Spam Flood Blog: Interesting Stuff

Friday, July 20, 2007

Interesting Stuff

7/20/2007 12:19:00 PM

Filed under: Portable Audio

It looks like Canada's neverending adventures in MP3 player levies has now turned another corner, with the Copyright Board of Canada recently releasing its decision on a series of motions that the Canadian Private Copying Collective (CPCC) had been advocating for. Those proposals had been challenged by the Canadian Storage Media Alliance and the Retail Council of Canada but, according to lawyer/blogger Michael Geist, the Copyright Board appears to have clearly sided with the CPCC. What's more, the Copyright Board seems to be saying that the levy could not only be slapped on what they define as "digital audio recorders," but cellphones, computers, and other devices as well. Needless to say, the ruling will likely be appealed, so it doesn't seem like you have to worry about dropping a few extra loonies on your next iPod just yet.

[Via Slashdot]

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/20/canada-facing-reinstated-levy-on-digital-audio-players/#comments

7/20/2007 11:49:00 AM

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Tivoli, well known for its iconic Model One table radio, has commissioned Scandinavian designer Per Sundberg to re-envision its simple radio design -- and boy has he come up with a winner. For the extremely affordable price of 39,000 SEK (or about $5,866), you can buy one of these limited edition little radios covered in handcrafted crystal. Of course, the Model One normally sells for $119, but it's not like you're investing in just any old tuner -- this one gets AM and FM stations.

[Via technabob]

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/20/tivolis-crystal-encrusted-model-one/#comments

7/20/2007 11:24:00 AM

Filed under: Gaming

A team of researchers at the University of Alberta in Canada claim to have "solved" the game of checkers, using a computer program named Chinook which has been playing matches against itself for the past 18 years. The program played 500 billion possible positions in the 5,000-year-old game, also known as draughts, before concluding that perfect play by both sides leads to a draw (a concept which grandmaster players have apparently hypothesized for years). One of the researchers said in a statement that he believes they have "Raised the bar... in terms of what can be achieved in computer technology and artificial intelligence." Next up, Chinook is to be renamed W.O.P.R., and then will begin playing a series of tic-tac-toe games against itself.

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/20/canadian-ai-plays-perfect-game-of-checkers/#comments

7/20/2007 10:49:00 AM

Filed under: Displays, Wearables

Another day, another fancy head mounted display vying for your hard-earned dollars. This time around it's Shimadzu, and rather than hanging the pirates and cycloptic individuals in the crowd out to dry, the DataGlass 3/A is designed to only ~~interfere~~ utilize one eye. Interestingly, this USB-powered iteration is also dust- and water-proof in case you're desperate to view a virtual screen whilst signing in the rain, and can also be connected to your PC or handheld device via a standard VGA cable. No word on price just yet, but be sure and check out the video listed in the read link to quell your excitement.

[Via I4U]

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/20/shimadzu-dataglass-3-a-the-hmd-for-cyclops/#comments

7/20/2007 10:29:00 AM

Filed under: Desktops, Wearables

Fingerprint scanners are so 2004. Yang Hai, an artist who apparently appreciates utility, has conjured up a concept that aims to make biometrics on PCs a thing of the past, as his aptly-dubbed Security Ring makes certain that no one can peruse your files while you're away. The device enables the user to select a lock down distance, and when the ring bearer exceeds that parameter (or simply heads to the lavatory), the connected PC locks out intruders and only opens up when its master returns. Talk about a hit waiting to happen in the corporate space.

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/20/security-ring-denies-intruders-when-youre-away/#comments

7/20/2007 9:59:00 AM

Filed under: Home Entertainment

What's better than experiencing the bowel-shaking, wall-rumbling, thunderous bass of a custom made subwoofer? Why, having that bass emanate from perfect replicas of the "question mark" and brick blocks from Super Mario Brothers, (thus making it the perfect thing to play back your recordings of the SMB Tesla coil), of course. According to the owner, the subs sound great, but the low-end gets a little muddy whenever the question mark gets turned into a metal plate.

