Engadget

Casio intros the blemish-zapping EX-Z300 digicam with a slew of likeminded friends

Joshua Topolsky — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:42:00 EST

Casio, clearly not wanting to be left behind in the compact digicam market, has introduced what might be described as a treasure-trove of cameraifical excellence. Heading up this line of unstoppable goodness is the £229.99 ($429) EX-Z300, a 10-megapixel shooter that carries the company's in-camera touch-up mode called "Make-up" which allows you to clone away "blemishes" or "people you hate to look at." The electronics-maker is also introducing the £129.99 ($242), 9.3-megapixel EXILIM Card EX-Z19, the £149.99 ($280) 9.1MP EXILM Zoom EX-Z85, the £199.99 ($373) 9.1MP EXILM Zoom EX-Z250, and a slightly less robust version of the EX-Z300 simply called the Z300... also with a 9.1MP sensor. Exciting stuff, right? Right.

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Is Apple shooting in the dark to fix iPhone 3G issues?

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Hopes were high that 2.0.2 would decisively crush the reception woes some iPhone 3G owners have experienced since taking delivery of their cracking beauties; dropped calls, latching onto EDGE reception when 3G (also known as "the good stuff") is available, and general signal strength wonkiness have all plagued a select group of handsets since launch, making for a decidedly MobileMe-like user experience. Some upgraders are actually reporting just the opposite, though -- for these lucky few, 2.0.2 seems to be making reception somehow worse than it already was, and what's more, there are intermittent reports cropping up of broken third-party apps, too. With the 1.x line of builds having chugged along with relatively little drama for a year, here's our question: what the hell is going on? Why does 2.0, after two post-launch builds, still feel like a beta? MobileMe took the lion's share of the fall for Apple having spread itself too thin through the launch-heavy summer months, but did some of that fire-drill mentality trickle over to the breadwinner, too? Sound off in comments with your experiences putting 2.0.2 through its paces so far!

[Via Mobility Site]

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Intel teases with a new tablet at IDF, shows off the best of the rest

Joshua Topolsky — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:42:00 EST

Filed under: Laptops

Apparently Intel is on a bit of a roll already at this year's IDF. After showcasing and talking up a number of new products, including (but not limited to) the lap-destroying mobile Quad Core Extreme CPUs (as featured in Lenovo's vicious W700), new switchable graphics solutions that allow on-the-fly toggling between integrated and discrete graphics, and even more talk about forthcoming WiMAX options. What really got everyone's eye, however, was a slide they teased with at the end of Mobility Group VP / GM Dadi Perlmutter's presentation of a mystery touchscreen tablet with the ominous question "What is this?" and a promise to reveal the goods tomorrow morning. Call us dangerously psychotic, but it looks like a clunky medical accessory to us. Paging Dr. Design to Intel's R&D lab, STAT.

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Screenshots of iPhone Nike+ running app emerge, we're out of breath already

Darren Murph — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:26:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

It has taken its sweet, sweet time in arriving, but it seems the iPhone Nike+ running application is just... about... here. A slew of new screenshots of the application have emerged, and while there are no juicy tidbits to accompany 'em (release date, cost, etc.), we all know how many lines of text a single snapshot is worth. Hang tight runners, the app you've been waiting (and waiting) for can't be far from the finish line now.

[Via MacRumors]

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HTC gunning for top-five worldwide phone marketshare

Nilay Patel — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:51:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

HTC's already done a terrific job of going from anonymous Asian ODM to a major name player in the cellphone game, and it sounds like the company's aiming for the next level -- in an interview with the Commercial Times, CEO Peter Chou said the goal is to become one of the top three to five handset makers in the global market. That's a pretty aggressive target for a smartphone manufacturer -- competitors like Nokia and Samsung crank out millions of low-end dumbphones every quarter, and while there's no denying the appeal of devices like the Touch Diamond and Touch Pro, it's going to be hard to match those numbers. Still, with Android and the Dream on the horizon, anything's possible -- and HTC's definitely got the chops to pull it off.

