gadgetPhreak Gadget News Blog. Futuristic Gadgets and Portable Electronics

July 21, 2006

Samsung BD-P1000 shipping with faulty, picture-degrading chip

Filed under: JimSanduski,PerfectVision,Samsung,ScalerChip,ScottWilkinson,bd-p1000,defects,firmware,genesis,jim sanduski,noise-reduction,perfect vision,scaler chip,scott wilkinson,upgrades — Evan Blass @ 2:25 pm

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If you shelled out over $1,000 for Samsung's BD-P1000 Blu-ray player only to discover that the picture quality wasn't as impressive as you'd expected, fear not: it looks like a faulty-but-fixable chip may be responsible for the sub-par video. After noticing a "softness" in each of the titles he viewed with the P1000 -- especially compared to the performance of Toshiba's HD-A1 HD DVD player -- Perfect Vision editor Scott Wilkinson initiated a chain of events that has culminated with Samsung VP Jim Sanduski confirming that there is indeed a hardware problem with the initial rollout. Apparently, the machines have been leaving the factory with the Genesis scaler chip's noise-reduction circuit enabled, and after comparing a repaired unit to one out of the box, Wilkinson agrees that the fix does indeed result in a sharper picture. Future P1000's will be shipping with noise-reduction disabled, and luckily for current owners, Samsung will be releasing a firmware update that you can download, burn to disc, and pop into your player. So the lesson we've learned here is: early-adopters beware, because even though this problem has a relatively easy solution, next time you may not be so lucky.

[Via HDBeat]
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June 30, 2006

Nokia 770 OS upgrade now available

Filed under: 770 internet tablet,770InternetTablet,GoogleTalk,InternetTabletOs2006,OperatingSystems,Wireless,google talk,gtalk,handhelds,internet tablet os 2006,keyboard,nokia,operating systems,qwerty,upgrades,wifi — Evan Blass @ 10:57 am

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As promised, Nokia has just posted the Internet Tablet 2006 operating system for download -- although as of this writing you get redirected to an error page -- giving 770 owners access to those handful of new features announced last month. You'll recall that instead of dropping a QWERTY-equipped version of the tablet as we were hoping/expecting, Nokia disappointed more than a few fans by only unveiling a software upgrade that adds an on-screen keyboard along with the Google Talk client. Even worse, Nokia warns that "installed applications designed for OS 2005 will not be compatible with OS 2006 edition and will not be restored even from backup," so kiss your old apps goodbye if you're planning on upgrading. Still, current 770 owners will probably want to take plunge just so they can run programs developed exclusively for the new OS, and hopefully the software 'board will suffice until Nokia takes our advise and changes up the input style in the next generation of WiMax- and webcam-sporting tablets.

[Thanks, Alessandro Z.]
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May 26, 2006

Microsoft plans update to “misleading” Vista Upgrade Advisor

Filed under: PC,VistaUpgradeAdvisor,Windows,amd,longhorn,microsoft,upgrades,via,vista upgrade advisor — Marc Perton @ 1:05 pm

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If you've been frustrated because Microsoft's Vista Upgrade Advisor gave your blazing-fast, three-month-old $10,000 gaming monster PC a bad rating, you're not alone.In addition to consumers, chipmakers such as VIA and AMD have commented to Microsoft about the program's deficiencies. Now, Microsoft, admitting that the results can be "misleading," plans to revise the tool, including changes to the user interface to make information more accessible, and possibly fine-tuning the results so that they're more in line with standard industry benchmarks. So, if your PC flunked the test, your best bet is to wait a while before splurging on upgrades -- besides, it's not like you don't have plenty of time before you'll need to be Vista-compatible.
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May 16, 2006

Nokia surprises, unveils Internet Tablet 2006 OS for 770

Filed under: 770,Full-screenKeyboard,GizmoProject,GoogleTalk,InternetTablet,InternetTablet2006Os,OperatingSystem,VoIP,chat,full-screen keyboard,gizmo project,google talk,im,internet tablet,internet tablet 2006 os,nokia,operating system,qwerty,sip,surprises,upgrades — Evan Blass @ 4:30 am

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So instead of revealing that upgraded version of the 770 Internet Tablet as we expected them to today, Nokia flipped the script on us and announced that the Google Talk and keyboard features we had been anticipating will actually be coming in the form of a software upgrade. The good news is that these new features — part of the company’s so-called Internet Tablet 2006 OS — will be available to current 770 owners through a simple update, although those folks who were expecting a hardware QWERTY option (and not just an on-screen “thumb board”) are certainly going to be disappointed. On the plus side, the new OS will support SIP-based VoIP solutions, with Nokia specifically mentioning that a version of the Gizmo Project client is forthcoming. IT2006 will become the default operating system on 770 units, and will be available as a free download to existing 770 users, beginning sometime this quarter.

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May 11, 2006

Korean dog translation service gets premium upgrade

Filed under: DogTranslator,KTF,PetLoversMobileCommunity,SkTelecom,barking,dog translator,dogs,gimmicks,pet lovers mobile community,pets,sk telecom,upgrades — Evan Blass @ 3:00 pm

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You probably thought it was pretty silly when you heard that Korea's second largest wireless carrier, KTF, began offering a service last year that can supposedly discern your dog's emotions from a few barks into the phone. Well the "doggy translation" service has proven so popular, that not only did the top Korean carrier roll out its own implementation, but SK Telecom is now offering a premium version of the service that seems to give users access to a sort of pet lovers' mobile community where they can query veterinarians, make a homepage for their little bundle of fur, or purchase pet-related items online at a discount. The core service will remain the same, continuing to offer two-way translation (yes, your voice can be converted into barks as well) for about 55 breeds of dogs, although cat lovers must continue to gauge their pet's mood by the intensity of his/her hissing and scratching.

[Picture credit: Telecoms Korea]
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April 20, 2006

Verizon enables RAZR V3c pic transfers over USB and Bluetooth

Filed under: Bluetooth,FunctionCrippling,HellFreezingOver,RAZR,firmware,function crippling,hell freezing over,motorola,obex,update,upgrades,v3c — Evan Blass @ 11:22 am

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In what
seems like a complete 180 for a company fond of disabling dial-up networking and simultaneous WiFi and voice usage on
their handsets, Verizon has apparently enabled the OBEX
Bluetooth profile in the recently-released 0.1.15.04 RAZR href="http://engadget.com/search/?q=v3c">V3c firmware update. As href="http://engadgetmobile.com/search/?q=razr">RAZR owners are well aware, the previous two firmware updates had
disabled and then completely removed OBEX, which gives customers a free way to transfer their files to a PC, most
importantly their pictures. The new firmware not only enables OBEX, href="http://howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=893475&page=1&pp=15">say HowardForums users, but actually
allows pic transfers over a wired USB connection as well using the Motorola Phone Tools software. Having seen Verizon
has take such a shocking step following their href="http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/02/verizon-gives-in-allows-dun-from-cellphones/">change of heart on DUN,
we’re expecting reports anytime of Apple opening up the iPod, Sony dumping the MemoryStick, and the HD-DVD and Blu-ray
camps coming to a super-last-minute compromise.

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