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FocuSoft Tech Blog

All About Gadgets, Electronics & Technology




HTC HD2 can be coaxed into doing 802.11n, if you know how to sweet-talk it

Tuesday 24 November 2009 @ 1:51 am

37b0d7a697n wifi.jpg HTC HD2 can be coaxed into doing 802.11n, if you know how to sweet talk it

Even though Broadcom, Atheros, and Qualcomm have all been sampling phone-ready draft 802.11n chipsets for some time now, you’re still not seeing the tech swiftly overtake 802.11g in the mobile arena — in fact, we dare you to find a single phone in your carrier’s store that can do it. Odds are you can’t, but HTC HD2 owners can win a few quid off their skeptical (non-Engadget-reading) friends by enabling support after the fact. Looks like draft-n support got buried in the company’s WinMo monster — a fitting device to add such a rare display of raw, savage wireless power, if we do say so ourselves — but it got turned off in the shipping firmware for some reason, possibly concerns over increased battery draw, flakiness, or a stark realization that the benefits of 802.11n might not be fully appreciated in a device hamstrung more by a crappy browser than by slow WiFi. If you want to live on the edge anyway and flip the switch, xda-developers has the registry hack you need — and if you’re using an HD2 in the States without 3G right now, let’s be honest: you kinda need all the speed-boosting wireless hacks you can dig up.

HTC HD2 can be coaxed into doing 802.11n, if you know how to sweet-talk it originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Core i7 iMacs showing up DOA — including ours

Monday 23 November 2009 @ 11:38 pm

08d88b5eebadimac.jpg Core i7 iMacs showing up DOA    including ours



Apple’s new Core i7-based iMac might be a performance monster, but it looks like the whole family’s having some problems getting out of the gate: in addition to the previously-noted performance issues with the Core 2 Duo models, a quick glance across Apple’s support forums and on other Mac boards around the web reveals that some machines are showing up DOA and / or with cracked screens. We’re a little more familiar with the DOA issue, since the new i7 we just bought doesn’t boot at all, but the cracked screen issue seems to be equally common and mostly affecting the bottom left corner, from what we can tell. Now, our review Core 2 Duo 27-inch iMac is perfectly fine, and Chris Ziegler’s new Core i7 machine doesn’t have any problems either, so these obviously aren’t universal issues, but if you’re about to stick one of these under the tree for someone it might be wise to do some surreptitious testing first.

Core i7 iMacs showing up DOA — including ours originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Klausner takes aim at RIM, Motorola over visual voicemail patents

Monday 23 November 2009 @ 5:56 pm

f240649317e mail.jpg Klausner takes aim at RIM, Motorola over visual voicemail patentsIt’s been quite a few months since we’ve heard anything from Klausner Technologies, but it looks like the company has finally decided on its next set of targets that are allegedly infringing on its now infamous visual voicemail patents. As announced in a pair of expectedly terse press releases, Klausner says that both RIM and Motorola have now crossed into lawsuit territory with the Blackberry Bold 9700 and Motorola CLIQ, although it isn’t specifying what sort of result it’s looking for, or exactly how the two devices are infringing on its patents (at least some other RIM and Motorola devices are apparently covered under licenses granted to mobile operators). If the company’s past track record with Apple, Verizon, LG, and Google is any indication, however, we wouldn’t bet against a settlement.

Klausner takes aim at RIM, Motorola over visual voicemail patents originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Story external HDD now boasts 2TB, eSATA

Monday 23 November 2009 @ 5:13 pm

b2bec3f514ory 01.jpg Samsung Story external HDD now boasts 2TB, eSATA
You’ve asked, and Samsung has delivered: the company’s newest Story external hard drives not only feature a maximum 2TB of storage, but the device can now make nice with your PC via eSATA (in addition to USB 2.0). And like its earlier brethren, this one features either real time or scheduled backups, password protection, and SecretZone encryption. Available the world o’er sometime this November for an MSRP of $299. PR after the break, kids.

Continue reading Samsung Story external HDD now boasts 2TB, eSATA

Samsung Story external HDD now boasts 2TB, eSATA originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Creative rolls out third gen Vado HD pocket camcorder

Monday 23 November 2009 @ 12:52 pm

7b4e4de45023 09.jpg Creative rolls out third gen Vado HD pocket camcorder
Creative sure seems to be taking the incremental approach to upgrades with its Vado HD pocket camcorders, but if you’ve found the previous two models just a tad lacking, you might want to consider the company’s newly announced 3rd gen model. From the looks of it, most of the core specs remain the same, but Creative is promising some improved low light video recording and manual exposure adjustment, along with a new motion detection mode, support for an external stereo mic, a headphone output, and even the ability to take some still photos. You’ll also now get out of the box Mac and PC compatibility, and five glossier than ever colors — though Creative has curiously dropped the 8GB model in favor of a single 4GB option, which will set you back $179.99.

