ComputerShopper has published a review of the new Alienware Hanger18 HD Entertainment Center which was introduced several weeks ago.  In case you already forgot about the platform, the Hanger18 home theater PC is based on the new AMD LIVE! Home Cinema platform and includes features such as:

• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium OS
• AMD Athlon 64 X2
• AMD A2 chipset
• Support for up to 4GB of RAM
• Standard NVIDIA integrated graphics and HDMI out at 720p
• Optional NVIDIA dedicated graphics with HDMI out at 1080p
• 5.1 channel surround sound audio amplifier
• Analog audio in, Optical audio in
• Subwoofer out
• HDMI video, VGA, S-Video, Analog video out
• Dual TV Combo tuners (1 analog, 1 HD)
• Up to 4 TV tuner (2 analog, 2 HD)
• Standard 250GB HDD or up to 2 TB of disk space
• WiFi support
• Integrated Gb Ethernet
• 4 USB 2.0 ports, IEEE 1394a port
• 4 in 1 card reader (SD/MS/MSPRO/MMC)
• Measures 4.2 x 18.4 x 15.55 inches and weighs 18 lbs

Here’s the verdict from ComputerShopper:

Obviously, the Hangar18 isn’t for everyone. But check it out if you lust after upscale A/V equipment and have the requisites to use it: equally upscale speakers, and access to a proper HDTV signal. Lots of disposable income wouldn’t hurt, either.

[Check it out via Engadget]

Technorati Tags: Alienware Hanger18 HD Entertainment Center, AMD LIVE! Home Cinema, HTPC

As we enter into the fourth full day of the iPhone’s commercial availability, there’s already talk about what updates could be coming to the phone in the near future. Where there are certainly some items which can not be rectified by a software update (such as support for 3G data services), there are plenty of other issues and complaints against the iPhone that can indeed be fixed by a software upgrade. Ars Technica has an interesting article on their website here about how the iPhone was most likely originally designed to “debut alongside Leopard” - which of course never did happen. That would explain some of the design decisions made by Apple - notably why one can’t sync Notes on the iPhone with anything on the desktop.

Other possible updates down the line for the phone include the following:

• iChat like instant messaging program
• Custom ringtones
• Enhanced Leopard integration
• File Browser
• Auto-discovering file sharing
• “Spotlight”-like search
• Microsoft Exchange support beyond IMAP
• “mobile” iWork support
• Flash plug-in

After playing with the phone for several days now, I just want the following features on the home screen:

• Shortcut to favorite contacts
• RSS feeds widget

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: iPhone, Updates

I think we’ve been pretty good at limiting the iPhone news today (but then again, I’ve been busy with work so maybe that’s why) - don’t you think? Well, it’s that time again - the time where we list out some of the more interesting iPhone related articles in no particular rhyme or reason. Enjoy!

From GearLog - “Worst iPhone Photos on eBay” (or it should say - people will try anything to sell the phone - including wearing a bikini)

From MobileBurn - “Hands-On with Apple’s iPhone“

From GearLog again - “What happens if you switch SIMS“

From PC Magazine  “Apple iPhone Launch Reveals Phenomenon“:

The most interesting thing about this past Friday’s launch of the Apple iPhone was that the people who stood in those long lines (some for days) didn’t have to wait in line at all.

Yes.. I felt a bit like a dork for standing in line when there were plenty of iPhones available at the local Apple store. Then again - standing in line waiting for the iPhone certainly was an experience to behold.

From ZDNet - “The iPhone Launch report card“

From MacWorld - “Survey: 7 million U.S. mobile workers want iPhone“

The company polled 1,027 people in the U.S. Extrapolating based on that research, the company has concluded that 15 percent of the 50 million mobile workers in the U.S. have expressed interest in buying an iPhone. That’s about 7.2 million, all together

Ah classic polling - based on 1000 people, we can somehow extrapolate and infer that there will be 7 million people who want the phone. Yeah… I’m not a fan of polls people.

From MacWorld - “Hackers make progress toward unlocking iPhone“

While hackers race ahead to unlock the iPhone as quickly as possible, iPhone Dev Wiki poster gj criticized those hackers competing against each other to unlock the phone, saying the lack of cooperation had slowed progress.

From Information Week - “iPhone used as bait for malicious web site”

From Information Week - “iPhone won’t sync with PCs running 64 bit Windows Vista“

The iPhone software that connects and synchronizes the device to a personal computer won’t run on 64-bit editions of Windows Vista, according to a posting on Apple’s Web site.

From CNN/Money - “Small Hassle Buying, No Hassle Registering iPhone”

Contrary to some reports, I think the quality and reception of the phone is better than the Palm Treo 650 that I retired when I registered the iPhone.

From Macworld - “Apple iPhone“:

To put it more simply: The iPhone is the real deal. It’s a product that has already changed the way people look at the devices they carry in their pockets and purses. After only a few days with mine, the prospect of carrying a cellphone with me wherever I go no longer fills me with begrudging acceptance, but actual excitement.

From AppleInsider - “Apple secures iPhone.com for seven figure sum — report“:

A last minute bid by Apple Inc. to acquire the iPhone.com domain ahead of the gadget’s launch on Friday is reported to have netted its previous registrant a seven-digit sum

From AppleInsider - “Apple offers $86 dollar iPhone battery replacement program“:

If your iPhone requires service only because the battery’s ability to hold an electrical charge has diminished, Apple will repair your iPhone for a service fee of $79, plus $6.95 shipping, the company said Monday

From PC World - “iPhone Sales Estimates as High as 700,000“

It will be a while before the official numbers come in, but some Wall Street analysts say that Apple might have sold as many as 700,000 iPhones over the device’s opening weekend.

