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Ubanana announces wearable, waterproof uCan MP3 player May 14, 2008

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Wearables

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Ubanana announces wearable, waterproof uCan MP3 player

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Wearables

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NEC VersaPro VE disguises energy saving mode as “ECO button”

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Filed under: Laptops

Just in case it wasn't official enough already, mega-corps have ridden this green bandwagon way too far. Like, the wheels have fallen clean off. Nevertheless, NEC is hoping to guilt you into picking up its VersaPro VE with the dedicated "ECO button," which seems to act as a macro for activating the Energy Saver mode within Windows. Beyond all that, you'll find a 2GHz Core 2 Duo T7250 processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a GMA X3100 graphics set, 15.4-inch WXGA panel, an 80GB hard drive, CD burning combo drive, gigabit Ethernet and a pretty typical arrangement of ports. Those not satisfied with the listed specifications can customize the unit somewhat, but those happy as a peach with the base configuration can secure one for ¥186,000 ($1,770).

[Via ShinyPlastic]

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NEC VersaPro VE disguises energy saving mode as “ECO button”

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Filed under: Laptops

Just in case it wasn't official enough already, mega-corps have ridden this green bandwagon way too far. Like, the wheels have fallen clean off. Nevertheless, NEC is hoping to guilt you into picking up its VersaPro VE with the dedicated "ECO button," which seems to act as a macro for activating the Energy Saver mode within Windows. Beyond all that, you'll find a 2GHz Core 2 Duo T7250 processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a GMA X3100 graphics set, 15.4-inch WXGA panel, an 80GB hard drive, CD burning combo drive, gigabit Ethernet and a pretty typical arrangement of ports. Those not satisfied with the listed specifications can customize the unit somewhat, but those happy as a peach with the base configuration can secure one for ¥186,000 ($1,770).

[Via ShinyPlastic]

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Constellation Light puts LED twist on chandelier

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Filed under: Household

Though not quite as elegant as the Neues Licht, the Constellation Light is still way more practical. Designed by Kenzan Tsutakawa-Chinn and showcased at the recent BKLYN Designs expo, the LED chandelier is crafted from clusters of 3-millimeter LEDs (364 in total on the tips of 91 copper tubes). Notably, it's creator is currently seeking UL approval for the device and hopes to get it on the market in short order, but there's been no mention yet of just how costly it could one day be.

[Via Inhabitat]

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Console numbers released: Xbox 360 tops 10M US sales, 9.2M PS3s sold worldwide last year

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Microsoft is making some noise today about the Xbox 360's sales numbers -- it's the first of this generation of consoles to top 10M sales in the US. That's well ahead of the Wii, which stands at 8.8M, and the PS3, which has under half the 360's installed base at 4.1M units sold. Worldwide, the 360 is also doing quite well: Microsoft says it's moved 19M consoles total, and that 12 million people are signed up for Xbox Live. That's behind the Wii's global sales of 25M units, but Microsoft isn't exactly content with second place -- it's making a point to say that the 360 has the " largest global install base of any current gen, high definition gaming console." Take that, Mario. Meanwhile, the PS3s doing quite nicely for itself as well: in addition to outselling the 360 in both the US and Europe, Sony says worldwide sales were up an astounding 156 percent last year with a total of 9.2M units coming off shelves, and that it expects to sell another 10M consoles by March 2009. Looks like the console race is hitting the next level -- any bets on how things will shake out in a year?

[Via Joystiq]

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Console numbers released: Xbox 360 tops 10M US sales, 9.2M PS3s sold worldwide last year

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Filed under: Gaming

Microsoft is making some noise today about the Xbox 360's sales numbers -- it's the first of this generation of consoles to top 10M sales in the US. That's well ahead of the Wii, which stands at 8.8M, and the PS3, which has under half the 360's installed base at 4.1M units sold. Worldwide, the 360 is also doing quite well: Microsoft says it's moved 19M consoles total, and that 12 million people are signed up for Xbox Live. That's well behind the Wii's global sales of 25M units, but Microsoft isn't exactly content with second place -- it's making a point to say that the 360 has the " largest global install base of any current gen, high definition gaming console." Take that, Mario. Of course, the PS3s doing quite well for itself as well: in addition to outselling the 360 in both the US and Europe, Sony says worldwide sales were up an astounding 156 percent last year with a total of 9.2M units coming off shelves, and that it expects to sell another 10M consoles by March 2009. Looks like the console race is hitting the next level -- any bets on how things will shake out in a year?

