slash-gear

Gadgets

2010-05-29T04:40:00.001-07:00

Nexus one, Htc bravo, Nokia e72, N97 Mini, Htc hd2, slashgear, iphone os 4.0, droid 2.1 update, iphone 4.0, htc supersonic, motorola shadow, ipad, iphone 4.0, notion ink adam, notion ink, htc hero, ratchet and clank bundle - psp, htc desire vs nexus one, notion ink, nokia n87, t410s, motorola backflip review, htc hero android 2.1, nexus one, ipod touch 3g, samsung impression, acer revo r3610, google nexus one accessories, mini review, notion ink, htc hd2 review, sprint mifi, htc hero update, plantronics 975, archos 9 pc tablet, acer revo r3610, Acer accessories, hp accessories, ps3 slimline, macbook, Apple ipad, Xbox, Itab, Android'

AirVolt Wireless Phone Charger

2010-05-15T06:08:00.000-07:00

Wouldn’t it be easier if you can charge you mobile phone simply by placing it on top of your charger instead of plugging it in. It would surely be quite convenient never having to struggle with using a conventional charger where you have to connect the wires on your mobile phone for it to charge. There’s the AirVolt Wireless Phone Charger that may now change the way you charge your phone.
The AirVolt Wireless Phone Charger can charge up your mobile phone by simply placing the device on top of its base. Thanks to induction technology, the AirVolt Wireless Phone Charger easily charges your mobile phone and automatically powers off when it is fully charged. It is compatible with the iPhone 3G and 3GS models and comes with an extra USB port for an extra gadget. The AirVolt Wireless Phone Charger is available at ThinkGeek for US$50.
Image Source: ThinkGeek

Wacom DTU-2231 and DTU-1631 interactive pen displays now available

2010-05-14T05:47:00.000-07:00

Back in February Wacom first announced its new DTU-2231 and DTU-1631 interactive pen displays. The company pegged the launch date as this spring at the time and we heard nothing else about the displays until now.

The two interactive open displays are now available to purchase. In case you don’t recall, the 21.5-inch DTU-2231 display has a resolution of 1920 x 1080. The 1631 has a 15.6-inch screen with a resolution of 1366 x 768. The two screen share several other features.
Both have a cordless pen that needs no batteries. The pen has 512 levels of pressure sensitivity and it features a tip switch. A pair of side switches are available that are customizable as well. Both have USB hubs and offer video pass-thru. The 2231 will sell for $1899 and the 1631 goes for $1249.
source:slashgear.com

iBUYPOWER offers new LAN Warrior II gaming PC

2010-05-14T05:43:00.000-07:00

iBUYPOWER is a maker of all sorts of gaming computers with notebooks and desktops among its offerings. The machines are available in a bunch of different price ranges with all the hardware that a gamer would want regardless of if they prefer Intel or AMD based machines.

The company has announced a new gaming PC called the LAN Warrior II that is designed for the gamer who likes to go to LAN parties and wants a more compact gaming PC that is luggable and still wants performance. The rig is crammed inside the new NZXT Vulcan micro ATX chassis with a carry handle. The case itself is 40% smaller than full tower cases.
Pricing for the machine starts at $999 and it uses a variety of Intel Core i7 CPUs, up to 24GB of RAM, and can have dual high-end ATI or NVIDIA video cards. The machine comes with a robust air cooling system with multiple fans and a liquid cooling option is coming soon.

Panasonic shows off Viera TVs with built-in Blu-ray and sets with integrated HDDs

2010-05-14T05:38:00.000-07:00

Panasonic has unveiled some new HDTVs in Japan that include models with integrated Blu-ray players and versions that sport integrated HDDs as will. The Blu-ray sets are the most interesting and included the 37-inch TH-L37R2B and the 32-inch TH-L32R2B. The 37-inch version will sell for about 240,000 yen.

