Netgear's WNDR 3800 with ReadySHARE, the roll-your-own cloud service

Netgear's stable of dark gray rectangles of joy has swelled to include the premium edition WNDR 3800, which comes with two features uncommon to most home routers. First is the Clear Channel Selector, which analyzes the wireless traffic and switches to the quietest channel to prevent dropouts. Second is ReadySHARE Cloud -- using the router's USB port, you can attach an external HDD and access the data anywhere there's an internet connection. The only downside is the iOS / Android app for the service costs an extra $2.99, which seems unnecessary considering you're already paying $180 for the device itself.

Sharp Galapagos A01SH tablet goes on sale in Japan from $1, comes with a catch

Sharp's 7-inch tablet running Android 3.2? Yeah, it's taking its sweet time arriving stateside, though our friends in Japan can get the Galapagos A01SH now for a starting price of... $1 (¥100). There's more than a little fine print, of course, which states you have to sign up with an ISP to score that deal -- a curious promotion given that this is a WiFi-only slate (carriers will bundle it with a portable hotspot). Those who like their tabs no strings attached can scoop one up for ¥44,800 ($583). As for those of you mumbling something about how we need another Tegra 2-powered Android tablet like we need a hole in the head, remember that this remains one of a handful of 7-inchers running Android 3.2 -- a space currently occupied by the Acer Iconia Tab A100, ViewSonic ViewPad 7x and forthcoming Huawei MediaPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7. So if you're dead-set on a 7-inch tab, like Honeycomb and are lucky enough to be wandering the streets of Nippon, have at it, folks

Quantum Phantom program turns your smartphone into a wireless mouse

The last time we saw Ben Wu, he was busy hammering away at Quantum Phantom -- a prototype program that allows users to manipulate their desktops with a simple webcam. Now, the engineer has expanded the concept to smartphones, as well, with a system that effectively turns any camera-equipped handset into a wireless mouse. To achieve this, Wu hooked up his Android phone to his PC via WiFi and used the IP Webcam app to create a video stream server. The results, by Wu's own admission, aren't exactly elegant (due to an unwieldy configuration process and low-res camera), though he still managed to use his creation to sketch an onscreen smiley face.

Sony MDR-DS7500 headphones promise 3D sound, will play nicely with your 3D glasses

Are you settling for non-3D sound to go with all of your 3D movies? You should be ashamed of yourself. Thankfully, Sony's looking out for you. The company's new MDR-DS7500 headphones promise 3D surround sound, thanks in part to the inclusion of Dolby Pro Logic IIz technology. The headphones have a number of different sound settings, serving different audio needs, including Cinema Mode, Game Mode, and Voice Mode. Also, that extra padding assures that they'll play nicely with your 3D glasses. The headphones will be hitting Japan on October 10th, running ¥49,350 ($643) for the full package and ¥24,675 ($321) for additional headphones. Extra dimensions don't come cheap, after all.

Samsung Epic 4G Touch training docs leaked, likely to have 4.5-inch display?

Like many other highly-anticipated product announcements, a few bits of information have leaked out mere hours prior to tonight's reveal of the Samsung Galaxy S II. This time, we have a new piece of 411 about the Epic 4G Touch, Sprint's weapon of choice. According to leaked training documents that surfaced today, it appears the device will match the Hercules in screen size, receiving a healthy bump up to a 4.52-inch Super AMOLED Plus display. True or not, we don't have much longer to wait before Sammy lets us in on all of the secrets these three Galaxy S II models have been keeping for so long.

HP: Limited supply of TouchPads on the way

Still waiting for your bargain TouchPad to ship? Good news, as HP's just confirmed that a "limited supply" of the webOS slates are on their way, and they'll land in "a few weeks." In an update to a blog post from yesterday, the company confirmed that it will manufacture an additional "limited quantity" of TouchPads in Q4 -- presumably to meet existing backorders. Those of you who've signed up for email notification will receive an update and one-time offer today (peep it after the break), and a followup when more details are known. For live updates peep the two Twitter accounts linked under more coverage, and to get the full rundown of HP's plans

Razer BlackWidow Stealth keyboards keep the mechanical keys, ditch the noise

You know what's great? Mechanical keyboards -- what with their satisfying clicks. You know what's less awesome? Having to listen to that obnoxious racket all day. Razer claims you can have your cake (in this case, tactile feedback) and eat it too (blessed silence!) with its BlackWidow Stealth Editions. These are, more or less, the same boards that debuted last August, but with quieter switches and a matte finish. Both models are available now, with the same programmable keys and on-the-fly macro recording, while the Ultimate version adds "extreme anti-ghosting" to its already impressive noise pwnage. The standard model will run you a cool $80, while the Ultimate weighs in at a hefty $140