[Via Joystiq]

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ASUS’s Atom-based Eee 901 shows up in pictures

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Filed under: Laptops

It was just yesterday that the official announcement of the Atom-based MSI Wind's pricing prompted us to wonder where ASUS's promised Atom Eee 900 was, and would you look at that -- here's the Eee 901, looking radiant in white. Of course, the major changes are internal, so the exterior looks pretty much the same -- apart from some extra buttons and the relocation of the power jack -- but it's good to know this thing is inching closer to release. Now if we could just get some benchmarks and pricing info, we'd be all set. Check the read link for tons more pics.

[Via jkkmobile]

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ASUS’s Atom-based Eee 901 shows up in pictures

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Filed under: Laptops

It was just yesterday that the official announcement of the Atom-based MSI Wind's pricing prompted us to wonder where ASUS's promised Atom Eee 900 was, and would you look at that -- here's the Eee 901, looking radiant in white. Of course, the major changes are internal, so the exterior looks pretty much the same -- apart from some extra buttons and the relocation of the power jack -- but it's good to know this thing is inching closer to release. Now if we could just get some benchmarks and pricing info, we'd be all set.

[Via jkkmobile]

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Digital Canvas crams PC into LCD HDTV

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Media PCs

Not like we haven't seen PCs stuffed within the slim confines of an LCD HDTV before, but it's safe to say the market isn't exactly overrun with alternatives. Enter Digital Canvas, which looks to take a 34-, 43- or 52-inch flat-panel and outfit 'em with typical PC components. All three come standard with a 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, a 120GB hard drive, WiFi module, a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution panel and a sweet string across the back for picture frame-esque hanging. Aside from needing to make absolutely sure you have a sturdy stud waiting, we'd certainly be wary about pulling the trigger via the seller's eBay store. Regardless, we're giving the design a hearty golf clap, even though the $4,777 to $7,777 price tags are a bit out of our league.

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Dash opens platform up for third-party developers

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Filed under: GPS, Wireless

No need worrying that as much as you'd like to change the Dash Express, you can't. Because you can, savvy? Announced today, Dash Navigation has cracked its platform open for third-party developers and simultaneously launched the industry's first dynamic API program at O'Reilly's Where 2.0 Conference. Dash is hoping that eager devs will spend time crafting DashApps, which would theoretically provide web-based content to consumers while still in the car. The outfit also took the wraps off of the first five partner-created applications, which give Express owners Coldwell Banker Home Search, myFUNAMBOL Calendar, BakTrax Radio, Trapster and MyWeatherBug buttons. Unfortunately, details beyond that were slim, but you certainly tag the read link to learn more about the aforesaid few that are already created.

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It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Hyperconnected World

Posted by admin in : Tech Reviews , add a comment Perhaps you know at least one person who totes around one or more devices to ensure an almost constant connection to the office and friends. They answer their phones during dinner at a restaurant or turn away from a movie to read their latest text. Perhaps you are that person. Those individuals are part of a growing population, according to IDC and Nortel. They make up what the companies have dubbed the "culture of connectivity." A new study conducted by IDC and sponsored by Nortel has concluded that so-called hyperconnected workers accounts for 16 percent of global business users today.

Raon Digital adds 32GB SSD option in Everun S32S Dic

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Filed under: Handhelds

Regardless of your views on the Everun's level of attractiveness, holding 32GB of SSD between your palms is enough to make any true nerd break out in a sweat. Raon Digital's looking to get quite a few of those kind hot and bothered in South Korea with its Everun S32S Dic. The handheld boasts a 568MHz AMD Geode LX900 processor, 512MB of RAM, a 32GB SSD, 4.8-inch 800 x 480 resolution display, 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, USB connectivity and a built-in SayDic electronic dictionary with text-to-speech support. Apparently Raon's pretty proud of this puppy, as word on the street pegs it at a stiff ₩867,000 ($828).

[Via GizmoScene, thanks KC Kim]

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Raon Digital adds 32GB SSD option in Everun S32S Dic

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Filed under: Handhelds

Regardless of your views on the Everun's level of attractiveness, holding 32GB of SSD between your palms is enough to make any true nerd break out in a sweat. Raon Digital's looking to get quite a few of those kind hot and bothered in South Korea with its Everun S32S Dic. The handheld boasts a 568MHz AMD Geode LX900 processor, 512MB of RAM, a 32GB SSD, 4.8-inch 800 x 480 resolution display, 802.11b/g WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, USB connectivity and a built-in SayDic electronic dictionary with text-to-speech support. Apparently Raon's pretty proud of this puppy, as word on the street pegs it at a stiff ₩867,000 ($828).

[Via GizmoScene, thanks KC Kim]

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Jawbone 2 in the wild!