[Thanks, Michael]

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/20/super-mario-brothers-subwoofer-brings-the-bass-mushrooms/#comments

7/20/2007 9:26:00 AM

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Yup, more anecdotal evidence in support of that iPhone deal with T-Mobile Germany. The image and text above, which translates to "the new cult cellphone," are currently available from the T-Mobile.de site via the links below. Though, we have the feeling they'll be gone in just a few short minutes of this posting. Of course, that's just the old, pre-YouTube iPhone image with the 9:41 time setting and Cingular text scrubbed clean. Now come on Apple, how 'bout a European iPhone announcement already, this is getting ridiculous.

Update: Oh my, another graphic was found by Brainbug in the comments: available "starting 1st November," kids. Image after the break.

Update 2: Another image showing "starting 1st August" has now been uncovered by reader Jerome. Hedging your bets are we T-Mobile?

Update 3: Er, the dates from the previous updates are bes are being auto-generated from the URL. Duh.

[Via MyITablet]

Read -- Das Neue Kult-Handy
Read -- iPhone image

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/20/iphone-on-t-mobiles-german-site-das-neue-kult-handy/#comments

7/20/2007 8:26:00 AM

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

The DT5200 may be a far cry from the Patriot UMPC, but Aigo's latest portable media player is still rockin' a decent array of specs for its size. This less-than-stylish device gets the message across with a 4.3-inch 480 x 272 resolution display, and features a two-megapixel camera, SD expansion slot, rechargeable Li-ion, USB 2.0 connectivity, and an integrated DAB TV tuner to boot. Users can expect the unit to play nice with H.264, AAC, MP3, JPEG, and MPEG4 files, and the video out feature means that you won't be forced to strain those retinas if a larger set is nearby. No word on price just yet, but we're sure these will be all over Chinese shelves real soon.

[Via PMPToday]

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/20/aigos-dt5200-pmp-handles-dab-tv/#comments

7/20/2007 7:52:00 AM

Filed under: Household, Portable Audio, Portable Video

We've seen flashlights lose their way and get mixed up in all sorts of unrelated gadgetry over the years, but this conceptual multimedia player from Can-Hong Huang breaks new ground for flashlight-inspired gizmos worldwide. This curious creation reportedly boasts the ability to play back audio to a set of wireless earbuds or speaker dock, and even projects videos onto your pull-down screen (or spare wall, if you roll like that). The stick itself can be twisted and manipulated in order to change tracks and adjust the volume, but we're still not buying into this without some sort of remote to complete the package.

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/20/conceptual-media-player-resembles-a-flashlight/#comments

7/20/2007 7:12:00 AM

Filed under: Wearables

This isn't the first time we've seen some gesture-based technology come out of Georgia Tech, but it looks like they've made some fairly significant improvements, now touting it not just as a game interface, but as a means to control all your various gadgets. Unlike that previous system, which simply relied on a cellphone camera to track movement, this new system makes use of five infrared sensors to pick up on your gestures, which then get interpreted and sent to the device you're trying to control via Bluetooth. No word when you'll actually be able to do that yourself, of course, although the researches don't seem to see any limits to the technology's potential, even touting it as a means for doctors to control medical devices during an operation.

[Via SlashGear]

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/20/georgia-tech-researchers-develop-gesture-recognizing-watch/#comments

7/20/2007 6:13:00 AM

Filed under: Digital Cameras, HDTV, Portable Video<a>

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Meet the Blu-ray video cameras from Hitachi. Sure, at this point they're just non-functional mock-ups, but later in the year we can expect to see a series of camcorders featuring Hitachi's new 8cm BD/DVD drive bundled with a biggie, 5.3 megapixel CMOS sensor capable of recording at full 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. In fact, Hitachi claims that their Wooo-branded camcorders could be introduced as early as Fall. The cams would record up to 7GB of MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video on 8cm BD-RE/R media or 5 times less on 8cm DVD-RAM/RW/R discs. Uh, Hoozah? Picture of the actual drive mechanism after the break.

