Developages - Development and Technology Blog

Filed under: Laptops

First things first: LaptopMag’s Pavilion HDX 16 was entirely more equipped than the basic $1,249 unit that was uncovered last night, so it makes sense that they were swooning over the (optional) 1080p display and the (optional) Blu-ray drive. Granted, those extras will cost you, but it’s items such as those that made this notebook so appealing to critics. Overall, the unit performed well in all of the areas that mattered, with strong WiFi scores, decent battery life and excellent processing power. Of note, reviewers did wish for a smoother touchpad and more responsive touch-sensitive buttons, but outside of that, we didn’t hear too many complaints. Looking for the 30 second version? “Overall, the HDX 16 is a desktop replacement in a mainstream notebook’s body that delivers great value for the price.” Got it?

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops

Whoa, boy — HP just went loony on us tonight, and in the midst of everything else, we found a new pair of HDX notebooks. Kicking things off is the X16, which boasts a woefully under-pixelated 16-inch 1,366 x 768 resolution display, a 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo P8400 CPU, NVIDIA’s 512MB GeForce 9600 GT, 4GB of DD̶ RAM, a 320GB 5,400RPM hard drive, dual-layer SuperMulti optical drive and built-in WiFi / Bluetooth. As for the beastly X18, you’ll find a lot of the same kit internally, but the 18-inch 1,920 x 1,080 display is one we can really salivate over; additionally, this one ups the ante with twin 250GB HDDs and a Blu-ray reader. Each unit includes the essentials: an Ethernet port, multicard reader, integrated Altec Lansing speakers, ExpressCard slot, four USB 2.0 sockets, audio in / out, HDMI / VGA and a 4-pin FireWire connector. Both units should ship later this month starting at $1,249 and $1549, respectively.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Most everyone digs a surprise, but the novelty tends to wear off after the third or fourth iteration of the same trick, wouldn’t you say? Rather than just coming right out and showing us the wares, Voodoo’s Rahul Sood is playing the tease card again with an obviously undisclosed new product. In an apparent attempt to keep the wave (started by the Omen and Envy 133, by the way) rolling, Mr. Sood has dropped a sliver of a hint on The Next Bench. He states that “there’s also this other thing [Voodoo is] working on right now,” but he very purposefully fails to elaborate. Just keep it sexy and overpowered and we won’t kvetch about the build up… too much.

[Thanks, William]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops

Right, so Voodoo’s succulent Envy 133 looks a lot better in high-res images than in some highly compressed, artifact-laden YouTube clip, but that’s what your imagination is there for. For those still waiting for their freshly shipped machine to hit the doorstep, hop on past the break for an unboxing sure to make you even more impatient. Or just restrain yourself and experience it first-hand in a few days. Totally your call.

[Thanks, Bernt]

Continue reading Voodoo Envy 133 unboxed on video, lookin’ good

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Digital Cameras

You heard that Nikon busted out a DSLR with a 720p movie mode, right? Even that is going to pale in comparison to RED’s alternative, or at least that’s what RED would have you to believe. In a recent post over at the REDuser forums, Jannard points out that its DSLR “replacement” should be ready to rock by late 2009, and while an official name has yet to arrive, it’s going by DSMC (Digital Still & Motion Camera) for the time being. Also of note, Jannard casually mentioned that this piece would be more advanced than Nikon′s D90 and an undisclosed 1080p DSLR from Canon; that’s the first we’ve heard of such a beast, but given the natural progression of technology, we suppose it fits. C’mon guys, 3K 4K 5K shooting in a DSLR, we know you can do it.

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Original post by Darren Murph

New figures show the search engine giant with over three times the market share of second-placed Yahoo.

Original post by Mike Slocombe

Filed under: Portable Audio

Step aside Universal Music, Sony BMG is now offering its catalog of music on Nokia’s Comes With Music service. You know, the freebie, all you can eat music download service expected to launch mid-2008 (oops) “second half″ of 2008. Remember, you′ll have to buy a Comes with Music device first and the free download period from the Nokia Music Store (to your PC or phone) only lasts for 12 months. Still, consumers keep the downloaded (and DRM’d) tracks at the end of the period and “can transfer their downloaded material by substituting their new [Comes with Music] device or computer for the original devices” later on. While no Comes with Music devices have been announced yet, we certainly wouldn′t be surprised if Nokia’s touch-screen Tube or some other S60 touch device was first.

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Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

Although this is far from being the weirdest union (or proposal, for that matter) we’ve ever seen, Xanga user p3ng decided to throw tradition to the wind (at least momentarily) when proposing to his now-fiancée. Put simply, he built a custom version of Bejewled (the lady’s favorite game in the whole wide world) in which a pixelated engagement ring scrolled onto the screen once a certain score was hit. Needless to say, his awestruck girlfriend could barely contain her excitement as she uttered “yes,” and we absolutely expect the Guitar Zeros to be the house band at the forthcoming reception.

