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- Nokia N8 starts shipping worldwide
- Xbox 360 Fall Update Beta Is Live
- Kobo Reader To Be Pre-Loaded On BlackBerry PlayBook
- This iPad Runs Chromium
- Pioneer Announces Two New Speaker Systems
- Nintendo Is Developing Wii Remote Plus
- Yep, There’s The Insides Of The New Apple TV
- Amazon Will Sell 5 Million Kindles (Kindlen?) This Year
- Apple TV Software Runs On iPad, iPod Touch
- The Bose VideoWave Is A Little Much Even For Bose
- Yatzhee Plays Amnesia: The Dark Descent
- Bitfenix Announces Their Survivor Mid-ATX Tower
- EA Launches FIFA 11 With New York Red Bulls Tournament
- Don’t Believe The Hype, Tablets Aren’t Going To Be This Year’s Must-Have Gift
- HDCP Decryption System Developed, Released As Open-Source Software
- Gateway Releases NV59C66u With Built-in WiMAX
- CrunchDeals: Watchismo’s Oktoberfest Sale on German Watches
- Reminder: Don’t You… Forget About Grig
- Dell Planning Another 7-inch Tablet, 10-incher Coming Soon
- Report: Logitech Expecting To Ship 500k Google TV Revue Boxes By End Of 2010
| Nokia N8 starts shipping worldwide Posted: 30 Sep 2010 04:55 AM PDT
The N8 will be Nokia’s last N-series device to run Symbian (they’re switching their high-end devices to Meego), and comes with a 3.5″ display, HDMI out, and a simply stunning 12MP camera. I miss having a good camera in my phone. Previous rumours have said that it could come to AT&T early next year. Follow the break for the full press release.
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| Xbox 360 Fall Update Beta Is Live Posted: 29 Sep 2010 06:50 PM PDT
[via Joystiq]
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| Kobo Reader To Be Pre-Loaded On BlackBerry PlayBook Posted: 29 Sep 2010 04:18 PM PDT
Kobo is really trying to dethrone the Kindle, or at least grab a significant portion of the marketshare. It’s going to be tough to do, considering that the Kindle app is the number one e-reader for the iPad, and Amazon has also announced they will be producing a Kindle app for the PlayBook as well. Kobo did recently announce that they are the preferred reader for the Samsung Galaxy Tablet as well, making this the second tablet computer that will come pre-loaded with the Kobo software. From the press release: SAN FRANCISCO—September 29, 2010 — Kobo, a global eReading service, today announced plans for its application to be preloaded on the BlackBerry® PlayBook™ tablet, giving users easy access to the Kobo experience including Kobo's store of more than 2.2 million books. Earlier this week, Kobo also announced plans for an industry-first social eReading application that will leverage the new BBM™ (BlackBerry® Messenger) Social Platform. "We are thrilled to be extending our extensive relationship with RIM into the tablet space," said Michael Serbinis, CEO of Kobo. "Readers will love the elegant design, crisp display and portable size and weight of the BlackBerry PlayBook, which is perfectly suited for long reading sessions. I am also excited by the possibilities of the BlackBerry Tablet OS, which will allow us to bring today's bestsellers and classics, as well as other rich content, to BlackBerry PlayBook users." The 7-inch BlackBerry PlayBook is an ideal size for eBooks, allowing both comfort and convenience for readers. The new BlackBerry Tablet OS also features a WebKit browser engine, preferred by Kobo and used across its applications to deliver feature-rich and high-performance eReading applications. "The new BlackBerry PlayBook is a multitasking powerhouse for apps and content services and, together with Kobo's eBooks app and service, it will provide users with an exceptional eReading experience," said Jim Tobin, Senior Vice President, Value-Added Services, Research In Motion. "Kobo is an excellent partner for RIM given the global nature of both our businesses and because Kobo provides a great customer experience, including regionalized apps, content and pricing." Key features of the Kobo eBook app on the BlackBerry PlayBook are: · Integrated shopping. The Kobo store offers more than 2.2 million titles and the catalogue includes bestsellers, new releases and over 1 million free books. International stores feature region-specific content and pricing.
