This is one nonplussed feline, folks. No, he doesn't mind zooming around on the Roomba all day for the humans to videotape, upload to YouTube and laugh at around "the office" all day. Sure, he'll humor you, go ahead and caption -- capshun, if you will -- him until you're blue in the face. He'll have the last LOL. Oh yes, he will.

Josh F.: "The perpetual cat-hair, spot-cleaning cycle ultimately spelled doom for this unlucky Roomba, much like tic-tac-toe did in WOPR in 1983."
Paul: "Must do no harm, must do no harm... wait, does that only apply to humans?"
Chris: "HOVERCAT IZ ON UR CARPIT / STEALIN UR DIRTZ" or "iRobot's demonstration of Roomba's new 'fight or flight' algorithm is an unqualified failure."
Laura: "What part of this is the food?"
Thomas: "Take your complaints up with the staff, Rrrroomba. There's one holding the camera now."

[Via bookofjoe]

Filed under: Robots

Caption contest: cat driving Roomba -- is not so impressed, actually originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gadgets/Engadget_reviews_the_BlackBerry_Storm'; By now most of us have heard this story in one fashion or another: when Steve Jobs and Apple were in the planning stages of the iPhone, the first carrier they brought the device to America's largest network, Verizon. Even if you haven't heard how the tale ends -- Verizon refused and Jobs took his multi-billion dollar ball to AT&T -- you surely know the outcome. The iPhone has soared to become the ultimate smartphone, the must-have accessory that everyone from celebrities to your mom wants -- nay, needs -- to have in their pocket. It's changed the landscape of modern cellphones, put a serious dent in the sales of competing devices (just recently overtaking the venerable RAZR as the best-selling domestic handset), and unquestionably raised the bar when it comes to expectations for features in new handsets.

It may seem unfair to open up the review of RIM's latest BlackBerry -- the Storm -- with a history lesson on the iPhone, but if you understand the market which Verizon and RIM hope to capture, then you understand the Storm, and it helps put this critique in perspective. The Storm, a widescreen, touchscreen, device boasts many of the same features as the iPhone, but adds innovations like a clickable display, and comes packed with RIM's legendary email and messaging services. Mainlined into the biggest (and some say best) network in the States, the Storm is an almost deafening blast to the competition at first glance, but does it hold up on closer inspection? Read on to find out.

Gallery: BlackBerry Storm in pictures

Continue reading BlackBerry Storm review

Filed under: Cellphones

BlackBerry Storm review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/microsoft/MS_revamps_Zune_Pass_Keep_10_tracks_a_month_forever'; There's just nothing like the holiday season, folks. That warm, fuzzy feeling you get when spending your last dollar on a gift for someone you aren't even that fond of -- really, what else can compare? On second thought, maybe this can. Microsoft has just announced that, beginning today, Zune Pass users will be able to select ten tracks per month to keep forever (and ever, and ever), and the $14.99 monthly subscription rate isn't headed up. Agreements have been miraculously nailed down between Microsoft and EMI Music, Sony BMG Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group, not to mention a number of independent distributors. We must say, we certainly appreciate the gesture here, but is it enough to make fencesitters buy in? What say you?

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Microsoft revamps Zune Pass: keep ten tracks per month forever and ever originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For home theater junkies who've been having a difficult time taking the Apple TV seriously, you should definitely have a look at what the latest software update brings to the dinner table. First off, we should warn you that any non-Apple TV software (like, you know, Boxee) will be banished should you choose to update, but if you're kosher on that front, we'll continue on. Apple's changelog notes that AirTunes streaming is now enabled, meaning that tunes can be streamed from the STB to AirPort Express speakers or other ATV units nearby. Additionally, the box can now learn other remotes, meaning that you can probably get your universal remote to handle this bugger, too. The last big addition is that Playlists in iTunes can now be seen on Apple TV, and there's also support for volume control in Music. Grab the download from within your box now if you dare, and feel free to chime in with any other noteworthy changes you happen upon.

