Spam Flood Blog: Interesting Stuff

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Interesting Stuff

7/15/2007 6:27:00 PM

Filed under: Gaming

Not that we weren't assuming this anyway, but Sony has gone on record to say that when the new PSP starts shipping in September, it will completely replace the original, 19 percent fatter PSP model. Sony definitely ain't no Nintendo, which continues to sell GameBoy Advance models alongside the DS. We've got to wonder how likely it is that the PSP will suffer from a kind of Osbourne effect until September: would you pick up a PSP knowing that a thinner, faster version of the same device is just around the corner?

[Via PSP Fanboy]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/15/old-psp-model-to-be-phased-out/#comments

7/15/2007 3:17:00 PM

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Canon has announced plans to construct a $451 million factory to construct CMOS components for its cameras. Expected to start production in July next year, the factory will be built on an existing site near Tokyo and will be be dedicated entirely to churning out the complementary metal oxide semiconductors (we prefer the acronym) required to detect light in every digital camera. It should have a capacity of around 3 million chips a year, which is only a fraction of the 24 million cameras that Canon hopes to produce this year. Good for Canon, we say.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/15/canon-to-build-451-million-factory-to-make-image-sensors/#comments

7/15/2007 1:49:00 PM

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Bill was a hired infomercial actor pretending to be on the brink. He used to lose at least half a dozen iPods to relentless and cunning thieves, continually able to outsmart him and relieve him of his portable music boxes. Then, like a shining light at the end of the tunnel, along came Hide-a-Pod*. "It was like a dream come true," Bill exclaimed: "I picked up a Hide-a-Pod, and I haven't lost an iPod since. If I leave it somewhere and go back later it's always right there were I left it." Harnessing the mathematical perfection of ugliness that only the Brown Zune possesses, Hide-a-Pod makes iPods physically invisible to lower standing members of society. You too can be like Bill, by ordering the Hide-a-Pod today!

[Thanks, David]

*Warning: Hide-a-Pod not a real product. Will cause extreme ridicule if taken seriously.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/15/brown-zune-finds-meaning-in-hide-a-pod/#comments

7/15/2007 12:01:00 PM

Filed under: Portable Audio, Robots

As some sort of sick consolation prize for not getting to appear in the new Transformers movie, Soundwave has had his cassette tape guts ripped out and replaced with a cold, MP3 playing heart. For around $100 depending on the edition and shipping, you can purchase Takara/Tomy's Soundwave MP3 player. Instead of taking clunky tapes, the Soundwave MP3 player has a slot for SD cards, along with the usual headphone jack and music controls. And yes, it does do the whole transforming bit: there wouldn't be much point otherwise, donchafink?

[Via Dosboy]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/15/soundwave-transformer-gets-mp3-player-upgrade/#comments

7/15/2007 9:04:00 AM

Filed under: Gaming, Household

The allure of playing with Nyko's Wiimote charging station / party bowl hybrid was just too strong for the folks at Joystiq to resist, and hey, we can't say we blame 'em. As the crew put it through the typical paces, they found that the cooling, charging, and organizing functions all worked perfectly as advertised, but even they couldn't deny that it essentially redefined superfluous. Still, we all know this thing makes throwing parties entirely easier for i for introverts, so be sure and check out the read link if you're desperate to see how awesome the Wii Party Station truly is.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/15/nykos-wii-party-station-gets-put-to-the-test/#comments

7/15/2007 7:18:00 AM

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Toshiba is running a short, promotional sale by selling its HD A2 HD DVD player for $99 with three HD DVD movies over at the Home Media Expo in Las Vegas. You may be thinking this is great news: but wait, there's a catch. Only attendees of the show will be able to take advantage of the deal, and with ticket prices of between $100 and $500, the deal isn't as great once you get in. Toshiba, maybe you should focus on reducing the prices for general consumers rather than running these awkward "promotions." The fact that you're trying to sell players at a conference reeks of desperation, which is weird since it looks like you've got nothing to worry about.

[Thanks, Judith]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/15/toshiba-selling-99-hd-dvd-player-with-a-catch/#comments

7/15/2007 5:04:00 AM

Filed under: Portable Audio

Oh, IT'S ON. After months of eager anticipation, it looks like either Viodentia has finally come out of hiding, or s/he's passed the torch on to another (Doom9 forum user Divine Tao?) -- but either way it looks like MS DRke MS DRM IBX components up to version 11.0.6000.6324 are good to go with the latest version of FairUse4WM, v1.3 Fix 2 (read: this is the update we know you've all been waiting for). We haven't yet confirmed ourselves, but feel free to tell us whether you got a sweet taste of DRM freedom without having to continue using XP and Windows Media Player 10 with that subscription music service.

[Thanks, Abdul and Adam]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/15/fairuse4wm-v1-3-fix-2-promises-vista-zune-drm-stripping/#comments

7/15/2007 3:31:00 AM

Filed under: Laptops

Asus, a company that's pushing some pretty interesting and innovative products into the spotlight as of late, is stepping up to bat with another new entry, dubbed the U3. The 13.3-inch ultraportable rocks a Billy Joel-approved "piano black" exterior, with a smooth, sensual leather finish on the palm rests, making it stylistically quite distinctive. The U3 features the much-loved Santa Rosa chipset, and will likely utilize one of Intel's low voltage Core 2 Duo processors (the L7500, for instance), but that's just where the fun begins on this baby. The jam-packed specs include integrated GPS, HDMI and S-Video outs, eSATA, USB, and Firewire ports; SD and ExpressCard 54 slots; and an NVIDIA 8400M graphics chipset -- which can be switched off via hardware for power conservation. Asus reps say the system is due in September at a price point somewhere around $2,000.

[Thanks, Coriolis]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/15/asus-u3-caught-on-film/#comments

7/15/2007 1:50:00 AM

We've seen a variety of systems designed to better inform soldiers of what's truly going on around them, but a new setup devised by Thales UK weds an advanced GPS module, a digital magnetic compass, a microprocessor, and a "fully ruggedized display" to provide near-real time situational awareness information. Dubbed MILTRAK, this concoction equips field soldiers with a portable display which seems to work an awful lot like your basic top-screen radar (think Counter-Strike), as it displays the positions of "similarly equipped friendly (blue) forces overlaid on a relational display, raster map, or geo-referenced aerial photograph." Moreover, those in battle can purportedly share and follow routes, which enhances communication and keeps platoons from running astray. Heck, they may even forget that the bullets flying around them are real.

[Via TheRawFeed, image courtesy of Army]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/15/miltrak-gives-soldiers-the-down-low-on-encroaching-enemy-forces/#comments

7/14/2007 11:40:00 PM

Filed under: Household

While some things may take you back, the Lite Table manages to warp you way back. Upon first glance, there's absolutely no doubt where this masterpiece of a table got its inspiration, and for those who wasted hours on end moving pegs and devising new Lite Bright creations as a wee lad (or dame), any price would seem reasonable for this. Granted, this piece has been spotted before, but thanks to Jellio, what appears to be a fanboy's creation is actually available for purchase. What's it gonna take? A mere $600, a whole lot of patience, and a prime spot in the living room to show your youngsters that grown-ups can still relate.

[Via UberReview]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/14/lite-table-brings-back-illuminated-childhood-memories/#comments

7/14/2007 9:28:00 PM

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

GenerationMP3 has a hands-on with Venzero's new DAPs, the mini and SLICKR. From the pics that the GMP3 guys took, you can see that the mini really is mini -- until you see its chunky side profile, that is. The SLICKR is a little more equally proportioned, being of similar dimensions to iRiver's clix 2. In fact, the two models are probably best described as being the slightly smaller and bigger brothers of the aforementioned iRiver DAP. In other news, GMP3 found that they're constructed out of good quality plastic, although they're a bit of a let down in the graphical user intuser interface stakes. For now the Venzeros are Germany exclusive, although there are hints of an expansion into other areas of Europe.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/14/live-shots-of-venzeros-mini-and-slickr-daps/#comments

