Zibits mini remote control robots spin right ’round, baby



We’ve seen plenty of toy robots at the International Toy Fair this week, but none quite have moves like Senario’s Zibits. The salt and pepper shaker-sized bots, which will be available for $9.99 a piece at Toys R Us in March, come with a small AA battery powered remote that lets you drive the three wheeled little guy forward, but also spin him around in circles. Apparently these R/C toys are meant for eight to ten years olds, but us really mature adults are itching to buy a couple of these Zibit characters along with some Hexbugs, and stage the ultimate battle of $10 bots. Stop judging us and our Star Wars lunch box and watch the handheld bot in action after the break.

Continue reading Zibits mini remote control robots spin right ’round, baby

Zibits mini remote control robots spin right ’round, baby originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic goes 3D crazy with AG-3DA1 camcorder and AG-HMX100 video mixer



Well, what do you know? The world’s first pro quality, fully-integrated full HD 3D camcorder has a name — and it’s up for pre-order. The AG-3DA1 camera (available this fall) is equipped with dual lenses and two full 1920 x 1080 2.07 megapixel 3-MOS imagers for recording 1080/60i, 50i, 30p, 25p and 24p (native) and 720/60p and 50p in AVCHD. It can record for up to 180 minutes on dual 32GB SD cards in AVCHD PH mode, and sports dual HD-SDI out, HDMI (version 1.4), two XLR connectors, built-in stereo microphone and twin-lens camera remotes. This bad boy is listed at $21,000, and you can reserve yours for $1,000 down. That’s nice of them, huh? But that ain’t all! The newly announced AG-HMX100 video mixer (available this June) supports full 3D as well (we’re sensing a theme here), as does the 25-inch BT-3DL2550 LCD monitor for field use (available this September). Just the thing for filming your Avatar fan films, huh? The latter two are priced at $5,600 and $9,900 respectively. PR after the break.

Continue reading Panasonic goes 3D crazy with AG-3DA1 camcorder and AG-HMX100 video mixer

Panasonic goes 3D crazy with AG-3DA1 camcorder and AG-HMX100 video mixer originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Switched On: Making it different versus making a difference



Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

How many apps does it take to screw in a light bulb? That was the question facing Microsoft as rival mobile operating systems backed by Apple and Google added tens of thousands of applications giving users stylus-free access to a wide range of capabilities. For a company whose co-founder trumpeted the notion of information at your fingertips, it was a bitter position. The light bulb wasn’t screwed, but Microsoft looked as though it was.

Finally, though, the light bulb has turned on, and it has lit a path in the opposite direction from the guiding user interface philosophy that characterized Windows Mobile, née Windows CE, since it powered devices known as Pocket PCs. With its miniature Start menu, menu bars and icons, Windows Mobile had been designed to present a familiar interface to those used to using Windows 95. In this case, however, familiarity bred contempt. As Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore repeated several times during his introduction of the new Windows Phone 7 OS, “the phone is not a PC.”

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Switched On: Making it different versus making a difference originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Engadget Show returns February 27th with Boxee’s Avner Ronen, Windows Phone 7 Series, and more!



If you’re a fan of entertainment of the digital variety, you’d be a fool to miss the next live taping of The Engadget Show. We’ll be sitting down with Avner Ronen, creator and CEO of Boxee and taking a look at the forthcoming (and very anticipated) Boxee Box. We’ll also be discussing Avner’s strategy for taking on the networks and cable providers, and the best methods of defending oneself from Jeff Zucker. Not only that, but we’ll have a Windows Phone 7 Series device on hand for a demo and discussion, plus the regular kind of Engadget Show zaniness you’ve come to know and love. You can also expect good clean music from Nullsleep, and stunning visuals from Outpt and Paris. If you miss this one, you’ll basically have zero good stories to tell your grand children.

The Show is sponsored by Sprint, and will take place at the Times Center, part of The New York Times Building in the heart of New York City at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues (see map after the break). Tickets are — as always — free to anyone who would like to attend, but seating is limited, and tickets will be first come, first served… so get there early! Here’s all the info you need:

  • There is no admission fee — tickets are completely free
  • The event is all ages
  • Ticketing will begin at the Times Center at 2:30PM on Saturday, doors will open for seating at 4:30PM, and the show begins at 5PM
  • You cannot collect tickets for friends or family — anyone who would like to come must be present to get a ticket
  • Seating capacity in the Times Center is about 340, and once we’re full, we’re full
  • The venue is located at 41st St. between 7th and 8th Avenues in New York City (map after the break)
  • The show length is around an hour

If you’re a member of the media who wishes to attend, please contact us at: engadgetshowmedia [at] engadget [dot] com, and we’ll try to accommodate you. All other non-media questions can be sent to: engadgetshow [at] engadget [dot] com.

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Continue reading The Engadget Show returns February 27th with Boxee’s Avner Ronen, Windows Phone 7 Series, and more!

The Engadget Show returns February 27th with Boxee’s Avner Ronen, Windows Phone 7 Series, and more! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG’s Feeney robot mascot sells air conditioners… with style



LG’s new robot mascot has already been out and about for a little while, but it now finally has a name thanks to a recent contest — “Feeney” — and a whole new lease on life. Not content to simply be an average air conditioner spokesbot, Feeney has taken the job to new, CGI-enhanced heights, and shown that even Olympic dreams can come true, with the help of a Whisen air conditioner. But don’t take our word for it. See Feeney work his magic after the break.

Continue reading LG’s Feeney robot mascot sells air conditioners… with style

LG’s Feeney robot mascot sells air conditioners… with style originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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