Tech News Updates

If you waltz into your local Best Buy today, you’ll find precisely one tablet for sale: Apple’s iPad . By the time this holiday season rolls around, though, that’ll all be different. We’ve heard from Steve Ballmer that Microsoft intends for Windows 7 to be powering quite a few tablet devices in the near future, but it’s been somewhat difficult to nail down exact time frames for release outside of Samsung’s Q3-bound Galaxy Tab (which won’t even run Windows). According to Shawn Score, president of Best Buy Mobile, the company will be making “tablets a focus… going into the holidays.” He continued: “Like e-readers over the last couple years, we think customers will think of Best Buy for tablets and expect us to have the right ones.” He wouldn’t go so far as to confirm the models or brands of any headed Best Buy’s way, but we’re seeing even more hints that those Rocketfish images tweeted a few weeks ago may indeed foreshadow a holiday launch. We sure hope Santa’s ready to deal with the onslaught. Best Buy ‘making tablets a focus’ this holiday season, might stock one from Rocketfish originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Aug 2010 00:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

We still don’t know for sure what Nikon has planned for its August 19th press event — if we did, there wouldn’t be much of a reason to have a press event. Whispers, murmurs, and other rabble rousing point to a D3100 digital SLR capable of 1080p video with continuous autofocus — and now Best Buy is apparently lending credence to such talk. According to Nikon Rumors, SKU 1222817 has popped up in the retailer’s database along with the description “Nikon D3100 DSLR w/ 18-55mm v” and a September 18th availability date (no pricing details mentioned by the site). We haven’t seen the entry for ourselves yet — and unreleased product listings in retail databases shouldn’t be taken as gospel anyway — but forgive our excitement as we look for more ways to both keep our Nikon quota and oust the aging D3000 from our arsenal. Nikon D3100 bundle pops up in Best Buy database with September 18th release? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 02:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

We can’t say we’re all that surprised that Best Buy’s planning to start stocking tablets, but we are slightly shocked that its CTO Robert Stephens uploaded some pics of a RocketFish -labeled slate and blasted them out over Twitter earlier today. Beyond the shot above and the one after the break, we don’t know much about the HP Slate -looking tablet — although, Stephens tweeted later that it’s a ” form factor proto” with no guts inside. He had also said about a month ago on Twitter that ” the tablet has a front facing camera….runs Froyo 2.2.” We’re assuming that he’s talking about the same tablet you’re peering at above, but we never know what those blue shirts are up to. Obviously, we started following Mr. Stephens already and will be keeping a close eye on him and his new, apparently non-functioning gadget. If you just can’t wait to see what double B is working on, we’d probably suggest you do the same. Continue reading Best Buy CTO tweets RocketFish-branded tablet pics Best Buy CTO tweets RocketFish-branded tablet pics originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

We’d broken the news of the Droid 2’s August 12 street date a couple weeks ago, and we’re now getting confirmation of that — at Best Buy, anyhow — thanks to a couple tips we’ve received today, including the screen shot above. An actual launch is going to feel like sweet release after what has become the most thoroughly-leaked phone in recent memory, but if you need yet more fodder for your overactive imagination, we’d recommend you follow the break for Best Buy’s competitive analysis of the phone, which does a commendable job breaking down all the differences between it and its direct predecessor — notably the significantly speedier core, the mobile hotspot support, 802.11n, and the onboard storage (though you get a smaller microSD card in the box). Question is, where can we get that R2-D2 edition ? [Thanks, anonymous tipsters] Continue reading Droid 2 looks confirmed for August 12, Best Buy pits it against the competition Droid 2 looks confirmed for August 12, Best Buy pits it against the competition originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

It’s hard to say for certain what exactly this flyer means, but it sure looks as if at least some iPhone 4 owners will be able to snatch a free invisibleSHIELD 4fix (valued at $9.99 or so) from their local Best Buy. Based on a number of tips that we’ve received, we’re getting the impression that the yellow-tagged retailer could be handing out (and installing) completely free side coverings for any iPhone 4 owner that waltzes into a store, presumably as a proactive measure to fend off returns or to upsell consumers on an entire invisibleSHIELD / separate case. Nothing about this notice makes clear that you actually have to buy your iPhone 4 from Best Buy in order to take advantage, but we probably wouldn’t waste a lunch break giving this a go without a verbal confirmation from your local store manager. Until it’s made official, of course. [Thanks, Anonymous] Gallery: Best Buy’s free invisibleSHIELD 4fix for iPhone 4 offer Best Buy to offer free invisibleSHIELD 4fix to aggravated iPhone 4 owners? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