7/14/2007 7:37:00 PM

Filed under: Gaming

There's been a lot of guitar gaming related news lately for some reason, starting with the spotting of a wired version of the Rock Band virtual guitar. Joystiq speculates that this could mean a cheaper guitar for the Xbox 360 version of the game, but then again they've been playing a lot of Rock Band lately so the rockin' out may be affecting their minds. The second tidbit of news comes from the ever informant FCC, which has just taken a look at the Guitar Hero III Les Paul. We've seen this particular model before a couple of times -- albeit without the black lick of paint -- so it's not a great surprise to see this hanging around at the Federal Comm' Comm'. A much bigger surprise is the fact that the FCC shots don't include blurred pictures of the approval team (and cameraman) rocking out: an FCC tester position evidently ≠ a rockstar lifestyle. You can also see hands-on with both Guitar Hero III and Rock Band over at Joystiq.

Read - Guitar Hero III guitar at FCC
Read - Wired Rock Band guitar?
Read - Wii's wireless Rock Band guitar
Read - Hands-on: Rock Band
Read - First-look : Guitar Hero III

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/14/guitar-hero-iii-rock-band-guitar-gaming-round-up/#comments

7/14/2007 5:53:00 PM

Filed under: Gaming

Microsoft

Nintendo

Sony

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/14/e3-coverage-roundup/#comments

7/14/2007 4:09:00 PM

Filed under: Laptops

'Round these parts, we can't help but show a little extra love for anything slapped with an oh-so-coveted "limited edition" label, and for folks in the market for a new HP laptop (and residing in Japan, by the way), here's one especially for you. The dv6500 CT Special Edition is said to be limited to 1,000 units and will reportedly sport a 15.4-inch LCD, an Intel Core 2 Duo T7100 processor, VGA output, several USB ports, and a 1,280 x 800 resolution panel -- but it sounds like everything else can be customized to your liking. The most glaring difference here, however, is the snow white casing and Special Edition badges, which will surely incite envy in those who didn't quite get their orders in on time. Prices start at just ¥119,700 ($979) for the most basic of configurations, but you may as well splurge on the CTO extras if you actually manage to secure a unit, no?

[Via AVing]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/14/hp-intros-white-dv6500-ct-special-edition-laptop-in-japan/#comments

7/14/2007 3:12:00 PM

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We'll go ahead and hand it to Spectrolab for crafting such an immensely efficient solar cell without regard to cost, but a team of Korean researchers have reportedly conjured up a rendition of their own that, you know, would actually be feasible to commercialize in the not too distant future. The team -- led by Lee Kwang-hee of the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology -- has reportedly created a diminutive plastic solar cell that touts "6.5-percent efficiency," and while that number pales in comparison to other alternatives, it's the pricetag that's of interest here. Apparently, existing solar cells that use silicon semiconductors cost around "$2.30 to generate one watt of electricity," whereas this group's solution costs just ten cents per watt. Better yet, plans are already in motion to increase efficiency up to 15-percent, after which we could see these things hitting the marketplace at large "by 2012."

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/14/korean-researchers-develop-uber-cheap-solar-cells/#comments

7/14/2007 2:27:00 PM

Filed under: Digital Cameras

We don't expect anyone to get too worked up over yet another ho hum Ricoh, but the firm is upgrading its middle-of-the-road (at best) RR730 with a slightly improved 7.16-megapixel CCD sensor and a higher resolution 2.5-inch LCD. The RR750 also touts a 3x optical zoom (and 4x of the nearly worthless digital variety), movie mode, 32MB of built-in memory, USB connectivity, an SD expansion slot, and it operates on a pair of AA cells. No word just yet on pricing nor availability, but considering the utterly lackluster feature set, we're such this one won't demand much.

