Sir James Dyson is on a mission to tick as many boxes as possible with the hetero male demographic. He starts out well, bolting the “world’s fastest motor” to a gun-shaped instrument of cleanliness. The product pages advertise 10 minutes of “high constant suction,” and the top model is named the Animal, but the fact is it’s still a vacuum cleaner. The motor is a direct descendant of the one found in the Airblade, with rotational speed jumping from 88K to 104K RPM. Dyson has said he hopes to harness the technology in other devices, including electric cars, giving credence to previously discredited rumors to that effect. Beyond the read link you will find a picture of the tiny speed demon in the loving hands of its inventor.

[Via Tech Digest]

Filed under: Household

Dyson speeds up ‘world’s fastest motor,’ gives it some fancy packaging originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Alright, so you’ve no doubt seen plenty of Palm Pre reviews by this point (even if there’s only one you really need), but we’re guessing you haven’t seen one quite like this one from PreCentral forum user Michael Bunker, who has been using the phone completely off the grid for the past three weeks (if you don’t count the cell service, that is). Among other things, Bunker found that the Pre was particularly helpful for selling cows over the internet, keeping watch on any oncoming tornadoes, checking for the cheapest gas prices in the nearby towns, and catching up on the odd TV show (since he doesn’t have an actual TV). Of course, he does also have a few complaints about the phone, including the familiar refrain of hoping to “see some more apps.” Hit up the link below for the full review.

[Via PreCentral.net]

Filed under: Cellphones

Palm Pre finds fan off the grid originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s no surprise that Dell’s been dipping its toes in Android-infested waters as of late, and now the Wall Street Journal’s reasserting a previous claim from early April that the company’s hard at work on a MID powered by Google’s mobile OS platform. Multiple sources have reportedly likened it to a slightly larger iPod touch, while one went so far as to suggest a very tentative second half 2009 target release window, assuming the project doesn’t get 187′d before then. Despite its history with Intel and the chipmaker’s penchant for MIDs, the report pegs ARM as the processor of choice. As for how this jibes with rumors of Dell’s smartphone plans, that’s where things get interesting, as WSJ quotes a source who said Dell’s thinking about selling it through cell carriers like it’s currently doing with 3G-equipped netbooks. The article repeatedly calls it a MID — meaning a phone might still be in the cards, but given past whispers, it kind of makes you wonder.

Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops

Dell working on iPod touch-esque Android MID, says WSJ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS has taken a pretty basic USB Blu-ray drive and given it a fine veneer of high-gloss looks. The SBC-04B1S-U isn’t fancy stuff — 4.8x maximum Blu-ray disc reading, 8x DVD burning, a USB 2.0 connection, and Windows (but not OS X) compatibility. The bright blue ‘X’ on the side also flashes and has a dedicated app just to control its brightness. None of this will help, of course, when the strobing ‘X’ attracts the attention of the entire underground world of paranormal conspiracy theorists to your bedroom as if you threw up the alien Bat-Signal — but, you know, whatever. There’s no word yet on pricing or availability for this attractive, skinny dude.

[Via SlashGear]

Filed under: Home Entertainment

ASUS unleashes USB 2.0 Blu-ray drive — government denies knowledge originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS has taken a pretty basic USB Blu-ray drive and given it a fine veneer of high-gloss looks. The SBC-04B1S-U isn’t fancy stuff — 4.8x maximum Blu-ray disc reading, 8x DVD burning, a USB 2.0 connection, and Windows (but not OS X) compatibility. The bright blue ‘X’ on the side also flashes and has a dedicated app just to control its brightness. None of this will help, of course, when the strobing ‘X’ attracts the attention of the entire underground world of paranormal conspiracy theorists to your bedroom as if you threw up the alien Bat-Signal — but, you know, whatever. There’s no word yet on pricing or availability for this attractive, skinny dude.

[Via SlashGear]

Filed under: Home Entertainment

ASUS unleashes USB 2.0 Blu-ray drive — government denies knowledge originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Robots and other devices linked to social networking sites aren’t exactly anything new, but few have been in the form of tiny robot penguins, and even fewer have been tiny robot penguins with hats. That bit of mold-breaking comes courtesy of upstart Arimaz of Switzerland, which is now busy showing off its MyDeskFriend “Facebook companion” that’s set for release this September. As you can see in the video after the break, the bot is able to mosey about your desk without falling off and react to your voice like any good robot, but its real secret is that it can connect to Facebook and read your messages, or even be controlled (some may say tormented) by your real Facebook friends. Look for it to run $99 when it’s released.

[Via Technabob]

Continue reading MyDeskFriend robot penguin will link to Facebook, be a true friend

Filed under: Robots

MyDeskFriend robot penguin will link to Facebook, be a true friend originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Put down that bowl of homemade granola and take heed, citizens of Portland: you’re about to get a first crack at Comcast’s High-Speed 2go service, and we don’t want any of your excuses about “taking a tech sabbatical” or “getting lost in the wilderness” to keep you away from sweet, sweet broadband bundles. Based on Clearwire’s WiMAX service, Comcast High-Speed 2go is available in a “Fast Pack Metro” bundle which packs home internet service, a WiFi router and the WiMAX for $50 a month, with another $20 tacking on nationwide Sprint 3G (along with the appropriate 3G / WiMAX combo card). Existing Triple Play customers can add the WiMAX by itself for $30. Comcast plans to launch similar service in Atlanta, Chicago, and Philadelphia before the end of 2009.

Filed under: Wireless

Comcast launches High-Speed 2go WiMax service tomorrow in Portland, other cities to follow by end of year originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Home automation industry folks, heads up: the ZigBee Alliance has announced the development of a Green Power feature set, which is the first step in creating a global standard technology for energy harvesting devices. When it becomes available sometime at the end of 2009, you and your fellow ZigBee Alliance members will finally be able to create and market self-powered whatsits that communicate on ZigBee and ZigBee PRO networks. Here’s hoping that NEC takes full advantage of this for the next iteration of its award-winning Carbon Ball game! Full PR after the break.

Continue reading ZigBee Alliances developing Green Power standards for energy harvesting devices

Filed under: Household

ZigBee Alliances developing Green Power standards for energy harvesting devices originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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And he’s back, folks. Six months after Steve Jobs took a medical leave from Apple due to health reasons, the company has announced that he’s back on the job, working a “few days a week” on the Apple campus and from home the remainder. Of course, we’d been hearing of Steve’s continual involvement in “key aspects” of Apple’s business for a while now, so this seems like more of a rubber stamp on the status quo than a major change, but now that it’s official we’re sure the questions from shareholders and other interested parties regarding Steve’s health will only grow louder and more insistent — especially given the news of his liver transplant earlier this year. We’ll see how Apple decides to handle the situation when the time comes — until then, we’re just thankful that he’s returned and is doing well.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Steve Jobs back to work at Apple originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We don’t know exactly what’s new yet, but Palm’s released firmware version 1.0.4 for Pres on Sprint (not to say there are any other Pres out there at the moment, anyhow). Stay tuned for details.

Update: Looks like the only changes here address security vulnerabilities — and interestingly, Palm gives a shout-out to Townsend Ladd Harris (a Pre homebrewer no less) who helped find them. Cheers to that.

Update 2: Sadly, Palm’s plugged the hole that allowed homebrew apps on the phone without a jailbreak, though software you’ve already installed on the phone will continue to work. The hole that’s been plugged was admittedly dangerous to leave open (installing apps via a link in email), though rooting and installing otherwise remain unchanged as far as we know.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Palm Pre gets upgraded to 1.0.4 (update: homebrew installs via email dead for now) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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