Developages - Development and Technology Blog

Filed under: Desktops, Transportation

We genuinely hope you don’t value your dash very much, because a great deal of it will vanish if you opt to install KNGT’s icom MK1.The full-fledged car computer wows passengers and drivers alike with its 6.95-inch 800 x 480 resolution display, on-screen QWERTY keyboard, wireless connectivity and mobile TV (T-DMB) tuner. Furthermore, you’ll find a 40GB / 80GB hard drive, upwards of 2GB of RAM, a few USB 2.0 ports, a 1.6GHz Intel CPU and Windows XP running the show. You know all those threats you made when you were younger about heading out and just living in your ‘79 Riviera? Following through just got a whole lot easier.

[Via Coolest-Gadgets]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops

At this point, it’s pretty hard to figure out which netbook is better than another, but if you’ve been keyed in on Acer’s version for whatever reason, Laptop has a review sure to pique your interest. The Aspire One was praised just as soon as it left the box for its classy styling and super portable design. After getting down to business, however, reviewers felt that the typing experience was only “decent” and the touchpad was “cramped” — two things we actually would expect from a device of this stature. Nevertheless, the port selection was tolerable, the performance was passable and the battery life left a bit to be desired. As you can tell, this one seemed perfectly average on the whole, though it was deemed a “pretty good bargain” at $379. Huzzah?

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops

Acer played it safe early last month by telling Americans to expect its Aspire One “later this year,” but just a month and change after UKers had the privilege of toying with one on video, here she comes. So far, we’re seeing a couple of variations for sale here in the US, two of which include the $399.99 A110-1295 (8GB SSD) and the $422.99 A150-1006 (120GB HDD). We’re also hearing that select e-tailers are already slapping those shipping labels on there and moving ‘em out to anxious consumers, so be sure and chime in when your confirmation arrives. Wait, what? You already own six netbooks? Ah well, what’s another one amongst family?

[Via AspireOne, thanks Tony and Timothy]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops

You knew this was bound to happen. Like any good piece of gadgetry, there’s always someone who can’t wait to get their grubby hands all over it… and rip it to shreds to see how it works. Today we present the disemboweling of two of the latest challengers to the Eee’s netbook throne: the MSI Wind, and the Acer Aspire One. The Aspire One at least gets the courtesy of a proper unboxing before the medical proceedings begin; the Wind just gets cracked open like a cold PBR at your cousin’s barbecue. Don’t take our word for it, however — truck on over to the read links and see the messes with your very own eyes.

Read - Breaking Wind
Read - Acer Aspire One Unboxed and Disassembled

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Original post by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Laptops

According to sources, Acer’s tiny Aspire One laptop is now available in three iterations, the A110L, A150L, and A150X. The A110L sports an Atom N270 CPU, Intel’s 946GSE chipset, 512MB or 1GB of RAM, 8GB of NAND flash storage, an 8.9-inch 1024 x 600 display, 802.11b/g, and three USB ports. The other two models come equipped with the same specs, save for a 120GB hard drive in place of the flash storage, and are offered with Linpus Linux, or Windows XP. Retailers in Germany already claim to have the A110L in stock now, selling for €329 (or about $518).

[Via Fudzilla]

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Original post by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Laptops

The folks at Tech Digest got a look at the new Acer Aspire One, and they seem to like what they see. High points abound, but of particular note is the solid “it’s almost like a real laptop” build quality, the Atom processor that runs cool enough to require zero fan usage in the time they’ve been testing, and the strong battery life. The rest of the quite-lovable specs we’re sure you all know by heart — either that or you’re so sick of looking at netbooks by now that you’re contemplating a monastic existence just to be rid of the things. Video is after the break.

Continue reading Acer Aspire One handled on video by real-live British people

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Original post by Paul Miller

Filed under: Laptops

Microsoft sits alone at the cafe as Acer walks out, peering into its empty coffee cup, thinking, “I don’t need her anyway.” What are we getting at? Acer VP of Marketing Gianpiero says the computer company is seeing a big future with Linux. He says the cost of Windows over Linux — especially in its low-cost products like the Aspire One — is the biggest reason, and offered this meta explanation: “We have shifted towards Linux because of Microsoft. Microsoft has a lot of power and it is going to be difficult, but we will be working hard to develop the Linux market.” It’s not you, Microsoft. It’s Acer. Really.

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Original post by Joshua Fruhlinger

Filed under: Laptops

Just in case you’re not already totally sick of all these tiny laptops, Acer’s Aspire One is finally official. You saw our hands-on from the show floor at Computex, now the full specs:

• 8.9-inch 1024 x 600 LED-backlit display
• 1.6GHz Atom N270
• 512MB DDR2 SDRAM (expandable)
• 1.3 megapixel camera, SDHC and multi-format media readers
• 802.11b/g, Ethernet, three USB 2.0, VGA, and 3.5mm audio out
• One free mini PCI slot for WWAN
• 80GB hard drive (with XP) or 8GB solid state (with Linux)
• 2.5 or 5 hours on 3 or 6-cell batteries in XP model, 3 or 7 hours on Linux
• 1kg (2.2 pounds)

It should be available overseas this month in blue or white (with black, red, and pink models coming soon), and supposedly US release later this year. At the outset you’ll be ponying up £199 (~$400 US) for the Linux model, and £299 (~$400 US) for XP.

