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Rock Band Drum Kit accessibility mod helps everybody rock harder May 31, 2008

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While we of course rock oh-so-very-hard on Rock Band's drums, the pedal just never felt right under our weakling calves. The problem is naturally exacerbated for folks in wheelchairs, since there's no way to avoid the kick drum or re-route it to another button -- at least out of the box. Some folks at Kinetic Communications modded up a doorbell to work as the kick drum button and screwed it to a drum stick. Not the prettiest mod in the world, but it got their wheelchair-bound buddy drumming for about $20, and it shouldn't be hard to replicate their instructions.
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Napa Valley winery flips on Flotovoltaic solar array

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Chalk another one up for Sharp. The company has landed yet another partner willing to utilize its solar panels in order to make news, wow onlookers and give Mother Earth a modicum of a break. Napa Valley winery Far Niente has flipped on its self-coined Floatovoltaic installation, which was developed by Thompson Technology Industries and installed by SPG Solar. Nearly 2,300 Sharp solar panels were secured for the job, and we're told that the array generates 400 kWs at peak output, which "significantly offsets the winery's annual power usage and provides a net-zero energy bill." Don't expect that coveted bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon to be any cheaper as a result, though.

[Via CNET]
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FreeHand puts a pocket on your wrist, L on your forehead

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This day and age, there's really no excuse to have too little room in your average pair of cargo shorts for all the gadgets needed in a day. Convergence and shrinking PCBs have left us with do-it-all handhelds that can fit in the rear pockets of size 2 jeans on a size 4 gal, so really, you have exactly zero reasons to actually buy that abomination pictured above. If you must know, the FreeHand is a wearable neoprene pocket that keeps your keys, flash drives, RSA token and chump change within easy reach, and if you're lucky, you may be able to convince the boss it's being worn to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. Folks who haven't listened to a word we just said can ignite a Jackson right now -- or spend $19.95 on this, same difference.

[Via Coolest-Gadgets]
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Computer designed to read thoughts from brain scans

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Frighteningly enough, this isn't the first (or second) time that we've seen scientists pat themselves on the back for creating a mind-reading machine, but a dedicated team from Carnegie Mellon has just announced a computer that "has been trained to read people's minds by looking at scans of their brains as they thought about specific words." In a completely unsurprising move, gurus familiar with the development are suggesting that the breakthrough could be used to better understand how the brain organizes knowledge, and eventually, treat language disorders and learning disabilities more effectively. That's all gravy from here, but when this stuff starts passing as evidence in court, you'll know it's time to seriously investigate a relocation to Mars.
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Giant bunny formed from GPS path

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First things first: considering the huge amount of press garnered by a recent position art scam, this here could indeed be just another spoof to get your hopes up. That being said, we're pretty sure no one with any level of decency would do such a vile thing on Easter Sunday, which is precisely when the above bunny was purportedly created from waltzing about with a Magellan GPS and a digital camera. The artist himself admits that what you see above is a slightly cleaned-up version of the actual path, but we're told that any edits that occurred had no huge bearing on the outcome of the piece. You be the judge.
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Prototype iControlPad proves itself on video

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Hah, did you really have the nerve to doubt CraigIX? The iPhone gamepad add-on that we heard about just last week is already inching closer to reality, and there's a video to prove it. In the somewhat unexciting clip posted up after the jump, you'll see a PCB mockup of the device doing its thang, though it's quite inelegant in its current form. If you just needed one more something to boost your interest / confidence that this critter was real, you know where to head.

[Via zodttd]

Continue reading Prototype iControlPad proves itself on video

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MSI Wind gets terse pre-release review

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It's pretty tough to wrap your melon around, but MSI's Wind has not yet officially launched per se. That being said, it has still managed to end up in the hands of quite a few eager subnote lovers, and Laptop Mag is no exception. Shortly after the UK branch of CNET posted up their initial impressions, along comes yet another mini-review to get you even more worked up about June 3rd. Here's the skinny so far: the screen is amazing, keyboard is as well, the trackpad is simply too cramped and the port assortment is very respectable. All in all, critics were left "seriously impressed," and they even threw together a video and image gallery for checking out afterwards. Head on over, alright?
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MSI Wind gets terse pre-release review