From Engadget - “Smashed iPhone ‘Not so cool looking’“

From Engadget - “iPhone Review“

Technorati Tags: Apple iPhone

Just when you think you’ve seen it all in chairs comes the Trey multifunction chair. At first glance, the Trey chair looks like any other office chair right? WRONG! The chair easily transforms from a standard desk chair into a rocker chair with an extra seat for a friend, foot stool, laptop desk, or side table. It’s a great way to add additional functionality from your furniture - especially if you’re normally tight in space. You can choose from a variety of colors and fabrics with prices starting at $239 and upwards to $299.

[Check it out via TechEBlog]

Technorati Tags: Trey, Multifunction Chair, Chair

Akihabara News is reporting that Sharp has introduced five new digital video recorders with what looks to be integrated DVD players (although it’s not clear whether these are also DVD burners). It appears these DVRs are capable of recording high definition content and have storage capacities ranging from 250GB to 1TB. Sorry folks - there’s not much else available at this time (except for pics from Akihabara News):

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Sharp

Nokia has announced that they have licensed Immersions’ VibeTonz Mobile Player technology and will be able to use it in any mobile device sold worldwide. Nokia’s development community will begin receiving the VibeTonz SDK starting sometime this month. The SDK will allow developers to create downloadable applications and content for VibeTonz enabled mobile  phones.

The VibeTonz Mobile Player technology providers users with tactile cues for mobile touch screen interfaces. Tap the touch screen and a vibrating sensation is unleashed from the phone. The technology is currently used in more than 4 million LG and Samsung phones around the world.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Nokia, Immersion, VibeTonz, Touchscreen

JanSport has refreshed their backpack product line with their new Superbreak Live Backpack. These Superbreak Live Backpacks feature capabilities originally found in their LiveWire product line including integration of the Apple iPod and embedded controls right on the straps. The backpacks also feature AireCore shoulder straps for added comfort. According to Gizmodiva.com, the new backpacks will go for $79 dollars. We reviewed one of the LiveWire+ backpacks last year here. It’s a great way to store and control the iPod remotely.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: JanSport, Superbreak Live Backpack, iPod

Think all is well in the land of Jobs? Not so fast. The folks over at Universal Music Group of Vivendi have notified Apple that they will not be renewing their annual contract to sell music through iTunes. Instead, Universal will be marketing music to Apple at will which allows the company to remove songs from iTunes on short notice. According to News.com, reps from both sides have declined to comment on the story but it’s assumed to be a result of a standoff in negotiations between the two companies.

So what would happen if iTunes was missing the Universal catalog? Well here’s something to consider from an Apple perspective - one out of every three new releases sold in the U.S. comes from a Universal record label. That’s a lot of releases! From the Universal perspective, the sales of digital music accounted for 15 percent of Universal’s worldwide revenue in Q1 (over 200 million dollars). Unfortunately we don’t know what percent of that 15 percent belongs to Apple.

You can read more about this over at News.com here.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Apple ipod, iTunes, Universal, Vivendi

Getting onto the net while you’re traveling just got a whole lot easier with AVIS’s latest program. It’s called AVIS connect and it’s a portable Wi-Fi HotSpot device that you can rent for $10.95 a day. Simply purchase the portable unit as part of your car rental from AVIS and then plug it into the cigarette lighter of your car. Turn it on, log in, and you’re connected to the net thanks to the Wi-Fi hotspot being generated by the device. You can even pull the car over, and surf on your laptop or mobile device thanks to the Wi-Fi hotspot. Even better - bring the router up to your hotel room or wherever you go (as long as there’s an outlet) and have portable Internet access. That’s a pretty sweet add-on package if you ask me.

[Check it out via ChipChick]

Technorati Tags: AVIS, AVIS Connect, Portable WiFi HotSpot

Thanks to all the different teardowns that have occurred over the last 48+ hours, most people now think that the processor inside the Apple iPhone is in fact a Samsung S3C6400 running at a whopping 667MHz. If this is true, then this would one of the fastest processors ever seen for a consumer handheld device.

For those curious, the Samsung S3C6400 processor is based on the ARM ARM1176JZF processor design. Thanks to GearLog - here are some additional tidbits on various components:

• “ARM1176JZF-S based CPU Subsystem with Java acceleration Engine
• One 8-bit ITU 601/656 Camera Interface of up to 4M pixel for scaled and 16M pixel for un-scaled resolution - pity the iPhone stayed at 2MP
• Multi Format CODEC (MFC) provides encoding and decoding of MPEG-4/H.263/H.264 up to 30fps@SD, and decoding of VC1 video up to 30fps@SD
• 2D Graphics Acceleration with BitBlt and Rotation
• AC-97 audio codec interface and PCM serial audio interface
• 1/2/4/8 bpp Palletized or 16/24bpp Non-Palletized Color-TFT support up to 1024×1024
• High Speed-MMC/SD card support
• Mobile DDR Memory Interface with x16 or x32 data bus (266Mbps/pin DDR) “

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Apple iPhone, Samsung S3C6400, Processor, ARM processor