Obama Looking for Ways to Hold onto His Blackberry

It looks like President-Elect Obama isn't going to give up his beloved BlackBerry this January without some sort of fight. In an interview with Barbara Walters, he revealed that he was working to find a solution to that whole surrender-your-cellphones-and-email-accounts at the door policy.

"One of the things that I'm going to have to work through is how to break through the isolation, the bubble that exists around the president," Obama said. "And I'm in the process of negotiating with the Secret Service, with lawyers, with White House staff ... to figure out how can I get information from outside of the 10 or 12 people who surround my office in the White House. Because one of the worst things I think that can happen to a president is losing touch with the struggles that people are going through every day."

Interesting spin! Never knew the BlackBerry provided a way to get in touch with the common folk that newspapers and say... a White House blog or something... don't. Still, all the luck to Obama and his changing the Presidential Records Act to be more tech-savvy. I wasn't that convinced open official correspondence and using BlackBerries were mutually exclusive in the first place. [Gearlog]

gizmodo.com

Intel VP says netbook are "fine for an hour"

Intel's never made a secret of the fact that it developed the now-ubiquitous Atom chipset primarily for mobile devices and low-powered netbooks for at emerging markets, so it's not totally surprising to hear Intel sales VP Stu Pann say the company doesn't see netbooks as potentially cannibalizing sales of its existing processors -- but we are a bit intrigued by his seeming dismissal of netbooks as everyday machines. According to Stu, a netbook with a 10-inch screen is "fine for an hour. It's not something you're going to use day in and day out." That's probably true, of course, but it's harsher language than we've heard from Intel in the past -- and it's more or less in line with AMD's recent decision to ignore netbooks entirely in favor of more capable machines "above that form factor." Of course, Intel execs can pretty much say whatever they want as long as the company is basically the only player in the netbook game, but we think a lot of people actually are willing to use a netbook as their primary machine, especially in this economy. Could you handle a netbook as your daily driver? The comment box awaits.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

engadget.com

PS3, Wii users get Psyclone TouchCharge pads, too

We caught sight of Psyclone's WildCharger-based TouchCharge kit for the Xbox 360 a few weeks ago but, in case you missed it, the company is also offering similar kits for the PlayStation 3 and Wii. At $49.99 the PS3 version is actually the cheapest of the lot, due to the fact that it's able to use the controller's own rechargeable battery, while the $59.99 Wii version and $69.99 Xbox 360 version each include some rechargeable batteries of their own courtesy of Psyclone. The charging pads themselves are, of course, interchangeable, and you can even charge more than one device on a single pad, although finding the necessary controller adapters separately seems to be another matter.

[Via The Gadgets Weblog]

engadget.com

Earth Trek offers up VGA webcam with 2-port USB hub

It's not often that you find a webcam that's multifaceted, but Earth Trek's webcam is just that. Dubbed the "hottest webcam" this world has ever seen (um, no), this unit packs a 1.3-megapixel camera, VGA capture abilities, auto focus / auto brightness and the real kicker, a 2-port USB hub. Probably still a ripoff at $45, but if you need those extra peripheral ports bad enough, who knows what you'd be willing to do.

[Via Pocket-lint]

engadget.com

Medion launches 5-inch GoPal P5430 GPS in Europe

It's been a nice little while since we've seen any new navigators from Medion, but the outfit's hitting back with its relatively forgettable GoPal P5430. The European PND sports a 5-inch touchscreen display, integrated TMC antenna, fingerprint sensor, text-to-speech functionality, an inbuilt FM transmitter and pre-installed NAVTEQ maps of Western and Eastern Europe. Like we said, forgettable -- but you should know it's priced at £175 ($269) just in case you're tempted.

[Via NaviGadget]

engadget.com

T-Mobile G1 Now Out In White

In case black just isn't your gadget spirit color, T-Mobile has now released a white version of its Googlephone, the G1. The white G1 will cost the same $180 with a two-year contract as its black (and bronze) counterpart(s), and is available both online and in stores. I might be in a minority opinion here, but I like it! I'll admit that one of the reasons I was hemming and hawing on getting the G1 to begin with was because I thought it looked like a big clunky brick. Now that it's received a more pearly polish, which incidentally matches half the other gadgets I have, I might consider picking one up. [Cnet]

gizmodo.com

Porsche P'9522 Cellphone Lacks 3G, Has GPS For Navigating Your Porsche

Porsche has kicked out cellphones before: but none so capable as the upcoming P'9522. It's a butch but sweetly-minimal design flip phone, with a rotating screen, and it's just got its FCC pass so it should be on the way here soon. Among its many features, it sadly lacks 3G connectivity, but the rest—including on-board GPS—almost make up for that.