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It's pretty tough to wrap your melon around, but MSI's Wind has not yet officially launched per se. That being said, it has still managed to end up in the hands of quite a few eager subnote lovers, and Laptop Mag is no exception. Shortly after the UK branch of CNET posted up their initial impressions, along comes yet another mini-review to get you even more worked up about June 3rd. Here's the skinny so far: the screen is amazing, keyboard is as well, the trackpad is simply too cramped and the port assortment is very respectable. All in all, critics were left "seriously impressed," and they even threw together a video and image gallery for checking out afterwards. Head on over, alright?
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Creative’s Vado Pocket Video Cam unboxed on video

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There's honestly not a lot of mind-blowing material in the video posted up after the jump, but it definitely delivers as advertised. You see, you've got Creative's Flip Video-combating Vado cheapcorder all wrapped up, and over the course of 317 seconds, it manages to slip outside of its shell and get handled. Initial impressions are dished out too (hint: they're surprisingly positive), so don't skip out on hitting the read link while your cursor is down in the general vicinity.
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Creative’s Vado Pocket Video Cam unboxed on video

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There's honestly not a lot of mind-blowing material in the video posted up after the jump, but it definitely delivers as advertised. You see, you've got Creative's Flip Video-combating Vado cheapcorder all wrapped up, and over the course of 317 seconds, it manages to slip outside of its shell and get handled. Initial impressions are dished out too (hint: they're surprisingly positive), so don't skip out on hitting the read link while your cursor is down in the general vicinity.
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RIM’s BlackBerry 9500 “Thunder” captured on camera?

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A retailer taking pre-orders for phones that haven't even been announced is considered business as usual, but there's something just a little out of the ordinary with Horizon Wireless' listing for the alleged touchscreen superphone outta Waterloo, the BlackBerry 9500 "Thunder" -- it's accompanied by a somewhat believable picture of the thing. Extreme blur always adds a healthy dose of credibility (we kid), but more importantly, the picture shows no telltale signs of being a render and looks essentially like what everyone's expecting it to look like. BlackBerry addicts who've been desperately fighting the urge to go to the dark side, consider this your shot of willpower for the day.

[Thanks, Yasim M.]
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RhythmFish concept enables Dory to create trippy visuals

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Wait, you did name your guppy Dory, right? Whatever your household fish is named, you can certainly give it a fresh purpose in life with the RhythmFish -- if it were more than a mere concept, of course. The setup surrounds your fish with webcams and monitors its movements via sensors in order to translate all of that data and put forth a visual interpretation. In all honestly, it's probably just some sort of randomizer hooked up to a Windows 95 screen saver, but a boy can dream, can't he?

[Via OhGizmo]
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projectiondesign to launch F10 AS3D active 3D stereoscopic projector

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Look out, naysayers -- projectiondesign is giving this whole "3D revolution" thing some serious street cred with the F10 AS3D. Slated to debut at InfoComm 2008 in Las Vegas, the unit marks the company's first active 3D stereoscopic projector. Notably, this isn't the firm's first foray into the third-dimension, as eight of its F20 sx+ PJs are currently being used in a 3D visualization system at Munich University. Moving on, we'll also find its brand new three-chip DLP F80, which features a WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) resolution, ACOP (Advanced Color Optical Processing) technology and a stratospheric price tag (we're guessing on that last one). We'll be holding out for pricing / release information, but we don't suspect it'll be too long before those critical points get divulged.

[Via AboutProjectors]
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Thanko’s solar-powered DAP urges you outdoors

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So we've seen a few solar-powered gizmos (that we wouldn't touch with a ten twenty foot poll), but Thanko's own sun-lovin' DAP actually doesn't look half bad. The Solar Digital Audio Player, from the front, looks like any other ho hum unit, with a 1.8-inch 220 x 176 resolution display, 4GB of internal storage space and a miniSD expansion slot. Flip 'er over, and you'll find a thoughtful kickstand that just so happens to have a solar panel slapped right on, enabling the brilliant, outdoor sunshine to give it a few more minutes of life. There's no official word on a price or release date, but we wouldn't bank on it ever coming Stateside, anyway.
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Berkeley Bionics’ HULC exoskeleton lets you effortlessly carry 200lbs

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HULC
Sorry, but squats are so 20th Century. Instead, strap on the HULC -- Human Universal Load Carrier -- exoskeleton and effortlessly carry an extra 200lbs. HULC not only increases your human payload, but it also "decreases [your] metabolic cost". In other words, it seems Berkeley Bionics developed this thing for extremely lazy people, those who lose their breath easily, or for those on what they call "long duration missions". This is no joke, though -- the company is taking orders for the suit already.