Both sport full 1080p resolution and have integrated HDDs that can record programs. The Japanese translation leaves a lot to be desired, but it appears the sets can write recorded programs to optical media. Panasonic also pulled the wraps off new LCD and plasma sets with screens of 42-inches, 46-inches, and 50-inches in the plasma line and 37-inches, 32-inches, and 19-inches in the LCD line.
The sets have 1080p resolution except for the 32-inch and 19-inch LCD sets, which only have 720p resolution. The line has internal storage of 500GB with the exception of the 19-inch set with a 250GB HDD. Pricing runs from 100,000 to 390,000 yen in Japan.

AMD Phenom II X4 960T delayed?

2010-05-14T05:35:00.000-07:00

AMD is doing well with its new X6 and X4 Phenom II processors as computer fans and enthusiasts that are looking for overclocking friendly CPUs at low prices flock to the new offerings. One of the CPUs that has been rumored to be cancelled for the new series is the AMD Phenom II X4 960T.

Stories have surfaced that have claimed AMD decided to cancel the processor. eTeknix cites a source that claims AMD has not cancelled the CPU, only delayed the part. The CPU is expected to be an overclocking friendly part aimed at OEM customers.
The source didn’t shed any light on when exactly the CPU would land on the market or what sort of pricing it will have. eTeknix also reports that the CPU is expected to be paired with a mainboard at OEMs that doesn’t support overclocking and unlocked cores despite the fact that the CPU is capable.
source:slashgear.com

Dell debuts Studio XPS 7100 desktop computer

2010-05-14T05:32:00.000-07:00

Dell has announced a new Studio XPS computer today that can be equipped with the recently introduced AMD Phenom II X6 CPU with Turbo Core technology. The company is called the Studio XPS 7100. Dell is also offering machines with other new AMD quad-core Athlon II processors.

The new machines are aimed at 3D gaming and multimedia users. The XPS 7100 is packed with features like a 460W PSU promising enough power for expansion in the future. The rig can be fitted with 16GB of DDR3 RAM and up to 4TB of storage space.
Connectivity features include eSATA, optical SPDIF, HDMI, and more. The machine has a memory card reader and supports SATA 6GB/s HDDs. Pricing for the Studio XPS 7100 start at $499 but will go up quickly depending on the options chosen.

BGRMods brings IntensaFIRE to PS3 controllers

2010-05-14T05:28:00.000-07:00

Last year we talked a bit about the BGRMods IntensaFIRE for the Xbox 360 gaming system. The device is a controller hack that makes the controller fire faster. This thing is sort of like cheating in my book. Still, if you liked the device for the Xbox 360, but wished they had one for the PS3 good news.

BGRMods has announced that the IntensaFIRE is now available for the PS3. The device is a small hardware chip with a ribbon cable that you have to install inside your controller. The device plugs into the controller without needing any solder or glue to keep it in place.
The hardware device measures 9/16 x 9/16 of an inch and will sell for $69.95. IT works with dual Shock controllers and lets the controller have rapid fire R1, R2, L1, and X buttons. The chips is said to be compatible with all games. It will ship on May 21 and get a formal unveil at E3.
source:slashgear.com

RadioShack announces EVO 4G pre-orders

2010-05-14T05:21:00.000-07:00

RadioShack has over the last year or so turned itself into one of the biggest resellers of mobile phones from a variety of carriers around. Many folks in areas that have 4G coverage from Sprint have been anxiously waiting for the EVO 4G to land. The device is the first 4G smartphone offered on the Sprint network.RadioShack has now announced that it will start taking pre-orders on the EVO 4G on May 14, which is today for those of you not keeping up. The handset will land in RadioShack stores on June 4. To pre-order the device users have to go into a store and buy a special $50 gift card.
That gift card is used towards the purchase price of the handset. When the card is purchased, the user also sets up a time to pick up the phone and get it activated for use. RadioShack has specially trained experts on the EVO 4G in its stores to teach buyers how to use the device.
source:slashgear.com

Nokia n97

2010-05-12T01:29:00.000-07:00

Introduction

The Nokia army of touchscreen smartphones gets larger by the hour and the Nokia N97 mini is surely one of the most interesting new recruits. The Finnish company has obviously reconsidered its priories and now focuses on optimization, rather than expansion with its flagships.

