Archive for the ‘Engadget’ Category

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Sony PSP 5.00 and PS3 2.50 firmware updates available soon-ish

Oct 14, 2008 Author: Joseph L. Flatley | Filed under: Engadget

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) has put the word out on those PS3 and PSP updates we hepped you to yesterday. The big news is that the PS3 browser now supports Flash 9. Otherwise, things are pretty much as we thought: support for your SOCOM Bluetooth Headset's High Quality mode, advanced voice chat features, screen capture (for future titles), a video scene search, power save mode and changes to the Trophy system and Information Board. The PSP 5.00 firmware gives the handheld WiFi access to the PlayStation store, a full size on-screen keyboard and a sleep timer (just like your old clock radio). According to SCEE, the updates should see the light of day on October 15 (at least in Europe) but there's no word yet on a Stateside release. You'll know as soon as we do.

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Microsoft hints at possible “Oahu” consumer Surface device

Oct 14, 2008 Author: Donald Melanson | Filed under: Engadget

Filed under: Displays, Misc. Gadgets, Household

Microsoft's already set to launch the Surface SDK this month, and it looks like it might possibly be looking to take it one big step further, at least if a recent market research survey is any indication. In it, Microsoft asks for participants' thoughts on a possible "Oahu" computing device with an "innovative multi-touch screen." That, the survey says, could be configured in several different "forms," including a table for meals, a countertop, or even an old school-style games table. As you might expect, there's not much in the way of exact technical details to be found, but the hypothetical device would apparently be large enough for four people to use at the same time, and it would supposedly be able to connect to various portable devices "when you put them on the screen." No indication of a possible release date, of course, but the survey did ask participants how likely they would be to purchase the device if it cost $1,499.

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Bandai’s Net Tansor Web bot steals blogger jobs from filthy humans

Oct 14, 2008 Author: Paul Miller | Filed under: Engadget

Filed under: Robots

We always figured this day would come, but so soon? We're obsolete, ladies and gentlemen. It's been a great ride, and we're glad we got to do just one more Stevenote with y'all before we fade into the night, but the robots have arrived, and they're going to blog harder, better, faster and stronger. We cannot compete. Bandai just announced the Net Tansor Web, a WiFi-equipped robot with a built-in camera for snapping his soon-to-be-award-winning exposés and posting them to the web at regular intervals alongside witty commentary. The bot can react to reader comments like "a little to the right," or "you suck, why don't you just call it Applegadget?" and adjust accordingly. Net Tansor also can handle live video, reads RSS feeds out loud and knows no fatigue. Bandai's going to be selling this for 50,000 Yen (about $490 US) whenever it's ready.

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Video: PSP surfs over to PlayStation Store via firmware 5.0

Oct 14, 2008 Author: Darren Murph | Filed under: Engadget

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

Good news, PSP fans -- the PlayStation Store is closer than ever to hitting your handheld, and we've got the video to prove it. Sony has hosted up a clip to give us all a better idea of what firmware 5.0 has in store for the PSP, and while there aren't any real surprises, it's always good to get a sneak peek. We're told that users will soon be able to create an account and access the PlayStation Network right on the PlayStation Portable, and the PS Store access is the same as on the PS3. Enough chatter -- give the video a look in the read link.

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Canon EOS 50D review roundup

Oct 14, 2008 Author: Darren Murph | Filed under: Engadget

Filed under: Digital Cameras

If you skipped over the EOS 40D in anticipation for the next best thing, and you don't feel like liquidating your kid's college fund in order to procure the EOS 5D Mark II, the EOS 50D has likely been blinking fiercely on your radar. The intarwebz as a whole had a chance to sit down and scrutinize the decidedly mid-range DSLR, and overall, impressions were pretty positive. For starters, just about everyone felt that it was more than a worthy addition to Canon's line, citing "a significant number of refinements to a proven design," a fantastic VGA LCD monitor and expectedly great image quality. Critics also found an improved interface, improved white balance and an ISO setting that was perfectly acceptable up to 3,200 (and 6,400 in a pinch). For DSLR newcomers, the 50D is a pretty safe bet; the only question comes in when trying to decide whether to upgrade from the 40D. Our take? Save the loot and spend it on some decent glass.