[Via DSFanboy]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Just admit it: even if you don’t have Verizon service, even if you have absolutely no interest in Windows Mobile devices whatsoever, you′re just a little bit curious to know what a snow white HTC Touch looks like. We suppose we blew that surprise with the picture here… but whatever, just click on over to Engadget Mobile to see s’more shots, alright?

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Original post by Chris Ziegler

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Wait up, hang on here — you’re telling us a personality profiling conducted on 7,500 people at Apple’s biggest tub-thumping event of the year, Macworld, yielded results that would suggest Apple users “are more liberal, less modest, and more assured of their own superiority than the population at large.” And this so-called survey says Apple users have high indexes for “low modesty,” “high perfectionism,” and “high superiority”? Lies and half truths. We don’t know a single Apple user that fits anything remotely similar to that profile. Plus, we hear this poll totally had some hanging chads.

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Original post by Ryan Block

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

It was a big first day at Macworld — maybe not iPhone big, but certainly big enough. We know most anyone who′s not into Apple (and even a few who are) is ready for their regularly scheduled programming to return, and the good news is, for you, the Apple glut is over. But if you’re not quite ready to let go (or missed the real-time wall to wall coverage), check it all out below.

Keynote

• Live from Macworld 2008: Steve Jobs keynote
• Stevenote video now live on Apple’s site

MacBook Air

• The MacBook Air
• Apple MacBook Air first hands-on
• Video: MacBook Air hands-on
• MacBook Air: plenty more details
• MacBook Air doesn’t have a user-replaceable battery
• MacBook Air battery replacements: $129, free install!
• MacBook Air features Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• The MacBook Air SuperDrive
• Apple USB Ethernet Adapter brings RJ-45 to your MacBook Air
• Apple MacBook Air and MacBook Pro size showdown
• Apple offers up Micro-DVI to DVI / VGA / Video adapters for MacBook Air
• Apple announces Remote Disc to wirelessly install software on MacBook Air
• Meet the new MacBook family
• Apple′s MacBook Air is available for pre-order
• First Macbook Air multi-touch control panel screenshot
• Poll: Did you pre-order a MacBook Air?

iPhone / iPod Touch

• Apple’s sold 4 million iPhones since launch
• Apple adds five apps to the iPod touch — for a price
• iPhone firmware 1.1.3 update announced: it’s just like we heard
• Updated firmware 1.1.3 is available for iPhone and iPod touch, sort of
• The skinny on iPhone and iPod touch firmware 1.1.3
• Apple iPhone firmware 1.1.3 hands-on
• Video: iPhone firmware 1.1.3 doing its thing
• Apple TV (Take 2), iPod touch, and iPhone: yep, more details here, too
• Poll: Are you spending $20 on new iPod touch apps?

More (groan!) after the break.

Continue reading Way too much Apple coverage at Macworld — it’s all here

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Original post by Ryan Block

Filed under: Features, Laptops

That’s right, it’s like you′re looking into some crazy crystal ball, one which is showing you how all your future interactions with your Mac will be carried out… probably. Feast your eyes on this glimpse into the soon-to-arrive apocalyptic nightmare-world of gestures.

Continue reading First Macbook Air multi-touch control panel screenshot

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Original post by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Features, Handhelds

Live from the heart-pounding, pulse-racing showfloor of Macworld 2008, we bring you a full frontal hands-on of Axiotron’s long-awaited Modbook — the MacBook tablet conversion. After all the waiting and wondering, we’re not totally blown away by the end result, though if you′re an artist or designer, this could be a real boon to your productivity. The build is sturdy, and the screen feels solid beneath your stylus (stylus only that is — no touchscreen here), though the pressure sensitivity seemed to give out at really soft touches… of which there were many. Check the gallery and see for yourself.

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Original post by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Features, HDTV, Home Entertainment

We got a quick runthrough of the Apple TV’s new menus, and we liked what we saw. Everything seems crisp and intuitive, and Transformers looks oh-so Transformer-ey. Unfortunately we couldn’t see an actual rental transaction take place, but we’ll take Apple’s word for it on this one. Video is after the break.

Continue reading Video: Apple TV Take 2 menu hands-on

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Original post by Paul Miller

Filed under: Features, Laptops

Apple’s Macworld 2008 booth is naturally gargantuan this year, but practically empty — that is, if you don’t count the teeming hordes of people surrounding the MacBook Air table and watching the presentations on the big screen. Apple only has its new product on display, which means mainstays like regular iPods, iMacs, MacBooks and MacBook Pros were nowhere to be seen. The booth is fairly dominated by an end-to-end table filled with MacBook Airs and their respective Apple guardians. Time Capsule seems a bit of an afterthought, as does Apple TV.

 

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Original post by Paul Miller