[Via Impress]

Continue reading Hitachi's world's first Blu-ray camcorders coming this year

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/20/hitachis-blu-ray-camcorders-coming-this-year/#comments

7/20/2007 5:23:00 AM

Filed under: Displays

Even though Runco announced their development plans first, Sharp appears to be the first to market with a THX certified television. In fact, they've got two: a 65-inch and 52-inch LCD for Sharp's new AQUOS T-series. That THX logo is meant to ensure the best match of brightness and contrast with video processing for a home theater level of video reproduction. Interestingly though, the rated 350cd/m2 brightness and 2,500:1 contrast is a step down from the AQUOS R-series' 450cd/m2 and 3,000:1. Sharp's explanation? They expect these panels to be used exclusively in the darkest of home theaters. Er, ok. As to the rest, you'll get a 1,920 x 1,080 120Hz ASV panel with 3x 1080p HDMI (plus 3x Japanese D5), 1x DVI, 2x Firewire, IrSS, and Ethernet. Both will be ready in Japan come September when you'll need ¥1,417,500 (about $11,599) for the LV-65TH1 or ¥840,000 (about $6,873) for the LV-52TH1. While we have a sneaking suspicion they'll be worth it, we'll be waiting for the reviews before dropping that kind of dough.

[Via Impress]

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/20/sharps-65-and-52-inch-aquos-t-series-worlds-first-thx-certifi/#comments

7/20/2007 4:39:00 AM

Filed under: Laptops, Tablet PCs

You won't find a press release for it, but the wait for the 12-inch, HP Compaq 2710p Tablet PC is over. Orders placed with HP today will ship July 25th or August 3rd if you opt for the $199 1xEV-DO (Verizon) Broadband module for full-on wWAN connectivity. In fact, AVING already has pics of the sleek, 3.6-pound, LED backlit convertible mucking about in the wild including this shot of it snuggled up to, and publicly mounting its docking station after a few too many celebratory champagnes.

[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/2007/07/20/hp-compaqs-2710p-tablet-pc-in-the-wild-and-shipping/#comments

7/20/2007 3:41:00 AM

Filed under: Storage

It's been quite a while since we last heard anything from Kanguru, but it looks like the company is still kickin' it in the hard drive business, now introducing its new Eco Drive line of power-saving external hard drives. Apparently, the drives make use of three different power saving modes to reduce power consumption by up to 75%, which the company says will also extend the life of the drive itself. Further adding to the drives' eco status is their RoHS compliance, which certifies that they contain a minimal amount of hazardous chemicals. Otherwise, the drives look to be pretty standard as far as USB drives go, available in sizes from 80GB to 750GB and costing between $95 and $350.

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/20/kanguru-rolls-out-eco-drive-line-of-external-hard-drives/#comments

7/20/2007 2:45:00 AM

Filed under: Home Entertainment

It looks as though Polaroid is about to get into tt into the set-top box game with a new product the company has sent to the FCC for review. Apparently holding steady on its path away from cameras, Polaroid has cooked up an all-in-one, do-everything "Digital Entertainment Center" (or DEC, as they're calling it). The main purpose of the device will apparently be to store and stream your media to a TV, stereo, or any other old-world box you have lying around. The DEC will have a hard drive of indeterminate capacity, and will feature 802.11b/g, HDMI and component outs, two USB ports, as well as composite and S-Video ins and outs for video, with RCA ins and outs, plus coaxial and optical outs for audio. On the front you'll have access to a slew of slots (MMC, SD, MD, CF, Memory Stick), as well as additional USB, video, and audio jacks. So now the questions are when, where, how much, what kind of OS, and what is it compatible with? We'll be pouring over the many, many pages of FCC papers while we wait on those answers.

