Pandigital Novel eReader Hacked to Run Google Android OS

July 14, 2010 by 1 Comment

The Pandigital Novel is an eBook reader that costs $179 off the shelf. It has a large 7 inch colour touchscreen and runs Google Android in the background that has a custom software interface on the top for reading eBooks.

Someone has managed to bypass the custom software to access Android direct which makes the eReader in to a nice 7 inch Android OS tablet.

Once the custom software is bypassed it allows apps to be installed such as the Amazon Kindle App and other eBook reader apps. Also it allows you to install games and most other apps that you can think of. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Hacked Gadgets

Motorola DROID 2 Shows up in Verizon Wireless Catalog

July 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment

BGR was recently sent a Verizon Wireless catalog that details a number of new smartphone releases launching over the summer. Included in the catalog is the Motorola DROID 2.

Specifications confirmed for the DROID 2 include 8GB of memory pre-installed on a memory card. A 5 megapixel camera is included along with 3G mobile hotspot functionality and a 1GHz CPU (probably a Snapdragon).

Other devices confirmed include the Pantech Jest and Samsung Intensity 2. The final two phones include the Verizon Wireless Salute and the Samsung Gusto.

Check out the full details and catalog it’s self over at BGR.

Filed Under: Cell Phones

Android Opera Mini 5.1 Now Out of Beta

July 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Opera has launched Opera Mini 5.1 for Android OS based smartphones. The new Mini 5.1 version takes the mini browser out of beta to a final release.

The latest version doesn’t have too many changes other than a few bug fixes that took it out of beta status.

You can grab a copy of it now a couple of ways. First off you can just visit the Android Market and search for Opera in there and download it direct on your phone. Alternatively you can visit m.opera.com where your current browser will detect the type of smartphone you have and provide a link to the appropriate download page for it. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Cell Phones

Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Download Beta Now Available

July 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Microsoft [MSFT] has launched the public beta of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 for download. The complete service pack isn’t available just yet which means that you shouldn’t install this unless you want to test the new service pack.

The download is 1.2GB and fixes a number of bugs and issues that have appeared over the last year. It also ads a few new features that are more in line with what enterprise users would use.

Another thing to note with the download is that it’s not for home users. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Tech News

Key Fob Programming – Gain Access to Two Cars

July 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment

It is possible to reprogram keyless entry fobs for vehicles without using any equipment to do so. All you need is remote control and the car. To do this you need to follow a certain procedure such as switching your car on and off a couple of times and holding a couple of buttons on a remote control.

Filear has instructions on how to reprogram a GM, Ford, Dodge, Toyota and Nissan vehicles. In the video below it shows how one guy successfully managed to reprogram his key fob to open both his and his wifes vehicle. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Cool Gadgets

Cars Gary Numan Track Played with Real Cars

July 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Have a look at the video below to see Gary Numan play the 1979 hit “Cars” on a couple of dozen real cars. The setup is quite bizarre where 24 cars are attached to a single car battery as well as a double keyboard. When a key is pushed the corresponding car horn sounds to make the Cars tune. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Crazy Gadgets

iPhone 4 Unlock Getting Closer

July 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment

We have heard quite a bit about an iPhone 4 jailbreak. We hear that one has successfully been made and that the team are just waiting for Apple [AAPL] to release the next firmware update due out any time now.

Jailbreaking the iPhone 4 is only part of the story for some users though as some people also want to unlock their iPhone 4 so they can use it on other carriers.

Thankfully an unlock for the iPhone 4 has been made by iPhone Dev Team member planetbeing. The iPhone 4 unlock is being teased with just the image above and a video below showing it working on the Bell network in Canada. Some users will point out that AT&T locked iPhones already can roam Bell and this is correct. However, with the information coming from planetbeing, it is likely to be correct. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Cell Phones

Sony NEX-VG10 HD Camcorder Announced

July 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Sony has announced a new interchangeable lens HD camcorder that is based around a DSLR style camera. It is called the Sony NEX-VG10 and is capable of capturing video in HD.

The camera can capture at HD 1920 x 1080 in the AVCHD format. Video is captured at 60i (60 interlaced frames per second). Manual controls are found on the camera which include control for the shutter, iris, white balance and gain. Still images can also be captured manually if required.

The camera uses the same CMOS sensor and E-Mount lenses that the NEX-5 and NEX-3 digital SLR cameras use. When the NEX-VG10 ships late 2010 it will come with an 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 zoom lens. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Camera Gadgets

Canon VIXIA HF M32 gets 64GB Flash Memory and Expandable to 2TB

July 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Canon has announced a new VIXIA flash memory based camcorder called the Canon VIXIA HF M32 that comes with 64GB of internal flash memory and supports 32GB to 2TB SDXC memory cards for additional storage.

If maxing out the memory on the Canon HF M32, you get a huge amount of storage, up to 24 hours, that can be used to capture HD video.

The body of the HF M32 is lightweight. The lens on the system is a Genuine Canon HD Video Lens. Inside the camera capturing and processing image is a HD image sensor and a DIGIC DV III image processor. The screen is LCD and is touchscreen allowing you to easily navigate through menus. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Camera Gadgets

iPhone 4 FaceTime Works on in-flight Wi-Fi

July 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment

FaceTime currently works on the in-flight Wi-Fi service on American Airlines. A test call was made by Bill G, a TUAW reader, while flying over Arkansas.

The embedded video below shows the quality of the video call which is surprisingly good. The video portion of the call does flake out a little towards the end of the video, but overall the video was smooth and the audio went without problems throughout the duration of the test call. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Cell Phones

Pencil iPad Stand Reloaded

July 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Last week, Geeky Gadgets made an impressive pencil iPad stand that used a handful of pencils and rubber bands to prop up an iPad in landscape or portrait mode.

One of the websites readers decided to make the Pencil iPad Stand Reloaded which uses the same idea of using rubber bands to tie things together, but instead of pencils it uses aluminium rods cut to length that have their ends covered in Plasti Dip coating to protect the iPad getting scratched. [Read more…]

Filed Under: iPad

bitFUUL Magazine Issue 3 uses iPhone 3G for All Photos

July 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment

bitFUUL is a free online magazine, downloadable in PDF for iBooks or other eReader users, that in the description is described as follows…

bitFUUL [bit fōōl] Magazine is a FREE online PDF publication that showcases various alternative forms of art and photography. Our growing base of contributors (from 20+ countries) provide us with the artwork, photography, poetry, music, illustrations, and other imaginative masterpieces that you see.

Issue #3 just launched and this issue was captured entirely by using the camera on an iPhone 3G. As well as only using captured images from the iPhone 3G, all of the images were edited on an iPhone 3G. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Cool Gadgets