Engadget

Samsung's low-power 128GB SSDs go mass production on the cheap

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:14:00 EST

Filed under: Storage

Good news on the SSD front. Samsung is now mass producing its 1.8- and 2.5-inch SSDs in both 64GB and 128GB capacities. And since these SATA II SSDs are based on MLC -- 64 MLC NAND flash chips of 16 gigabits each in the 9.5-mm thick 128GB SSD -- you can expect them to be cheap by comparison to SLC-based SSDs and faster by comparison to traditional laptop hard disk drives while lasting about 20 times longer than the expected 4-5 year life span of that mechanical spinner. We're talking 70MB/s writes and 90MB/s reads and power consumption rated at just 0.2-watts idle or 0.5 watts when active -- far less than any of the models (including the SSDs tested by LAPTOP) tested by Tom's which should help put any battery consumption concerns to rest. Heaping happy on top of good, Samsung tells us to expect the 256GB SSD to go mass production by the end of the year. Clap clap clap.

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GM crafting cars from Spanish sun

Tim Stevens — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:42:00 EST

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Transportation

The rain in Spain may fall mainly on the plain, but the summer sun drenches the entire country nearly every day. General Motors intends to make the most of it, covering the roof of its largest manufacturing plant in Europe with 85,000 solar panels, a whopping 2,000,000 square feet of them. That's 10 megawatts of clean electricity, enough to power 4,600 households -- or to build a bunch of Opel sub-compacts. What's not consumed by the robots on the assembly line will be sold back to the grid, funding future rooftop installations at 19 other locations across Europe. We're thinking GM should maybe invest a little of that into powering the cars themselves via solar, or risk getting beaten to the punch by Toyota again.

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D-Link DSM-330 DivX Connected media streamer now shipping in the U.S.

Richard Lawler — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:05:00 EST

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

The D-Link MediaLounge DSM-330 is finally shipping to U.S. media streaming heads fiending for its 1080p upconverting, Divx/Xvid streaming abilities, although our excitement is dimmed a bit by all the competition that's popped up since we first laid eyes on the GejBox, and Stage6 falling by the wayside certainly doesn't help. That said, DivX has been on an upswing as of late, so the launch of its first Connected hardware couldn't come a moment to soon. Unfortunately MKV support isn't part of the package yet, but for $299 it does handle quite a few formats. Interested U.S. buyers should be able to find out if it matches up to Popcorn Hour's A-100 now, with Canadian distribution following shortly. Check after the break for the press release and the rest of the details.

Continue reading D-Link DSM-330 DivX Connected media streamer now shipping in the U.S.

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BlackBerry Thunder's keyboard rumored to be totally awesome

Joshua Topolsky — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:02:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

According to the folks over at CrackBerry (who, let's be honest, might be a little biased when it comes to a certain brand of cellphone), Research In Motion's upcoming touchscreen phone -- the infamous Thunder -- will feature a virtual keyboard so realistic you'll swear you're sitting in front of 1986 IBM Model M. CrackBerry says "reliable sources" have told them that the device's screen will utilize a number of advanced technologies to create such an effect, including localized haptic feedback, which allows the screen to be literally pushed in while rewarding you with a vibration and click sound, and the option of a full QWERTY or SureType layout (depending on the phone's orientation). We can't speculate too much until we handle the device ourselves, but we're expecting this thing to blow our minds out through the front of our heads. That's not asking too much, is it RIM?

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Walt Mossberg reviews the iPhone 3G, isn't that impressed (now with more David Pogue and Ed Baig!)

Joshua Topolsky — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:44:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Well this was bound to happen. Ahead of schedule, Walt Mossberg has turned his official review of the new iPhone 3G, and we've got the recap. On the whole, Walt stays mostly positive about the device; he likes the form factor (which he wants to stress really hasn't changed much), says the 3G speeds are a big improvement over EDGE (no kidding?), and informs us that the audio quality and phone reception are -- thankfully -- improved all around. Downsides? There are plenty. Mossberg takes issue with AT&T's new pricing policy, which he finds steep, says he barely squeezed 4 hours and 27 minutes of talk time out of the battery, and gripes that you can only sync Exchange or personal calendars and contacts -- not both. If you're like us, you'll probably want to just read the whole thing. Too lazy? Check the video after the break.