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/20/polaroids-digital-entertainment-center-revealed-in-fcc-document/#comments

7/20/2007 1:51:00 AM

Filed under: Gaming

Retailers such as HMV, Play, and Game in the UK are gearing up for the August 24th European release of Redmond's deluxe game system, and have begun pricing and taking pre-orders on Xbox 360 Elite packages at £330, although there's been no official word from the company on pricing. Microsoft has been tight-lipped, but speculation is that sellers have been tipped off from other regions, as many of them have a European presence. Of course, Steve McGill, the UK mouthpiece for the Xbox, stated last week that the Elite vs. Premium package pricing would be similarly relative to their US counterparts, thus placing the Elite costs close to £336 -- which certainly seems to solve this mystery.

[Via Xbox 360 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/2007/07/20/uk-retailers-reveal-xbox-360-elite-pricing/#comments

7/20/2007 12:56:00 AM

Filed under: Storage

LaCie is a company that can't help itself when it comes to large capacity drives. Just when you thought they couldn't get the "Big Disk Extreme" to be any bigger or more extreme, they go and produce a 2TB version. Unlike the company's network drive with massive capacity, this is pretty standard LaCie fare if you look at the specs, like the 32MB cache, Firewire 400, dual Firewire 800 ports (for daisy-chaining), USB 2.0, and built-in RAID 0. The drive also features a button which can be mapped to launch an application of your choosing, though we're sure they'd prefer that it launches Retrospect Express to backup your data.

[Via Macworld]

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/19/lacie-debuts-2-terabyte-big-disk-extreme/#comments

7/20/2007 12:31:00 AM

Filed under: Cellphones

If there wasn't a vast, cold expanse of internet in the way, we could just hug those iPhone Dev Wiki folks. Apparently a particularly dedicated hacker who goes by "Nightwatch" has compiled and launched the iPhone's very first independent "Hello World" application, paving the way for 3rd party applications to run on the heretofore closed device. Of course, user implications are a long ways away, but Nightwatch has built a pre-alpha ARM/Mach-O Toolchain for other hackers to follow his example, and other folks should be able to get 3rd party code running on the iPhone before long. Exciting times indeed.

[Thanks, 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/2007/07/19/iphone-says-hello-world-here-come-the-3rd-party-apps/#comments

7/20/2007 12:11:00 AM

Filed under: Features, Misc. Gadgets

LG pushed the "masterpiece" line to the limit at this night's Christie's Auction House product showcase -- the official tag line of the event was "LG Masterpieces, a Celebration of Technology and Design" -- but we came away with a few pleasant device announcements and got to chat with some fancy tuxedoed men wearing white gloves, so we'd say the evening was a success. Check the gallery after the break to glance at all the product on display, or just read the posts below to catch the new stuff.

Gallery: Engadget hits the LG Masterpieces event at Christie's Auction House

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/19/engadget-hits-the-lg-masterpieces-event-at-christies-auction-ho/#comments

7/19/2007 11:40:00 PM

Filed under: Gaming

Reports of Xbox 360 consoles scratching discs have have been widespread for several months now, leading the EU to launch an official investigation into the matter -- and Americans to deal with it Uncle Sam style: by filing lawsuits. Mirroring the Florida suit filed earlier this month, two California plaintiffs have filed a class-action suit against Microsoft, alleging the negligent design of the 360 causes damage to game discs and asking for damages in the neighborhood of $5M. Based on how widespread this issue seems to be and the legs it's had, expect to see some speedy settlements involving a lot of tedious paperwork for affected consumers and a lot of green for the plaintiff's lawyers.

Disclaimer: Although the author of this post is an attorney, it is not meant to be legal advice or analysis and should not be construed as such.