[Via Electronista]

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Intel announces its first SSDs, plans to ship in a month

Nilay Patel — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:24:00 EST

Filed under: Storage

Intel's keeping the announcements coming at this year's IDF -- today we got word that the company will launch its first SSDs in a month or so. The 1.8-inch X-18M and 2.5-inch X-25M drives will be targeted at laptops and MIDs and come in 80GB and 160GB sizes using MLC tech, while the 32GB and 64GB SLC-based X-25E is aimed at servers and will be out in 90 days. Intel hasn't locked down pricing, but the M-series drives should cost about $8/GB, which would put the 160GB unit at a whopping $1,280 and the 80GB at $640. We're hoping those estimates are skewed a little high -- and Intel says there might be a cheaper 40GB unit on the way as well. We'll see in a month, we suppose.

[Via Electronista]

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PlayOn media server brings Hulu / YouTube to consoles, Netflix coming soon?

Richard Lawler — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:52:00 EST

Filed under: Home Entertainment

PlayOn wants to make sure you can get your daily dose of Barackrolls and Airwolf episodes beyond the desktop, while Hulu might not have a slick streaming set-top box of its own, this media server software turns flash video RSS streams into easily browsed folders for your DLNA-compliant hardware. PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and HP MediaSmart HDTVs being at the top of that list (with Nintendo Wii support planned by year-end) owners can grab the beta release of the software and stream low-res episodes of Psych, or any assortment of YouTube video they please. With Netflix support "just down the road" this could provide an end around for PS3 owners looking for streaming love, or Xbox 360 owners without Xbox Live Gold (we know you're out there.) Bad news is the beta only lasts 60 days and there's a $30 pricetag waiting at the end of the free lunch highway. Our experience was good, with no stutters in a Psych episode streamed via Wi-Fi to the PS3 (albeit with no choice of HD clips), but we'd wait for confirmation on the whole Netflix bit before dropping any dough.

Gallery: PlayOn Media Server

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

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Canon ships 100 million compact digital cameras, 90 million of them broken with E18 lens errors

Nilay Patel — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:21:00 EST

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Okay, okay, we're kidding -- we definitely think it's quite an achievement that Canon's hit another camera milestone and shipped out 100 million compact digital cameras since the PowerShot 600 first rolled off the line in 1996, and it's no secret that the PowerShot line's terrific image quality and friendly UI have a lot to do with it. Still, they're fragile little buggers, aren't they? A quick count amongst Engadget eds reveals at least 10 broken Canon digicams, ranging from a 2000-vintage PowerShot S100 all the way to a more recent PowerShot SD850 IS, and we know we're not outside the curve -- have you felt our pain? And, more importantly, do you keep coming back for more? Let us know in comments!

[Via PhotographyBLOG]

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HTC Touch Diamond launching on Sprint in September for $299.99?

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:48:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

It won't be the first launch in North America -- those honors go to Telus at this point -- but Sprint won't be far behind. A pretty believable new slide deck suggests that big ol' Number Three will take delivery of its Touch Diamonds in September and start hawking them for the princely sum of $299.99 on contract after rebates, netting customers a 3.2 megapixel cam, 4GB of internal storage, and EV-DO Rev. A, among all the other spoils that only Windows Mobile 6.1 can offer. Is the back end of it red? Can't really tell from this angle, but if the goal is to offer up a high-end business tool, we've gotta believe black will be available either way.

[Thanks, anonymous tipster]

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Archos 5 gets the hands-on treatment

Donald Melanson — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 16:22:00 EST

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Archos has only just taken the wraps off its new Generation 6 "internet media tablets" but, right on cue, the folks at Generation MP3 have already turned out a pretty extensive hands-on with one of 'em, the Archos 5. One thing that was immediately apparent to them is that the device's shiny new black casing is a lot more prone to fingerprints than the metal casing of the Archos 605 that it replaces but, as they point out, the near lack of buttons (just three on top) at least means there's less of that casing to get smudged up. They also found that the screen is not as "soft" as the 605 but, unfortunately, it's not multi-touch, and there's no accelerometer to allow for quick changes of orientation. Of course, if it's pics your looking for, they've also got plenty of those, and you can find 'em at the link below.

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Medis 24-7 Power Pack fuel cell available online now, at Best Buy soon

Donald Melanson — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Medis has been making promises about its portable fuel cell for the masses since way back in 2005, but it looks like it's now finally actually available online, and will soon be available at a Best Buy possibly near you (if it isn't already). $30 will get you the basic starter kit, which includes the PowerPack itself, a power cable, a standard mini USB connector, and connectors for LG, Palm Treo, and "New Nokia" phones. According to Medis, a single PowerPack will provide enough juice for about 30 hours of talk time, or 60 to 80 hours of playback from your MP3 player, after which you'll have to ditch (and recycle) the pack and get a replacement for $20. If that sounds like the solution you've been waiting for, you can hit up the link below and get your order in.

