Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video
We can’t verify the claim, but we have no reason to doubt the authenticity of this picture taken of Microsoft’s new 16GB flash-based Zune 16 and FCC approved, 120GB Zune 120. It’s not the backstory we find so solid, it’s more the thought that some lonely soul is busy Photoshopping Zune rumor images on a Friday night — an ennui so black we could not possibly fathom. Oh and the French? Zune’s in Canada remember, blown-up international and the source country of this photo.
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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment
Even though the product doesn’t have any availability, pricing, or even a name yet, Delta Electronics is claiming to have the first full HD LED-based DLP projector, and is showing a demo unit at IFA and CEDIA. Using tech developed by TI and Luminus Devices, Delta says it’s ready to go with a full-size 1080p projector with “PhlatLight” LEDs pumping out the lumens, which of course means an end to futzing around with burnt-out projector bulbs right in the middle of your feature presentation. No doubt, we’re seeing LEDs show up in all manner of display devices, and if LED-lamped projector prices follow a trajectory like LED-backlit LCDs, we’d be happy campers indeed.
[Via About Projectors]
Read - Delta Electronics first LED HD projector
Read - Luminus and TI develop lamp-free tech
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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
You hear so much tough-talk and blustery grand-standing these days over data capping that it’s hard to take any of it too seriously. A recent announcement by Comcast, however, is sending chills down the collective spine of Engadget (and seriously threatening to put a crunch on Thomas Ricker’s… er, “movie” downloads). The company recently confirmed that it will begin capping its residential broadband service at 250GB per month (or roughly 124 SD movies) come October 1st, and could simply terminate customers who violate the cap more than twice. Of course, 250GB is a pretty large chunk of bandwidth, so you’ll have to be entertaining some pretty hefty habits to break that bank. Then again, who likes the Man breathing down their pipeline?
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Filed under: Displays
You’ve got to feel bad for the vendors at the Sign and Display Show 2008 that’s going on in Tokyo right now for being totally overshadowed by IFA, but this nifty dual-sided transparent touch display from Teraokaseiko is definitely noteworthy, even if it just because it’ll make future versions of Battleship and Connect 4 super fun. It’s just a monochrome 256 x 120 EL-panel prototype for now, but it recognizes simple multitouch gestures like pinching, and there’s definitely promise in the idea — now if it could make it out of the Sign and Display Show and into the big leagues, we’d be all set.
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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
We’ve got our crack team of Engadget ninjas at IFA working to figure out exactly what’s going on, but early word is that over 220 German Customs agents have raided the show looking for patent infringements. It’s not clear how many booths have had visits from The Man, but it’s somewhere over 50 — we’ve been hearing a number in the 70s — and spokespeople for Customs says inspections will continue until tonight. Sounds like a repeat of what’s happened at CeBIT for the past few years, where German firm Sisvel has had several companies’ booths shut down and products seized over claimed MPEG patent infringements — you might remember last year’s kerfuffle with Meizu and the wrongful seizure of SanDisk DAPs in 2006. There are rumors that Asian companies, including MSI, are being targeted, and that the Taiwan Image Hall in particular was hit hard, but nothing’s been substantiated and German authorities say they’re looking at all companies equally. We’ll let you know what’s going down as soon as we find out more.
[Thanks, Adam]
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Filed under: Handhelds
Sony’s VAIO UX UMPC is definitely one of the sexier handheld PCs out there, but it’s never been accused of being a rocket — even the latest models only offer a lonely single-core 1.2GHz Core 2 Solo for your $2500, and since the chip is soldered onto the board, swapping it out for a Core 2 Duo isn’t exactly easy, requiring an infrared soldering station and plenty of experience swapping chips. Nevertheless, it can be done, and Anh Nguyen from the Micro PC Talk forums pulled it off, upgrading his unit to a 1.2GHz U7600 Core 2 Duo with no ill effects or excess heat — just some better benchmarks and hardcore modder bragging rights. Check out benchmarks after the break, and hit the read link for more.
[Thanks, Logan]
Continue reading VAIO UX gets hot-rodded with Core 2 Duo mod
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Filed under: Cellphones
The Treo Pro is the first of what is clearly a new design direction for Palm — a shiny, black mutation of the popular Centro, but with Windows Mobile on-board and a unique marketing scheme allowing you to buy the device unlocked right at launch. Want to get the low-down, dirty news on whether or not it’s for you? Then truck on over to Engadget Mobile where we’ve got the full on review.
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Filed under: Digital Cameras
The phrase “full frame” brings a smile to the face of anyone remotely familiar with photography, and the term “D700” is likely to do the same for shooters with three large to plunk down on a new body. Still, even with its long list of drool-worthy features, we’re certain that anyone who dropped the aforementioned dough on this beauty has a few things to say about it. Are you satisfied with the live view implementation? Any problems with its reliance on CompactFlash? Oh, and is the image quality alright? Sound off below!
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Filed under: Cellphones
Ooh, Qualcomm you been naughty. You might remember that last year Qualcomm was banned from selling various 3G chips that infringed on Broadcom’s patents, but the big Q apparently believes that being in trouble is a fake idea, because it kept right on doing it — to the point where a judge yesterdaty found the company in contempt for violating the injunction and ordered it to pay up gross profits from sales of its QChat push-to-talk tech to Broadcom. The court gave Qualcom 30 days to figure out how much it owes — Sprint’s paid over $93M to use the tech since last December, so it’s not going to be peanuts. Qualcomm says it’ll immediately comply, but is planning on appealing the order, so we’ll how this all goes down.
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Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio
Good news everyone! If Ultrasone’s $1,500 pair of radiation reducing
Edition 9 headphones were a bit too pricey for your taste, you’ll no doubt be thrilled to know that the company has now let loose the far cheaper Pro 900 phones, which promise to block just as much of that pesky radiation for the low, low price of $600. Of course, Ultrasone is just as focused on sound quality as it is on curbing radiation leakage, and the Pro 900s look like they should deliver the goods on that front as well, with them boasting a 6-42k Hz frequency range, 40 Ohm impedance, a sound pressure level of 96dB, and a 40mm titanium-plated driver at the heart of each can. You’ll even get interchangeable spiral and straight cables, and a hard carrying case to protect your new prized posession.
[Thanks, Tom]
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