The original Nokia N97 was the first sign of that as it hardly offered any ground-breaking features, instead relaying on the good all-round performance. However the first high-end S60 touchscreen handset left enough room for another similar handset in the portfolio and Nokia feel that its downsized version is enough to fill the gap.

Key features

Slide-n-tilt 3.2" 16M-color resistive touchscreen of 640 x 360 pixel resolution
5 megapixel autofocus camera with dual-LED flash and VGA@30fps video recording
Symbian OS 9.4 with S60 5th edition UI with kinetic scrolling
Slide-out three-row full QWERTY keyboard
ARM 11 434MHz CPU and 128 MB of RAM
Quad-band GSM and tri-band 3G with 3.6Mbps HSDPA support
Wi-Fi and GPS with A-GPS
Digital compass
8GB onboard storage
microSD card slot with microSDHC support
Built-in accelerometer
3.5 mm audio jack and TV-out
Stereo FM Radio with RDS
microUSB port (charging) and stereo Bluetooth v2.0
Web browser has full Flash and Java support
Nice audio reproduction quality
Office document viewer

Main disadvantages

The S60 touch UI is still inconsistent
Outdated camera interface and features
No DivX or XviD video support out-of-the-box
No smart dialing
No office document editing (without a paid upgrade)
No camera lens protection
No FM transmitter (though that may be stretching it too far)

Nokia N97 mini vs Nokia N97

More compact (113 x 52.5 x 14.2 mm, 75 cc vs 117.2 x 55.3 x 15.9 mm, 88 cc)
Lighter (138g vs 150g)
Smaller display (3.2" vs 3.5")
Less internal memory (8GB vs 32GB)
Smaller battery (1200 mAh vs 1500 mAh)
No lens cover
No FM transmitter
Arrow keys vs D-pad

The N97 mini has quite a task on its hands, constantly being compared to the moe high ranking Nokia N97 even though it comes later to the market. As usually happens in such cases, the price difference that would have been present if both handsets were launched simultaneously is reduced and the balance of powers has shifted.

2010-05-12T01:19:00.000-07:00

The SanDisk 16GB MicroSDHC Nexus One Memory Card - (OEM) SDSDQ-016G-P36M is an essential accessory for any PDA or Smartphone user. The card has 16GB of digital storage for music, movies, programs, photos, and much more. Reliable and fast, give your Nexus One plenty of room with the SanDisk microSDHC 16GB Memory Card.
SanDisk 16GB MicroSDHC Nexus One Memory Card - (OEM) SDSDQ-016G-P36M Features:

High storage capacity (16GB) for storing essential digital content such as high quality photos, videos, music and more
Speed performance rating: Class 2 (based on SD 2.00 Specification)
Built to last, with an operating shock rating of 2,000Gs, equivalent to a ten-foot drop **
SanDisk microSDHC 16GB card ships with Micro Reader
High speed USB 2.0 compatible transfer rates
Backed by 5 year limited warranty by SanDisk
Compatible with Windows Vista and certified to work with both Windows XP and Mac OS X

Additional Information:

Manufacturer: SANDISK MicroSD
Manufacturer SKU: SDSDQ-016G-P36M
UPC Code: 619659052799
Weight: 0.05 kgs
Not all devices support microSDHC 16GB cards. Please contact your device manufacturer for details. To ensure compatibility, look for the microSDHC logo on the product or packaging of your new phone or PDA.

Compatible with:
Nexus OneOther cell phones that accept 16gb microSDHC cards**Based on SanDisk internal testing

Nexus one Micro USB Data cable

2010-05-12T01:07:00.001-07:00

Sync your phone to your PC with the Nexus One Micro USB Data Cable. This data cable allows you to transfer and synchronize your contact list, messages, calendar, pictures, and many more. Depending on your phone, this data cable can even allow you to use your phone as a modem to access the web on your PC.
Nexus One Micro USB Data Cable Features:

Transfer and sync your phone to your PC or laptop
Web access is accessible to compatible phones

Additional Information

Please note that the data cable does not come with drivers or software, check with your cell phone provider or manufacturer for the latest drivers, which is necessary to allow transfer of files to your device. Some functions may not be available for certain phones, please check with your phone’s manufacturer. Talkietech.com does not offer software support for data cables.