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Apple admits to iPod nano smoking and sparks, will replace faulty devices

Joshua Topolsky — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:38:00 EST

Filed under: Portable Audio

It's only taken a number of years and some seriously ruined pants -- but Apple has finally come clean on the flammable nature of the first-generation iPod nano, and is now offering to replace the faulty devices. After reports today that two more of the media players had lit up without warning in Japan, the company issued a statement admitting that the nanos do -- in fact -- have battery problems which cause them to smoke or spark and generally burn the hell out of things. In the company's words:

"Apple has determined that in very rare cases batteries in first generation iPod nanos sold between September 2005 and December 2006 can overheat causing failure and deformation of the iPod nano. Apple has received very few reports of such incidents (less than 0.001 percent of first generation iPod nano units), which have been traced back to a single battery supplier. There have been no reports of serious injuries or property damage, and no reports of incidents for any other iPod nano model.

Any first generation iPod nano customers who have experienced their battery overheating should contact AppleCare for a replacement. Any other customers who have concerns about their first generation iPod nano battery should also contact AppleCare."

Well, thanks guys... at least we didn't die.

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OC Robotics debuts half-inch diameter snake-arm robot

Donald Melanson — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:16:00 EST

Filed under: Robots

As we've seen, snake-like robots have long since move beyond the realm of nightmares into a frightening reality, and they just seem to keep on getting more and more plentiful. This latest one comes to us from UK-based OC Robotics, and has the notable distinction of being just a half-inch in diameter and a full 24 inches long, which is apparently just the ticket the US Department of Defense was looking for (it's currently testing the bot). Like other similar bots, this one boasts a camera and tool on its tip, and it can be operated using a joystick, which actually controls each of the independant "vertebrae" that makes up the arm. As you might have guessed, the company is already hard at work on even longer versions of the bot, but if you're not willing to wait for that, you can apparently put in an order for one of its current models right now.

[Via Crave]

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BlackBerry Bold hits Rogers on August 21st, so get your thumbs worked-out

Joshua Topolsky — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:08:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Well, it looks like that long, painful wait is finally over. According to all kinds of tipsters, the BlackBerry Bold touches down for the first time in North America (in its home country of Canada, obviously) come August 21st (that's this Thursday, in case you don't own a calendar, computer, or have any friends). That's right -- the Bold will land on Rogers (where else?) with a price tag set somewhere between the dark valley of $300 and $400, according to Research In Motion co-CEO Jim Balsillie. Reports say the phone will be available from other carriers by the end of the week, though we don't have any definitive rumblings that confirm such heavenly ideas. You'll know more when we do, of course.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Eyes-on Toshiba's new XD-E500 upconverting DVD player

Paul Miller — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:44:00 EST

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Yes, Toshiba seems resigned to some sort of HD disc-free existence, as it continues to mope about HD DVD's loss to Blu-ray and refrains from releasing a player for the once rival format, but let's set all aside for the moment. We got a look at Toshiba's new XD-E500 in action, and we must say: it does what it sets out to do. Most consumers will see a visible quality improvement when playing their DVDs, particularly in the realm of sharpness. Toshiba's new filters are "intelligent" enough to spice up the grass while leaving the sky and clouds free of noise, and while the contrast and color filters are less necessary, many consumers will enjoy their effect -- even if video purists would scoff at such alterations. As for usability, it couldn't really be much easier to flip on and off the three different enhancements, but there's also no customization of those modes to speak of. This $150 player isn't in any way Toshiba's Blu-ray killer, but thankfully the company actually seems to recognize that, and plans to market to Joe consumer who doesn't want to fork over the dough for a Blu-ray player or doesn't want to invest in a brand new video library, and won't be insulting videophiles' intelligence with claims to the contrary. If you're looking for something to magically make DVDs look like HD, this isn't it, but it bests Toshiba's best upconverter easily, and we'd venture to guess it's probably tops yours as well. All that said, Toshiba will have in store demos of the player at major retailers, and we'd highly recommend taking a gander for yourself before you take the plunge.