[Via Joystiq]

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/19/microsoft-hit-with-another-class-action-suit-over-scratched-360/#comments

7/19/2007 10:43:00 PM

Filed under: Displays, HDTV

Just 'cause those LCDs get all the love these days doesn't mean LG is ready to abandon the plasma game just yet. LG is adding the new 50-inch 50PY3D plasma to its existing PY3D series. The 1080p display includes LG Simple Link to communicate with other LG equipment in your home theater, and the three HDMI inputs and USB Media Host function are a nice touch. ATSC, QAM and NTSC tuners are included, along with latest-gen VSB tech for digital reception. You should be seeing this display on the market in September for around $3499. Another angle is after the break.

Continue reading LG's new 50-inch 50PY3D 1080p plasma

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/19/lgs-new-50-inch-50py3d-1080p-plasma/#comments

7/19/2007 10:31:00 PM

Filed under: HDTV, Peripherals, Storage

Super Multi Blue, Blu-ray, HD DVD, LightScribe, GGW-H20LI, GGC-H20LI -- pay close attention, these are the terms you'll need to familiarize yourself with for this post about LG's latest multi-format optical drives. The $500 GGW-H20LI reads both HD disc formats, and writes at 6x dual-layer BD-R/RE discs (as well as DVD±RW), while the completely differently named $400 GGC-H20LI can read back both formats, but only write DVD±RW and CD-R/RW.

Also in LG hybrid high def disc news, the company is offering 10 HD movies on either Blu-ray or HD DVD for free when you snag a $1,200 Super Blu BH100, but only until July 21st -- that'd be this Saturday. Also of note, LG says we should "stay tuned" for a followup to said BH100, but it isn't prepared to announce further details. Bummer.

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/19/lgs-2nd-gen-super-multi-blue-blu-ray-hd-dvd-hybrid-drives-and/#comments

7/19/2007 10:20:00 PM

Filed under: GPS, Portable Audio, Portable Video

LG is still pretty fresh to the GPS market, but it's already kicking off a second round of devices with the LN790 Portable Navigator. The device features a 4.3-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth phone pairing, video and music playback and photo viewing, with an SD card slot to store the goodies. Oh, and that map stuff all those kids go for these days, with US, Canada and Puerto Rico pre-loaded, and live traffic info for 50 North American cities. You should be seeing this one hit shelves in September for around $699. More shots after the break.

Continue reading LG's new LN790 Portable Navigator

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/19/lgs-new-ln790-portable-navigator/#comments

7/19/2007 10:09:00 PM

Filed under: Displays, HDTV

Perhaps to replicate a bit of that success LG has found in its Chocolate brand, the company is eschewing the usual serial number mayhem for a new Opus badge to denote its "best of everything" LCD line. The displays will show up in September, and come in 42-, 47- and 57-inch flavors. All three displays are 1080p, with 120Hz TruMotion to fight the jaggies, TruColor showing 92 percent of the NTSC spectrum, Super IPS, XD Engine and looks to match the specs. The prices, unfortunately, line up as well: you can score the 42LBX for $2499, 47LBX for $3299 and the 57LBX for $4499. More shots after the break.

Continue reading LG debuts new Opus LCD lineup at the top end

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/19/lg-debuts-new-opus-lcd-lineup-at-the-top-end/#comments

7/19/2007 9:33:00 PM

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Transportation

Strapping a DirecTV antenna atop a moving vehicle is typically never a sound idea, but thanks to KVH's new lineup of TracVision SlimLine satellite systems, bringing HDTV to your RV just got a whole lot sleeker. The firm has launched four separate 12-inch systems that aim to bring "crystal-clear reception" into one's RV or camper, and those springing for the flagship R6 DX (pictured) will even receive a DirecTV H20 free of charge. Dubbed the "smallest and simplest" in the industry, these devices will actually come integrated into a number of 2008 RVs, but those looking to upgrade their current ride can look forward to "full support for standard and HD DirecTV programming," as well as access to Dish and ExpressVu. Now this is a quintessential aspect of a road trip done right.

