Limited edition Prince Opus iPod touch just wants your kiss (and $2,100)

While certainly not the most expensive iPod we've ever seen, the limited edition Prince Opus iPod touch is definitely amongst the priciest. Sold only as part of an ultra rare kit that includes a luxurious book of Prince photographs from Kraken Opus, this touch (of unknown capacity) comes preloaded with 40 minutes of "exclusive" footage along with a live soundtrack from Indigo Nights. Of course, it's also doused in purple and splashed with Prince's symbol 'round back, but even with only 950 kits available, we still say the $2,100 price tag is far too lofty. Hate to break it to ya, Opus, but those hedge funds are no longer partying like it's 1999.

[Via All Things Digital]

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Limited edition Prince Opus iPod touch just wants your kiss (and $2,100) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: iPhone watch

$22 iPod Shuffle shocker: components tiny, inexpensive

When iSuppli recently reported that the parts and packaging of the iPod Shuffle 3G cost only $21.77, a mere twenty-eight percent of the unit's retail price, PMP Today asked a most reasonable question: Where are the new Shuffle KIRFs? According to Business Week, Samsung is making a killing on these things, supplying not only the unit's ARM-based processor ($5.98), but the storage ($6) on at least a few of the units as well. The lithium ion battery, described by iSuppli as "the smallest we've ever seen," has an asking price of $1.20. As for things like capacitors and resistors, they're being described as "about the size of a grain of salt" and cost fractions of a penny each. Of course, none of this takes into account things like paying engineers and designers, and royalties paid to patents owned by other companies. Not that the KIRFsters of Shenzhen worry about these sorts of things. Maybe the wherewithal required to produce a phony Shuffle is (for the time being) beyond the capabilities of the pirates? Or maybe they're just having too much fun cranking out NOKLAs.

Read - iPod Shuffle 3G Costs $22 to Make: Where are the Clones?
Read - Deconstructing Apple's Tiny iPod Shuffle

Filed under: Portable Audio

$22 iPod Shuffle shocker: components tiny, inexpensive originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: iPhone watch

Dell smartphones planning whirlwind Asian trip courtesy of China Mobile?

China Mobile may or may not have lost out to China Unicom in the bid to (officially) bring the iPhone to the most populous nation in the world, but it seems the provider might still have an ace up its sleeve -- Dell. The Texas-based company, which may or may not be actually making smartphones, is said by analyst Zhang Jun to be in final negotiations with the Hong Kong-based provider to ship those actual devices to Asian shores, devices that were supposedly shunned by providers elsewhere on the globe. Talk of Dell's handsets running Android seems to fit in nicely with China Mobile's requirements to use its custom-baked operating system (which has a crunchy Android filling), as does Dell's apparent upcoming release of a TD-SCDMA-packing Mini 10 to Chinese netbookers. So is this a match made in heaven or an analyst daydream? Sadly we won't know until August, when this supposed deal will supposedly be done. Something tells us Unicom and Apple will still be debating by then, too.

[Via mocoNews]

Filed under: Cellphones

Dell smartphones planning whirlwind Asian trip courtesy of China Mobile? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: iPhone watch

Firmware update brings file conversion, iPhone access to HP's MediaSmart ex485 / ex487

HP's MediaSmart Server ex487 (1.5TB) and ex485 (750GB) both received copious amounts of praise when launched late last year, but considering just how many issues the original two had (the ex470 and ex475), it wouldn't take much to best 'em. Today, HP is issuing its second firmware update of the year for the series, but the first ever for the newest duo -- and make no mistake, it's a big one. The v2.5 update adds in loads of new features, far too many to cover in this space, in fact. If you're interested in hearing more, follow us past the break for all the details.

Continue reading Firmware update brings file conversion, iPhone access to HP's MediaSmart ex485 / ex487

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Storage, Networking

Firmware update brings file conversion, iPhone access to HP's MediaSmart ex485 / ex487 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: iPhone watch

Elan Microelectronics demonstrates its eFinger multitouch tech running on Android

Would you look at this. Those folks at Elan Microelectronics might seem a bit slow on the lawsuit front, but they certainly look to have the tech to back up their claims of Apple multitouch patent infringement. They're showing off what they call "eFinger Transparent Touchpad" technology, running on top of Android, and it's looking pretty slick -- we could really get used to this sort of smooth interactivity in Android, lawsuit or no. Check out the video after the break.

[Thanks, Phelipe H]

Continue reading Elan Microelectronics demonstrates its eFinger multitouch tech running on Android

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Elan Microelectronics demonstrates its eFinger multitouch tech running on Android originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Apr 2009 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: iPhone watch

CUBE B52HD PMP handles codecs galore, HD out for silly cheap

It's not like we're ever going to bump into this in our local electronics store, but boy is this CUBE B52HD portable media player tempting. The thing has a 5-inch 480 x 272 LCD, all the codecs we could ask for (including fan faves like FLAC, OGG, along with plenty of video options), 1280 x 720 video out, 8GB of built-in storage and an expansion slot of some sort. We're not sure about input methods, but hopefully the interface involves Brendan Fraser to some extent. The best news? All this can be theoretically yours for a mere 499 yuan, about $73 US.

[Via PMP Today]

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

CUBE B52HD PMP handles codecs galore, HD out for silly cheap originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Apr 2009 08:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: iPhone watch

Steam powered USB charger keeps your iPod alive with Victorian sensibility

We love this steam powered USB charging device. It's well built, useful, loud, and totally anachronistic -- the same could be said of many of our editors here. According to the inventor, the thing is based on a Jensen #75 steam engine, which is used to drive a Lego Technic motor. The motor, in turn, feeds into a voltage regulator circuit, providing a continuous 5V charge to which ever USB device you might connect to it. This prompts us to ask a few obvious questions, including: "when is someone going to build us an appropriate steampunk PMP to go with the thing?" And, of course, "aren't Legos awesome?" Video after the break.

Continue reading Steam powered USB charger keeps your iPod alive with Victorian sensibility

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Steam powered USB charger keeps your iPod alive with Victorian sensibility originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Apr 2009 05:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: iPhone watch