Looks like Sony is first from the gate with a consumer PC wrapped around Intel’s new Core 2 Quad processor. Damn straight Jack, Sony’s Vaio R Master split-tower, flagship desktop now sports Intel’s beefiest of consumer procs: the 2.4GHz Core 2 Quad Q6600. That, on top of a Blu-ray Disc drive, up to 3GB of DDR2-667 memory and 3TB of SATA disk, and nVidia Quadro FX 1500 graphics makes this one smokin’ fast box. Only thing is, a fully spec’d — and we mean fully — model VGC-RM900CPS with 24-inch, 1920×1200 LCD will set you back Â¥995,800 (about $8,241) when these hit Japan February 10th. Still interested?

[Via Impress]
more info
from engadget

In addition to launching the new R6 today, Panasonic gave their W5, T5, and Y5 Toughbooks new silicon in preparation for the new Vista OS. First off, the W5 and T5 get their first taste of Core Duo with the 1.06GHz U2400 processor. That nudges battery life from 8 to 10.5 on the 12.1-inch W5 all the way up to 14-hours — as claimed by Panny — on the touch-sensitive, 12.1-inch T5. Meanwhile, the 14.1-inch Y5 steps it up to the 1.83GHz L2500 Core Duo processor with battery life now upped from 6 to 8.5-hours. All other specs and prices remain relatively unchanged. All three hit January 30th in line with the consumer release of Vista yet, for whatever reason, these slabs come pre-loaded with Windows Vista Business released back in November.

More info
from engadget

Check it Apple, LG just went official with their iPhone look-a-like LG KE850 Prada phone which they proudly tout as the world’s “first completely touch screen mobile phone.” Er, unless you consider the ones from Motorola, HTC, and others. Still, this is more than likely a dig at the iPhone which they can rightly make since the KE850 will hit select mobile shops and PRADA stores in the UK, France, Germany and Italy at the end of February and parts of Asia before March is through. Sadly, the KE850 is a non starter for the US market since this version is limited to tri-band GSM 900/1800/1900 with EDGE data. It’s smaller than its fruity peer at just 98.8 x 54 x 12-mm resulting in a more compact, 3.0-inch display presumably with that 240 x 400 resolution we heard about earlier. In case you’re keeping track (and we know you are), the iPhone goes quad-band GSM with EDGE and WiFi in a 115 x 61 x 11.6-mm shell sporting a 3.5-inch, 320 x 480 display. Also, the KE850 seems to lack any significant on-board storage opting instead for microSD to boost capacity. Like the iPhone, it packs a 2 megapixel camera (with Schneider-Kreuznach lens) and LED flash and Bluetooth 2.0. However, there’s no mention of multi-touch capabilities, an on-screen keyboard, or the accelerometer and proximity sensors found on the iPhone. The KE850 PRADA’s UI is Macromedia Flash-based and opts for a minimalist, white-on-black display as opposed to the more, shall we say, OS Xish GUI we’ve already seen floated. Feature-wise, the KE850 comes with a video player supporting MPEG-4, H.264, and oddly, H.263 normally used for video conferencing; a document viewer supporting Microsoft’s PPT, DOC, XLS formats, PDF and TXT; an audio player with support for MP3/ACC/ACC+/WMA/RA formats; and a “music multitasking function for messaging,” whatever that is. How much? €600/$778… that’s how much. Still, a compelling choice for those who can’t wait for the iPhone’s Q4 European introduction or 2008 Asia launch. Click-on for more pics.

[Via AVING]
more info
From engadget
Continue Reading

Sure, toasters have gotten bigger, more colorful, and more likely to burn down your house since its conception, but unlike refrigerators, dishwashers, and microwaves, this cooking utensil just hasn’t gotten much attention over the years. Enter George Watson, a clever design guru with an engineering heart, who has crafted the best thing since sliced toasted bread, the Toast Automatica, or toasta for short. This primarily white ceramic toast cooker boasts a simplified design, a single-feed toaster, and a V-shaped rack to hold the toast for use on the kitchen table. Twin hot plates heat the bread as the motorized unit pulls it through, and a handy button on the front increases or decreases the speed in which it passes — you know, to satisfy those who like it warm, and those who like it black. Mr. Watson’s invention looks to be part of a design competition, thus we’re not exactly sure if GE or Kitchen-Aid has contacted him regarding a deal, but hopefully we’ll soon see these things replacing those antiquated versions we’re all forced to deal with now.

[Via BoingBoing]
more info
from engadget

If LG’s C1 Xnote is just too much bulk for you, and Fujitsu’s Lifebook P1610 is putting you off with that lack of 3G, you might dig the up and coming Flybook V5i, which does it up right with an 8.9-inch convertible touch screen, 1.2Ghz U2500 Core Duo processor and the HSDPA hookup. Of course, at sizes like this, you’re going to be making some sacrifices, and it looks like Flybook decided to axe the trackpad, instead opting for an OQO-esque thumb stick. This latest entrant into the ultra-ultraportable Tablet PC space is a tad frumpy in the looks department, but we’re sure it’ll make plenty of mobile professionals very happy all the same. As for price, the laptop should be going for $2200 – $2500 when it’s released, which should be soon.

[Via Carrypad]
more info
from engadget

Although Immersion‘s VibeTonz technology has been integrated into various Samsung handsets in the past, the shakin’ technology was previously limited to ring tone and gaming enhancements. Today, however, Samsung is launching the keypad-less SCH-W559, which is the self-proclaimed “world’s first” handset to utilize the VibeTonz system as a means of tactile feedback. The unit’s QVGA touchscreen is meant to be a hands-on experience, and whether you use a stylus or the tips of your finger, the phone will provide a vibrating cue, which can be adjusted and customized within the phone’s software, whenever you touch a virtual button. Immersion claims that its technology allows the on-screen buttons to feel more like “mechanical keys” rather than just a sheet of plastic. The device will be launching solely on China Unicom initially, will support both CDMA / GSM networks, and will feature a 1.3-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, handwriting recognition capability, and audio / video playback functions to boot. Of course, users will be able to pimp out their ringtones with integrated buzzing, and while we’re not sure how much Samsung plans on charging for the rumbler, we can’t wait for it to start shaking things up here on American soil.

[Thanks, Peter S.]
more info
from engadget

There’s not a whole lot of details to go on here, but it looks like the iF Design Awards got the first look at ASUS’s latest Pocket PC phone, with the Unwired View blog spotting these two pics of the candybar-style handset. Dubbed Pegasus (a throwback to the origin of the company’s name), the phone appears to be a slightly slimmed down revision to ASUS’s P525 smartphone, measuring in at a mere 0.6 inches thick while still packing built-in GPS and a camera of unspecified megapixels. Otherwise, about all that’s known about the device is that it’s Windows Mobile-based, has a full numeric keypad and jog dial, and supposedly has a brushed aluminum finish and diamond-cut edges, although it’s tough to discern that from the pics. For the rest of the specs, not to mention details on pricing or availability, it looks like we’ll just to wait for a more official announcement.

More info
from engadget