Amazon Kindle sold-out, refurbs available in limited quantities
Posted December 1, 2008 at 02:02 PM by Robert Nelson
Section: Gadgets / Other, Miscellaneous
Anyone looking to pick up an Amazon Kindle for the holidays seems to be out of luck as Amazon has once again sold out of the Kindle. Current expected shipping times for a new Kindle are being listed as “11 to 13 weeks” and given that, some may start looking for alternate ways to make a purchase.
Amazon is offering, when available, refurbished models that are selling for $329. Not much of a discount, but with such a popular item I guess that is a fair price. Of course, as of this posting even those are sold out as well. However, there are some alternative methods, but as you can expect, they are not going to be cheap. The Amazon marketplace currently has some “used - like new” models that are available, which are priced anywhere from $500 even up to $1,500.
Finally, for those that are really desperate, there is always eBay. Heck, with prices like this, I am almost tempted to part with mine.
Via [I4U] Via [The Kindle]
Gadgetell Video Review: Kodak Zi6 HD camcorder
Posted December 1, 2008 at 01:01 PM by Iyaz Akhtar
Section: Video, Accessories, Portable Video, Gadgets / Other, Lifestyle, Imaging, Camcorders, Reviews, Features
Gadgetell Quick ReviewPros: Small form factor, does HD video capture. Macro mode is welcome for close up shots. Cons: Low light performance is not great. No lens cover. The Crux: If you’re looking to shoot a couple of things really quickly and want it in HD, this is a terrific device. It’s not going to replace a real HD camcorder, but is very good for a pocket HD cam.
There are plenty of pocketable camcorders these days. The Zi6 is Kodak’s entry into the field. Kodak has previously built in HD video capabilities into some of its point and shoot cameras. The Zi6 shoots in 720P HD video at either 30 or 60 frames per second. It also shoots in VGA mode and shoots still pics
Out of the box
The Zi6 has a removable sticker that has the words “HD” and “YouTube” on it. That’s kind of a strange combination of words since YouTube is not really known for HD videos.
The package comes with rechargeable batteries and a small charger. You can’t recharge the batteries using USB. The batteries are a standard AA size, so you can switch in alkaline batteries in a pinch.
The camera hardware
The actual camera has a few buttons that allow you to delete or review your pics and vids. Reading the manual will let you in on a couple of tricks that let you choose the frame rate and more.
Grab an SD cardWhile the Zi6 has built-in memory, it can only hold a minute or two of HD video. Thankfully, the Zi6’s SD card slot supports SDHC cards so you can pack in hours of recording onto a card. You will have to pick up a SD card since Kodak does not include one. Video is saved in the mp4 format.
The viewfinderThe Zi6’s viewfinder is an LCD about the same size as an iPod Classic’s screen. The size makes it easy to frame your shots and watch back footage you’ve taken. You won’t be able to watch your videos back in HD on that screen, but you will be able to watch your videos comfortably. You can even watch your footage in slow motion if you’d like.
Smart designThe microphone is in a smart location. If you’re a righty or lefty, you will probably never cover it up when using the device. The form factor works well. Other devices I have tested are designed poorly and allow for blocking of lenses or microphones if you are not careful. If you are used to using an iPod or Zune or any other mp3 player, the Zi6 will feel very natural to you.
The Zi6 also has plenty of connections with the built in USB connector a video out port that can display 720P via the included component cable. Kodak even threw in a tripod socket so you can attach the device to a tripod. When you’d do this with this kind of camera, I’m not sure, but it’s better to have it than not.
Video Quality:
When compared to a full-fledged HD camcorder like the Canon HF100, the Kodak Zi6 is outclassed. However, the video quality out of the Zi6 is fine for those who are looking for a quick and easy way to grab HD footage of something.
Shooting videoThe zoom is digital, so if you want better quality video, just don’t use it at all. The microphone only records mono sound which is a shame. Since this is a budget camera, there is no image stabilization. There is a hard switch that lets you pick between normal and close up mode. This is a great feature when you want to get very close to a subject or show fine details.
Since the Zi6 does not have any image stabilization, video quality can be affected by how steady your hand is. Remember, if you plan on showing people shaky video on a large screen, prepare for people to get motion sickness (anyone remember the movie “Cloverfield?”). If you do have a steady hand, then you can get some decent video out of this camera.
The low light performance is better than other budget HD cameras I’ve played with.
Different frame rates and modesPlaying with the different frame rates was very interesting. The Kodak Zi6 has the ability to shoot in 30fps or 60fps while in HD mode. You’ll really notice the difference if your subject is well lit.
When comparing the HD30 and HD60 modes in lowlight, I didn’t notice that much of a difference in the quality of footage. When comparing the two modes in sunlight, the HD60 mode is much smoother
The camera can also shoot in VGA 640 x 480. The VGA performance is fine, but this camera is really about HD.
Video SamplesYou can see the video samples in HD by clicking the “HD” button on the video. Clicking the button will take you to Vimeo.com.