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Filed under: Peripherals

A friendly tipster sent us over some shots of a demo unit of the Jawbone 2 -- which the FCC so kindly leaked for us last month -- that he says his store is getting in stock tomorrow. He also says the headset will sell for $129, that it "looks pretty sweet" and provided some shots that pit it quite favorably against the now clunky original. Enjoy!

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More Americans Cutting the Cord

Posted by admin in : Tech Reviews , add a comment A growing number of households in the U.S. are hanging up their landline phones, opting instead to use cell phones exclusively, according to a Wednesday report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The six-month survey, conducted from July 2007 to December 2007, found that 22.3 percent of households with both landline and mobile phones use their traditional wired phone lines rarely or not at all. The agency's findings represent an increase over results the CDC had gathered just six months earlier.

Matrox delivers Dual-Link Extio F1240 remote graphics unit

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Filed under: Desktops, Peripherals

Look, you never know when you'll be 820 feet away from your gorgeous duo of dual-link displays, audio inputs, six USB 2.0 ports and piping hot cup of joe, but Matrox is here to make sure that's never a concern you'll have to sweat. Upping the ante from last year's Extio F1220, the Dual-Link Extio F1240 now plays nice with those swank 30-inchers that are gracing your desk and extends of all the aforesaid parts some 250 meters via a single fiber-optic cable. Better still, the whole thing is fanless, and there's even a mini-Toslink audio port, VGA sockets and stereo audio in / out connectors to boot. Mum's the word on a price for the currently available unit, and just FYI, that whole transfer of coffee thing is totally not recommended.

[Via BIOS]

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Samsung dreaming of YP-P3 with haptic support?

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Not even a month after we asked you fine readers what you'd love to change about the YP-P2, in comes early word that a tweaked successor could be on the way. Granted, most everything here is lost in translation, but we're gathering that Samsung could be readying a touchscreen YP-P3 that would look awfully similar to the SCH-W420 mobile. Good thing, too, as that particular unit has haptic support (force feedback from touch panels, in a nutshell) already loaded in. So convenient, wouldn't you agree? Keep a loose eye out for this one to surface late this year.

[Via PMPToday]

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Verizon Embraces LiMo Foundation’s Brand of Openness

Posted by admin in : Tech Reviews , add a comment The Open Handset Alliance may have the power of Google behind it, but a surge of new members has just swelled the ranks of the competing LiMo Foundation to 40, the group announced Wednesday. Verizon Wireless, Mozilla, Infineon Technologies, Kvaleberg, Red Bend Software, Sagem Mobiles, SFR and SK Telecom are the newest members of LiMo, which was founded in January 2007 by just six companies. "This latest group of new members demonstrates the rapidly expanding reach of the LiMo ecosystem," said Morgan Gillis, the group's executive director.

LG Display develops small elliptical and circular-shaped LCDs

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Filed under: Displays

Oh yeah, round displays have been around the proverbial block before (probably on wheels, which are also akin to a circle), but LG Display is attempting to make a splash of its own in the unorthodox display arena with two new developments. Hailed as the "world's largest 6-inch elliptical and 1.4-inch circular-shaped LCDs," both units are capable of displaying up to 262,000 colors and have a near 160-degree viewing angle. We're told that the devices could eventually find homes in digital photo frames as well as a variety of household / automotive applications, but we won't be getting any further details 'til they're both showcased at SID next week. One more look is waiting after the jump.

Continue reading LG Display develops small elliptical and circular-shaped LCDs

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Nury Tec’s THP2 Training System makes the Wii Fit seem a bit childish

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Filed under: GPS, Wearables

Sure, there's something to be said for turning a workout into a game, and the Wii Fit has that in spades, but there's also perks to a system that tracks every aspect of your for-realsies workouts at all times. The THP² Personal Training System from Korea's Nury Tec combines a GPS pod, body fat scale and chest strap hear rate receiver to track your well being during and after a workout. All the gadgets transmit wirelessly to a watch controller, which in turn transmits to a PC receiver to download all your stats to an included program. It's like Nike+ on steroids (minus the steroids... don't do drugs kids!), and with a projected price of $180 when this hits the States this year, not a bad alternative on price either.

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Nury Tec’s THP2 Training System makes the Wii Fit seem a bit childish

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Filed under: GPS, Wearables

Sure, there's something to be said for turning a workout into a game, and the Wii Fit has that in spades, but there's also perks to a system that tracks every aspect of your for-realsies workouts at all times. The THP² Personal Training System from Korea's Nury Tec combines a GPS pod, body fat scale and chest strap hear rate receiver to track your well being during and after a workout. All the gadgets transmit wirelessly to a watch controller, which in turn transmits to a PC receiver to download all your stats to an included program. It's like Nike+ on steroids (minus the steroids... don't do drugs kids!), and with a projected price of $180 when this hits the States this year, not a bad alternative on price either.