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| Posted: 29 Sep 2010 03:30 PM PDT
The commenters there are, predictably, accusing it of being a photoshop job, citing the usual pixels and EXIF data. I don’t see any reason why Chromium shouldn’t be able to run on iPad hardware, other than that Apple has put some barriers in place to make it inconvenient. A skilled hacker could make it happen no problem. Before you all go running to your iPads thinking of installing dual-boot, just hang on a few months and wait for both iOS 4.2 and the real Chrome OS, which I guarantee will be way cooler than the open Chromium builds. [via iPodNN]
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| Pioneer Announces Two New Speaker Systems Posted: 29 Sep 2010 03:00 PM PDT
From the press release: Pioneer is proud to introduce its first active reference speakers designed specifically with DJ/Producers in mind. The studio friendly S-DJ08 (8-inch) is available from late December and the smaller all round DJ lifestyle choice S-DJ05 (5 inch) from early January 2011. Both models come as a pair. Harnessing our long-standing history of speaker production, the S-DJ08 and S-DJ05 deliver accurate, neutral sound that professionals can rely on – while their innovative features make them adaptable for all your studio roles. Control settings externally Whether you are DJing, producing music or auditioning tracks, the S-DJs deliver the high-quality sound you would expect from Pioneer. A built-in linear equalizer enables you to fine-tune the frequency to suit your activity, while a unique input switching function enables effortless movement between four separate sources. Plus these are the first speakers that can change settings using an external manual controller. Tested and perfected by renowned international DJs including Steve Mac and Paul Woolford, the S-DJs boast the clarity, quality and flexibility to meet the demands of today's DJ-come-producer. And with their sleek design and gun metal woofer and controller, they are the ideal addition to your studio. Key features The speakers connect your music production and DJ set-ups directly to an integrated bi-amp circuit, which drives the tweeter and woofer independently, ensuring perfect clarity and no loss of quality. The first studio speakers to enable changes in settings through one controller And joining the speakers together with a link cable means any adjustments need only be made once. Built-in linear equaliser takes away the hassle of a sub-mixer Compare your latest productions in the mix by switching to your decks and mixing them with released material, then switch on the EQ to recreate the characteristics of hi-fi speakers and the big club sound. Unrivalled flexibility through four-input switching The speakers can adapt to any home studio situation, so you can alternate between computers, DJ equipment and other devices without the inconvenience of reconnecting. This allows DJs and producers to mute the sound without adjusting the volume – so you can easily return to mixing or creating tracks at your preferred volume settings, preserving your frame of reference. Tweeter and sound axis control delivers a wide sweet spot Other features include: * Blue LED display on front of speaker indicates input source, EQ and power on or off.
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| Nintendo Is Developing Wii Remote Plus Posted: 29 Sep 2010 02:25 PM PDT
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| Yep, There’s The Insides Of The New Apple TV Posted: 29 Sep 2010 01:03 PM PDT
How exciting. iFixit found a8GB of flash memory courtesy of Samsung and a lot of the same chips and bits found inside the iPhone and iPad. There’s even solder points for a dock connector lending to the thought that the Apple TV is nothing more than a repackaged iPhone minus certain parts. See, I told you it was exciting. You can keep your high going by clicking over to iFixit for even more fun.
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| Amazon Will Sell 5 Million Kindles (Kindlen?) This Year Posted: 29 Sep 2010 12:25 PM PDT
This doesn’t mean the Kindle is beating the iPad. Gene “The Animal” Munster thinks Apple will sell 10.7 million iPads in 2010 and 21 million in 2011, which is pretty darn nuts.
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| Apple TV Software Runs On iPad, iPod Touch Posted: 29 Sep 2010 12:00 PM PDT This video shows the version of iOS running on the Apple TV appearing to work correctly on an iPod Touch Gen. 4. Hacked by DHowett, the system seems to do everything the Apple TV can do but the process is very rough and technically could fry your device. Think of it as an interesting yet dangerous experiment, and, like most dangerous experiments, they should be left to the experts.
