Meizu M8 mini One vs. iPhone... fight!

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/245394023/

Filed under: Cellphones, Features, Portable Audio, Portable Video

So we finally had the chance to lay palms to Meizu's M8 prototype. Better yet, we set it up side by side with it's muse, the Apple iPhone. Let's be clear, the prototype is not functional by any stretch of the imagination. It simply turns on and then slaps up one of three images representing the home screen, dialer, or media player depending upon which of the three physical buttons you press along the bottom of the main display. The capacitive touch panel does not work at all. While the physical components may or may not be in place, this is clearly a very early engineering sample. Having said that, Meizu claims that the hardware is complete and final -- they are only working on their Meizu OS tweaks to the Windows CE 6.0 base. However, the GUI and icon designs are pretty much locked in at this point with only minor changes expected before this hits China this August for a to be determined price. Unfortunately, Meizu is still working on their international deployment strategy (duh, they're looking to sign up distributors at CeBIT) so they are not willing to commit to any dates or prices. Gotta say, for all our justifiable M8 bashing, the mini One felt good in the hand and the additional hard buttons, 720 x 480 pixel display, 3 megapixel camera and likely el cheapo price tag have once again perked our interests. Still, it's a long way from it's original 3G HSDPA and kitchen-sink roots and a bit too late (GSM/EDGE in 6 months, Puh-leeze) at this point to be anything more than a novelty outside of China. Nevertheless, the development lifecycle has been fun to watch. Click through for the main features and specifications expected at launch. Video in a jiffy.

Update: Video now available

Gallery: Meizu M8 mini One vs. iPhone... fight!

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Video: reporter vs. the Air Force pain gun. Guess who wins.

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/245300372/

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

It's funny, no matter how many times we see some poor, hapless reporter getting wave after wave of pain washed over them like a cool summer storm, it really never gets old. We'd argue that this 60 Minutes clip of correspondent David Martin taking on the Air Force's Active Denial System (aka the pain gun) is possibly the best we've seen yet, and not just because this guy actually has some cred to lose (unlike that time Amanda Congdon took a taser). Oh, and a parting note to enemy combatants: bring your mattress into combat. You'll have a comfy spot to nap on before the pain gun shows up and you use it as a shield. Video after the break.

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Video: Meizu M8 mini One

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/245429220/

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

It's just three screens on a very early prototype, but for those of you who doubt Meizu's ability to bring the M8 to market, we give you -- the video. Sure, Meizu's just rendering three image files as opposed to any real processing. Nevertheless, there's plenty of catchy dialog to hold you over until these pups go live in China sometime around August. Who knew English as a second language could be so fun.

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Express Gate Adds "Instant Internet Access"

Express Gate Adds "Instant Internet Access"

The single new feature not found on previous P5E3 models is the Express Gate flash drive. Soldered directly to the PCB in place of a USB port found on previous models, it's preprogrammed with a Linux-based operating system that can be booted in less than five seconds.

The SplashTop operating system powers up before POST, offering "instant access" to an Internet browser and Skype. A timer gives the user ten seconds to make an alternative selection before the system moves to the POST screen. Three buttons near the bottom of the initiation screen allow users to bypass the timer for instant POST, jump directly to BIOS, or power the system off instantly.

Inside, users will find a GUI based on the Smart Common Input Method (SCIM) platform. It features various configuration options for the WiFi and dual Gigabit Ethernet controllers, plus the ability to set graphics resolutions of 800x600 through 1440x1050.

There's just enough flash memory to store configuration settings, but not downloads, so the Splashtop desktop should be well secured against most forms of malware.

Users not interested in Express Gate capabilities can disable the flash module from within the BIOS to further reduce boot times. Because the module isn't removable, there's no method for a builder to restore the functionality of the two-port USB 2.0 header beneath it.

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Greenhouse's 22-inch GH-JEF223SH-LB LCD monitor picks HDMI over DVI

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/245220255/

Filed under: Displays

Nothing too spectacular here, but Greenhouse has introduced an all new 22-inch LCD monitor over in Japan. Aside from the perfectly average WSXGA+ (1,680 x 1,050) resolution, 300 cd/m2 brightness, 1,000: contrast ratio and two-millisecond response time, the GH-JEF223SH-LB actually does away with DVI in favor of HDMI. Granted, there's still a VGA port in case you're in a pinch, but we would've preferred all three considering the somewhat steep ¥45,799 ($438) price tag.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

 

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