[Via Switched]
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Saving Cash, Trees and Time With Digital Magazines

Posted by admin in : Tech Reviews , add a comment The future of magazine publishing increasingly is appearing on a digital display -- not just a newsstand. Advancements in software and hardware are making it easier for a growing faction of consumers -- including coveted younger readers called "screen-agers" -- to read their favorite publications on the Internet or download and read them later offline. "It's not 'Jetsons.' It's real," says Richard Maggiotto, CEO of Zinio, one of a dozen or so companies that specialize in creating digital editions of magazines and newspapers.

Subnotebook Blues: Lightweights in More Ways Than One

Posted by admin in : Tech Reviews , add a comment Those of us who carry laptops have different tastes and needs, of course, so it's unlikely computer makers will ever agree on the ideal compact. It always comes down to a balancing act over size, weight, price, features and ease of use. That's evident in the four subnotebooks I've been testing -- the Asus Eee PC 900, HP Mini-Note 2133, Intel Classmate PC, and Lenovo IdeaPad U110. None will break your back at an airport or on campus. They generally won't break your budget, either. But they'll likely have you begging for more.

In-Store iPhone Shenanigans Land Teens in Hot Water

Posted by admin in : Tech Reviews , add a comment To four Palo Alto, Calif., teenagers raised in the heart of Silicon Valley, the penalty came as a crushing blow -- banishment from all Apple stores worldwide, for life. Their crime, the teens said, was downloading a third-party car racing game onto iPhones at Apple's University Avenue store last weekend. For that, the two Palo Alto High School students and two recent graduates said they were detained 2 1/2 hours at the store and permanently banned by management.

New PC Purchasing: Navigating the Confusing Tech Terrain

Posted by admin in : Tech Reviews , add a comment Lori Jantulovich stands in the middle of Best Buy's computer section, flagging down a sales clerk. She's trying to buy a laptop for her nephew. "I have no clue," she says. Jantulovich, 51, is surrounded by displays touting the merits of dozens of similar-looking PCs. "Superior performance with 3 GB of system memory," one says. "Powerful discrete graphics," another advertises. "Blazing fast performance with a next-generation Intel Core 2 Duo Processor." "On-the-go multi-tasking." "Limitless performance and response."

Niski-Ki’s $155 handmade USB keyboard comes with extra “$” symbols

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Nishi-Ki USB keyboard
It only makes sense to go all expensive on the things you look at most often, like your TV, car, or -- in this case -- your keyboard. For only (!!) $155, you too can get a handmade Nishi-Ki USB keyboard. Yours is sure to be the object of typist envy cube farm-wide. Nishi-ki keyboards pack 86 keys and work via USB or PS/2 interfaces. Sorry, Mac users, no Command keys.

[Via BoingBoing]
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Asus denies cancelation of Eee 900 in favor of 901

Posted by admin in : Tech Reviews , add a comment It's starting to sound like that DigiTimes report, which holds that ASUS is ceasing production of the Eee PC 900 in favor of the upcoming Atom-based 901, might just be false. Notebook Italia has it from an ASUS rep that the account is totally untrue, and that both 900 and 901 models will be produced and sold alongside one another (for now, anyway). And given that it's DigiTimes, we might just be able to put this one to bed.

[Thanks, Sergio]
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Asus denies cancelation of Eee 900 in favor of 901

Posted by admin in : Tech Reviews , add a comment It's starting to sound like that DigiTimes report, which holds that ASUS is ceasing production of the Eee PC 900 in favor of the upcoming Atom-based 901, might just be false. Notebook Italia has it from an ASUS rep that the account is totally untrue, and that both 900 and 901 models will be produced and sold alongside one another (for now, anyway). And given that it's DigiTimes, we might just be able to put this one to bed.

[Thanks, Sergio]
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Hutchison / 3 snags iPhone for Hong Kong and Macau

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Looks like Hutchison (aka 3) snagged the iPhone for distribution in Hong Kong and Macau, which will be coming "later this year." Like the rest, this was another one liner un-announcement with no real info, but you probably wouldn't want to anger Steve before WWDC. Besides, in Hong Kong 3 doesn't sell anything but 3G phones -- so put that in your iPipe and smoke it.

[Thanks, Chris and Joe]
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RCA intros three new Small Wonder budget camcorders

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We've got your summer crapcamcorders right 'ere -- three new RCA Small Wonder cams to make your Flips flop. Check 'em out:
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RCA intros three new Small Wonder budget camcorders

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We've got your summer crapcamcorders right 'ere -- three new RCA Small Wonder cams to make your Flips flop. Check 'em out:
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Top 5 Inkjet Printers May 30, 2008

Posted by admin in : Tech Reviews , add a comment These are the top Inkjet Printers today, but ratings and rankings can change quickly due to pricing and technology changes, so check back frequently for the latest info.

Top 5 Inkjet Printers

Posted by admin in : Tech Reviews , add a comment These are the top Inkjet Printers today, but ratings and rankings can change quickly due to pricing and technology changes, so check back frequently for the latest info.

Audi R8 boasts LEDs aplenty

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Audi has already manged to work some LEDs into a few of its cars (concepts and otherwise), but the automaker has gone all out with its latest Audi R8, which employs LEDs for seemingly every lighting function. That includes the 24-LED running lamps the R8 had before, along with some brand LED high and low beam headlights, and LED turn signals, which add up to some 54 LEDs in all. Of course, given the prices that single LED bulbs demand these days, it should come as no surprise that this is quite the pricey option, with it adding a full €3,590 (or about $5,560) to the R8's already lofty sticker price.
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Palm Treo 755p (Verizon) Review - InfoSync

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Palm Treo 755p InfoSync reviews the Palm Treo 755p (Verizon) and writes, "If you must have a Palm OS device with a large keyboard (no Centro, then), and you can't use Sprint, the Treo 755p on Verizon Wireless is your only option. Too bad, because this phone, and the OS behind it, haven't aged well, and most other smartphones have passed it by. The list of features it lacks is incredibly long, but we'll mention HTML e-mail, GPS, a real Web browser and good multimedia features as things we especially miss. The Palm OS is still simple and quick, very easy to use, but it's looking quite old, and once you start digging into the calendar and messaging apps, you're going to wish for something much prettier."

Read more about the Palm Treo 755p.

Helio Ocean Review - InfoSync

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Helio Ocean InfoSync reviews the Helio Ocean and writes, "Helio's YouTube app looks even better than the similar program on Apple's iPhone, with a polished looking interface and easy searching, thanks to the Ocean's real, QWERTY keyboard. We had no trouble logging onto our YouTube account and finding our favorites. We were even more surprised to be able to upload videos directly from the phone, using the phone's built-in camera. The quality wasn't great, as we'd expected since we weren't thrilled with the camera in our original review. Still, the feature is unique, and we're sure there's an audience for this concept."

Read more about the Helio Ocean.

DISH / EchoStar keep fighting back, sue TiVo again over DVR patent

Posted by admin in : Tech Reviews , add a comment The timeshifting DVR patent that's been at the core of TiVo's closed-but-not-quite-closed lawsuit with DISH / EchoStar is being contested yet again by the very same company. Not content just appealing to the Supreme Court regarding the Federal Circuit's ruling against a rehearing for the last case, DISH / EchoStar has started up a whole new lawsuit against TiVo, requesting a Delaware court find the new version of their DVR software does not infringe TiVo's patents -- presumably as an embittered and pre-emptive measure before TiVo could kick off its inevitable next suit. Don't worry if you're confused as all hell, so are we -- the point is, despite the fact that decisions have been made and rulings handed down, these two companies are still managing to sue, re-sue, and counter-re-sue one another.
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Samsung BlackJack II (i617) Review - Digital Trends

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Samsung i617 Digital Trends reviews the Samsung BlackJAck II (i617) and writes, "Phone calls are straightforward and clear, and the equally effective email system works with AOL, Yahoo! and others. The same goes for Instant Messenger. The 2-megapixel camera isn’t so bad for a phone, but any photos or video requires a good, consistent light source. Pressing the camera button on the keypad turns it on quickly, and pressing the right menu button switches the still camera to a video camera. Both can be easily attached to email or text messages."

Read more about the Samsung BlackJack II (i617).

Samsung BlackJack II (i617) Review - Digital Trends

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Samsung i617 Digital Trends reviews the Samsung BlackJAck II (i617) and writes, "Phone calls are straightforward and clear, and the equally effective email system works with AOL, Yahoo! and others. The same goes for Instant Messenger. The 2-megapixel camera isn’t so bad for a phone, but any photos or video requires a good, consistent light source. Pressing the camera button on the keypad turns it on quickly, and pressing the right menu button switches the still camera to a video camera. Both can be easily attached to email or text messages."

