Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[How-To: XBMC 11 the XBMCbuntu way]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/23/how-to-xbmc-11-the-xbmcbuntu-way/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/23/how-to-xbmc-11-the-xbmcbuntu-way/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/23/how-to-xbmc-11-the-xbmcbuntu-way/#comments

For all intents and purposes, the original Xbox, with its NVIDIA GPU, 8-10GB hard disk and custom Pentium III processor was a high-end PC for its time -- albeit, one that connected to a television. What Microsoft didn't realize back then, though, was that when you put that kind of hardware in the hands of hackers and enthusiasts, it's only a matter of time before people start doing more than just playing Halo. Fast forward to 2003, the year the Xbox Media Center was born. Nowadays, it's simply referred to as XBMC, since it runs on more than just your Xbox. In brief, XBMC is an open-source software solution that enables a plethora of media streaming capabilities on all sorts of devices. What once was limited to the original Xbox, can now be put to use on everything from a bare-bones Linux desktop to an Apple TV. In this how-to, we'll show you how to build a simple XBMC setup using XBMCbuntu. Catch us after the break for the full step-by-step.

Continue reading How-To: XBMC 11 the XBMCbuntu way

How-To: XBMC 11 the XBMCbuntu way originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hdpostcrosshow tohow-tohowtomedia streamermedia streamersmedia streamingMediaStreamerMediaStreamersMediaStreamingMicrosoftMicrosoft XboxMicrosoftXboxopen-sourceUnbuntuXboxXbox Media CenterXboxMediaCenterXmbcXmbc ubuntuXmbcUbuntuWed, 23 May 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung launches customer service app on Android as proof that it Cares]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/17/samsung-customer-service-app-android/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/17/samsung-customer-service-app-android/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/17/samsung-customer-service-app-android/#comments Image

Worried that Samsung is too busy selling millions of devices to care about you, the individual consumer? Fear not, for the company has released an app to prove its unconditional dedication to your happiness, and it's appropriately called Samsung Cares. The program serves as a hub for online support, offering how-to videos, troubleshooting guides, FAQs and service ticket tracking. Oh, and for those who don't own a Samsung device but still want the sweet reassurance of the company's interest in your well-being (or perhaps you just use other products made by Sammy), the free app can be downloaded on any phone or tablet running Android 2.1 or higher. Head to the source to grab a copy for yourself.

Samsung launches customer service app on Android as proof that it Cares originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 May 2012 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid appAndroidAppappcustomer serviceCustomerServicefaqhow-tomobilepostminionline supportOnlineSupportplay storePlayStoreprogramsamsungsamsung caresSamsungCaressupporttech supportTechSupporttutorialsThu, 17 May 2012 08:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Buy this book: Darren Murph's 'iPad Secrets']]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/10/buy-this-book-darren-murph-ipad-secrets/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/10/buy-this-book-darren-murph-ipad-secrets/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/10/buy-this-book-darren-murph-ipad-secrets/#comments ipad secrets book darren murph
We have something of a history of Engadget editors writing books on tech-related topics, and our esteemed Managing Editor (and Guinness World Record-holder) Darren Murph is the latest to join the club. He's written a book in which he'll enlighten you on some of the inner workings of Apple's favorite tablet -- and he won't call you a Dummy in the process. Heck, the publisher was thoughtful enough to put the man's signature right there on the cover, so if you're not satisfied it'll make forging checks and cleaning out Darren's checking account that much easier.

Buy this book: Darren Murph's 'iPad Secrets' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple ipapple ipadAppleIpadbookdarren murphDarrenMurphguidehow-toipadipad 2ipad secretsIpad2IpadSecretsnew ipadNewIpadTue, 10 Apr 2012 12:21:00 EST<![CDATA[How-To: Set up a home file server using FreeNAS]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/01/how-to-set-up-a-home-file-server-using-freenas/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/01/how-to-set-up-a-home-file-server-using-freenas/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/01/how-to-set-up-a-home-file-server-using-freenas/#comments In today's digital world we've all got data, and lots of it. Our libraries are also growing rapidly: where you used to get by setting aside a few bookshelves for your books, CDs, DVDs and VHS tapes, we now require untold server space to preserve our beloved media in digitized form. We also want our data to be itinerant, or at least seem that way. That is, if you want to take a book or disc to another room of your abode, you pull it from the bookshelf and take it with you. Similarly, if you're working on a document upstairs on your desktop and you want to move to the den with your laptop, you'll need the proper infrastructure working in the background to enable that kind of wizardry. So, how can we create this "digital bookshelf?" Can you go out and buy it now? Can you build it in your garage? As it turns out, the answer is "yes" on all counts. You could go out and buy a Drobo device but in this case, we're going to assemble our own. And we're going to do that with the help of an open source storage platform called FreeNAS. So how involved a process is that? Meet us after the break to find out.

Continue reading How-To: Set up a home file server using FreeNAS

How-To: Set up a home file server using FreeNAS originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CIFSFreeNAShow tohow-tohowtoNASnetwork attached storageNetworkAttachedStoragesambaZFSWed, 01 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the scenes at CES 2012: getting to a hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/13/behind-the-scenes-at-ces-2012-getting-to-a-hands-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/13/behind-the-scenes-at-ces-2012-getting-to-a-hands-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/13/behind-the-scenes-at-ces-2012-getting-to-a-hands-on-video/#comments Getting to and from an announcement, meeting, or keynote is one of the things we find ourselves doing countless times a day. To truly appreciate just how far we sometimes have to trek to get to the things we're covering at CES is hard to understand unless you've done it. Crowds that delay because they're ambling along, booths that are hard to find, and the time you burn getting to and fro is always at the back of our minds. We thought it a good idea to put together a little tour of how we find and then travel to a booth at CES. Enjoy the video after the break.

Continue reading Behind the scenes at CES 2012: getting to a hands-on (video)

Behind the scenes at CES 2012: getting to a hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boothbooth tourBoothTourCESces 2012Ces2012hands-onhow-tohowtomobilepostcrossvideoFri, 13 Jan 2012 19:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget Primed: What is aperture, and how does it affect my photos?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/27/engadget-primed-what-is-aperture-and-how-does-it-affect-my-pho/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/27/engadget-primed-what-is-aperture-and-how-does-it-affect-my-pho/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/27/engadget-primed-what-is-aperture-and-how-does-it-affect-my-pho/#comments Primed goes in-depth on the technobabble you hear on Engadget every day -- we dig deep into each topic's history and how it benefits our lives. You can follow the series here. Looking to suggest a piece of technology for us to break down? Drop us a line at primed *at* engadget *dawt* com.