Gadgetell.com: Kodak Zi6 HD60 in sunlight from Gadgetell.com on Vimeo. Download this video sample: [Quicktime MOV file]
Gadgetell.com: Kodak Zi6 HD30 in sunlight from Gadgetell.com on Vimeo. Download this video sample: [Quicktime MOV file]
Wrap upThis is a great little camera for under $200. If you are looking for a pocketable HD camcorder, you should seriously consider the Kodak Zi6.
Product page [Kodak Zi6]
Reuters no longer desires a Second Life, abandoning its virtual branch
Posted December 1, 2008 at 12:31 PM by NEWS
Section:
FROM GAMERTELL - Reuters plans to shut down its virtual branch office within Second Life and will only remain there “as part of their usual tech and media coverage…” MORE »
Slacker 2GB WiFi player just $49 today only
Posted December 1, 2008 at 11:39 AM by JG Mason
Section: Audio, Portable Audio, Web, Websites
It seems like just yesterday this thing went for $199 and you could easily justify that cost. But at $49.99, it is a whopper of steal. Today, at woot.com, they are selling it like hotcakes, or so I imagine.
This player is unique in that it saves Slacker’s Internet radio stations (up to 15 stations on this model) for playback when you are even out of range. Come back within range and the device updates itself with new music. The software allows you to customize the experience by banning songs you hate and letting it know the songs you love.
There is no monthly fees unless you don’t want to hear the commercials, which are minimal (two or so an hour). The premium service is $7.50 per month.
Our resident Slacker expert, Robert Nelson, had this to say about getting some hands on time with this model:
“Slacker was set up at CES and we were able to get a little hands on time, which just made us want one a little more.“
Check it out now before this one disappears : [woot]
Grab a Google Android G1 for $125
Posted December 1, 2008 at 10:10 AM by Iyaz Akhtar
Section:
If you’ve got an American Express card, you may be able to get the T-Mobile G1 for $125 instead of the regular $179 price. AmEx is running its WishList promotion where they discount plenty of stuff for a select few. You’ll have a chance to get the G1 at the $125 price at 12PM, 3PM, and 7PM. Just go to the AmEx WishList site at those times and go for it. There are 200 available at that price.
That’s pretty darn good deal.
Go to [AmEx WishList]
Cyber Monday deals on tech from 6ave.com
Posted December 1, 2008 at 09:32 AM by JG Mason
Section: Gadgets / Other, Web, Websites
Slept in on Black Friday like me? No fear, today Gadgetell is bringing you all the fresh deals for Cyber Monday. First up is 6ave.com. They have some significant deals going, check these out:
Bluetooth:
Aliph JawBone, now just $84.95 57% off
Cameras: Samsung S860 now $79.95 21% off Olympus E-Volt E410 $409 37% off
GPS Tom Tom One 125 $99.95, 44% off Magellan Roadmate 1212 $128, 35% off Magellan Roadmate 1430 $154.95, 48% off.
HDTVs Panasonic 42” 1080p Plasma $848, 34% off Panasonic 50” Plasma $948, 32% off
Check out all the deals: [6ave.com]
Wal-Mart’s Cyber Monday deals: Blu-ray for $148!!!
Posted December 1, 2008 at 08:17 AM by JG Mason
Section: Video, Gadgets / Other, GPS/Navigation
Still hungry for bargains from the store that loves low prices? Wal-Mart has pushed out these deals, and there are some good ones. Here are the ones that caught my eye:
Many of these deals are online only while some do offer a free “ship to store” option that will make shipping free, but you’ve got to pick your items up at the local Wal-Mart.
Check out all Wal-Mart is blowing out today: [walmart.com]
Amazon offers RPG bargain buys in honor of Cyber Monday 2008
Posted December 1, 2008 at 07:11 AM by NEWS
Section:
FROM GAMERTELL - Amazon is currently offering some hot new role-playing game titles at unbelievable and and much appreciated prices. MORE »
MP3 becomes official king of music
Posted November 30, 2008 at 05:03 PM by Christian Milsom
Section: Audio
Since it became an official standard in 1991, Moving Picture Experts Group -1 Audio Layer 3 (or MP3) has proven popular due to the fact that it is easily transferable, good quality and cheaper than hard copies. So far it has been unpopular with record companies as a result of the close links it has to piracy, but recently Atlantic Records said that over 50% of their revenue was coming from digital sales.
This is the first instance where a publisher has made more profit from this type of sale than from CDs of DVDs, so this is definitely a landmark for the music industry. The figure actually stands at 51% (of profit coming from digital sales) which may not sound much, is still a big achievement, and will give other companies confidence to go down this path.