Compatible with:
Nexus One

Nexus one USB data cable

2010-05-12T01:06:00.000-07:00

Nexus One data cables allow you to transfer data between your Nexus One and your computer. Backup or synchronize your contact list, calendar, music and notes with one of our Nexus One data cables. Unleash the full potential of your Nexus One and take advantage of all the Nexus One features with any one of our Nexus One data cables. Add ringtones, images, wallpapers and your favorite mp3s to your Nexus One to personalize your cell phone. *Some functions are software dependent and may not be available for all phones

Nexus One Batteries

2010-05-12T01:04:00.000-07:00

The Nexus One Seidio Spring Holster - (OEM) HLHNX1AS holds your device securely in place, and then lifts for quick access. Both the felt liner and the face-in design protect your screen from scratches and exposure to outside elements. This holster can be worn in any one of seven different positions, ranging between horizontal and vertical.
Nexus One Seidio Spring Holster - (OEM) HLHNX1AS Features:

Unique spring clip lifts for quick access and easy removal
Adjustable swivel belt clip with 7 rotating angles
Felt liner and face-in design protect your phone from outside elements
Our signature soft touch coating provides a smooth feel
Easy access to connectors and function keys
Face-In provides LCD protection

Additional Information

This holster does not include a screen protector. Add a screen protector to your order: Nexus One Screen Protectors
Purchase a replacement belt clip for this case:

Compatible with:
Nexus One

Nexus One Batteries

2010-05-12T01:01:00.000-07:00

The BlueAnt Supertooth 3 Bluetooth Car Speaker allows you to talk hands free on your phone while driving. This small, portable Bluetooth car speaker utilizes a sophistiatced text-to-speech software to announce the name or number of the caller. To accept the call would only require a simple “Ok” command and it would not be necessary to take your hands off the wheel or your eyes off the road. Advanced digital signal processing software eliminates noise and provides outstanding audio quality, regardless of whether the car is stationary or traveling at high speed. BlueAnt Supertooth 3 Bluetooth Car Speaker Features:

Talk hands free on your phone while driving
Text to Speech: the Supertooth 3 announces the caller’s name or number
True handsfree: simply say “Answer”, “OK”, or “Accept Call”
Automatic reconnection when you get back into the car
Full Digital Signal Processor provides noise and echo cancellation
Full duplex, high performance speaker
Pairs with up to 8 bluetooth devices
Voice dialing
Bluetooth 2.0 Headset and Handsfree Profiles
Operates up to 33 feet from the phone
Up to 15 hours talk time; 800 hours standby

Compatible with:
Any Phone with Bluetooth Capability

Nexus One Mugen Powered 3200mAh Battery with Battery Door

2010-05-12T00:56:00.000-07:00

For a phone enthusiast, the Nexus One Mugen Powered 3200mAh Battery with Battery Door will prove to a most valuable accessory. This extremely powerful battery carries twice the capacity of the original battery of the phone. The li-polymer battery guarantees significantly longer talk and stand-by times. A larger battery door is included to accommodate the size of the battery.
Nexus One Mugen Powered 3200mAh Battery with Battery Door Features:

Has twice the capacity of the original battery
Longer stand-by and talk times
Larger battery door included to accommodate the battery’s size

Additional Information

Battery capacity: 3200mAh

Compatible with:
Nexus One

Nexus One Batteries

2010-05-12T00:52:00.000-07:00

Extend the battery life of your Nexus One cell phone with one of our HTC original or aftermarket Nexus One batteries. Carry an additional battery as a spare or replace an old batteries, in either case you can be sure that you'll receive the highest quality Nexus One batteries in the market. Increase talk-time and standby time on your Nexus One with our selection of batteries. Each of our Nexus One batteries are tested to ensure superior performance and reliability. Our Nexus One batteries use the latest lithium-ion technology to deliver accurate and reliable power to your Nexus One. We offer high-quality batteries for the Nexus One at cheap, discounted prices.
source : slashgear.com