[Via LetsGoDigital]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/14/ricoh-unveils-forgettable-caplio-rr750-point-and-shoot/#comments

7/14/2007 1:18:00 PM

Filed under: Gaming, Storage

Rest assured, those looking for a clean solution to add hard drive space to their PlayStation 3 had mixed emotions when pondering the Hyperdrive. Thankfully, Team Xecuter has unveiled a much sleeker (and flexible) alternative with the Hard Drive Xtender; the device actually replaces the internal PS3 hard drive and provides a plug to run externally, where you can then attach your favorite SATA or IDE drive (with optional adapter). Obviously, the biggest boon in this setup is the money you'll save from not having to spend a small fortune on a dense 2.5-inch SATA drive, and considering that the Hyperdrive can reportedly be used in conjunction, the limits of PS3 capacity are now slightly closer to endless. Hackers rejoice, it's yours for a meager £12.99 ($26).

[Thanks, Jaimesh]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/14/team-xecuters-hard-drive-xtender-replaces-ps3-hdd-with-your-own/#comments

7/14/2007 12:27:00 PM

Filed under: Handhelds

Fort Wayne, Indiana based company GW Micro has developed a new type of PDA designed specifically for the blind and sight-impaired, called the VoiceSense. The assistant runs a modified version of Windows CE and features a vocal guidance system, a full function PIM, web browser, MP3 player, Daisy talking book player, FM radio tuner and MSN Messenger -- all accessible through its custom Perkins-style Braille keyboard. The device has a 540MHz PXA270 processor, 1GB of RAM, and also boasts 802.11b/g, USB 2.0, audio in and out jacks, SD and CF card support, and runs 12 hours on a full charge. The PDA is available right now for $1,795, though the price goes up to $1,895 after July 15th.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/14/gw-micros-voicesense-pda-for-the-blind/#comments

7/14/2007 10:42:00 AM

Filed under: Digital Cameras

We know you're probably busy having fun with that oh-so-cute Lomo Oktomat, but for those looking to get down to business, the Lomographic Ringflash is all but a necessity. Designed to operate on the Lomo LC-A, LC-A+, Fisheye, Fisheye 2, Holga, and Diana cameras, this device won't play nice with your fancy Nikon or Canon, but for those in the know, the results are quite impressive. When mounted on your camera, the Ringflash completely surrounds your lens and "throws a burst of perfectly even light onto your subject." Additionally, an array of color gels can spice things up even more by blasting out psychedelic rays, and best of all, the whole shebang only costs $65.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/14/lomography-ringflash-adds-bursts-of-color-to-your-art/#comments

7/14/2007 9:13:00 AM

Filed under: Transportation

We can imagine that quite a few of you sea-dwellers out there would love to just escape reality and cross the Atlantic on a solar-powered vessel, but for those who can't withstand a full ten minutes at sea without heading for the railing, Seakeeper feels your pain. Busting out a pair of advanced stability systems, the firm is hoping to give boaters a much smoother ride whilst crashing the waves. The 7000 Gyro system is designed for boats 35-feet and up, and quells rolling by tilting at angles determined by a connected motion sensing computer, while the simpler Stability Control system operates by replacing traditional trim tabs and controlling pitch, roll, and yaw. Unfortunately, each setup comes at a lofty price, with the Gyro 7000 ringing up at $55,000 (plus installation), and the latter costing a stiff $21,500.

[Via Gizmag]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/14/seakeeper-unveils-uber-pricey-stabilization-systems-for-boats/#comments

7/14/2007 7:37:00 AM

Filed under: Peripherals

Wannabe Casey Kasems out there not terrified of being sued into oblivion over broadcasting fees will want to check out NTI Comodo's DJmix 2000, a USB audio interface / control surface with bundled Shoutcast-compatible software that'll have you counting down your personal Hot 100 in no time. The unit features 1/8-inch mic and line inputs, an LED level meter, transport controls, and a giant echo control perfect for simulating that Timmy O'Toole interview. No word on whether we'll see the DJmix 2000 hit the States, but visitors to South Korea can start their broadcast careers for 128,000 won ($140).