As I said there is a great reluctance to encourage digital media because of the way that it can be easily copied, but this has caused a massive overhaul in the music industry. Whilst many have embraced it by offering their music free over the Internet, others are suffering as people choose to listen/download the music free online rather than pay for a CD. Craig Kallman, Chief Executive of Atlantic Records, explains how the Internet has affected their business:
“It was really important to educate artists about how we had to change the thinking on the release cycle and the type of products we were releasing. Some fans only want to buy the physical disc, some only want to buy a ringtone and a T-shirt, others just want a concert ticket, others want to buy a digital album. Everybody wants something different now ... we need to offer them whatever they want, whenever they want.“
Source [Guardian]
Amazon’s Thanksgiving weekend, Cyber Monday 2008 game deals
Posted November 30, 2008 at 02:39 PM by NEWS
Section:
FROM GAMERTELL - Amazon still has some pretty amazing deals that will last until Monday (December 1, 2008). For example, how would you like to own Far Cry 2 for $17.95 or Infinite Undiscovery for $18.95? MORE »
Wii Speak can be purchased used after all
Posted November 30, 2008 at 12:14 PM by NEWS
Section:
FROM GAMERTELL - Nintendo offers up replacement download tickets for Wii Speak so even second-hand Wii Speak microphone can be used… MORE »
Use a CueCat scanner with Collectorz’s Game Collector software
Posted November 30, 2008 at 10:15 AM by NEWS
Section:
FROM GAMERTELL - Collectorz keeps the CueCat love alive, allowing the handheld scanner to work with Game Collector and other collector-friendly Mac and Windows software… MORE »
Hot gaming news for the week of 11-23-2008
Posted November 30, 2008 at 08:22 AM by NEWS
Section:
No need to scour the interwebs for hot gaming news, Gamertell‘s already done that for you! Here’s a look at this week’s top stories…
Walmart Black Friday 2008 ad leaked - has plenty of video game dealsBest Black Friday 2008 deals for WiiBlack Friday 2008 Uber Deal: eCost selling one Wii per hour for $99 (updated)Meijer’s Thanksgiving Day 2008 salePlaystation Store Update: Black Friday and Thanksgiving 2008 edition
Medion launches GoPal P5430
Posted November 29, 2008 at 07:14 PM by Natesh Sood
Section: Audio, Portable Audio, Gadgets / Other, GPS/Navigation
Medion, a GPS company based in Europe, recently added to their GoPal lineup of GPSs by launching the new GoPal P5430.
The P5430 is a high-end GPS that comes loaded with some pretty cool features such as a nice 5-inch touch screen, full maps of Europe by Navteq, TMC antenna to avoid traffic jams, fingerprint sensor for added security, runs on a SiRF Titan 600 Mhz processor, text-to-speech capability, Lane Adviser, Speed Adviser, audio playback, and 3GB on onboard memory.
It is available right now and is set to sell for 175 Euros, or $225.
Read [Medion]
BOOM! Top Apple news for the week of 11-23-2008
Posted November 29, 2008 at 05:00 PM by NEWS
Section:
We may not cover Apple 24x7… but we know someone who does! Here’s a few of this week’s hottest from Appletell to get you started…
Black Friday deals round-up [updated]Why there’s no Google Street View on the iPod touchSpeck offers Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals for previous-gen iPhone/iPod/MacBook ownersGet Google Street View on the iPod touchHow to downgrade to iPhone OS 2.1
So Hot Right Now: Top 10 Gadgetell posts for the week of November 23, 2008
Posted November 29, 2008 at 03:00 PM by NEWS
Section:
Haven’t caught all of the Gadgetell news this week? Here’s your chance to catch up on this week’s top 10 articles!
Wal-Mart leaks out full Black Friday deals“You may remember about a week ago when Gadgetell posted the doorbuster/main sales from Wal-Mart. Recently, they have unveiled their full Black Friday sales, and I must say, they are looking pretty good. Camcorders They only have 2 camcorders listed…“ MORE »Black Friday too early? Hot Cyber Monday deals“ This year, many Black Friday shoppers will be greeted with near-freezing temperatures but some deal seekers will remain warm and toasty. How so? These shoppers are choosing to wait out Black Friday and their limited quantities, cat fighting…“ MORE »TiVo launches TiVo Mobile“TiVo is really making a push to have a good holiday season—first by offering better deals at Best Buy and now they have made a mobile website allowing cell phone users to browse TV shows and even schedule recordings. …“ MORE »SanDisk announces BLOWOUT sale for MP3 players“ As we mentioned earlier today, SanDisk was going to have a huge sale on Cyber Monday. They have also announced a deal that takes 50% off select MP3 players. Unfortunately, select MP3 players only applies to three: the…“ MORE »Win $6000+ of computer stuff with the HP Magic Giveaway“ Are you ready to win over $6000 worth of computer stuff? Well, here comes the HP Magic Giveaway and we’re going to help you win! Gadgetell is participating in this giveaway along with 49 other blogs. How can you…“ MORE »T-Mobile offering the Motorola ZN5 for free, this weekend only“ Looking for a great Black Friday phone deal? If so, you may want to check out the Motorola ZN5 because T-Mobile will be dropping the price down to free. The good news here is that you can still take care of all your Black…“ MORE »SanDisk to have huge sale“ A Cyber Weekend sale is coming thanks to SanDisk. If you don’t want to wake up early and trudge through a mass of humanity to get some deals, you can check out SanDisk’s sale that will take place…“ MORE »Amazon Kindle 2 now rumored to be launching early-2009“ This certainly is not the first we are hearing about the Kindle 2, however it looks like anyone who was holding out is going to have to wait a little longer. …“ MORE »HTC to buy Palm?