Gadget Access

Believe it or not, there are actually still folks out there who design websites and applications for devices other than the iphone. It may sound like crazy-talk to Apple die-hards, but it’s true.

The latest company to recognize that people do use other phones is Godiva, which has teamed up with Digby to create a mobile application that provides BlackBerry users with secure shopping and quick access to the chocolatier’s bestsellers. Featuring full-color images, Godiva Mobile integrates with the phone’s address book and BlackBerry Maps to simply on-the-go online purchases and identify the nearest retail store for in-person browsing.

To download Godiva Mobile, simply fire up your blackberry browser, visit www.godiva.com/mobile, and follow the on-screen instructions.

Via I4U News.

AOL is no longer carrying feeds from satellite radio provider XM now that contract the two companies had has expired. Presumably this also means that subscribers to XM’s online streaming service will no longer have access to AOL Radio. The announcement has been particularly upsetting to listeners from outside the U.S. and Canada, where XM service is unavailable. AOL radio was the only way for them to enjoy the over 80 commercial free music channels XM provides. XM does offer online streaming of their channels, but the service is once again, available to U.S. residents only. In an effort to make up for the loss, XM is offering a special deal to AOL subscribers in which they can sign up for the online service for just $2.99 a month. The company is currently awaiting FCC approval for its much anticipated (and for some, dreaded) merger with rival Sirius Satellite Radio.

Via [CrunchGear]

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AVG announced that their Anti-Virus Free Edition 8.0 is now available for download. This free edition combines an anti-virus and anti-spyware engine to protect users machines against spyware attacks aside from the usual viruses that threaten your computer on a daily basis. The software also provides real-time searching protection with AVG’s LinkScanner technology which was incorporated into the new AVG Security Toolbar.

An English version of the Anti-virus software will be released first, to be followed by other language versions over the next few months. The software can be freely downloaded and used only on single computers which are running on Windows 2000, XP or Vista.

Although this software may provide guaranteed security for your computers, there are some limitations since it is offered for free. For one, AVG will not offer the telephone or e-mail support that it normally gives to its commercial and business products. It also does not include the proactive safe-surfing and protection against hackers, keyloggers, spam, phising attacks and malicious file downloads coming from instant messaging and file attachments.

So, if the lack of those things bother you, you may opt to buy the AVG Internet Security suite, AVG Anti-Virus or AVG Anti-Virus plus Firewall products instead. Or you may want to try the free Anti-Virus Edition 8 first then just upgrade later on if you think the free edition could not protect your PCs appropriately. Of course being the control freak that I am, I would still suggest to get the commercial product. A few hundred bucks is worth the peace of mind that you would get knowing that your personal files and data are well protected from viruses and malware attacks.

Via [GeekZone]

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by Chris Ziegler, posted May 1st 2008 at 11:32AM
Engadget Mobile literally just took delivery of a shiny new LG Vu with support for AT&T’s Mobile TV service, and they’ve gone and posted a few quick shots in between long stretches of ogling the CNN channel (we kid, we kid). Have a look, why won’t you?

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Filed under: cellphones, Handhelds, Portable Video

by Thomas Ricker, posted May 1st 2008 at 8:33AM var Hollywood Reporter says that Apple is expected to announce today an across-the-board deal to sell new release films at its iTunes Store. The deal is said to allow Apple to offer a “broad slate of top-shelf films” day-and-date with home video releases — a long time sticking point with brick-and-mortar interests who want to keep their early-release edge on digital downloads. The deal includes Fox, Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal, Sony Pictures, Lionsgate, New Line and more — all of which are currently inked to deliver rentals through iTunes. MGM is not part of the deal. That puts Apple in direct competition with Wal-Mart’s DVD empire after having pushed Wal-Mart from the top spot in music sales for the first two months of the year.

Update: It’s official. New releases will cost $15 and catalog titles will cost $10 — US only for now. Full press release after the break.