[Via TUAW]

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Apple TV 2.3 update adds AirTunes streaming, support for other IR remotes originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A twist on the idea of the underwater turbine, the Searaser also uses the motion of the ocean to generate power. The device consists of two independent floats that move with the waves, pumping out seawater as they do. The water can then be pumped inland for hydroelectric power, irrigation, or to hilltop reservoirs for later use. One unit should be able to power 470 homes, and a six-month preproduction trial is currently being planned. You know, as quirky energy solutions go, this one doesn't actually seem all that far-fetched. At the very least, it seems better than going Micro-Nuclear.

[Via The Times]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Searaser floating pump will use the ocean's waves to generate power originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seagate kicked out a couple of FreeAgent Go hard drives a few months back, but it's now gone all out and let loose an even more colorful batch in the hope of attracting a bit more attention among holiday shoppers -- as usual, Festivus revelers luck out year 'round with the ever-present, aluminum pole-matching silver option. From the looks of it, the drives are still available in the same 250GB, 320GB, and 500GB capacitiies as before for $120, $150, and $200, respectively, and those that register their drives between November 28th and New Year's day will get a bonus multimedia package including 50 free songs from eMusic and some other goodies. You can also pick up a desktop docking station separately for $30, just don't expect to get it in matching colors.

[Via Electronista]

Filed under: Storage

Seagate expands FreeAgent Go line with yet more color options originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jealous your almost instantly-obsolete Eee PC doesn't have that speedy new SSD with integrated controller ASUS is using in newer models? Well, Runcore's got you covered -- it's just launched a line of MLC SSDs with similar integrated controllers that offer 70Mbps read and 50Mbps write speeds. Even better, they're pretty damn cheap: just $70 for 16GB, $199 for 64GB, and a slightly less cheap $389 for 128GB. Sadly, they're mini-PCIe, so you probably can't go sticking them in your daily driver machine for a little speed boost, but you can't have it all, Chico.

Filed under: Storage

Runcore netbook SSDs offer speed on the cheap originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Creative's Vado pocket cam hasn't been nearly as popular as the various Flips or the Kodak Zi6, but it looks like the company is taking another shot at it -- hot on the heels of the Flip Mino HD's introduction, we're seeing hints that a Vado HD is on the way as well. All we know so far is the S$299 (US$195) pricetag printed in Creative's Singapore holiday catalog, but the short HD videos posted by a user named "Vado" on Vimeo look nice enough. Check 'em after the break -- hopefully we'll find out more soon.

Continue reading Creative Vado HD pocket camcorder makes a few cameo appearances

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Creative Vado HD pocket camcorder makes a few cameo appearances originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We've already seen a few shots of MSI's forthcoming Wind U120 netbook, but our pals at Engadget Chinese have now taken in one of its first public appearances and, naturally, they've provided plenty of pics for folks to dive into. That includes some close-up shots of the netbook's slightly revised port situation, some comparison shots with the non-two tone U100, and even another glimpse of that 9-cell battery we've already seen floating about. MSI also had it's full-fledged Bravo EX620 laptop on display, though it's a pretty safe bet that we won't be seeing it 'round these parts anytime soon.

[Thanks, Edward N]

Filed under: Laptops

MSI Wind U120 gets spotted, examined in the wild originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We've seen a review of the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, and several videos of the device in action. What we haven't seen, however, is a video review... until now. Over at MobileBurn they've posted a series of four review videos of the touchscreen handset, and though it starts out a bit shaky -- the stylus is "not very good" and the build doesn't feel very "solid" -- the reviewer changes his tune by the end of the opus, and his opinion seems like it's evolved to a resounding "not bad." Hit the read link, grab a bucket of popcorn and consider yourself in for the night if you want to watch the full review.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Portable Audio

Nokia 5800 XpressMusic video review is probably longer than you think originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oh sure, you could select Dell's multitouch-enabled Latitude XT over HP's latest, but given the $1,829 starting price of the former, we'd say the TouchSmart tx2z is looking a lot more delectable these days. Hailed as the first multitouch "consumer" convertible tablet (a claim that's certainly open for debate), the 12.1-inch tx2 gets going at just $1,149.99, though HP's "recommended" configuration starts at $1,223.99. The baseline setup includes Vista Home Premium, a 2.1GHz AMD Turion X2, 3GB of DDR2 RAM, an ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics set, 250GB of HDD space and a built-in webcam. As of now, the estimated build date shows December 8th, so we'd get that order in five minutes ago if you're looking to ensure a holiday delivery.

