Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Leica M9 and X1 leak out ahead of schedule

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/02/leica-m9-and-x1-leak-out-ahead-of-schedule/

Wondering what Leica has up its sleeve for that destined-to-be-overshadowed event on the 9th? Well, wonder no more: these pics of the long-rumored M9 and something called the X1 just leaked out, along with some specs. We're told the M9 will sport a full-frame 18.2 megapixel sensor and improved low-light performance, but the real surprise is the X1, pictured above, which'll supposedly have a 12 megapixel APS-C sensor, a fixed 24mm lens and that funky grip handle, by which we're oddly fascinated. Maybe Leica's got some surprises left for the 9th after all -- pic of the M9 after the break.

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Leica M9 and X1 leak out ahead of schedule originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony VAIO X slimster hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/02/hands-on-sony-x-series-slimster/

Daaaamn. We just got back from our time with the Sony X-series and it's making us rethink the entire definition of thin as the word is applied to ultra-portable laptops -- see how it casually jockeys our 15-inch MacBook Pro workhorse in the pic above. Sony's X-series is so thin that it's dangerous: on one hand, it'll cut a jugular or cake with little effort, and on the other, it has just enough flex to make us worry about its ruggedness. But this isn't Sony's first experiment with this form factor and the carbon-fibre frame and aluminum keyboard should help with rigidity when this goes production in both glossy- and matte-plastic finishes. (The displays were all matte, at least for now.) The new X is followup to the rarely seen VAIO X505 that was available in limited markets early in the decade -- only then it wasn't sporting an Atom, 2GB of memory, or a 31Wh removable battery. According to Sony, the choice of an Atom processor is far from decided and is only on display to run the engineering prototypes here at IFA, so there's still hope for at least CULV internals when this thing ships. Unfortunately, access to the rest of the internal specs were software blocked and Sony was zipped tight on details.

Further visual inspection reveals a pair of USB jacks, SD/Memory Stick slot, WWAN SIM slot and folding feet on the bottom to prop up the lappie so you can attach an Ethernet cable in the mechanically yawning RJ45 jack or a Kensington lock to the left-side. Unfortunately, the only video output option is VGA. Nevertheless, the Windows 7 box we tested performed as expected for such a small device -- lethargically, but capably for casual internet browsing and tweeting. And honestly, we could see ourselves dropping a premium (less than $2,000 we're told) for this 11-inch ultra-portable as opposed to the VAIO P. At least now we know what Sony meant when they said they wanted their ! products to be aspirational. See the new X up close with its X505 cousin in the gallery. Trust us, it's worth a look.

P.S. It'll be announced with official specs in October with units available for retail about a week after Windows 7 launches.

Sony VAIO X slimster hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wi-Fire long-range WiFi adapter hands-on and impressions

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/02/wi-fire-long-range-wifi-adapter-hands-on-and-impressions/

It's an age-old problem. What do you do when you're just barely out of range of a nearby WiFi signal, and moving closer really isn't a convenient option? hField Technologies has been solving said quandary for years with its continually revamped Wi-Fire, and we were fortunate enough to grab hold of the newest, third-generation version in order to put said company's claims to the test. Quite frankly, we were more than skeptical about this so-called range extender; let's face it, this thing has all the markings of an 'As Seen On TV' trinket that does little more than fantasize about delivering on its promises. Thankfully for all of the parties involved, we're happy to say that our doubts were hastily shelved. Read on for more.

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Wi-Fire long-range WiFi adapter hands-on and impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's 3D N810 Internet Tablet caught on blurrycam

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/02/nokias-3d-n810-internet-tablet-caught-on-blurrycam/

We can't say that the idea of stereoscopic displays on cellphones ever really appealed to us -- more than anything, it sounds like the recipe for a nasty migraine. But provided a company figures out how to do it right (and without the silly glasses) true 3D could lead to some pretty interesting interface design, to say the very least. With Sony singing the technology's praises at IFA this morning, it's fitting that Nokia is showing off one such number at Nokia World in Stuttgart today. According to Pocket-lint, the N810 Internet Tablet shown above has been outfitted with a "special screen" made by a "secret third party manufacturer" and displays 3D content to the naked eye. Sure, we're pretty skeptical that 3D will be a hit (or even stop being lousy) any time soon, but who knows? There seem to be a few companies out there who think that it could pull them out of their doldrums.

[Via The Raw Feed]

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Nokia's 3D N810 Internet Tablet caught on blurrycam originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buffalo intros 4TB TeraStation NAS

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/02/buffalo-intros-4tb-terastation-nas/

It's been a while since we've seen a TeraStation from Buffalo, and in the meantime the company has been really going wild with the lilliputian memory devices, so it's nice to see something substantial in this space for a change. The latest TeraStation NAS integrates with Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 for up to 4TB storage. Of course, this particular Windows release has been available since late 2006, so we're not too terribly impressed -- but the company seems to think that it's important for you to know all about it. In addition, this bad boy has support for Raid 5/0/1 and VSS, and rocks four hot-swappable drive bays. The WS-Q2.0TL/R5 (2TB) is available for ¥158,000 ($1,658), while the WS-Q4.0TL/R5 (4TB) will set you back ¥198,000 ($2,077). And no, it won't fit in your pocket.

[Via Akihabara News]

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Buffalo intros 4TB TeraStation NAS originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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