Camera releases are somewhat a by-the-numbers thing with so many different variations being released by numerous companies throughout the year. Samsung ’s pair here does have some interesting standout features, but one at a time. The 14.2 megapixel ST80 point-and-shoot boasts WiFi capabilities for email / direct upload of images (DLNA supported, to boot). It’s also got 3x optical zoom, a 3-inch WQVGA touchscreen, 720p 30fps H.264 video recording, and Sammy’s “Smart Crop” feature for taking angled shots and “straightening them up” (i.e. a banner that is fixed to look straight on). This one’s due out September 2010 for a penny under $250. Then there’s the HMX-E10 pocket camcorder with an impressive 270-degree swiveling lens and 1920 x 1080 30p H.264 HD video recording. That touchscreen you see is a 2.7-inch LCD, the lens has 2x digital zoom, connectivity is HDMI and USB (also used for charging), and release details are September as well, for $199.99. You know the drill: product shots are below, press releases after the break. Gallery: Samsung ST80 press shots Gallery: Samsung HMX-E10 press shots Continue reading Samsung unveils WiFi-enabled ST80 camera, swiveling-lens HMX-E10 pocket camcorder Samsung unveils WiFi-enabled ST80 camera, swiveling-lens HMX-E10 pocket camcorder originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

She ain’t the first solid state drive to ship with a keen understanding of both SATA II and USB, but in the case of niche storage devices, the more the merrier, right? The newest member of the UltraDrive family (that’d be the UltraDrive MX, if you’re curious) has given Super Talent its first two-faced SSD, complete with a dual interface that enables it to be used as an internal or external drive. The company claims that this makes laptop drive swaps a lesson in simplicity, as you simply mount it via USB in order to clone your existing drive, and then connect it via SATA once you’re ready to take it beneath the surface. We’re told to expect read and write speeds as high as 250MB/sec and 180MB/sec, respectively, with capacities of 60GB, 120GB, 240GB and 480GB being available. Oh, and speaking of which — these bad boys won’t actually ship until September 1st, so we’d suggest pinching those pennies in the meantime. Continue reading Super Talent’s dual interface UltraDrive MX SSD does SATA II and mini-USB Super Talent’s dual interface UltraDrive MX SSD does SATA II and mini-USB originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

We’re still not sure if we believe in the promises made by the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) yet — buy a piece of content once in physical or digital format, and gain access across all formats and devices via a cloud based account — but we’re closer to finding out for ourselves now that it has a new name, UltraViolet. In case you haven’t been paying attention over the last couple of years, the DECE group is already home to most of the biggest names on both the content and consumer electronics sides of the business, with the most notable holdouts being Apple and Disney, which is backing its own competing system, Keychest . The latest additions to the UltraViolet team are LG, LOVEFiLM and Marvell, while key members like Comcast, Microsoft, Intel and Best Buy are quoted in this morning’s press release. Check it out for yourself after the break and keep an eye out for that grey and purple logo on movies and players later this year when it begins testing. Continue reading DECE’s ‘digital locker’ take-anywhere DRM dubbed UltraViolet, launches later this year DECE’s ‘digital locker’ take-anywhere DRM dubbed UltraViolet, launches later this year originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 01:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

We’ll admit that we never took Best Buy as the kind of company to sell its own wireless service, but you know what Best Buy does sell? Laptops with unlocked WWAN modems, and to that end, the retailer’s Best Buy Connect offering seems to be a pretty attractive one. Monthly plan pricing is about what you’d expect from anyone else, and you’ll be able to choose between two-year, one-year, and contract-free packages for the same price — the only difference is how much subsidy they’ll throw in for you upfront. On a two-year deal, you’ll get $275 off the compatible laptop of your choice, which compares favorably against all of its competitors — AT&T at $150, Verizon at $200, and Sprint at $250 — while you’ll pay $60 for 5GB of data, $40 for 500MB, or $30 for 250MB (only available without a contract). Sure, you might not attract the glitz, glamor, and curious stares that a high-fashion name brand like Verizon might… but seriously, who are we kidding? Data is data, and if this works well, it sounds like a square deal. Hit up the source link for all the details. [Thanks, Christian] Best Buy Connect wireless service is official, offers contract-free plans originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

A week back we got word that Best Buy house brand Insignia was moving in on Dash territory with the eight-inch, 800 x 600 Infocast Internet Media Display, and that it’d be releasing on June 20. Sure enough it’s now available online, and is also sitting on a shelf at every local store we checked, meaning this is perhaps the quickest and easiest way to get your cuddle-free Chumby on. At $169 it’s $30 less than the Dash, meaning it makes a little more sense than Sony’s option, but whether or not it’s actually good value depends on just how smart you need your alarm clock to be. [Thanks, Josh L.] Insignia’s Infocast Internet Media Display, the Dash-aping Chumby frame, now available originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink