DVB-H to become European mobile video standard

The European mobile phone community was rocked by the news today that DVB-H (or Digital Video Broadcasting - Handheld) is set to become the new standard for mobile TV across the Union. The technology -- a superset of DVB-T -- has been spearheaded by Nokia, and this move is meant to help widen the system's audience. Though the move has been opposed by some EU states, such as Germany and Britain, the standard is being pushed through. "DVB-H will be published by the Commission in the list of official EU standards," said an EU executive, adding that, "As a result, all EU Member States will have to support and encourage the use of DVB-H for the launch of mobile TV services, thus avoiding market fragmentation and allowing economies of scale and accordingly affordable services and devices." So much for our fledgling standard, DVB-X (the X is for extreme).

SMS-based SatLav service guides Londoners to public toilets

If you've ever found yourself stuck in London with the insatiable urge to urinate in an alleyway, help is on the way. Believe it or not, a new SMS-based toilet finding service actually has the aforementioned predicament as a top priority to solve, and the Westminster City Council is hoping that people utilize the system to keep streets a bit cleaner. Cleverly dubbed SatLav, the technology enables individuals passing through London's West End to text the word "toilet" to 80097 in order to receive a (hopefully hasty) reply with details to get to the nearest public restroom. Unfortunately, the service will cost users £0.25 ($0.52) each time they use it, so we're a bit skeptical that alleyway urinators will happily cough up some coin rather than just sticking to old ways.

Cowon A3 US launch details revealed

Cowon's been teasing us with its A3 personal media player for some time now, and it looks like the whole charade is now finally nearing a close, as the company has just announced the long-awaited US launch details for the PMP. According to Crave, the player will start shipping in early December, with it setting you back $349 and $399 for the 30GB and 60GB variations, respectively. If you've got a bit more money to spend, however, you may do well to consider Cowon's just-released Q5W player, which adds some WiFi to the equation, among other things.

Corega intros compact CG-1SG24TV 1seg TV

Although you're better off looking Sanyo's direction if you need one that's waterproof, Corega has a couple of new micro-TVs for those who can manage to keep their distance from the waterways. The CG-1SG24TV is set to arrive in black / white motifs and feature a 2.4-inch 320 x 240 resolution LCD, built-in 1seg TV tuner, an electronic program guide (EPG), integrated stereo speakers and a headphone jack to boot. Furthermore, this pocket-friendly unit gets all the power it needs from a pair of AAA cells, and you'll even get a set of earbuds thrown in for good measure. Expect this one to land early next month for around ¥12,800 ($119).

Homegrown Xbox 360 plush pillows warm the heart

We've seen Nintendo's famed NES brought back to life thanks to a needle and some thread, and now Microsoft's latest console is getting the hand-sewn treatment, too. eBayer inkyfingersjunior has apparently found his / her calling in life, as these Xbox 360 plush pillows look pretty snazzy. The units reportedly take some five hours to create and measure almost the same size as their functioning counterparts, 'cept these come with a little extra fluff and a lot less hardware. Currently, a number of variations are available to the highest bidder, but we can't help but favor the comical "Red Ring of Death" edition. Good luck resisting, fanboys

TiVo coming to PC via Nero software

TiVo has just announced an agreement with multimedia software provider Nero AG that will bring its familiar interface and feature set to the PC. According to the joint announcement made today, Nero will embed the TiVo experience in its next generation of software, allowing the millions of us who rely on USB dongles for our TV to finally join the exclusive realm of Series1, 2, and 3 owners. Plus, as Zatz Not Funny! points out, Nero's international presence should help spread TiVo to the far corners of the Earth like some digital Happy Meal. Hopefully this new PC timeshifting solution -- release window: unknown -- will also convince other purveyors of home theater-only hardware-based services to finally bring their wares to the desktop. Yes, we're looking at you, Sling.

Zonbu's prepping subscription laptops for 2008

The Zonbu Mini is about to get a portable friend. Zonbu has just revealed its Everex-built Zonbu Notebook, which will be hitting the market in Q1 2008. The $279 upfront pricetag is quite a bit heftier than the $99 Mini, but the subscription fee remains the same at $14.95. Specs are quite the improvement on the Mini, with a 1.5GHz VIA C7-M processor, 60GB HDD, DVD-RW / CD-RW drive, VIA Chrome9 HC integrated graphics, WiFi and a 15.4-inch 1440 x 900 display. Zonbu claims up to three hours of battery, and of course all those "hassle-free" promises and managed Linux software of the original. In a world of $399 Eee PCs and cheaper Black Friday bargains, a $279 laptop with a hefty subscription fee might not seem like such a steal, but it's not hard to see the appeal for a first-time PC buyer, and it certainly bests the Mini. The best news is that if you're willing to put up with some beta software, Zonbu is selling the Notebook as of today for those risk-taking luddites out there.

Zune users complain of fast-draining battery with latest firmware

We've already had a few reports of some problems with the latest Zunes (and the latest firmware), and it now looks like there's another issue brewing, with a number of users complaining of battery problems with Zune 30s and 80s loaded with the most recent firmware. Apparently, the Zunes have the unfortunate tendency to rapidly drain their batteries, even when the player is not in use. Judging from the discussion on the Zune.net message boards, that particular issue seems to be due to some unknown difficulty the Zune has with entering hibernate mode which it, seemingly, doesn't do at all (at least among those who've reported problems). Those finding themselves plagued by similar battery issues can apparently "fix" the problem by holding back and down on the d-pad to shut the Zune off completely when its not in use, although we're guessing few will be completely satisfied until Microsoft chimes in on the matter.

