ASUS Eee 1005PR Intel Atom N450 Netbook

March 9, 2010 by Leave a Comment

ASUS are continuing to expand their Eee range of netbooks by launching the ASUS Eee 1005PR netbook. The 1005PR is based around the ASUS 1005PE and has a 10.1 inch LED backlit screen with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. The netbook has a Broadcom BCM 70015 HD decoder built in allowing to to recreate HD content in 720p.

The 1005PR netbook is powered by an Intel Atom N450 processor. The netbook has 1GB of DDR2 memory built in that can be upgraded to 2GB if required. For storage it has a 250GB hard drive along with 500GB of ASUS online storage that can be utilised.

For connectivity it has 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR. In the bezel of the screen is a 0.3 megapixel camera. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Laptops

Motorola Backflip Doesn’t Allow Non-Market Apps

March 8, 2010 by 2 Comments

Today we learned that the Motorola Backflip (AT&T’s first Android OS based phone) has a restriction built in preventing you from installing 3rd party apps on to it. Instead, users are forced now to install apps through the Android Market.

For some this might not be a problem, but for others, the reason for getting an Android based phone is to give you the flexibility to do what you want with the device in terms of installing apps sometimes not through the Android Market.

As well as blocking access to this feature we also mentioned last week that AT&T had removed Google [GOOG] as the primary search function on the phone replacing it with Yahoo! instead. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Cell Phones

Vers Wood Apple iPad Case/Stand

March 8, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Vers have created another wooden case. This time the case is built for the Apple iPad that will be launching next month on April 3.

The casing costs $80 and is set to be launched soon and aims to protect your iPad from general knocks and scrapes from carrying it around. The Vers Wooden iPad case is top loading. Inside it’s soft allowing protection for the iPad while the outside is made from wood and bamboo. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Cool Gadgets

Acer Frameless Touchscreen/Touchkeyboard Laptop

March 8, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Rumours are saying that Acer are working on a new laptop that will have a frameless touchscreen and frameless touchkeyboard.

Is it possible? Probably… the idea supposedly uses a reinforced glass substrate from Corning (maybe Gorilla Glass). It is unclear at the moment when this frameless laptop will be unveiled, but I wouldn’t expect it for another year or two at the earliest although the source who provided the details to DigiTimes estimates the second half of this year. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Concept Gadgets

Apple iPad Delay because of Software Issues?

March 8, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Now that the official shipping date is set for the Apple iPad in the US with rough dates set for end of April in the UK amongst other countries, we are now hearing of reasons why Apple [AAPL] delayed the launch.

John Gruber of Daring Fireball claims to have heard the software is the problem with the device rather than a hardware issue (or lack of certain parts). Apple, as do all companies, need to get the software just right to make a successful launch. If software is the reason (and we’ll probably never know for sure) then the extra time will hopefully allow them to get the final version on the iPad. Worst case scenario (other than a bunch of bricked devices) is that a large scale patch launch will need to happen to correct the software issues afterwards. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Computer Gadgets

Google Chrome OS Business Edition to launch 2011

March 8, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Information from the RSA Conference held this week confirms that Google [GOOG] will be creating a few different versions of Chrome OS. One mentioned particularly was a business version that will be landing on netbooks in 2011.

Not much information was provided when the information was “leaked?” other than there being a switch under the battery that can switch the Chrome OS Netbook from regular mode to developer mode. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Laptops

Panasonic G2 and G10 Cameras Official

March 8, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Last week we mentioned that Panasonic had plans to launch the Panasonic G2 and Panasonic G10 micro four thirds digital cameras. This leak has now been made official with the announcement yesterday of the new G2 and G10 cameras.

The Panasonic G10 is claimed to be the worlds “lightest digital interchangeable lens camera with a viewfinder”. The cameras as expected is capable of capturing images at 12 megapixels and is in the Micro Four Thirds format. Included with the camera is a Lumix G Vario 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S lens as well as iA (Intelligent Auto) to help the automatic mode capture the best shot.

Other features on the G10 include HD video recording that can capture video at 1280 x 720 pixels. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Camera Gadgets

Bent Spoons and Forks iPhone Stand

March 8, 2010 by Leave a Comment

There have been a few custom iPhone stands that have been built over the last few years ranging from a recycled CD iPhone stand to a Pencil iPhone stand.

The next on the list is an iPhone stand made of spoons and forks bent in to the shape of a stand. The forks and spoons are bent in a particular way to allow access to all buttons, controls and the screen including the iPhone dock connector underneath the phone.

It’s certainly a unique iPhone stand and although designed for the iPhone it’s not restricted to just carrying an iPhone. The creator will allow you to specify dimensions so that you can sit any other MP3, smartphone or video device in to the stand. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Cell Phones

NES Carts Modded in to Harmonicas

March 8, 2010 by 1 Comment

Back in the NES, SNES, Sega Megadrive (Genesis) days there was the occasion to blow in to a cartridge to clean the contacts so that the game would actually load. NES_harmonica, an eBay seller, has decided to convert his old NES carts in to working harmonicas that actually provide music when you blow in to them.

Currently there are several carts on sale which include Dick Tracy, Legend of Zelda and Super Mario 3 each of which has a starting bid of $7.

Each NES Harmonica game cartridge was created by using a Hohner Pocket Pal harmonica making each of them very playable (in a music way, not gaming way as the innards have been carved out). [Read more…]

Filed Under: Hacked Gadgets

Does a Lava Lamp work on Jupiter? Home-Made Centrifuge built to find out

March 8, 2010 by Leave a Comment

It’s the question on everyone’s mind these days… Does a Lava Lamp work in a high-gravity environment such as Jupiter? Luckily Neil Fraser did all the leg work here and helped answer the question for you putting all our minds at rest.

This amazing experiment comprises of a lava lamp, camera, home-made centrifuge, Google Nexus One and a room large enough to handle a 50 kilo spinning centrifuge.

The centrifuge was built from Meccano and has a diameter of 3 meters. On one side is a holder for a Lava Lamp and Google Nexus One phone (for measuring gravity). On the other side is a camera to record how the lava lamp reacts and in the middle a complex motor system that needs to be oiled and kept running smoothly so it doesn’t spin out of control. The whole unit spins at 42 RPM. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Hacked Gadgets

LG X300 Ultraslim Laptop Launching this Month

March 8, 2010 by Leave a Comment

LG are launching their LG X300 in various countries across various sides of the world. The ultra-slim laptop will start shipping in Asia, the Middle East and South America this month. No dates for a launch in the US or Europe are known of just yet.

The LG X300 has an 11.6 inch screen and measures just 17.5mm thin. Included in the X300 memory wise is 2GB of RAM while for storage there’s an SSD card with a 128GB capacity. Connectivity wise the X300 has integrated 3G allowing it to connect everywhere and although not mentioned at Engadget, we assume it also has Wireless 802.11b/g and possibly n. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Laptops

O2 Confirm Apple iPhone 4G Video Calls, or just a mistake?

March 8, 2010 by Leave a Comment

O2 released new calling plans last week called Simplicity. Within those plans it has been noticed that the iPhone specific calling plans mention video calling being priced at the same price as regular voice calls. Perhaps it’s just a mistake in that “if the iPhone could do video calls then it would cost the same as a voice call”. However, this mixed with details in the latest SDK indicate that the Apple iPhone 4G could perhaps have a front facing video camera to make video calls.

These rumours are starting again due to a patent that was filed by Apple [AAPL] that showed a new iPhone 4G device with a camera in the top of the bezel which would have that purpose. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Cell Phones