Windows Phone 7 vs Apple iPhone

2010-05-11T02:38:00.000-07:00

Kevin Hoffman is an enterprise programmer who straddles two worlds: Windows, including Windows Mobile and now Windows Phone 7, and Apple iPhone. His day job is chief systems architect for Oak Leaf Waste Management, where he focuses on mobile and cloud application development.
"Every framework has advantages and disadvantages," he says. "You can't make blanket statements that one is better than the other; you have to qualify it."
He has extensive background in Windows development, and writes The .Net Addict's Blog, where he's currently writing about his Windows Phone 7
experience. He has co-authored several books, including WPF Windows Presentation Foundation Control Development Unleashed. Hoffman also has a page at Amazon's website.
But until recently he's also been editor-in-chief of Sys-Con's iPhone Developer's Journal, and does contract work writing iPhone apps. He has presented at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference, comparing programming for iPhone and for Microsoft .NET Compact Framework.
We caught up with him to ask him his impressions of Windows Phone 7 (WP7) and the differences and similarities between that platform and iPhone.
Given your background, how does WP7 stack up against iPhone?
In the market of high end mobile applications, iPhone has had a monopoly until now. If you have to choose a target device [for your applications], you choose the one with the most users. The iPhone has that.

Now Microsoft is in that market, with a device [platform] that does everything the iPhone does and some things it doesn't. But from pure developer standpoint, I think in general, especially for people new to mobile development, it will be easier to build apps for Windows Phone.
Why?
Mainly because development is lower level on the iPhone than on Windows Phone 7. For example, memory is not managed for you on iPhone but it is for WP7. So there will be inherently less crashes, and developers [therefore] can spend more time on what they want their app to do rather than tracking down memory leaks.
Because of Silverlight [Microsoft's interactive web application environment] and XNA [for developing games on Windows and Xbox], of all these available design tools, including Microsoft tools that let you import directly from Photoshop and Illustrator, all of this means that people can go directly into a WP7 development cycle. You don't get the same kind of design experience from the iPhone.

Source: techworld

Google Android surpasses iPhone in U.S.

2010-05-11T02:29:00.000-07:00

Google's Android operating system edged out Apple's iPhone operating system for the No. 2 spot in the U.S. consumer smartphone market in the first quarter, research firm NPD Group reported Monday.
According to NPD, devices running Android accounted for 28 percent of the units sold to U.S. consumers in the first quarter of 2010. BlackBerry devices made by Research In Motion, which use RIM's homegrown operating system, took the top spot with 36 percent of the U.S. market. Apple's iPhone, which had been in the No. 2 spot previously, fell to third place with 21 percent of the market

This chart shows the sharp growth in Google Android phones among consumers in the U.S. market compared to other smartphone operating systems.

(Credit: NPD Group)

PD's figures are based on self-reported consumer surveys and they estimate the number of devices sold to consumers. The figures do not include sales of devices to business customers through enterprise contracts. Android is an operating system that is available on several different models of phones made by different manufacturers, such as Motorola, HTC, and Samsung. Meanwhile, Apple's operating system is used only on Apple's own iPhone.
Ross Rubin, an analyst with NPD, attributed the strong growth in Android to the fact that devices using Android software are now available on all major U.S.
carrier networks. Verizon Wireless, in particular, has helped fuel success for the operating system. Verizon launched a major marketing campaign for devices, such as the Motorola Droid, last year. And Verizon, the largest U.S. wireless operator, has also been including Android devices in its buy-one-get-one free smartphone promotion. T-Mobile USA also features Android phones as its flagship smartphones, and AT&T has begun selling Android phones.
"The wireless carriers in the U.S. are still the king makers in the mobile market," said Rubin. "Verizon in particular is what is making the Android so successful right now with its promotions and marketing."
Rubin said that strong sales of the Motorola Droid, HTC Droid Eris, and RIM's Blackberry Curve via these promotions have helped keep Verizon's smartphone sales on par with AT&T in the first quarter. NPD's data suggests that smartphone sales at AT&T account for nearly a third of the entire smartphone market, about 32 percent. Verizon Wireless accounted for 30 percent of smartphone sales. T-Mobile made up 17 percent of all smartphone sales and Sprint brought in 15 percent of all smartphone sales.
There is no question that Apple's iPhone is still very popular. Last month, AT&T reported that it had activated about 900,000 iPhones for new customers during the first quarter. It also sold another 1.8 million iPhones to people who were already AT&T customers. Without the iPhone, AT&T's subscriber growth for contract customers would have been negative.
But the NPD findings suggest that sales of the phone could be even higher in the U.S. if the device was available on other carrier networks, such as Verizon Wireless. Reports surfaced in March that the iPhone could be coming to Verizon soon. But definite plans for a Verizon iPhone have still not been announced.
"If the iPhone was available today on Verizon, Apple would certainly grow market share," Rubin said. "But it's harder to say what will happen in the long term. It's difficult to know what the feature-set will look like on phones in a year. But it's clear the iPhone still has enough cachet today to pick up market share."

What's Causing The Apple iPad 3G Shortage?

2010-05-11T02:22:00.000-07:00

If you're planning to trot down to your local Apple Store this weekend and buy a shiny new iPad 3G, don't bother. Apple's retail outlets across the U.S. have already sold out of the 3G models, which went on sale just last week.
Apple Insider first reported the shortages Thursday. And on Friday more than a dozen Apple Stores, including ones in Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco, said they're fresh out of 3G models, according to Business Week. Apple is allowing customers to put their names on a waiting list, however.
My local Apple Store in suburban Los Angeles gave me the same bad news when I phoned Friday afternoon. A store clerk said he didn't know when new iPad 3G models would arrive, and added that the Wi-Fi models were limited to the low-end 16GB unit priced at $499.
Why The Shortage?
Obviously, the iPad has been a smashing success. Apple on Monday announced it had already sold 1 million iPads just 28 days after the tablet's launch. By comparison, the iPhone was on the market 74 days before reaching the million mark. It's possible the iPad's popularity surpassed Apple's rosiest sales predictions, hence the temporary shortage.
Theory two: Apple is preparing to launch the iPad internationally. The tablet will debut May 28 in nine countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. In July, it'll arrive in Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore. The U.S. shortage may be a result of Apple stockpiling iPads for its international markets, thereby assuring a steadily supply of tablets across the globe.
Some analysts believe the shortage may caused by a shortage of touchsceens used on the iPad, Business Week reports.
And then there's the cynic's view: There are plenty of iPads, but Apple has constricted supply to create an artificial shortage, thereby assuring news coverage and heightening an already insatiable consumer demand.
So what's your theory?

Wait — did Obama just diss the iPad?

2010-05-11T01:35:00.000-07:00

President Obama's commencement speech Sunday at Hampton University caused a little stir in tech circles after he took a swipe at some of our favorite toys — "iPods and iPads and PlayStations and Xboxes" — for turning "information" into a "distraction, a diversion, a form of entertainment." Oh, and he admitted that he doesn't know how to make any of them "work," either. Shocking!
Here's the passage of Obama's 2,000-word speech, delivered at the historically black college in Hampton, Va., that got the blogosphere all a-twitter (sorry, couldn't resist):

Sonos update turns wireless S5 speaker into a premium 'stereo pair'

2010-05-10T03:52:00.000-07:00

The ZonePlayer S5 launch was an important milestone for Sonos as it attempts to bring down the cost (and raise the appeal) of its excellent whole-home music delivery system. Now we've got a bit of good news for those of you who already picked up a few of the $399 all-in-one wireless speakers we reviewed back in October. A 3.2 software update for the Sonos controller and iPod touch / iPhone apps will be released sometime this month letting you assign left and right audio channels to a pair of S5 speakers. The result should be impressive since the portable units can already easily fill the average room with sound on their own. The update will provide owners of multiple S5s with a temporary option for parties, especially if you decide to take the show outdoors... assuming you can still celebrate knowing that you're listening to two-channel audio on $800 worth of speakers. Hey, at least the software update is free.

