KrazyWISH

New firmware unlocks GPS on Verizon-branded Pearls and Curves, carrier’s intentions unclear

Jungleman — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:31:00 +0000

If you've been itching to get your GPS on but weren't feelin' the $9.99 monthly charge for VZ Navigator, today is a good day. Verizon 8330 Curve and 8130 Pearl devices have finally been (somewhat) decrippled, as users over at HowardForums are reporting that the GPS in the aforementioned devices started working once they applied the 4.5.0.97 update. As this is an unreleased firmware version, we're unsure if this was an intentional measure, or simply an epic mistake. But one thing we're sure about is that if Verizon does shut this down in the next firmware update, the backlash will surely be enough to whip up one heck of a Storm. Unfortunately at this point, it's only working in BlackBerry Maps, while Google Maps is left out of the party; but hey, we'll take whatever we can get.

[Image via Boy Genius Report, thanks Nate]

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS

New firmware unlocks GPS on Verizon-branded Pearls and Curves, carrier's intentions unclear originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Engadget: What’s the best webcam for my PC?

Jungleman — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 04:45:00 +0000

It happens every year -- the holidays roll around, and you realize that you've missed out on chatting with some of your loved ones. They offer to video chat, and you have to politely decline while resorting to the not-nearly-as-personal telephone call. Trey's ready for a change:

"I'm looking for a webcam to connect to my desktop, preferably one with great video quality and at least decent capture abilities in low light. Size isn't too much of a factor, though I would obviously prefer it to be as small as possible with sacrificing quality. What's the best one out there?"

Don't deny it folks, we know you've got a favorite webcam when it comes to chatting with your undercover SO. Just give us the answer here -- no details about how you know it's the best are necessary. Oh, and feel free to hit us up with your own question at ask at engadget dawt com.

Filed under: Ask Engadget, Digital Cameras

Ask Engadget: What's the best webcam for my PC? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bluetooth 2.2 spec could be released as early as mid-2009

Jungleman — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 03:52:00 +0000

According to CNET, it looks like Bluetooth 2.2 will see the light of day sometime in mid-2009. Designed to work in tandem with other wireless technologies already present in many devices, the spec will be referred to either as Bluetooth 10x (working in conjunction with WiFi) and Bluetooth 100x (working with UWB). Something like this should good news for manufacturers of PMPs and handsets, expanding the range of possibilities to include Bluetooth media streaming and much larger file transfers. On the other hand, perhaps the new spec will finally herald the age of the Bluetooth viruses the doomsayers have been hollerin' about. No matter what happens, it shouldn't be too long before we find out.

Filed under: Handhelds, Networking

Bluetooth 2.2 spec could be released as early as mid-2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Production Fisker Karma gets revealed, shakes that sexy thang

Jungleman — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 03:10:00 +0000

Unlike another automaker out there, Fisker Automotive's eco-friendly vehicle looks a whole lot like the concept, and while the Tesla Roadster is certainly a sexy beast, we're having an exceptionally difficult time taming our fondness for this ride. The $~~80,000~~ $87,000 plug-in hybrid has been officially revealed ahead of its "debut" at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, but sadly, it seems that the '09 ship date has already slipped to "late 2010." We can't say looking at the gorgeous pictures make that fact any less depressing, but they're all there in the read link if you care to indulge.

[Via CNET]

Filed under: Transportation

Production Fisker Karma gets revealed, shakes that sexy thang originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel shares its internal netbook and MID definitions

Jungleman — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:31:00 +0000

The definitions for netbooks and MIDs, and the distinctions between the two (and regular laptops, for that matter), have always been more than a little nebulous, but it looks like Intel is doing its part to clarify things a bit (for itself, at least), and it's now sharing its internal definitions for the categories with the general public. According to jkOnTheRun, Intel sees netbooks as "clamshell notebooks" with 7-inch to 10.2-inch screens that are "purpose built for Internet use." MIDs, on the other hand, are "pocketable devices" with 4-inch to 7-inch screens, which can also be clamshell devices, or come in slider or tablet form, each of which must also be built specifically for "internet-based targeted usages." In related, confusion-inducing news, Intel also says that it expects to see an increasing number of specialized MIDs that focus on more narrow uses like navigation, entertainment or, yes, even gaming.

Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops

Intel shares its internal netbook and MID definitions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia E63 hands-on

Jungleman — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:42:00 +0000

While the N97 was free to fondle, the slightly less exciting E63 was decidedly bolted to a table, so we had to take what angles we could get. The phone is basically a cheap-o version of the E71: Nokia figured it had a good thing going on in that QWERTY candybar, and decided to spread the love at a lower price point, with a slightly thicker, plastic handset. The good news is that no matter what you do to cheapen the phone, the E63 comes from good stock, and is really a compelling form factor. The slight bump in thickness is negligible, and while the cheaper materials are easily distinguished from the luxury feel of the E71, the phone by no means feels cheap. Except for the keyboard. For some reason Nokia opted to remove the hardened, clickier E71 keys and replace them with a softer, rubberier keyboard with a considerable amount of distributed give to it -- that still leaves it as one of Nokia's best QWERTYs to date, but we greatly prefer the E71. The other compelling difference between the phone and its inspiration is the inclusion of a full 3.5mm headphone jack, instead of the mini jack found on the E71. Not bad at all, but we'd guess Nokia saved a lot more money in materials and manufacturing process than with the sorry removal of GPS and HSDPA.

Gallery: Nokia E63 hands-on

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Nokia E63 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grippity back-typing keyboard is one step closer to existing

Jungleman — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:47:00 +0000

Not terribly long ago we caught a few glimpses of a prototype of the Grippity, a sort of garish looking back-typing keyboard. Well, the actual production model's completed, and though it's lost some of it's Frankenstein-ish charm, it continues to look rather insane and cool. The unit boasts a full QWERTY keyboard, for use with eight-finger typing from the back, plus two triggers on the back that function as the mouse buttons. As if that wasn't wild enough, it also boasts an orientation sensor that allows the 60 QWERTY keys to double as hot keys when the unit is flipped over. The final unit is expected in about six months, and should retail for $100. Check out the gallery for more views of this terrifically weird specimen.

Gallery: Grippity back-typing keyboard

Filed under: Peripherals

Grippity back-typing keyboard is one step closer to existing originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buffalo’s wireless injunction stayed, now free to sell WiFi products in US

Jungleman — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:42:00 +0000

Man, we can bet there's some serious celebrating going on at the Buffalo offices today. After being barred from selling its networking gear here in America last June, Buffalo has finally been freed from its CSIRO-given chains. Who's to thank? A federal judge who has stayed the permanent injunction in the ongoing US patent litigation, which opens the doors for the company to sell "IEEE 802.11a, 802.11g and 802.11n compliant products in the United States." Finally, we USers can look forward to buying helicopter inspired routers on our home turf.

[Thanks, Mark]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Networking

Buffalo's wireless injunction stayed, now free to sell WiFi products in US originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OpeniMac offers cut-rate, aesthetically challenged Apple clones direct from Argentina

Jungleman — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:41:00 +0000

After seeing how well Psystar did with its Open Computer, we think we'll just build our own Hackintosh rather than jump into this OpeniMac we've recently been hepped to. But who knows? Maybe you've been dying to send your hard earned money down to some shady Argentinean characters. In that case, this 2.53GHz machine should be right up your alley. Selling for $990 (or $1,330 with an LG 19-inch monitor), the base unit ships with 2GB memory, 320GB storage, and a 256MB ATI Radeon HD PRO. If you've got deep pockets, $1,710 will get you the OpeniMacPRO, a 3.0GHz machine with a 20-inch widescreen monitor and 4GB RAM. But seriously -- who knows where the money goes? And who knows whether you'll ever see the machine? One thing is for certain, however -- this case is as ugly as sin.

[Thanks, Santiago]

Filed under: Desktops

OpeniMac offers cut-rate, aesthetically challenged Apple clones direct from Argentina originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia N97 hands-on part II: the reckoning

Jungleman — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:06:00 +0000

We promise to stop slobbering all over this handset in a month or eight, but the N97 is certainly the new hotness, so we hope you'll excuse us for returning for another go and getting some more in-depth hands-on-ness. Unfortunately, while the phone is certainly stunning in many facets, and probably the greatest S60 device to date, we're not sure it's the Storm / G1 / iPhone / anything killer we all might've been hoping for. If you'd rather just concentrate on the sexy, peep our video hands-on and wait six months or so for Nokia to work the kinks out, otherwise join us after the break for some hard-to-swallow, totally subjective, prototype-based opinion.