• Quad-band GSM, with GPRS and EDGE
• 2.8-inch touchscreen display, 400 x 240 pixels
• 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash
• Internal GPS
• Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP
• Media player functions
• FM radio
• 2GB memory card included in the package
• Talk time: up to 240 minutes
• Stand by time: up to 300 hours
• 115 grams
• 112 x 49 x 12 mmOh, and it does have a fingerprint sensor aboard too, so you can protect your data in the case of casual theft. All that tech, design and the Porsche name means it carries a bigish price, though: somewhere between $750 to $800, apparently. Still, if you can afford a "real" Porsche, this is just a drop in the ocean, right? [Unwiredview via Navigadget]

engadget.com

Nintendo plays dress up with two new DS Lite bundles, DSi mocks from afar

If you haven't succumbed to the DS Lite's embrace by now, we're not sure this pair of bundles will do the trick, and if you already have a DS Lite in your posse you're probably waiting impatiently for the DSi to traipse on over Stateside. Still, we can't begrudge Nintendo's God-given right to bundle, and this Ice Blue Brain Age set (with custom carrying case!) and Mario Red New Super Mario Bros set (pictured, with emblazoned "M" logo!) aren't exactly unattractive. Both are being released this Friday -- that Friday -- for $150. The Brain Age bundle is pictured after the break.

gizmodo.com

10-inch Acer Aspire One Arriving Next Year

As of right now, the Aspire One netbook includes an 8.9-inch screen. But Acer has announced plans to release a 10-inch version by either February or March 2009. Yes, that's right in time for everyone to have purchased the original Aspire One for the holidays. It's still unclear as to whether or not the upcoming model will be shipped straight to the States and, if it does, whether or not we'll see an integrated 3G chip as is the trend in Taiwan. [DigiTimes]

gizmodo.com

RED's Digital Still and Motion Camera System now official

After a morning of drip-fed images, RED just went official with its DSMC (Digital Stills and Motion Camera) System. The system starts with your choice of the professional Scarlet or "master professional" EPIC brains which can then be bunged into about 2,251,799,813,685,248 possible camera configurations, RED only half-jokingly chides. The brains are built upon Mysterium-X and Mysterium Monstro sensors which start at 2/3-inch and end at a whopping 6x17-cm -- when a new sensor comes out you just upgrade the brain. Scarlet will launch in 4 choices ranging from $2,500 (and possibly less) to $12,000 with a variety of lens mounts (yes, Canon and Nikon) capable of shooting 3K @120fps on up to 6K @30fps. Epic will offer similar mounts with capabilities spanning 5K @100fps ($28k) to 9K @50fps ($45k) -- a 28K system hitting 25fps is expected in 2010 for $55k. Still image resolutions will range from 4.9 megapixels to a freakish 261 megapixels. The first Scarlet systems could come as early as Spring of 2009 while EPIC should arrive by summer. Of course, the brain is just the beginning of the costs. RED also introduced a 3D camera configuration today in true, "one more thing" fashion. See all the details in the gallery below, 3D camera after the break.

engadget.com

HTC MAX 4G officially announced, world's first GSM / WiMAX phone

Hey Sprint, you listening? Granted, GSM doesn't do Sprint a whole lot of good in the States, but swapping a CDMA radio into HTC's first WiMAX effort here would make for a downright mighty response to the Touch HD. The previously-seen T8920 has turned out to be the MAX 4G, an 800 x 480 monster with 8GB of Flash on board, two cameras, an FM radio, GPS, WiFi, triband EDGE, and -- most importantly -- WiMAX support, making it the first GSM / WiMAX handset anywhere in the world. It'll be launching on Scartel's Yota network in Russia, and if you have friends cool enough to have a MAX 4G of their own, calls between the two of y'all will automatically be routed over the WiMAX airwaves using VoIP. A launch date hasn't been announced, but unless you're in Russia, there's probably not much point in even bothering to lust after this one. If you insist, though, you can check out a couple additional shots of the phone over at Engadget Mobile.

engadget.com

Nokia N96 Bruce Lee Edition: the only thing tougher than Chuck Norris

OMG OMG OMG... sorry, but our inner Japanese school-girl was just unleashed with the arrival of the Nokia N96 Bruce Lee Edition. If Nokia had any sense, they'd expand the action-doll bundle to the world beyond Hong Kong. Even for 8,788 Chinese Yuan (about $1,286) we're seriously tempted. Watch Bruce clean up at ping pong in the Nokia video posted after the break -- no, really.