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/19/kvh-intros-tracvision-slimline-satellite-system-hdtv-in-your-rv/#comments

7/19/2007 8:43:00 PM

Filed under: Transportation

While there's long since been ways to get a piece of your mind (or your best Photoshop effort) launched into space, getting your person up there isn't exactly feasible if your pay stub isn't stamped by NASA. Now, however, Space Adventures is looking to hoist a pair of untrained civilians into space in 2008 and 2009 aboard a Soyuz craft, and the firm will soon be selling seats for the low, low price of $100 million apiece. The Lunar Mission will eventually bring you "to the other side of the moon," and while we're sure the itinerary is quite detailed considering the price of admission, the firm isn't dolling out too much more until you prove your bank account is stocking the required dough.

[Thanks, Yossi]

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/19/space-adventures-offering-100-million-trip-to-space/#comments

7/19/2007 7:53:00 PM

Filed under: Portable Audio

It looks like Apple is on a roll with its latest round patent applications. Hot on the heels of the recently seen illuminated touchpad and Home on iPod filings, comes two nes two new applications that should have only the fiercest of fanboys excited. First up is a technology which the Cupertino camp calls "Dynamic lyrics display for portable media devices," or as we would describe it -- karaoke on your iPod. Nothing really groundbreaking here: obviously lyrics would be displayed while you belted out your favorite Pat Benatar song, which is pretty unexciting and definitely unoriginal. Patent number two seems a bit more promising, as it addresses the possibility of using your iPod or other "portable media player" as a wireless remote for your PC or media center, thus allowing you easier access to your Best of the 80's collection. Of course, this would require a wireless iPod, which doesn't exist, although we understand those new iPhone things have some kind of wireless capability...

[Via Unwired View]

Read -- Dynamic lyrics display for portable media devices
Read -- Portable media player as a low power remote control and method thereof

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/19/apple-patent-attack-2-ipod-karaoke-ipod-remote/#comments

7/19/2007 7:32:00 PM

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

It looks like the Navy's not the only one keen on predicting the future these days, with the ever-experimenting folks at DARPA now also getting in on the act with a proposed solution of their own. Dubbed "Deep Green," the program consists of a variety of software that battlefield commanders can feed information into and get fed back forecasts of how a mission might turn out in return. At the center of the system, according to Wired's Danger Room, are two pieces of software: "Blitzkrieg," which produces combat models for commanders to consider, and "Crystal Ball," which pools a variety of information and offers up the most likely scenarios and the best course of action. We'll just have to wait and see if it actually pans out or goes the way of the laughing bullet.

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/19/darpa-plans-crystal-ball-to-predict-the-future/#comments

7/19/2007 7:17:00 PM

Filed under: Cellphones

Walk into an Apple or AT&T store, walk out with an iPhone in whatever color you like: that is, if you like black, silver, and chrome. Which is why, as usual, we're stoked that Colorware's on the case (literally), offering up another 29 shades for your Apple phone. The price: $150 if you send yours in, or $650 / $750 if you buy a 4GB / 8GB new from them.

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/19/iphone-gets-29-new-shades-from-colorware/#comments

7/19/2007 6:53:00 PM

Filed under: Portable Audio

iPods have long been the token of desire for customizers, and while we've certainly seen tamer flavors before, Xexoo's gilded 2G Shuffle is nothing short of overkill. The company -- which makes its ends by coating DAPs in precious metals and charging incomprehensibly high prices for them -- is now getting set to smother Apple's most diminutive player in 18-karat gold. Thankfully, the blinged-out Shuffle isn't the only thing you get for €14,000 ($19,320), as those ~~imbecilic~~ wealthy enough to shell out for this superfluous luxury will also receive a black wooden box and a certificate of authentication to sweeten the deal. Oh, and don't forget to add in the gold-finished dock while you're at it, cool?

