Developages - Development and Technology Blog

Filed under: Home Entertainment

We got some good time in with Apple’s take 2 (i.e. v2.0) software update at Macworld this year, but now that it’s out we had to put the spurs to it. We’ll be updating with more as we go, but for right now here’s what you need to know:

• The update itself took us under five minutes to download, but over ten minutes to install. Our first try failed out. Also, get used to seeing that loading bar screen, it cycled through about five times for us.
• Yep, that’s a slick new video that it opens with.
• Did someone say 1080p output? Oh yes, it’s finally enabled!
• Yep, it’s officially software version 2.0.
• Although manually inputting your Apple ID with the remote is a pain, renting movies is absolutely a snap.
• Our HD movie was ready for playback within a minute of starting the download. Very nice.
• Picture quality is pretty good. Not amazing, but pretty good.
• Flickr integration works well (unlike on stage at Macworld), but there’s no way to aggregate your contact lists’s photos to your ATV. It’s on a single contact basis only, meaning you can only look at your own or any one other user’s photos at a tim.
• Plenty more details to be found here and here, as well as an informative chart of how downloads works here.

 

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Original post by Ryan Block

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

A couple of tipsters have reported that the delayed Apple TV “take 2″ update is finally available, right on schedule. It’s reportedly a 5 minute download, but that’s all the info we’ve got until Apple gets official about it. Let us know if it works for you.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Original post by Paul Miller

Yeah, we′ve seen solar chargers crammed into some fairly interesting places, and the latest questionable call comes from who else but Chinavasion. The CVEAB-S828-2 handheld features 2GB of internal memory, a media player, 3.5-inch display, integrated LED flashlight (saywha?) and of course, pre-installed emulators for NES and Game Boy titles. Beyond all that, users can crack this bad boy open, lay it out to bake, and watch it magically recharge its own batteries courtesy of the internal solar panels. And if for whatever reason that’s still not enough to draw you in, it can also recharge other gizmos attached via USB when parked under the sunlight. Still, we wouldn′t believe for a minute that this thing will actually work precisely as advertised, but those with oodles of faith can take the plunge for $123.32.

[Via Tech Digest]

 

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Laptops

We just got word from Lenovo that the Digitimes-originated story we ran yesterday about laptop production leaving China is completely false. Somehow it got out that Lenovo was moving all its laptop production to Taiwan, but apparently that couldn’t be further from the truth. Lenovo isn’t sure how the story got twisted in such a way, but assumes translation somewhere down the line was to blame. Sorry Taiwan, better luck next time, eh?

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Original post by Paul Miller

Filed under: Transportation

While many around the globe have their eyes fixated on the events going down in Las Vegas this week, the 9th Auto Expo in New Delhi, India is managing to steal at least a hint of the limelight. Announced today, Tata Motors′ $2,500 “1-Lakh” car will actually see production in India later this year, and it has affectionately been dubbed the NANO. For those not keen on such a title, it can also be recognized as “The People’s Car,” but it seems “The Person’s Car” may have been more appropriate. Nevertheless, this little bundle of automotive joy will feature an all-aluminum, two-cylinder engine that can deliver around 54 US miles per gallon, and while stripped down would be a gross understatement, it does promise to “exceed current regulatory (read: safety) requirements.” Hit the read link for Tata’s official release along with a plethora of photos.

[Image courtesy of Manan Vatsyayana/Raveendran for Getty]

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Original post by Darren Murph

The news is all over Engadget and the UK version of Gamespot: A new Sony AIBO robotic dog called the AIBO PS is on its way and it’s designed to work with Sony’s Portable PlayStation and PlayStation 3. If true, this would truly be a resurrection, since Sony killed its robotics division (including the AIBO and humanoid QRIO) in the fall of 2006. I′m skeptical, however. There’s no information about where this article came from and many of the new features breathlessly reported on blogs and Gamespot existed in previous AIBOs, including wireless control, built-in camera, motion sensors and facial recognition. The big deal is that it can stream video over WiFi to your PSP. That’s cool, I guess. I used to be able to control my AIBO wirelessly via my PC. If this product is real, Sony simply ported existing AIBO Mind software to the PSP platform and, I assume, the Ṕ platform as well. I’d love to believe that, but Sony’s not saying anything and the company ultimately ended up treating AIBO like an unwanted step child. Plus the whole idea that AIBO can somehow rescue the PSP is utter nonsense. That platform will live or die on its own steam.

Original post by Lance Ulanoff