We know this looks like a plastic trashcan full of junk electronics, but it’s actually the inside of WowWee’s Rovio robot webcam just after he’s been given a remote-control mod. Obviously blind to the dangers of granting your robot power over high-voltage appliances, RoboCommunity member Thel has hacked together a system whereby he can switch devices on and off at the mains using Rovio.
Sony Ericsson’s launch event for the XPERIA X10, their first Android smartphone, was slightly undermined by the fact that their single demo prototype proved to be not exactly the Snapdragon speed-demon we all expected. The company’s homegrown Timescape and Mediascape apps ran like molasses in a permafrost, which Sony Ericsson told us was due to them not having been optimized for the hardware. Happily HDblog have had access to a newer prototype, and theirs looks positively snappy.
Video demo after the cut
Having been spotted in prototype form last month, Dell’s Streak MID has received another shot of intrigue with Chinese rumor-monger Commercial Times claiming knowledge of both a manufacturer and a US carrier partner. According to their report, the Streak will be built by Qisda and released in the US with AT&T data in 2010.
A casual glance at the photo and you might think we’re re-reviewing the HP MediaSmart EX487 Home Server we looked at back in December. In actual fact, this is the business-centric cousin to that device, the HP StorageWorks X510 Data Vault. Intended for small businesses or serious home offices, the X520 Data Vault promises not only backup but various shared storage options too. Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.
Apple’s gaming intent for the iPhone, iPod touch and – potentially – the upcoming Apple Tablet has been further illustrated with a new job listing on the company’s site. The company is looking for a full-time “Game/Media Software Engineer” with “strong C / C++ / Objective-C / iPhone background” and a “passion” for gaming. While gaming on the iPod touch has been a strong focus in previous events – Apple describe it as “the funnest iPod ever”, in fact – there’s speculation that the timing of this new post might coincide with developing crossover games titles for the PA Semi powered Apple Tablet.
Sony Ericsson weren’t, to be fair, being all that coy about their launch plans for the XPERIA X10 Android smartphone back at its launch a few weeks ago: asked when it was likely the touchscreen Snapdragon handset would arrive within its “Q1 2010″ window, the SE exec told us “it’s not going to be the beginning or the end of the quarter”. We presumed a February release, then, likely around or about Mobile World Congress, and sure enough Sony Ericsson’s own online store are suggesting a February arrival for the X10.
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Kohjinsha's PA-series MID may have a fussy aesthetic going on, but that doesn't mean we don't find the 4.8-inch touchscreen convertible appealing. Announced back in October, we've already seen the PA-series unboxed but now comes the moment of truth: a full review. Jenn from Pocketables knows a bit about MIDs and ultraportable devices, so when she says that the Kohjinsha is versatile yet "truly insane" in how it's priced, we know it's dark days for the little MID.
Apple’s plans for advanced on-device advertising have prompted more horrified editorial, this time courtesy of the New York Times. The surprise is earned by the Cupertino company’s patent application for an “enforcement routine” whereby on-screen adverts can not only seize focus from the current activity – whether that be a browsing session on an iPhone, video playback on an Apple TV or typing on a MacBook Pro – but force the user to sit through it until they can show they’ve paid attention by clicking a specific button or answering a question.
The motivation for the intrusion, Apple’s patent explains, would be cheaper access to the latest kit. Companies would subsidize the hardware in return for the user agreeing to pay attention to the adverts; if, at a future point, the marketing messages got too much, the user could settle up for the full cost of the device and banish the ads.
Nokia’s E72 has finally begun shipping, having been announced all the way back in June. The much-anticipated follow-up to the Nokia E71, the E72 is an unashamedly email-centric smartphone, with a full QWERTY keyboard and optical trackpad; running S60, Nokia have added in IM support from the homescreen together with a 5-megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash.
Back on the second of the month I posted up some pics and a few meager specifications that leaked about the new dual-GPU ATI Radeon HD 5970 video card. Today pricing information on the new video card has hit the web.
Chrome OS: Waiting Is The Hardest Part…Though Necessary
Apple is no longer the Nordstrom of Tech, they’re the “New Nordstrom”
Can Anything Replace Windows XP As the Best Netbook Operating System?
Hey, Premium Notebooks or Netbooks, Get the Basics Right!
SlashGear Japan