Last week I wrote a piece for Engadget Primed on image sensors -- arguably the most critical component of any digital camera, having a direct influence on the quality of each and every photo. In a completely different way, another component that controls and changes the look of your photographs is the aperture.

To create amazing photos with impact takes much more than the will to capture them -- sadly we can't all be like Ashton Kutcher, snapping away at well-lit parties overrun with models. It's a multifaceted process; to have the desire to work for a shot, to make the effort to put yourself into position, and to know how to utilize the equipment you have in the best way possible. None of these skills are easy to master, yet just like a painter who knows how to use their brush, mastering the photographic tool that is your camera yields more opportunities to plaster that Google+ page with shots you're proud of.

In this Primed installment, we'll define the mechanism, explain the concepts and share ways to better convey messages in our two-dimensional stills -- just by adjusting the aperture. Ready to dive in? It's all after the break.

Continue reading Engadget Primed: What is aperture, and how does it affect my photos?

Engadget Primed: What is aperture, and how does it affect my photos? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aperturebokehcameradepth of fieldDepthOfFielddslrengadget primedEngadgetPrimedf-stophow-tolearningphotographyphotosprimedtutorialTue, 27 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How-to: use Google Music from anywhere (yes, outside of the United States)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/19/how-to-use-google-music-from-anywhere-yes-outside-of-the-unit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/19/how-to-use-google-music-from-anywhere-yes-outside-of-the-unit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/19/how-to-use-google-music-from-anywhere-yes-outside-of-the-unit/#comments Now that Google Music has finally clawed its way out of the realm of beta-ware, anybody in the US can sign up to play without an invitation. Of course, that leaves many folks out of the equation, so we thought it a good time to point out at least one other route to let you get involved in the service, no matter where you live. See, the rub seems to be that Google checks your IP address on your first attempt to log in, and accept its terms of use -- only the first time, and yeah, you're definitely going to be ignoring that doc by following this guide.

So, in essence all we need to do is find a way to gently tiptoe past that gatekeeper and we're home free. Keep in mind that while you can upload your music, buying new tracks isn't going to happen until it rolls out in your neck of the woods in a more official way -- but hey, most of a good thing is still a good thing. There are various means to get this done, and we've found a pretty straightforward route, and if you're up to it click on through to the guide.

Continue reading How-to: use Google Music from anywhere (yes, outside of the United States)

How-to: use Google Music from anywhere (yes, outside of the United States) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Nov 2011 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidcanadaglobalgooglegoogle musicgoogle music canadagoogle music europegoogle music hackGoogleMusicGoogleMusicCanadaGoogleMusicEuropeGoogleMusicHackhackhow tohow-tohowtointernationalmobilepostcrossmusicproxyususavideoworkaroundSat, 19 Nov 2011 17:02:00 EST<![CDATA[CircuitBee lets you share schematics, like Scribd for soldering aficionados]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/28/circuitbee-lets-you-share-schematics-like-scribd-for-soldering/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/28/circuitbee-lets-you-share-schematics-like-scribd-for-soldering/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/28/circuitbee-lets-you-share-schematics-like-scribd-for-soldering/#comments CircuitBee Instructables is great, don't get us wrong, but if you're just looking for a sweet new Arduino project or a super-charged Atari Punk Console, wading through the piles of Lego swords and wreath-making tips can be frustrating. Enter CircuitBee, a document sharing site dedicated to one thing, and one thing only -- schematics. It's kind of like Scribd but, instead of being loaded with court documents and shoddy how-to books, it features user-uploaded circuit diagrams to get you started on your next soldering and etching project. The selection at the site is rather sparse at the moment, but since it's only in alpha we'll cut it some slack. Check out the site at the source link, and don't be surprised if a few submissions from your favorite Engadget writers start popping up.

CircuitBee lets you share schematics, like Scribd for soldering aficionados originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>circuit diagramscircuitbeeCircuitDiagramsdiydocument sharingDocumentSharingelectronicshobbyisthow tohow-toHowToinstructionsschematicssharingThu, 28 Jul 2011 13:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Lenovo IdeaPad K1's videos pair easy listening with helpful how-to's (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/07/lenovo-ideapad-k1s-videos-pair-easy-listening-with-helpful-how/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/07/lenovo-ideapad-k1s-videos-pair-easy-listening-with-helpful-how/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/07/lenovo-ideapad-k1s-videos-pair-easy-listening-with-helpful-how/#comments Know what really sells a Honeycomb-based tablet? No, not its 10.1-inch display, Tegra 2 processor, nor those 32GBs of storage space -- it's the background music, man. Someone in Lenovo's marketing department must have an iTunes library chock full o'department store-worthy Lite FM jams, because that schmaltzy muzak is all over its dozen-plus IdeaPad K1 how-to videos. We're kind of disappointed the company couldn't get Lisa Stansfield for a voice-over cameo, but hey -- who says we're living in a perfect universe? Prospective IdeaPad owners should check the source, where they'll be treated to such instructional, chart-topping gems like "Getting to know your Tablet," or our personal favorite "Adding and Removing Shortcuts." All kidding aside, we still don't have a firm date on this tablet's launch, but with its FCC presence cleared expect to see it sooner rather than later.

Continue reading Lenovo IdeaPad K1's videos pair easy listening with helpful how-to's (video)

Lenovo IdeaPad K1's videos pair easy listening with helpful how-to's (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 21:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 3.0android 3.1android tabletAndroid3.0Android3.1AndroidTablethoneycombhoneycomb tabletHoneycombTablethow-toideapadideapad k1IdeapadK1instructionalinstructional videosInstructionalVideosk1lenovovideoThu, 07 Jul 2011 21:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Cube made of 512 LEDs does 3D with calculus, not glasses (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/cube-made-of-512-leds-does-3d-with-calculus-not-glasses-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/cube-made-of-512-leds-does-3d-with-calculus-not-glasses-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/cube-made-of-512-leds-does-3d-with-calculus-not-glasses-video/#commentsCube made of 512 LEDs does glasses-free 3D for real (video) No goofy active shutter glasses, no headache-inducing parallax barrier screens, no optical trickery here. This is a pure 3D display -- unfortunately done at a resolution of just 8 x 8 x 8. It's a hand-built LED cube created by Nick Schulze, powered by Arduino, and driven largely by Matlab. Yes, Matlab, an application you probably deleted less than three minutes after signing off on your calculus final. We can't help you find that installation disc again, but we can encourage you to enjoy the video of this 3D matrix of blinkenlights after the break, and you can get the full details on how to build your own at the other end of that source link.