“HTC front man, Peter Chou made three interesting comments on Friday. HTC is surprising just about everyone with the products they put out now under their own brand. How good are things for HTC? Check out these almost outlandish statements below: We have increased production on the G1…“ MORE »Gadgetell Listens: Gibson Presents: Hot Tones on HDtracks“I first wrote about HDtracks originally in October and I thought it was a pretty cool service. At that time, I wasn’t able to test out their HD music. Recently, Gibson partnered up with HDtracks…“ MORE »
Gadgetell Review: Navigon 2200T
Posted November 29, 2008 at 01:22 PM by Iyaz Akhtar
Section: Gadgets / Other, GPS/Navigation, Lifestyle, Transportation, Reviews, Features
Gadgetell Quick Review: Navigon 2200T Cool: Low Price(about 200 bucks) Good mounting hardware Reality view and Lane Assistant Pro feature is really helpful Speed warning Small size Lifetime traffic service Uncool: Sometimes difficult to navigate the screens Traffic alerts not factored into initial route plans, but instead notifies you there is a problem and gives rerouting options Limited voice selections The Crux:Overall, if you can get past some quirks, the 2200T is a very good GPS and the lifetime traffic service makes it a stand out device for the low price.
This is a guest review by Robert Borgesi. Rob co-hosts the website review program, “ChannelFlip Web” with Iyaz Akhtar on ChannelFlip.com. Additionally, Rob is a tech enthusiast with years of computer building experience.
Overview
The Navigon 2200T features a 3.5-inch touch screen in a thin form factor and comes with free traffic updates for life. Navigon products feature the “Reality View Pro” which displays highway signs as they appear in real life to make navigation simpler. The Navigon 2200T comes with mounting hardware and a car charger.
Out of the box
This GPS has a low price at about 200 bucks. The 2200T is a very compact device. While it has a large and easy to read 3.5-inch screen, the whole device can easily fit in your pocket.
The mounting arm is quite good. It is easily adjustable, sticks to the window well, and it stays where you put it.
Using the 2200T
The Reality View and Lane Assistant Pro feature shows 3-D exits and close-ups of turns which allow you to see the road as it looks in real life and tells you which lane to be in. The Navigon 2200T also gives you speed warnings which tell you when you are over the speed limit and can be set to warn you when you are over the speed limit by 1, 5, 10, 15, or 20 mph. More importantly, the warnings can be disabled all together.
This model comes with lifetime traffic service which give you traffic alerts without having to pay fees.
Long term testing
Over the course of using the Navigon 2200T there were a few things that stood out. First of all, navigating the screens was not intuitive and took a lot of getting used to. You have to enter location, then press “navigate” more than once before you finally get to the actual navigation. Also, it was difficult to figure out how to cancel or change navigation once you have started and get back to the home page.
Define: “Local”Another issue I had while using this device was with the Points of Interest. I was only 20 miles from a major international airport and when I asked to navigate to an airport close to me; the airport was not listed until I was within 5 miles of it. I guess I didn’t know “local” meant within walking distance.
Avoiding TrafficOne feature I found very helpful was the traffic alerts. There was a huge accident on one of the major highways I was traveling on and the Navigon informed me of the problem and rerouted me around the accident saving me hours of sitting in traffic.
Wrap UpSo overall, for a low cost, you get a very functional GPS unit with a few quirks that may turn some people off. However, the benefit of lifetime traffic service set it apart from comparable GPS units and makes it worth buying.
Product Page: [Navigon 2200T]
SanDisk’s Cyber Monday deals
Posted November 29, 2008 at 09:07 AM by Iyaz Akhtar
Section: Audio, Accessories, Portable Audio, Video, Portable Video, Imaging, Accessories, Peripherals, Storage
If you’ve got a phone that uses micro SD cards or a camera that uses SD cards, SanDisk is having a big Cyber Monday Sale starting today. There are some good deals here including some USB flash drives in case you’re a fan of sneakernet. You can pick up a SanDisk 16GB flash drive for under $44 (which is down from $79.99).
SanDisk also makes some MP3 players and they are discounted as well. Sale ends Monday, December 1st. Check out the full details after the break.
