Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Thursday, September 18, 2008

OS X-installing EFi-X now shipping for $155

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/395305082/

After a few false starts, the OS X-installing EFi-X dongle is finally shipping to consumers. Currently, two versions are up for grabs: the USB V1 for the average joe / jane and the USB V2 Developers Unit for, well, developers. In short, plugging this gem into your PC will enable select systems to install OS X, but we'd take a hard look at the fine print (and certified systems) before blindly plunking down $155 and hoping for the best.

[Via MacRumors, thanks Joseph]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lenovo rolls out bundle of new enviro-minded ThinkVision monitors

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/395329918/

Filed under: Displays

Lenovo's already kicked out a pair of low-end ThinkVision monitors that promise to do their small part for the environment, and it's now finally expanded that enviro-mindedness to some of its higher-end offerings. At the very top of the heap is the 24-inch L2440x (pictured above), which boasts the usual 1920x1200 and some less-than-common white LED backlighting, which is apparently a first for a Lenovo monitor. Those looking to keep things fluorescent-backed can also opt for the otherwise identical L2440p, or you can drop down to the 22-inch L2240p monitor, which also scales the resolution back to 1680 x 1050. Rounding out the latest offerings are the 17-inch L1700p and 19-inch L1940p, which unsurprisingly offer the biggest energy savings and, like the other models, also pack less mercury content than your usual LCD monitor. Look for the whole lot of them to be available by the end of this month, with prices ranging from $230 to $750.

[Via DesktopReview.com, thanks Jake]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Iomega's 320GB eGo Helium external HDD is quite sleek, silver

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/395358470/

Filed under: Storage

Iomega went out of its way to make sure you really, really understood that this here external hard drive would go nicely with your MacBook Air, but we'd prefer to see it as something that could slip right into just about any traveler's briefcase. The anodized aluminum shell measures in at just 0.63-inches thick, weighs 7-ounces and packs a 320GB 2.5-inch hard drive within. Additionally, the unit comes formatted with Apple's HFS+ file system, features the company's own Drop Guard design to protect it from falls of up to 1.3-meters (and not a nanometer more), and gets all the juice it needs from a spare (or only, in the MBA's case) USB 2.0 port. It'll be available across the globe next month for $149.99.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nokia details Maemo 5 OS, hints at next-gen Internet Tablets

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/395435385/

Filed under: Handhelds

Nokia's always had big plans for the open-source Maemo internet tablet OS that powers devices like the N810, and it just spilled some more details about the upcoming release of Maemo 5 -- and provided some hints on what's in store for the Internet Tablet line in the process. The biggest ticket item seems to be 3G connectivity over HSPA, but new support for the TI OMAP3 processor should mean faster devices with better graphics, and Nokia's also promising "high-def" cameras with photo-sharing features. All this work on the Linux-based OS means that Nokia is now a Gold Sponsor of the Linux Foundation, and it's already contributed the HSPA OMAP3 code back to the project -- hooray for sharing. Of course, what we really want to know is when to expect the actual release of an updated Internet Tablet, but Nokia just says it'll be out "when it's ready."

[Thanks, Ryan]

Read - Nokia Maemo announcement
Read - Maemo 5 liveblog

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Google invites ASUS to join Open Handset Alliance

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/395449553/

Filed under: Cellphones

We're not sure if its recent spate of handset announcements had anything to do with it or not, but it looks like Google has now asked ASUS to join the Open Handset Alliance, an invitation that we're assuming ASUS expected to accept (or else we probably wouldn't be hearing about it). Apparently, Google is interested in working with ASUS due to its "brand recognition worldwide," although neither party seems to be making any sort of official comments just yet. Knowing ASUS, however, we're sure it'll find some way to work its Eee brand into the picture before all is said and done. Eee Phone, anyone?

[Via VentureBeat, thanks Michael Y]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments