Having just wrestled the word "netbook" free from the legal grasp of Psion , Microsoft now wants to change the name of these low-cost slabs of white plastic riding Intel's Atom processor. Oh joy. Apparently unhappy with the choices of netbook, smartbook , MID ( NVIDIA's defintion , not Intel's ), thin-and-light , and ultra-portable , Microsoft's preference is, are you ready, "low cost small notebook PC." Man, that flows like a sonnet. The new name proposed by Steven Guggenheimer, general manager of Microsoft's Application Platform & Development Marketing Division, is meant to reflect netbooks that do more than Internet browsing. What Steve-o doesn't say is that by creating a new product division above netbooks, Microsoft can require beefier versions of its Windows OS installed for higher profits on higher margins -- especially now that they've dropped the three application limit from its entry-level Windows 7 Starter Edition. Hey Microsoft, if it's all the same to you, we're just fine with the term netbook thankyouverymuch. Given the near-universal positive press heaped on Windows 7 thus far, you'll be raking in the cash starting October 22nd , no need to shake us down, ok? Filed under: Laptops Microsoft wants new term for 'netbooks,' unhappy with other 5 choices originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 07:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read ?|? Permalink ?|? Email this ?|? Comments [...more]
Whether you call it ten-foot or lean back like Hulu Desktop , putting a TV-ready front end on your website is all the rage nowadays, and after six months of beta , YouTube is relaunching its Wii and PlayStation 3-aimed site as YouTube XL. Now accessible by any browser at www.youtube.com/xl , it's been stripped down to the basics (at the moment, that means no HD, or even HQ viewing option) to make YouTube work on the big screen, plus tweaks allowing control via Bluetooth remotes or some cellphones, like Android devices running Gmote. The HTPC crowd, those living without widgets and other direct access will surely find plenty to love, why not hit up the site right now to try it out? [Via TechCrunch ] Filed under: HDTV , Home Entertainment YouTube rebrands TV web portal "YouTube XL" originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 07:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read ?|? Permalink ?|? Email this ?|? Comments [...more]
In case you missed it yesterday, video of Sony's PS3 motion controller prototype has made its way to YouTube. It's not an ordinary Wiimote , it's not as mind blowing as Microsoft's Natal , it's, well... it's something in between. And it's not available until 2010 so this is as close as you'll get for awhile. Continue reading Video: Sony's PS3 motion controller in action Video: Sony's PS3 motion controller in action originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read ?|? Permalink ?|? Email this ?|? Comments [...more]
Navigation systems don't often get the same special edition treatment given to cellphones and other gadgets, but TomTom looks to be doing its small part to change that, and it's now announced its new "White Pearl" edition nav unit. As you might expect, however, apart from that eye-catching exterior, this one is basically just a re-purposed version of one of TomTom's existing devices -- a TomTom ONE IQ Routes edition, in this case. While the specs no doubt remain the same, TomTom has at least gone so far as to add a new start-up screen that fills out the design, not to mention a few new, totally not obvious special points of interest like "Places to be seen" and "Shop 'til you drop." No word on a release 'round here, but it looks like folks in the UK will be able to pick one up this month for ?179.99, or just about $300 even. Filed under: GPS TomTom announces special edition "White Pearl" nav system originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read ?|? Permalink ?|? Email this ?|? Comments [...more]
