How would you change Apple's HDMI-equipped Mac mini?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/13/how-would-you-change-apples-hdmi-equipped-mac-mini/

Apple's newest Mac mini is a distinct and welcome departure from the comparatively bulky white Mac mini of yesteryear, and while we appreciate the unibody construction, inbuilt SD card reader and HDMI port, asking $700 and up for a headless PC without tons of oomph is still asking a lot. We're curious to know if your new Mac mini has been treating you well (as an HTPC or otherwise), and moreover, we want to know how you'd change things even further if given the key to Cupertino's design labs. Would you have added a Blu-ray option? Maybe an OTA TV tuner? Thrown any other ports on the rear? Beefed up the GPU a little? Trimmed things down for a cheaper entry-level model? Go on and vent in comments below -- hugs are free and limitless.

How would you change Apple's HDMI-equipped Mac mini? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 23:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Digital Reflex Camera concept puts the viewfinder on top, everything else in a tube

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/14/digital-reflex-camera-concept-puts-the-viewfinder-on-top-everyt/

Can't say we've ever seen anything like this before... well, aside from those cameras of old that forced you to look down into the viewfinder while cradling the camera against your gut. In fact, that's exactly the experience that Yaniv Berg is attempting to recreate here, with his Digital Reflex Camera concept shaped more like a periscope and less like a camera. In theory, at least, all of the hardware would be encased in a tube, and if you flip the camera, the LCD turns into a display, creating an undercover spy device of epic proportions. Naturally, there's probably no hope that this will ever hit retail, but feel free to check back a few score from now to see just how close this was to predicting the future.

Digital Reflex Camera concept puts the viewfinder on top, everything else in a tube originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 07:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leaked Intel roadmap details Sandy Bridge CPUs, expands SSD lineup?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/14/leaked-intel-roadmap-details-sandy-bridge-cpus-expands-ssd-line/

If a set of supposedly leaked slides are legitimate (and they sure look convincing to us) then the shape of Intel's dirt-brown 2011 plans has finally been revealed. As you can see immediately above, Chipzilla's 25nm flash process is just about ready to double the size of the company's award-winning consumer SSDs, bring up to 400GB of "enterprise-grade" multi-level cell memory to the enterprise space, and create a series of netbook-sized mini-SATA drives with the remains of the 34nm silicon.

On the processor front things are a little more iffy, but it seems safe to say that the naming scheme has changed, as the silicon wafers you'll slot into a Q67 Express motherboard will have an extra digit (and often a letter) affixed to the end. Instead of a Core i7-870, you'll see the likes of Core i7-2600, i7-2600S, i7-2600K and i5-2500T, with the K (as in the past) affording you an unlocked multiplier for overclocking and the S equaling reduced power consumption, or vastly reduced for the T models. German publication ComputerBase -- which found and subsequently pulled the slides -- somehow managed to dig up nearly full specs for desktop and laptop CPUs as well, and though we can't verify their legitimacy, you're welcome to marvel at the idea of a 3.5GHz processor running on just 35 watts by visiting the source link below.

Gallery: Intel's alleged leaked product roadmap for 2011

[Thanks, Aristo]

Leaked Intel roadmap details Sandy Bridge CPUs, expands SSD lineup? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell: Streak likely going straight to Froyo in US

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/15/dell-streak-likely-going-straight-to-froyo-in-us/

Though it's really quite a capable handset, Dell's Streak brought several disappointments to its belated US launch; namely, a pastry-based OS without any creme filling, and a $549 version that's still SIM-locked. While we doubt AT&T's iron grip will release the Streak from the latter servitude, Dell's Lionel Menchaca suggests that the former problem may get solved all at once, because the company is considering skipping Android 2.1 altogether for stateside Streaks and upgrading them directly to the faster, more capable Android 2.2. We don't have a timeframe for a potential release, of course, as the device just went on sale, but it's clear that Dell hears your cries for the functionality Froyo brings.

Dell: Streak likely going straight to Froyo in US originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 11:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MagicJack announces software for completely free internet-to-phone calls, places femtocell on hold

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/15/magicjack-announces-software-for-completely-free-internet-to-pho/

For $40 (plus $20 per year), MagicJack's USB VoIP dongle will let you make free unlimited telephone-to-telephone calls, but this week the company's announced MagicTalk, a piece of software for internet-connected phones and computers that will waive even those upfront costs. The Associated Press tracked down one of our favorite ruthless salesmen, MagicJack CEO Dan Borislow, who described a service much like Google Voice and Skype, number portability and all -- except it adds the whole allowing-free-calls-to-regular-ol-telephones bit by charging the companies that carry incoming calls. The service will reportedly be available on Windows and Mac next week, with iOS, Blackberry and Android by October, but speaking of promises, Borislow said plans for the company's legally-ambiguous femtocell are now on hold -- the device can't legitimately muster up enough power without a cellular carrier on board.

In other news, NetTalk announced last week that its pair of competing VoIP boxes now support free video calls. We imagine the timing (and naming) of MagicJack's new service isn't making 'em feel too good.

MagicJack announces software for completely free internet-to-phone calls, places femtocell on hold originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 13:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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