Continue reading Cube made of 512 LEDs does 3D with calculus, not glasses (video)

Cube made of 512 LEDs does 3D with calculus, not glasses (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3darduinoblinkenlightcalculusdiyformulahackhow-toledled cubeLedCubematlabNick SchulzeNickSchulzevideoMon, 21 Mar 2011 18:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Johnny Chung Lee makes DIY telepresence bot out of an iRobot Create and a netbook]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/11/johnny-chung-lee-makes-diy-telepresence-bot-out-of-an-irobot-cre/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/11/johnny-chung-lee-makes-diy-telepresence-bot-out-of-an-irobot-cre/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/11/johnny-chung-lee-makes-diy-telepresence-bot-out-of-an-irobot-cre/#comments Most of us don't have $15,000 to drop on an Anybot, even though having one around would be nice in the event we don't feel like leaving the house to get some coffee. To help those of us with more humble means, our old friend Johnny Chung Lee (of Wiimote hacking and Kinect dev team fame) has utilized his prodigious DIY talents to create a video chat robot for the relatively paltry sum of $500. Using an iRobot Create ($250), a netbook with Skype ($250), a cable to connect the two, and some control software he wrote himself, Mr. Lee built a digital surrogate on the cheap. Johnny isn't the first person to so leverage iRobot's hacking platform, but he added a stand on top of the robot to get the PC closer to human height, attached a fish-eye lens to the webcam for better remote viewing, and even did some re-wiring to allow the netbook to charge via the Create's base station. The code and how-to instructions are up on his blog, so hit the source link if you're feeling up to making one yourself. Seems like Johnny Lee's putting that Google 20 percent time to good use thus far -- keep 'em coming. Check the video of this latest creation after the break.

Continue reading Johnny Chung Lee makes DIY telepresence bot out of an iRobot Create and a netbook

Johnny Chung Lee makes DIY telepresence bot out of an iRobot Create and a netbook originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>creatediyhow tohow-toHowToirobotirobot createIrobotCreateJohnny Chung LeeJohnnyChungLeerobotrobotsTelepresencetelepresence robotTelepresenceRobotvideoFri, 11 Feb 2011 23:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Elaborate Arduino tutorial explains the nuts and bolts of communicating over GSM]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/06/elaborate-arduino-tutorial-explains-the-nuts-and-bolts-of-commun/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/06/elaborate-arduino-tutorial-explains-the-nuts-and-bolts-of-commun/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/06/elaborate-arduino-tutorial-explains-the-nuts-and-bolts-of-commun/#commentsIf you're looking to make yourself somewhat more productive on this lazy weekend, and you've got an Arduino or two collecting dust, we've got just the thing to add line after line to your dwindling to-do list. Tronixstuff has a borderline insane tutorial series going, and as of now, 27 chapters have been published. It's essentially the Arduino Bible, but the two most recent additions in particular have piqued our interest. With the explosion in mobile broadband, even hackers are looking to get their creations online. If you've mastered the art of Arduino, but haven't yet been brave enough to toss in a bit of GSM communication, the how-to guides linked below definitely deserve your attention. Just be careful how you write that code -- one wrong line with a SIM card installed could lead to text overages that'll take two lifetimes to pay off.

Elaborate Arduino tutorial explains the nuts and bolts of communicating over GSM originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArduinoattGSMhackhackedhackinghow-tomobile broadbandmobile internetMobileBroadbandMobileInternett-mobiletutorialwwanSun, 06 Feb 2011 11:03:00 EST<![CDATA[HTC HD2 can now dual-boot Windows Phone 7 and Android, promises to love them equally]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/htc-hd2-can-now-dual-boot-windows-phone-7-and-android-promises/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/htc-hd2-can-now-dual-boot-windows-phone-7-and-android-promises/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/htc-hd2-can-now-dual-boot-windows-phone-7-and-android-promises/#comments You've seen Windows Phone 7 and Android both ported to the stately HTC HD2, now how about having them on the same device at the same time? Well, not literally at the same time, that'd be all sorts of confusing, but the restless souls over at xda-developers have figured out multiple ways to install both WP7 and Android on the HD2 while using the same SD card. We've looked at them and none of the methods seem particularly trivial or, you know, easy, but then what would be the point of a dual-boot solution if everyone could just up and do it? Detailed instructions await at the source link.

[Thanks, engadgeteer]

Continue reading HTC HD2 can now dual-boot Windows Phone 7 and Android, promises to love them equally

HTC HD2 can now dual-boot Windows Phone 7 and Android, promises to love them equally originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 04:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androiddual-bootguidehackhackinghd2how-tohtchtc hd2HtcHd2instructionstutorialvideowindows phone 7WindowsPhone7wp7xdaxda-developersMon, 24 Jan 2011 04:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows Phone 7 USB tethering uncovered on Samsung phones]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/11/windows-phone-7-usb-tethering-uncovered-on-samsung-phones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/11/windows-phone-7-usb-tethering-uncovered-on-samsung-phones/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/11/windows-phone-7-usb-tethering-uncovered-on-samsung-phones/#comments If you're the proud owner of a Samsung Focus or Omnia 7, you can scratch a pretty major item off the list of basic features missing from WP7: USB tethering. A couple of sites have come upon a quick and relatively easy hack to enable using your handset as a 3G modem on Microsoft's new platform. You'll need to dial up ##634# to get into a diagnostics menu, switch over to a "Modem, Tethered Call" mode and deal with a few more prompts along the way, but the end result is that you'll have a pretty much automated USB tether setup on your hands. Our own testing on HTC's Trophy and LG's Optimus 7 hasn't been quite so productive, perhaps because those devices require a different route to achieving it, but it seems like Windows Phone 7 is perfectly capable of performing the USB tethering task. Let us know how you get along in the comments below!

Windows Phone 7 USB tethering uncovered on Samsung phones originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 04:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>focushackhackinghow tohow-toHowTomicrosoftomnia 7Omnia7samsungsamsung focussamsung omnia 7SamsungFocusSamsungOmnia7tetheringusbusb tetheringUsbTetheringwindows phone 7WindowsPhone7wp7Thu, 11 Nov 2010 04:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Samsung Galaxy Tab can be made to run all apps in full screen, here's how (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/05/samsung-galaxy-tab-can-be-made-to-run-all-apps-in-full-screen-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/05/samsung-galaxy-tab-can-be-made-to-run-all-apps-in-full-screen-h/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/05/samsung-galaxy-tab-can-be-made-to-run-all-apps-in-full-screen-h/#comments You might have noticed in our Galaxy Tab review that a number of pretty significant Android apps failed to scale to fully utilize its real estate, leaving an unpleasant black border surrounding their content. Well, you can now take that issue off your list of cons for this otherwise delectable tablet as our buddy JKK has figured out a way to overcome the scaling problemo. Using Spare Parts, a free app available in the Android Market, and a couple of reboots, he was able to convince the Engadget app to run in full screen on the Tab. He's right in guessing that we'd be happy about that, though we imagine owners of Samsung's slate will be the ones with the biggest grins on their faces right now. See the how-to video after the break.

