It seems too much to hope for, but Super Talent insists it has the benchmarks to prove it: a USB 3.0 stick that achieves 270MB/s reads and 240MB/s writes under optimal conditions. Unlike your average joe flash drive, the RC8 boasts a fully-fledged (albeit previous-generation) SandForce SSD controller that permits the simultaneous use of eight channels of NAND memory. In other words, this zippy little thing actually is an SSD, enclosed in an aluminum case that measures 1-inch wide, 4-inches long and 0.3-inches thick. No definitive word on pricing yet, but it was reported at Computex that a 50GB variant would go for around $110, while 25GB and 100GB capacities will also be available. Now, could someone please hurry up and build a Thunderbolt version?

Super Talent USB 3.0 Express RC8 looks like a thumb drive, acts like an SSD originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 09:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So, here’s the tally: as of June 14th, there’s just “not enough memory” in the Desire for Gingerbread to run properly. As of the 15th, however, there is. We won’t pretend to understand what changed so drastically in the past 24 hours, but what is clear is that the aforesaid handset maker is listening to its most demanding of users. While it’s safe to assume that the Average Joe (or Jane) wouldn’t be able to recognize the difference between Android 2.2 and 2.3, folks clamoring for the update seem to have coerced the company to make things work. In other words, it looks like the update is back on… now it’s just a matter of making it run well. Kudos HTC, and godspeed.

[Thanks, Frederik]

HTC pulls a 180, now says Gingerbread is coming to Desire originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 08:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The trouble with high capacity hard drives is that they’re about the size and weight of a brick, and just as bad for throwing in glass houses or ultrathin laptops. Samsung is slimming up the beastliest of disks though, with the just announced Spinpoint M8. Inside this 1TB drive are a pair of 500GB storage platters, instead of the three 334MB ones found in most storage solutions of this size. By using AFT, Advanced format technology, Sammy was able to up the storage density and trim its latest Spinpoint to a svelte 9.5mm thick (your average 1TB drive is 12.5mm). As an added bonus, the increased density also boosts performance and power efficiency since the drives heads need to move less. If you want to slap one in your notebook you can pick one up for $129, and we’re sure a few of these will find a home those skinny “ultrabooks” that Intel has been talking up. Check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading Samsung Spinpoint M8 puts 1TB drives on a diet, just in time for bathing suit season

Samsung Spinpoint M8 puts 1TB drives on a diet, just in time for bathing suit season originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 22:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One of the most beautiful things about motorcycles is that their styling is rather less restrained than your average automobile. Bikes have covered just about every shape and size, largely ignoring crash testing results and aerodynamic concerns, and the upcoming electric motorcycle from Brooklyn Motorized certainly makes little concession for either. It’s a scooter-sized thing, with about a 60MPH top speed and a 30 mile range, figures that don’t fare particularly well to the competition from Brammo or Zero. But, this two-wheeled wonder is designed for apartment living, the battery pack coming out of the frame for easy charging indoors — something Zero is only just starting to get behind. Also, cost here is expected to be less than $6,000, which could be plenty enticing indeed. That is, of course, if you don’t have very far to go.

Brooklyn Motorized looks to bring classic styling to new-age electric motorcycles originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Technocel’s original PowerPak (and Battery Boost) were both among our arsenal of gadgets used at this year’s CES, and they proved incredibly useful for juicing up a dead MiFi or smartphone without having to remain tethered to an AC outlet. As you well know, we’re pretty big fans of external battery packs, and it seems as if Technocel has addressed the one major gripe we had with the first-generation PowerPak. The Duo is essentially the same kind of gizmo, but with a lot more oomph and double the ports. It’s a squared power brick with an internal 2500mAh lithium-ion battery (compared to 1600mAh in the earlier build), and rather than having a single USB port, this guy’s got two; moreover, it’s far easier to look at, and is said to provide up to 7.5 extra hours of talk time to the average phone. The company also throws in a half-million interchangeable tips that are compatible with around 95 percent of handheld USB devices, and based on word directly from Technocel, it’ll go on sale April 1st for $69.99.

Technocel’s $70 PowerPak Duo battery pack doubles up on USB ports, ships April 1st originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 18:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Quick, what’s wrong with this picture? Oh, that’s right — dominoes don’t topple all by themselves, do they? But these aren’t your average tiles. Constructed by Japanese interaction researchers in 2009, these “Esper Dominoes” each have ZigBee radios inside, and as each stone falls it wirelessly tells the next to follow suit, all down the line. Of course, knowing all that, why would you ever settle for a boring row of five? Hit the break to see what these bones are really capable of, and join us in praying that some entrepreneur mass produces these perfect stocking stuffers before another two years fly by.

Continue reading Esper Dominoes topple without touching, we fall all over ourselves (video)

Esper Dominoes topple without touching, we fall all over ourselves (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 11:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Your average hydrogen-powered car is a marvel of modern science — fuel cell sifting electrons out of pure H2 and emitting nothing but water — powered by big, heavy, high-pressure tanks of gas. Cella Energy is here to ditch the tank, having first developed a means of storing hydrogen in microfibers that could greatly simplify the design of these vehicles. But, perhaps even more impressive is a “synthetic fuel” the company is working on which is, essentially, pure hydrogen captured into microbeads. You know, like the kind that float in your shampoo and give your hair that extra lustre, but explosive. According to Cella these beads can be poured into the gas tank of a car with an internal combustion engine (presumably suspended in some sort of liquid) and, with no modification, that car will run just fine. Best news is that this concoction costs just $1.50 per gallon — or will, eventually. Supposedly. Maybe?

Cella Energy says its hydrogen microbeads could fuel your car, cost $1.50 per gallon originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 19:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Your average hydrogen-powered car is a marvel of modern science — fuel cell sifting electrons out of pure H2 and emitting nothing but water — powered by big, heavy, high-pressure tanks of gas. Cella Energy is here to ditch the tank, having first developed a means of storing hydrogen in microfibers that could greatly simplify the design of these vehicles. But, perhaps even more impressive is a “synthetic fuel” the company is working on which is, essentially, pure hydrogen captured into microbeads. You know, like the kind that float in your shampoo and give your hair that extra lustre, but explosive. According to Cella these beads can be poured into the gas tank of a car with an internal combustion engine (presumably suspended in some sort of liquid) and, with no modification, that car will run just fine. Best news is that this concoction costs just $1.50 per gallon — or will, eventually. Supposedly. Maybe?

Cella Energy says its hydrogen microbeads could fuel your car, cost $1.50 per gallon originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 19:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Read the rest here:
The Salvation Army Upgrades Their Kettles

After a year of hearing about 3DTVs nonstop we finally got some of the main contenders in house to examine, although we’ll start by pointing out that this isn’t so much of a “3DTV” roundup, since a more apt description of these displays is 3D-capable HDTVs. That’s an important distinction to make, since nothing about the 2D performance of these TVs suffers because of their ability to do 3D, and in many cases they cost the exact same price as their comparable 2D-only models from last year. With that said Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, Mitsubishi and LG’s finest have had their moment and on the next page we’ve done our best to compare them in a way that makes sense for the average HDTV buyer who might also want to take in a 3D event or movie from time to time. Right now, there’s barely enough 3D content to support more than a couple of hours viewing per week, much less support a full viewing conversion to all-glasses, all the time — but more about that later. Check out our full impressions after the break.

Continue reading 3DTV roundup: LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Samsung & Sony square off

3DTV roundup: LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Samsung & Sony square off originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 17:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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