Gallery: Eyes-on Toshiba's new XD-E500 upconverting DVD player

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Olympus Mju 1060 hits the scene

Nilay Patel — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:13:00 EST

Filed under: Digital Cameras

With Photokina just around the corner, it's time for camera manufacturers to start kicking out the standard updates so we can all be appropriated focused next month, and it looks like Olympus is getting things started with the new Mju 1060 point-and-shoot. The 10 megapixel shooter (it'll be a Stylus when it comes Stateside) has a nice 7x optical zoom, dual image stabilizers, Intelligent Auto mode with face detection and shadow adjustment, and takes both xD-Picture and MicroSD cards, in case you're into semi-obscure memory card formats. Should be out in the UK in September for £259 ($482), we'd expect it to arrive here for less shortly thereafter.

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KDDI's au design project creates cellphones that double as instruments

Donald Melanson — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:41:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones, Misc. Gadgets

KDDI's au design project has churned out plenty of interesting cellphone concepts over the years, and it looks like its latest batch is no exception, with it enlisting the help of Yamaha to develop some cellphones that double as musical instruments. That includes the self-explanatory "Strings for fingers" and "Sticks in the air" concepts pictured above, as well as the "Box to play" synth / scratch pad combo, the "Key to touch" foldable keyboard, the "Trio in your hand" scratch pad / sampler, and the "Band in my pocket" device, which accommodates a number of accessories to create instruments ranging from a harmonica to a trumpet. What's more, unlike some concept devices, KDDI actually had some working prototypes to show off, which you can check out in action in the video after the break (be sure to dig into the links below for some more pics and videos as well).

[Via textually.org, Trends in Japan]

Continue reading KDDI's au design project creates cellphones that double as instruments

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Archos 5, 5g and 7 "internet media tablets" are here to slap your puny PMP upside the head

Paul Miller — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:46:00 EST

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

So Archos still seems to be struggling a bit matching the design curve of the industry, but boy oh boy can they pile on those specs. The new Archos 5 and Archos 7 "generation 6" players offer capacities as high as 320GB, well-res'd screens and just about every codec we'd ever need -- plus available plug-ins to cover the rest. But that's not even the exciting part. The Archos 5g adds in that 3.5 HSDPA data we were hearing about, providing true on-the-go surfing, and all three players sport WiFi as well. Sizes start off at 30GB for the Archos 5g, which runs a 800 x 480 4.8-inch touchscreen. The Archos 5 bumps that up to 60-250GB, while the Archos 7 does up 160GB and 320GB, with a 7-inch touchscreen that sadly matches the 5 series' resolution exactly. All three players can record VGA video through an optional DVR Station dock or the DVR snap-on accessory, and Archos will have plenty of other accessories in the offing as well. As for player design, Archos has made considerable strides in thinness, with the Archos 7 at 0.63-inches thick, and the Archos 5 as slim as 0.5-inches, depending on drive size, but we're not crazy about the new look -- though we're sure opinions will vary. No word on price or availability just yet, but stay tuned.

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Casio introduces PCP-1200 and PCP-250 touchscreen photo printers with flip-down keyboards

Nilay Patel — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: Peripherals

Photo printers don't really do it for us, but Casio's two newest models pack in enough bells and whistles to make us at least pay attention, if not actually print out photos -- the PCP-1200 (pictured) and PCP-250 both feature fold-down keyboards for titling, print 2400 x 1200 dpi res on up to A6-size paper, take virtually every memory card format you can throw at them, and allow you to draw on the images using a stylus. The 1200 sports a 7-inch screen, while the 250 gets a portrait-oriented 3.5-inch display -- yeah, we'd actually be totally into these if they were coming to the States and had pricing info. Oh well.

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Google lays out Android roadmap, devs scheduled to get more love

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:36:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Google feels really badly about that several month-long stretch where it kept any and all updates to its Android SDK out of the public limelight, developers, honest, but it wants to make it up to you. It seems that yesterday's 0.9 release, which represented the first official SDK available with a platform even remotely resembling what Google intends to release on retail devices this fall, was just the first in a string of goings-on leading up to the grand 1.0 launch in the coming months according to a new roadmap published on the Android site. To start, there'll be "additional Android 1.0 (pre) SDK releases made available, as necessary" in September, followed by the first 1.0-compatible release in the Q3 to Q4 timeframe (that's any time between now and the end of December, for you calendar-disadvantaged folk). Finally, the Android source will leak out in the fourth quarter along with the first "Android 1.0 devices" -- pay special attention to the plural "devices" there -- and an announcement about Android Developer Challenge II. It gives us a warm fuzzy to see that Google's interested in keeping its devs engaged with these contests on an ongoing basis, because let's be honest: "prize money" has a much nicer ring to it than "VC money" ever will.