[Via Unwired View, Thanks Robin oL]

engadget.com

BlackBerry Storm now available on Verizon

You've read the review, now Verizon's BlackBerry Storm is available for purchase for $200 on two-year contract. Really, what's left to say -- you're either ready to pull the trigger or not.

[Thanks, JR]

engadget.com

MacBook and MacBook Pro Take a Performance Dive While On AC Power Alone

Laptop batteries aren't the exactly the tortoises of the gadget world: they start out strong, then get weaker and weaker until eventually you can't even make it through an episode of 30 Rock on a full charge. So some users have taken up the practice of popping out their batteries while on AC power to try to eke out a few more months of juice. But the guys over at Gearlog tested performance on their new MacBook Pro with and without the battery, and here's the lesson: leave that battery in the computer where it belongs.

While benchmarking some memory, Gearlog found that processor performance is a whopping 37% lower on a MacBook Pro running on AC alone. Cinebench R10's multiprocessor test got a battery-less Pro a score of only 3,504, while with the battery it scored 5,549. They contacted Apple to find out what's going on, and Apple admitted that the performance difference is intentional, explaining that it "prevents the computer from shutting down if it demands more power than the A/C adapter alone can provide." Sounds a little fishy to me, but it doesn't really matter: Apple took a lot of care with that battery, and if you know what's good for you, you'll leave it be. [Gearlog]

gizmodo.com

Samsung Omnia makes official Verizon appearance

Not that we've any reason to be shocked here, but Samsung's Omnia is indeed coming to Verizon Wireless. 'Course, most everyone with any remote affiliation to Big Red is frenzied over that other phone today, but those with a soft spot for Windows Mobile 6.1 may want to give this one a bit of attention. You know the highlight specs by now -- a 5-megapixel camera / camcorder, full HTML browser and an expansive touchscreen -- but the nitty-gritty details are still being withheld. As of now, the link on Samsung's website tunnels straight to an error page, forcing us to be content with the knowledge that somehow, someday, this phone is destined for a life on VZW's shelves. Enlarged screengrab is after the jump.

engadget.com

Switched On: Writers on the Storm

What happens when the efficient menu-driven user experience of the BlackBerry meets the discoverable new user experience of finger-driven touch? The answer for the BlackBerry Storm has been that the BlackBerry experience wins, and who loses depends on what you were expecting from RIM's first departure from a physical keyboard. While adorned with a few on-screen buttons and simple gesture support, the Storm is much less of an iPhone-like experience than, say, the T-Mobile G1.

The Storm's main advantage over other BlackBerry devices is that it has a larger screen, not necessarily one that is controlled by touch. However, to accommodate the removal of its trademark keyboard, RIM has taken touch-screens into a literal new dimension by requiring users to depress the screen to activate a button on the screen, which lowers and springs back like a giant keyboard key.

The screen's ability to respond to presses as a physical button (like the trackpad in Apple's new MacBooks), helps provide a more natural feel to typing on the Storm; the feedback is certainly more satisfying than the solely visual feedback that the iPhone gives. Just because it feels good, though, doesn't mean you should do it.

While the screen's response may result in faster proficiency particularly as it (unlike the iPhone's keyboard) can be used in landscape mode while sending e-mails, fast typists may be frustrated to find that the screen sometimes cannot return to its "up" position fast enough to be ready for the next letter.

And then there is the issue of editing the inevitable typos that tapping out text on virtually any smartphone entails. It's unfortunate that RIM – while retrofitting a touch screen with so many of its user interface conventions -- decided to ignore a well-received BlackBerry navigation aid in the scroll ball that HTC has implemented well in conjunction with the T-Mobile G1's touch screen.

A scroll ball makes it easy to get between letters for editing. And with no iPhone-like magnifying glass user interface convention or other method for dynamically zooming in on small text, spot-editing on the Storm can be a frustrating tight squeeze. The Storm will usually provide a word or menu of words to replace the mistyped one, but navigating it too can be thorny in the limited on-screen real estate with the keyboard on-screen.

The classic BlackBerry form-factor represented by such handsets as the Curve, 8800 and now Bold was itself a screen upgrade from the first BlackBerry two-way pagers. With the rise of the Web and media demanding a bigger screen, though, there is potential for a BlackBerry with a side-sliding keyboard (similar to HTC's Touch Pro) that delivers an even more comfortable keyboard and the large screen while restoring the sense of proportion in the user interface at the expense of a little girth.