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| The Bose VideoWave Is A Little Much Even For Bose Posted: 29 Sep 2010 11:50 AM PDT
Now, I understand Bose and their target demographic. I sold AV equipment retail for years at Circuit City and know that Bose products sell themselves. They require nothing more than a quick demo and a store credit card with a high enough limit. My friend’s father recently “treated” himself to Bose speakers after retirement, beaming with pride as he unboxed his set. It’s even easier to sell against Bose, though. All it requires is a reasonable argument from the salesman and suddenly a customer is spending hundreds, if not thousands less, on an Onkyo HTIB with professional installation. It’s this logic Bose is afraid of and perhaps explains the high-price. Bose knows they’re not going to sell a lot of these TVs.
I asked our Bose contact a few follow-up questions like who makes the LCD panel, what are the specs, is there a white paper or any technical documents on the new set. I’m still waiting for a response but I doubt I’ll get the info. The type of person Bose targets doesn’t care about those items so they generally avoid talking about them. Their target demographic wants a simple, but quality product — that’s it. They’re not shopping by specs. Gizmodo did a long piece yesterday about how the VideoWave ups the game for everyone. While I’m sure the VideoWave’s audio is great, I don’t think that’s the case at all. Bose doesn’t care what Sony or Panasonic does and the feeling is probably mutual. Don’t think for a minute that those companies couldn’t come up with a competing set for half the price. At its core, the VideoWave’s audio secret sauce is just an integrated soundbar/subwoofer combo with clever port and fancy processor. Even then, it’s ridiculously expensive at $5,349. The Bose VideoWave seems like an exercise in retail pricing. Now, of course this is all speculation on my part, but I really don’t think the VideoWave, even with the $5,349 pricetag, is making Bose all that much. It all comes down to sales volume. The Bose VideoWave is exclusive to Bose retail stores because it will require a controlled selling environment and dedicated salesman to move them. This alone means the product is not going to be a high-volume unit, able to survive with a thin margin. Bose simplified the selling process and cut down on inventory costs by only offering the VideoWave in one size. This also helps the ever-important manufacturing margins as they’re only using one size panel rather than gambling on various sizes. This TV is for the dude who flies 30 days out of the month with QuietComforts glued to his ears and who doesn’t have time to shop for TVs. “Go get the Bose TV set,” he’ll tell someone, either his secretary or wife, and they’ll know just what to get.
Still, the price is crazy-high and gives a glimpse at why Apple will not get into the TV world. There simply isn’t any money in it unless you make your own panels like Sony/Samsung, Panasonic, and LG/Philips. It’s going to be interesting to watch the VideoWave’s retail story. Bose products traditionally have a very long product life and it makes me wonder what panel Bose choose for this set. I don’t expect any changes to the VideoWave for years although I could see Bose selling a so-called naked VideoWave without the unifying AV receiver. Bose might be selling the same exact setup at the same price five years from now. That’s how they do business. Is the VideoWave for you and yours? Well, if you’re reading this, then chances are, no. A traditional top-tier LCD or plasma will give you a better picture and even a $500 audio system will sound great. Want a simple audio setup? Look at self-powered audio bars or tabletop 2.1 systems. You can buy a lot of AV for $5349, but it won’t be as simple as the VideoWave and Bose owns the market in simplicity.
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| Yatzhee Plays Amnesia: The Dark Descent Posted: 29 Sep 2010 11:03 AM PDT Oh, Yatzhee, always being funny. This time he takes on Amnesia: The Dark Descent, an indie horror game with bite.