Update: David Pogue of the New York Times has also turned in a kinda-sorta review of the iPhone 3G, though it reads more like an overview of its features than a honest-to-goodness critique. He also makes passing reference to the GPS antenna being "too small" to function as a proper GPS, which makes roughly zero sense to us. Feel free to figure it out on your own.

Update 2: Can't forget Ed Baig of USA Today, who says the new model is "worth the wait" (not to say we have any option at this point anyway, seeing how hard it is to find an original anywhere). He seemed to have trouble picking up 3G service in some locations, though it's not clear whether that can be chalked up to technical issues with the handset or a lack of coverage where he was testing. Like the others, Baig discovered a noticeable improvement in audio quality and a noticeable hit in battery life when hooked up to the 3G network. Gotta pay to play, we guess.

Continue reading Walt Mossberg reviews the iPhone 3G, isn't that impressed (now with more David Pogue and Ed Baig!)

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ASUS UK helps us sort out the Eee PC lineup, forgets to help

Nilay Patel — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:02:00 EST

Filed under: Laptops

Alright, raise your hand if the deluge of minor new Eee PC models like yesterday's random launch of a 16GB 900 has you totally befuddled. Yeah, that's what we thought -- and apparently what ASUS UK thinks, too, because a new chart listing all the various Eee configurations is up on its site. One problem though: it's also confusing as hell. Just the first two rows are an insane mish-mash of model numbers and pre-loaded operating systems, and we're loving the unlabeled row at the bottom that marks all the Linux machines as "XP Compatible." Thanks, ASUS. All that said, however, it does look like the 901 still the Eee to buy -- so maybe it's time to start trimming this ridiculous list down, guys.

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Nokia's Haptikos tactile feedback tech revealed in patent application

Joshua Fruhlinger — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:05:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

It's been a while since we've heard anything about Nokia's Haptikos tactile touch screen technology, but with the unearthing of some juicy patent details, we finally know what's going on here. Basically, the tech uses layers under the touchscreen to allow control of surface roughness and friction. The patent describes a "plurality of closely space voltage controllable protruberances" that can raise or lower based on where the user is touching the screen, resulting in what feels like resistance and tactile feedback. Filled with fluid, the protruberances increase fiction and help users feel like they're actually touching something rather than poking at a plane of glass. No word on any devices with the new haptic tech, but we wouldn't be surprised to see this show up in some of their new touchy-feely handsets in the near future.

[Via Unwired View]

Read - Patent Application (warning: PDF)

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US iPhone 3G gets unboxed and handled

Joshua Topolsky — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:26:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

Continuing this day of iPhone 3G impropriety, the Boy Genius has somehow secured himself a brand-spanking-new iPhone 3G, and has unboxed it for all the world to see. First off, our condolences to the AT&T or Apple employee who will probably lose their job over this one, and then a tip of the hat to BGR for pulling off such a daring stunt. The pictures, however, should be less exciting (since we've been seeing a lot of these today) -- still, nice to know what you're about to get into! We've included a few more shots after the break.

Continue reading US iPhone 3G gets unboxed and handled

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Sharp-branded Willcom D4 MID gets examined, shown off on video

Donald Melanson — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:42:00 EST

Filed under: Handhelds

Willcom's Atom-based D4 MID has been out and about for a little while now, but the folks at Direct From Japan have now thankfully gotten their hands on a Sharp-branded version of the device and offered up some of their initial impressions by way of UMPC Portal, along with a video. On the upside, they say that size and weight of the device is "perfect for a big pocket," and that the screen quality and pixel density is "amazing." They also seem to have been particularly impressed by the dock, which'll let you charge a second battery, and by the device's rather unique touchpad on the side of the screen. They were less impressed by the hefty $1,200+ price tag (or more when you factor in the optional dock), however, and by the small keyboard, though we doubt many were expecting anything otherwise there. Those outside of Japan also won't be able to do much with the included W-SIM card but, if you're still curious about the device, you can check out the video after the break.

