We've been slipped some additional information on Motorola's imminent Android-powered i1 for iDEN networks today -- actually, one correction and one interesting note. First, the correction: we're now being told (by the same tipster as before) that it's actually got a 5 megapixel camera on board, a nice upgrade from the 3 we'd previously been told to expect. More interestingly, though, we're also hearing that Opera Mini has been tapped as the i1's default browser -- a move that Moto is more than welcome to make since this is a Blur-powered, non-"Google Experience" device. It's also a possible admission that third-party Android browsers are currently outperforming Google's own, something Microsoft has long dealt with on Windows Mobile as companies like HTC ultimately ended up bundling Opera Mobile with virtually every model they sold. So, Sprint Direct Connect and Boost Mobile customers, you getting excited about this thing or what?

Motorola i1 gets clearer: 5 megapixel cam, Opera Mini default browser? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unwilling or unable to wait for the next major trade show (CTIA in two weeks), LG showed off a king's ransom worth of new devices to a bunch of journos in the Netherlands this week; most of it appears to be pretty low-end fare, but there were a few notables in the lot. First up, the Cookie Music extends the Cookie brand with Dolby Mobile tech on board (something LG's been doing pretty frequently lately), a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a tweaked design that looks a little more futuristic than Cookies of old. Viewty was starting to feel like a forgotten marque, but not so -- we've now got a GT400 Viewty Smile here featuring a 5 megapixel cam and scratch-resistant display. As QWERTY dumbphones go, we'd thought that the GT350 was the KS360's true successor, but not so -- there's a new KS365 in the mix with revised styling but seemingly very little in the way of upgraded specs. The rest of the lot looks like pretty forgettable stuff -- and seeing how LG operates, they'll all be forgotten and replaced with revised models within a few months' time anyhow. You know, Circle of Life and all.

LG shows off Cookie Music, Viewty Smile, other goodies to Dutch press originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By Andrew Liszewski

Remember the Canon zoom lens thermos we brought you last week that was exclusively given out to members of the press at the Olympic Press Center in Vancouver? Well it turns out in the very near future they’re not going to be so exclusive. You can actually pre-order one now from Canadian photography store Vistek for $29.99 (Canadian dollars of course) and they’re expected to be available around mid-April. Quantities will be limited though, so if you saw my post last week and were kicking yourself for missing out on getting one at the Olympics, you’ll want to act fast.

[ Vistek - Canon Thermal Travel Mug EF 70-200 f/4.0 L IS USM Lens ] VIA [ Doobybrain ]

Continue reading Google Maps adds bicycle directions, turns out its nothing like 'Quicksilver'

Google Maps adds bicycle directions, turns out its nothing like 'Quicksilver' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s only been a couple days since the official announcement heard ’round the world: Valve is releasing Steam for Mac. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, one of the biggest reasons Mac users were running BootCamp on their systems has now come their way in a far more native approach. So, while everyone is clearing out their hard drives, Razer wants to make it perfectly clear that they, too, are going to start supporting the Cupertino-based hardware/software combo.

Razer announced today at the on-going Gamer Developer’s Conference (GDC) that they are going to issue drivers for Mac users, so that they can install and use all upcoming Razer accessories. But, just to make sure that their current customers aren’t given the shaft, they’re also releasing the driver software for previously released hardware as well. To confirm their diligence, they released the Mac driver for the Naga MMO mouse today, as well as the DeathAdder.

The company is one of the best when it comes to gaming peripherals. Devices like the Naga MMO mouse and Razer DeathAdder have become well known to the gaming universe. And now that Mac has some how launched itself out of the gaming afterlife, and shown that they are back in the game (pun intended), it’s no surprise that the peripheral manufacturers out there are going to jump on board as well. Welcome back, Mac. It’s been a long time coming.

[via Electronista]

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Well, we'd already had a pretty clear indication that the HTC HD2 would be launching on T-Mobile on March 24th (or possibly the 23rd), and Laptop Magazine is now reporting that a "very close T-Mobile source" has confirmed that the 24th is indeed the date, and that the phone will run $199 on a two-year contract (or $449 off-contract). The March 23rd date that recently cropped up is apparently just the day the MobiTV software will go live. Just as notably, Laptop also says that it has confirmed that the phone won't be upgradeable to Windows Phone 7 Series -- although, at this point, we'll have to hear that first-hand to truly put an end to the speculation. Thankfully, that should happen in just a few days.

HTC HD2 said to be launching March 24th for $199, no Windows Phone 7 support originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We can still remember the days when you needed a whole bunch of wires, strung up along the wall or hidden beneath the carpet, and speakers placed methodically throughout a living room or bedroom, to recreate that beautiful surround sound experience we all love so much in theaters. Over years that’s changed in one way or another, and even more recently these sound bars, a single bar with set speakers within them, seem to be taking up all the attention. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that they usually look like something from the future.