Read more about the Samsung BlackJack II (i617).

AT&T Tilt 8925 Review - Digital Trends

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AT&T Tilt Digital Trends reviews the AT&T Tilt 8925 and writes, "The Tilt's 3-megapixel still camera takes decent pictures, as long as there's enough light to eliminate the need for a flash. The autofocus works well and with enough speed in most conditions, and the 2.8-inch screen makes a roomy viewfinder. But the lag between shutter press and image capture makes it tough to shoot even slow-moving subjects. We like that it has plenty of on-board effects, shooting modes, and editing options."

Read more about the AT&T Tilt.

AT&T Tilt 8925 Review - Digital Trends

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AT&T Tilt Digital Trends reviews the AT&T Tilt 8925 and writes, "The Tilt's 3-megapixel still camera takes decent pictures, as long as there's enough light to eliminate the need for a flash. The autofocus works well and with enough speed in most conditions, and the 2.8-inch screen makes a roomy viewfinder. But the lag between shutter press and image capture makes it tough to shoot even slow-moving subjects. We like that it has plenty of on-board effects, shooting modes, and editing options."

Read more about the AT&T Tilt.

Caption contest: A taste of Robot love

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Sweet isn't it? You can almost hear the pitter-pattering of Keepon's tiny servo heart as he gazes into HOAP-3's hungry, yet soulless eyes. Robots, it's what's for breakfast.

Thomas: "With your nose and my mouth, well, damnit.. you complete me."
Chris: "Don't let them call you a chicken... you fought like a champion out there. I didn't get to be Don King-bot by promoting losers."
Don: "Coming soon to theaters: Ratatouille 2: Electric Boogaloo"
Josh T: "I'm going to eat you... with some fava beans and a nice chianti. Ththththththththththp!"
Paul: "No way, Britt Daniel said that to you? What a jerk. Him and Portland deserve each other."
Josh F: "Sweep the leg. No mercy."
Ryan: "The secret ingredient of this week's Really Iron Chef is..."
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Konami defends inflated MGS4 bundle cost

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The folks at Konami have been trolling the forums again, kids, and this time they're fighting back. Reps from the game-maker have issued a statement on the company forum addressing the furor over the inflated cost of the forthcoming, limited edition Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle. According to Konami, the bumped up price ($600 for a 40GB version of the PS3, plus Dual Shock controller and MGS4 game) is due to the special material used to create the gunmetal gray system and controller casing. The company seems to take issue with the fact that some are calling it simply a "paint job," and points out that the run of units is only 10,000, and the package also includes a version of the game with an extra disc of additional content. To put it another way: this is the deal of a lifetime!

[Via Wired]
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Konami defends inflated MGS4 bundle cost

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The folks at Konami have been trolling the forums again, kids, and this time they're fighting back. Reps from the game-maker have issued a statement on the company forum addressing the furor over the inflated cost of the forthcoming, limited edition Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle. According to Konami, the bumped up price ($600 for a 40GB version of the PS3, plus Dual Shock controller and MGS4 game) is due to the special material used to create the gunmetal gray system and controller casing. The company seems to take issue with the fact that some are calling it simply a "paint job," and points out that the run of units is only 10,000, and the package also includes a version of the game with an extra disc of additional content. To put it another way: this is the deal of a lifetime!

[Via Wired]
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Eee PC-like ultraportables - name that product category

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It struck us the other day as we were going over some back posts that since the launch of the ASUS Eee PC (and the numerous products that have followed, from the MSI Wind to the HP Mini-Note), to the best of our knowledge we've all yet to have any normalized, agreed-upon name for these kinds of devices. Yes, they're technically "ultraportables" (which we usually define as being any relatively small laptop and under four pounds), but to say an Eee PC is in the same class as, say, the Lenovo X300, the VAIO TZ, or the MacBook Air would be kind of misleading.

We've heard "low-cost ultraportable" and "laptop-lite" used to describe these kinds of machines, but it seems best to let you decide: leave your best suggestion for what we all should all call this emerging product category, and we'll put it up to vote next week. We'll officially be throwing "netbook" into the ring. (Intel may have initially coined the term, but that we don't think it should necessarily have to refer only to Intel-based products.)
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