Whiz Reviews

Those Imagio rumors have proven to be deliciously correct, with Verizon officially announcing the beastly Windows Mobile 6.5 set for availability on October 6 -- the first day 6.5 devices will officially be available anywhere. HTC's latest CDMA device features a spacious wide VGA display clocking in at 3.6 inches, a 5 megapixel autofocus cam, quadband EDGE plus HSPA 2100 for when you're looking for a little connectivity abroad, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and the very latest iteration of TouchFLO 3D featuring social network integration, but the most interesting feature might be its support for MediaFLO-based VCAST TV -- a first for HTC and Windows Mobile. Interest parties need only wait until next Tuesday to latch onto an Imagio online, while retail stores will be taking delivery on the 20th of the month -- either way, you'll be paying $199.99 on contract after rebate.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

HTC Imagio launches on Verizon: WinMo 6.5 and VCAST TV on October 6 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This is totally out of left field, but TmoNews (which tends to have a pretty solid track record when it comes to all things T-Mobile) is claiming that "select" G1s will be receiving Android 1.6 "Donut" starting... well, right about now. So much for any lingering worries that the first retail Android device was being left high and dry, eh? If everything goes well, the rumor goes on to say that myTouch 3Gs would be getting their own over-the-air upgrade in about 24 hours -- and like the 1.5 update before it, it'd likely be a staggered rollout to make sure that T-Mobile doesn't brick a bazillion phones in one fell swoop. Any G1 owners out there seeing anything yet? This sounds awfully quick, especially considering that the Dev Phone 1 just took delivery of 1.6 a handful of hours ago -- but hey, if it's true, we like T-Mobile's hustle.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Android 1.6 getting pushed to G1s starting tonight, myTouch 3Gs in a day? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We've already seen plenty of leaked info about HP's upcoming Core i7-based dv8, but nothing beats an official specs page on a company's own server for proof, does it? Looks like this 18.4-inch monster will pack a 1.6GHz Core i7 processor (we're guessing that's the baseline speed, as Intel's Turbo tech will boost the max speed of a single core far higher), 4GB of RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GT230 graphics, and a LightScribe Blu-ray burner. Oh, and it'll weigh nearly nine pounds -- but that's a small price to pay, right?

[Thanks, Alexi]

Continue reading HP dv8 specs page goes live, confirms Core i7 processor

Filed under: Laptops

HP dv8 specs page goes live, confirms Core i7 processor originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell's 11.6-inch Inspiron 11z just went on sale last month, and already the outfit is opening up the options for those not entirely pleased with the single $399 model. Starting today, a $479 configuration is available to ship with a 250GB HDD and Vista Home Premium (with a Windows 7 upgrade, of course), and if that's still not enough, prospective customers can soon select their 11z in a variety of colors. We're talking Alpine White, Ice Blue, Jade Green, New Cherry Red, Passion Purple and Promise Pink, with the latter contributing $5 to breast cancer research. As for optional hardware upgrades, you can slot a dual-core Pentium SU1400 CPU in there alongside 4GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive. As of this very moment, Dell has yet to open up the CTO doors, but we're guessing an admin is on that as we speak. Right, Dell?

Filed under: Laptops

Dell adds dual-core SU1400 CPU, other options to Inspiron 11z originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We've long suspected that the Storm 2 would be bowing in the next couple months, within earshot of the original Storm's one-year anniversary -- and new evidence suggests that even if we can't get an actual device in October, we'll at least be able to make clicking sounds with our mouths as we amble around a non-functional display unit (you laugh, but it's our idea of a good Saturday night). Boy Genius Report has been slipped a Best Buy inventory screen -- a familiar sight in the phone scooping world -- that reports an in-stock date for Storm 2 dummies of October 25. Those dummy units can end up arriving before or after the actual phones, and considering that we've seen other evidence pointing to an October launch, this could be the real deal. Tao envy might be a problem by the time this hits, but we're sure there'll be a few folks willing to give RIM a mulligan on its touchscreen dealings.

[Via PhoneArena]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

BlackBerry Storm 2 dummies coming to Best Buy around October 25? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We've long suspected that the Storm 2 would be bowing in the next couple months, within earshot of the original Storm's one-year anniversary -- and new evidence suggests that even if we can't get an actual device in October, we'll at least be able to make clicking sounds with our mouths as we amble around a non-functional display unit (you laugh, but it's our idea of a good Saturday night). Boy Genius Report has been slipped a Best Buy inventory screen -- a familiar sight in the phone scooping world -- that reports an in-stock date for Storm 2 dummies of October 25. Those dummy units can end up arriving before or after the actual phones, and considering that we've seen other evidence pointing to an October launch, this could be the real deal. Tao envy might be a problem by the time this hits, but we're sure there'll be a few folks willing to give RIM a mulligan on its touchscreen dealings.

[Via PhoneArena]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

BlackBerry Storm 2 dummies coming to Best Buy around October 25? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Household

Chumby Guts kit lets you build your own Chumby device originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Household

Chumby Guts kit lets you build your own Chumby device originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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International musician and man-about-town Richie Hawtin has a track record of collaborating with Native Instruments on its DJ products, frequently putting stuff through its paces well before it's made available to the public at large -- and once again, the dude's been caught using some unknown gear at a show in Berlin. Seems like pretty much everyone and their mother has made a controller compatible with the company's Traktor line of software at this point save for Native Instruments itself, and that's where this new hotness comes into play -- check out the video after the break starting around 19 seconds, where you can clearly make out a couple NI-branded boxes allegedly designed to control two decks at a time (so a grand total of two, like Hawtin has here, would be enough to control a four-deck Traktor setup). We've heard rumors from inside the company that it'll be available for around $200, which would be extremely competitive for a pro-level box that's specifically matched to Traktor's capabilities. Even if you don't have the slightest urge to get on the decks at any point in your life, the lights sure are pretty, aren't they?

[Via Engadget German and De:Bug]

Continue reading Native Instruments working on a $200-ish Traktor controller, blinkenlights guaranteed

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Native Instruments working on a $200-ish Traktor controller, blinkenlights guaranteed originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Taser International's six-shot Shockwave demonstration

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Taser International's six-shot Shockwave demonstration originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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