Archive for January 4th, 2009
Sure, the Vivienne Tam Edition Mini has been available for about a month, but it’s taken that long for at least one red-obsessed netbook lover to give us a hands-on with HP’s fashion-forward “Digital Clutch.” The folks over at GearDiary loved the red and gold color scheme on the keyboard and the included silky sleeve. You know how we feel about HP’s offering — albeit the black counterpart — but save for that red paint job and artsy design on the hood, it’s essentially the same device. Be sure to hit the read link for even more pics of the floral-inflused Mini, and hit up HP’s site with your $700 to snag one for yourself. Oh, and if you dig that matching mouse make sure you bring some extra cash because that baby’s not included.
Filed under: Laptops
HP’s Vivienne Tam edition Mini gets the hands-on treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Following a good half year of courtship while the regulatory miscellany ran its course, Verizon’s finally ready to take the plunge and call this $5.9 billion deal done. The combined juggernaut will amass a staggering 78 million subscribers, putting it roughly 3 million ahead of its closest rival, AT&T, though it’ll do so at the cost of assuming some $22.9 billion in Alltel debt. Ultimately, the merger means some positions at Alltel headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas will get axed — but hey, AT&T Mobility HQ’s just a stone’s throw away in Atlanta, so Verizon’s headcount loss could ultimately be AT&T’s gain.
[Via Phone Scoop]
Filed under: Cellphones
Verizon and Alltel to join in holy matrimony January 9th originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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 Bear in mind that this could be complete rubbish, but unconfirmed reports from “trusted sources” have reportedly stated that Palm’s first Nova-based handset will tout a full QWERTY keyboard that slides down beneath a touchscreen (is your imagination running wild yet?). Moreover (and more importantly), the fresh operating system is being described as “amazing,” and we’re also told that “a ton” of software will be pre-loaded to provide multimedia playback as well as traditional functions such as calendar, email, and contacts. We can’t help but say that we’re pretty jazzed to hear positive vibes flowing just before CES really gets in gear, but we’ll attempt to remain placid until something a touch more concrete is revealed.
Filed under: Cellphones
Unconfirmed details flow about Palm’s CES-bound Nova phone originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Macworld, Hardware, Rumors, Macbook Pro
 Both 9to5Mac and AppleInsider are reporting on rumors that a 17-inch, unibody MacBook Pro will debut at this week’s Macworld Expo. Most interesting is the rumor about the machine’s battery.
Specifically, the alleged laptop’s battery would be non-removable, very slim (consider the MacBook Air’s battery) and able to run “…much longer” than the current model. The announcement of a new 17 inch MacBook Pro wouldn’t be a very big surprise, but a non-removable battery would. People like removable batteries for obvious reasons.
Mike Rose guessed that we’d see a new 17 inch laptop when we all listed our predictions. We’ll all see what happens in just a couple of days.
For full Macworld Expo coverage, bookmark the TUAW Macworld Expo 2009 landing page.
[Via Engadget]
TUAWRumor: Unibody 17 inch MacBook Pro originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Mac, PC, Meta (about Joystiq)
While the holiday period made it a slow week for news Big Download was busy with a number of forward looking feature articles that give our picks for the games and events of 2009. As always let’s look back on the past seven days on our site:
Exclusive Features
- 2009 previews: We concluded our 2009 preview feature with looks at strategy, RPG-MMO and other games. We also gave our predictions for 2009 and picked our top 10 games we most want to play this year.
- Mac Monday: Our look at Macintosh games this week is a big one; a hands-on preview of the upcoming Mac version of City of Heroes/Villains.
- Independent Minds: In a departure, our weekly look at indie games takes a look at some staples of certain genre games.
- Big Ideas: Our weekly look at game themes takes a look at the (often annoying) game cutscene.
- Freeware Friday: Our weekly look at free games takes a look at Area 51, the Midway shooter that was recently released as a free (ad-supported) download.
- Virtual Bargain Bin: Our look at games on the cheap returns with a look at the Oddworld series of titles.
News
The Best of Big Download: December 29-January 4 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Macworld, Software, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
 Now that I’m firmly situated in my hotel suite in San Francisco, it’s time to get ready for Macworld Expo 2009. A couple of weeks ago iMacworld (click opens iTunes) was announced by IDG and Zami.com as an iPhone helper for Expo-goers.
Version 1.1 of this free app is much improved, with a finalized list of exhibitors, products, and sessions. There are also small banner ads at the bottom of each page that load quickly and give booth numbers for the products advertised. The update also features “stability improvements”, although it locked up my iPhone 3G once when I tapped on the link to find a vendor location on a map.
iMacworld is definitely going to be a help as your TUAW team navigates around the Expo to find new and exciting items for you. Be sure to stay tuned all week as we provide coverage of everything happening here in SF…and more!
TUAWiMacworld App Update originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We’ve got less than 48 hours until Apple’s last Macworld keynote, and the rumor mill keeps hinting that Phil’s gonna announce new Mac minis, which so far are purported to have the Macbook’s NVIDIA chipset, aluminum casing, and an SATA optical drive that can be swapped out for a second HDD. Go ahead and add dual display support to that list, which is what Apple Insider is speculating based on their sources saying the new minis will sport both a mini DisplayPort and a mini DVI connector. Additionally, the site has managed to snap some shots from the Moscone Center of the expo being set up. There’s a picture of a monitor showing what’s presumed to be a live feed of the keynote rehearsal with a blurred figure that kind of looks like Al Gore, and inside the south hall there are several mysterious banners concealed in white cloth. So pretty much status quo, though is it just us or do the banners seem to look a little tired and thin this year?