[Thanks, TareX]

Continue reading Sharp-branded Willcom D4 MID gets examined, shown off on video

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Skooba's TSA-approved bag -- for real this time

Nilay Patel — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:04:00 EST

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Laptops

Okay, third time's the charm -- here it is, a pre-production picture of the Skooba Checkthrough TSA-approved bag, direct from Skooba's CEO, Michael Hess. Michael got in touch after our last post to say that the Checkthrough will indeed be a multi-pocketed bag and have several unique and patented features, including a special 3-1-1 liquids compartment and a see-through window for rapid ID of contents. There's also a number of minor changes coming to the design, but no matter what, you should be able to get through security without having to take your laptop out of your bag. That's much more like it -- although now we actually kind of miss that gigantic nasty "Checkthrough" logo after all.

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Gemei ups the PMP / gaming ante with the X760+

Joshua Topolsky — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:14:00 EST

Filed under: Gaming, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Finally we can toss out that old, boring Gemei X760 we've been fooling around with, and step up to some legitimate action. That's right, the X760+ is on the scene, and that + isn't just for show. The new iteration of the Chinese-made PMP / game playing device boasts 4GB of onboard storage, a 3-inch, WQVGA screen, a 400MHz CPU, FM tuner, and a TV output. The handheld is capable of playing MP3, WMA, APE, RM, MPEG, FLV, AVI, and VOB files (amongst others), but the main selling point here seems to be its built-in ability to emulate the Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, as well as play "3D games." The price? 599 yuan (or about $87). Availability? Call an importer.

[Thanks, Raz]

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MSI finally ships the Wind

Darren Murph — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:51:00 EST

Filed under: Laptops

After weeks upon weeks of painstaking delays (okay, so maybe that's a stretch... maybe), MSI has finally started shipping the Wind to US customers. As you very well know, these buggers have been showing up everywhere across the pond, but we've just received word that Fry's, NewEgg, Amazon, ZipZoomFly, MWave and Buy.com are all sending units out as we speak for those that pre-ordered. Chime in below if you've just recently received a shipping notification (or, heaven forbid, if you're still waiting). Full release after the jump.

Continue reading MSI finally ships the Wind

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Pasen iTouch LE demo video does it again: makes us scream in apathy

Joshua Fruhlinger — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:20:00 EST

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Oh Pasen, how you entertain us so! In the company's latest update to the familiarly designed iTouch, the iTouch LE includes a new, faster JZ4732 chipset that they say allows the unit to play 30FPS, unconverted video with less strain on the battery. With 4GB of internal storage (memory card support up to 32GB), voice recording, and support for RM, RMVB, AVI, DIVX, FLV, DAT, ASF, MP4, WMV, 3GP, MPG, and SWF, this $79 unit may just be coming around on something good. The UI isn't any prettier than before, but at these prices, who's complaining? Spot the video after the break if you're still with us.

[Via PMP Today]

Continue reading Pasen iTouch LE demo video does it again: makes us scream in apathy

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ASUS looks to clear out Eee PC 900s with $100 rebate

Donald Melanson — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:51:00 EST

Filed under: Laptops

ASUS's newest, Atom-based 900 series Eee PCs may be fast approaching availability, but it looks like the company is still doing its best to get as many plain old Celeron-based Eee PC 900s out the door as possible, with it now offering up a $100 rebate on the already low-priced laptop. That brings the price down to $449, which is certainly a decent enough bargain compared to the $599 the updated Eee PC 901 will supposedly be going for -- Amazon price mix-ups notwithstanding. From the looks of it, both Amazon and ZaReason are offering in the rebate (good 'til July 31th) at the moment, but we'd expect the offer to start showing up at other retailers before too long as well.

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Mindset Six50 solar electric concept is light, green, and a bit homely

Joshua Fruhlinger — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:22:00 EST

Filed under: Transportation

As the big auto manufacturers scramble to come up with fuel-efficient alternatives for us gas addicts, smaller companies are swooping in with both concepts and production models. In the latter category, we have Mindset AG with the solar electric Six50 concept you see here. The 2+2 seater is designed to weigh just 1,764 pounds and measures about 13 feet long with a slab of solar panels over its haunches. Designer Mura Güntak expects the Six50 to run just about 62 miles per charge (although an optional generator can be added to extend this), do 0-60 in 7 seconds, and plans to roll out 10,000 of these bad boys by 2009 at the cost of $78,000 each.