Ford's Evos concept is the cloud-connected hybrid EV of our future

Not ready for the future? Too bad, it's here -- well, at least in concept form. Debuting soon at Frankfurt's international auto show is Ford's Evos, a cloud-connected hybrid EV that serves as a preview of the kinds of smart and hyper-connected vehicles Dearborn eventually wants to build. Details on what powers it are scant, but we do know it'll rock the gasoline-electric drivetrain from the upcoming C-Max Energi. And when you've exhausted the combined 500 mile range, you can top up that lithium-ion pack by plugging in or wirelessly through inductive charging.

With gratuitous access to data you've slung into the cloud, the Evos is deeply intertwined with your daily routine. It'll change your alarm clock if your morning meeting is canceled, continue music playback from other devices where you've left off and even suggest alternative routes based on your schedule and past driving history. Oh and it'll monitor your heart rate too. Don't believe us? Proof of that and more reside in the video after the break, which'll hopefully tide you over til September -- when we get to see if it lives up to the hype in person

Galaxy S II finally lands on American shores for Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T

Well, it's been a long time coming, but you fine folks living in the good ol' U-S-of-A are finally getting blessed with Galaxy S IIs to call your own. Conspicuously missing from the party is Verizon, but Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T are all getting in on the Super AMOLED Plus action under the guise of the Epic 4G Touch on Sprint and just plain old Galaxy S II on AT&T and T-Mo. As we had heard earlier the Epic 4G Touch is sporting a slightly larger 4.52-inch screen as will the T-Mobile variant, while AT&T is sticking with the 4.3-inch panel found on the international model. Sprint customers will be first to get their shot at owning one on September 16th for $200, with AT&T and T-Mobile a little further down the road. Otherwise there are very few surprises here, with a 1.2GHz Exynos pushing Gingerbread and TouchWiz to each gorgeous screen. All are packing 16GB of internal storage and being pitched as 4G handsets -- with WiMax on board the Sprint model and HSPA+ for T-Mo and AT&T. Ma Bell's is specifically championing its variant as the "thinnest 4G smartphone," which might have something to do with the smaller 1650 mAh battery inside (the Epic 4G Touch is sporting an 1800 mAh pack). Check back soon for some hands-on.

Firefox for Honeycomb UI shown off, inching closer to a tablet near you

The Mozilla team has been quietly toiling to bring Firefox to a mid-sized screen near you. It's already a perpetual favorite on the desktop and has made a bit of a splash on Android phones, now the group has Honeycomb tablets squarely in its crosshairs. It's still very much in the early stages of development but a few UI decisions have been made, including the choice to adhere pretty strictly to Android 3.0's minimalist appearance. In landscape mode tabs will be represented as a persistent thumbnail bar on the left, but in portrait they'll revert to the top with a more familiar appearance. The tabbed Awesome from the mobile version also returns.

Hillcrest Labs' Scoop Pointer is decidedly less loopy than its predecessor

Remember the ringtastic Loop that motion control manufacturer Hillcrest Labs introed back in 2009? The Scoop Pointer is its more straightforward followup, an in-air mouse with six-axis control, nine programmable buttons, and souped up hardware and firmware. The pointer will be dropping in Q4, likely carrying a non-Hillcrest brand name.

Samsung launches YP-R2, YP-Z3, MP3 HD compatible PMPs

Samsung has had its sights set on a PMP with MP3 HD support for some time now -- first announcing (and later killing) the IceTouch in 2010, and now launching the YP-R2 and YP-Z3 in markets including Russia and Korea. Claiming that the lossy/lossless HD MP3 sound is five times better than the standard variety, the company will put it to the test with access to Melon, Korea's largest 2.2 million song music store. So far, Samsung has only confirmed the R2 has a 3-inch WQVGA full touch display, is .3-inches thick and weighs around 52 grams, while the Z3, on the other hand has a 1.8-inch display and measures in at 36 grams. The music players also support photo and text viewing, FM radio and 5.1-channel surround sound. The R2 comes in black and silver and costs 149,000 KRW ($140) for 4GB, and 169,000 KRW ($160) for 8GB. The Z3 comes in white, pink and blue and costs 89,000 KRW ($83) for 4GB, and 119,000 KRW for 8GB ($110). There's no word yet if these devices will ever see US release

