Developages - Development and Technology Blog

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

DeviceVM’s SplashTop “instant-on” OS is based on Linux, even though it’s locked down to only run IM, Skype, media software, and Firefox, and you know what that means — it’s already been hacked wide open. Yep, the clever kids at the Phoronix forums have managed to open up the BIOS-based OS and make it do all kinds of tricks, including run other programs and boot other machines off a flash drive. The hacks are still a little complex, but with ASUS shipping tons of ExpressGate-enabled mobos and laptops and HP’s support in the Voodoo Envy 133, we’d there’s a one-click unlocker in the wild fairly soon. Anyone brave enough to install it on their machines?

[Thanks, george85]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Nilay Patel

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Amex Digital has certainly dabbled in the home theater space before, but we’ll be honest, we’re still scratching our heads on this one. The lightly detailed iMON HD Mobile is a self-proclaimed “portable media center,” but beyond that, we’re pretty much left to wonder what exactly is going on. We are told that it’s an advanced IR receiver and VFD display device, and aside from delivering IR commands back to your PC, it’ll also scroll across useful information such as news, media information, current time, weather, a graphical equalizer and system details. Guess we’ll just hang tight until it gets fleshed out and goes on sale, though we can’t say that display really gets our hopes up for anything great.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Displays

It looks like your cellphone display (and camcorder viewfinder) resolution is about to get significantly higher in the near-future, thanks to NEC and its crack team of super nerds. The company today announced that it had developed a 2.7-inch LCD module which delivers a resolution of 960 x 540, thanks to a super high pixel density of 413 pixels-per-inch. The quarter high-definition (QHD) panel is compatible with full HD resolution, and sees a boost in both the color gamut and luminance. Sure, it all sounds a bit dry on paper, but when you’re noticing just how bad local reporters look in HD on your phone, you’re going to thank NEC.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Desktops, Handhelds, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Laptops

See those people? As much as NEC would like to think so, that’s not you. If it were you’d be ass-deep in nag about your inattentive dismissal of “quality time” while suffering dire warnings about barefoot-borne diseases. Or maybe that’s just us. Regardless, NEC hopes that the launch of its 4-component Lui (Life with Ubiquitous Integration) system — ¥379,890/$3,705 Blu-ray packing PC server (Lui SX), ¥89,880/$877 10.6-inch laptop (Lui RN), ¥49,980/$487 4.1-inch handheld (Lui RP), and ¥300,000/$2,926 Desktop (Valuestar R Lui) — will somehow create harmony in your household. Besides the marketing hype, we’re really just talking about Windows Home Premium SP1 here and a bunch of DTCP-IP DRM and DLNA compliant devices. In fact, the so called “laptop” and handheld units lack any traditional OS at all — they can only be used to receive streaming content off your home server. Even then, some streaming is restricted inside and outside the home thanks to the DRM lockdown. Do we really need one or even two more devices in the home just for media?
%Gallery-20581%
[Via Impress]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Cellphones

We’ve handled handsets with unorthodox keypads before, but there’s quite a bit more about this here device that’s off-kilter than just a unique method of input. Discovered in the always unpredictable database of the FCC, the Mobicom-built mobile plays on the 850 / 1900 GSM bands and features a built-in MP3 player, file manager, speakerphone and accelerometer — you know, for accessing icons by simply tilting the phone. The most astounding inclusion, however, isn’t the integrated NFC technology that allows users to make payments on the go, but rather the unmistakable logo of a financial services company. Sitting front and center. On a cellphone. Something tells us this thing better print greenbacks if it hopes to seriously lure any suits away from their precious BlackBerrys.

[Via PhoneScoop]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops

Get this: an Estonian newspaper has teamed up with HP to find the country’s most unsightly laptop, and while the one pictured above hasn’t been deemed the victor (yet), it definitely looks to have been on the wrong end of a Russian cyber attack. Apparently, the contestants have already been selected, and users can surf on over and place their vote for the single most repulsive machine in the mix. Thankfully, the two winners (audience “favorite” and editor’s choice) will each receive a brand new HP Pavilion dv2699 Special Edition lappie, which we fully expect will be treated just as poorly as the rig it’s replacing.

[Thanks, Flasher T.]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones

After yesterday’s barrage of unlimited calling plans left us all terribly underwhelmed, it seems as if Sprint is hoping to emerge as the knight in shining armor by undercutting the oh-so-popular $99 price point. According to unspecified “analysts,” the carrier is gearing up to “offer flat-rate calling plans at up to a 40-percent discount to its rivals,” meaning that yappers could talk ’til their batteries died (and then some) for around $60 a month. Of course, Sprint has yet to confirm nor deny the reports, but we’re all for a price war in the cellular space, regardless.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Wireless

We already knew that pigskin fanatics in 223 countries would be able to catch Super Bowl XLII this Sunday, but thanks to Raytheon’s Global Broadcasting Service (GBS), even sailors and Marines stationed aboard ships in the Pacific Ocean will be able to catch the Giants attempt to mar the Patriots’ currently unblemished record. The aforementioned technology has been in use for over a decade delivering “high-speed, multimedia broadcasts of mission critical information to military and government decision makers,” but this weekend, it’ll be used to bring home entertainment to folks far, far away from home. Sadly, it doesn’t sound like the broadcast will be in HD this go ’round, but we suppose any football is better than none at all, right?

[Via DailyWireless, image courtesy of ProJo]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Just in case you’ve been living under a rock (or mounds of year-end spreadsheets — same difference), we reckoned you should know that you’ve but four days left before Super Bowl XLII kicks off from Arizona. Besides the obvious necessities — an HDTV, lots of seating space, a truckload of junk food and an HD DVR attached to a battery backup system — you may also need to cross a few unnoticed “t”s to ensure the best game day experience possible. Of course, Engadget HD is lookin’ out for you and yours, and we’re here to make sure you aren’t scrambling for an HD signal from your local FOX affiliate three minutes after kickoff. Hit up the checklist here while you still have time.

Further Super Bowl XL II reading:

• Poll: Did you (or will you) buy a new HDTV for the Super Bowl?
• CEA expects Super Bowl to drive over two million HDTV sales
• HD DVD ad to air during Super Bowl XLII, BDA sez it’s futile
• Check for HD before RSVP-ing that Superbowl party
• How to get geared up for Super Bowl XLII

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Transportation

While you may or may not agree with NBC’s decision to make KITT a Ford Mustang in the new Knight Rider series, we’re pretty sure that you’re gonna tune in next February nonetheless if for no other reason then to see what modern technology can do to a talking, crime-fighting car. Well luckily Popular Mechanics has what is reportedly an exclusive spec sheet detailing all of the Knight Industries Three Thousand’s many capabilities, including much of the in-vehicle biometric and genetic testing you’d expect, along with such military features as laser weapons, a missile defense system, and even a targeted electromagnetic pulse for frying an enemy’s gadgets or pulling off the odd casino heist. One cutting-edge device that has been left out is a breathalyzer-based ignition system, which was allegedly scrapped at the last minute after designers learned that David Hasselhoff would not in fact be getting behind the wheel this time around.

[Thanks, cant0r]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Evan Blass