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/14/djmix-2000-usb-audio-interface-streamlines-internet-broadcasting/#comments

7/14/2007 6:19:00 AM

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Brando's previous attempt at cranking out a sufficient USB drink chiller / warmer was certainly commendable, but the excessive amount of exposure to the air left us desiring a more effective solution. Not one to disappoint, the company has indeed unveiled a new edition, complete with a wraparound design that totally submerges your canned beverage in a world of heat (or cold). This USB-powered gizmo even sports an in-line toggle switch to determine the temperature, and for just $32, how can you not consider this a road warrior must-have? More pics after the jump.

Continue reading Brando intros beefed up USB can cooler / warmer

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/14/brando-intros-beefed-up-usb-can-cooler-warmer/#comments

Netropa intros IntelliNav 3 GPS unit

7/14/2007 4:20:00 AM

Filed under: GPS

Those who like their GPS devices totally indistinct from any number of other units on the market now have yet another option to consider, this one coming from the folks at Netropa. While there's certainly nothing extraordinary here, the company's new IntelliNav 3 unit does appear to provide all the basics, including a 3.5-inch touch screen, 6 million points of interest, 3D and 2D map views, and MP3 and photo support, with maps of the US, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands coming pre-loaded on the included 2GB SD card. No word on pricing or availability just yet though, so you'll somehow have to contain your anticipation for a little while longer.

[Via NaviGadget]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/14/netropa-intros-intellinav-3-gps-unit/#comments

Mustek intros TRAVELFOTO photo frame / alarm clock

7/14/2007 2:20:00 AM

Filed under: Displays, Misc. Gadgets

It looks like those still clinging onto their travel alarm clocks from the eighties may finally have cause to upgrade, as Mustek has now seen fit to update the tried and true design with a built-in digital picture frame. Dubbed the TRAVELFOTO, the device packs a 1.5-inch, 128 x 128 resolution CSTN LCD color screen, along with enough flash memory to store 70 JPEG or BMP photos of your choosing (no MP3 support, it seems). On the other end of the equation, Mustek says that the device has a buzzer loud enough to "wake up even the heaviest sleeper" -- something we'll have to hear to believe. Look for this one to set you back about $40 when it rolls out sometime next month.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/14/mustek-intros-travelfoto-photo-frame-alarm-clock/#comments

PMP / console emulator breaks a whole bunch of laws

7/14/2007 1:07:00 AM

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Have you been searching for a device which will unify all of your complicated technological needs into one hideously ugly, totally generic package? Well, your search is over, because some completely unknown team working for an anonymous company which is definitely located in the heart of China has created the "Portable Media Player". While you're gestating on that name, get a load of what this "system" can do: NES, SNES, Sega MD and SMC support, AVI, MPEG-4, DivX, XviD, MP3, WMA, and FLAC playback, built-in 1.3 megapixel MPEG-4 video camera, MP3 voice recorder, E-Book reader, SD card support up to 4GB, and holographic multi-phasic projection mode (okay, we made that one up). Sure, you could carry around 12 or 13 separate devices to do all of the above, but why go to the trouble when one of these confused little puppies can be yours for just $109.68?

[Thanks, Craig]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/14/pmp-console-emulator-breaks-a-whole-bunch-of-laws/#comments

Webcam mirror exposes your egotistical personality

7/14/2007 12:06:00 AM

Filed under: Peripherals

For those of you who regularly get lost in the infinite beauty of your own reflection, you can now enjoy the totally self-indulgent experience while "communicating" with your "friends", thanks to the Mirror Webcam. There isn't much tech to divulge here -- it's a USB webcam embedded in a mirror, with a ring of LED lights surrounding it which, depending on your face, will make you look much better or much worse. You can use the device as a regular mirror or as a digital mirror, but either way you're still staring at your own face like a self-involved jerk. Available now for around $49.