The typing feedback provided by the Storm represents an advance over those that offer only visual or haptic feedback, but for many of the BlackBerry's biggest fans -- even outside of Soviet Russia -- the clickable keyboard will depress you.

engadget.com

Marantz's IS301 wireless iPod dock elegantly cuts the cord

Wireless iPod docks were all the rage back in 2006 (seriously, we remember nerds camping out for them), but the trend sort of petered out as 2007 emerged and focus turned to more important matters. Now, Marantz is looking to bring it all back in style with the IS301, a Lucullan wireless iPod dock that transmits both audio and video sans cabling and includes a port-filled receiver for tight-knit home theater integration. Practically every dock-connecting iPod (no iPhones allowed, at least not officially) will work fine here, and there's also Bluetooth 2.1 support for receiving and beaming tunes from BT-enabled devices. Expect the bundle to storm Japan in January for ¥26,250 ($277), after which we Americans will drop down on bended knee and plead for a US version.

[Via Impress]

engadget.com

How would you change Apple's unibody MacBook / MacBook Pro?

Now that you've had well over a month to toy with Apple's latest MacBook and MacBook Pro, we're just dying to know what your impressions are. Has the glass trackpad turned you off (or just turned you off to every other trackpad on the planet)? Is the inability to order the MBP with a matte display still grating your nerves? Are you happy with the performance? Is your "S" key randomly popping off at the most inopportune times? You just spent a load of cash on what essentially amounts to a first-generation product -- you've every right to make your voice heard. Do just that in comments below.

engadget.com

AMD overclocks the snot out of Phenom II processors

No, you're not looking at some high-precision, multimeter-laden kegerator; the above is a picture from a recent AMD event in which things apparently got a little out of hand. The company started by talking up its upcoming Dragon platform (Phenom II X4, Radeon 4800 graphics, and 7-series chipset), took a few moments to discuss how its new 45nm chips will use 30-50 percent less power than their predecessors, and then threw all notions of sensibility out the window in an attempt to see just how fast the darned things could go. A Phenom II X4 managed 4GHz with air-cooling, 4.4GHz with a refrigerated setup, and finally a "stable" 5GHz on liquid nitrogen. That's mighty fast, but will the chips be quick enough to tackle Intel's mighty Core i7 when stripped of their fancy-pants cooling appendages? We'll see when they ship early next year.

[Image courtesy of Legit Reviews]

engadget.com

Apple's Approval of BdEmailer Proves App Approval Process is a Crapshoot

At first it seemed that the rules behind the approval process for new apps for the iPhone App Store were pretty cut and dry. You know, they can't duplicate the functionality of the on-board apps like Mail and iPod, they can't use too much bandwidth and they can't cause a security hazard. That first rule is why apps like MailWrangler and Podcaster were given the boot; they were too close to those built-in apps. But now, an app called BdEmailer, which is basically a straight-up email program, is available in the App Store. Just what the hell is going on?

Look, we think it's awesome that BdEmailer is available. The more choices, the better, which is why we wish MailWrangler and Podcaster were available. BdEmailer lets you type emails with the landscape keyboard, for god's sake. But at this point, it's completely unclear as to what keeps an app out of the store. Was this a deliberate move, or will it get yanked from the store in a matter of hours, the result of a sleepy gatekeeper letting it through accidentally?

We're hoping this is not an accident but a sign of more leniency from Apple in terms of what they'll allow in the App Store. But I doubt it. Get this one now while you still can, folks. [BdEmailer via Engadget]

engadget.com

The Week in iPhone Apps: Back to the Grind

Back to the usual review this week, after our 20 Essential Apps list last Friday. Thankfully, it's been a pretty good week in the store, with lots of actually useful apps—including a full-fledged four-track recorder and a couple of utilities that actually add some usable core features that I wish would have made it into the 2.2 software update today. Oh, and of course, something Japanese and crazy. Onward!

Four Track: Remember how Keith Richards always said he recorded the riff to Satisfaction on a hotel answering machine? Well, now, budding Keefs can multi-track their sudden inspirations for songs about not getting sufficiently laid. Four Track offers all the controls you would want for a basic deck, has no track length limit, and can sync via wi-fi to import you recordings into Garage Band or Pro Tools. Awesome. It's $10.