[Via Inhabitat]

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Samsung unveils Aura and Eclipse Montevina-based laptops

Nilay Patel — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:53:00 EST

Filed under: Laptops

Montevina-based laptops are slowly but surely starting to trickle out, and Samsung's the latest to joint the party with a new Aura machine and the entirely new Eclipse line. The new R510 Aura sports a 15.4-inch screen, 2.53GHz T9400 Core 2 Duo on Montevina's 1066MHz bus with integrated X4500 graphics, 4GB of RAM, a dual-layer burner and a 320GB drive in a five-pound package, while the new Eclipse R710 17-inch desktop replacement sports a 2.53GHz P9500 Core 2 Duo and 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT graphics in a new case design with colorful accents. Rounding out the Eclipse line are the 12.1-inch Q210 and 13.3-inch Q310 (pictured), which are being billed as ultraportables. Both feature NVIDIA 256MB GeForce 9200M GS, 4GB of RAM, 320GB drives, and dual-layer burners in the new Eclipse case design, but the Q210 makes do with a 2.26GHz P8400 Core 2 Duo, while the larger Q310 gets a 2.4GHz chip. No pricing information is available yet, but scroll past the break for pictures of the other machines.

Read - Eclipse Q210 and Q310
Read - Eclipse R710
Read - Aura R510

Continue reading Samsung unveils Aura and Eclipse Montevina-based laptops

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Mio gets official with Knight Rider GPS unit

Donald Melanson — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:26:00 EST

Filed under: GPS

Mio has understandably not been very shy about showing off its new Knight Rider-themed GPS unit, but the company has now finally gotten its official business out of the way and provided all the details on the device's US launch. In case you somehow managed to miss it, the device itself is basically a mid-range Moov in disguise, with some red LEDs and, most importantly, William Daniels' instantly recognizable voice helping to make you feel just a little bit more like Michael Knight as you traverse the U.S. and Canada with the aid of the pre-loaded maps. As we had heard, however, you'll still have to wait until a bit later in this quarter to get your hands on one, when it'll set you back a reasonable $270.

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Sprint's Treo 800w manual goes online, all 436 spellbinding pages of it

Chris Ziegler — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Very rarely does a Palm handset go fully under the radar all the way through to the official announcement (if ever?), and now that we have a user's manual, we can pretty much declare the impending Treo 800w fully, completely, and utterly scooped. This is definitely the real deal, too, coming straight off Sprint's site -- not to say anyone would go to the trouble of faking their own -- and unveils no real surprises that we can see. The usual Windows Mobile 6.1 interface with Palm customizations, conservative styling (we're being generous there), and typical array of Sprint add-ons like Sprint TV are going to make this a safe, easy choice for the well-starched suit in your life, and that's about it. Not to say we have a problem with well-starched suits; Engadget corporate policy requires that we wear them at all times, actually. [Warning: PDF link]

[Thanks, Josh]

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Syntax-Brillian waves the white flag, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Darren Murph — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

So yeah, apparently that whole attempt to "streamline operations" back in April didn't go over so well, as Syntax-Brillian -- you know, that firm neck deep in panel partnerships and responsible for Olevia HDTVs -- has just filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Arizona-based company has also "entered into a deal to sell certain of its assets to a newly created company called Olevia International Group LLC," which has agreed to pick up some $60 million of its secured debt. We're also told that operations in Tempe have ceased, and "about eight employees" (including the finance chief, general counsel and finance staff) are sticking around with nothing better to do.

[Thanks, Paul]

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TomTom's two-way HD Traffic GPS unit clears the FCC

Donald Melanson — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:34:00 EST

Filed under: Gaming

TomTom's two-way, Dash-like HD Traffic GPS device has been helping European drivers help each other for some time now, and it looks like it could now possibly be headed to the US as well, although that's still not quite a sure thing. It has cleared one of the major hurdles on that trip though, with it recently sailing through the FCC with flying colors. No word on any changes to the device itself though, so we can presume that, if and when it gets here, you'll still get the same 4.3-inch LCD, 1GB of storage and all-important SIM card as our European friends, which promises to help stack up the unit with 5x the traffic updates and 10x the road coverage of typical traffic systems.

[Thanks, Rich]

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iPhone 3G breaks cover, shows up in Swiss store display

Joshua Topolsky — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

You probably saw this one coming, but with that massive slew of countries and partners Apple has wrangled for the new iPhone launch, that July 11th street date was bound to be neglected. So here you have it, courtesy of the french blog Gadget O'Mac, an iPhone 3G on display in a shop in Switzerland. While the shots may be blurry, we at least get to see this thing in the hands of someone other than an Apple employee, and coupled with that Portuguese leak, this should thoroughly whet your appetite for Friday. Check out a few more shots after the break.