[Via Akihabara News]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/13/webcam-mirror-exposes-your-egotistical-personality/#comments

Black Box DVR may be the world's smallest... DVR

7/13/2007 11:05:00 PM

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Portable Video

Have you been hankering for a really tiny DVR with a wired, hidden camera attachment? Have you had trouble finding one for less than three large? Well fret no more, because Mini Gadgets Inc. has got you covered -- and by covered, we mean they make what you're looking for, buddy. The Black Box DVR is a personal video recorder which features a tethered camera, and can utilize a miniSD card up to 4GB. The company's website claims it's the world's smallest DVR under $3000, and we're inclined to agree -- at 2.28 square inches, it doesn't get much smaller. The device can record 640 x 480 video at 30fps, and includes a "long lasting" Li-Ion battery, for when you're on the go... shooting secret videos. Available right now for the shockingly low price of $499.95.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/13/black-box-dvr-may-be-the-worlds-smallest-dvr/#comments

What the hell happened to E3?

7/13/2007 9:32:00 PM

Filed under: Gaming

Dear ESA,

We've been down in SoCal for E3 since Tuesday, and now that the show is all closed up and the 3,000 industry pros and journalists invited to attend are heading home, we can only ask ourselves one thing: what the hell happened to E3? We knew full well coming into this thing that the mammoth, gonzo interactive entertainment spectacle of years past may have been lost to the ages, but the hollow husk of a show you guys replaced it with is drab, depressing, and generally disorganized. In short, we're totally bummed.

E3 used to be our favorite week of the year -- the trade show nerds dreamt of attending. You knew it was E3 season as GameStop and EB clerks the nation over began to claw tooth and nail for even the slightest chance at getting a pass to a show which has since been reduced to four rows of HDTVs in a janky hangar, and what amounts to a shuttle bus tour of Santa Monica's five-star hotels (where exhibiting companies set up shop). It was kind of like seeing a band 20 years past its prime -- it's somehow capable of making you wonder what you ever saw in them in the first place.

So you tell us, were the cost cutting measures that led to the show's meltdown worth it? Because as far as we're concerned, something is really wrong when G4TV has a vastly larger floor show presence than Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft combined. For an industry that's larger and more powerful than ever, we can't understand how last year's line to play the Wii managed to be larger than the entire 2007 show. No one at E3 feels like a rock star anymore. So we're spilling a 40 on the ground for Kentia Hall, $20m booths, throngs of costumed nerds, and gamers having the time of their lives while we all felt vindicated for loving video games all these years -- even if only for a moment.

Your friends,
Engadget

P.S. -Just in case you've already forgotten, remember what last year's E3 looked like? Here, check it out:

Microsoft's E3 booth tour

Nintendo's E3 booth tour

Sony's E3 booth tour

E3: South hall walkthrough

E3: Kentia hall walkthrough

And now compare it to this:
Gallery: What the hell happened to E3?

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/13/what-the-hell-happened-to-e3/#comments

Record-setting RunBot gains climbing ability

7/13/2007 9:10:00 PM

Filed under: Robots

Having already bested other bots in feats of robot athletics, the speedy RunBot has now apparently decided to take its game to another level, with it recently seen showing off some of tis newly-developed climbing abilities. While it's apparently not quite ready to joining its rock-climbing counterparts on their next expedition, the RunBot can now automatically adjust its gait to different terrain, giving it the ability to walk uphill or downhill (albeit after enduring a few falls to get its bearings). No word on what it'll attempt next, though its options would still seem to be somewhat limited, what with it not having an upper body and all.