CUPERTINO, Calif., May 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple(R) today announced that new movie releases from major film studios and premier independent studios are available for purchase on the iTunes(R) Store (http://www.itunes.com) on the same day as their DVD release. New releases and catalog titles will be available from 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Lionsgate, Image Entertainment and First Look Studios. Movies purchased from iTunes can be viewed on an iPod(R) with video, iPhone(TM), Mac(R) or PC or on a widescreen TV with Apple TV(R), with new releases priced at $14.99 and most catalog titles at $9.99.

“We’re thrilled to bring iTunes Store customers new films for purchase day-and-date with the DVD release,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes. “We think movie fans will love being able to buy their favorites from major and independent studios.”

New releases available for purchase on the iTunes Store this week, concurrent with their DVD release, include “American Gangster” and “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.” Other popular titles now available for purchase include “Juno,” “Cloverfield,” “I Am Legend,” “There Will Be Blood,” “Alvin and the Chipmunks” and “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.”

The iTunes Store is the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over six million songs, 600 TV shows and over 1,500 films including 200 in stunning high definition video. With Apple’s legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as new iTunes Movie Rentals, integrated podcasting support, iMix playlist sharing, the ability to turn previously purchased tracks into complete albums at a reduced price, and seamless integration with iPod and iPhone, the iTunes Store is the best way for Mac and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music and video online.

Pricing & Availability

Movie purchases and rentals from the iTunes Store for Mac or Windows require iTunes 7.6.2, available as a free download immediately from http://www.itunes.com. iTunes movie purchases and rentals require a valid credit card with a billing address in the country of purchase. iTunes Movies are available in the US only and are $9.99 (US) for library title purchases and $14.99 (US) for new release purchases and $2.99 (US) for library title rentals and $3.99 (US) for new release rentals, and high definition rental versions are priced just one dollar more with library title rentals at $3.99 (US) and new release rentals at $4.99 (US). Short films are available to rent for 99 cents (US). Movies can be previewed, purchased and watched on iPod classic, iPod nano with video, iPod touch, iphone and on a widescreen TV with Apple TV.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its ipod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

(C) 2008 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS, Macintosh, iTunes, iPod, iPhone and Apple TV are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Video

by Darren Murph, posted May 1st 2008 at 7:00AM
Startup ZeeVee isn’t out to flood the market with yet another ho hum media streamer, it’s out to change the way you look at ‘em. The June-bound ZvBox ($499) plugs into one’s computer (VGA) and sends on-screen content to every TV in the house over existing coaxial cabling. Put simply, the unit enables users to view any kind of internet media right on their television with no subscription fees or wireless dropouts. Aside from bringing internet video over, users can also access any other computer application (web browser, built-in DVD player, etc.) right from their set. In order to handle said tasks, the box comes bundled with a wireless ZvRemote / Zviewer, but those comfortable with managing their own desktop won’t be bothered with any fancy interfaces. Suffice to say, those looking to easily pipe their Media PC recordings to the family TV will certainly find reason to take notice. Head on the past the break for a few more details.

Gallery: ZeeVee’s ZvBox streams your PC to your HDTV

Put simply, the ZvBox ports your computer desktop to every HDTV in your house by creating its own channel (RF) that is picked up by the tuner packed within your set(s). Here’s a few tidbits to clarify how the thing actually works:

• PC’s content piped through VGA, which is then sent through coaxial cabling to every TV in your home
• VGA pass-through ensures your PC monitor continues to operate normally
• Audio (including Dolby Digital 5.1) is inputted via USB
• No equipment is needed at the TV end for reception; all signals are received from the TV’s QAM-capable internal tuner
• Users can opt to view their unadulterated desktop
• Otherwise, the Zviewer lays out customizable launch icons to take you directly to Netflix, Hulu, ABC.com, YouTube, MOJO, KoldCast or any other destination you choose
• Users have total control of their PC from their television; watching back PVR recordings, playing DVDs, viewing photos, etc. is all possible
• ZvBox possesses no fan, thus there’s no noise
• ZvRemote controls volume / channels, has built-in touchpad for interfacing with PC
• Optional ZvKeyboard coming this summer (no price disclosed)
• Shipments will begin in June, consumers can pre-order exclusively from Amazon beforehand

