The Inquisitr » Gadgets

Motorola Promises “Droid Camera Fix” Before Mid-December

James Allen Johnson — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:10:15 +0000

Motorola will release an OTA (Over-the-air) update for the Droid Smartphone on December 12th which the company promises will fix various issues Droid customers are having with the devices 5MP camera.

According to reports customers are experiencing focusing issues, while some photos are being shown with red corners after being taken.

The problems are only intermittent and Motorola has said that the issue occurs when particular states on the clock forces “auto-focusing system problems.” The OTA update is due on December 11th and will be available to all Droid users free of charge and directly from their Smartphones with a simple click on their phone, stay on the lookout! [PhoneScoop]

Atlona HDAiR Wireless USB-to-VGA/HDMI Adapter Gets Audio Upgrade

James Allen Johnson — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:04:01 +0000

The Atlona HDAiR Wireless USB-to-VGA/HDMI adapter was already a great piece of hardware and now Atlona has made it even better by adding a much missed and quite honestly, needed option, audio!

The new version of the device which was originally released earlier this year now features an audio output in the form of a 3.5mm analog port with embedded HDMI.

The new unit will run you $219 and is available for use with Windows Vista and Windows 7. As an Atlona user myself I would definitely make sure that your unit features the new audio option, it makes a world of difference through a much needed upgrade.

AT&T Starts Selling Blackberry Bold 9700 For $200

James Allen Johnson — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:00:31 +0000

AT&T is a little behind the curve when it comes to selling the Blackberry Bold 9700, but with great pricing and availability it’s still better late than never.

New and Existing customers due for an upgrade can pick up the Bold 9700 for a very nice $200, of course they’ll have to sign on the 2-year contract dotted line and agree to a data plan of at least $30 in order to qualify. They’ll also be required to fill out and wait for a $100 mail-in-rebate, so be prepared to throw down $299 + taxes at the time of purchase.

With included 3G data speeds, built-in WiFi and GPS tied together by a 3.15MP camera, Bluetooth 2.1 + A2DP and a MicroSDHC card, plus of course Research In Motions famous email servers, it’s really not a bad price to pay for such a powerhouse business/personal use device.

AT&T To Get Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, Hopefully Cheaper Than “Unlocked” Pricing.

James Allen Johnson — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:48:14 +0000

If you search the web right now for the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, you’ll quickly find prices up to $999 for an unlocked version of the Smartphone, plus an “unknown release date” tagging along on those product pages, however if you don’t mind waiting past the initial unlocked date, you may find the device at much cheaper AT&T contract pricing.

A recent rumor at Engadget is leading us to believe that AT&T will pick up the North American version of the device upon it’s release and will offer 3G data support in the U.S.

The device is expected to ship with two flavors, an international version and a North American version. The AT&T model would offer the following calling bands: 800/850/1900/2100mhz.

Unfortunately if the phone is anything like the Xperia X1 it may not be worth its weight in contract negotiated pricing. Stay Tuned for more info as it arrives…

HP Mini 110 Arrives At AT&T, Gets Subsidized, Offers Same Specs As Verizon Model

James Allen Johnson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:57:51 +0000

Verizon Wireless is October added the HP Mini 110 netbook to their lineup of offered devices and proceeded to subsidize the device to any data seeking users who came their way. Now AT&T is following suit, offering the same exact Netbook with built in AT&T 3G data connectivity, opposed to Verizon EV-DO service.

The netbook arrives on November 22nd for a price of $199 after a mail-in-rebate, 2 year contract and minimum monthly data plans.

The Mini 110 features Windows 7, a 10.1 inch LED backlit display with anti-glare and 1GB RAM, plus the already mentioned 3G service and a 160GB hard drive. Everything is pretty standardk netboo fare right down to the Intel Atom processor.

You’ll need to sign up for at least an AT&T DataConnect plan which provides 200MB of data per month for $35 or you can grab their $60 plan that provides 5GB monthly transfer rates.

Then again you could just go drop $300 on a decent netbook with the same or even better pricing and specs over Black Friday and not have to worry about shoddy 3G service you’ll experience in many 3G areas or for that matter a 2 year contract.