What Hi-Fi

MacBook Air feeling the wind of change?

2010-05-10T03:46:00.000-07:00

A tipster who apparently correctly predicted the recent MacBook Pro refresh has alerted Australian Macworld to a new SKU making its way through Apple's systems down under. According to said "well-placed" source, the MC516LL/A K87 BETTER BTR-USA code string identifies an incoming batch of all-new MacBook Air laptops. This makes all the sense in the world given the recent hubbub about Intel offering ULV versions of its 32nm Core 2010 processors and the Air's
overdue need for an upgrade, but there is the proviso that this could also be referring to shipments of new 27-inch LCDs, to match the ones found on the latest iMac generation. Either way, we're looking at some unannounced hardware rapidly making its way to Australia. Hey, doesn't Apple make a habit of announcing new goodies on Tuesdays?

MacRumors

Macworld.com.au

Nintendo 3DS handheld to offer switchable 2D mode, thankfully

2010-05-10T03:42:00.000-07:00

It was pretty much implied when "backward compatibility" was listed as a feature of Nintendo's new 3DS handheld back in March. But it's good to hear that 3D gameplay can be easily switched off, direct from Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, when headaches or nausea set in during marathon sessions. This should also ease concerns from parents over any adverse effects that long term exposure to parallax barrier gameplay could have on their children's developing eyes. Besides, a 2D mode is desirable in that we expect it to offer a brighter image (especially when viewing off-center), better text reading experience, and a wider angle of view for sharing the display.

Now, we know what you're wondering: what about that new 3.4-inch glasses-less 3D touchscreen display from Sharp, is it 2D switchable? Yup, lending more credibility that we'll see it on the 3DS when the handheld gaming console is fully revealed at E3 next month.

Eurogamer

Forbes

Archos' 7-inch Android tablet to debut in June

2010-05-10T01:24:00.001-07:00

With all the hubbub over Apple and the iPad, longtime PMP (personal media player) and tablet maker Archos has been stuck on the sidelines, jumping up and down and shouting, "Hey — we make tablets, too!" Well, Archos has something new to crow about — the Archos 7 Home Tablet, which the company is billing as "the first large-screen Android-based tablet."
Of course, there are other names working on Android tablets; Dell reportedly has a couple teed up for later this year, and Samsung is rumored to have its own Android tablet in the works. All very enticing, but it's looking like we'll have to wait at least several months for the Dell and Samsung versions to arrive, while the Archos 7 Home Tablet (first announced back in March — and no, I haven't seen it in person yet) should be in stores in June. (Amazon is already taking pre-orders and is promising a May shipping date.)

Archos already came out with a 5-inch Android device last fall, but it's clearly hoping to make some waves with its 7-inch, more tablet-y model, which boasts a 600MHz ARM 9 processor (not bad, but not quite a 1GHz screamer, either), Wi-Fi, a USB port (take that, iPad), and enough battery life for seven hours of video or 44 hours of music playback.

The most intriguing feature of the 0.8-pound, 0.47-inch-thick Archos 7 would appear to be that it runs on the Android OS — except that, as Electronista points out, we're only talking version 1.6 of Android, not the current 2.1 version.

And here's another downside: No access to the 50,000-plus apps on the Android Marketplace. Instead, you'll have to settle for the custom apps on Archos' own AppLibs storefront. Bummer.

Finally, the 7 Home Tablet's 800-by-480 touchscreen only uses resistive technology, which registers taps when the user presses layers of plastic together — good for a stylus but typically a bit squishy when it comes to fingertips. (Most other Android devices, not to mention the iPhone and the iPad, use ultra-responsive capacitive touchscreens, which register taps via the electric charge of your skin.)

That said, keep in mind that the 8GB version of the Archos 7 Home Tablet goes for just $199, versus $499 for the cheapest iPad. Could be a good option for bargain hunters.
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