Sony's head-mounted 3D visor is real, HMZ-T1 arrives in Japan November 11th

Remember that crazy wearable 3D display concept Sony was showing off at CES 2011? Turns out the company is actually going to make it, and the HMZ-T1 is scheduled to be released in Japan on November 11th. While the design has changed slightly since we first laid our eyes, and heads, on it, the specs appear to be the same, with two 1280x720 0.7-inch OLED panels mounted in front of each eye giving the wearer an experience similar to viewing a 750-inch screen from 20m away, as well as 5.1 surround sound from headphones integrated into the Head Mounted Display (HMD). You can see the helmet above, as well as the processor unit (complete with HDMI input and output, so you can take off the helmet and watch on TV) that it must remain tethered to. Pricing is expected to be 60,000 yen ($783 US). Check out the press release and our hands-on video from CES after the break and decide if living out a Geordi La Forge-style fantasy is worth it.

Scosche's RDTX-PRO for iPhone and iPod touch detects radiation, funds charities

Scoshe already offers a fairly impressive range of mobile accessories, but its now branched out into some uncharted territory with its latest offering. The company has just announced its new RDTX-PRO radiation detector and app for the iPhone and iPod touch, which launches in Japan next month. With no calibration needed, the device attaches to your iOS handheld via the dock connector and offers gamma radiation detection above 60keV within +/- 5% accuracy. If that wasn't enough, the peripheral can also be used as a standalone alarm for radioactivity for up to 96 hours, and the aforementioned app will let you to share your findings via Facebook, Twitter or Google Maps. Still not convinced Scosche is fighting the good fight? Well, $10 from each $330 unit sold will benefit a group of charities dedicated to aiding those affected by the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan. For an closer look at the U

iPad dock shopping cart keeps footie fans and their other halves happy

British football fans agree on very few things: how much everyone likes Jimmy Bullard, Arséne Wenger's need to buy a proper centre-half and how painful it is to be dragged out shopping just before kickoff on Saturday. It's those sympathetic and forward-thinking people at Sky who have the answer, at least to that last one. The company has teamed up with supermarket Sainsbury's (which has a track record of innovation) to trial a new trolley with a solar-powered iPad dock and speakers. Now you can watch the game, or anything else, via the Sky Go app on your device and get the grocery shopping done at the same time. Worried about getting so engrossed in Juan Mata's footwork that you'll be a danger to others? Rest easy, the cart has proximity sensors attached to let you know when you're about to sideswipe a pensioner. It's being trialled in the Cromwell Road Sainsbury's in West London -- all you need to try it yourself is an iPad, Sky Go access and a desire to be on the cutting edge of sports and technology. If the thought of shouting 'Taxi for Bent!' down the fruit aisle appeals, you can catch another pic and the press release after the break.

Toshiba's new Regza WL800A HDTV hooks up with your smartphone via MHL

The MHL Consortium wants to banish HDMI ports from our phones in favor of its Mobile High-Definition Link connection, and the tech has found its way into handsets like the GSII and the EVO 3D. But until now, there were no TVs to connect to. Toshiba's latest in the Regza line, the WL800A, is the lone set in its 2011 lineup to pack the 5-pin port that pulls 1080p from your mobile device and puts it up on a 46-inch or 55-inch edge-lit LED panel. Best part is, the MHL connection pushes power back into your phone at the same time video is streaming -- so you don't have to worry about your phone dying on you in the middle of your mobile movie marathon. Currently for sale in the land of Oz for $2,329 (46-inch) and $3,179 (55-inch) AUD, the WL800 won't be coming to America. However, now that the GSII has landed stateside let's hope some MHL-equipped TVs follow suit.

Garmin launches StreetPilot onDemand iPhone app, offers transit schedules

Garmin is best known for its in-car navigation systems, but today delved deeper into the realm of personal navigation with a brand new iPhone app for the eternally lost. For a dollar, you'll get standard walking, driving and public transportation directions, but go premium for $2.99 a month or $29.99 for the year, and you'll cop more add-ons designed to transform your iPhone into a full-fledged PND. Like the standard iPhone mapping system or HopStop, the subscription-based version of this app lets you integrate public transportation into your journey -- but the added feature here is the ability to view public transit schedules like you can in the Google Maps app for Android. It also has spoken turn-by-turn directions, Garmin's traffic routing and Google search, making it a handy alternative to a clunky navigation system.