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| Bitfenix Announces Their Survivor Mid-ATX Tower Posted: 29 Sep 2010 10:59 AM PDT
The Bitfenix Survivor is quite obviously a gamer’s case, and it’s not shy about it. The exterior of the case is covered with soft-touch material, which Bitfenix says will protect the case from scratches and “stains”, however I’m not entirely sure what would be staining your case. There’s also a folding handle, and a brightly lit LED Bitfenix logo on the front. The top of the case has two USB 2.0 and two USB 3.0 ports, as well as fan and light controls. Inside the case, you can mount seven 3.5″ or nine 2.5″ drives, and two 200mm fans. The Survivor case has an MSRP of $109, and should be available by mid-November. From the press release: BitFenix Launches Survivor Ruggedized mid-tower ATX gaming chassis features forward-looking design and superior specs (BitFenix Design Lab, September 30, 2010) – Today, BitFenix is pleased to launch Survivor – a mid-tower ATX gaming chassis that combines elegant styling with ruggedized features engineered for the mobile digital warrior. “We wanted to design a PC chassis that had ruggedized features, but didn't necessarily look like a tractor,” says David Jarlestedt, BitFenix Product Manager. “Will you be able to throw it in front of a moving bus or down the stairs? No, but you won't have to worry about damaged hardware while driving to your friend’s house or LAN party”. The unique curved design of Survivor isn’t simply aesthetic. Extending past the side panels, this design helps to protect Survivor and the hardware inside during transport. The front, top and bottom of Survivor is coated with proprietary BitFenix SofTouch™ surface treatment, which helps protect these surfaces from stains and scratches, all while looking great. On the very front above the ODD bays is an LED-lit BitFenix logo, which users can turn on and off at a press of a button. Once at the LAN party, Survivor helps to maximize your gaming experience. Survivor comes equipped with a modular hard drive cage that can be removed in order to accommodate extra-long graphics cards. With the entire cage intact, Survivor can be outfitted with up to nine 2.5" SSD drives or seven 3.5" hard disks. And to keep all your hardware running cool while you are fragging the competition, Survivor can be outfitted with up to two 200mm fans or three 120mm fans. Have to leave your seat for a while and wonder if your mouse, keyboard and headset will be there when you return? Not a problem with Survivor. Bundled with Survivor is the BitFenix S2™– an innovative peripheral security and cable management device. Simply install S2, insert your peripheral cables, and lock it to the chassis security loop using a padlock of your choice. With S2, would-be thieves will have to think twice before trying to steal your gaming gear. Also bundled with Survivor is the BitFenix Lockdown™, a hardware stabilizer that helps prevent accidental damage to graphics cards due to excessive vibrations during system transport. Survivor also includes a variety of features to make assembly and maintenance quick and painless. The CPU cooler cutout on the motherboard tray makes changing coolers a breeze, and specially-designed motherboard standoffs, internal cable management, and an almost tool-free design are a godsend for PC do-it-yourselfers. Finally, the included dust filters on all air intakes help keep Survivor clean on the inside. Both Survivor and Survivor Core will be available on retail shelves mid November.
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| EA Launches FIFA 11 With New York Red Bulls Tournament Posted: 29 Sep 2010 09:00 AM PDT
As anyone with working pair of eyes knows, EA released FIFA 11 yesterday. Far more important than Madden to EA’s global bottom line, FIFA 11 is the company’s latest chance for you take take Real Madrid to Wembley. Well, unless your name is Pedro León! So the game came out yesterday, and EA has a fun little campaign behind it. There’s going to be some sort of tournament all over the country with players from the MLS. It kicked off last night here in New York with a few players from the New York Red Bulls. And to be totally honest, the only players I’m familiar with on the Red Bulls are Thierry Henry and Rafa Márquez; I mainly follow the European leagues. I still haven’t bought the game yet, so don’t expect a "review" or anything like that. I played the game a bit last night (and at other EA events here and there), and can safely say this: FIFA 11 is EA’s best effort yet. Not exactly breaking news, but there must have been something in that water at EA when they were making it because they definitely did a good job this time around.
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| Don’t Believe The Hype, Tablets Aren’t Going To Be This Year’s Must-Have Gift Posted: 29 Sep 2010 08:38 AM PDT
Sorry, we were wrong. 2010 wasn’t the year of tablet like it was deemed back in January. We all had such high hopes for this year, too. We thought that every manufacturer was going to out some-sort of tablet, but that clearly didn’t happen. There are a few tablets from various manufacturers, but there are only really three tablets available now that aimed at the general consumer market: The Apple iPad, the Dell Streak, and within weeks, the Samsung Galaxy Tab. Retailers and advertisers are already gearing up for what they believe will be a feeding frenzy for these tablets this holiday season. That’s not going to happen. The tablet is not going to be this year’s netbook or Furby — unless that smaller Apple iPad rumor is true. Right now there isn’t a reason to buy a tablet besides for shits and giggles. Even then, only the iPad does that properly. The Android offerings lack depth and are really only for business-types not wanting to carry a netbook or proper laptop. Netbooks were an easy sell the last two holiday seasons. They were really nothing new as they were just mini laptops and relativity cheap with a price tag between $200 and $300. They were an easy alternative to the traditional and more expensive computer. Plus, their smaller size was a bit of a novelty factor. Tablets have none of that going for them. The only thing on their side right now is massive marketing campaigns that conveniently leaves out the retail cost. Price is the real reason why tablets will not be this year’s top-selling item. They’re just too expensive right now and in the case of the Dell Streak and Galaxy Tab, are tied to a carrier with a monthly subscription cost. That’s not going to fly with people looking to get their loved ones an easy gift. Don’t mistake what I’m saying here. The iPad will sell like mad this Christmas, but the $500 price tag combined with the still relatively new form factor, will stop it from be this year’s Tickle Me Elmo or Nintendo Wii. Unless, of course, a smaller, cheaper iPad hits the market. A new iPad model alone — even if it isn’t really the second generation that all of us are waiting for — will still give the tablet market as a whole a bit more exposure. Say what you will in the comments below, but only Apple has this power right now. The iPad is the only tablet most consumers know. I’ll bet my car that if you randomly pick ten of your Facebook friends to name a tablet, at least nine of them will name the iPad. 2010 isn’t the year of the tablet; it’s the year of the iPad. Next year will be a different story though. Next year will likely be the tablet’s first proper year. The major players will finally be in the game. The HP PalmPad and BlackBerry PlayBook are set to come out early next year, and Apple will probably debut the second-generation iPad in early spring. It will take true competition and innovation to drop the tablet’s average price down to where it will finally be appeal to the average Best Buy shopper come Christmas time.
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| HDCP Decryption System Developed, Released As Open-Source Software Posted: 29 Sep 2010 08:00 AM PDT
Yes, HDCP was indeed cracked, and now there’s an open-source decoding system for it. Right now the system requires a fairly beefy PC, but that may change as people poke around the code a bit. You’ll recall that there were initial reports a few weeks ago that basically said: HDCP cracked! There was next to no information beyond that, so I was sort of like, "Is this true? No idea, we’ll have to wait and see." And we have now seen! The system, created by two fine chaps in Rob Johnson and Mikhail Rubnich, takes care of the HDCP handshake, then decrypts the video on-the-fly. It’s not the most efficient code yet, as you’ll need something like a multi-core, 64-bit CPU, with nearly 2GB of RAM entirely dedicated to the work. What was the point of HDCP again? I never really got it, aside from Hollywood being paranoid.
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| Gateway Releases NV59C66u With Built-in WiMAX Posted: 29 Sep 2010 07:30 AM PDT
It’s a red-letter day, folks: Gateway just release a $700 NV laptop with WiMAX built-in, namely the Intel 6250 Wi-Fi/WiMax card. Otherwise this is pretty bog-standard for a laptop although it does seem to mirror HP’s sexy styling on their own Envy line. WiMax connectivity comes from carriers across the country and isn’t included in the package. Press release after the jump.