Save My Docs: Safari received some nice performance and UI tweaks in 2.2, but it still does one thing a mobile browser should never do—wipe out version of pages you've already loaded for no reason. Multiple times I've loaded a long Wikipedia article on something that I planned to read on the subway, only to find the page totally blank a few minutes later for no explicable reason. Save My Docs does one thing—saves any document loaded in Safari locally, complete with images, to be read at any time later. $2

CalToDo: I can't believe this isn't a native feature: CalToDo easily syncs your OS X to-do lists (found in Mail and iCal) via a lite server app that runs on your machine. Interface is nice, and so is the simplicity. $1

iMarimo: And iMarimo, what can I say? It's floating ball of algae in front of a few blurry pictures that you can spin via touch. Apparently, the Marimo algae is beloved in Japan for its freakish, perfectly spherical growth and its ultra-rarity—found only in a single lake in Hokkaido. Damn. That's about all I can say about this on a Friday, and it costs $1.

This week's app coverage on Giz:

• iPhone 2.2 Update Review: Go Get It Now

• Pocket Jockey iPhone Game Simulates Horse Racing In Most Suggestive Way Possible

• Numberkey Transforms iPhone Into Sweet Wireless Numberpad

• Google's iPhone Voice Search Mobile App Now Available

• OpenTable iPhone App: Easiest, Most Soulless Restaurant Reservations Ever

• iPhone's Gas Cubby Car Care Tracker Is Anal So You Don't Have To Be

• Hands-On With Newber, The Location-Aware Call Redirector For Your iPhone

• Even Google Gets Shafted By Apple's Ridiculous App-Approval Process

• iPhone's Puzzle Quest Hits December For $10 [Kotaku]

This list is in no way definitive. If you've spotted a great app that hit the store this week, give us a heads up or, better yet, your firsthand impressions in the comments. And for even more apps: see our previous weekly roundups here, and check out our original iPhone App Review Marathon. Have a good weekend everybody.

gizmodo.com

HP's Shanghai-packing xw9400 workstation available now

We caught a glimpse of the HP xw9400 quite a while back when it was first announced, but it's now available on HP's site and we've got the full details on the mammoth's innards. There are quite a few customizable options, including AMD's Dual-Core Shanghai Opteron CPUs (from 2.0GHz to 2.5GHz), up to 32GB MHz DDR SDRAM, NIVIDIA nForce Professional 3600 or 3050 chipsets, and available NVIDIA Quadro FX cards with up to 1GB of memory. There are also five internal and two external drive bays and eight USB 2.0 ports. The behemoth starts at $2,399 and runs as high as $6,299. Hit the read link for the widest array of specifications you can possibly ever imagine.

[Via Information Week]

engadget.com

Amazon Selling $199 PlayStation 3 Bundles to Lucky Shoppers

If you're in the market for a PlayStation 3, you aren't going to get a better deal than this: $199 for an 80GB PS3, bundled with a game such as LittleBigPlanet, The Force Unleashed or Far Cry 2. Also, a Blu-ray bundle, such as Firefly: The Complete Series, the Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy or a James Bond Six-Pack. And hell, a PS3 remote tossed in for good measure. All for $199. But there's a catch, because there's always a catch.

These deals are a part of Amazon's yearly "Customer's Vote" promotion, in which you get to vote on which PS3 bundle you'd want to buy and then, if you're lucky, get a chance to race against everybody else for a limited quantity of said bundles. Here are how they're broken down:

PS3 Blu-ray Sci-Fi Bundle - $199.00 PlayStation 3 80GB, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Firefly: The Complete Series, PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc remote

PS3 Blu-ray Action Bundle - $229.00 PlayStation 3 80GB, Far Cry 2, James Bond Collection 6-Pack, PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc remote

PS3 Blu-ray Family Bundle - $199.00 PlayStation 3 80GB, LittleBigPlanet, Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy, PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc remote

You've got to vote on which bundle looks the best to you, but don't play it to chance: the family bundle is currently holding a solid lead. 500 of each bundle will be available on Friday, so once you vote make sure to check your email on Thursday night to see if you're in the running for them. The winning bundle will go on sale for the listed price, with the other two going up for a bit more, but still cheap. Good luck, y'all. [Amazon]

gizmodo.com

LG's fashionable Prada II (and watch) gets shown to the camera

Well, that didn't take long. Merely hours after LG's Prada II was treated to a dedicated microsite, along comes the hands-on photographs we've been expecting. CNET's UK branch was able to wrangle one in, and as predicted, the mobile didn't hesitate to pose for a few nice snapshots. Eagle-eyed readers will notice that it certainly put on a little heft since the first go 'round, but the slight downturn in attractivity is more than compensated by the inclusion of a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Have a peek at the read link for more hands-on goodness, including a look at the matching Bluetooth wristwatch.

