Only- Electronics

We get the podcast party started this week with news that DarkMarket, a website used by cyber-criminals to buy and sell things like passwords, credit card numbers and so forth, has been shut down. Then, we launch into space for a trio of interesting stories…one about something called the Virtual Space Station, one about the problem of space junk, and one about an attempt to really expand your social network. We end with e-paper, and Shiraslan Qurbanov, the Virtual Lion of Azerbaijan. Show notes, links and pics at tinyurl.com/wtpblog.

Filed under: Laptops

Penryn-based Monteniva just hit the streets a few months ago, but hardware geeks are fickle fellows, so Intel said today that Clarksfield, its Nehalem-based mobile CPU, will go into production in the second half of next year; sadly, there was no word on when the chips will actually be available to consumers in the Calpella platform, which (rumor has it) will have built-in WiMAX. Clarksfield will include an onboard memory controller and a bunch of other new techs like its desktop brethren, so the promise of performance gains comparable to what we’ve seen in the desktop benchmarks is there — we’ll just have to wait at least a year to enjoy them, so get comfy.

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Filed under: Cellphones

We really, really like where this is going. First came the Zune puppet rap vid, followed by the equally astounding Large Hadron Collider joint. Now, we’ve got a video for all you G1 pre-orderers that’s sure to get your noggin’ bobbin’ as you patiently await the arrival of Android. And just as any true rap should, it unashamedly bashes the iPhone, Instinct and most every other “rival” on the market today. The best 3 minutes and 56 seconds of your day are about to occur — click on past the break and get it going. Word?

[Via Phandroid, thanks Rob]

Continue reading Android rap shows the G1 love, gives Google some street cred

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Huge shocker here: removing your shoes at airport security causes massive headaches and makes the wait longer for everyone. Now that we’re all good with Captain Obvious’ latest headline, let us point you to one prototype that’s looking to solve said dilemma. SecuriScan, which has been developed by Professor Wuqiang Yang at the University of Manchester, would theoretically be able to “detect and pinpoint suspicious objects instantly,” all without requiring passengers to remove their kicks. Better still, the system uses electric and magnetic sensing instead of a radiation source, which could also address safety concerns while helping you get where you’re going more quickly. Moving forward, Yang hopes to develop a more advanced and realistic prototype for testing, and just in case you were doubting this guy’s determination, he’s also investigating a handheld version that could hastily screen abandoned luggage or packages.

[Via Physorg, image courtesy of ChangeAirportSecurity]

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Filed under: Cellphones

Looks like that rumor was mostly spot on, as two new consumer-minded iPAQ handhelds have emerged on HP’s website. Without much fanfare, the Windows Mobile 6.1-powered iPAQ Data Messenger and Voice Messenger have been granted dedicated sites, complete with imagery, specifications and recommended accessories. Starting with the touchscreen-heavy Data Messenger (seen above), you’ll find a 2.81-inch LED-backlit display (320 x 240), a full QWERTY slide-out keyboard, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR / WiFi, HSDPA, quad-band GSM support, aGPS, a 3.1-megapixel camera and a microSD card slot. As for the Voice Messenger (pictured after the break), it’s packing a 2.4-inch 320 x 240 LED-backlit screen, a 20-key “keyboard” and most everything else already mentioned on its big bro. There’s nary a clue on pricing or a release date, but we imagine both of those snippets will reveal themselves shortly.

[Via WMPowerUser]

Read - HP iPAQ Voice Messenger
Read - HP iPAQ Data Messenger

Continue reading HP iPAQ Data Messenger / Voice Messenger handhelds emerge

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Filed under: Tablet PCs

Dell’s Latitude XT is a pretty special piece of equipment, namely because it boasts multi-touch capabilities while being a Tablet PC. Unfortunately, it seems that quite a few users are growing increasingly frustrated with the touch-lovin’ screen, with GottaBeMobile going so far as to call Dell out to remedy the myriad issues with its N-Trig digitizer. Among the problems are “digitizer not found” errors upon restart, a digitizer that won’t work properly without a few reboots and a nice selection of applet loading errors to top things off. It seems the readers of the aforesaid site aren’t faring too well either, with the forums filling up with folks eager and willing to yell “amen!” and “me too!” Are you also experiencing wonky N-Trig problems? Are you fed up with Dell’s public silence on the matter? Or have you figured out a solution that you’ve been keeping all to yourself for the past seven months? Chime in down below.

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Filed under: Laptops

If your Latitude D630 is growing a bit long in the tooth, it sounds like the Latitude E6400 is the perfect replacement. Critics over at NotebookReview had no qualms mentioning the unit’s strengths, from the rugged chassis to the excellent port assortment to the remarkable 19-hour battery life. Of course, it did point the majority of the review at business-minded users, but it’s not like you’re really looking at the Latitude line to run Crysis, anyway. Overall, reviewers couldn’t find any “major reason” to dislike the E6400, though it couldn’t help but mention a smattering of “minor annoyances.” Like, you ask? Frustrating ControlPoint software, a less-than-awesome trackpoint / touchpoint and a general build quality that made the unit “feel less durable than it really [was].” If you can overlook those gripes, however, you could be staring at a winner.

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Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

We’ve gotten a number of reports today that the Samsung i907 Epix is turning up in sundry AT&T stores across the lands, and those claims are certainly backed up by a fresh retail unboxing of Sammy’s WinMo 6.1 Professional monster for AT&T that’s turned up over on Boy Genius Report. “Monster” is the right word here, too, in light of Mr. Genius’ claims that the Epix seems to be just about the thickest device offered by the carrier outside the beastly Tilt — not the news we wanted to hear about a QWERTY handset that looks from a distance to be no more imposing than a BlackJack. The optical mouse is cool, don’t get us wrong, but is it cool enough to justify a conspicuous bulge in our pocket?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Filed under: Wireless

In a series of events that’s becoming all too reminiscent of the National Association of Broadcasters’ attempts to stifle the XM / Sirius merger, the FCC now says that it is considering the NAB’s recent last-minute request to delay the forthcoming November 4 vote on authorizing unlicensed white space devices (or WSDs). According to Ars Technica, however, while the FCC is considering the proposal, it’s hardly enthused about it, with agency spokesperson Rob Kenny saying that it is “important to note that this proceeding has been open for several years and recently included multiple rounds of testing in the lab and field, which were open to the public and provided all interested parties with ample opportunities to comment and provide input.” For its part, the NAB and a consortium of other broadcasters say that the FCC is relying on a “a flawed reading of the OET test results,” and that if the vote passses, “WSDs will be let into the broadcast band without the protections that are necessary to prevent widespread interference to television and cable reception.” As you might expect, the FCC hasn’t yet tipped its hand as to when it might rule on the NAB’s request, but if it does get its way, the vote would be delayed 70 days for a public comment cycle, or conceivably longer if the NAB finds another wrench to throw into the works.

[Via CNET News]

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Filed under: Cellphones

Take one look at the room rates at the Malibu Beach Inn, and you’ll fully understand why you’ll be treated to a loaner iPod touch for the duration of your stay. For those who already own an iPhone / iPod touch, they’ll be given access to a web application that was built for the Safari browser to give guests all sorts of remote capabilities. For instance, ordering up room service, setting a wake up call, requesting luggage, renting a limo and flipping the door placard to “Do Not Disturb” no longer requires any strenuous work; instead, users can simply hit a few buttons and be on their way. The hotel chose a web app in order to avoid the Apple certification process and to make it available on other hot devices in the near future. But then again, if you can swing this place, you’ve probably got a butler handling the front-desk inquiries, anyway.

[Via Fashion Funky, thanks Daisy]

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