Filed under: Laptops

HP's TouchSmart tx2z multitouch convertible tablet starts at $1,149 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You've been adequately teased with what all USB 3.0 (or SuperSpeed USB, as we tend to refer to it) can do, but a gaggle of companies took the chance in San Jose, California to really demonstrate just how quick the protocol is. Most notable was the demo by Synopsys, which prototyped an HDTV video transmission system based on USB 3.0 and showed to wide-mouthed onlookers that an uncompressed 1080p feed at 30 frames-per-second could be whisked along at around 450Mbps. Sure, USB 3.0 has wireless HD to watch out for, but given that said technology is currently on track for an August 2298 release, it could really do some tethered damage in the meanwhile.

Filed under: Peripherals

USB 3.0 demonstrations dazzle: uncompressed 1080p transfer proves simple originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Be honest with yourself: you've always wanted a dedicated, 16-key emoticon keyboard with "keys" that pulled doubled duty as expressive jewelry, right? Well, you got it! Bajca's Smile Keypad aims to "make real the emoticon," and as far as we can tell, they've totally nailed it. The USB-friendly keyboard has classic smiley face-looking keys which pop out using some special tongs, then are popped into pieces of jewelry -- rings, bracelets, necklaces -- sky's the limit, apparently. It's not really crystal clear if all of these pieces are going to be included, or if they'll be sold separately, or if this is ever going to make it to the market. All we can do is hope. Check out a few more emotionally charged shots after the break.

[Thanks, Matilde]

Continue reading Bajca's emoticon keyboard / jewelry-making kit might be emotionally unstable

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Peripherals

Bajca's emoticon keyboard / jewelry-making kit might be emotionally unstable originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not that we'd expect any reputable digital picture frame manufacturer to consort with a real, live hand model, but we've gotta hand it to Giant International for discovering this particularly unnatural, eerily glowing appendage to point vaguely at its new Intouch IT7150. Lucky for us, the device in question is not at all cheap and uninviting, featuring a 7-inch 800 x 480 LCD touchscreen, 802.11b/g WiFi, USB to PC connection cable and the standard complement of memory card slots. What makes this particularly fun is vTuner support, which allows for play back of 11,000 radio and TV stations (primarily public access and other undesirables on the TV side), in addition to the increasingly standard FrameChannel service for photo sharing and RSS subscriptions. There's also a built-in rechargeable battery for about 1.5 hours of portable use. At $349, you're certainly paying a pretty penny for all these good times, but if vTuner isn't your bag, you can drop that support and pick up the frame for $299.

[Via Digital Picture Frame Review]

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Displays

Giant International's touchscreen Intouch IT7150 photo frame: disembodied hand not included originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MSI's got a fever, and evidently the only cure is more notebook. With the novelty of the heralded Wind slowly fading, the outfit has stepped in with the altogether riveting VW220 YA Edition ultraportable -- and in four delightful hues, no less. Aside from sporting a Denim Blue, Coral Pink, Wasabi Green or Empire Black exterior, the 12.1-incher also includes a WXGA (1,280 x 800) panel, dual-core Pentium CPU, Intel's GMA 4500M graphics set, up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, dual stereo speakers, gigabit Ethernet, an optional TV tuner, WiFi / Bluetooth, a 3-in-1 card reader, VGA output and three USB 2.0 ports. You'll also find a SuperMulti DVD drive, a capacious 250GB hard drive, a ho hum 1.3-megapixel webcam and an 8-cell battery. All told, the 4-pound rig looks pretty good on paper for just $699.99, and the full release is after the break for your perusal.