PogoPlug Gets Updated With Four USB Ports, New Integration Features

James Allen Johnson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:05:25 +0000

The PogoPlug is one of the best plug and play NAS solutions available on the market, it’s simple to use, offers a nice clean and sleek design and users have been flocking to the devices over the last several months. Now the team at PogoPlug have announced some nice new improvements to their gadget.

The PogoPlug now comes with four USB ports, offers a global search for all drives attached to the PogoPlug, includes an address book features and offers a bunch of other integration features for organizing multimedia along with other options.

The MSRP is $129.00 and various retailers carry the PogoPlug line.

Here’s the press release for the newly updated units:

Second Generation Pogoplug™ Unveiled Today

Next-generation Hardware Design and Software Provide Enhanced Storage, Multimedia and Social Media Capabilities

San Francisco, Calif. – November 20, 2009 – Cloud Engines, Inc. unveiled the second generation of the award winning Pogoplug multimedia sharing device today giving consumers more flexibility to store personal content safely in the home and access, manage, and share it from anywhere on the Internet. The new Pogoplug hardware sports a new design boasting multiple USB ports supporting up to 4 external drives for expanded data capacity. The new Pogoplug also gives users improved sharing capabilities, an easy drag-and-drop interface to create engaging multi-media slide shows, seamless media playback, and enhanced sharing with friends on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.

Pogoplug acts like a gateway from your home or office through the Internet. It allows you to access, share and even stream your personal digital media directly to anybody, anywhere in the world. Your content always remains physically in your home or office, making it secure, convenient and available on your terms. Pogoplug is perfect for those individuals with increasingly mobile lifestyles and small businesses in need of simple, inexpensive mobile data access solutions.

“The reaction to the Pogoplug has been incredible. By listening to user feedback and following our own product roadmap, we are bringing a great second-generation product that gives our customers access to a host of new features that both improve the function of the Pogoplug, and add to the fun of using it as well.” said Daniel Putterman, CEO of Cloud Engines, Inc. “We are committed to giving our customers the best way to access their data from anywhere in the world, pushing the envelope with both product quality and design aesthetic. The result is what you see here today.”

NEW HARDWARE
The new Pogoplug design retains the simplicity and ease of use of the original while listening to consumer feedback and adding the ability to directly connect up to 4 external hard drives at once. The resulting product boasts an improved design with greatly improved functionality for users with multiple drives and an increasing need for easy synching and sharing of their digital libraries. This upgrade turns the Pogoplug into an even more prominent feature in the modern digital home or small business.

NEW FEATURES
Automatically Synchronize Photos, Videos, Music and Other Selected Content
Users can synchronize their Pogoplug with their PC or Mac to automatically import new content from popular applications such as iTunes, Windows Media Player, and iPhoto. This feature allows Pogoplug owners to “set it and forget it” and always have access to new photos, videos and music from anywhere on the Internet.

Drag-and-Drop Music and Photo Slideshows
Users can easily create and share fun and engaging slideshows using their stored photos, videos and music. Creating a slideshow with Pogoplug is as simple as drag and drop, and sharing these slideshows is just as easy as ever. Once a user’s link is shared and viewed, their slideshow will immediately begin with the photos, videos and music they selected, playing seamlessly in the viewer’s browser.

Easier Sharing with Pogoplug Address Book
Pogoplug Address Book greatly improves the speed and ease of use of sharing with a user’s friends and family. Pogoplug automatically remembers all email addresses entered in a user’s previous shares – even if that share no longer exists – and makes them available in an easy to use address book to make sharing truly one click away.

Global Search Across Multiple Drives and Pogoplugs
With support for multiple drives on a single Pogoplug (and multiple Pogoplugs on the same account) Pogoplug has added “global” search support across all of a user’s Pogoplugs and drives. Search filters are now a distinct feature, allowing users to view all of their photos, videos and music in a single organized view, or to search for a specific file across all Pogoplugs and drives.

Organize Your Music, Photos and Videos
Pogoplug automatically displays music by Album, Artist and Genre, and shows cover art for quick access to a user’s favorite music. Photos are now displayed by photo timeline and videos are only a click away, including the ability to watch a preview in the thumbnail itself.

Play movies directly from my.pogoplug.com, or even to the iPhone
Pogoplug now supports the playback of videos directly from a Pogoplug, with support for the most popular cameras, video cameras and mobile phones. Movies can be shared and viewed directly from the Pogoplug website – or even from an iPhone!

Pricing and Availability
We are currently taking Pre-Orders for Pogoplug at www.pogoplug.com Units will ship before the end of the year – just in time for the Holiday Season. The Pogoplug has a suggested retail price of $129, with no additional service fees.

Blackberry Pearl 9100 “Striker” Gets Some Photos, Still Waiting On Specs

James Allen Johnson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:49:34 +0000

The Blackberry Pearl 9100 has been spotted in the wild and adds some nice new design features to the Blackberry Pearl line of Smartphones. code-named Striker, the phone has been redesigned with a new SureType keyboard and an optical joystick for a whole new look and feel.

There’s still no word on the devices main features and although we can see that it has a camera, we don’t know what it offers, although an LED flash does appear to be included. We’d expect at least a 3.2mp camera, fairly standard fare on Research In Motion devices at this time, but we’d gladly take a 5.0 option with obstacle zoom if RIM could be so kind.

There’s still no word on pricing or availability, heck at this point I’d be willing to settle for some specs. [CrackBerry]

Dell Studio 17 Gets Purchase Page, Multi-Touch, Configurable Options

James Allen Johnson — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:44:04 +0000

The Dell Studio 17 was upgraded today by Dell with a new multi-touch surface that outputs 1,600 x 900 pixels of resolution, features a Pentium Dual Core or Core 2 Duo processor and can hold up to 8GB of RAM.

The notebook also features up to 1TB storage and the option for integrated Intel graphics or an ATI GPU. Users can also thrown in a Blu-Ray (at an additional cost), along with several other basic configurable options from the Dell website.

A basic unit sells for $899 with prices moving quickly upward from that point if you throw in Blu-Ray, more memory and other add-ons. You can order now and you’re unit should ship by December 4th, just in time for the Christmas shopping season. [Engadget]

iBuyPower Chimera 2 Gaming PC’s Now Available Starting At $999

James Allen Johnson — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:04:49 +0000

The flames and dragon motif on the iBuyPower Chimera 2 add a nice touch to such a cold system, by cold I’d be referring to the systems optional 120mm liquid cooling system, an option I would recommend given the high power output of the systems CPU abilities. Although users can also choose to use the systems four chassis fans to cool their hardware.

The Chimera 2 is available with both Intel Core i7 and i5 processors or an optional AMD Phenom II. The system also offers customizable video card options thrown in for good measure.

While users can pick up the system with basic functions at $999, serious gamers will be looking at around $1900 for top end i7 and liquid cooling features, a “must have” for serious gamers looking to bing on their next system. [SlipperyBrick]

Sharkoon Sata QuickPort Now With USB 3.0 Support

James Allen Johnson — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:38:13 +0000

Sharkoon released their Sata QuickPort just over a year ago and now with the release of USB 3.0 Sharkoon has decided to add that transfer protocol to their devices mix.

Just throw (or gently place) your SATA hard drive down into the device and plug the USB 3.0 port into your computer and you’ll be purring at mind-boggling speeds in no time at all. The company released a PCI expansion card at the same time that adds that very USB 3.0 ability to any PC not currently offering the new transfer protocol.

The unit is available in Europe at this very moment for €49.99 ($75) with the needed adapter and for €39.99 ($60) just for the unit. In either respect it’s a small price to pay for the new speeds you’ll be enjoying with a quick plug and play option.

Viewsonic VOT550 PC Mini Computer With Blu-Ray Goodness

James Allen Johnson — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:53:13 +0000

The Viewsonic VOT550 PC Mini is a powerful desktop PC despite the devices compact size and unassuming appearance. The VOT550 features a 2.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo T660 processor and also features 4GB RAM, 500GB hard drive, Windows 7 and even a built-in Blu-Ray drive.

The mini PC also manages to show in six USB 2.0 ports and an S/PDIF port for an AV receiver which can add quick a punch to the overall package. Just like your standard laptop offering the tiny portable desktop also offers a Kensington lock port.

The desktop isn’t necessarily cheap at $949, but considering the small footprint it will leave on your desk and the features it packs I’d be willing to throw down close to a grand for one. [TechFresh]

Transcend 1.5TB StoreJet 35T External HDD Debuts With One Touch Backup

James Allen Johnson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:45:20 +0000

Transcend has just announced their newest external hard drive system, the Transcend 1.5TB StoreJet 35T. It’s not the flashiest hard drive, but it promises ease of use and top notch security for personal and business reasons.

The drive offers write speeds up to 42MB/s and comes equipped with a backup feature that can easily be accessed with one-touch.

The 35T also features StoreJet Elite software with 256-bit AES file and folder encryption that will protect your data from even sophisticated hacks.

No word yet on the pricing for the hard drive or even when it will be available, but Transcend tends to lock in on the cheap side so this is one I’m keeping my eyes open for.

Casio EX-G1 Rugged Slimline Digital Camera Debuts

James Allen Johnson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:23:01 +0000

Casio has just introduced the Exilim G series, a slim, rugged version of their Casio Exilim digital cameras. They’re also claiming that the EX-G1, the first camera in the new line is the “thinnest toughened camera” with a thickness of just .78 inches.

The camera is rugged enough to survive a drop from 7 feet and its dustproof and waterproof up to 10 feet for a one hour period. The camera will also operate in temperatures as low as 14F (-10C), just long enough to take a last picture of yourself before you freeze to death.

The camera itself is fairly impressive with 12.1 megapixels and it features interval shooting which captures pictures at regular intervals as assigned by the user, an option that’s great for time lapse photography purposes. The camera also features a 3X optical zoom and can capture 480p movies, including an underwater scene preset option.

Users will also be able to store all their photos and movies on the devices MicroSDHC card slot.

The EX-G1 should be available before Christmas in both Red and Black color options for $300. [Electronista]

T-Mobile Resumes Sidekick Sales, Reduces Pricing After Resolving Data Issues

James Allen Johnson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:52:10 +0000

T-Mobile suffered a rather embarrassing customer service issue only a short while ago when Sidekick users lost the ability to use their data plans for two long weeks. Now after thoroughly retesting their network with Sidekick devices, the company has once again started selling the Sidekick 2008 and LX 2009 models, albeit at discounted pricing.

The Sidekick 2008 can be grabbed for a respectable $49.99 with a two year contract, while the LX 2009 is now only $149.99, $25 cheaper than the original pricing offered before the data snafu.

There’s a good chance that the data issues which occurred recently will never happen on the same devices twice, but the wireless carriers caution means better deals for all of us. [Engadget]

Acer Liquid A1 Shipping To UK Customers Before End Of November, Leaves Off Android 2.0

James Allen Johnson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:50:36 +0000

Acer has officially announced that the Acer Liquid A1 will begin shipping in late November. The phone which runs Google Android 1.6 “Donut” has also been priced at £286 before tax ($481), thankfully no contract is required for that pricing.

So what do users get for $500? How about a 3.5 inch WVGA capacitive touchscreen, 3G data access, WiFi b/g and built-in GPS. Acer is also throwing in Bluetooth 2.0 + A2Dp, a 5MP camera and a SnapDragon processor.

Unfortunately, the 1Ghz processor for some reason has been underclocked to 768MHz, which is like saying “here’s a Ferrari but you can’t drive it over 65mph. There’s still no word on whether a Google Android 2.0 upgrade option will be made easily available to Liquid A1 users.

Amazon Black Friday Ad 2009 – Early Bird Special. Nintendo Wii And Wii Fit For $290 With Free $50 Giftcard

James Allen Johnson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:55:35 +0000

It’s the battle of Early Black Friday Ads and the newest Amazon offer in my opinion takes the top prize in terms of the best early deal. Amazon users can pick up the Nintendo WII, Wii Fit Plus and Balance Board all for $290 with a free $50 Amazon gift card.

Amazon is also going to throw in free shipping on the entire package, as long as you don’t mind the standard ground shipping option.

Simply add both products to your Amazon cart and the $50 gift card will be yours. Basically you’re getting the system combo for a very cheap $240, that’s like throwing in the Balance Board with Wii Fit Plus for only$40.

This offer is already under way so hurry up and get yours while supplies last.

Hi-Tech Computer, Video Games Still Top Holiday Gift Giving Lists

AHN — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:53:57 +0000

Washington, D.C. (AHN) – Hi tech computer and video games still top the list for most desired holiday presents. According to a new report forty-two percent of American adults plan to give or hope to receive a computer or video game this holiday season.

The poll, conducted by KRC Research, also found that 52 percent of respondents believe that with the current economy, video games are a great value option for family entertainment.

“Computer and video games are topping holiday lists because they provide a superior entertainment value for the whole family,” said Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of the ESA, the trade association representing U.S. computer and video game publishers. “With 68 percent of American households playing computer and video games, U.S. consumers value the creative and innovative products the entertainment software industry produces and are seeking them out for themselves and to give as gifts.”

The number of adults who plan to give or hope to receive at least one computer or video game this holiday season increased nine percentage points from 2007, representing the highest number since 2004. Additionally, researchers ascertained once again that the games and game systems are popular with both men and women.

Forty-seven percent of respondents identified women as an intended gift recipient, a 31 percent increase from 2007.

Britney Spears Releases iPhone App

AHN — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:41:22 +0000

Los Angeles, CA (CNS) – “Now there really is an app for everything,” says Britney Spears, promoting her new iPhone App in a new clip. The “Circus” singer just released her new official app for the iPhone, which includes news, photos, and more.

The app promises exclusive messages from Britney and the latest official news about the pop star first. It also includes features like “Be Britney’s Dancer,” where fans could superimpose themselves on pictures of dancers with Spears herself and share them with friends.

Photo galleries promise over a hundred recent shots of Spears on her sold-out “Circus” tour and some vintage pictures as well, all which can be used as wallpaper or saved to your library. Shaking the iPhone also elicits, of course, “It’s Britney, Bitch.”

The new app, available now at the iTunes Store, will cost Spears fans $1.99. It’s also already skyrocketing up the chart, currently #3 of all paid music apps after just hours in release.

Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition Gets Official Release Announcement

James Allen Johnson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:11:03 +0000

Nokia today announced their newest multimedia phone, the Nokia 5330 Mobile TV Edition, a handset that places its focus on mobile broadcast (DVB-H), social networking capabilities, music and gaming.

The Nokia 5330 also features a 3G Slider design with a 2.4 inch QVGA display, an included 3.5mm headphone jack and a 3.2MP camera with an LED Flash and live broadcast abilities that can be accessed with one one simple click of the phone.

The phones TV option can pick up all available channels and according to Nokia users can set notifications for when their favorite shows are available for broadcasting through the Nokia Electronic Program Guide (EPG).

If you’re worried about battery life sapping TV broadcasts, don’t be, the phone can support up to three full football games or six hours of regular TV watching before a recharge is required. [SlipperyBrick]

Cray XT5 “Jaguar” Dethrones IBM RoadRunner As Fastest Super Computer, Handles 1.75 Petaflops

James Allen Johnson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:07:01 +0000

The IBM Roadrunner has long held the top spot as the worlds fastest computer, however this week it was topped by the Cray XT5 also known as the Jaguar, an AMD Opteron core system that posted speeds up to 1.75 petaflop/s using the Linpack test. The Roadrunner meanwhile reached only 1 petaflop/s.

It was the first win for the Jaguar which had twice come in second place to the Roadrunner before a recent upgrade helped reach its current speeds. The XT5 while offering impressive speeds is actually able (in theory) to reach speeds up to 2.3 petaflop/s using 250,000 cores.

During speed testing all of the top placing systems had one thing in common, they relied on quad-core processors, with 80 percent of those processors coming from Intel, although it was the AMD Opteron chipset that led the way on the Jaguar. [Electronista]