In this case, we’ve got the Asus Cine5, which is a smaller take on the more familiar sound bars out there. This model, which isn’t designed for the big TVs on the market, should fit pretty nicely right on your desk, if you like enjoying your music in a more robust kind of way. The Cine5 measures in at about 15-inches, but it’s got the typical five speaker set up under the hood. It’s also managed to squeeze a 28W max amp. There’s even a 3.5mm audio jack, if you feel inclined to plug your headphones in.

As we said, we love the looks of the majority of these surround sound bars, and the Asus Cine5 is no exception. It’s got a sleekness that captivates us. We’d even go as far as to say that it’s shiny, and that’s one of the best things about gadgets. Unfortunately, we don’t have any word on pricing or availability date, but we’re crossing our fingers that it’s sooner than later. We’re thinking a few people out there are going to want to take this thing home.

[via CrunchGear]

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There’s a pretty distinct set of reasons why, for the most part, it’s a good thing or a bad thing to be an early adopter of any piece of tech that comes out. On the one hand, you’ve got the latest and greatest gadget on the planet, and you can happily show it off to all your friends. On the other side of the coin, you’re usually faced with software/hardware glitches of some kind, and then there’s that impending feeling that sooner than later, your device will be obsolete. We’re not saying that’s happening here with the Zune HD, but if these rumors are true, we may have to strike our words.

According to the rumors floating around, the Zune HD2 would be more like an iPod Touch, whatever that means. Size, perhaps. Considering the HD2 has arguably (or not) better hardware than the iPod Touch, that’s really the only thing we can say that insinuates. If the sources speaking with ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley are to be believed, than the Zune HD2 is certainly on the way, and has a real shot at being released later this year. And, we all know what other thing is launching at the end of this year, and, whoa, look at that! They’re made by the same company!

We don’t think that would be a bad thing. Yes, the Zune HD came out last year, and yes, it’s a great Personal Media Player. But what Microsoft needs is more than just a few phones coming out at the end of this year rocking their Windows Phone 7 Series mobile Operating System. Just like Apple has done with their iPhone Operating System, Microsoft can capitalize on the fact that WP7S looks and works great on a bunch of devices. And sometimes, even across those platforms. There’s also the glaring fact that the current Zune HD won’t be playing those nifty XNA Game Studio 4.0 titles, so it’s time to update anyway. Right, Microsoft?

[via ZDNet]

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Streaming videos isn’t the new thing. Although, we would say that it’s becoming ever more popular as the weeks progress into the 2010 year, and we’re wondering if all those cable and satellite providers out there are shaking in their boots yet. Watching TV on your computer, or even from your computer to your TV is becoming something of a regular in most houses, and MSN is looking to jump on the bandwagon with a free alternative. And, despite the fact it’s free, there’s some juicy goodness in here.

When you get a free thing, sometimes your first thought is that it won’t be everything you want it to be. Or, more likely, that it doesn’t have all the features you might want it to have. That’s why they make premium content, right? Apparently MSN didn’t get that memo (thankfully), because they’re all set to launch the first serious BBC iPlayer rival tomorrow: MSN Video Player. MSN is going to have it launch with somewhere in the ballpark of 1,000 hours of video, which is fantastic. The player is apparently aimed at the youth, young families, and professional market, so we’re likely to see a broad swath of videos therein. And, unlike the BBC iPlayer, MSN isn’t going to have a time delay or limit on their collected episodes. With the Video Player, you’ll be able to enjoy full seasons of your shows, front to back, like Skins, Wife Swap, and Peep Show.

The service itself, as we mentioned above, is free, but customers will have to watch 30-second advertisements before, during, and after their program. Other services, like Hulu and Crackle, both take this method, so we imagine that it won’t be that big of a deal to a lot of customers in the UK. And, unfortunately, that’s where this service is solely situated: No word on any availability of this streaming platform here in the States. And while Microsoft has managed to work together with some of the biggest TV studios and broadcasters, they aren’t stopping there. They are currently in talks with movie publishers to bring a broad movie selection to the service as well. The service is set to launch tomorrow, so if you’re in the UK, let us know how it goes. We’d love to hear your feedback.

[via UK Times]

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That certainly was a timely review, wasn't it? Dutch site Tweakers.net is reporting through a number of its forum members that previously ordered HTC Legends are being scheduled for delivery as early as today, beating the phone's announced early second quarter availability by a solid three weeks. That's great news for anyone comfortable sticking with a lower-res display and a middle-of-the-road processor in exchange for one of the slickest, most metallic shells on the market today -- but for those hoping for something a little more... ahem, Desire-able, the wait continues. And yes, we'd like to apologize profusely for that pun.

HTC Legend already trickling into customers' waiting hands? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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