Archive for January 8th, 2009
One very patient Netgear rep took us through the interface of the new Digital Entertainer Elite while we feverishly snapped images of every menu blade. Not every one was a keeper — expect a few gaps here or there — but this should provide you ample impressions on how you’ll be cruising around on this thing.
Filed under: CES, HDTV, Home Entertainment
Netgear Digital Entertainer Elite interface hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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It was at last year’s CES that we first got our hands on iRobot’s Looj, and while easy gutter cleaning is something most homeowners can appreciate, the thing did have some issues that left many users tossing the things out with the decomposing crud it was supposed to fling. Enter the Looj second generation, which includes a flexible auger that should keep the thing from flipping itself over, a tool-free battery door, and a faster reverse speed to get the thing back to your ladder in half the time. Nothing revolutionary, but some much-needed updates that will be available this spring for $129, and we were impressed with the sheer spite the thing displayed against a mock gutter full of faux leaves. Video below — user discretion advised.
Continue reading Video: iRobot Looj hands on shows improved leaf carnage
Filed under: CES, Household
Video: iRobot Looj hands on shows improved leaf carnage originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Business
Square Enix is seriously looking to expand its business model and target more than just cosplayers and yaoi fanfic writers. In 2008, Square Enix opened a new US studio, bid to takeover Eidos, and expanded its Xbox 360 focus. It expanded its role as a publisher in Europe, by publishing third-party efforts like Disgaea 3.
Now, the company is announcing a new partnership with Ubisoft. Starting April of this year, Square Enix will be exclusively distributing Ubisoft games in Japan. The Japanese have been largely reluctant in purchasing Western games; the Square Enix label will undoubtedly help bolster sales of Ubisoft’s games in the region. We’re pretty certain they’ll like the new Prince of Persia and other classic Ubisoft properties (above).
“The global video game market is expected to maintain sustainable growth thanks to geographical expansion and diversification of customer base,” said Yoichi Wada, president and representative director of Square Enix. “By partnering with the Ubisoft Group having a number of highly acclaimed titles, we can now work to provide high-quality overseas-produced games to Japan, thus invigorating the Japanese game market while strengthening our presence as a global leader in the video game industry.”
Square Enix to distribute Ubisoft games in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Gadgets, CES, Ford
 On top of those new SYNC features we’ve already told you about, Ford showed off what its SYNC system might one day look like with configurable controls and a personal assistant “avatar” named Eva. The concept is meant to provide a more human interface with the vehicle to help drivers be safer and more efficient. Instead of the disembodied voice of KITT, Eva is an animated character on your instrument panel that converses with you in plain English. She’s a little creepy, but chalk that up to the Uncanny Valley phenomenon.
Ford also says it will be taking SYNC to European markets in 2010 then to Asia Pacific and Australia.
Earlier today, Ford Executive VP Mark Fields also told us that his company is working with Best Buy to educate mobile phone customers about SYNC. CEO Alan Mulally (that’s him in the red cardigan) went into more detail about the partnership later in his keynote speech at CES. Fields said sales reps in Best Buy’s standalone mobile phone stores would educate customers on SYNC’s new capabilities when paired with a Bluetooth-enabled smart phone and then point out what phones are compatible with Ford’s infotainment system. Check out the video above, the gallery of Ford’s big CES keynote below, and an official press release from the Blue Oval after the jump.
Live Photos Copyright (C)2009 Chris Tutor / Weblogs, Inc.
Continue reading CES 2009: Ford shows off future of SYNC, Best Buy partnership
CES 2009: Ford shows off future of SYNC, Best Buy partnership originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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We just got a nice look at the beastly Brother Quattro 6000D sewing machine here at CES. We’ve done a fair amount of embroidery in our day, and we have to say, seeing this machine in action is pretty impressive. Disappointing Disney branding aside (yup, that’s Mickey Mouse beneath the giant 4.5 x 7-inch Sharp HD LCD), the Quattro boasts a 50 square inch workspace that is probably any quilter’s dream, and it’s also got 3 USB ports. Sadly, the purchase price (“about $9,000″) is probably prohibitive for most of us casual stitchers. No word yet on availability, but check the gallery and video after the break.
