Gadgets Mobile

Posted Mar 12th 2008 4:01PM by Nilay Patel
Filed under: Laptops
Acer’s never had an international press conference in New York before, but there’s a first time for everything, and the company used the occasion to launch the second generation Gemstone laptops. Coming in a special blue (”Gemstone Blue,” how wild), the new 16- and 18.4-inch machines feature 16:9 1080p screens, 1.5GHz Penryn processors, 512MB NVIDIA 9650m GS graphics, and those Blu-ray drives we heard about. The graphics chip is at the center of Acer’s new CineReal system, which offloads BD playback to the GPU and provides Dolby headphone output (and real 5.1 sound on the bigger model). Battery life is estimated at 2.5 hours on the 16-inch and three hours on the 18.4, but what’s really impressive here is the pricing: starting at $900 and up, with decently spec’d configs hitting around $1,700. Should be shipping in a month or so, according to Acer. Two more pics after the break.

Gallery: Acer unveils the second-gen Gemstone

Seems online shops are jumping the gun and making up some numbers on what to sell the HTC updated Advantage phone/micro laptop device.  Currently listed as pre-order the prices range from $550 to $1300.  HTC has not set an MSRP yet.

HTC updated the Advantage with more memory, an improved keyboard that is now magnetic and detachable with haptic feedback as our Robert Nelson reported on last month.  The new machine looks hot.

Pre-ordering is available at the following links:
On The Go Solutions
Smart Mobile gadgets
Clove Technology in the UK
Additionally, it is listed on Google Product Search to non-linked pages.  Looks like an HTC pricing announcement is imminent.

Read: [IntoMobile]

Keep up with the latest gadget goodness! - Subscribe to our feed →

Posted Mar 12th 2008 4:32PM by Donald Melanson
Filed under: Gaming, Portable AudioThere’s already been quite a few musicians (and would-be ones) brought into the Nintendo DS fold thanks to apps like Jam Sessions, but it looks like there could soon be another wave flocking to the popular handheld, with the official, Korg-approved DS-10 synthesizer from AQ Interactive now headed for the DS in Japan. As you can see for yourself in the video after the break, like Jam Sessions, the synthesizer is anything but a game, with it boasting two patchable virtual synths with two oscillators each, a drum machine, a sequencer, and a full range of effects, to name but a few features. You’ll also apparently be able to wirelessly link up several systems to play together or simply exchange sounds and songs, although you’ll apparently have to make do without MIDI support. Needless to say, we’ll keep you posted on any word of a release ’round these parts, but in the meantime, you can look forward to this one hitting Japan in July for ¥4,800, or just under $50.

[Via Create Digital Music, thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Posted Mar 12th 2008 5:53PM by Donald Melanson
Filed under: DesktopsIt hasn’t exactly been the speediest of turnarounds but, according to Daily Tech, AMD is now finally getting its updated B3 stepping Opteron processors out into the hands of system integrators, making them the first K10-based Opteron processors to ship since the so-called TLB bug cropped up last December. What’s more, while there’s apparently only hard evidence of the Opterons (pictured at right), Daily Tech says that the B3 stepping Phenom processors are now shipping as well. Those will each obviously be heading to OEMs first, but vendors like Newegg will apparently be getting Opterons ranging from 1.8 GHz to 2.4 GHz starting in “early April,” while both Phenom and Opteron lines are set to hit 2.6GHz sometime in the fall — assuming there aren’t any further unforeseen delays, that is.

Posted Mar 12th 2008 12:48PM by Donald Melanson
Filed under: Misc. gadgetsWhile it should hardly come as a surprise given the near constant stream of hacking fears we hear about these days, researchers are now warning about a possible vulnerability to an especially important bit of technology: medical devices that control the human heart. As The Wall Street Journal reports, the concerns are mostly centered around so-called “programmers,” which are devices used to wirelessly communicate with the implanted defibrillator or pacemaker. Those devices are obviously only sold directly to physicians by a select group of companies but, as the researchers warn, it is at least conceivable that hackers could transmit the same radio signals using another device, allowing them to shut down the defibrillator or deliver a shock, or possibly even obtain a patient’s medical information. The researchers are quick to point out, however, that this is “theoretical risk, not an actual risk,” and they’re not recommending that anyone consider deferring an implantation or removing a defibrillator.

[Image courtesy of Medtronic]

Gimmicky music-making cartridges have long accompanied the gaming console, but it’s rare indeed for one to be a real-deal emulated hardware synth. Korg’s DS-10 Nintendo DS cart is just that, bringing the classic MS-10 to new life on the dual-screened handheld. (And there you were guessing that it would be some kind of crufty homebrew.)

The MS-10 offers a sequencer, two synths and a drum machine, and may be linked via MIDI to other DSes running the same cart or to other studio gear. Small, simple, sexy, and a far better on-stage prop than a friggin’ laptop.

Product Page [AQI.co.jp via Music Thing via BBG]

If you have been holding out for the Nokia N810 to come down in price, now’s the time to take affirmative action. The Finnish cell phone manufacturer has just shaved $90 off the N810’s recommended retail price, and it now stands at $389.99. For those who think they can do better, do continue your search online if you want this WiFi-toting and GPS capable portable device, but this is as good as it gets for the moment on an official basis.

RIM has filed a patent that helps lock-down the blackberry camera so that corporate users won’t be able to use it to capture industry secrets while at the office instead of just getting them camera-less BlackBerrys. This lock-down method will disable the camera with a key, and even more shocking is the fact that this key is not some high-tech encryption key but the tried-and-tested lock-and-key system instead. With the key inserted, the handset allows you to capture images at your leisure, but remove the key and that feature gets disabled. Do you think this idea will make it to manufacturing lines? I wonder if you can purchase replacement keys over-the-counter just in case you lose your set.

At last, another use for old Vinyl other than making plant pots and fruit bowls: A DVD holder.

Ironic, yes, but I have a sneaking suspicion that vinyl will end up outlasting both DVDs and CDs. And most certainly HD-DVDs.

DVD Holder [Metacafe via Digg]

So you’re too poor to purchase a paper shredder from Office Depot, and your pet hamster looks out of sorts lately after doing nothing but lazing around his cage all day long. What are you to do? Just cobble together this paper shredder into his cage, and you’ve got one of the greenest paper shredders in the world. Unfortunately, the service rendered here is not on-demand since you gotta coax the little fellow do go on the treadmill before any actual shredding gets done. Best of all is, the shreds of paper can be turned into his bedding, although I wouldn’t recommend shredding too many sheets at one time as you might just bury the poor fellow under an avalance of paper.