SanDisk Cyber Monday Discounts
Sansa MP3 Players
* 35% off Sansa Clip MP3 Player (4GB) / New price: $51.99 (from $79.99) * 23% off Sansa Fuze MP3 Player (8GB) / New price: $91.99 (from $119.99 * 20% off SanDisk Sansa View Video MP3 Player (32GB) / New price: $199.99 (from $249.99)
USB Flash Drives
* 45% off SanDisk Cruzer Micro® (16GB) / New price: $43.99 (from $79.99)
Flash Memory Cards
Cameras
* 48.9% off SanDisk Standard SDHC™ Card (8GB) / New price: $22.99 (from $44.99) * 58% off SanDisk Ultra II SDHC (8GB) / New price: $20.99 from $49.99 * 50% off SanDisk Memory Stick PRO Duo™ (4GB) / New price: $19.99 (from $39.99)
Mobile
* 34% off Mobile Micro SD (8GB) / New price: $32.99 from $49.99 * 57% off SanDisk microSDHC (8GB) with SD Adapter / New price: $29.99 from $69.99
Read [SanDisk CyberMonday]
Gadgetell Roundup: Top 5 overlooked Black Friday gadgets
Posted November 28, 2008 at 08:32 PM by Natesh Sood
Section: Audio, Portable Audio, Computers, Desktops, Software / Applications, Gaming, Accessories, Console, Games, Miscellaneous, Originals, Features
Many people generally associate Black Friday as a time to buy big electronics such as HDTVs, GPSs, gaming consoles, computers, etc. But, it is also a time to buy interesting little gadgets to make your children, or even yourself, happy. I decided to take a look at a lesser-known store, KB Toys, and see what they were offering this Black Friday. I didn’t go straight for their big stuff, but rather their smaller gadgets, and here’s what I found pretty interesting.
He’s got a great comic book, a great movie, and has some pretty cool accessories. KB Toys has a bunch of Spider-Man stuff and a few gadgets that caught my eye was a MP3 player and a Plug-n-Play gaming system.
The MP3 player is something I wouldn’t recommend getting if you want store a lot of media and videos, but if you want to give it you child who really likes Spider-Man, I’m sure they would enjoy this very much. In terms of specs, it comes with 512mb of storage, and can be expanded by 1GB (at the most) via SD card, and requires 1 AAA battery. This sold for $49.99, but now sells for $29.99.
The next Spider-Man accessory is a game that you just have to plug into your TV and it works. Instead of a normal game controller, it comes with an actual Spider-Man jet ski, so you can ride your way through the 7 games it comes with. I remember seeing stuff like this at arcades, and they were always fun to use. I would recommend this for your child. Unfortunately, it requires A LOT of batteries - 8 AA. Also, don’t sit on it just to try it out as it only holds up to 90 pounds. This used to sell for $59.99, but now sells for $39.99.
That above Spider-Man game could also fit in this category, but I felt it was more appropriate to keep it there. In addition, we have an Air Puck Hockey game and Civilization III for the PC.
The Air Hockey game is similar to what you often see at arcades - it comes with one puck, two sticks, two goals, and, of course, the puck glides on air. It also requires 4 AA batteries. This would make a great gift for children, teens, and even adults if you like air hockey. It used to sell for $29.99, but now sells for $11.99.
Next, is the Civilization III PC game, which is similar to Age of Empires by Microsoft. Features include:
* Improved combat options for enhanced war-making capabilities * More interactions, alliances and realistic A1 responses that put you in the middle of negotiations and diplomatic actions * Advanced trade system manages resources, trade routes and spread of technology * New elements of Culture, Nationality and the Arts help focus empire building efforts * Active world generator creates more realistic maps, detailed barbarians and minor nations * Game Editor Suite lets you create customized civilizations, maps and rules * New easier-to-use interface for streamlined management and better control
The game is meant for all ages and used to sell for $12.99, but is now $9.99.
The King - Elvis Presley
Dubbed Alive Elvis, is great for anyone who loves The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. It features Elvis in a leather jacket and his iconic hair style. Basically, you can opt to have him play his songs, sing along with him with the included microphone, have him dance to your own songs, and you can even let him tell you a little about his life. Unfortunately, it requires a lot of batteries - three AAA and eight D batteries. It used to sell for $299.99, but now sells for $79.99.
Thank you very much for reading this. I hope you enjoyed some of the gadgets I found to be interesting during the 2008 Black Friday.
Read [KB Toys]
Vietnamese phone shop unlocks iPhone 3G
Posted November 28, 2008 at 07:04 PM by NEWS
Section:
FROM APPLETELL - Read on for more about the ultimate hacking of an iPhone: and how easy it is for Apple to undo it. MORE »
Dreamcast modded into a Windows PC
Posted November 28, 2008 at 05:08 PM by NEWS
Section:
FROM GAMERTELL - The modded Dreamcast console is running Windows XP SP2 and includes a Blu-ray drive, ATI Radeon graphics card and a few other features far nicer than the original Dreamcast… MORE »
Blockbuster to offer streaming set-top box
Posted November 28, 2008 at 04:18 PM by Shawn Ingram
Section: Video, Accessories, Content, Video Providers
It is no secret that Blockbuster has been playing catch up with Netflix for the past few years. Now, as Netflix has been offering streaming for the Roku for quite some time and HD streaming on newer Blu-Ray players and the Xbox 360, Blockbuster wants in. Blockbuster quietly released its own set-top box for instant movie watching this past week. However, instead of taking the Netflix route giving unlimited movies with a monthly fee, Blockbuster is taking a cue from Apple and the tv by charging $1.99 for every movie.