[Thanks, T.I.]

engadget.com

Japanese Milk-Carton-to-Jambox Resonance Speaker Conversion Kit: My Kind of Recycling

Resonance speakers that turn any hollow or low-density surface into a speaker are not new, but how many of said speaker kits come with their own nicely designed milk carton SOUND REVOLUTION speaker simulacrum? The Yoruzu audio kit does just that, via a Jony Ive-inspired stethoscope attachment. It will turn your hollow drywall into a two-watt boomer, much to the delight of your neighbors, for ¥4980 ($51). [Product Page (translated) via AV Watch (translated)]

gizmodo.com

Microsoft ratchets down pricing on flash-based Zunes

If you were this close to snapping up a new Zune after Microsoft pushed out its 3.1 software update, boy, are you glad you held off. At least, if you've been eying a Zune of the flash-based variety. Beginning today, the US Zunes are coming a little more in line with their Canadian brethren by falling from $129 to $99 (4GB), $149 to $139 (8GB) and $199 to $179 (16GB). The Car Pack / Dock Pack are also seeing a $10 decrease while the Home / AV pack is being reduced $20. You already purchased two in the time it took to read this, didn't you?

engadget.com

ASUS 15.6-inch touchscreen Eee Tops launching tomorrow -- $499?

by Thomas Ricker, posted Nov 19th 2008 at 8:02AM

Can you feel it? That dull sense of ennui isn't the result of the diminished hours of daylight, oh no, it's the sensation of the Eee Top's imminent launch in Taipei. ASUS has a news conference scheduled for Thursday to out the ET1602 and ET1603 XP PCs into the wonderfully erect world of all-in-ones. Something we've been expecting since January of this year when we first heard about ASUS' Eee branding promiscuity. We're still looking at 15.6-inches of touchscreen LCD, a 160GB hard disk, 802.11n WiFi, a pair of 4-watt speakers, and 1.3 megapixel webcam all propped up by a tepid 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor -- a CPU that ASUS knows a thing or two about. The ET1603 packs a better ATI HD3450 graphics card and battery for 4.4-kilograms (9.7-pounds) of luggable PC. We'll have to wait for the pricing and country details but we can speculate that it'll arrive in the US pronto after seeing its wireless (EK-C2) keyboard slip through the FCC yesterday. Could be a holiday winner if it hits for the $499 price rumored way back when.

engadget.com

Datel Lite Blue Tool Hacks the PSP 3000 With a Battery

The Datel Lite Blue Tool looks to be the best option we've got at the moment for hacking the PSP 3000. It's essentially a smart battery that clones Sony lab equipment to put the PSP 2000 and PSP 3000 into Service Mode. From this mode, users are approaching the PSP with the access of a Sony engineer and can load old, cracked firmware that's open to run homebrew. The Datel Lite Blue Tool will be available later this month for $30. So just how much are those SNES romz worth to you? [Maxconsole]

gizmodo.com

MSI unveils Neton all-in-one nettop models ranging from mild to somewhat less mild

MSI and Asus, having apparently found the bottom in the netbook race, are now working hard to find that magic point on the desktop. Asus has its B202 and all-in-one Eee Top nettops, the latter of which MSI is now countering with the new, all-inclusive Neton series. The smallest is the M16, starting at $400 and featuring a 15.6-inch 1366 x 768 screen -- exactly the same size as Asus's impending offering (coincidence, surely). Then there's the slightly larger but otherwise identically spec'd $500 18.5-inch M19, and finally the range-topping $800 22-inch M22, offering an HD-loving 1920 x 1080 display fed by an optional Blu-ray drive. As you can see in pics after the break the guts of the M16 have been placed into an unsightly, over-sized stand, while on the M19 and M22 everything is tucked neatly behind the monitor itself, making for easy wall mounting (more room for Coke cans and miscellaneous clutter). No word on memory or disk space, but each will offer touch-screens and will come with XP or Vista depending on whether you opt for a single- or dual-core Atom processor. The M19 ships first in January, the M16 next in Feb, and the M22 last in March.

engadget.com

Epson's Endeavor Na01 mini is a netbook

Not much to say here, just an Atom N270 1.6Ghz processor, 10.2-inch 1024 x 600 LCD, 1GB of RAM, 160GB HDD and a dash of Windows XP, doing what they always do. There's a nice complement of completely standard interfaces, like three USB 2.0 plugs, 802.11b/g WiFi, Ethernet, mini VGA out and a multicard reader, all stuffed into a slightly frumpy 1.5-inch thick enclosure, but let's not get off message: Epson's new Endeavor Na01 mini is all Microsoft-proscribed netbook and nothing more. The Japan-only computer is available today for the completely palatable price of 46,800 Yen (about $484).