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As the 3G iPhone draws near, what’s your plan of attack?

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Filed under: Cellphones

And so forth. If you're like many of us, you very well could be weighing your options as the 3G iPhone seems increasingly imminent. Some might have a wad of cash already laid aside, others might be thinking of jumping ship to one of the iPhone's numerous competitors, or just getting some more months of utility out of their current iPhone. And then there's the trouble of disposing of your existing iPhone when you do upgrade. Do you give it to a friend, mount it on the wall, or bury it in the backyard with the hope of growing it into a cute little iPhone tree? The options are endless. Let us know which way you're leaning.

View Poll

View Poll

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As the 3G iPhone draws near, what’s your plan of attack?

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Filed under: Cellphones

And so forth. If you're like many of us, you very well could be weighing your options as the 3G iPhone seems increasingly imminent. Some might have a wad of cash already laid aside, others might be thinking of jumping ship to one of the iPhone's numerous competitors, or just getting some more months of utility out of their current iPhone. And then there's the trouble of disposing of your existing iPhone when you do upgrade. Do you give it to a friend, mount it on the wall, or bury it in the backyard with the hope of growing it into a cute little iPhone tree? The options are endless. Let us know which way you're leaning.

View Poll

View Poll

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Atari takes on Wii Fit with floor mat-based Family Trainer game

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Filed under: Gaming

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Astak Mentor e-book reader comes in at under $200

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Filed under: Handhelds

E-book readers are becoming quickly becoming the new cheapo MP3 player, what with unusual designs, promises of salvation from paper, and now diving prices. Enter the Astak Mentor. This series of readers comes in three sizes -- 5-, 6-, and 9.7-inch -- and is based on either Linux or Windows CE. So what's new here? A sub-$200 price tag for the 5-inch version, touchscreens, Bluetooth, and WiFi. Those three latter features come standard on the 9.7-incher, and are optional on the smaller two. Look for them in October from less-than-$200 to $350, or until someone else comes out with a $99 reader.

[Via Crave]

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3M mini-projectors set to land in / with Samsung phones later this year

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Filed under: Cellphones, Displays

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Western Digital My Passport Elite

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Western Digital My Passport Elite This attractive portable hard drive isn’t the fastest on the block, but it packs plenty of storage and security. 169

Sony MDR-AS100W Active Headphones

Posted by admin in : Tech Reviews , add a comment If you're looking for a lightweight, headband-style headphone for the gym, the Sony MDR-AS100W Active Headphones fit the bill, but comfort could be an issue for some users.

Sony Over-the-Head Ear Bud Headphones, Black/Silver

Posted by admin in : Tech Reviews , add a comment If you're looking for a lightweight, headband-style headphone for the gym, the Sony MDR-AS100W Active Headphones fits the bill, but comfort could be an issue for some users.

ASUS P560 sports Windows Mobile 6.1, many acronyms

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Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Buried underneath the hoopla surrounding the announcement of ASUS' Lamborghini-branded ZX1 at CeBIT, the more mellow P560 was also announced, featuring pretty much every spec the average WinMo buyer could want these days in a package that speaks far, far less about the car you're driving (or wish you were driving, anyway). HSDPA, WiFi, 3.2 megapixel autofocus cam, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, GPS, microSDHC slot, 256MB of ROM, 128MB of RAM, and Microsoft's freshest build of Windows Mobile Professional -- 6.1, that is -- all have managed to find their way into the P560's unassuming shell. Not bad, though the €500 (about $772) price tag could scare a few folks away when it launches next month.

[Via Navigadget]

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ASUS P560 sports Windows Mobile 6.1, many acronyms

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Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Buried underneath the hoopla surrounding the announcement of ASUS' Lamborghini-branded ZX1 at CeBIT, the more mellow P560 was also announced, featuring pretty much every spec the average WinMo buyer could want these days in a package that speaks far, far less about the car you're driving (or wish you were driving, anyway). HSDPA, WiFi, 3.2 megapixel autofocus cam, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, GPS, microSDHC slot, 256MB of ROM, 128MB of RAM, and Microsoft's freshest build of Windows Mobile Professional -- 6.1, that is -- all have managed to find their way into the P560's unassuming shell. Not bad, though the €500 (about $772) price tag could scare a few folks away when it launches next month.

[Via Navigadget]

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Munk Bogballe turns MacBook into luxury “Workstation”

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Filed under: Laptops

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Munk Bogballe turns MacBook into luxury “Workstation”

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Virgin Mobile: okay, yeah, we’re talking to SK Telecom

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Filed under: Cellphones

Looks like Virgin Mo