[Thanks, Garry, via El Reg]

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Original post by Ryan Block

Filed under: Laptops

Guess what? We’re off the Eee (and your mama) and onto the launch of the competition. This time, it’s Acer’s Aspire One. The Atom-based, 8.9-inch, 1024 x 600 pixel laptop runs your choice of XP or Linux and packs 802.11b/g WiFi, up to 1GB of memory, an 8GB SSD or 2.5-inch 80GB, SD card slot, and optional 6-cell battery. It’ll also sport an integrated WiMax module when the networks finally light up. Expected to hit the US in September for $399 (that’s still unofficial) with a 3-cell, 2200mAh battery, standard. Puhlease. A few more snaps after the break, the rest at Engadget Chinese.

Continue reading Hands-on Acer’s Aspire One netbook

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Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Laptops

Whoa, big day in the land of low-cost ultra-portables. First Dell, now Acer in what appear to be the first shots of Acer’s first sub-$500 ultra-portable. The images above were dumped into the forum over at UMPC Portal and show what appears to be an “Aspire One” branding to the right of the touchpad and what could certainly pass as the rumored 8.9-inch display. And although that UI is very un-Microsoft, there’s no denying the Microsoft flag waving back from the keyboard. If this is Acer’s contestant in the race to the bottom then we’ll know for sure next week at Computex.

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Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Laptops

Whoa, big day in the land of low-cost ultra-portables. First Dell, now Acer in what appear to be the first shots of Acer’s first sub-$500 ultra-portable. The images above were dumped into the forum over at UMPC Portal and show what appears to be an “Aspire One” branding to the right of the touchpad and what could certainly pass as the rumored 8.9-inch display. And although that UI is very un-Microsoft, there’s no denying the Microsoft flag waving back from the keyboard. We’ll know for sure if this is Acer’s contestant in the race to the bottom next week at Computex.

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Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: GPS

Now, we’re not certain whether the 81xx actually arrived in a basket wrapped in old linens, but whatever the case, the FCC was kind enough to take Navigon’s forthcoming PND in and put it through the necessary paces. After doing a little 2 + 2, we’re going ahead and assuming that this unit is the 3D map-lovin’ 8110 that we played around with briefly at CeBIT. As you’d expect from an FCC filing, there’s no mention of when this thing will be freed for selling here in the US, but we don’t expect it to lag behind the 2100 Max for too awfully long.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: GPS

Aw yeah, Navigon’s latest widescreen navigators are finally being assigned tracking numbers, meaning that you can get your roadtrip on for just $299 (US-based 2100 Max) or $329 CAD (Canada-only 2120 Max). For those needing a refresher, you can look forward to 4.3-inches of turn-by-turn guidance, optional FreshMaps service, branded icons, a speed assistant, 2D / 3D imagery and an integrated logbook to keep tabs on your joyrides. Take a peek at the read link for more detailed specifications, and head on down to your favorite retailer if it suits you just fine.

[Via I4U News]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops, Storage

Take that WD, Toshiba, and Hitachi. Fujitsu just returned from exile with a claim to the biggest fastest laptop-disk throne. The 3Gbps SATA-equipped MHZ2 BJ series measures in at a standard 9.5-mm and spins at 7,200rpm with a 16MB cache and 25dB idle noise level. Average seek times are listed at 10.5-ms for data reads and 12.5-ms for writes while drawing 2.3 watts of power. Oh sure, a couple of 2.5-inch 500GB disk drives have already been announced. But most of those measure in at a non-standard 12.5-mm making them unsuitable for the majority of laptops on the market today. Sales of the new MHZ2 BJ-series begins in June.

Update: Oops, almost forgot about Samsung’s Spinpoint M6 which does hit the 500GB mark in a standard 9.5mm-height package.

[Via Impress]

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Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: GPS, Transportation

At first glance, we seriously assumed that we had mentioned this exact same story before. Turns out, one particular Maxi Haulage driver doesn’t tune into Engadget, as he pulled the exact same trick in (almost) the same circumstances. Reportedly, this timber haul was cut short as the driver followed his personal GPS system down a “farm lane” suitable only for (presumably small) tractors, and needless to say, the 45-foot vehicle has been wedged ever since. Additionally, the owner of the property is quite irate, as the mishap is forcing her to drive an extra two miles until rescue arrives. Still, the motorist did cruise right by a sign noting that the upcoming road was unfit for heavy goods vehicles, so at least the sat nav can’t take all of the blame this go ’round.

[Thanks, Carl H.]

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Original post by Darren Murph