FROM GAMERTELL - A possible Best Buy Black Friday 2008 ad has surfaced on the internet. However, the ad quality is poor and there is a chance it could be a hoax.
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by Joshua Topolsky, posted Nov 15th 2008 at 5:41PM
The phones at Engadget HQ have been ringing off the hook with reports that the incredible Sam’s Club Black Friday Wii deal spied the other day was, in fact, not all that it seemed. Apparently, due to a Photoshop disaster or related incident, someone swapped out the actual deal price ($425) for an amazingly low $224. We’d say this was a closed case, save for the fact that the page carrying the updated “correct” information is now down, and all we have left is a paltry Google cache link. If anyone out there in magical, mystical Internetville knows more, feel free to drop us a line.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Filed under: Gaming
by Darren Murph, posted Nov 15th 2008 at 12:03PM
When we first laid eyes upon the slick box pictured above, we were struck with an eerie feeling of déjà vu. Now, it all makes sense. After receiving an all-but-completely-dead MacBook, one particular modder decided to rip the motherboard out, break out the soldering iron, throw in a few replacement parts and shove everything into a Macally G-S350SUA aluminum hard drive enclosure. Wanna know why? Because he had a peek at this — a Mac Pro Mini mod that popped up here in March. Talk about taking inspiration and improving upon it.
[Via Hack-A-Day]
Filed under: Desktops, Laptops
by Richard Lawler, posted Nov 14th 2008 at 9:47PM
If you skipped Walmart’s pre-Black Friday festivities pat yourself on the back, as — despite its lawyers hard work C&Ding unauthorized early ad postings into oblivion — CNNMoney reveals the “doorbuster” highlights probably not worth getting trampled for this year. Between 5-10 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving the already-discounted Magnavox Blu-ray player drops from $198 to $128 (a BDP-S300 might still be a better value), 50-inch Samsung plasma of unspecified resolution is only $798 (720p, bet on it), and Xbox 360 + Guitar Hero III & wireless guitar pack (all the real plastic guitar aficionados have moved on to Rock Band 2) drops in for $199. Slightly lower profile are a $398 HP desktop PC and $175 gas grill but c’mon, we all know it’s the high definition (it’ll be a lonely holiday without the suddenly too-good for us Vizio) that will have you shivering outside your local retailer with the soccer moms and other deal hunters.
[Thanks, Jason]
Filed under: Displays, Gaming, HDTV, Home Entertainment
by Ross Rubin, posted Nov 14th 2008 at 9:03PMEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.
Often, a shotgun is used at the beginning of a dash, but not so in the world of connected GPS devices, where Telenav launched its Shotgun portable navigation device days after Dash decided to exit the hardware business with its pioneering Dash Express.
Unlike Dash, Telenav was no newcomer to the guided navigation space, being a leading provider of turn-by-turn navigation services to cell phones. Its customers include Sprint and AT&T, and consumers can subscribe to the service directly through Telenav — even if their carrier doesn’t support it — as long as their smartphone does. The product is free to download, but carriers charge a subscription fee for unlimited use, or offer it on a per-diem price. Because it is designed for an inherently wireless device, Telenav software includes features such as traffic notification, which is a premium feature in portable navigation devices.
In addition to physical advantages such as the large screen, the Shotgun has at least one important advantage over Telenav’s cell phone services. Since its maps are local, the device continues to route even when you drive outside of cellular coverage areas. But there’s at least one holdover from its cellular heritage that Telenav needs to shed on the Shotgun — an unceasing, bright blue LED signaling wireless connectivity, which is hugely distracting to the driver, especially at night. Perhaps a bundled strip of black duct tape will do in the meantime.
Despite the LED, based on the design of the hardware alone, the Shotgun would have been deemed a Dash Express-killer if the economy hadn’t already beaten it to the murder scene. The Shotgun has a relatively slim profile in contrast to the Frankenstein-like flat head that crowns the Dash Express. Dash’s user experience was very strong, and while the Shotgun’s may not be quite as simple and is certainly not as extensible as Dash’s, it is comparable to the generally good quality of user interface we see from Garmin and TomTom. It also avoids many of the frustrations of data entry precision in unconnected PNDs since, like the Dash, it can search for landmarks that may not be in its local point-of-interest database.
