Adamo seems to pack a good amount more technology into a slightly heavier package, and takes a small win over the MacBook for nixing the screws on the bottom, not to mention the huge win over its Windows counterparts for skipping out on the Intel and Windows stickers. Filed under: Laptops Dell Adamo torn to shreds for science and bragging rights originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Steve Jobs still involved in 'key aspects' of running Apple, testing out that iTablet you so desire? April 11, 2009 at 1:58 pm According to those ever-quotable "people familiar with the matter," Steve Jobs is still "closely involved" in "key aspects" of running Apple, reports the Wall Street Journal. While Tina Fey's favorite keynote-giver has remained incognito ever since he took a medical leave in January, the WSJ has learned that he's been working hard from home, involved in strategy and key products -- including some nitty gritty of the new interface elements in iPhone 3.0. The article also makes mention of a jumbo-sized iPod touch of sorts (an iTablet, if you will), but it's hard to tell if that word is from these same people familiar with the matter, or if the WSJ is just picking up that perennial rumor from less reputable sources. Apple's of course remaining tight-lipped, merely stating that "Steve continues to look forward to returning to Apple at the end of June." All we know is that we're looking forward to putting all this rampant speculation behind us, and an Apple-involved Steve seems like a great step in that direction. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Filed under: Misc. Gadgets Steve Jobs still involved in 'key aspects' of running Apple, testing out that iTablet you so desire? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Archos 5 firmware adds GPS car holder support, new file browser April 11, 2009 at 1:28 pm We tell ya, the Archos 5 is becoming more inviting by the week. Late last month we saw a much-wanted high-def video plug-in come to light, and now an even newer firmware is adding a few more fantastic amenities. For starters, the v1.6.53 software adds GPS car holder support -- something the Archos 605 acquired last April. Essentially, it enables the device to comprehend map and routing data piped in via the hardware mount, and we should point out that it arrives with TeleAtlas maps for eight regions of Europe, North America and Russia. Additionally, users will definitely spot an all new file browser with drag-and-drop and multi-selection functionality, not to mention the TV Snap-on app that enables the unit to store several different channel lists. For the full changelog and to get that download rolling, give the links below some lovin'. [Thanks, Christopher] Read - Firmware v1.6.53 changelog Read - Firmware download page Filed under: GPS, Portable Audio, Portable Video Archos 5 firmware adds GPS car holder support, new file browser originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Sony patents PSP-controlled spy car April 11, 2009 at 1:04 pm Check it out, all you budding G. Gordon Liddys -- if the usual assortment of spy gadgets isn't doing the job, Sony's got something in the works that should be right up your alley. According to a little site called Siliconera, Sony's European arm has filed a patent for a remote-controlled car uses the PSP as an interface. This bad boy is equipped with a camera that feeds video back to the hand held and allows the user to upload the footage to a website. If that weren't all, the patent makes mention of an augmented reality racing game incorporating virtual markers and paths that the players physically create -- that is, the junk in your apartment is incorporated into on-screen game play. Innocent fun, right? Well, perhaps -- at least until Iran gets involved. They're still pretty bent by the whole squirrel thing. [Via Joystiq] Filed under: Gaming Sony patents PSP-controlled spy car originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments   This email was sent to yinvisibledetector@gmail.com.  Create Your Account Don't want to receive this feed any longer? Unsubscribe here.