E-Z Life

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Toshiba’s going to have to eventually wake up and realize that consumers want to watch actual HD content on their HD displays instead of just upscaled SD, but until that happens we’d better get used to seeing a lot more devices featuring the company’s Super Resolution Technology / XDE upscaling tech — we’ve already got REGZA HDTVs and the XD-E500 DVD player, and now it’s three new Vardia DVRs. The ¥140,000 ($1,339) RD-X8 (pictured) is the top of the line unit with Deep Color HDMI output, a 1TB drive, dual-layer burner, and MPEG-4 / H.264 support, while the ¥100,000 ($956) RD-S503 and ¥80,000 ($765) RD-S303 are 500GB / 320GB models that drop the Deep Color outputs. No word on whether these will make the jump to the States, but without CableCARD slots we doubt they’ll be in huge demand.

[Via Electronista]

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Filed under: Laptops

Lenonvo’s ThinkPad X200t tablet finally made the trip Stateside after hiding out in Hong Kong for the past few weeks, and it’s brought a little friend with it — the X200s laptop. As expected, the X200t replaces the X61t, and specs for the new machines are right in line with that transition: available processors range from a 1.2GHz SU9300 Core 2 Duo to a 1.86GHz SL9400 chip, RAM maxes out a 4GB, there’s a 128GB Samsung SSD option, graphics are integrated GMA 4500MHD, and WWAN, WiMAX and UWB are optional. Notable changes from the the X61t in particular include a dual swivel hinge, an LED backit 1280 x 800 screen, and claimed 50% improvement in battery life to 15 hours, reduced touch pressure with a Wacom digitizer, and built-in GPS when the WWAN option is ordered. Prices should start at $2325 when these start going out in October, less for the X200s — we’ll have a hands-on for you ASAP, but there’s a vid after the break to hold you over.

Continue reading Thinkpad X200t and X200s announced

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British and German engineers are working on a potential new European mission to bring back material from an asteroid.

Filed under: GPS, Transportation

Comically enough, we already knew that Geek Squad employees took a few liberties with their company car, but this is a debacle. Can you imagine how enraged the poor sap is who was expecting this fool? They probably took a vacation day just to stay home and overpay for some potentially dodgy PC fixer to remove a virus. For shame.

Chris: “Late at night — well after their shifts end — testosterone-crazed Geek Squad and Firedog employees meet in alleyways across the nation for dangerous games of chicken that all too often end in tragedy.”
Paul: “Did you unplug it and then plug it back in? Look mom, I’m a little busy right now…”
Joe: “Geez… it’s called multi-tasking!”
Darren: “Hey there Brad from Circuit City! About that job ad on Craigslist…”
Don: “But sir, the GPS said I was going the right way.”
Sean: “Naw, really, I just scuffed up the paint on the bumper and lost the hubcap, the MRI disk is still secure.”
Nilay: “Hello… is it possible to retroactively buy that $29.95 PRP plan?”
Josh F.: “So I think we figured out the problem with your laptop. Looks like someone dropped it.”

[Thanks, DS]

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Palin e-mail intruder left digital trail