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Thursday, September 30, 2010

NVIDIA reaches settlement in class action suit affecting Apple, Dell, HP laptops

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/30/nvidia-reaches-settlement-in-class-action-suit-affecting-apple/

Some folks may have long forgotten about the issue by now, but anyone that was hit by those defective NVIDIA GPUs a couple of years back will likely want to take notice -- the company has finally reached a settlement in the class action lawsuit spurred on by the issue, and anyone with an affected Apple, Dell or HP laptop is eligible for some form of compensation. In the case of Apple and Dell laptops, that includes a replacement of the GPU or MCP, while users of an affected HP laptop will actually get a full replacement laptop "similar in kind and value." Anyone that has already paid to have their laptop repaired due to the GPU issue is also entitled to a full reimbursement provided they have the necessary documentation for the repairs. Even if you are covered, however, you'll still have to wait a bit longer to actually get any compensation -- a final hearing is scheduled for December 20th, and claims will only begin sometime after that. In the meantime, be sure to hit up the source link below for the complete details, including a list of all the models affected.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

NVIDIA reaches settlement in class action suit affecting Apple, Dell, HP laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 12:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CSL's $500 Spice Mi700 DroidPad runs Froyo, looks awfully familiar

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/30/csls-500-spice-mi700-droidpad-runs-froyo-looks-awfully-famili/

Seen this fellow before? Look closer. Seeing any similarities? For all intents and purposes, CSL's new Spice Mi700 DroidPad is just a rebadged Viewpad 7 / Camangi FM600, and given that CSL was also responsible for manufacturing the JooJoo, we'd say these guys know a thing or two about building a tablet. The device ships with Qualcomm's 600MHz MSM722, stock Android 2.2 (Froyo), the same nasty widgets that ship on FM600, a total lack of Flash support and no access to paid apps via the App Market. There's also a 3 megapixel camera on the rear, a VGA webcam on the front, WVGA capacitive touchpanel (7-inch), inbuilt WiFi / WWAN / Bluetooth, a microSD card slot and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It's said to be available starting this month for $500, but early reviews aren't exactly giving it two thumbs up -- crank 'er down to $250 and we suspect those views will shift.

CSL's $500 Spice Mi700 DroidPad runs Froyo, looks awfully familiar originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple TV vs Roku HD... fight!

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/30/apple-tv-vs-roku-hd-fight/

Two tiny black 720p boxes, two interesting choices. The $59 Roku HD will put Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand and Roku's 75 other content channels on your TV quickly and easily, while the $99 Apple TV offers up iTunes rentals, Netflix, and eventually AirPlay streaming from your iPad or iPhone. (You could step up to the Roku XDS with 1080p support for $99, but we don't think the extra money will be really worth it until the USB playback channel is released and / or there's more useful 1080p content available.) It's a tough decision, so check out our Apple TV review or our Roku XDS review and just try to make up your mind. Then again, you could grab 'em both and still not break the bank.

Gallery: Apple TV vs Roku HD... fight!

Apple TV vs Roku HD... fight! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looks Like the iPhone 3GS is Capable of Shooting HDR Photos [Apple]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5651845/looks-like-the-iphone-3gs-is-capable-of-shooting-hdr-photos

Looks Like the iPhone 3GS is Capable of Shooting HDR Photos Now that HDR photos (and video!) is the cool kids' latest documenting tool since Hipstamatic, iPhone 3GS owners have been feeling decidedly unhip without the app. It's almost enough for them to resort to film cameras again!

9to5Mac discovered that the SDK suggests that the 3GS actually has the power to shoot HDR photos, as evidenced by the "non-Retina display" icon above. Older models of iPhone are limited by hardware and are unable to take photos using this effect, so there's a good chance that Apple might fire up the high dynamic range switch at some point—if they feel generous. [9to5Mac]

Apple TV review (2010)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/29/apple-tv-review-2010/

You've been waiting, and it's finally here: the Apple TV review. Months before Steve Jobs announced the new set top box at Apple's annual fall event, we had been reporting on news that the company would strike out again into the TV market, offering a small, low-cost box that had more in common with the iPhone than the iMac. When those rumors came to fruition, we were presented with the completely revamped Apple TV -- a tiny black puck of a device priced at a staggering $99, and centered around a handful of completely new ideas (for the folks in Cupertino at least) about getting content onto your TV screen. The first is a new rental system which allows you to nab brand new TV shows at $0.99 a rental, and HD movies for $4.99 a go (or $3.99 for older titles). And that includes new releases the same day DVDs hit shelves (or Netflix distribution centers). Speaking of Netflix, the new Apple TV also features the rental service's "Watch Instantly" as a wholly integrated component of its offerings, alongside a new function the company calls AirPlay which will allow you to "push" video and audio content from your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch with the tap of a button. On top of that, the new ATV streamlines sharing from your home computers or laptops, making getting content you own onto your TV dead simple. So, has Apple finally solved the "second box" problem, or are they still struggling to turn this hobby into a real business? Follow along after the break for those answers (and more) in our full review of the Apple TV!

Gallery: Apple TV review (2010)