Google explores re-ranking search results using +1 button data

Google is making plans to turn its +1 button into a crowdsourcing tool that helps it re-order search results and fight web spam. While not surprising, the move would bring Google's search engine into the social networking era, while simultaneously creating a new avenue for blackhats to manipulate search results and potentially incurring the wrath of trust-busting authorities.
Google confirmed its plans in an e-mail to Wired.com.
"Google will study the clicks on +1 buttons as a signal that influences the ranking and appearance of websites in search results," a spokesman wrote. "The purpose of any ranking signal is to improve overall search quality. For +1's and other social ranking signals, as with any new ranking signal, we'll be starting carefully and learning how those signals are related to quality."
But these plans are a touchy subject for the search giant, especially given the scrutiny that Google is under from regulators in Washington and Europe over complaints that the company's results favor its own products over those of other companies.
As if to underscore that point, Google prefaced its admission of the +1 search integration project to Wired.com with a statement downplaying its potential significance: "There are more than 200 signals that we use to determine the rank of a website, and last year we made more than 500 improvements to the algorithm."
Introduced in March, the +1 sharing button debuted with little incentive for web surfers to click on it. If you +1-ed a story on a website that embedded the button

Robots aren't good at talking to themselves

Have you ever looked at your smartphone or laptop -- or even a robot, if you're lucky enough to come in contact with one -- and wondered, "What the heck are you thinking?" Well, if so, here's your answer.
Cornell's Creative Machines Lab posted a video this week of a computer's inner monologue, and it's making the rounds on the Internet not because the machine is having profound thoughts about world domination or the future of technology -- but because the discussion it has with itself is totally ridiculous.
Researchers used the "Cleverbot" for this test case, which is regarded as one of researchers' best attempts to mimic human conversation patterns with computer intelligence. Cleverbot actually "learns" from the conversations it has as it has them, which is fairly impressive, as this episode of WNYC's "Radiolab" podcast discusses at great length
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Facebook pays $40,000 to bug spotters

Facebook wants you to try to hack into its site -- and if you succeed, it will pay you for the details.Facebook said this week that that it has paid out more than $40,000 under its new "bug bounty" security initiative. Launched three weeks ago, Facebook's program invites security researchers -- both the professional kind and hacker hobbyists -- to send it the details of any Facebook vulnerabilities that they uncover. If the report checks out, Facebook will pay a finder's fee of at least $500.
It's willing to go higher for extra-impressive bug spotting.
"We've already paid a $5,000 bounty for one really good report," Facebook Chief Security Officer Joe Sullivan wrote in a blog post. "One person has already received more than $7,000 for six different issues flagged."
Although the social networking has its own security team, Facebook launched its bug bounty program to tap into the collective wisdom of the site's 750 million users.
"We hire the best and brightest, and have implemented numerous protocols," Sullivan wrote. "We realize, though, that there are many talented and well-intentioned security experts around the world who don't work for Facebook."

Sony Ericsson Announcements: New Xperia Neo V & All 2011 Xperia Phones Getting 2.3.4

Sony Ericsson just announced a new Android phone that looks pretty impressive. They unveiled the Xperia Neo V and, although most of their phones have been rather drab for a while, they are apparently stepping up their game now. The phone has some decent specs and is actually fairly attractive as well:

• "Facebook inside Xperia"
• "3D sweep panorama" feature = records and plays 3D when connected to a 3D TV's HDMI input
• Available in white, blue or silver
• 3.7-inch display at 480x854 resolution
• Reality display powered by Sony's Mobile Bravia Engine
• Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread
• Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8255 processor at 1GHz
• 5MP rear camera
• VA front-facing camera
• 320MB internal storage
• 2GB microSD card included

Motorola Titanium Announced, Available For SouthernLINC

Motorola brought out this rugged device at CES, and just recently, finally made it available for SouthernLINC users. The super rugged device that meets MilSpec 810G for dust, shock, vibration, low pressure, solar radiation, high temperature and low temperature just hit the shelves. The device comes with push-to-talk, as well as Android 2.1, and Motorola's Blur user interface.

The device comes with a $149.99 price tag for the people willing to sign 2 years of their loyalty with the southern carrier. Reducing the contracted period means you can also add $100 to the total price.

[Exclusive] Droid Bionic Amazing CostCo Deal $299 Includes Extra Battery, Dock & More

We have an exclusive for you today. One of our tipster/sources let us know that CostCo will be offering an amazing exclusive deal on the Droid Bionic. The price is the same as through Verizon, $299.99 on contract, but with that you also get an extra Battery, a charger for that battery, a Docking Station and a Navigation Dock included! Supposedly, they will be receiving their displays on September 8th, and the phone soon thereafter.

EVo 3D Now Getting Updated Again

The Evo3D had a few issues with the last few updates it received, but word on the street is, this one is good. Users have reported improved 4G strength, better battery life, and louder speakers.

TouchDroid Team Hitting Rough Patch

Millions of people went out to stores to buy HP's TouchPad that was recently un-canceled, but it seems the guys that wanted Android on it are having issues. The team is not having issues software wise, but apparently the porters are not getting along as well as we would like. A few days ago the guys had a big fallout that included name calling, but most importantly, splitting the team into two. This means we are likely to see results either come around with half the sped it would have taken before, or twice the speed thanks to competition.

Nonetheless, its sad to see a team that was once working on the greater good for humanity go down the drain like that

HTC Holiday caught again The Wild, 4.5 inches of LTE heading for AT&T

HTC Holiday, gets caught on camera. Engadget got their hands on some pictures and the specs, and it looks like another hit for HTC.

Some of the Specs are:

• 4.5 inch qHD display
• 1.2GHz CPU (of the dual-core variety, natch)
• Full Gigabyte of RAM
• Android 2.3.4
• Sense 3.0.
• LTE radio, which should be AT&T's first handset using the new 4G network

Looking forward to more from this phone and how it performs!!!

[Rumor] Verizon Droid Prime Time! Exclusive in Oct; The Real Reason No SGS2

According to a rumored source at BGR, the real reason Verizon passed up the Samsung Galaxy S II was because they will be exclusively getting the Samsung Droid/Nexus Prime in October. If this is true, that actually makes a lot of sense. Why carry another Samsung phone that would compete directly with an exclusive flagship like the Droid Prime?

Apparently, under Verizon this new device, with model number SCH-i515, will be called the Droid Prime instead of the Nexus Prime. Furthermore, it is rumored that the phone will be the first phone to come with Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich. Additionally, BGR's source said, “Verizon doesn’t think the Samsung GALAXY S II will be competitive with the iPhone 5 when it launches.”

[Rumor] Amazon Android Tablet Coming in Sept/Oct Hundreds Cheaper than iPad2

There is a new rumor about the Amazon Android tablet, or tablets as the case happens to be. Supposedly, according to a New York Post report, Amazon may be bringing not just one but two tablets to market sometime in September or October. Furthermore, these variants may come in a low-end and high-end variety, although Amazon's definition of "low-end" is anything but... The low-end device will most likely run NVIDIA's dual-core Tegra 2 chip. It will be codenamed "Coyote" and be "hundreds less" than the iPad2. The High-end tablet will be codenamed the "Hollywood", and may come with the NVIDIA quad-core chip known as "Kal-El." The tablets will both be running highly customized Android versions with deep Amazon integration like the Amazon Appstore, the Kindle eBook store, and more.

Nokia announces Symbian Belle alongside three new devices

True to Monday's teaser, Nokia unveiled its latest update to the Symbian OS as well as a few new devices. Belle is indeed coming, and it's heading to the Nokia 700, 701 and 600 in the third quarter of this year. The successor to Anna brings NFC sharing and pairing functionality to the table, along with three additional home screens (bumped up to six), a dynamic lock screen, live widgets in five different sizes, and a pull-down taskbar and notification menu. Fortunately, the new handsets announced today aren't the only beneficiaries of the upgrade: the N8, E6, E7, X7, C7, C6-01 and Oro will all get Belle at a yet-unknown later date. Join us after the break as we go more into detail on the three phones announced today

Sony debuts the Handycam NEX-VG20

Add another model to the gadget deluge that was last night's Sony camera announcements. The electronics giant debuted the NEX-VG20, the followup to the admittedly snazzy NEX-VG10. The new interchangeable lens camcorder does full HD video and can capture 16 megapixel stills (including RAW support). The Handycam also rocks a three-inch LCD that can be rotated 270 degrees and a mic that supports stereo and 5.1 channel surround recordings. The camcorder will hit stores in November for $2,199 with an SEL18-200 F3.5-6.3 E-mount lens and $1,599 for just the body.