Dash won the hearts of early adopters with the ability to send custom RSS feeds to the unit. You’ll see none of that esoteric functionality on the Shotgun, which has also eschewed WiFi for downloading large system software and map updates. Telenav says it has developed a way to do this efficiently without Wi-Fi, but is mum on how. On the other hand, the Shotgun’s native “moving maps” mode mimics the “bird’s eye” perspective more similar to the way most consumers use their GPS devices. Dash, in contrast, provided a flat 2D map so that you could see traffic trouble spots brewing on upcoming and surrounding roads. The Shotgun relies more on a proactive alert approach. The 2D maps are not missed per se, but it was nice to have an option of multiple routes on the Dash before venturing forth, even if they sometime involved minor detours.
At $299, the Shotgun hardware still commands a premium over rapidly falling PND prices and will have to face the same aversion to subscriptions in the PND market that surely hurt Dash. Also, while traffic is an easy feature to include in a PND, it is enormously challenging to do well given the near real-time notification required and intelligence to gauge the efficiency of alternative routes to be as effective as possible.
While traffic no doubt holds the most potential value for subscription services and could elevate PNDs from something used only occasionally to an everyday navigational tool, there are significant barriers to justifying the expense. It is probably of most use to regular commuters. It must be able to notify you early enough so that you can avoid he most crowded route. And it may be limited in how much time it can save you even if it delivers the optimal route when all main routes are congested, particularly on shorter trips.
This is why, for the near-term, it’s going to be difficult to get consumers to pay in excess of $10 per month for such service and Navigon has seen its fortunes rise by promoting basic free traffic delivered via radio signals to its PNDs. However, for those who want the added convenience and flexibility of two-way communications in the wake of the Dash Express’s demise, the Shotgun is a well-designed, effective and handy companion to have on the road. If backseat drivers are pestering you to pull over and ask for directions, there’s no quicker path to passenger peacemaking than bellowing that one more request will result in your using your Shotgun.
Ross Rubin is director of industry analysis for consumer technology at market research and analysis firm The NPD Group. Views expressed in Switched On are his own.
Filed under: GPS
Oh my, oh my. Just think of all the not so nice tracking you could do with this little gadget. The new Zoombak Universal GPS Locator lets you know whenever it enters specific geographical zones. How very stealthy. A company spokesperson however, claims that Zoombak “does not condone or recommend that the device be used for those things.“ Ummm…yeah. I’m sure that will stop its misuse.
What you do is drop it into whatever you want tracked. (No…I don’t recommend having someone swallow it). Your kid’s backpack or car is more what they are envisioning for the device. You know, to make sure they are actually going to school, or to the library to study like they claim. Or you’re wondering where your girlfriend is really going when she makes those late night runs to the gym? Voila. Yeah…you see where this could go, don’t you?
Whenever the device enters a specified zone, you will get either a text message or an email letting you know it’s there. Some more practical (and less sneaky) uses for the device are putting it in your luggage when you travel, in your own car or motorcycle in case of theft, even on the family dog who likes to run away.
Zoombak has a special interactive site where you can set up your own custom safety zone around just about any location, like your house, school, mall and so on. Or, you can also choose at any time to find out exactly where the module is from either your phone or zoombak.com.
The locator received Honoree status at the CES Innovations 2009 Design and Engineering Awards. which “recognize groundbreaking consumer products that exhibit high overall product quality, unique features and user value.“
Out in time for your holiday
spying
shopping, the MSRP on this is $199.99. But I found it on Amazon for $145 if you shop now. There is also a monthly service fee for the device.
Impractical and sneaky? Or helpful and innovative? Either way, happy tracking!
via [DirectionsMag]
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by Laura June, posted Nov 14th 2008 at 12:44PM
Nothing new or unexpected here: just like we said a few days ago, the Samsung Saga, one of the bluest handsets in recent memory, is now available online at Verizon. Also filed under “things we already knew,” the globetrotting GSM and CDMA-enabled smartphone with EV-DO is selling for $199.99 (with a 2-year contract and one of those mail-in rebates we all know and love), though apparently you won’t be able to walk into a Verizon store and pick one up in person until December 1st. Hit the read link for more granular details should you really, really want them.
Filed under: cellphones, Handhelds
by Chris Ziegler, posted Nov 14th 2008 at 2:20PM
Strategic advantages Sany Ericssan holds over Sony Ericsson:
[Via PMP Today]
Filed under: cellphones
Code Name: Pionen White Mountains. Location: Stolkhom, Sweden. Assignment: Perform as a Data Center??