[Via CNET]

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/19/xexoo-gilds-a-2g-ipod-shuffle-charges-a-bundle/#comments

7/19/2007 6:23:00 PM

Filed under: Desktops

If you like your PC hardware to be wrapped in only the glitziest, most showy enclosure that money can buy, Shuttle's latest XPC isn't exactly numero uno, but it can certainly hold its own if you aren't willing to spend a fortune. This SFF chassis is built around Intel's G33 Express chipset, can accommodate up to 4GB of DDR2-800 memory, touts an HDCP-compliant HDMI port, and also includes a snazzy integrated VFD display on the front for wowing your guests. Additionally, you'll find onboard GMA 3100 graphics, a 7.1 audio chip with Dolby Digital Live! and DTS Connect certifications, gigabit Ethernet, an infrared remote, I.C.E. heatpipe cooling system, and a 250-watt SilentX power supply. Mmm, hot stuff for "just" €328 ($453).

[Via CaseDesigns]

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/19/shuttles-xpc-sg33g5m-barebone-sports-hdmi-vfd-display/#comments

7/19/2007 5:53:00 PM

Filed under: Wearables

It's been quite a while since we've heard anything new on the C-Leg, but German firm Otto Bock has now unveiled a sleeker, stronger, and more military-approved version for those in need of a new leg. The microprocessor-controlled knee joint is "the standard prosthesis issued to US fighters who have lost a leg above the knee," offers up a number of "modes" to best suit your current activity, and includes a wireless remote for switching between those modes. The intelligent system within takes data samples of your gait 50 times per second in order to best adapt to your needs, and the internal hydraulics promise "optimal response" no matter how strenuous or demanding the chore. Of course, buying a leg that seemingly puts these natural ones to shame won't run you cheap, as the newest C-Leg will reportedly cost somewhere in the $30,000 to $40,000 range to have it delivered and fitted.

[Via Wired]
Read - C-Leg used on American soldiers
Read - Product Page

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/19/otto-bocks-prosthetic-c-leg-cleared-for-battle/#comments

7/19/2007 5:23:00 PM

Filed under: Cellphones

Here's an interesting one. While just about every citizen in Europe twiddles their thumbs and awaits an iPhone announcement for their side of the pond, more than a few impatient souls have been looking for ways to utilize the device in their homeland right away. Most recently, however, is an intriguing report that a US-sourced iPhone is functioning fine (save for the lack of visual voicemail) on Vodafone after a user swapped an AT&T SIM card into an O2 XDA, had the carrier add it to his current contract, and then stuffed the now-Vodafone-compliant AT&T SIM back into the iPhone. Interestingly, hordes of IRC participants are balking at the story, suggesting that SIM numbers are network specific and that Vodafone should not have been able to pull off the aforementioned feat of magic. Hmm, we wonder if Vodafone's bubbling excitement to get ahold of Apple's handset could have anything to do with it?

Read - US iPhone works with Vodafone
Read - Vodafone "looks forward" to 3G iPhone

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/19/apples-iphone-functioning-with-vodafone/#comments

7/19/2007 4:53:00 PM

Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment

CinemaNow, fine purveyor of downloadable film and TV content, has recently updated its Media Manager support for Vista, allowing you to use its Burn-to-DVD service, and enabling your Xbox 360 to act as a bridge from your PC to your TV -- adding an interesting new option to the media center sphere. So starting right now, you can download and watch your favorite movies and television shows without ever having to let go of the Xbox controller, which could be detrimental to your relationships, but really good for catching up on any episodes of 24 you might have missed.

[Thanks, James B]

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/19/cinemanow-updates-vista-support-plays-nice-with-xbox-360/#comments

7/19/2007 4:23:00 PM

Filed under: Cellphones

These rumors just keep popping up from all over the interwebs, and with Apple, persistent rumors often lead to real product. As we've mentioned time and time and time again, all signs point to a new iPhone revision later this year, either in the US, Europe, or both. To add fuel to the fire, AppleInsider has posted that an extremely reputable source reports that the Apple roadmap for 2007 does indeed show two distinct handsets. Touted as a scaled back version of the iPod, the "nano" would focus on music and offer basic cellular features -- so you can likely kiss web surfing and mail goodbye. All this makes sense if you look back on the iPod's original launch: the 5 and 10 GB models were out within 4 months of each other, with a hardware refresh 4 months after that. If they stick to a comparable timeline, perhaps the 3G -- if there will be a 3G -- will land in early '08. We're hoping that the nano name doesn't stick, though; how about the Apple iBashful?

