Microsoft’s Best Buy-exclusive
Arc Keyboard still won’t be hitting stores for another couple of weeks (February 21st, to be specific), but we were lucky enough to get our hands on one a little early, and figured we’d share a few impressions with you, the keyboard-using masses. The first thing you’ll notice when seeing the keyboard in person is that it’s smaller than even the press photos suggested — basically the same size as your average 15-inch laptop keyboard, with a glossy bezel just big enough to let you pick it up without pressing a key. It’s also undeniably eye-catching, with an “arc” that actually more closely resembles Apple’s Magic Mouse than Microsoft’s own
Arc mouse.
Of course, most folks will choose function over form when it comes to a keyboard, and in that respect the Arc Keyboard is a bit of a mixed bag.
Continue reading Microsoft Arc Keyboard hands-on
Microsoft Arc Keyboard hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Microsoft’s Best Buy-exclusive
Arc Keyboard still won’t be hitting stores for another couple of weeks (February 21st, to be specific), but we were lucky enough to get our hands on one a little early, and figured we’d share a few impressions with you, the keyboard-using masses. The first thing you’ll notice when seeing the keyboard in person is that it’s smaller than even the press photos suggested — basically the same size as your average 15-inch laptop keyboard, with a glossy bezel just big enough to let you pick it up without pressing a key. It’s also undeniably eye-catching, with an “arc” that actually more closely resembles Apple’s Magic Mouse than Microsoft’s own
Arc mouse.
Of course, most folks will choose function over form when it comes to a keyboard, and in that respect the Arc Keyboard is a bit of a mixed bag.
Continue reading Microsoft Arc Keyboard hands-on
Microsoft Arc Keyboard hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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In what we’re hoping bodes well for future Kindle iterations, Amazon’s pulled out its credit card and picked up New York-based startup Touchco, who specializes in — you guessed it — touchscreen technology. The company will be merged with Lab126, a.k.a. the Kindle hardware division. Here’s why we’re excited: the startup claims its interpolating force-sensitive resistance tech can be made completely transparent, works with color LCDs, and can detect “an unlimited number of simultaneous touch points” as well as distinguish between a finger and stylus. Current cost estimates put it at less than $10 per square foot, which The New York Times says is “considerably” less expensive than the iPad / iPhone screens. We’re not expecting to see immediate results with this acquisition, but given the proliferation of touch in the latest batch of e-book readers, it’d be foolish of Amazon not to join in on the fun. Ready for the Kindle 3 rumor mill to start up again?
Amazon buys touchscreen startup Touchco, merging with Kindle division originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair told the National Intelligence Committee that the United States is at risk of a “crippling”
cyber-attack, and without the proper tools to defend against such an attack. Blair counseled the US to “deal with that reality,” saying that catastrophic consequences would result if it did not deal with said reality. Specific problem areas he cited include the fact that more and more, foreign companies supply both the hardware and software for private businesses. Blair also noted the fact that the net has served as a breeding ground for “homegrown radicalism.” You don’t say? Hit the source link a fuller detail of yesterday’s proceedings.
Director of National Intelligence says major cyber attack could wreak havoc on the U.S. of A. originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Google’s been doing some pretty slick stuff with QR codes lately, and now it looks like The Weather Channel’s getting in on the fun — it’s running a little on-screen graphic prompting Android owners to download their app by scanning their TV screens. Sure, it’s not the craziest thing in the world — it just takes you to the Android market listing — but it’s certainly fun, and one of the more mainstream uses of QR codes we’ve seen in a while. Check the video after the break.
Update: We originally said it takes you to the webpage; in actuality, it takes you to the the Android market. (Thanks, Caleb!)
Continue reading Weather Channel distributes Android app via on-screen QR code
Weather Channel distributes Android app via on-screen QR code originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Yes, we’ve seen this puppy before — but last time, we’d merely heard it was running Android. This time around, we’ve got a little more confirmation that the so-called Zeppelin from Moto is sporting Google code (allegedly Cupcake, sadly) with a dash of Blur added in for good measure. Gizmodo Brazil — which scored some time with a prototype — suggests that this’ll see duty on the lower end of Motorola’s smartphone lineup, and we tend to agree considering the HVGA display that takes up far less space than it could if Moto had wanted to go for broke. A keyboardless companion to the CLIQ / DEXT, perhaps? Carriers are an open question here, but we’ve heard rumblings of interest on T-Mobile USA’s part; the site says it’ll hit streets in March, so we shouldn’t have long to wait to find out.
Motorola Zeppelin spotted again, Android-ness confirmed originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The original MSI Wind is so two years ago, but an Insanely Wind forum member with the handle of ac0ff33 figured out a way to make it so two years from now. Taking a cue from slider phones, the modder has managed to flip the Wind’s 10.1-inch display around, fit it on top of the keyboard, and add a resistive touchscreen. He appears to still be working on getting it to slide up to reveal the keys, but from the comments in the forum he’s got a pretty solid plan to make it all happen. And if all that isn’t good enough, he’s also added a plastic power button next to the screen, along with a key for choosing either Win 7 or OSX when booting. We’re looking forward to seeing how this project comes along, but in the meantime check out the two videos below of the touchscreen performance in both Win 7 and OSX.
Continue reading MSI Wind modded with sliding keyboard and touchscreen
Filed under: Laptops
MSI Wind modded with sliding keyboard and touchscreen originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Hot on the heels of its
Wi-Fi detecting t-shirt, the kids at Think Geek have unveiled their Locked ON proximity sensing garb. Powered by 3 AAA batteries, the shirt is constantly scanning for another just like it — signaling when the two come in range (a few meters) and “locking in” once you make contact. If you’re alone in the world (and, let’s face it — clothing like this just might ensure that remains the case), the radar screen on the shirt will be display a persistent “scanning” pattern. We sort of wish we had one of these when we went to raves. Retails for $20 — hit the source link to order one up for yourself.
Continue reading Locked ON-Proximity Sensing Shirt alerts you to nearby nerds (video)
Locked ON-Proximity Sensing Shirt alerts you to nearby nerds (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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While just recently made official, there have been plenty of Motorola Devour leaks over the years (er, months) to keep us occupied. This latest one has the aluminum colored phone sized up in bokeh-filled and yet surprisingly small, compressed and grainy shots — as if Mr. Blurrycam is holding up a nice, low aperture DSLR lens to his RAZR’s sensor. Oh well, it’s the thought that counts. What’s particularly helpful here is this comparison shot with the Nexus One, which shows the Devour to be a good bit larger, despite its significantly smaller screen size. Size isn’t everything, of course.
[Thanks, Phillip L.]
Motorola Devour spotted in the wild, sized up against a Nexus One originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Think netbooks are on their way out? Not according to ARM CEO Warren East, who said in a recent interview with PC Pro that while netbooks now only represent 10% or so of the PC market, he believes that “over the next several years that could completely change around and that could be 90% of the PC market.” Obviously, he also thinks that would be a huge boon to ARM, and notes that while the main CPU in most netbooks may not be an ARM processor, there are probably at least two or three ARM chips of some sort in each netbook sold. In fairness, we assume that East means netbooks will evolve significantly from their present state over those next several years — but, still, ninety percent?
Update: In the company’s earnings call preceding the interview, Warren East also dropped a few tidbits about ARM’s roadmap, noting that, “Cortex-A9 will comfortably run at those sorts of frequencies (1GHz) and, indeed, with physical IP optimization, we demonstrated can scale up to 2 gigahertz today.” East further added that the “other Cortex-A9 has a lot more headroom to go, it’s a multi-processor design, so you can have quad-core — or up to quad-core implementation.”
ARM CEO says netbooks could eventually grab 90 percent of PC market originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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