The Demo Site

TiVo aren't the only ones getting a streaming HD update: Samsung have released a firmware upgrade for their BD-P2500 and BD-P2550 Blu-ray players that enables high-definition streaming from on-demand partner Netflix. Version 2.1 also "improves playback compatibility" of some content.

Samsung had promised the update back in November; currently there are around 300 titles in HD available to view.  Aside from Netflix, the two Blu-ray players have HQV video processing, 7.1 analog outputs, Dolby Digital, Digital Plus, TrueHD or dts audio support, together with DTS-HD HR and DTS-HD MA bitstream support.  The BD-P2500 is available at a variety of stores, while the BD-P2550 is a Best Buy exclusive.

The firmware is available to download from Samsung's support pages.  However, if you installed the v2.0 firmware released back in October, the auto-upgrade feature that package introduced might just do it all for you.

[via Engadget HD]

It's currently unconfirmed, but All About Symbian are reporting that the new Nokia N97 uses the same Texas Instruments ARM11 processor, with a higher clock speed, as the N95, rather than the newer TI OMAP 3 chip.  If true, this will come as a disappointment for anyone hoping the new flagship smartphone would take advantage of the OMAP 3's super-frugal architecture and speedier ARM Cortex core.

Instead, the rumors suggest that the N97 will be "as fast or faster" than the Nokia E71, with the ARM11 chip clocked higher than in previous devices.  Although that means it will likely be the quickest Nokia smartphone available, it raises questions about whether the N97 could be considered a MID replacement.

The TI OMAP 3 processor runs at 800MHz but requires just 750mW under load, while in deep sleep mode there's practically no current draw whatsoever.  That means extra-long standby times and the ability to withstand intensive use on a single charge.  Nokia are quoting up to 430hrs GSM standby (400hrs WCDMA) or 6.6hrs GSM talktime (5.3hrs WCDMA) for the N97.

[via UMPC Portal]

Japanese overclocker "duck" has cranked an Intel Core i7 965 Extreme processor up to 5510.09 MHz, more than 2GHz faster than the chip's stock 3.2GHz speed.  The process paired the chip with an ASUS ROG Rampage II Extreme motherboard, which allows for hardware-based changes to their systems' core frequency, voltage and other parameters in real-time.

In fact, the ROG Rampage II Extreme has a small joystick and other controls physically built onto the motherboard itself, which allow each of the different parameters to be tinkered with.  It also includes an external LCD display to report system frequency and other stats, again in real-time.

As for duck, he's responsible for overclocking a Pentium 4 631 CPU to 8180.4MHz in 2007, for which he holds the record for the world's highest frequency.  This Core i7 test setup included 3GB of DDR3 triple-channel RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280 graphics card.

Details of what appears to be the successor to the T-Mobile Shadow have been published on the FCC website.  The smartphone, made by HTC, now runs Windows Mobile 6.1 and has a faster processor; otherwise the feature set is very similar to the existing device, with a 2.4-inch QVGA touchscreen, scroll-wheel and slide-out 20-button keyboard.

There's also a 2-megapixel camera, WiFi, microSD slot for augmenting internal memory and touch-sensitive buttons on the front panel.  However there's no 3G support: the handset tops out at GSM/GPRS/EDGE connectivity. 

What is does have, however, is UMA support, which indicates that the device may offer T-Mobile's Unlimited HotSpot Calling VoIP service.  Unsurprisingly there's no word on release or pricing, but expect the T-Mobile Shadow II to drop relatively soon.

[via PhoneScoop]

ASUS has finally seen sense, and outfitted its latest Eee Box nettop models with HDMI outputs; that makes them ideal for use as a media center extender.  Outwardly identical to the existing Eee Box, the two new models - B204 and B206 - retain the 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB of RAM and 160GB hard-drive, but gain a new ATI Radeon HD 3400 GPU with 256MB memory.

Connectivity includes four USB 2.0 ports, gigabit ethernet, DVI via an adapter cable, multiformat card reader and audio in/out with S/PDIF output.  Both have WiFi draft-n, and the B204 adds Bluetooth and an integrated UPS battery.  ASUS include a remote control and stand, together with 10GB of online Eee Storage.

No word on availability or pricing, but we'd assume the two nettops will be coming sooner rather than later.  After all, ASUS have sales figures to meet.

Press Release:

ASUS Introduces World's Smallest Desktop PCs with HD Capability

Eee Box B204 and B206 Boast Hardware Decoder and HDMI Output for Superb HD Home Entertainment

ASUS today unveiled HD versions of its popular Eee Box—a tiny 1L-sized desktop PC—that it launched in June 2008. With the new Eee Box B204 and B206, users will be able to enjoy viewing hardware-accelerated HD content on LCD TVs, monitors and projectors via an HDMI output—making them ideal for families seeking a simple, space-saving home entertainment solution. The Eee Box B204 and B206 are also preinstalled with Eee Cinema, a full-featured media player that enables users to play high definition content easily. Eee Cinema offers superior format compatibility and extensive media library management options. To help users navigate Eee Cinema's comprehensive features speedily, both the Eee Box B204 and B206 come with a convenient remote control.

Built-in Video Decoder for High Definition Entertainment
The Eee Box B204 and B206 deliver crisp and fluid high definition pictures straight out of the box. They are equipped with a discrete graphics card that features a high definition hardware video decoder, vastly improving the quality of video and freeing the Eee Box's processor to tackle other tasks. Ensuring quick and hassle-free connectivity to LCD TVs, monitors, projectors and home theater receivers is an easily-accessible HDMI output on the Eee Box B204 and B206's rear I/O panel.

Exclusive Remote Control for Easy and Convenient Media Playback
The Eee Box B204 and B206 come with an exclusive remote control that enables users to easily browse, manage and play their media from a distance. The remote control works seamlessly with Eee Cinema, a user-friendly, all-in-one media player that supports all popular music, video and photo formats—transforming the Eee Box B204 and B206 into complete digital home entertainment centers.

The Smallest PCs in the World
A mere 1L in size, the Eee Box B204 and B206 are delightfully sleek. They are as slim as paperback novels, allowing users to reclaim the desk space previously lost to bulkier, more intrusive desktop systems. If necessary, the Eee Box B204 and B206 can even be placed in such a way that does not require an inch of desktop space—they can be mounted to any VESA75/VESA100 LCD display. Given how small and light they are, the Eee Box B204 and B206 can be ported around the house effortlessly, allowing users to enjoy high definition entertainment in whichever room they desire.

Annual Savings of US$156* from Reduced Power Consumption
The Eee Box B204 and B206 are designed and manufactured according to stringent Green ASUS guidelines. They are made with earth-friendly materials and fully comply with RoHS and WEEE. The Eee Box B204 and B206 also consume only around 20 watts of power, reducing the user's carbon footprint by up to 90% as compared to full-sized desktop PCs**. Eee Box B204 and B206 users will benefit on the monetary front as well; those who leave their computers on 24 hours a day stand to save approximately US$156 a year*.

Packed with Uncompromising Features
Belying their small size, the Eee Box B204 and B206 are packed with a wealth of outstanding features. They support the latest Wi-Fi 802.11n wireless standard, providing up to eight times faster speeds than the previous 802.11b/g wireless standard. In addition, the Eee Box B204 features Bluetooth® for quick and hassle-free connectivity to other Bluetooth® devices. Both models also come with 10GB of online Eee Storage, allowing users to access their documents and media no matter where they are. Furthermore, they feature an exclusive Easy Mode within Windows® that provides users with convenient access to commonly-used applications via an incredibly intuitive interface. Adding to their ease of use is Eee Bar, a fully-configurable application bar on the Windows® desktop that allows users to launch programs with a click.

Another innovation present in the Eee Box B204 and B206 is ASUS Tranquiller Technology that integrates an optimized system air flow design, intelligent fan speed control and a unique heat dissipation material in order to allow them to operate coolly at an extremely quiet 26 dB*** for comfortable home computing. Moreover, the Eee Box B204 has a built-in battery that performs an Uninterruptible Power Supply (U.P.S.) function, enabling it to stay running for a period of time when main power is lost.

* According to www.taipower.com.tw. Actual savings will differ from region to region.
** Full-sized desktop PCs consume approximately 200W ~ 300W of power.
*** In idle mode. As a point of reference, the Eee Box B204 and B206 run at 26dB, virtually as quiet as unoccupied broadcast studios (20dB).

Normally a switch in speaker grill color wouldn't be enough to make something news-worthy, but when it's Bang & Olufsen making the changes then you know it's not just a case of a ordering up a new bolt of material.  Intended to accompany the firm's existing white A/V equipment, the new white speaker-covers have been put through the paces for longevity and sound performance, with B&O even traipsing to Milan fashion fairs to see what fabrics are on offer.

In the end, they settled on Italian manufacturer Silanco.  The covers have been tested at B&O's in-house acoustic performance facility, as well as artificially aged to check that they'd still look crisp and white after 6-8 years of direct sunlight.  They've even splattered dirt onto them, to see what affect particles clinging to the covers might have on sound.

The new white speaker grills will be available this winter, on every fabric-covered speaker B&O produce.  It's unclear what affect, if any, this will have on the price; similarly, it's unknown whether B&O will be offering the covers as accessories for existing owners.

[via Born Rich]

Having teased us with scant details yesterday, Nokia has spilt the beans on its new Home Music WiFi radio.  As expected, the audio streamer is a UPnP compatible internet and FM radio, with a color display, WiFi b/g and a remote control.  As well as podcasts and internet radio stations, it will play music stored on your home network.

Connections include wired ethernet, a USB type-A socket for hooking up your PMP or a memory stick containing music tracks, an SPDIF output, RCA line-out, 3.5mm line-in for alternative music sources, and an FM antenna connection.  On the front there's also a 3.5mm headphone socket.  The single integrated 10W speaker isn't going to blow anybody away, but you could always plumb it through your home stereo.

Unfortunately there's no battery option, only AC power, so you won't be taking the Home Music on a picnic (unless it's a picnic near a power point, obviously).  No word on price or availability as yet.

Cowon have released a new version of the SDK for their O2 PMP, allowing developers to create third-party apps for the device without needing to actually have the O2 to hand.  The software now includes an emulator, which means new code can be tested more readily rather than needing to transfer it to the PMP itself.

Cowon have also released the latest beta firmware for the PMP, version 1.14.  It brings with it better support for large and faulty video files, reduced gaps between audio tracks, improved wallpaper support and new transitions between images in slideshows, among other things.

Version 1.14 of the O2 firmware is required for software created with the SDK to be usable on the PMP.  Both are free downloads; however the site seems to suggest that the SDK requires Linux to run.

[via GenerationMP3]

RED's new Scarlet and Epic modular cameras might not even be on the market yet, but the company has already tweaked pricing, changed specifications and made what could be an even more tempting trade-in offer to owners of their original RED ONE.  According to company president Jim Jannard, RED were "were a bit frustrated" with digital signal processing and REDCODE data rates inside the Scarlet and Epic "brains", so they've brought the development process even more in-house and changed the specs.

Owners of the existing RED ONE camera now have seven options under the company's "obsolescence obsolete" scheme, including upgrading to the Mysterium-X sensor for $4,500, up to $17,500 trade-in value toward an Epic "brain", or a new, exclusive bundle.  This, the EPIC-X S35 Private Reserve package, will only be available to RED ONE owners, and include free modules together with being the first Epic's shipped (at the end of Summer 2009).

Jim insists on putting all his press releases out as humongously long images, so check out here for full details.  New Scarlet and Epic "brain" specs are in the gallery below.

Nokia is considering using a Linux-based OS on its high-end cellphones, according to Ukko Lappalainen, vice president at the company's markets unit.  However it's unlikely to be Google's Android OS; Nokia have their own Linux software, maemo, which is currently used in the N-series Internet Tablet range, and Lappalainen can't "see anything in Android which would make it better than Linux maemo".

"In the longer perspective, Linux will become a serious alternative for our high-end phones" Ukko Lappalainen, vice president of markets, Nokia

Nokia maemo version 5 has been openly discussed since September, with support for features such as OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics acceleration and new, lower-power chipsets.  That would make it equally at home on smartphone-style mobile devices, which have longer battery life demands than are expected from the company's Internet Tablet range and yet from which users are expecting functionality traditionally limited to a laptop computer.

Lappalainen gave no indication of when we might see maemo on a cellphone, suggesting that the open-source distro will still be limited to larger Internet Tablets at least for the near future.  Nokia previously acquired Trolltech, who are responsible for the Qtopia application platform for mobile devices, embedded and medical systems.

Buffalo have announced two new SSD upgrade kits for the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 netbook.  Available in 16GB and 32GB capacities, the chips replace the standard SSD storage in the budget ultraportable, which can be specified with as little as 4GB from Dell themselves.

The announcement follows Buffalo's similar kits for the ASUS Eee PC, although in that case 32GB and 64GB was on offer.  The 32GB Buffalo Eee PC card was priced at around $156 at launch. 

Dell themselves recently began offering a 32GB SSD option on the Inspiron Mini 9, as a $100 upgrade during system ordering.  Buffalo's aftermarket kits will be available in December, priced at 5,300 yen ($57) for the 16GB version and 9,400 yen ($101) for the 32GB.

[via Akihabara]

HTC have bought out design firm One & Co, which helped the handset maker design both the Touch Diamond smartphone and the TouchFLO 3D interface which has graced the company's Windows Mobile devices since.  While the acquisition obviously spells closer interaction with One & Co designers and future HTC devices, the design firm will also continue as a standalone consultancy.

Under the terms of the agreement, One & Co's designers will work more closely with the HTC product team, and hopefully assist in creating devices with beauty more than just skin-deep; conversely, HTC designers will be working with One & Co's team on non-smartphone products.  Current and previous clients include Adidas, K2, Kensington, The North Face, Salomon and Sony.

Exact details on the terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed, and it's unclear how much HTC paid for the privately-held design firm. 

Press Release:

HTC Bolsters Design Credibility With Addition of One & Co

Leader in lifestyle design will be cornerstone of HTC's design capability and philosophy while continuing as an innovative design consultancy

Taoyuan, Taiwan and SAN FRANCISCO, December 3, 2008 – Furthering its reputation as a global leader in mobile innovation and design, HTC Corporation today announced the continuation of its design focus with the acquisition of San Francisco-based lifestyle design firm One & Company Design, Inc. (One & Co). Recognized for its award-winning work with some of the world's best known and most design-savvy lifestyle brands, One & Co will maintain its name and client base while it joins forces with HTC to create an unparalleled force in global mobile design.

"Design is key, it is why you love or hate something," said Horace Luke, Chief Innovation Officer, HTC Corporation. "Integrating iconic design into HTC products is an inspiring and dynamic challenge that requires a unique combination of consumer insight, creativity, innovation and an appetite to take risks; attributes that embody One & Co."

HTC and One & Co first began collaborating in 2006 on the initial incubation and creation of the HTC Touch Diamond, a highly touted phone with iconic design that blended unprecedented use of material and industrial design.

"One & Co is excited to bring our lifestyle, user focused approach to HTC and we look forward to creating iconic, compelling products together," said Scott Croyle, partner of One & Co. "Knowing about HTC's cutting edge technology and proven track record of innovation, we are excited to collaborate with HTC as a global lifestyle brand."

In addition to its work with HTC, One & Co has broad design experience in a variety of industries that range from footwear, snowboarding and skiing, furniture, packaging, houseware, timepieces and more. One & Co has been recognized by the design and business communities by winning numerous BusinessWeek/IDSA IDEA Awards, the Good Design Awards, CES Innovation Awards, and ID Magazine awards.

About One & Co
Privately held, One & Co is an internationally recognized design leader that delivers design and engineering services to some of the world's best known and most admired companies. With expertise in areas ranging from ethnographic research and design forecasting and manufacturing technologies, One & Co is committed to bring the highest level of creative talent to every endeavor and provide an unmatched attention to detail.

About HTC
Founded in 1997, HTC Corporation (HTC) designs innovative, feature rich smartphones. Since its establishment, HTC has developed strong R&D capabilities, pioneered many new designs and product innovations and launched state-of-the-art PDA Phones and smartphones for mobile operators and distributors in Europe, the US, and Asia. These machines are available as HTC devices and as products individually customized for operator and device partners.

HTC is one of the fastest growing companies in the mobile device market. The company is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange under ticker 2498. For more information about HTC, please visit www.htc.com.

We've seen a matchbox-sized miniature projector designed as a modular integrated system for portable platform devices. The Lcos-based miniature projection technology is proven useful and extremely portable. Here's another with similar technology but a full-blown mobile projector promises to deliver a big picture.

The size of a palm, the Ad-Tech mobile projector is easy to carry and can throw 60-inch of picture from a distance of 7.87 feet. Placement is flexible thanks to its zoom focus lens that allows 4-inch of image from as little as 14cm of throwing distance. The Lcos based small wonder has a standard 4:3 size VGA resolution, 200:1 of contrast, 15 lumens of brightness and life expectancy of 20,000 hours.

Battery might not be the power source you would imagine from a projector but the mobile version certainly has one. The unit has a built-in battery that would lasts 40 minutes of continuous use. That's not all the small wonder has to offer; it also comes equipped with a built-in monaural speaker, composite video and analog RGB inputs as well as a mini-audio output.

Pricing information has not yet revealed but the Adtech Ad-MP15A is slated to ship in mid-December.

There were a time OLED vs SED was a hot topic among the display fanatics; but both got held up, OLED is proved too costly for manufacturing while SED got buried in legal proceedings ages ago. The latter is finally cleared from courtroom drama thanks to the opposition, Applied Nanotech, giving up its claims in patent dispute. So there you have it, Canon in the clear to move forward with SED; but it's too late? Can they turn the technology into a lower cost production display against OLED or better yet, overtake LCD as the market leader?