Microsoft showcases new copy, move, rename functions in Windows 8

Windows 8 has yet to see the light of day, but new details on the forthcoming OS continue to emerge. The most recent preview once again comes courtesy of Microsoft's Building Windows 8 blog, where the company has posted new information on the software's copy, move, rename and delete functions. With the new system, all pending copy operations will appear in one dialog, where users can pause, stop and resume any job, while monitoring data transfer rates on a real-time throughput graph (pictured above). Redmond's developers have also made it easier to resolve file name collisions, with a new dialog that displays thumbnail images of source files directly alongside preexisting documents of the same name. This allows users to decide which files they'd like to copy or replace by simply hovering their mouse over the image to see its file path, or double clicking it to open in full view. For more information, check out the demo video that's waiting for you after the break.

ITK's Handroid: a softer, gentler robotic hand

Most robotic hands are built with a series of individual motors in each joint, making them heavy, expensive and prone to gripping everything with the subtlety of a vice. Japan's ITK thinks it's solved those problems with Handroid -- designed with cords that mimic the muscles in our meat-paws. No motors mean it's far lighter than the standard Terminator design, and it's controlled with a glove that allows it to mirror the operator's movement as it happens. ITK wants to sell Handroid for the bargain price of $6,500 by 2013 for use in environments too dangerous for humans, but because it's so light and cheap it could also see use as a medical prosthesis. You can see how the device works in the video after the break.

BBM Music gets official for BlackBerry owners lusting after Spotify

Nothing warms our hearts quite like the thought of corporate suits and government workers pumping out the tunes of Iris DeMent and Amy Martin as they scurry throughout their busy days. As we've previously speculated, a new service for BlackBerry Messenger -- dubbed BBM Music -- has now become real official. For $5 per month, users may keep up to 50 songs in their personal library, which is kinda reminiscent of the wistful days filled with 128MB MP3 players. Fortunately, it gets better. A social component allows you to add BBM Music friends, which gives you access to their current 50 songs, too -- and serves as a real incentive to grow your social circle. Once you get bored of your jam selection, up to 25 songs per month can be swapped out for new ones, and your current library can be stored locally on the handset. The new service begins today in closed beta for residents of the US, Canada and the UK, but more countries will be added down the road. Curious if yours made the list? Just hop the break for the full PR to find out.

Talk O' Clock makes alarm clocks more social, strangers more friendly

Alarm clocks have been developing more and more unique ways to wake people up over the years, but being woken up by a stranger has always been something of a difficult proposition. Sure, you can use an old fashioned wake-up call service, but then you still sort of "know" who's calling you. Not so with the Talk O' Clock service -- soon to be available for Android and iOS devices, in addition to the current web-based app -- which relies on the power of social networking to ensure that a complete stranger calls to wake you from your slumber. Yes, it is real -- and, yes, you should proceed with caution (although you can at least rest assured that the person calling you doesn't actually see your phone number). It's still at the invite-only beta stage right now, but those seem to be readily available to anyone with a Facebook account. See how it works in the videos after the break.

Sony Vaio Z gets the in-house teardown treatment

Another official teardown, another predictable revelation: the new Sony Vaio Z's viscera are thinner, flatter and, er, more compressed than those of its predecessor. But at least this dissection is performed by an actual Vaio engineer who ought to know his stuff. In the video after the break, Shinji Oguchi explains how cooling was improved using a range of tricks, like aerating the laptop's guts via holes in the keyboard. He also splits open the innovative external media dock, which connects via Intel's Light Peak technology and uses a discrete GPU to give the Vaio Z some gaming oomph. Finally, there's a separate, speeded-up video of Shinji putting the whole thing back together again from memory. The poor guy must be sick of it by now.

BlackBerry to run Android apps on future QNX devices?

One of the biggest gripes from BlackBerry users is the lack of apps, which is why RIM hopes to boost sales by adding Android compatibility in future devices -- DroidBerry, anyone? According to Bloomberg, sources familiar with the matter say RIM may add support for Android apps on future QNX-based devices, enabling access beyond RIM's relatively limited App World. The feature is said to go live in the QNX-powered PlayBook tablet by the end of the year, but there's no word yet whether the 2012 line-up of QNX phones will get a Google-friendly makeover. Rumor has it that anyone who bought the most recent batch of BlackBerrys won't get to have a taste of Gingerbread, Honeycomb or any other mouth-watering Android flavor for that matter. Guess they'll have to settle for plain old vanilla.