[Photo courtesy of Popular Mechanics]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/13/record-setting-runbot-gains-climbing-ability/#comments

odd-i's P480 conglomerate gets DaVinci chip

7/13/2007 8:13:00 PM

Filed under: GPS, Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video

We'll admit, odd-i's P480 has been around the proverbial block a time or two before, and while the design sure ain't changing much, the internals are yet again seeing a refresh. The latest iteration adopts a Samsung 4.8-inch WQVGA display (love the shirt, bro!), SIRFstarIII GPS receiver, DMB TV tuner, built-in extendable antenna, up to 60GB of internal hard drive space, TV in / out, USB connectivity, uPIM scheduling software, an e-dictionary, and most notably, a DaVinci chip that reportedly "enables users to enjoy a variety of video files without encoding." Slated for release this month in South Korea (where else?), interested consumers can expect it to start around â©458,000 ($498). Peep a few more shots after the jump.
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Cowon iAudio 7 gets unboxed

7/13/2007 7:43:00 PM

Filed under: Portable Audio

For those of you who are waiting to experience the raw, passionate opening of a shiny new Cowon iAudio 7, but haven't the money, time, or sheer force of will -- take heart. The player, which rocks 8GB of flash memory, supports FLAC and OGGs, and can play back XviD media on its 1.3-inch color screen has hit the streets and is up for inspection. One lucky purchaser has gone to all the trouble of unboxing the hell out of his recently delivered DAP, and has kindly chosen to share his message of light and hope with the world. Hit the link for a fairly thrilling showcase of gadget-porn.

[Thanks, Jin]

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Olympus E-P1 DSLR leaked, slated for fall release?

7/13/2007 7:13:00 PM

Filed under: Digital Cameras
Oh, how we adore leaked PowerPoint presentations. Fresh off of discovering that Timex is indeed releasing a Made for iPod watch, it looks like that Olympus E-1 successor will soon become a reality -- we're talking October / November soon. While the 27-page document detailing the E-P1 has since been removed at the request of Olympus, a good amount of details were extracted beforehand. Report. Reportedly, the DSLR will feature a 10-megapixel sensor, dust reduction, splash-proof body, swiveling LCD, image sensor stabilization, eleven-point autofocus, and a weather-sealed extra battery compartment for good measure. So if you're as giddy as we are about finally getting a followup to the aging E-1, give the links below a bit of your time and start pinching those pennies.

[Via CNET]

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Wii Zapper hands-on

7/13/2007 6:43:00 PM

Filed under: Features, Gaming, Peripherals

What do you want? The Wii Zapper is literally just a piece of plastic that you strap your Wiimote and nunchuck into -- it doesn't add any buttons or otherwise change anything about how the controllers are used. In other words, you don't even need this thing to play the games it's intended for -- which is good, because those with larger hands might have a hard time with it as is.
Gallery: Wii Zapper hands-on

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Wii Balance Board hands-on, er, feet-on

7/13/2007 6:26:00 PM

Filed under: Features, Gaming, Peripherals

We got to get on a little, um, feet-on time with Nintendo's new Wii Balance Board. Besides the humbling experience of feeling like an uncoordinated, chubby remnant of your former self, we were surprised with the accuracy by which the device was able to detect even subtle muscle movements that affect balance and position. It definitely felt heavy and sturdy for a preor a pre-production device. Oh, and the weight / balance sensors aren't just left / right, either, some games require you to stand in the middle on one foot. Check out the gallery, it's time to get physical like ONJ. (If you're still left wanting more, hit up Joystiq.)
Gallery: Wii Balance Board hands-on, er, feet-on

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Engadget & Joystiq interview: Peter Moore, head of Xbox

7/13/2007 6:02:00 PM

Filed under: Features, Gaming, Interviews

We got another opportunity to catch up with our pal Peter Moore, the man at the top of the heap over at Microsof'ts Xbox division. We chatted it up about the usual stuff: games, Microsoft's E3 presence, the 360 warranty debacle, and what's up with all the special edition stuff Microsoft keeps pumping out.

So, any new tattoos this year?

None. Out of limbs. You were there the other night...

What, no chest piece? You've got legs, too.

No, my PR handlers would -- well, I'm game for a lot of stuff, and then they go, "No, I don't think so."

You could do full sleeves, the back...