The player, called The MediaPoint, is available to anyone who wants to spend $99 and rent 25 movies from the Blockbuster ONDEMAND service. So essentially, the player is free with 25 rentals, which isn’t too bad. However, while HD streaming is available to those with fast enough connections with Netflix, ONDEMAND only offers DVD-quality video which it claims looks good on everything. The videos don’t stream, though. The MediaPoint uses progressive playback, which is supposed to keep the video quality constant at all times.
It’s doubtful that a lot of people will pick this up, or even know it exists. To me, the only real appeal of Blockbuster is that they have brick-and-mortar stores to go to when I want a movie immediately. Granted, this box makes it much easier than that, but I doubt anyone is going to switch from Netflix streaming to using the MediaPoint. It is nice to see Blockbuster giving people more options for viewing their movies, but it would look better if they would come out with the services closer to when Netflix introduces theirs—it just seems reactionary to Netflix. What Blockbuster really needs to find is something innovative before Netflix finds it.
Read [InformationWeek]
Who’s On Crack in tech: Black Friday ‘08 edition
Posted November 28, 2008 at 02:00 PM by JG Mason
Section: Originals, Columns, Who's On Crack, Features
This is where we call out the tech moves that seem odd, out of touch or just plain straight up smokin’ crack. This week sees posturing, positioning and flat out insanity.
So the whole, “we are not making a phone” thing Ballmer told us was a lie? According to the rumor brought to us by Natesh, CNBC says their source reveals “Pink,“ what could a Microsoft phone based on the Zune player. For those not aware, and judging by the Zune sales numbers - you’re not, the Zune is an MP3 player designed to compete with iPods.
I’ve been wanting to believe this for so long, I’ve given up. I am still hoping for a Surface Phone, but hey, I could be on crack too. Good luck with this one, MS.
Dual Core Via nanos by 2010
Posted November 28, 2008 at 01:00 PM by Shawn Ingram
Section: Computers, Mobile Computers, Hardware
By now, we all know the standard specs for netbooks. So many companies use the Intel Atom CPU, it’s sometimes easy to forget there is another major competitor in the field. One of the few netbooks to use something other than Intel processors was the original HP Mini-note. HP used the VIA Nano CPU, partially because the Atom wasn’t available yet. VIA has recently shown where the Nano chips are going, but it is going to take a while.
The dual core version of the Nano isn’t due out until June 2010 according to VIA’s roadmap. However, there isn’t much information on the dual core Nano aside from the fact that it will feature a “new process technology” and it will be compatible with current motherboards using VIA Nanos.
Most of the improvements for the VIA Nano are set for June 2009. Improvements include increased front side bus speed, virtualization, and 64 bit processing. The chips will also change from the current 90nm process technology to 65nm.
The improvements will be nice for those that use VIA Nanos, but it’s hard to see the roadmap and think that Intel will beat VIA to the punch with dual core chips. Sure, dual cores aren’t everything, but everything concerning multiple cores seems to get everyone excited recently. Intel has no real reason to stop developing the Atom either way, but it is nice to see some competition in the market with a company that isn’t AMD or ARM.
Read [Electronista]
Gadgetell Black Friday Giveaway: Win 1 of 10 Seagate FreeAgent 1TB + 500GB Drive Bundles
Posted November 28, 2008 at 12:57 PM by Adam Berger
Section: Peripherals, Storage, Features, Contests
It’s Black Friday, you slept through your alarm, and are now scouring the web for the leftover deals (ie. non HD LCD TVs). Well why not sit back, relax, and enter to win some free drives from Seagate? Whether you give them away to your mother-in-law as a present or keep them for your movie collection, nothing beats free.
Winners will get their choice of either a FreeAgent Desk 1TB or FreeAgent Desk for Mac 1TB as well as a 500GB FreeAgent Go or 500GB FreeAgent Go for Mac portable drive. The FreeAgent Go for Mac has FireWire 800 and USB ports comes in a silver and white design. It matches the look and feel of a MacBook. The FreeAgentGo (non Mac) is much slimmer and comes in Red, Forest Green, Sky Blue, Tuxedo Black and Silver.
For a chance to win all you need to do to is answer following questions in the comment form at the bottom of this article:
What do you have on your computer that you could not live without, if you lost it?
Only one entry per person. Entry valid by answering the required question as well as leaving your email address in the comment form. We’ll pick a random winner from all the entries received by 11:59PT on Friday December 6. Click here for the full list of Dabbledoo contest rules.
You can also enter to win one of the ten hard drive bundles at these sites once they post their rules:
CrunchGear Bleeping Computer GottaBeMobile GeeksToGo PlanetAMD64 Notebooks Paulstamatiou Macenstein Digital Home ThoughtsCowon’s S9 to be available in United States by December
Posted November 28, 2008 at 11:20 AM by Natesh Sood
Section: Audio, Portable Audio, Video, Portable Video
Cowon has been teasing us for a while now with their S9 Curve, but it looks like we have some concrete information saying that the S9 will be available in States around Christmas time. It makes sense for Cowon to make it available around then, as more people would buy it as gifts.