[Via Impress Watch]

engadget.com

Price confusion over Nokia 5800 XpressMusic mercifully ends (maybe)

It's probably fair to say that no one in Spain had a very good day on Friday when the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic showed up on Nokia.es for €429 (about $550), up from its earlier €279. Well it looks like the zaniness at least kind of has an explanation, though it's not one that's likely to cool any enraged heels. Apparently the base price of the phone was, and is €279, but "each country" can bundle it with whatever they choose, thereby upping the overall price. Sounds fun, right? So, in Spain, they've kindly bundled the 5800 with a €100 Nokia Music Store voucher and a 3-month subscription to Nokia Maps Navigation service. Presumably other countries can follow suit -- though these moves are apparently only valid through the holiday season, because the 5800, all by its lonesome, goes on sale in January for... you guessed it: €279.

[Via Unwired View]

engadget.com

Neuros intros web video-playing Neuros LINK

It's just been a few short months since Neuros started shipping its OSD 2.0 set-top box, but it looks like the company is now already moving on to other devices that are equally boxy and open source-y. It's latest is the Neuros LINK, which promises to let you watch videos from Hulu, YouTube and other sites on your TV without a subscription courtesy of Neuros' own Neuros.TV service. Unlike the OSD, however, it doesn't look like the LINK has any internal storage of its own (at least beyond the bare necessity), but it does have a generous six USB ports to let you hook up some drives filled with music, photos or videos. Otherwise, you can expect both HDMI and optical S/PDIF outputs, as well as gigabit ethernet, 802.11b/g WiFi, and an included wireless "keymote" complete with a trackball. According to Neuros, while the device is available now for $300, it's still in a "gamma release," which means is primarily aimed at early adopters wiling to accept a few hiccups along the way.

[Thanks, Charles V, Zatz]

engadget.com

Nooka Zon Watch Dots The Time Away

The Zon is the latest in Nooka's line of variously confusing and interesting (for a given value of beauty) timepieces: Its 35 x 45mm dot-matrix display either displays the minutes of the day dotting into nothingness like a digital egg-timer that's counting down until tomorrow, or a proper numeric time readout. It also has a list of cities and timezones for travelling, and it'll come in white or black, or a mirror-like display for extra confusion. Due next week for $650. [LikeCool]

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Moon Dust-DNA Watch Made From Actual Moon Dust and Parts From Apollo 11

Romain Jerome's Titanic DNA Watch was such a success that the company has decided to take the concept to the moon (literally) with their new Moon Dust DNA watch. Like the Titanic version, the moon watch will feature actual artifacts. The face includes dust from a rock retrieved during our first mission to the moon, the case is made from steel from the Apollo 11 spacecraft and the strap will be made up of fibers from a spacesuit worn during the ISS mission. Okay, that...is...awesome. But now for the sticker shock—a symbolic quantity of 1969 watches will be made to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. Several different versions will be available at prices that range from $15,000 to $500,000 apiece. [Romain Jerome via The Age via Born Rich]

Microsoft debuts Microsoft Store in apparent attempt to sell stuff

Hard to believe that a company the size and stature of Microsoft hasn't had an online store to call its home -- not even a quirky collection of "Bill Gates is my homeboy" CafePress t-shirts and mousepads. The newly launched Microsoft Store solves that, however, with its many store-like properties. Therein you can find all sorts of Microsoft products, like software, peripherals, games and professionally-printed "Bill Gates is my homeboy" t-shirts.* What's particularly notable is that Microsoft is jumping into electronic software distribution here, meaning in addition to traditional physical purchases you can buy a bit of software and download it right there on the spot. Downloaded software can be re-downloaded for as long as Microsoft provides mainstream support -- about 5 years in most cases. We'd prefer forever and always, but we suppose that will have to do. The store is live now, and we'd suggest you head on over before we make some drastically ill-advised enterprise software impulse buys.

*This isn't true.