I think the next thing would be what's (horribly) called a tramp stamp... [laughter]

So no tramp stamp for Peter Moore, unfortunately. So last time when we spoke with you last year, your competition hadn't launched yet. So you guys were kind of in a unique position to be the first next gen company out of the gate. Your system, you know you have a lot of second wave titles showing up. Even though the Wii was certainly a phenomenon at last year's E3, there was a lot of excitement about the Xbox. So now here we are, a little over a year later obviously and your competition has launched, in your own press conference your materials show that the Wii is -- not by much -- outselling the 360.

Numbers don't lie!

So where do you think the 360 stands in terms of your competition? You have the Wii that's actually outselling the 360 and you have the PlayStation 3 which obviously isn't although, sales have increased after the price drop. So where...

Apparently they have. I haven't seen any independent data that supports that.
Continue reading Engadget & Joystiq interview: Peter Moore, head of Xbox

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PSP lite approved by the FCC as the "PSP-2001"

7/13/2007 5:43:00 PM

Filed under: Gaming

The fine folks in the federal government have had their chance to poke at the new slim PSP, and it looks like the new model, which Sony is calling the "PSP-2001," has passed its FCC inspection. No big surprises in the filing, although it looks like the PSP Jr. will only be able to output game video via component, while UMD and Memory Stick movies get composite output as well. Other than that, the PSP 1.1 seems ready to go -- those of you too anxious to wait until September can hit the read link for the full FCC file.

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Samsung passes Motorola, takes number two market share spot

7/13/2007 5:35:00 PM

In the wake of a Motorola profit free fall the past few quarters, Samsung has finally managed to nab Moto's spot to take the number two position in global handset market share behind the perennial numero uno, Nokia. Though the victory comes by the slimmest of margins -- 37.4 million handsets shipped in Q2 compared to Moto's estimate of 35 to 36 million -- the two companies are clearly moving in opposite directions right now, with Samsung seeing a 4 percent boost in revenue over the same period last year. Samsung attributes its success to an ever-expanding Ultra Edition line and increased volume in its entry-level lineup, something Motorola has been looking for (but apparently hasn't found) with its innovative MOTOFONE. Find yourself looking over your shoulder, Nokia?

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Sony says $499 60GB PS3 is staying alive (alive!) in US

7/13/2007 5:03:00 PM

Filed under: Gaming
After some turbulent hours of confusion over this story, Sony finally got its facts straight and let the world know that it is in fact not going to discontinue its 60GB PS3 in US ~~once current stock runs out~~. According to SCEA's Dave Karraker, "As announced this week, SCEA's product offering in North America consists of a 80GB PS3 available in August at $599 and a 60GB PS3 available now for $499. We have will have ample supplies of both models to meet the needs of our consumers for the foreseeable future." Apparently the confusion arose from Sony Europe's David Reeves explaining that if they cut the 60GB price in Europe, they'd run out of stock in Europe by the end of July. So, false alarm people, please resume buying / not buying your $499 60GB PS3s in an orderly manner.

Update: This has been semi-contradicted once again, with Sony now saying that they have enough stock to sell 60GB consoles for the next few months, but it doesn't sound like they'll be making any more after that. According to Karraker, "We won't be making any further announcements regarding our PS3 model hardware strategy in North America until the 60GB model is exhausted and market conditions are evaluated."

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Engadget crashes the Joystiq Reader Meetup tonight in Santa Monica

7/13/2007 4:55:00 PM

Filed under: Announcements

It's the first ever Joystiq Reader Meetup tonight, and Engadget's going to be there to show some love and support. So if you're not opposed to spending quality time with some E3-addled crazies, we'd love to have you. Get there early for the free t-shirts, stick around for high tales of liveblogging misadventure. If you do plan on attending, be sure to head over to Joystiq and let them know in the comments.

When: 6PM-9PM on Friday 13th
Where: Mahalo HQ, 902 Colorado Ave. Santa Monica 90401 (Google Maps link)

And yes, this event is all ages!

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