[Via Talk Android]

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Retro Space arcade cabinet dispenses with (most of) the throwback formalities

Paul Miller — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EST

Filed under: Gaming

Yeah, we get it, those arcade glory years were indeed glorious, but we're a bit past the point of needing a retro cabinet at home large enough to house an entire army of quarter gremlins just to rock a bit of MAME standing up. Retro Space chucks the cabinet chubbiness, keeps all those mashy buttons, robust joysticks and spinny white ball things we know and love, and adds in a full-powered PC and a 24-inch 1920 x 1200 LCD. It's a tad bit boxy, but we'll probably manage to overlook that for another decade or two. No word on price, but expect something in the two or three thousand dollar range.

[Via Boing Boing Gadgets]

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ASUS kicks out four new XP-based Eee PCs for Taiwan

Donald Melanson — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:37:00 EST

Filed under: Laptops

We know it's been a tough few days since the last Eee PC launch, but ASUS has now thankfully come through with four more ever so slightly different models to feed your questionable appetite, this time for Taiwan. Those include the 1000HD XP, 904HD XP, 901 XP and 900 XP (16G), each of which, obviously, run XP, and at least two of which (the 901 and 900) come in some of the same eye-catching colors that Korea got a taste of the other day. Somewhat curiously, only the 901 XP is listed as having an Atom processors, while the others are simply described as packing an "Intel Mobile" processor. Otherwise, you can expect the usual range of specs found on countless similar models, with prices coming in at the local equivalent of $444 to $539.

[Via Slash Gear]

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Powabyke X-6 reminds us just how boring we really are

Paul Miller — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:15:00 EST

Filed under: Transportation

We've got the Jack Johnson playlist locked and loaded, our polarized Oakleys are firmly ensconced, and those khakis are tucked snugly into our tube socks. It's time to ride, fool. The Powabyke X-6 is the electric bike for the bore in all of us, masquerading perfectly as a traditional road bike, complete with the old "battery disguised as a water bottle" trick. The six-speed electric bike weighs in at 48.5 pounds, with an battery-powered top speed of 15mph -- the max allowed by law -- and a 15 mile range. The battery can be detached and charged indoors, but replacements run a few hundred dollars, so don't lose sight of that sucker. The X-6 should be out in the UK this September for £750, about $1,395 US.

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The Treo Pro makes its video debut, inches towards launch

Nilay Patel — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:54:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Now that the Treo Pro's been uncovered, the sleek black handset just can't stay out of the spotlight -- it's popped up today in several more high-res shots, a quick hands-on video, and even what looks like official press photography. Specs are still up in the air -- we're hearing there's a 400MHz processor and 128MB of RAM behind that 320 x 320 screen and original Xbox-looking exterior, but we won't know for sure until this thing gets official, which we're guessing will happen within the week. Video after the break.

Read - Lots of hands-on shots
Read - Slashgear post with press photography

Continue reading The Treo Pro makes its video debut, inches towards launch

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New modeling technology breathes life into animation

Darren Murph — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:25:00 EST

Filed under: Robots

Ask any animation modeler about the "uncanny valley," and you're sure to get at least a grimace, if not a groan. Said term describes the long-standing barrier which refers to the perception that "animation looks less realistic as it approaches human likeness." Image Metrics is hoping that a newfangled approach used to create Emily (pictured) will finally allow animations to look more like humans and less like "corpses." As you could probably surmise, the secret is the tech's ability to survey and replicate the most subtle of movements, though even Raja Koduri, chief technology officer in graphics at AMD, doesn't see the line between reality and fiction being blurred before 2020. We'll see what Emily's posse has to say about that.

