Songbird intros $79 disposable flexfit hearing aid



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Though not quite as inexpensive as the SolarAid, Songbird Hearing’s $79 flexfit is still much, much cheaper than most professional hearing aids. Designed for spendthrifts dealing with “mild to moderate hearing loss,” the flexfit is disposable in nature and requires no doctors visit for fitting. In fact, it can actually be ordered directly online (right now) or by phone and can be “easily adjusted to fit almost anyone without the need for a hearing exam.” Also of note, the built-in battery is good for 400 hours of active use, which should last most infrequent users two to six months. Got all that, or were we typing too quietly?

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Dell to transition all laptops to LED displays by 2010



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We’ve already heard about a certain other computer manufacturer’s supposed plans to go all LED with its laptops in the not too distant future, and it looks like Dell is now set to take the energy-saving leap as well. According to PC Magazine, Dell says that two-thirds of its Latitude E-series laptops will ship with mercury-free LED backlighting as standard by December 15th of this year, and that by the end of 2009, fully 80 percent of all its laptops will be equipped with LED-backlit displays, which also have the added benefit of looking better and being thinner. The remaining laptops will then apparently make the switch sometime in 2010. In case you’re wondering, Dell also says that it is “absolutely committed” to transitioning its desktop displays to LED, although it doesn’t seem to be quite ready to make any firm commitments.

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GTA: Chinatown Wars has drug dealing mini game



GTA Chinatown Wars has a drug dealing mini game sure to cause controversy

OpenPeak gets official with Atom-based OpenFrame IP “media phone”



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OpenPeak was showing off an Atom-based version of its OpenFrame touchscreen / phone combo at IDF last month, but it’s only just now gotten fully official with it and, naturally, it’s taken the opportunity to dish out some new, prettied-up pictures. Not much looks to have changed with the device itself in the past month or so though, with it still promising to “simplify everyday family and media interactions” and, just as importantly for OpenFrame, “drive new revenues for service providers” — it’ll handle phone calls, too. Unfortunately, while OpenFrame is still saying we can expect to see the first devices based on the platform early next year, it’s apparently not yet ready (or able) to announce exactly who those OEM partners might be.

[Via HotHardware]

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US Appeals court sez Qualcomm infringed on two Broadcom patents



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We could start off by telling you just how much this decision will hurt Qualcomm and just how celebratory the mood must be at Broadcom, but instead, we’ll key you in on this quote: “The appeals court also rejected Qualcomm’s request for a new trial.” At long last, we may have actually heard the end of what has seemed like a never-ending battle between the aforementioned parties. Today, a US Appeals court upheld an earlier ruling that Qualcomm had indeed infringed upon two Broadcom patents while ruling that a third patent in question was invalid. The ruling is obviously a huge win for Broadcom, who will soon be bathing in Benjamins as Qualcomm is forced to pay mandatory royalties for the chips it sells during the “sunset period” ending January 31, 2009.

[Via Reuters]

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