[Thanks, Mani]

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Tab can be made to run all apps in full screen, here's how (video)

Samsung Galaxy Tab can be made to run all apps in full screen, here's how (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 04:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid marketAndroidMarketapplicationsappsfull screenFullScreengalaxy tabGalaxyTabhow tohow-toHowTosamsungsamsung galaxy tabSamsungGalaxyTabsoftwarespare partsSparePartstabletvideoFri, 05 Nov 2010 04:50:00 EST<![CDATA[How-to: install Pixel Qi's 3Qi display on your netbook (and why it's worth it)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/19/how-to-install-pixel-qis-3qi-display-on-your-netbook-and-why/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/19/how-to-install-pixel-qis-3qi-display-on-your-netbook-and-why/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/19/how-to-install-pixel-qis-3qi-display-on-your-netbook-and-why/#comments It's hard to believe that it's been almost two and a half years since Pixel Qi spun off from OLPC and promised to bring its dual-mode, power efficient display to laptops, tablets, and e-readers. For those who haven't followed our small obsession with the 3Qi screen technology (shame on you!) it promises the best of both worlds: full-color graphics in a normal LCD mode, but also the ability to turn off the backlight to morph into a grayscale, e-paper like display. And while we've seen it demoed at tradeshows (and more tradeshows!), we haven't been able to get our own grubby hands on the much-lauded display. Until now, of course.

No, the 3Qi display still isn't shipping in any commercially available products, but Pixel Qi is at long last offering a $275 10.1-inch screen replacement kit for netbooks through MakerShed. Needless to say, we jumped -- nay, leaped -- at the chance to finally get the display into our laboratories, roll up our sleeves and get to crankin'. That's right, we got out the screwdriver, wrangled up an old Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 netbook and swapped in the 3Qi display for Lenovo's glossy panel. You're surely sitting on a metric ton of questions. Was it hard to swap out? Has the screen been everything we've ever fantasized about and more? Is it really 80 percent more power efficient than standard LCDs? We've got plenty of answers as well as a step-by-step how-to after the break.

Continue reading How-to: install Pixel Qi's 3Qi display on your netbook (and why it's worth it)

How-to: install Pixel Qi's 3Qi display on your netbook (and why it's worth it) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3qidisplaydiye inke papere-paperEInkEPaperhow-tohowtoideapadideapad s10-2IdeapadS10-2lcdlenovoMary Lou JepsenMaryLouJepsenmodmoddingpanelpixel qiPixel Qi 3QiPixelQiPixelQi3qireviews10s10-2screenvideoMon, 19 Jul 2010 13:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Android 2.2 ported to HTC Desire, working quite well]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/10/android-2-2-ported-to-htc-desire-working-quite-well/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/10/android-2-2-ported-to-htc-desire-working-quite-well/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/10/android-2-2-ported-to-htc-desire-working-quite-well/#commentsNo patience to wait until Q3 for an official Froyo build? Fret not, dear Desire owners, as udK_dev has managed to push out a near-perfect Android 2.2 port that's working spectacularly well so far. As you'd expect, HTC's Sense overlay is indeed baked in, and while there are still a few quirks here and there, users seem to be generally pleased with how it's going. Better still, the camera has been upgraded to handle 720p video recording, so there's that. Hit the source link for the how-to, but make sure you set aside a few hours first. Or maybe just one.

[Thanks, seaders]

Android 2.2 ported to HTC Desire, working quite well originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Jul 2010 01:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.2Android2.2desirefroyogooglegoogle androidGoogleAndroidhackhow tohow-toHowTohtchtc desirehtc senseHtcDesireHtcSensemodoperating systemOperatingSystemosportsensesmartphoneuiSat, 10 Jul 2010 01:41:00 EST<![CDATA[How-to: Install Flash on your jailbroken iPad (for real)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/how-to-install-flash-on-your-jailbroken-ipad-for-real/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/how-to-install-flash-on-your-jailbroken-ipad-for-real/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/how-to-install-flash-on-your-jailbroken-ipad-for-real/#commentshttp://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2010/07/flashipadeng1.jpg We just saw Flash 10.1 ported to the iPad demonstrated in video form by Comex, and now you can get in on the action too, as long as your iPad is jailbroken. It's called Frash, and while the plugin is still pretty early and doesn't do video playback yet, you can definitely play games and other animations right now, and we're told video support is forthcoming. Okay, so let's try this out, shall we? It's not point-and-click simple, but it's not that hard, either. Full instructions after the break.

Continue reading How-to: Install Flash on your jailbroken iPad (for real)

How-to: Install Flash on your jailbroken iPad (for real) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adobeadobe flashAdobeFlashappleapple ipadAppleIpadcydiadiyflashfrashhackhow tohow-tohowtoiosipadjailbreakjailbreakingplaybacksoftwarevideoWed, 07 Jul 2010 12:18:00 EST<![CDATA[How-to: figure out the best value iPhone 4 contracts in the UK (updated)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/18/how-to-figure-out-the-best-value-iphone-4-contracts-in-the-uk/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/18/how-to-figure-out-the-best-value-iphone-4-contracts-in-the-uk/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/18/how-to-figure-out-the-best-value-iphone-4-contracts-in-the-uk/#comments Choices, choices. Do you get the 16GB or 32GB iPhone 4? The black one now or the white one a little later? We can't tell you which variant of Apple's next phone will hold its value best over the coming months, but we can try to clear up a bit of the fogginess surrounding price plans on offer from UK networks. Orange and O2 are the first to drop handset pricing and full contract details, but they haven't made it easy for the discerning buyer, with each carrier offering more than a dozen options. Vodafone, T-Mobile, Three, and even Tesco Mobile are set to follow suit in the coming days and weeks, but we thought we'd get the ball rolling with the pair we have now.

Update: And just as we publish this, Voda has gone official with its tariffs. We've now broken them down into a more digestible format as well. Just for you.

Update 2: Tesco Mobile has also outed its pricing and it's by far the best of the bunch. Check out the full chart inside the post.