[Via ZDnet]

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Verizon's Samsung Saga shows its face, as anticipated

Nothing new or unexpected here: just like we said a few days ago, the Samsung Saga, one of the bluest handsets in recent memory, is now available online at Verizon. Also filed under "things we already knew," the globetrotting GSM and CDMA-enabled smartphone with EV-DO is selling for $199.99 (with a 2-year contract and one of those mail-in rebates we all know and love), though apparently you won't be able to walk into a Verizon store and pick one up in person until December 1st. Hit the read link for more granular details should you really, really want them.

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Legacy Entertainment's Atari-style joystick isn't as old as it looks

There are plenty of reasons to return to the classics: maybe they're better than the currents, maybe it's an ironic move (like listening to Kajagoogoo and wearing giant eyeglasses), or maybe you're just aged and yearning for old-timey days. Regardless, Legacy Entertainment's classic controller looks exactly like an Atari joystick, but it's Windows / OS X / Linux compatible, and connects via USB. The company assures us that it runs with "nearly any emulator," so you and your friends should be 80's-style partying in no time, if that's what you're into. $14.99 and it's yours -- if you have any moola left after you buy that tubular car-phone-looking Bluetooth handsfree.

[Thanks, Silver Serpent]

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Callpod's Drone Bluetooth adapter turns your Bluetooth headset into Skype's best friend

We were always curious as to why computers don't make it easier to take advantage of that fancy little Bluetooth headset of yours -- why buy a whole 'nother headset for Skype and Counter Strike (is that what kids are up to these days?) when your ridiculously overpriced Jawbone will do just fine? Callpod's newly released Drone USB Bluetooth adapter makes your Bluetooth headset look just like a regular headphone / mic combo to a PC or Mac, perfect for chewing out the kids from your hotel room over some long-distance Skype without messing with a tangle of wires. Callpod is also touting a 100 meter wireless range, and can naturally do regular, boring Bluetooth chores like transferring files and tethering your keyboard. The Drone is available now for $50.

[Via Crave]

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Circuit City's Black Friday Deals

As the holiday quickly approaches, all of the big Black Friday deals are leaking with ritualistic fanfare. Call us nostalgic, but while Best Buy and Radioshack both failed to excite us with unbelievable deals, it's exciting just to see that Circuit City will be around to participate this year at all. Here's their full list of doorbusters:

HP Pavilion 15.4" Laptop (Intel DualCore T3200, 2GB, 160GB HD, Vista Home) - $399.99

Olympus 8 Mega Pixel Digital Camera - $99.99

Samsung 8 Mega Pixel Digital Camera - $79.99

SanDisk 4GB SDHC Memory Card - $12.99

SanDisk 8GB SDHC Memory Card - $19.99

SanDisk 1GB MP3 Player Express with FM Tuner - $16.99

Sony 30GB Hard Drive Handycam Camcorder with Bag & Extra Battery - $349.99

Samsung 42" 720p Plasma HDTV - $699.99

Samsung 46" 1080p LCD HDTV - $1099.99

Toshiba 32" 720p LCD HDTV - $449.99

There will also be lots of deals on DVDs and video games, so hit up the link for the full list of Black Friday promotions at Circuit City. [Probargains]

gizmodo.com

Activision Screws Up Their Own Guitar Hero Compatibility Charts

At first glance, these Activision-made Guitar Hero/Rock Band instrument compatibility charts appear very handy. That is, until you realize that they're completely overrun by inaccuracies. It didn't take long for the Kotaku commenters to rip apart the list, with one reader finding flaws with data on each platform. So we're left with one question:

If Activision doesn't understand the compatibility issues regarding their own games and hardware, how are we as consumers EVER going to get it? If these guys don't figure their shit out soon, I'm so going to start a real band. [Activision via Kotaku]

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bluDANGLE makes wireless earpieces a little less wireless

What's cooler than wearing your Bluetooth headset wherever you go? Wearing it clipped to a lanyard wherever you go, that's what -- especially when that lanyard is made from 8 inches of 25 pound tensile strength magcord (i.e. elastic). That's the power of bluDANGLE, a curiously capitalized name for what is basically just a clip that turns your wireless device into a wired one, swinging in the breeze whenever you're not actually making a call. Normally we celebrate any attempt that encourages people to remove their earpieces when not in use, but we're not entirely sure having the thing dangling from your lapel is any less pretentious (check out the vid below and you tell us). But hey, for just $19.99 with a lifetime warranty who are we to complain? Makes a great stocking stuffer for your family's Bluetooth guy (or gal)!

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