GATEWAY LAUNCHES NV59C66U NOTEBOOK WITH INTEGRATED WIMAX, NEW PREMIUM DESIGN New model available now with WiMAX wireless connectivity and a deluxe look and feel; Entire line updated with latest performance technology at affordable prices IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 29, 2010 – Gateway today unveils the Gateway NV59C66u notebook, the newest model in its Gateway NV Series line of notebooks, which features integrated WiMAX capabilities, a premium chassis design and a robust configuration. Customers can pair the Gateway NV59C66u with integrated WiMAX hardware, and then choose a WiMAX service provider to connect to networks in a growing number of cities and metropolitan areas around the United States for a fast and reliable connection to the Internet. WiMAX is the next-generation of wireless technology designed to enable pervasive, high-speed mobile Internet access at an affordabe cost, and is the first all-IP mobile Internet solution enabling efficient and scalable networks for data, video, and voice.. Complementing the new WiMAX capabilities, the Gateway NV59C66u features a new design with an attractive tone-on tone patterned espresso chassis that is visually interesting and stylish. The metal chassis and palm rest both appear to be dramatically textured, but feel subtle and comfortable to the touch. In addition to featuring an Intel Centrino Advanced-N+WiMAX 6250 WiMAX Wireless Card for a connection to WiMAX networks, the Gateway NV59C66u also has integrated 802.11b/g/n WiFi Certified connectivity for a convenient connection to hot spots and wireless networks, as do other models in the Gateway NV Series line. The integrated High Definition webcam allows web chats and video emails in incredible clarity thanks to its 1280×1024 resolution. Also, Gigabit Ethernet LAN connectivity ensures a fast wired online connection. Visually complementing the performance technology in the Gateway NV Series' is the High Definition LED-backlit TFT Widescreen display. Delivering crisp and clear video with vibrant color and detailed images, the Gateway NV Series have models in two sizes: The Gateway NV Series with a 15.6-inch display deliver 1366×768 resolution, while the Gateway NV Series with a large 17.1-inch display provide even more clarity with 1600×900 resolution. Customers who want to share video on the go can use the HDMI port to connect the Gateway NV Series to a home theater or external LCD to deliver crisp high-quality visuals and high-fidelity audio with a single cable. Extra Features Make Life Easier The Gateway NV Series comes with either DVD or Blu-Ray drives, giving customers a way to view the latest movies. Also, digital media can be downloaded to the notebooks through the media card reader and USB ports. Protecting media and other files on the PC is easy, since the Gateway NV Series includes MyBackup functionality that gives customers a way to quickly and easily back-up all important files to another location such as a USB drive or another hard drive. Gateway's popular "social networking" button is integrated into the NV Series, so customers can access their social networks, including Facebook, YouTube and Flickr, with a single touch of a button. Gateway NV Series Availability, Price and Configuration
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| CrunchDeals: Watchismo’s Oktoberfest Sale on German Watches Posted: 29 Sep 2010 07:04 AM PDT
Check out the deals right here. Watchismo is great regardless so give them a quick once-over.
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| Reminder: Don’t You… Forget About Grig Posted: 29 Sep 2010 06:41 AM PDT  This is Grig (it's actually Greg looking like a total doofus at a wedding). He will appear hidden in posts and inside images for the next week. Your mission is to find all of the Grigs and then email us on Friday with a list of the posts in which he appeared. But what can you win? Oh, my friend, this is your lucky day.
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| Dell Planning Another 7-inch Tablet, 10-incher Coming Soon Posted: 29 Sep 2010 06:32 AM PDT
Thus far it looks like Apple, Dell, and then Samsung are going to win the tablet race. Call me crazy, but the RIM PlayBook will probably flutter out and WebOS devices are MIA, so that leaves Android and Apple in the running. What model would you buy?
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| Report: Logitech Expecting To Ship 500k Google TV Revue Boxes By End Of 2010 Posted: 29 Sep 2010 06:08 AM PDT
Now, it’s important to remember that these are shipment numbers, not a sales forecast. There’s a distinct difference between the two as the Revue product likely has a longer than normal shelf life so Logitech could be stocking up retailers for the long haul. The report also states that some of the product is already shipping from Taiwan makers to US retailers, which is in-line with launch estimates we previously heard. We’re curious, though. Are you picking up a first-gen Google TV device like the Revue or are you going to opt for a more mature product with proven software such as a Roku or Boxee Box?
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Nokia’s first Symbian^3 powered device, the 
Pioneer announced two new speaker systems for DJs and music producers. Both systems are active reference, and product studio quality sound in a compact package. Expect to pay for this level of quality of course, the 5-inch DJ05 will set you back $899, and the 8-inch S-DJ08 will cost $1199 when they come out this January. 
Big news for Wii players, Nintendo is working on a new controller, the Wii Remote Plus. They are combining the best qualities of the Wii Remote and the Wii MotionPlus, but little else is currently available about the new controller. Nintendo has 
Bitfenix is a new company in the case market, but they are certainly making their mark. Their latest product is the Survivor series, a ruggedized mid-tower ATX case that manages not to look silly.
I love me some Dell 
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