Update 3: Three's iPhone 4 pricing has now also been made known.

Continue reading How-to: figure out the best value iPhone 4 contracts in the UK (updated)

How-to: figure out the best value iPhone 4 contracts in the UK (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple iphoneAppleIphonechartchartscomparedcomparisoncontractcontractscostdataeconomicsfigureshow-tohowtoiphoneiphone 4Iphone4moneynumberso2o2 ukO2Ukorangeorange ukOrangeUkpriceprice plansPricePlanspricespricingstatstescotesco mobileTescoMobileukunited kingdomUnitedKingdomvalueFri, 18 Jun 2010 06:49:00 EST<![CDATA[DIY: How to make your own t-shirt printer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/11/diy-how-to-make-your-own-t-shirt-printer/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/11/diy-how-to-make-your-own-t-shirt-printer/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/11/diy-how-to-make-your-own-t-shirt-printer/#comments
We're not really in the clothing business here (though we've been known to darn a sock or two), but this DIY garment printer is really well done. Plus, there are super in depth and easy to read instructions about making your own, which is exactly what we'd be doing right now if it weren't for... oh, right.

DIY: How to make your own t-shirt printer originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clothingdiyhackhackshow-tomodmodsprinterprintersprintingt-shirtt-shirtsFri, 11 Jun 2010 13:23:00 EST<![CDATA[How to create your own Micro SIM card using a chef knife and some scissors]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/how-to-create-your-own-micro-sim-card-using-a-chef-knife-and-som/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/how-to-create-your-own-micro-sim-card-using-a-chef-knife-and-som/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/06/how-to-create-your-own-micro-sim-card-using-a-chef-knife-and-som/#comments We told you you could shave down your old and busted SIM cards and turn them into minty fresh Micro SIMs, didn't we? An industrious Londoner by the name of John Benson has gone and proven that concept with the help of some cutting implements and an original Micro SIM to use as a reference. His saintly patience resulted in his being able to negotiate the Vodafone SIM you see above into his iPad 3G (imported from the USA) and riding the waves of Voda's network as if Apple never decided to encumber its portable device with a silly new standard. The 3FF (Micro) SIMs and the bulkier original ones are electrically identical, so there's no threat of harm by using them interchangeably, though we can't say the same thing about the tools that get you there. As always, we advise trying to rope someone else into doing the work for you -- less chance of hurting yourself that way. Hit the source for more.

[Thanks, Brandon]

How to create your own Micro SIM card using a chef knife and some scissors originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 May 2010 08:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3ff3ff sim3ffSimapplediyhomebrewhomemadehow tohow-toHowToipadknifemicro simMicroSimmicrosim cardMicrosimCardmodmoddingscissorssimsim cardSimCardThu, 06 May 2010 08:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Inhabitat Earth Day special: how to go off-grid with your gadgets]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/22/inhabitat-earth-day-special-how-to-go-off-grid-with-your-gadget/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/22/inhabitat-earth-day-special-how-to-go-off-grid-with-your-gadget/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/22/inhabitat-earth-day-special-how-to-go-off-grid-with-your-gadget/#commentsThe Week in Green is a new item from our friends at Inhabitat, recapping the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us. Today is Earth Day, so we're happy to have Inhabitat contributing this How-to guide for us.

Earth Day isn't just a time for Birkenstock-clad hippies to preach about living off the land. It's also an opportunity to stop and think about some of the easy ways we can lighten our load on the planet, and disconnect from the tether of the electrical outlet and the office cubicle and enjoy the great outdoors. For gadget lovers, that means going off the grid -- whether with mobile solar, wind, hand crank chargers, or hydroelectric power. Below, take a look at some of our favorite off-the-grid gadgets.

Continue reading Inhabitat Earth Day special: how to go off-grid with your gadgets

Inhabitat Earth Day special: how to go off-grid with your gadgets originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earth dayEarthDayhow tohow-toHowToinhabitatinhabitats week in greenInhabitatsWeekInGreenoff gridOffGridweek in greenWeekInGreenThu, 22 Apr 2010 14:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Taking the Windows Phone 7 Series emulator for a test drive (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/20/taking-the-windows-phone-7-series-emulator-for-a-test-drive-vid/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/20/taking-the-windows-phone-7-series-emulator-for-a-test-drive-vid/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/20/taking-the-windows-phone-7-series-emulator-for-a-test-drive-vid/#commentsTaking the Windows Phone 7 Series emulator for a test drive (video) If you've been following the news about Microsoft's reinvention of its mobile presence, Windows Phone 7 Series, chances are you heard about how the company's developer-friendly emulator was... modified slightly by Dan Ardelean to expose a series of applications and hubs that you weren't supposed to see yet. Microsoft was quite gracious about it, indicating it basically expected this would happen and simply reminded everyone that these newly discovered apps are far from complete. With that in mind, let's take a look at the unlocked version of the OS, and we'll spell out for you exactly how you can do the same to see it for yourself.

Continue reading Taking the Windows Phone 7 Series emulator for a test drive (video)

Taking the Windows Phone 7 Series emulator for a test drive (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Mar 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>developerdeveloper kitDeveloperKitemulatorfeaturefeaturedfeatureshow-tomicrosoftmicrosoft windows phone 7 seriesMicrosoftWindowsPhone7Seriesvisual studiovisual studio 2010VisualStudioVisualStudio2010windows phone 7windows phone 7 seriesWindowsPhone7WindowsPhone7SeriesSat, 20 Mar 2010 11:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Windows 7 gets a thorough SSD optimization guide]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/02/windows-7-gets-a-thorough-ssd-optimization-guide/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/02/windows-7-gets-a-thorough-ssd-optimization-guide/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/02/windows-7-gets-a-thorough-ssd-optimization-guide/#commentsWe all know we want an SSD, but do we truly know what to do with one when we get it? Sure, you could plug it into the familiar SATA and power cables and consider your job done, but that's not really the way of the geek. To educate us wistful, hopeful, soon-to-be SSD owners, TweakTown have put together a comprehensive guide on optimizing your solid state storage -- starting from the very first step of picking out the right drive. What lies ahead is a full breakdown of the controllers available on the market today, along with helpful reminders of the importance of Trim command and garbage collection support. After you pick out your perfect life partner, you'll be wanting to ensure it plays along nicely with Windows 7 as well, and they've got you covered on that front too. Just hit the source link and get informed. We did, even though we still can't afford to buy one of these mythical drives.