[Thanks, Przemek]

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Archos.com is under maintenance, generation 6 players expected soon

Paul Miller — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

If Archos.com happens to be a regular haunt of yours, you might've noticed that the site went down last night, with only a simple message remaining: "Coming up soon..." If you can ignore the awkward phrasing, it sounds like Archos has more than a new website in the works, and most people are pretty sure a generation 6 line of players is being prepped, including a flagship 606 device. A tipster says the site is due back at midnight CET (a bit over 9 hours from now), but that hasn't been confirmed. Archos did have a little teaser graphic up for a few days before the site went down (pictured) , but that's about all we've got to go on, at least officially -- rumors naturally abound.

[Thanks, Ziplepingouin]

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Ricoh R10 shows up with electronic level and adjustable flash

Joshua Fruhlinger — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:42:00 EST

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Last we heard from Ricoh, they were erecting enviro-friendly billboards in New York. Now that that's done with, Ricoh is back in the camera game with the R10. This shooter sports a 10-megapixel sensor, and 28-200 wide-angle 7.1x zoom lens, 3-inch HVGA LCD screen, CCD-shift image stabilizer, and in-camera image editing. Some of its more esoteric features include an adjustable flash intensity, electronic level to match up with horizons, and easy shooting mode for beginners. It comes in black, silver, and bronze, but US release date and price info aren't up just yet. Look for it to run around the same as its predecessor, the Ricoh R8 -- around $400.

[Via PhotographyBlog]

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BlackBerry 8220 / 8210 KickStart outed, but not by RIM

Darren Murph — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:22:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Okay, pretend you had absolutely no inclination that this so-called KickStart was real. Surprise! E-tailer expansys has spoiled RIM's thunder (no silly, not that Thunder) by posting up detailed product pages for both the BlackBerry 8220 (WiFi) and BlackBerry 8210 (GPS). The current specs list points out a 2.6-inch 320 x 240 primary display, 160 x 128 pixel secondary display, 2-megapixel camera (with LED flash), video recording and a microSDHC slot. There's no price or release date listed for either, but at least you can shelve those worries of this thing never making it to market.

[Via Cellpassion]

Read - BlackBerry 8220
Read - BlackBerry 8210

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Tony Hawk's Motion leads to DS peripheral speculation

Darren Murph — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:03:00 EST

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Ah, here we go again. With the huge success seen by Guitar Hero: On Tour and its accompanying peripheral, rumors are already swirling that an Activision title by the name of Tony Hawk's Motion could deliver the next great hand occupier. A recent rating (of "G," obviously) was handed down for the elusive game by Australia's Classification Board, leaving many to wonder (read: hope) if said title will eventually ship with some sort of DS-compatible motion control accessory. Considering just how hot these bundled gizmos are right now, we'd say signs are pointing to "yes."

[Via DS Fanboy]

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AMD's ATI All-in-Wonder HD gets reviewed

Darren Murph — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:41:00 EST

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Media PCs

Loyal All-in-Wonder users from years past have probably been watching the progression of AMD's revised version of the card with extreme interest. After such an absence, however, we understand the need to be cautious before snapping this up for your upcoming HTPC. HotHardware recently received one of these units for testing, and while it was only deemed "entry level" in the gaming department, the multimedia performance was smiled upon. To quote, "the [card] did an excellent job presenting digital video content in a quality manner without creating excessive power consumption in order to do so." As expected, the unit wasn't recommend for everyone (read: non-TV buffs), but those who'd utilize the built-in ClearQAM support probably can't go wrong for $199. Hit the read link for a whole gaggle of test results.

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Mitsubishi unveils MZW / MX / MXW series of LCD HDTVs

Darren Murph — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:20:00 EST

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Barely a month after Mitsubishi launched its iSP 149 series of LCD HDTVs, the company is trotting out three new lineups over in Japan. The higher-end MZW series includes the 46-inch LCD-46MZW200 (¥400,000; $3,643) and 40-inch LCD-40MZW200 (¥300,000; $2,732), both of which pack a 1080p 10-bit Diamond panel, 120Hz technology and an October 21st release date. For those with tighter spaces (and smaller budgets), the MX / MXW series spans from 19- (¥100,000; $910) to 42-inches (¥280,000; $2,550), with the most expensive sets offering a Full HD display and the lesser ones topping out at 1,366 x 768. Oh, and it looks as if Funai won't be the only one delivering a Blu-ray / LCD combo, as Mitsu's already working up a concept. Peruse the links below for all the machine translated nitty-gritty.

[Via Impress]

Read - MZW series
Read - MX / MXW series
Read - Blu-ray / LCD combo concept

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