[Thanks, Kingone]

Creative rolls out third gen Vado HD pocket camcorder originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Maps Navigation officially comes to Android 1.6

Monday 23 November 2009 @ 12:23 pm

8c7197992ction 2.jpg Google Maps Navigation officially comes to Android 1.6

You might’ve thought that Google was positioning its industry-changing Google Maps Navigation as a value proposition for Android 2.0 and beyond, but yeah, not so much — instead, they’ve gone ahead and backported it to 1.6 (alias “Donut”) which means that T-Mobile’s myTouch 3G and G1 plus other 1.6-equipped devices across the land can get in on the action. In the case of the memory-starved G1, that’s especially surprising, and a heartening sign that the world’s first retail Android device still has some fight left in it. It’s available from the Android Market now, so go ahead — try to get yourself lost. We dare you.

Google Maps Navigation officially comes to Android 1.6 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T’s new DataConnect Pass plans serve up data a la carte

Monday 23 November 2009 @ 11:50 am

d204d315ccing sm.jpg AT&Ts new DataConnect Pass plans serve up data a la carteAT&T is following Verizon’s lead today with the introduction of new prepaid broadband plans targeted directly at netbook and laptop users who find themselves out of WiFi range (and in desperate need of email) every once in a while. The so-called DataConnect Pass plans exactly mirror Verizon’s pricing, which means you can get 75MB as a “day pass” for $15, 250MB as a weekly deal for $30, or a half gig per month for $50. Like Verizon, you’re far better off getting the 5GB postpaid plan if you’re a heavy user here — but if you find yourself needing wireless once in a blue moon, this may very well be the way to go. The packages are available now; follow the break for the full press release.

Continue reading AT&T’s new DataConnect Pass plans serve up data a la carte

AT&T’s new DataConnect Pass plans serve up data a la carte originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple hits back at Verizon in new iPhone ads (video)

Monday 23 November 2009 @ 11:19 am

70c0d6ff5de data.jpg Apple hits back at Verizon in new iPhone ads (video)

Now look, we’re not saying we know for sure that Apple thinks Verizon’s latest round of merciless attack ads on its device and US carrier are worth responding to, but these latest iPhone spots would certainly suggest it. A new campaign launching tonight focuses on the iPhone’s ability to carry voice and data simultaneously on AT&T’s network, and each of the two new TV spots ends with the line “Can your phone and your network do that?” From where we’re sitting, it looks like between this new round and AT&T’s Luke Wilson-manned comparison spots, both the phonemaker and carrier are fully stepping into the ring. Way to get their attention, guys. See the full clips after the break.

Continue reading Apple hits back at Verizon in new iPhone ads (video)

Apple hits back at Verizon in new iPhone ads (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony’s Kaz Hirai confirms ‘premium level’ subscription coming to PSN

Monday 23 November 2009 @ 11:03 am

9ecb2a68a023 09.jpg Sonys Kaz Hirai confirms premium level subscription coming to PSN
Well, Sony may have once downplayed the notion of “catching up” with Xbox Live, but it looks like it is now set to take at least one big cue from its rival. As oh-so-quietly revealed during a presentation on Thursday and now confirmed by Kaz Hirai himself, Sony will be adding a “premium level” subscription service to the PlayStation Network sometime next year. According to Hirai, that subscription will get you “premium content and services,” although exactly what those are remains a bit unclear, as the current level of service will apparently remain free, and continue to include features like Facebook, Netflix, and the ability to play games online. Also up in the air is any word on a price or launch date, although the timing of the announcement does seem to suggest that we might just be hearing more about this at CES.

[Thanks, Erick]

Sony’s Kaz Hirai confirms ‘premium level’ subscription coming to PSN originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG X120 netbook comes to the US with 2-year AT&T contract

Monday 23 November 2009 @ 10:17 am

e88636597f120 01.jpg LG X120 netbook comes to the US with 2 year AT&T contract
If you’ve been aching to get your hands on the 10.1-inch, matte white LG X120 netbook that’s been thrilling the trendy Euro jet-set elite for the last 6 months or so, now is your chance! Available at RadioShack.com and select brick and mortar The Shack locations, it can be yours for $179.99 with a 2-year $60/month AT&T contract. We’ll let you do the math — but believe us, you’re probably better off shelling out the cash for the Levis Special Edition. Available at some unspecified near future date. For more info, peep the PR after the break.

Continue reading LG X120 netbook comes to the US with 2-year AT&T contract

LG X120 netbook comes to the US with 2-year AT&T contract originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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