Fujitsu this week announced their new Lifebook A6220 notebook which comes equipped with a Blu-ray drive, HDMI-out, ultra wideband wireless data transfer and Snap Cap swappable shells, which can be used to change the design/color of your laptop in one fell swoop. The 15.4-inch laptop runs on the Centrino 2 platform, with a p8400 Core 2 Duo processor, 4 GB RAM and ATI Radeon HD 3470 discrete graphics. The Snap Caps come in red, gold or purple, and sell for $US20. The A6220 comes in $US1299 or $1US499 configurations, and is available now at [Fujitsu] .
The Sony PSP just received a seminal firmware update. Their 5.0 iteration has brought the PlayStation Store to handhelds, a significant feature that most PSP owners will make use of to directly download movies and games. Meanwhile, illustrious PSP hacker Dark_AleX has already thwarted Sony’s new 5.0 security measures, making it safe to update without permanently losing access to precious homebrew. I might just have to dust off the old PSP to see what all the fuss is about. [PSP News]
The first Firefox Mobile alpha—codenamed fennec, after the fox—is up for download, as promised a few weeks ago. Currently, the only actual mobile thing it runs on is Nokia’s N810 tablet, but you can play with it on Windows, OS X or Linux. Since we saw the Windows Mobile version over the weekend, it’ll probably follow soon, which’ll be the first real taste of it for most people. [Mozilla via ComputerWorld]
newVideoPlayer("/Marcus_Bike.flv", 506, 423,""); Last week we collectively drooled over the Confederate Fighter Motorcycle, a $US110,000 titanium, aluminium and carbon beast that claims speeds of 300kph. This week it appeared on The Today Show. And while we don’t want to ruin the punchline for anyone, let’s just say that no one peels out with the bike…though Merideth Viera is every bit as frisky as usual.
You know that old saying how the anticipation of an event can be greater than the event itself? Well, that seems to be allure behind unboxing. It is that magical moment where expectation meets the acquisition of the object you desire—and it can last as long as it takes to excavate your new toy from its shiny packaging. However, I’m sure many people out there consider it a mere formality—tearing through the package unceremoniously and without emotion. So, the question is: do you get a thrill from unboxing gadgets?
All internet cafes in the main 14 city districts of Beijing have been mandated to install cameras to take pics of people as they enter the store, which are they uploaded to a city-wide database under watch of the Cultural Law Enforcement Taskforce. Shop owners have apparently said that their customers don’t care, but apparently an online version of the People’s Daily showed 72% respondents opposing it because it violated their rights.
If you are the kind of guy that isn’t concerned with appearances, this list is for you. It is, in essence, a gadgety fashion guide for guys that are secure in their geekyness. The list includes everything from Wi-Fi detecting garments to crazy laptop privacy hats—all guaranteed to repel women and popularity like the plague.
This “PSA” on the upcoming switch to digital broadcasting that requires anyone who watches TV via an antenna to get a converter box is one of the funniest gadget-related videos I’ve seen in a long, long time. In it, Mae LaBorde, a 99-year-old grandmother, tries to figure out how to acquire and then set up a digital converter box. Man, do I love this video. What are you still reading these stupid words for? Just watch the video. [LA Times via Neatorama]
I don’t know what can I say about this gigantic 80,000-brick Lego Ferrari model except that 1) it’s amazing, 2) it’s a blow up of the Ferrari F1 Racer 1:8 that I bought earlier this year in my trip to Lego’s Factory, and 3) it was unveiled in the Netherlands for a special Lego event that started yesterday. A close up and another simulated-Lego Ferrari car that can actually drive after the jump.
The Apple Tax is a popular term for people who believe Macs are overpriced. It’s usually screamed at the top of lungs (or the blog-commenter equivalent), but it’s rarely been dissected. The truth about the Apple Tax is straightforward on one level—you will pay more for the same specs on a Mac—and surprisingly complicated on another. It definitely exists, but it’s not a flat tax. Even avoiding build quality and OS differences by looking only at Apple products, a Mac’s price tag is justified in some configurations while in others, it’s downright punitive. If you’re a PC user thinking about switching, or just a Mac user looking to upgrade, our comprehensive look at the Apple Tax is for you. It’s what you really get for what you pay.