In case you don’t remember the specs of the S9, I’ll give you a rundown. It comes with a 3.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen with 480 x 272 resolution. In addition, it comes with improved BBE audio, DMB receiver, dual core processor, FM Tuner, and 40 hours of battery life when playing audio. It is set to be available in an 8GB model and a 16GB model. No word on exact pricing as of yet, but expect it to be a little on the expensive side.
Via [PMP Today]
Micro Center’s Black Friday 2008 weekend sales
Posted November 28, 2008 at 08:03 AM by NEWS
Section:
FROM GAMERTELL - Tech and computer retail store Micro Center has a whole bunch of stuff on sale starting Black Friday (November 27, 2008) through the weekend… MORE »
Speck offers Black Friday / Cyber Monday deals for previous-gen iPhone/iPod/MacBook owners
Posted November 27, 2008 at 07:33 PM by NEWS
Section:
FROM APPLETELL - Owners of older Apple products haven’t been forgotten this holiday season. Speck has announced a 25% to 75% sale on their previous-generation iPhone, iPod and MacBook cases. MORE »
iriver upgrades their E100 series
Posted November 27, 2008 at 05:21 PM by Natesh Sood
Section: Audio, Portable Audio, Video, Portable Video
To commemorate 1 million of their E100 MP3 players being sold, iriver has decided to upgrade them by releasing what they call the E100 Season 2.
Basically, the Season 2 doesn’t add that many new upgrades, but each MP3 player is now offered in more colors and more storage capacities. They all come in different color variations of white, orange, and silver. Also, they are available in 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB models. Otherwise, expect features and format support to be essentially the same. One thing I imagine to be different is the current pricing. Since these models would be a little more advanced, pricing would probably go up a little bit.
Read [iriver] Via [Akihabara News]
Gadgetell Review: TeleNav Shotgun
Posted November 27, 2008 at 02:17 PM by JG Mason
Section: Gadgets / Other, GPS/Navigation, Reviews, Features
Gadgetell Quick Review: What is it?The TeleNav Shotgun is the first stand alone GPS unit from TeleNav, known for their on-phone GPS
Pros:Connected search, superior POI, smart traffic updates, beautiful screen, Best mounting I’ve seen in some time, future possibilities
Cons:No ETA, only time to destination and quarterly updates on POI information.
I’ve mentioned before that I use TeleNav on my Windows Mobile phone and am quite happy with it. For me, it is the simplicity of one device that is always with me, smarter than many stand alone boxes that I love. I wasn’t sure how this review would go, given that bias. Would I abandon this box or is there something here that is different enough to make this box stand out?
Well connected
Being a gadget guy, I love being connected. Having a GPS that isn’t connected these days, just seems dumb. So, I was keen to see how this feature would get on. Searching on this unit was super easy for me. Maybe it is my familiarity with the TeleNav menu tree, but I find most others cumbersome to search for businesses. Take the local Ikea as an example. Navigon wants me to enter in the state, city, business type before I can even enter the name. I hate that. I want to treat a search like Google—enter in as much or as little as I want and let the data come to me.
The Shotgun behaves more like Google. You simply hit “Business” then nearby and you are off and running. While I hope they continue to get more Google-like in their searches, this one is at the top of my favorites for searches.
What I love the most about this device is I’ve found it to be the most complete and up to date POI database out there. There isn’t a GPS out there that I found that surpasses TeleNav’s database. It is that good. The database is updated four times a year.
Darn that traffic jam
Traffic is no fun. That is why the Shotgun goes out and checks on traffic every five minutes in route. One thing that does annoy me about TeleNav’s phone GPS service is the “Checking for traffic” audio that tells me when she is making the call out for traffic.
One thing I really like is the Shotgun’s ability to touch and drag the map around, so you can check traffic on other roads with ease. Of course, the unit will suggest reroutes as well.
Bread and butter
As a GPS device, the Shotgun speaks turn by turn directions as well as street names. As you advance to your turn, the screen counts down the miles, then feet until your turn. That works pretty well, though I do like Navigon’s graphic of a metered bar graph that lets you know when your turn is instead of relying on your ability to apply yardage to your visual surroundings.
Another thing I like about TeleNav is its audio notifications. The “dings” let you know you’ve moved off your suggested route and the unit is working on a reroute. Other units don’t give you notification they are changing your directions and just show you the next move. The immediate notification the Shotgun provides is quite handy and lets me know where that turn I missed is instead of having to guess at it again at tricky intersections.
The screen deserves special mention here, it is top notch. Bright colors, clear display, and simple on screen keyboard make it pretty simple to use. I found the sensitivity to be good and had the usual spelling issues I always do on GPS devices.