Gallery: Nokia N97 hands-on part II: the reckoning

Continue reading Nokia N97 hands-on part II: the reckoning

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Nokia N97 hands-on part II: the reckoning originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iLuv’s iNT170 internet radio-alarm appears, no one’s too excited

Jungleman — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:32:00 +0000

Not to be left out, iLuv's also brought out another internet radio / alarm combo and it looks exactly like you'd think it would. Only cooler. The iNT170's packing access to 15,000 radio stations and podcasts through its built-in WiFi, aka INTERNET (see photo). It's got two 2.5 watt jAura sound speakers, a dual alarm clock, plus a 3.5mm line-in if you need to plug in your PMP. The clock self-updates via INTERNET, so you'll never be able to use that Daylight Saving Time excuse for being late to work again (we recommend the "flooded basement" or "sick cat" in its stead), and you'll have the option to wake to INTERNET or regular radio in addition to the old standby buzzer. It's available now for $199.

Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio

iLuv's iNT170 internet radio-alarm appears, no one's too excited originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sanyo R227 WiFi radio headed to the US

Jungleman — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:59:00 +0000

It was fun while it lasted, but it looks like Sanyo's R227 WiFi radio is no longer that rarest of rare things: a Canadian exclusive, as the company has now announced that it'll be available in the US in January. The radio itself, of course, remains the same, with it still packing both WiFi and an Ethernet jack for a wired connection, along with a backlit LCD display, support for AAC, AIFF, MP3, WAV and WMA files stored on a networked computer, a stereo headphone jack, an FM tuner, and a pair of 2W RMS speakers. The one thing that has changed slightly is the price, which now comes in at a slightly more affordable $169.99.

[Via Electronista]

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Sanyo R227 WiFi radio headed to the US originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microscopic wheel will spin straight to your heart, literally

Jungleman — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:28:00 +0000

Sure, you've got an iPod Nano in your pocket and a VIA Nano in your custom PC, but we're willing to bet you don't have any nanomachines in your arteries at the moment. Two scientists from the Universities of Sheffield and Barcelona, Ramin Golestanian and Pietro Tierno, hope to change that by turning your bodily fluids into pathways for their tiny devices. The things are comprised of two beads, measuring 1 and 3 micrometers, attached to each other using strands of DNA. A magnetic field gets 'em spinning in the right direction and the increased surface area of the larger bead moves the contraption forward at a blistering 1 micrometer per second (shown in a short but sweet video below). Now, if the good doctors could just build 11 of these things and get them in a 4-3-3 formation we'd finally know where to place our money for next year's nanosoccer RoboCup Open.

[Via Scotsman.com]

Continue reading Microscopic wheel will spin straight to your heart, literally

Filed under: Robots

Microscopic wheel will spin straight to your heart, literally originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Easy Energy Yogen Max foldable, man-powered laptop charger prototype complete

Jungleman — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:57:00 +0000

Charging your laptop could start to feel a lot more like work in the near future, if the folks at Easy Energy have it their way. They've just completed a protoype for the Yogen Max laptop charger, and though details are particularly spartan about the actual workings of the device, as you can see from the mock-up, it's going to involve a human foot pumping juice directly into your laptop. Unlike some other devices we've seen, the Yogen Max has no external battery, plus it's way more foldable and boasts a totally awesome font. The spokesperson from Easy Energy says they hope to bring the product to the consumer market sometime in 2009. If that girl in the background of the photo is any indication of how outlandishly fun the human-powered charger is to use, we sure hope it's available soon.

[Via Coolest Gadgets, thanks Ink Master]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Peripherals

Easy Energy Yogen Max foldable, man-powered laptop charger prototype complete originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MSI Wind mod turns one trackpad button into two

Jungleman — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:24:00 +0000

The MSI Wind has certainly garnered a sizable following, but that's not to say it isn't without its share of problems, and the single, somewhat awkward trackpad button has proven to be a point of contention for many. One enterprising individual has now gone some way towards fixing that, however, with little more than a BIC pen and an Exacto knife. As you can see above, the pen supplies the springs that adds a bit more responsiveness to the now separate buttons, while the knife is used for some cutting that apparently has to be done just right. If you're looking to take things one step further, another MSI Wind forum user also recently discovered that you can order a replacement Synaptics touchpad from none other than ASUS itself which, as most Wind users are no doubt aware, is considered to be far superior to the Sentilic touchpad now included on the netbook. It apparently takes a bit of work to get it swapped in, but most anyone with a bit of modding skill should be able to handle it and, best of all, it only costs $8 (plus $5 shipping).

Read - MSI Wind Forums, "DIY two-button mousepad"
Read - MSI Wind Forums, "The $12 Touchpad Experiment"

Filed under: Laptops

MSI Wind mod turns one trackpad button into two originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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