[Thanks, Florence]

Continue reading iPhone 3G breaks cover, shows up in Swiss store display

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PhysX on ATI effort gets helping hand from NVIDIA

Donald Melanson — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:12:00 EST

Filed under: Gaming

Eran Badit of NGOHQ.com has already made some considerable progress getting PhysX to run on AMD hardware, and it looks like he's now getting a helping hand from a somewhat unexpected source, with NVIDIA itself reportedly giving the project its blessing. Apparently, NVIDIA has even gone so far as to invite Badit to join its developer program, which gives him access to documentation, SDKs and, most importantly, direct access to hardware and NVIDIA engineers, a move that Badit describes as "impressive, inspiring and motivating." Badit is decidedly less impressed by AMD, however, which has apparently been unwilling to provide with any hardware or support for the project. That stubborn stance, he surmises, can only be due to AMD's backing of Intel's Havok physics engine, which NVIDIA would no doubt like to have out of the picture (hence its willingness to help here).

[Via TG Daily]

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Acer rolls out the Aspire X1200 home theater-friendly mini PC for $450

Joshua Fruhlinger — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:49:00 EST

Filed under: Desktops, Home Entertainment

Always wanted to install a little computer into your home theater but none of the available options are cutting it, what with all the giant media files and HD displays you're rolling? Enter Acer's Aspire X1200, which for $450 includes on-board NVIDIA GeForce 8200 graphics, an AMD Athlon X2 2850e processor, and HDMI port. Acer promises full 7.1-channel audio support as well as the guts to work with H.264, VC1, and MPEG2 and the spunk to output 1080P. The whole shebang comes in a rack-friendly 10.6 x 4.0 x 14.4-inch enclosure. Of course, prices scale up to $699 based on your needs -- the latter coming with a 22-inch display -- but the base price will get you a 320GB SATA II drive and the start of what could be a sweet little home theater PC.

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The Wii Keyboard -- just exactly what the name suggests

Joshua Topolsky — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:24:00 EST

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Next time you sit down to write your Great American Novel, perhaps you should consider tapping the opus out on your Wii with Logic 3's weird and somewhat awful -- though excellently named -- Wii Keyboard. There's not much meat on these bones -- it's simply an add-on for Nintendo's console that allows you to type on a QWERTY pad rather than light-sabering all over your apartment to name your new Mii "Death Bringer." The 'board is due out July 18th (in the UK at least) and will nab a tidy £14.99 (or about $30).

[Thanks, John]

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First iPhone 3G caught in the wild, unboxed and handled

Joshua Topolsky — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:22:00 EST

Filed under: Cellphones

If you're a prospective iPhone 3G buyer, get ready to make a mess of your keyboard, desk, and any nearby objects that may be hit by spittle flying out of your mouth. Some lucky, lucky Portuguese man or woman has already had the pleasure of cracking open the box and booting up their new device. Feast your eyes on the above pic and one more after the break, and keep reminding yourself that you've only got three more days to wait.

Update: We've added a picture of the mysterious SIM removal tool -- the shroud of secrecy is lifted after the break.

[Thanks, siniux]

Continue reading First iPhone 3G caught in the wild, unboxed and handled

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Engadget HD reviews JVC's Everio HD40 HD camcorder

Darren Murph — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Finished digging through the gallery of hands-on shots, have you? If you've been hankering for a review of JVC's especially capacious GZ-HD40, Engadget HD has the goods. Head on over for the full spill.

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Canon's EOS Rebel XS DSLR gets official, a price tag

Joshua Topolsky — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:34:00 EST

Filed under: Digital Cameras

We've already seen and heard a handful concerning Canon's new entry-level DSLR, but now the company has finally given us some hard facts and figures to tear into like the rabid animals we are. The camera -- which ships in August -- will clock in at $699.99, and comes bundled with the EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens, rechargeable battery pack and charger, a handful of cables, and the assurance that your pictures will look markedly better than the ones you took with that camera you bought on vacation that was bright yellow and housed in cardboard. Check out the gallery below for a closer look at both the black and silver versions.