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/19/some-truth-behind-persistent-iphone-nano-rumors/#comments

7/19/2007 3:53:00 PM

Filed under: Features, Misc. Gadgets

Noted security expert Marc Weber Tobias contributes The Lockdown, exposing the shoddy security you may depend on.

Medeco is the predominant high security lock manufacturer in the United States and has been trusted for more than thirty-five years to provide cylinder and hardware security for the private, commercial and government sectors. According to Medeco, their locks are utilized in such venues as the White House and Pentagon to afford the maximum in cylinder lock security. The m3 cylinder, released about 2005, is the Medeco star product, the flagship in the security company's state-of-the-art, designed to resist almost any form of attack. The lock touts its key control attributes based its unique integrated slider that adds another level of security to the lock. But if you are using these locks and think you're secure, you might just be surprised by what you can accomplish with a paperclip and a custom-cut shim.

Continue reading The Lockdown: The Medeco m3 meets the perilous paper clip

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/19/the-lockdown-the-medeco-m3-meets-the-perilous-paper-clip/#comments

7/19/2007 3:31:00 PM

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Those willing to give up a few speakers for a slightly more discreet home theater now have another option to consider, with Sony today announcing its new "minimalist" BRAVIA DAV-X10 home theater system. While it only packs two speakers, Sony's promising some virtual surround sound courtesy of its S-Force PRO Front Surround technology, with the system providing a total of 480W of power. Rounding things out, you'll find some hidden touch-sensitive controls on the main unit, along a Bluetooth adapter that'll let you pull music off any compatible device. The system will also upscale your DVDs to 720p or 1080i, and should work nicely with your other BRAVIA gear thanks to Sony's trademark BRAVIA Theater Sync technology. No word on what it'll cost, but Sony says you can look for it this September.

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/19/sony-announces-minimalist-bravia-dav-x10-home-theater-system/#comments

7/19/2007 3:12:00 PM

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

According to the always exploitive New York Post Page Six, an Anderson Cooper-hosted panel with Jeff Bezos, Sergey Brin, and Barry Diller (amongst others) had been discussing how technology was changing the way people got their entertainment and news, when Sony honcho Howard Stringer apparently accused Steve Jobs of being "greedy." The report claims that Mr. Stringer went on to say that the Steve-man "Wants a world where only he makes money." The knighted gentleman then stormed out of the room and called his assistant on a Sony Ericsson, who proceeded to take him to his hotel where he watched the Sony-produced Spiderman 2 in Blu-ray format on his new Vaio while petting an AIBO with his metallic claw.

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/19/ce-oh-no-he-didnt-part-xxxix-stringer-calls-jobs-greedy/#comments

7/19/2007 2:42:00 PM

Filed under: Laptops, Tablet PCs

If you were looking for any reason whatsoever to hop into a celebratory mood, why not join IBM (or would it be Lenovo these days?) in celebrating the 15th birthday of the ThinkPad. Of course, tech historians are likely to bicker over the ThinkPad's true day of emergence, but reportedly, the IBM 2521 (later renamed the 700T) ThinkPad holds the honors of being the first of its kind to ship in July of 1992. Interestingly enough, one could argue that this very machine was actually more akin to a tablet PC than a bonafide laptop, but it proudly donned the ThinkPad logo nevertheless. So, ThinkPad owners, today's your day to gift that oh-so-industrious machine of yours with a few extra moments of rest, but before you do, why not let us know what model you're partying with if you're in the club?

[Via jkOnThRun]

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

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/19/ibm-thinkpad-celebrates-15th-birthday/#comments

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