Yep…the Pionen is a real, working data center located in central Stockholm. It was totally redesigned and rebuilt from 2007 to 2008; after having served during the Cold War era as a nuclear shelter and military bunker. The “code name” for the center? Its actual code name from back in its military days.
James Bond would be proud. Although it is serving a practical purpose, housing the Network Op Center for not only Sweden’s biggest ISP, but also the NOC for all of the operations for Bahnhof; it also clearly has a high tech almost science fiction class and style. It also serves as a co-location hosting center; so others can come in and put their own servers there as well. And once you’ve seen this place, you will not forget the experience.
As Jon Karlung, CEO at Bahnhof (the ISP behind Pionen) puts it, “The unique design makes it a ‘talk about’ facility. If you have been inside Pionen you will for sure tell somebody else about it.” The photo shows the conference room which is suspended above the server area. And get this, the floor of the conference room is the surface of the moon. (Well, not really obviously, but designed to look just like it).
They don’t even use a boring back-up power source. Try German submarine engines. Or to be more specific, two Maybach MTU diesel engines producing 1.5 Megawatt of power. And for kicks, the folks at Pionen even installed the sound horn warning system from the original German sub.
Click for a larger image.
(on left: Back up generators from the German subs. On right: Interior Server area)
And the stuff there is pretty darn safe from attack. It’ll even take a near hit from a hydrogen bomb. Heck, most workplaces probably can’t take a hit from a big tree in a windstorm. They’ve got 1.5 megawatt of cooling for the servers. The network has both fiber optics and extra copper lines with three different physical ways to get into the mountain housing the server space for a Triple redundancy Internet backbone access. Talk about being well connected.
Now to the really cool stuff. They have waterfalls, greenhouses and simulated daylight. They say they wanted to break the standard mold and really focus on the humans. Karlung explains, “Rather than just concentrating on technical hardware we decided to put humans in focus. Of course, the security, power, cooling, network, etc, are all top notch, but the people designing data centers often (always!) forget about the humans that are supposed to work with the stuff.”
It’s clear there was some kind of inspiration behind the design of building a place like Pionen in a mountain of bedrock. Karlung confirms this. “Since we got hold of this unique nuclear bunker in central Stockholm deep below the rock, we just couldn’t build it like a traditional – more boring – hosting center,” he said. “We wanted to make something different. The place itself needed something far out in design and science fiction was the natural source of inspiration in this case – plus of course some solid experience from having been a hosting provider for more than a decade.”
Click for a larger image.
(workstation at Pionen)
And it’s also clear some of that inspiration came from places other than just thoughts that came to them in the middle of the night. Some visual inspiration was needed, so where does one go? Of course. Movies. “I’m personally a big fan of old science fiction movies. Especially ones from the 70s like Logan’s Run, Silent Running, Star Wars (especially The Empire Strikes Back) so these were an influence,“ said Karlung. “James Bond movies have also had an impact on the design. I was actually looking for the same outfit as the villain ‘Blofeld’ in Bond and even considered getting a white cat, but that might have been going a bit far!”
Right now, only 15 senior technical staff employees work full time in Pionen; so even if you think it is way cool, it may not be utterly practical sending them your resume just yet.
Via: [royalpingdom]
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We are starting to see some great deals on HDTVs as the market declines, and the 47-inch JVC LT-47DV8BJ is a great deal, at less than £1000 for a large, top brand HDTV. Not only is this HDTV from a decent brand, it’s also one of the highest end models, meaning it is packed full with features and impressive specifications.
The JVC LT-47DV8BJ features a large 47-inch LCD panel with a 1080p Full HD resolution of 1920×1080 pixels, delivering the highest HD format available. With a very attractive design, including a very slim and stylish bezel surrounding the frame, and an overall slim design. 100Hz high frame rate technology doubles the frame rate, which reduces motion blur during high motion scenes, and eliminates image judder commonly seen during slow image pans.
The DynaPix HD engine, is JVC’s most powerful processing engine, which enhances and improves image quality by boosting colors and contrast while reducing noise. TrustedReviews looked at the 47DV8BJ and said, The speakers protruding from the TV’s bottom edge are unfeasibly powerful considering how unassuming they look. In some ways the JVC LT-47DV8BJ is a terrific LCD bargain, serving up a truly huge and at times spectacularly good image alongside some of the best sound we’ve heard at any price. But its lack of 1080p/24 support is bound to count against it among the AV enthusiasts.