The manufacturer couldn't push a low cost SED back then, it's even harder after the held-up. The development has suffered, severely but not forgotten. Canon is not looking to change its plan.

"In regards to SED, we have a new production process we're working on which is cost competitive with liquid crystal displays." Said the Company President, Tsuneji Uchida, to Financial Times.

The display market is getting crowded again. Anything to counterpart OLED at the cost of LCD is a welcome news for consumer, but don't expect to see it soon. Mr Uchida also indicated SED would not be launched immediately due to competitive flat panels pricing from rivalries. We will keep our eyes out for SED at CES 2009. Stay tune…..

Iomega announced two new portable hard drive models in their eGo Portable line today. They are rather unique and focus on providing added security to your data. The two new models include the Encrypt and the BlackBelt.

The BlackBelt model features Drop Guard Xtreme data protection, which, as you might have guessed, protects your data from any accidental drops. This thing is rugged and features a 2.5-inch hard drive with a 250GB capacity.

The Encrypt on the other hand, features the 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard for added security. The drive is password protected and features encryption software pre-installed. Both have the Drop Guard Xtreme protection and EMC Retrospect Express HD software, making backups easy. You can get both drives now. The Encrypt supports Windows 2000, XP and Vista and is available for $150, while the BlackBelt supports Mac OS X 10.1 or newer for $120.

[via I4U News]

Acer is all set to crank up the competition next year. Apparently, they will be coming out with a new all-in-one desktop and a netbook. And though we've heard some information about the Acer all-in-one before, this is the first time, we're getting some solid insight into the computer.

It seems this upcoming Acer all-in-one would be intended to be a direct competitor with the Apple iMac and the ASUS Eee Top. It's hard to say whether or not Acer would go the ASUS route, however and create a "nettop" with a lower-end processor or ramp up the specs for a standard desktop product. However, a recent leak indicates Acer will be using the new Core 2 Quad processors, just like Apple.

A 10.2-inch netbook is also on the way, it seems, and would be much more traditional to the netbook form. It is rumored to feature a 2.5-inch notebook hard drive with up to a 320GB capacity with Windows Vista. We don't know any other hardware details or pricing information, though it is expected this netbook will cost about $150 more than the Acer Aspire One.

One thing I think a lot of people run into during the holidays is trying to find enough power outlets for all of their decorations. With a couple of strings of lights on my Christmas tree and other light-up decor, I need a compact solution to power it all up.

The ezGear ezSpace UFO Power Extender is the perfect way to keep all of your lights lit without A) causing a fire and B) using all of your outlets. This thing is extremely versatile, apparently. The patented design makes it so a power transformer can fit on every plug in a very compact way. The slanted angle, makes for more space saving, I guess.

With up to 1050 Joules of surge protection and six outlets this thing has you covered. The built-in switch makes turning on your lights in a snap easy. You can get the ezGear ezSpace UFO Power Extender now for $24.99.

[via Gearlog]

Well, this is pretty crafty. Jump Lab announced their EDG video player today, which is no larger than the size of a credit card. It sports a thicker body than plastic money, but can fit in your hand and was designed with the intention of being used as a promotional device.

The thinking behind this is companies can hand out the EDG video players to potential clients and lure them in with pre-loaded content. Businesses can use the players to show off their products or various presentations.

The EDG features a 2-inch LCD screen and a speaker. When purchasing an EDG, you can either have Jump Lab pre-load your desired content onto the player for you or do it yourself by means of the convenient USB port. The device is also USB charged. You can opt to have the front plate customized and have the content password protected, if you wish. Apparently, the players themselves are capable of producing revenue through ad fees and memberships, though I'm not sure how that would play out. For corporate clients, the EDG video player sells for $17.50 to $29.50.

[via Electronista]

Apple isn't new to filing patents what feels like every other day, but this one really caught our eye. In fact, this recently published patent indicates Apple is delving deeper into their research for new ways to cool their notebook computer systems.

This new patent shows that Apple might be wishing to utilize liquid cooling in the future. This may very well be a wise move, especially considering Apple notebooks are notorious for overheating. Current models rely on air cooling alone, which works well enough, but as processors get faster, Apple might need to resort to a more efficient alternative.

This patent also shows that heat could be alleviated by dissipating it through the aluminum plate behind the display. This would remove the often scorching heat sent straight to the user's lap. Some users reported burns from the hot notebooks, so this would definitely be a smart move.