[Via Boy Genius Report]
Read - Apple’s next-gen Mac mini to get dual display support
Read - Macworld site rife with concealed banners
Filed under: Desktops
Mac mini update with dual display support, banner unfurling rumored for Macworld festivities originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Motorsports, Green, Ford
Brent Hajek loves racing cars and corn. The Oklahoma corn farmer is also the proprietor of a race car museum, and has managed to combine his two passions in an effort to set a new land speed record.
The idea came out of the record Ford set with a Mustang Mach 1 some 40 years ago. Hajek wanted to commemorate the event by returning to Bonneville, and even got the original record driver’s son to pilot his modified S197 Mustang. The idea really gained steam - and support from FoMoCo - when Hajek and co. decided to go for the record using E85 bio-ethanol. They set a top speed of 252.78 mph, which will be a new record if and when they manage to replicate it so it can be etched into the books. In the meantime, Hajek is convinced the initiative will pave the way for Ford to produce an E85-powered Mustang straight from the factory, which may be the corniest Mustang dream we’ve heard yet. Follow the jump to watch the video.
[Source: NewsOK via AutoblogGreen]
Continue reading Oklahoma Dreamin’: Mustang-lovin’ corn-grower chases record with ethanol
Oklahoma Dreamin’: Mustang-lovin’ corn-grower chases record with ethanol originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Productivity, Odds and ends, iPhone, App Store
 There is no shortage of iPhone dialers. Most work by voice, some by tapping a picture of your contact. Now we get Sensi Dial, [App Store link] an iPhone program that uses gestures to dial your contacts. Gestures? Yep. The idea is with gestures you don’t have to look at your phone to reach a contact. Gestures can be taps on the screen or swipes, or a combination of both. You open Sensi Dial, and add the contacts from your address book that you want to assign gestures to. Then save them, and tap the dial button. Use the gesture you assigned to a particular contact, and it gets dialed. You can program in a pause so you have time to bail out of a mistake. If the program isn’t sure which contact you mean, it will display multiple contacts and let you tap on the right one.
It’s an interesting idea, and the program selling point is that you don’t have to look at your screen, which is nice for driving. The reality is that you may have to look at the screen to pick the correct contact if there are multiples, and at least take a glance to see if your phone is calling the right person. As you feel more secure with the program, you may not have to look as much.
I gave Sensi Dial a try, and it pretty much worked as advertised. The tricky part is remembering the gestures you assigned to a person. I wouldn’t think you would want a big list of contacts assigned to this app, or you may be swiping when you mean to tap or the other way around. On the screen shot you can see that the third number on the list is composed of two taps, two swipes, and a tap. You can either remember that combination, or just make 2 taps and see all the contacts that start that way. To clear the contacts and start over you shake your phone.
Reviews of the program from users are generally enthusiastic, although the developer is offering a free copy to buyers who write a review for the app store. That might be putting the old thumb on the scale a bit.
Sensi Dial is certainly an alternative way to make a call. It’s $1.99US at the App Store. Think about if this kind of method works for you, and be sure to investigate the other dialers available. I think there are at least ten, most using voice. If gestures seems the way to go for your particular use, tap and swipe away.
TUAWSome iPhone apps are just strange but they still work originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted by Jonathon Ramsey
Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal, Earnings/Financials
 The Wall Street Journal puts forth the case that the government’s $5 billion lifeline to GMAC has given GMAC a competitive advantage compared to its rivals. After the taxpayer cash was received, GMAC dropped the required credit score to get a loan and began offering 0% financing on several models, and rates from about 1% to 6% on a host of others. While doing so, it admitted that “without this [loan] . . . we would not be able to do this today.”
The Journal cries foul, saying that because GMAC is essentially doing this with — or at least, because of — government money, “the feds have now put the muscle of the state behind one company’s products.” The Journal also considers that the government might do what it can to make sure the horses it bet on win the race, saying “the Washington temptation will be to take other steps to help the two companies gain market share at the expense of their private competitors.”
As to the issue of granting the loan to GMAC at all, the government didn’t have much choice unless it wanted its previous investment in GM to potentially get flushed by a GMAC bankruptcy. As to 0% fiancing, it’s being offered on SUVs and Saabs, none of which are making the cash register overheat. A quick comparison between financing in Southern California through GMAC or Ford Credit found similar rates on other cars: the 2009 Malibu gets 4.9% APR, the same as the 2009 Ford Taurus SEL AWD.
Will the government try to otherwise help GM and Chrysler (beyond pushing more money their way)? The airlines got $15 billion after 9/11, yet would anyone accuse the government of otherwise aiding the industry? As to intervention in the free market… well, when was the last time the market was truly free? And Does GMAC’s ability to offer the new incentives give it a competitive advantage over the other companies? It only lasted until January 5th, and some GM dealers did say they were moving metal — but if the benefit really was that lopsided, we’re sure those competitors will let us know about it soon enough.
[Source: Wall Street Journal]
Continue reading Does Washington’s GMAC bailout hurt Ford?
Does Washington’s GMAC bailout hurt Ford? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 04 Jan 2009 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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