Windows 7 gets a thorough SSD optimization guide originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 06:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>garbage collectionGarbageCollectionguidehow-tomemoryoptimizationoptimization guideOptimizationGuideossolid statesolid state driveSolidStateSolidStateDrivetrimtrim commandTrimCommandtweaktweakingtweaktownwindowswindows 7Windows7Tue, 02 Feb 2010 06:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Chumby One gets composite video output via marginally difficult mod]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/28/chumby-one-gets-composite-video-output-via-marginally-difficult/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/28/chumby-one-gets-composite-video-output-via-marginally-difficult/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/28/chumby-one-gets-composite-video-output-via-marginally-difficult/#comments The Chumby One, much like the original, is an interesting beast. For all intents and purposes, it's a mod-friendly box that sits on your nightstand and pushes out real-time information that it pulls down from the web. That said, the inbuilt display may be too small to be considered "glanceable" in some scenarios, and if you're ferociously nodding your head up and down in agreement, we've a hack you should probably see. One xobs recently discovered that a composite video output could be added to the Chumby One, enabling it to output its information onto any display with such an input. Granted, the device can only support a single display at a time, but hey, who ever said you could have your cake and eat it too?

Chumby One gets composite video output via marginally difficult mod originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chumbyChumby OneChumbyOnediyhackhow-tomodtv outTvOutvgavideovideo connectorVideoConnectorwidgetMon, 28 Dec 2009 13:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Manual Android 2.0.1 Droid update detailed for the impatient]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/09/manual-android-2-0-1-update-detailed-for-the-impatient/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/09/manual-android-2-0-1-update-detailed-for-the-impatient/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/09/manual-android-2-0-1-update-detailed-for-the-impatient/#commentsStill haven't gotten that Android 2.0.1 OTA update on your Droid? You're not alone (most people are still waiting for 2.0 on their Android handset, you self-centered power user, you), but luckily there's a simple solution. Basically you just have to manually download the update file, copy it to an SD card and restart your Droid while tapping out a simple succession of hardware keys. You can check out the "detailed" and "badass" versions of the instructions at the two respective source links below.

Manual Android 2.0.1 Droid update detailed for the impatient originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.0.1androidandroid 2.0.1Android2.0.1droidhow-tomanual updateManualUpdatemotorola droidMotorolaDroidupdateverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessWed, 09 Dec 2009 12:25:00 EST<![CDATA[How-to: get music, videos, and photos off your iPod or iPhone]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/25/how-to-get-music-videos-and-photos-off-your-ipod-iphone/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/25/how-to-get-music-videos-and-photos-off-your-ipod-iphone/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/25/how-to-get-music-videos-and-photos-off-your-ipod-iphone/#comments To think, it's been over five years since we last tackled how to get music off your iPod, as opposed to the other way around. Back then, the classic model had only recently added the infamous click wheel (while still rocking the monochrome screen, mind you), iPod nano was still called the mini, and viewing photos was a brand new feature worthy of having its own line. It's time to take another look at how to transfer media of all sorts -- audio, video, and pictures -- from a variety of iPods and iPhones back to your Windows or Mac OS X machine.

Jump to: Windows | OS X

How-to: get music, videos, and photos off your iPod or iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applefeaturedfeatureshow tohow-toHowToiphoneipodipod classicipod nanoipod touchIpodClassicIpodNanoIpodTouchitunesmedia transferMediaTransfermoviesmusicphotospicturestransfervideosWed, 25 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm and Sprint issue statement acknowledging Profile backup issue]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/25/palm-and-sprint-issue-statement-acknowledging-profile-backup-iss/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/25/palm-and-sprint-issue-statement-acknowledging-profile-backup-iss/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/25/palm-and-sprint-issue-statement-acknowledging-profile-backup-iss/#comments Even in a world full of racket, it seems that the squeaky wheel still gets the grease. In yet another blow to this whole "cloud" agenda, a vocal segment of Palm users began to notice that information transferred from their online Palm Profile was only a fraction of what it should have been. Today, both Palm and Sprint have issued a joint statement acknowledging the issue and promising to work much, much harder in order to avoid having something like this ruin your life once again. To quote:
"We are seeing a small number of customers who have experienced issues transferring their Palm Profile information to another Palm webOS device. Palm and Sprint are working closely together to support these customers to successfully transfer their information to the new device."
Between this mess and the T-Mobile fiasco, we're pretty certain we're being forced to stay on the manual backup bandwagon for the foreseeable future.

[Thanks, Mike]

Palm and Sprint issue statement acknowledging Profile backup issue originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backupbackupsclouddatadata lossDataLosserrorfixhow-toPalmpalm pixipalm prepalm profilePalmPixiPalmPrePalmProfilepixipreproblemrestoresmartphonesolutionSprintwebosWed, 25 Nov 2009 10:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Powermat retrofitted into plank of wood, new world of opportunies discovered]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/powermat-retrofitted-into-plank-of-wood-new-world-of-opportunie/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/powermat-retrofitted-into-plank-of-wood-new-world-of-opportunie/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/23/powermat-retrofitted-into-plank-of-wood-new-world-of-opportunie/#comments
 The Powermat may have slung "inductive charging" into the mainstream (at least to some minor extent), but it's still far too niche to be taken seriously by any electronics aisle in Target. Take that same technology and shove it into wood, however, and you've got something that each and every table owner on the planet could appreciate. Jason V decided to retrofit a Powermat charging pad into a slab of wood, and while it wasn't the easiest of tasks, the fact that he managed to successfully integrate it opens up all sorts of possibilities for the woodworking crowd. If you're hungry for more details, hop on down to the how-to guide at Instructables; otherwise, the demonstration vid is just past the break.

Continue reading Powermat retrofitted into plank of wood, new world of opportunies discovered

Powermat retrofitted into plank of wood, new world of opportunies discovered originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chargechargerchargingdiyhackhow-toinductive chargerinductive chargingInductiveChargerInductiveChargingmodpowermatwoodwoodenMon, 23 Nov 2009 04:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Palm Pre backups can be easily overwritten by a replacement device: replacers beware!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/21/palm-pre-backups-can-be-easily-overwritten-by-a-replacement-devi/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/21/palm-pre-backups-can-be-easily-overwritten-by-a-replacement-devi/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/21/palm-pre-backups-can-be-easily-overwritten-by-a-replacement-devi/#comments We've just been alerted to an unsettling trend in Palm Pre land, where strings of replacement devices are a bit too common for comfort: some users have been losing their Palm Profile backup, or a large majority of it, once they pair up their new device. The big issue is that since this problem is rather sporadic, Palm doesn't seem to have a good way to deal with it yet -- the trend in the forums seems to be a complaint sent to Palm, followed up by word of an inability to restore data from Palm a few weeks later. Lucky for these hapless Pre replacers, a particularly repeat offender (working on his seventh Pre) has posted instructions for making sure this sort of data loss doesn't happen to you. His theory is that it has something to do with a refurbished device loaded with an old firmware trying to sync with the newer-firmware-styled backup your dead device made with Palm's servers, and messing stuff up in the process. He recommends walking out of the store before Sprint tries to trip you up, and upgrading and wiping the phone before reactivating it and syncing. Sounds foolproof enough, right? Let's hope.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