I found the Shotgun less needy than the phone GPS. GPS makers have to decide how needy their drivers are. Do drivers want to be updated you are on the right road every 5 minutes or 10? How long is too long without any notifications? Is “turn onto highway entrance ramp” enough to imply get on the highway or does a “merge onto highway” needed when you have no other option? The Shotgun did an excellent job at allaying my misguided fears while the phone steps over this line and updates me too much sometimes. That is a fine and personal line, I am sure of that.
Make no mistake, the Shotgun performs basic GPS functions well as well as any other out there.
Future plans
While many units have current gas prices (which I always find out of date with today’s volatility in gas prices), TeleNav is working on some fun things that will integrate into Shotgun, making it an even more feature rich device. They are looking to add in simple things like weather and restaurant reviews, as well as functional things like address share and commuter alerts. There is much they are working on.
Costs
While the unit costs $299, the connectivity fee is as much as $11.99 per month. To sweeten the deal on Cyber Monday:
Customers who purchase a TeleNav Shotgun on Cyber Monday, December 1, and use Cyber Monday coupon code ‘sgcybermonday’ (case sensitive) will automatically receive six free months of TeleNav Connected Service - three more than they would normally receive if they purchase the TeleNav Shotgun on another date or without using the Cyber Monday coupon code.
So, am I a convert?
If any box was going to do it, it was this one. While the Shotgun works as well as (if not better) than my cell phone version, I still like having it on my phone. Natesh Sood (Gadgetell’s GPS expert) tells me I am an odd duck for this line of reasoning, but the fact remains there is no chance of someone smashing my windows to steal my GPS. I don’t leave my phone behind and therefore always have GPS with me. Obviously, I am one of the few that feels this way as GPS unit proliferation is at an all time high. If I were to get a stand alone, it would be the Shotgun.
PlayStation Store Update: Black Friday and Thanksgiving 2008 edition
Posted November 27, 2008 at 10:09 AM by NEWS
Section:
FROM GAMERTELL - With the Thanksgiving holiday rapidly approaching, Sony has decided to gift gamers early with enough games and content worthy of a feast. Digitally speaking, that is. MORE »
Some Columbia Pictures movies return to NXE streams
Posted November 27, 2008 at 09:14 AM by NEWS
Section:
FROM GAMERTELL - Some Columbia Pictures movies return to NXE streams on Xbox Live although not all is good in the word of competitive corporations… MORE »
Thanksgiving 2008 Mashup: A few (more) of our favorite uses of food in videogames
Posted November 27, 2008 at 08:00 AM by NEWS
Section:
FROM GAMERTELL - As a special, tasty treat for this holiday, here’s a look at some the Gamertell staff’s favorite uses of food in videogames… MORE »
Sonim XP3: The beast of all phones
Posted November 26, 2008 at 09:28 PM by Christian Milsom
Section: Communications, Cellphones
When I say beast I do not mean in looks (like the iPhone), in functionality (like the G1) or low cost (like the Motorola Dyna 8000X). I’m talking about the height of practicality, a phone designed to suffer the falls, scratches and splashes that your average Joe phone would break merely looking at. This phone is not about looks, being small, or taking high resolution photos: it is the sort of phone you would expect to see on a building site, or on the top of a mountain. Let me introduce the Sonim XP3.
It has a yellow and black color scheme: the yellow helping for visual purposes and the black being the substantial rubber edges that this phone boasts. It has a reasonably large anti glare and shock resistant screen with large functional buttons, but only those that are necessary, with special care to make them durable and extra wide.
This phone is dust and micro-particle proof. It will also operate under extreme thermal conditions, from -20 to +60 degrees centigrade which covers most of the temperatures that the world can throw at you.
Another major killer of phones is water, but the XP3 has no problems with water as it can withstand being submerged up to 1 meter in depth which eliminates the need for a cover on those mountain treks. I think after water, the second biggest phone torment is drops and this phone can cope comfortably with drops onto concrete from up to 2 meters.
Other major practical features include the extra loud speakers designed to handle noisy environments (like waterfalls or nightclubs), an extra long battery life, and a 3 year unconditional guarantee, which is pretty long for a mobile phone. Oh yeah, and it has an in built-in torch, making it the Swiss army knife of phones.
Regarding core functions, it still performs perfectly well. It is Tri-band (so good for traveling) as well has having WAP and Bluetooth capabilities and the usual SMS/alarm/PC sync capabilities. Optional extras include a secure looking belt clip, and an external antenna for when finding reception is really difficult. All in all, this is quite an exceptional phone, and if you often find yourself hiking or mountaineering, then this is a must.
It is the pinnacle of mountain technology combined with some (only slightly outdated) modern technology. Yes, this won’t sell as well as any Nokia/BlackBerry/Apple phone, but it provides a real solution, and one that is valuable.
Product [Sonim]
Meijer’s Thanksgiving Day 2008 sale
Posted November 26, 2008 at 08:57 PM by NEWS
Section:
FROM GAMERTELL - Meijer has several Thanksgiving Day special offers on games and game bundles as well as a HDTV, iPod Nano $50 rebate and other tech deals… MORE »