Continue reading Brother Quattro 6000D hands-on
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
Brother Quattro 6000D hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Downloads, Hardware
Nvidia is making a splash this week with the introduction of their newest entries in their graphics chip family, the GeForce GTX 295 and GTX 285. The GTX 295 is Nvidia’s new dual graphics chip design and is the company’s answer to AMD/ATI’s Radeon HD 4870 X2 card. As usual, Nvidia has also released new overall GeForce drivers for all of their currently supported chips. You can download the 181.20 versions at Nvidia’s web site.
In addition to supporting the new high-powered GeForce chips, the new drivers also have performace improvements and bug fixes for a number of PC games. For more info you can check out the new release notes for the 181.20 drivers.
New Nvidia drivers support new GeForce GTX 295 and GTX 285 originally appeared on Big Download Blog on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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It looks like the plush gray carpet in the Coby booth at CES isn’t the only thing that might make you stumble. Coby’s flagship PMP here at CES is the MP836, and it’s safe to say it rubbed us the wrong way. The device itself wasn’t that horrible to look at, but the interface and general aesthetics were both major turnoffs. The Coby reps said that it has multitouch, but there wasn’t any actual implementation to be found. It’ll be available in 4, 8, and 16GB variations when it does eventually hit the marketplace, but we couldn’t get a solid MSRP from the very confused booth staff. Be sure to check out our vids of the device “in action” (if you can really call it that) and the gallery as well. But hey, if lackluster three inch displays and unresponsive touchscreens are you thing, be sure to hit Coby up.
Continue reading Coby’s MP836 hands-on: when ‘not quite ready for primetime’ is a gross understatement
Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video
Coby’s MP836 hands-on: when ‘not quite ready for primetime’ is a gross understatement originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Business
Checking our inbox this morning, we were greeted by an email from Sony cautioning us that, unlike PlayStation 3, the Xbox 360 and Wii aren’t good values for our gaming dollars. There was even a chart (above) attached to spell it out in black & white (& red).
The informercial-esque message — titled “Keeping Entertainment Simple” — made our day with colorful accusations, including one that the Xbox 360 “requires … multiple upgrades and additional external devices, putting a burden on the wallet and adds clutter to the entertainment center.” That clutter would be the Wireless Network Adapter, which snaps onto the back of the 360, we suppose. So cluttery!
There were even lighthearted jabs at Wii, like the “fact” that its “lack of enhanced features comes at the expense of a comprehensive entertainment solution.” Still, it was the ominous warning that Sony’s competitors would “continue peddling add-ons in an effort to keep up” (what, like the PS3 Wireless Keypad and Bluetooth Headset?) that solidified this email as an office classic.
Sony: PS3 ‘keeps entertainment simple,’ 360 and Wii don’t originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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After some demo time with WirelessHD and founder John Marshall, it appears 2009 will finally be the year cable-free TV connections roll out in a big way. Expect products to launch towards the end of Q2, according to the Gefen rep on hand, their adapter will go into production towards the end of Q1 and hit shelves for about $700, while WirelessHD tech could add as much/little as 10% to the cost of a new TV like the demo units from LG and Panasonic. How well does it work for the money? Pretty well, with no untoward effects on the picture, and easily switching from source to source automatically. Walking between the display and source didn’t cause a problem but even millisecond-switching 60Ghz hardware was no match for being picked up and fumbled around by a photo snapping Engadget editor. Check out pics featuring Gefen (fear not, the final models will have RS-232), LG & Panasonic prototypes plus OEM hardware we’re likely to see soon in one form or another.
Filed under: CES, HDTV, Home Entertainment
Wireless HD hands on & recklessly-interfering originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Replacing your battery on your MacBook Pro has become an expensive proposition, but long life may negate complaints
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