Quite honestly, this looks like the device to bridge the gap between living room TVs and internet / OTA-accessible content. Rather than being locked into material available on a number of other STBs, the ZvBox is only limited by the amount of content accessible via the web, your computer’s DVD player and your PC-based OTA TV tuner. Needless to say, that’s an awful lot of media. We’ll be getting our hands on one and giving you the rundown just as soon as we can.

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

by Thomas Ricker, posted May 1st 2008 at 6:04AM
We’re been fans of Kleer wireless audio technology since we first gave it a listen back at CES in January 2007. Unfortunately, lackluster products have held back its potential over Bluetooth audio. While DigiFi’s Opera headset isn’t likely to tip the balance, these headphones are interesting nonetheless. The buds ship with a mini-jack dongle and offer 10 hours of playtime and CD-quality sound. Not bad, but they also allow you to tune in up to 3 additional Opera wearing friends. Silent raves will never be the same. Available today in Korea, worldwide eventually for $98.

[Via AVING]

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Wearables

by Nilay Patel, posted May 1st 2008 at 8:02AMEngland is already drowning in CCTV cameras, so it looks like Big Brother is starting to get creative in finding ways to deploy more: local councils are now outfitting crossing guards with camera-equipped stop signs. Yeah, crossing guards. With cameras in their stop signs. The cameras in the £890 ($1765) poles are fairly conspicuous, and the hope is that it’ll curb aggressive driving around crossing zones, which resulted in 1,400 incidents last year. There’s no word on how anyone plans to measure the effectiveness of the program, but we’re certain the crossing guards who get passed over for the poles and end up with the hat-mounted cameras also being deployed will have a few choice words about things.

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Filed under: Misc. gadgets

by Joshua Topolsky, posted May 1st 2008 at 8:24AM
Apparently, not only is CompUSA rising from the dead like a horrific, zombified corpse, but now its guts are getting bought up and replaced by another retail behemoth. According to reports, Best Buy has just paid $13.5 million for 17 CompUSA store leases, ranging in time from three to 14 years and totaling 453,000 square feet. If the nightmare of CompUSA wasn’t enough to haunt you in your sleep, the news that its now-defunct locations will be replaced with essentially more of the same should shake you to your very core. We imagine the Best Buy victory rap will be making the rounds again, you can jog your memory after the break.

[Thanks, Brian]

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Filed under: Misc. gadgets

by Thomas Ricker, posted May 1st 2008 at 5:30AM
With a sample group of one, it’s a bit too early to call the Dell Vostro 1310 keyboard a problem. Nevertheless, reader Jake is livid about Dell’s chosen keyboard configuration for his UK-shipped 1310. Especially as it looks nothing like the layout pictured on Dell’s UK site. As tethered keyboard jockeys we’d have to agree. Any other UK readers seeing the same massive left-shift key and offset-zed (and thus, the entire row scooted to the right) layout on their new Vostro? Bigger images after the break.

Update: Jake’s been on the horn with Dell who confirms the issue exists on all 1310s (and possibly others) in the UK. We’ll update you again once Dell sorts out a fix.

Update 2: Dell issued us a statement regarding the keyboard screwiness: “A limited number of Dell Vostro 1310 and 1510 laptops in Europe have been sent out with the wrong keyboard layout. We are working diligently to offer a solution to impacted customers and correct the error before any additional units are shipped. We will be contacting impacted customers directly to both apologize and instruct them on next steps. This issue is under investigation, and we will come back with more detailed information as soon as possible. We thank you and your readers’ for their comments - we agree that a mistake has been made and we will be acting as quickly as possible to find a satisfactory solution for our customers.” Guess that’s that!

[US model image courtesy of NotebookReview]
US layout

UK layout

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Filed under: Laptops