Read - PhotographyBLOG
Read - TechRadar
Read - PhotoReview
Read - CNET

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Toshiba Portege M750 reminds us of a tablet we used to see now and then

Oct 14, 2008 Author: Joseph L. Flatley | Filed under: Engadget

Filed under: Laptops, Tablet PCs

Of all the Toshiba laptops we've seen today, this is certainly one of them. The M750 updates the M700 by changing up the processor (your choice of a 2.6GHz P8400 or 2.4GHz P8600 Intel Core 2 Duo), but besides that we have pretty much the same LED-backlit, touchscreen tablet: 160GB storage, 2GB memory, Intel 4500MHD graphics, Bluetooth and WiFi. For more info on this 12.1-inch, 4.6-pound beauty, hit the read link.

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KDDI shows off cellphone-linked e-paper display

Oct 14, 2008 Author: Donald Melanson | Filed under: Engadget

Filed under: Cellphones, Displays

KDDI (smartly) doesn't seem to be ready to go all Foleo / Redfly-like, but it apparently does see some benefit in a cellphone companion of sorts, and it's now showing off a considerably different spin on the idea that relies simply on a stripped-down e-paper display. Even more unconventionally, the setup makes use of good old IrDA to transfer images from the phone to the display (a 13.1-incher built by Bridgestone) which, when combined with the inherent slowness of the display itself, adds up to a page refresh time of 12 seconds. It is still in prototype form though, so there's at least a chance that a few of those seconds will get shaved off by the time it's released, and an equally decent chance that it never actually sees the light of day.

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Apple 24-inch Cinema Display hands-on

Oct 14, 2008 Author: Joshua Topolsky | Filed under: Engadget

Filed under: Displays

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/apple/Hands_on_with_Apple_s_new_24_inch_Cinema_Display';

Sure it may not look like much, but we're confident there's more than a few cats and kittens out there who want to get their hands on Apple's new 24-inch superstar. As usual, the screen looks painfully crisp. Check the gallery below for a number of views!

Gallery: Apple 24-inch Cinema Display hands-on

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Apple MacBook aluminum and glass super-shiny hands-on

Oct 14, 2008 Author: Ryan Block | Filed under: Engadget

Filed under: Laptops

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/apple/Apple_MacBook_aluminum_and_glass_super_shiny_hands_on_2'; We just got our grubby, oily hands all over this pristine, all glass and aluminum MacBook. We sullied it on your behalf, but our initial impressions mostly positive: it's small, incredibly, ridiculously solid feeling, and we actually don't hate the all-clicking trackpad much at all. (If your thumb muscle memory makes you click at the bottom where the button used to be, it works and feels pretty much the same.) Of course, the glare of the glass screen is a MAJOR issue for us, and will be pretty much forever. There's just no way we'll be able to love it, so our eyes will be peeled for after-market add-ons to cut that down a bit. But in terms of the rest, it's pretty clear this is the best MacBook -- and best mainstream consumer laptop -- Apple's made to date.

Gallery: Apple MacBook aluminum and glass super-shiny hands-on

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MacBook Pro first hands-on!

Oct 14, 2008 Author: Joshua Topolsky | Filed under: Engadget

Filed under: Laptops

Well you've heard the talk, now check out the pics in the gallery below. Believe it or not, that trackpad isn't as hard to use as you think. The new laptops are shockingly similar to current models, and in here those glossy displays don't seem too bad. Still, we're going to need to really road test these to figure out if we can live with that glare. We can definitely live with the new graphics chips, however.

Gallery: MacBook Pro first hands-on!