Continue reading MSI trots out colorful VR220 YA Edition ultraportable

Filed under: Laptops

MSI trots out colorful VR220 YA Edition ultraportable originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We've been hearing for ages that there was a super-special version of the E71 with an AT&T ROM floating around somewhere in Nokia's skunkworks, but solid evidence of its existence has been scarce to say the least; some said it was canceled, some said it was just taking its sweet time going through the testing process, and some put a hand over our mouth and told us never to speak "AT&T" and "E71" in the same sentence again lest an agent overhear us. New in-the-wild shots give us -- and the North American S60-loving public -- newfound hope that the phone's gonna actually happen, but it'll emerge as the "E71x." That's a new suffix for Nokia, so we really have no idea what it might mean -- more internal memory would be cool, but we're not really counting on it. Word is that it'll be available for something in the $150 range when it finally hits, so if the 6650 isn't your cup o' tea, hang tight. (And by the way, guys, we're totally digging the black.)

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Nokia E71 finally coming to AT&T as E71x originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The crew over at Engadget HD was part of a tour of the Microsoft eHome lab and was lucky enough to catch the un-announced DirecTV HDPC-20 in testing. Unfortunately Microsoft wasn't ready to announce any new products and even reminded everyone that things in the lab don't always make it to market. But despite this, we still have our hopes up that we'll one day soon be able to watch DirecTV HD on Windows Media Center.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Media PCs

Engadget HD catches the Media Center DirecTV HDPC-20 in action originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Look, we know how much you love Ratchet & Clank-oriented PSP SKUs, don't try and hide your desire. This latest PSP-3000 bundle to feature the respectively furry / mechanical duo includes a black PSP and Everyday Shooter in addition to Ratchet & Clank Size Matters, instead of the silver PSP and echochrome featured in that other bundle. These are all very important distinctions, we assure you. A 1GB Memory Stick Duo card and the ever-desireable National Treasure 2 are included as well. The new bundle hits on December 15 for the same old $199 pricetag. We're still waiting on that $169 standalone PSP-3000 with bated, Skype-ready breath.

[Via PSP Fanboy]

Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds

Ratchet & Clank headline another PSP-3000 bundle; you're simply thrilled originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It looks like those still on the hunt for that perfect pair of sub-$200 earphones now have a rather intriguing new option to consider from Ultimate Ears, which has just rolled out its new Super.Fi 5 and Super.Fi 5vi models that boast a top-fire-armature speaker design -- the first such buds on the market. In addition to that stand-out feature, both sets pack a frequency response range of 15 Hz to 15 kHz and a top sound pressure level of 115 dB, while the Super.Fi 5vi adds a mic to mix to let you use 'em with your phone of choice. You'll also get three interchangeable soft-silicone ear tips and two Comply foam ear tips with each to ensure just the right fit and, of course, a carrying case to keep 'em in pristine shape. If those sound like the buds you've been looking for, you can grab either the Super.Fi 5 or Super.Fi 5vi right now for $170 and $190, respectively.

[Via I4U News]

Filed under: Portable Audio

Ultimate Ears rolls out top-firing Super.Fi 5 earphones originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you've found yourself dumbfoundedly staring at your Bravia Internet Video Link-equipped HDTV thinking "when am I going to see some Slacker radio up in this piece?" -- you're in luck. Sony announced today that it would be bringing the streaming service to users of the company's $300 hardware add-on free of charge, allowing music hounds to grab "millions" of songs on over "100 individually programmed genre music stations" in CD-quality audio. The service joins other streaming content like YouTube and Amazon, and will be available immediately. So... why are you still reading this?

[Via ZatzNotFunny]

Filed under: HDTV, Portable Audio

Slacker radio added to Sony BRAVIA Internet Video Link originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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