Gallery: Canon's EOS Rebel XS DSLR gets official, a price tag

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Eee box gets price and package details

Joshua Fruhlinger — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:32:00 EST

Filed under: Desktops

We know pretty much everything about Asus' Atom-powered Eee Box -- we even have a bevvy of pretty pictures -- but as of yet we didn't know exactly how much the little bugger was going to cost. Fret not, for we now can tell you that the Wii-like computer will cost £199 ($392) -- including keyboard and mouse -- and will pack an 80GB HDD and a DVI out. It will come with Windows XP Home pre-installed while those two USB ports are confirmed. No word yet on stateside pricing and release date, but we'll keep our eyes open.

[Thanks, Joe]

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Wizard escape pack: too late for MacGyver, too conceptual for Bauer

Darren Murph — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:46:00 EST

Filed under: Wearables

Nah, the Wizard isn't a reality just yet, but we can certainly envision this taking up its fair share of shelf space in the not-too-distant future. Dreamed up by the vivid imaginations at HJC Design, this emergency parachute pack would theoretically provide an "automated public safety solution with up to 250-meters of reciprocating lifeline technology." Beyond that, it seems like a pretty invigorating method of avoiding the elevator lines come quittin' time.

[Via Coolest-Gadgets]

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ST-2 shooting simulator keeps your aim sharp

Darren Murph — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:22:00 EST

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

And you thought using the HIPerSpace wall for GTA IV was overkill. Marksman Training Systems' ST-2 shooting simulator is touted as the "first simulator for shotgun and rifle shooting designed specifically for demanding users such as shooting instructors," and considering that the Russian and Slovakian national clay shooting teams have practiced on this very system in preparation for the Beijing Olympics, we'll be seeing just how effective it is here soon. Furthermore, this system allows hunters / huntresses to use their preferred weapon (via an attachable sensor) rather than some proprietary pistol, and the advanced diagnostics screen ensures that you know exactly why you missed that digital fowl. Looks like you'll have to inquire directly about pricing, but seriously, you don't want this taking the place of your home cinema... or do you?

[Via CrunchGear]

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Skooba makes with the pictures of TSA-friendly bags (update: not really)

Nilay Patel — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Laptops

The TSA got a lot of frequent travelers fairly excited a couple months ago when it announced that it was soliciting bag manufacturers for "checkpoint-friendly" designs that would allow laptop owners to leave their machines safely tucked away as they passed through security, but we didn't know what any of these bags would look like until now. As you'd expect, Skooba's first design, the Checkthrough, is pretty minimalist, in keeping with the requirements that approved bags not have any straps or zippers and not feature any space for items that could interfere with the X-ray image. That also means it's pretty useless if you only want to schlep one bag around, so it looks like we're stuck with the Bucket Dance for now -- hey TSA, would pockets on the sides be such a threat to our nation's security? Just a thought.

PS.- We're hoping against hope that nasty "Checkthrough" logo isn't actually printed on the bag, but given some of the TSA experiences we've had, we'd half expect it to be there as a cue for screeners let the bag pass through.

Update: Skooba's CEO let us know that this still isn't the checkthrough bag, just another illustration (sigh) and that the "the actual bag will be a full-featured, top-of the-line ballistic nylon business case, packed with cool and unique bells and whistles." Alright, so let's see it then.

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Drobo (second-gen) mini-review

Ryan Block — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:36:00 EST

Filed under: Peripherals, Storage

Despite its shortcomings, we were pretty into the original Drobo when it was launched about a year ago. Not only is it crazy easy to set up and get running, but being able to swap out drives and continuously expand your storage pool without completely replacing your array is obviously advantageous compared to traditional RAID arrays. So it kind of goes without saying that we were stoked to hear Data Robotics was launching a new Drobo, which promised FireWire 800, and quieter, faster operation.

We were kind of hoping they'd get it over with and build in Ethernet (or at least WiFi) connectivity instead of continuing to charge an extra $200 for the DroboShare add-on -- that it comes without left us with some mixed feelings. But then again, this new model doesn't cost any more than the first-gen product ($500), so we can't hold it too much against 'em -- and as we found, it is a fair amount faster (and significantly quieter) than its predecessor. Read on for more.

Gallery: Drobo (second-gen) mini-review

Continue reading Drobo (second-gen) mini-review

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