View Poll

Palm Pre backups can be easily overwritten by a replacement device: replacers beware! originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backuperrorhow-topalm prepalm profilePalmPrePalmProfileprerestoreSat, 21 Nov 2009 15:44:00 EST<![CDATA[How-to: run Chrome OS as a virtual machine]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/20/how-to-run-chrome-os-as-a-virtual-machine/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/20/how-to-run-chrome-os-as-a-virtual-machine/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/20/how-to-run-chrome-os-as-a-virtual-machine/#comments Itching for some Chrome OS? Well, we all are, but you might be a bit disappointed at the fact that while Google has open-sourced its progress on the OS so far, the version that is currently available for download seems eons behind what Google showed off at its event yesterday. Still, if you just have to see it for yourself, the good news is that it's a total breeze to get a virtual machine running. We used a VMWare image that was packaged up by the kind folks at gdgt, and set it up with VMWare Fusion running on a recent model MacBook Pro. Your mileage may vary depending on your particular setup (there's also an image available for the free, cross-platform VirtualBox software), but the principles should remain the same. Check it out on video after the break.

Continue reading How-to: run Chrome OS as a virtual machine

How-to: run Chrome OS as a virtual machine originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chromechrome osChromeOsgooglehands-onhow-tovideovmwareFri, 20 Nov 2009 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[How-to: recycle your old gadgets]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/27/how-to-recycle-your-old-gadgets/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/27/how-to-recycle-your-old-gadgets/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/27/how-to-recycle-your-old-gadgets/#comments We see a lot of gadgets come in the door here at Engadget. In fact, getting them in the door is actually the easy part... it's getting them back out that's a bit confusing. Recycling -- something that most of us do on a day-to-day basis with our trash -- is a bit stickier when it comes to gadgets. In recent years, however, most major consumer electronics companies have stepped up their games a bit and begun "take back" recycling programs of their own. There are a lot of resources out there if you want to rid yourself of old gadgets in a responsible way, but it can be a pretty overwhelming prospect, especially if (like us) you have an actual pile of old cellphones which has been growing since 1998. We thought about that a lot, and decided to try to make sense of all the wild masses of information out there on the internet, and to provide our readers a central location to look for all that information. Read on and see what we've come up with!

Continue reading How-to: recycle your old gadgets

Filed under:

How-to: recycle your old gadgets originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>e-cyclinge-wasteecoeco-friendlyewastefeaturefeaturedfeaturesgreenguidehow tohow to recyclehow-toHowToHowToRecyclerecyclerecyclingrecycling guideRecyclingGuideTue, 27 Oct 2009 13:56:00 EST<![CDATA[T-Mobile posts Sidekick contact recovery instructions]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/20/t-mobile-posts-sidekick-contact-recovery-instructions/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/20/t-mobile-posts-sidekick-contact-recovery-instructions/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/20/t-mobile-posts-sidekick-contact-recovery-instructions/#comments That Microsoft / T-Mobile tag team has been doing a pretty decent job of cleaning up the disaster area left by the Sidekick data loss, and now the first item on the recovery menu is ready for collection. Sidekick users can hit up the My T-Mobile webpage to download their contacts and then restore them either to their Sidekick or whatever device they've replaced it with. Extensive how-to instructions are available at the read link, which also furnishes us with the reassurance that "Microsoft/Danger continues its efforts to recover pictures, calendar entries and to-do lists, which may be available in the future."

[Thanks, Abe G.]

Filed under: ,

T-Mobile posts Sidekick contact recovery instructions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contactsdangerdatadata lossdata recoveryDataLossDataRecoverydownloadhow-toinstructionsmicrosoftmobileSidekickt mobilet-mobiletmobileTue, 20 Oct 2009 06:24:00 EST<![CDATA[T-Mobile posts Sidekick contact recovery instructions]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/20/t-mobile-posts-sidekick-contact-recovery-instructions/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/20/t-mobile-posts-sidekick-contact-recovery-instructions/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/20/t-mobile-posts-sidekick-contact-recovery-instructions/#comments That Microsoft / T-Mobile tag team has been doing a pretty decent job of cleaning up the disaster area left by the Sidekick data loss, and now the first item on the recovery menu is ready for collection. Sidekick users can hit up the My T-Mobile webpage to download their contacts and then restore them either to their Sidekick or whatever device they've replaced it with. Extensive how-to instructions are available at the read link, which also furnishes us with the reassurance that "Microsoft/Danger continues its efforts to recover pictures, calendar entries and to-do lists, which may be available in the future."

[Thanks, Abe G.]

Filed under:

T-Mobile posts Sidekick contact recovery instructions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contactsdangerdatadata lossdata recoveryDataLossDataRecoverydownloadhow-toinstructionsmicrosoftSidekickt-mobileTue, 20 Oct 2009 06:24:00 EST<![CDATA[How-to guide details PS/2 keyboard-to-iPhone mod, just for you]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/15/how-to-guide-details-ps-2-keyboard-to-iphone-mod-just-for-you/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/15/how-to-guide-details-ps-2-keyboard-to-iphone-mod-just-for-you/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/15/how-to-guide-details-ps-2-keyboard-to-iphone-mod-just-for-you/#comments
Oh sure, we've seen hacker after hacker brag about their success in connecting some sort of keyboard to Apple's iPhone, but have any of them bothered to take the time to explain the process behind the magic? Exactly. The man behind AwghBlog, however, is a kinder, gentler soul, and he's found the time to detail in quite specific terms how he connected a legacy PS/2 keyboard (you know, the one you're not using any longer) to Apple's cash-cow of a smartphone. Best of all, the guide actually explains how to build a PS/2 keyboard-to-iPhone converter, so you're not necessarily tied to a certain board. Hit the read link if you're down for a weekend project.

