tweetleaks @ 11:53 PM on February 5, 2010

From a pure specification standpoint, it’s hard to knock HTC’s HD2. Scratch that — it’s impossible to knock the HD2. A 1GHz Snapdragon CPU is just the tip of the iceberg, with the icing on the cake being the 800 x 480 resolution display, 5 megapixel camera, GPS and a downright stunning overall design. Unfortunately, phones are made or broken by the software that’s loaded on, and Windows Mobile 6.5 isn’t exactly the most nimble mobile OS on the market right now. That said, we’re confident that more than a few of you have unloaded your savings accounts in order to posses one of the sexiest cellular telephones this world has ever seen, and now that the deed is done, we’re eager to hear your opinions on how the phone really stacks up. Are you happy with the performance? Did you expect it to be snappier given the monstrous CPU? Would you have held out for WinMo 7 if Sir Patience would’ve allowed you? No need to go easy on anything — tell it like it is in comments below.

How would you change HTC’s HD2? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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tweetleaks @ 9:21 PM on February 5, 2010

Chances are we’re missing something incredibly awesome being said in this foreign-language video, but we can probably guess what Mobile-review Sergey Kuzmin is saying: “I’ve got the Sony Ericsson Aspen and you don’t. Life is grand.” Okay, so maybe we’re a little jealous, but at least he was kind enough to give us a brief look at the hardware out in the wild, showing off some of Windows Mobile 6.5.3’s menus and sizing it up with some of Apple, Nokia, and RIM’s offerings. Let’s not waste any more time — the video you seek is after the break.

Continue reading Sony Ericsson Aspen caught on video, loving life with WinMo 6.5.3

Sony Ericsson Aspen caught on video, loving life with WinMo 6.5.3 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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tweetleaks @ 7:30 PM on February 5, 2010

This week at Inhabitat we saw several hot advances in solar technology that stand to shape how our buildings are built and how we power the electronics in our lives. CASE in point: this beautiful glass photovoltaic system can be affixed to windows and actually magnifies the available sunlight inside into tiny solar chips to create electricity.

In other photovoltaic news, scientists at the University of Pennsylvania just unveiled the world’s first solar-powered circuits. These tiny chips may one day be integrated directly within computer touch screens, essentially transforming them into multitasking solar panels.

We’re also excited to see that the finalists of the 2010 Greener Gadgets Design Competition have been announced. Two of our favorites right off the bat are these wind turbine streetlights that harvest energy from passing cars and Rocco, the kinetic energy-generating rocking horse. Check out all the entries and vote for your favorite!

This week was a big week for efficient aviation as we learned of Portugal’s plans to replace PVC airplane parts with lightweight cork and watched as Seymourpowell floated a fantastic plan for a fuel-cell powered luxury airship.

Finally, the states may be getting charged for Super Bowl Sunday, but youth in Africa are kicking around a different kind of football — one capable of generating energy in off-grid locations. We also saw a similar concept called the swirl ball that makes doing laundry a blast – fill it full of clothes and water and then kick it around until they’re clean.

Inhabitat’s Week in Green: photovoltaics, footballs, and Greener Gadgets originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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tweetleaks @ 6:14 PM on February 5, 2010

Though Sony’s overall bottom line is back in black, what held it back from an even bigger celebration cake was its core electronics brand, and no stranger to that sector is the PlayStation group. Both Joystiq and The Wall Street Journal took a more careful look at the numbers, and there’s a few points worth noting. PS2 sales took a year-over-year dip, down from 2.5 million to 2.1 million. PSP took a larger hit, down to 4.2 million from 5.1 million. The PS3, however, is a mix of good and bad news. The good news: 6.5 million in unit sales, up from the 4.5 million prior. That said, it turns out Sony has yet to pull its home console away from “loss leader” status — WSJ reports the company is still losing “about six cents for every dollar of PS3 hardware sales,” i.e. if Sony were to sell the consoles to retailers for $300, it’d technically be taking a hit of $18 each time. That’s nowhere near the estimates when the PS3 first launch, and additionally Sony’s CFO Nobuyuki Oneda is promising a 15 percent reduction cost by March 2011, which should go a long way. Lets’ not forget the company still makes money on Blu-rays and software sales, but in the meantime, hang tight little buddy, you’re this close to being profitable all by your lonesome.

Update: An error in fiscal sales figures that has been subsequently remedied.

PlayStation 3 still a loss leader, ’six cents for every dollar’ of hardware sold originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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tweetleaks @ 5:59 PM on February 5, 2010

Oh, heavens! I’ve been so busy at Kennedy Space Center with pre-launch activities this week for the STS-130 that I totally forgot about this week’s Where In The Universe Challenge! Thanks to UT reader William928 for reminding me. Since this week is completely different for me, I decided to make the WITU [...]