SanDisk launches $50 Sansa Clip Zip MP3 player, makes for a cheap workout date

If you've been working out with help from tunes on your Sansa Clip MP3 player or Sansa Clip+, chances are you've gotten a bit trimmer -- and you're not the only one. SanDisk's launched a thinner and upgraded version of its song slinger, the Sansa Clip Zip MP3 player. The newest incarnation plays all standard major music formats, comes in red, blue, black, orange, white, grey and purple, and has 4GB or 8GB worth of storage with room for more via microSD. It's launching in Europe next month, but is currently available in both the US and Canada for $50 and $70 depending upon how many jams you want it to hold. Thanks to its massive 1.1-inch display, the Clip claims 15 hours of battery life, which should be just enough time to keep up with your daily workouts, right? Jog on over to the full PR after the break.

Acer unveils TravelMate 8481T laptop for the all-business crowd

Globetrotting financiers have a new companion to slot into their briefcases, now that Acer has taken the wraps off its TravelMate Timeline 8481T notebook. Powered by an Intel Core i5 processor and weighing in at 3.7 pounds, this little guy boasts a 14-inch, 1366 x 768 LCD that's been engineered to fit within a 13-inch footprint, thanks to a frameless, bezel-trimming design. The latest addition to the TravelMate 8481 family also boasts 4GB of DDR3 memory (or 8GB, if you upgrade) and a 320GB SATA hard drive, along with the usual collection of WiFi, Bluetooth and USB 3.0 capabilities -- all packed within a slim, 0.87-inch thick frame. The laptop is expected to start shipping in "early September" for $1,000, but you can find more details in the full PR that's sitting after the break.

AMD 990FX motherboards from Asus, ASRock and Gigabyte get rounded up and ranked

HotHardware just herded up a trio of new mainboards equipped with AMD's 990FX chipset, which will support those famed 8-core Bulldozer-based processors when they finally arrive, as well as being compatible with existing Phenom II and Athlon II chips. All the boards had similarly high performance, good connectivity and plenty of overclocking and tweaking potential. However, the $229 Asus CrossHair V Formula inched its way to overall victory thanks to its reliability, attractive build and smart layout. The ASRock Fatal1ty 990FX Professional placed second despite being cheaper at $200 and having richer connectivity, including FireWire and a front-mountable USB 3.0 panel. Finally, the Gigabyte 990FXA-UD7 lagged behind due to its excessive $250 price tag, a lack of color coding to help guide less experienced builders, plus an ugly and outdated BIOS utility. So, there you have it: if you want to gear up for your next Bulldozer-ready AMD build, the Asus and ASRock 990FX boards are ripe for picking. Check out the source link for the full comparisons and benchmarks.

Sony Ericsson updates Xperia line with the latest Gingerbread goods

Android update junkies are in for a treat from Sony Ericsson. The handset maker's serving up the freshest batch of Gingerbread to its Xperia line of smartphones starting this October. Bundled in to this 2.3.4 rollout are a bunch of OEM enhancements, bringing along deeper Facebook integration that'll let you like and share your app discoveries with friends, and "3D sweep panorama technology," so you can snap those self-portraits for 3DTV viewing. SE's also thrown in a native screen capture function and, of course, there's Google Talk with Video Chat. The Neo V will be the first phone out of the launch gate with these baked-in tweaks, but if you've got a beefier Xperia device, it's probably better just to wait.

Drift HD helmet cam review

What a difference a year makes, yeah? 13 months ago, we were giving Drift Innovation's latest helmet cam (the HD170) a run through the gauntlet, and now, we're giving that unit's proper successor the same treatment. The simply-named Drift HD action camera is largely the same type of device, albeit one that's 25 percent shorter (this one's just four inches long) and offers a replaceable lens. Moreover, there's a waterproof casing that's on the way, though said shell wasn't ready during our testing phase. The company managed to include a 300-degree rotating lens (complete with a 170-degree field of view) and a couple of capture options: 1080p/30fps and 720p/60fps. The concept should be well-ingrained into the head of technophiles by this point: if you're looking for a camera to mount upside your noggin' (or on your vehicle of choice), this is what you're after. But is the new and improved Drift HD capable of taking on the GoPros of the world while justifying its $369 asking price?

Samsung's IFA app unveils Galaxy Tab 7.7, Wave 3 and Galaxy Note

We're about a week away from this year's IFA, but that's no reason for the tech teases to dry up. According to a report on This Is My Next, a bevy of product logos from Sammy's Android trade show app were unearthed by a tipster searching for clues in the APK. Among the soon-to-be unveiled products are the new Galaxy Tab 7.7, Wave 3 and Galaxy Note. While we've haven't heard much about the Note, we aren't really surprised to see a 7.7-inch (we assume) iteration of the OEM's popular Honeycomb tablet and an update to its Bada OS-running Wave smartphone line. Not to worry folks, you won't have to live with the suspense for long -- we'll be reporting live from Berlin before you know it.

Fossil's Meta Watch passes the FCC, your magic wristwatch fantasies are about to come true

Fossil's Meta Watch has been beset with delays and defective parts but finally there's good news -- the watches have passed the FCC. The two models (analog and digital) can sync with your Android smartphone or tablet via a Texas Instruments CC2560 Bluetooth controller and are being sold as a "development platform" until enough apps are built to take advantage of the technology. T.I.'s website lists the watches as being available since August 22nd, although we're not entirely sure what to make of that -- it still looks like a pre-order situation to us. In any case, the devices should hopefully start reaching app developers pretty soon. Hey, how about using the internal gyroscopes to bring some genuine wrist-flapping action to Angry Birds?

Olympus PEN E-PM1 Mini gets a $500 price tag, September release date

Remember that cute little Micro Four Thirds camera that Olympus unveiled in June? Well, we just got word that the PEN E-PM1 Mini will ship next month, with an equally petite $500 price tag -- including a 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens. The company is positioning the 12.3 megapixel camera as an upgrade for point-and-shoot users, as "the easiest PEN to use," thanks to a new, simpler user interface and 23 Scene-Select modes. Still, the E-PM1 is a very capable interchangeable lens camera (ILC), and includes a 3-inch 460k-dot LCD, 1080i HD video capture, RAW shooting and a maximum sensitivity of ISO 12,800, along with Manual, Aperture Priority, and Shutter Priority shooting modes. The Mini will be available in purple, pink, brown, white, silver, and black -- our color of choice. Jump past the break for the full scoop from Olympus.

playGo USB does wireless audio slightly cheaper than a Sonos

Audiophiles wanting to wirelessly liberate their music from desktop speakers have a tough choice -- buy a $99 Airport Express, which uses a less-than-ideal 3.5mm line-out jack, or spend big on a Sonos. Bicom's playGo USB is the new cord cutting kid on the block, and it's aiming for the middle slice of that market. For $450 you get a transmission unit which connects via microUSB to your computer and a receiver that connects to your HiFi with RCA or Optical cables. Song streaming couldn't be easier, the two have a range of 75 feet and pair up automatically over the 2.4 GHz band to send 24-bit sound to your beloved home audio kit. To stand out from the crowd, the playGo is hewn from Corian (yes, the stuff used for kitchen counter tops) and has a layer of LEDs to add some color to your musical experience. It's currently on sale for $400, but let's be honest -- you can't put a price on freedom from wires, can you?

Panasonic Lumix FX90 point-and-shoot packs built-in WiFi, Android / iPhone app compatibility

For many photographers, in-camera WiFi may be an attractive feature before you leave the store, but confusing setup and limited functionality reduce its appeal once you actually go and try to use it. Panasonic sets out to better take advantage of wireless connectivity with its Lumix FX90, adding Android and iPhone app support for transferring pictures and video directly to a mobile device, then uploading them to Lumix Club -- a cloud-based photo-sharing service -- and on to Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc. You can also share photos directly from the camera -- a dedicated WiFi button launches a menu prompting you to select a sharing service -- but app support brings the added benefit of your phone's data connection. Beyond those new wireless features, the FX90 includes a 12 megapixel CCD sensor, 5x, 24-120mm optical zoom lens, 3-inch touchscreen, and 1080i AVCHD video capture. The FX90 will ship this fall with pricing yet to be announced, but jump past the break for the full rundown from Panasonic in the meantime.

LG and GM team up to build next generation of electric cars

Abbreviation loving multinationals Lucky Goldstar and General Motors have entered into an "Electric Vehicle Cooperation" agreement to build the next generation of EVs. The partnership follows a successful dating phase where LG supplied the batteries for the Chevy Volt. Now, teams from both companies will collaborate on key components, vehicle structures and architectures -- which we take to mean that it's a more substantial proposition than just battery sharing. The plan is to meet the new US fuel economy targets by 2025, so the design phase for the new autos will kick off soon. Let's hope this new venture bears some fruit that's faster than a flying banana.