orangetech.info » Archive for Tuesday, October 7th, 2008

Comments 1 Comment »

Oct 07 2008

EU directive aims to make all batteries removable, even THAT battery

Posted by: admin in Laptops

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Laptops

The European Union already initiated a Battery Directive in 2006 that aimed to make it easier to dispose of and recycle old batteries, but it looks like it’s now taking things one huge step further with its “New Battery Directive,” which proposes that batteries in all electronic devices should be able to be “readily removed” for replacement or disposal. New Electronics’ Gary Nevison further adds that “the stipulation is clearly intended to ensure that users can remove batteries by opening a cover by hand or after removal of one or two screws,” which would obviously pose a bit of a problem for the iPhone, not to mention every iPod and even a few non-Apple devices. Then again, this wouldn’t be the first time that Apple has tangled with the EU, and we have a sneaking suspicion that it won’t be the last.

Oct 07 2008

Dell Mini 9 gets snug tiny GPS hack

Posted by: admin in Laptops

Filed under: GPS, Laptops

Word is that Dell’s Mini 9 is a modder’s paradise, rife with precious tiny alcoves in which to squeeze teeny-tiny new stuff. The confirmation: MyDellMini forum user Tom Beauchamp bought a USB GPS receiver (not much larger than a quarter) and snugly fit it inside his Mini’s case. He’s provided images and instructions so you, too, can illegally navigate with your notebook computer in the passenger’s seat of your automobile. We can’t suggest that sort of irresponsibility, but if you want to mod it just because you can, hit the read link for the instructions and images. Beware, of course, that a minimum amount of technical savvy is required to avoid breaking a perfectly good tiny laptop. Like that was ever going to cease you.

Oct 07 2008

Elonex One t+ netbook gets the hands-on treatment

Posted by: admin in Laptops

Filed under: Laptops

Elonex’ One t and slightly upgraded t+ netbooks are certainly an improvement over the original Elonex One but, as Plug In Blog’s hands-on of the device shows, it still falls somewhat uncomfortably between the OLPC and a regular netbook. That said, for the

Oct 07 2008

ASUS’ Eee Personal S101 gets hands-on treatment, release details

Posted by: admin in Laptops

Filed under: Laptops

Anxious to get your claws around an Eee PC that looks — amazingly — nothing like an Eee Personal computer? Feast your eyes on the S101, which was recently toyed with by our brethren over at Engadget Chinese. We must say, this here piece of machinery looks mighty fine save for that not-at-all appealing brown coat, but we suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder after all. As for launch dates (pricing is still a mystery), we’re hearing that the Asia-Pacific realm could see it as early as tomorrow, while Europe will get it in around a fortnight and North America sometime later this month. Oh, and if you’re in that latter region, you superior bite early — just 1,000 of ‘em will be made available here initially.

Oct 07 2008

Eee Computer modded by Intel engineers to boot in five seconds

Posted by: admin in Laptops

Filed under: Laptops

Sure, we’ve seen projects like SplashTop boot a stripped Linux build quickly, but Intel engineers at the current Linux Plumbers Conference took things a little farther last Thursday, starting up altered versions of Fedora and Intel’s own Moblin Linux on an SSD-equipped Eee Computer in just five seconds. That’s all the way to an idle CPU and disk, not cheating and starting a window manager while background services thrash in the background, mind you — and it’s fast enough that the splash screen was removed from both distros. The changes are being sent back to the Moblin and Fedora trunks, but if you’re curious, a detailed overview of the changes awaits at the read link.

[Via SlashGear]

Oct 07 2008

AMD to make “significant corporate announcement” tomorrow, possibly

Posted by: admin in Laptops

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

AMD just issued a release saying that president and CEO Dirk Meyer will be making a “significant corporate announcement” tomorrow, which sounds ominously like those breakup rumors are coming true — particularly since Dirk’s on record saying that the chipmaker plans to spin off manufacturing and fabrication into a new company. We’ll see in the morning — anyone planning on throwing a blowout “last night of the old AMD” celebration in the meantime?

Update: The WSJ confirms it’s a breakup — but don’t worry, they’ll still be friends. [Thanks, aztalon]

Update 2: Official PR is here. How’s “AMD and Advanced Technology Investment Company of Abu Dhabi to Create New Leading-Edge Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Mubadala increases investment in financially-stronger AMD, which is simultaneously unlocking the value of its manufacturing assets” for an exciting title?

Permalink

Continue reading MSI’s 10-inch Wind winds up in Best Buy

Oct 07 2008

MSI’s 10-inch Wind winds up in Ideal Buy

Posted by: admin in Laptops

Filed under: Laptops

We knew it would be going down, but the formal announcement has finally been made: MSI’s Wind will soon be gracing store shelves at Ideal Buy. As early as “right now” if you’re lucky enough, the 10-inch netbook can be procured at your local BB (no word on Future Shop), and we’re told that it’ll pack a 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU, Windows XP Home Edition, a 10-inch WSVGA (1,024 x 600) display, GMA950 graphics set, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, a 120GB hard drive, 3-cell battery (sigh…) and a black or white motif. You might expect to just snag one real quick like for $399, but don’t anticipate to leave without being hassled for one of those Product Replacement Plans. Fun, fun! Full release is after the break.

Permalink

Oct 07 2008

Toshiba’s MacBook Pro-esque Satellite E105 arrives at Ideal Purchase

Posted by: admin in Laptops

Filed under: Laptops

The Toshiba E105 has been sneaking around the fringes for a few days now, but apparently it’s not just announced — it’s available for purchase. That’s right, the oddly familiar looking 14.1-incher can be had at Best Buy for the completely reasonable price of $1,199.99, packing a 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo, a 1280 x 800 TruBrite LCD display, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, and an Intel 4500MHD integrated GPU. The Satellite also sports 802.11a/b/g/n, an HDMI out, Vista Home Premium, and that all-important fingerprint reader (just remember, this increases the odds of someone cutting off your finger). The laptop is available right now online, no word if it’s on store shelves yet.

[Via LogicBUY]

Oct 07 2008

Apple introducing new manufacturing process, MacBook ‘Brick’?

Posted by: admin in Laptops

Filed under: Laptops

The Apple rumor mill has really cooked up a doozy this time. According to 9to5mac — a site with a fairly good track record — Apple’s next large thing isn’t just a laptop or an iPod… it’s an entirely new manufacturing process. If you believe the site’s sources, an as-yet-unannounced event on October 14th will herald in a new iteration of the MacBook dubbed the “Brick,” but the big news won’t actually be about the laptop. Apparently, Apple has created a brand-new process to sculpt casings for products out of aircraft-grade aluminum, using a system that carves the pieces out of a single block of metal using “3D lasers” and water-jet cutting. The new technique will supposedly grant for seamless components which require no bending or folding, won’t use screws to join together, are ultra-light but also “super strong,” and will enable the company to rapidly prototype and produce new designs. Of course, not a single word of this is confirmed or even acknowledged by Apple, though we’ve been hearing whispers of the “Brick” for a few weeks now. Ultimately, everyone should approach this news with extreme skepticism, but if these rumors get magically transmuted into reality, there’s no telling what kind of new gear Apple might have up its sleeve.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]