iPhone 3G has a hidden data matrix code

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/396347040/

Filed under: Cellphones

fsjk85 at the Australian Whirlpool forums was playing around with his camcorder's NightShot function when he found something interesting -- a hidden data matrix code on the left side of the iPhone 3G. We're guessing that's where Apple imprints the serial and IMEI numbers of each handset since it can't exactly hide them under a removable battery (cough), but we'll leave it to the rest of you to decode this sneaky tag and solve the mystery once and for all.

Update: We just got a much higher-res image of the code -- check it after the break. [Thanks Ben]

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Archos Generation 5 players cracked

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/396389291/

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Archos' Generation 5 players may have been left in the dust by the shiny new Generation 6 players, but they still have quite the fan following, some of whom have been busily doing their best to get around Archos' stock software offerings. Now it seems that one of them, a member of the ArchosFans forums, has finally managed to crack things open by hacking the bootloader, which opens up a number of possibilities including the ability to remove the hard drive volume limitation. It also seems to have had the "side effect" of revealing a few plug-ins that had been previously hidden, including "Screen," and "C" (for Core) above, although they don't appear to be of much use. The workaround apparently won't work on players with a firmware version higher than 1.7.13 though, and there aren't exactly any clear instructions for modding your own just yet, but those that really know what they're doing can try to follow along by hitting up the read link below.

[Via Archos Lounge]

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Ion Audio SLIDES 2 PC does what it promises

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/396466868/

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Ion Audio has already provided some means for transferring your tapes and records to your PC, and it's now doing the same for the stacks of 35mm slides collecting dust in your closet. Not exactly the most unique device, to be sure, but at just $100 its new SLIDES 2 PC unit is a good deal cheaper than your average slide scanner, and its 5-megapixel resolution should be more than adequate for the average user that'll likely burn through their entire slide collection and never lay eyes on the thing again. It also promises to get the job done fairly quickly, with it scanning each slide in one or two seconds at the push of a button, and employing some automatic exposure and color balance measures to cut down on the tweaking required afterwards.

[Via Everything USB]

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ASUS N Series: at long last, a laptop with a built in 'Air Ionizer'

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/396509440/

Filed under: Laptops

Yesterday we finally got our hands on the N10 non-netbook, and today we'll be taking a look at the rest of the N Series lineup. There's a little something for everybody here, from the mobility-minded N10 to the higher-end N50. The models include Express Gate, and we're looking forward to finding out if the Super Hybrid Engine power management is all it's cracked up to be. All N Series models also include the SmartLogon facial recognition system (for those of you who are too busy to type a password), but so far the N50 is the only ASUS offering with a built in "Air Ionizer." Check out each machine in detail after the break.

[Thanks, Kunal]

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Sanyo's 120Hz PLV-Z3000 1080p projector: $3,295 for USers

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/396582132/

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Thanks to Sanyo's quick-fingered Japanese branch, you already know the basics on the PLV-Z3000. For those that missed out, it's being hailed as the industry's very first 5:5 pull down beamer with a 120Hz Full HD panel. Furthermore, it boasts a 65,000:1 contrast ratio, TopazReal HD 3D color management technology, a pair of HDMI 1.3 inputs and 1,200 ANSI lumens. The best news here is the US price -- the converted yen amount is actually a fair bit higher than what Sanyo plans on charging in greenbacks, though $3,295 will still be tough to part with come December.

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