[Via MAKE]

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How-to guide details PS/2 keyboard-to-iPhone mod, just for you originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applediyguidehackhow-toiphoneiphone keyboardIphoneKeyboardjailbreakjailbrokenkeyboardlegacymodps 2Ps2retroThu, 15 Oct 2009 10:50:00 EST<![CDATA[How-to guide details PS/2 keyboard-to-iPhone mod, just for you]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/15/how-to-guide-details-ps-2-keyboard-to-iphone-mod-just-for-you/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/15/how-to-guide-details-ps-2-keyboard-to-iphone-mod-just-for-you/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/15/how-to-guide-details-ps-2-keyboard-to-iphone-mod-just-for-you/#comments
Oh sure, we've seen hacker after hacker brag about their success in connecting some sort of keyboard to Apple's iPhone, but have any of them bothered to take the time to explain the process behind the magic? Exactly. The man behind AwghBlog, however, is a kinder, gentler soul, and he's found the time to detail in quite specific terms how he connected a legacy PS/2 keyboard (you know, the one you're not using any longer) to Apple's cash-cow of a smartphone. Best of all, the guide actually explains how to build a PS/2 keyboard-to-iPhone converter, so you're not necessarily tied to a certain board. Hit the read link if you're down for a weekend project.

[Via MAKE]

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How-to guide details PS/2 keyboard-to-iPhone mod, just for you originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applediyguidehackhow-toiphoneiphone keyboardIphoneKeyboardjailbreakjailbrokenkeyboardlegacymobilemodps 2Ps2retroThu, 15 Oct 2009 10:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Pre virtual keyboard developing rapidly, gets easy install method]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/31/video-pre-virtual-keyboard-developing-rapidly-gets-easy-instal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/31/video-pre-virtual-keyboard-developing-rapidly-gets-easy-instal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/31/video-pre-virtual-keyboard-developing-rapidly-gets-easy-instal/#comments
 We know you just can't wait to get typing on the Pre's lush touchscreen, and the folks at WebOS Internals must feel the same way as they've been hard at work making their on-screen keyboard a functional reality. Installation has been made a breeze thanks to the Preware app, and usability seems to have improved markedly since the pre-alpha version, but a few kinks remain that need to be ironed out. Still, if you're willing to put up with some buggy behavior and the potential for your Pre to melt into a puddle of fiery lava, then slide past the break to get educated on the how, what and where to download.

Continue reading Video: Pre virtual keyboard developing rapidly, gets easy install method

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Video: Pre virtual keyboard developing rapidly, gets easy install method originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>how-tohowtoinstructionskeyboardmobileon-screen keyboardOn-screenKeyboardPalmpalm prePalmPreprePrewaresmartphonetouchscreenvideovirtual keyboardVirtualKeyboardweb os weboswebos internalsWebosInternalsMon, 31 Aug 2009 08:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Pre virtual keyboard developing rapidly, gets easy install method]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/31/video-pre-virtual-keyboard-developing-rapidly-gets-easy-instal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/31/video-pre-virtual-keyboard-developing-rapidly-gets-easy-instal/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/31/video-pre-virtual-keyboard-developing-rapidly-gets-easy-instal/#comments
 We know you just can't wait to get typing on the Pre's lush touchscreen, and the folks at WebOS Internals must feel the same way as they've been hard at work making their on-screen keyboard a functional reality. Installation has been made a breeze thanks to the Preware app, and usability seems to have improved markedly since the pre-alpha version, but a few kinks remain that need to be ironed out. Still, if you're willing to put up with some buggy behavior and the potential for your Pre to melt into a puddle of fiery lava, then slide past the break to get educated on the how, what and where to download.

Continue reading Video: Pre virtual keyboard developing rapidly, gets easy install method

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Video: Pre virtual keyboard developing rapidly, gets easy install method originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>how-tohowtoinstructionskeyboardon-screen keyboardOn-screenKeyboardPalmpalm prePalmPreprePrewaresmartphonetouchscreenvideovirtual keyboardVirtualKeyboardweboswebos internalsWebosInternalsMon, 31 Aug 2009 08:17:00 EST<![CDATA[How-To: Install Windows 7 and live to tell about it]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/11/how-to-install-windows-7-and-live-to-tell-about-it/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/11/how-to-install-windows-7-and-live-to-tell-about-it/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/11/how-to-install-windows-7-and-live-to-tell-about-it/#comments
So you're thinking about going to Windows 7, eh? Chances are your head is swimming in a sea of TLAs and confusing charts -- enough to have the most adamant Microsoft defender reaching for a something with an Option key. Fear not, noble purchaser of legal software. Though XP users have been punished for skipping Vista by not being able to directly upgrade now, the process of backing up your data, formatting and installing Windows, and then restoring your goods again has never been easier -- even if you're on a netbook with less storage than your smartphone. Vista users have even less to worry about. We'll have our full impressions of the finally finalized OS later this week, but for now let's journey hand in hand down the gently sloped path of the upgrade process.

Continue reading How-To: Install Windows 7 and live to tell about it

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How-To: Install Windows 7 and live to tell about it originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>easy transferEasyTransferfeaturefeaturedfeaturesguidehow tohow-toHowToimpressionsin-place upgradeIn-placeUpgrademicrosoft windowsmicrosoft windows 7MicrosoftWindowsMicrosoftWindows7previewupgradevisioneervistawindowswindows 7windows vistawindows xpWindows7WindowsVistaWindowsXpxpTue, 11 Aug 2009 18:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Take Back the Beep: how to disable voicemail instructions on Sprint (updated!)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/31/take-back-the-beep-how-to-disable-voicemail-instructions-on-spr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/31/take-back-the-beep-how-to-disable-voicemail-instructions-on-spr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/31/take-back-the-beep-how-to-disable-voicemail-instructions-on-spr/#comments
 While we wait for all the carriers to get on board with nixing their endless, unhelpful voicemail pre-beep messages, we've already got instructions from Sprint on how to disable it for your own particular voicemail box on that network.

It's pretty easy:
  1. Call your voicemail
  2. At the menu, press 3 for personal options
  3. Press 2 for greeting
  4. Press 1 to change the greeting
  5. To enable / disable the instructions, press 3
Trust us, we did some serious searching for similar instructions on the other major carriers, but had no luck. If you know of anything, let us know!

Update: Thanks to some helpful comments we've got instructions for AT&T and Verizon for lopping off bits of the message, and, in Verizon's case, speeding up the talking. Check 'em out after the break. Consider yourselves upgraded to orange, guys!

Continue reading Take Back the Beep: how to disable voicemail instructions on Sprint (updated!)

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Take Back the Beep: how to disable voicemail instructions on Sprint (updated!) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>david pogueDavidPoguefeatureshow tohow-toHowTosprinttake back the beepTakeBackTheBeepvoicemailFri, 31 Jul 2009 17:02:00 EST