Nokia's N810 internet tablet gets unboxed

Look, we're right there with you -- wishin', hopin', gettin' down on our knees and begging like crazy for someone to take pity on us and pop for the N810 this holiday season. Well, at least one lucky gentleman has already had the pleasure of cracking open the sweet stuff -- AKA, Nokia's latest and greatest internet tablet -- and has put all sorts of nasty pictures on the internet (we suspect in an attempt to make us insane with jealousy). The post also has some useful and interesting info in regards to the software and functionality of the device, so you can get informed while ogling the photos. We recommend you hit the read link and check out all the graphic details... and don't forget -- the Engadget crew needs love too, so feel free to drop something silver in the mail for us come December.

Sarcos' military exoskeleton becomes a frightening reality

Have you been waiting for a legion of half-man, half-machine storm troopers to descend upon your city and blaze a round of hellfire in all general directions? If you said yes, that's kind of weird. At any rate, you can consider yourself one step closer to cyborg annihilation thanks to a company called Sarcos and its semi-scary exoskeleton -- which will make any regular old soldier into a Terminator-like killing machine (as far as we can tell). Sure, they demo the unit lifting heavy equipment and reducing fatigue of the user, but we know what this thing is really for -- and it doesn't involve food drops. Check the video after the break to have your mind shattered into a million delicious pieces.

Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and DDR get cheap rip-offs

When you're out trawling for a copy of the rapidly selling out Rock Band, you may run into a cheap knock-off or two of the rhythm game genre. Our tipster spotted several units including a Guitar and DDR imitation in Macy's, and a Drum game in another store. All of them plug directly into a TV, but none are particularly cheap at around $40 each. The usual target audience for these kind of gadgets are unsuspecting parents looking for a present for the kids, so make sure you include a rigorous education program in the perils of game rip-offs when you hand in your holiday wish-list.

Chrysler's Jeep Renegade concept is pure Halo

Let's face it, car designers need to look deeper for next-generation designs these days. In a more carefree time, you could put two nasty, rectangular hunks of metal on top of one another, stick on a few over-sized tires, mount a faux-wood steering wheel to the dash, and call it a Ford. These days, it's a buyer's market -- and you need to step up your game. Enter Chrysler's Jeep Renegade 2008 concept, a design boosted directly from the collective unconscious (namely, the minds of Halo players everywhere) that looks like a tank, yet runs on a lithium ion-powered electron motor and a small Bluetec diesel generator, giving this never-to-be a combined 110 MPG range. Roof mounted gatling gun and Covenant-destroying missiles not included.

PlayStation controller cuff links impress Sony interviewers

For the ladies out there, we've no doubt that rocking a set of Wiimote earrings would totally increase your chances of lookin' good stupendous in a Nintendo interview room, but for the folks hoping to get a leg up on the competition for that open spot at Sony, here's your ticket. These sterling silver cuff links each measure 0.75- x 0.5-inches and closely resemble the famed PlayStation controller, and in case that wasn't overboard enough, you can even opt to engrave the backing with Sony's stock ticker symbol for extra brownie points. Sure, $150 seems a bit steep for the pair, but practically guaranteeing yourself employment is probably worth the cost. Click on for an on-shirt shot.

ThirstyLight keeps watch on plants so you don't have to

While it won't keep watch on your plants and water them like some devices we've seen, the so-called ThirstyLight will at least handle one part of that equation, with it sending out a signal in the form of a blinkin' LED light when your plants' soil gets dry. That's handled by a "Drypoint Digital Circuit," which checks moisture levels once per second and is able to discern between five different levels of dryness (relayed to you by blinking patterns of increasing urgency). If that sounds like the solution to your plant problems, you can pick one up now for $10, or get 'em in bundles of three, six, or twelve at a discount.

Iiyama kicks out new ProLite touchscreen monitors

Despite their lack of mainstream appeal, touchscreen monitors are slowly making inroads onto Joe Public's desktop, and display specialist Iiyama is hoping to come along for the ride with its new line of ProLine models. Coming in 15- (T1530SR), 17- (T1730SR), and 19-inch (T1930SR) flavors, the latest ProLines feature 800:1 contrast ratios, either 280 or 240cd/m² brightness, 5ms or 16ms response times, and either 1,280 x 1,024 (T1930 and T1730) or 1,024 x 768 (T1530) resolutions. Available immediately, the monitors range from £329 ($677) to £399 ($821) depending on size.

Researchers create "perching" robotic aircraft

Sure, your average helicopter can land in a whole mess of places, but what if you really need to squeeze that sucker onto a steep incline? Normally, you'd be out of luck if the slant were anything more than a measly 20-degrees, but some Georgia Institute of Technology researchers have managed something a bit more extreme. Eric Feron, an aerospace engineer, and colleague Selcuk Bayraktar have created a new breed of robot helicopter which can land, or "perch," at inclines up to 60-degrees. On a similar tip, MIT researcher Jonathan How has fashioned another unique unmanned aircraft which can take off and land from a "prop hang" position, wherein the plane stands on it's tail in midair. The hope is that these new technologies will help get aircraft into -- and back out of -- complicated spots with a new level of maneuverability. Also, the engineers probably just love blowing people's minds. Check the videos after the break to experience the gravity-defying moves yourself.

Buffalo announces 320GB portable hard drive

You can never be too good looking or have too many gigabytes on your person, which is why Buffalo has just announced what it's touting as the "world's largest" portable external hard drive, a 320GB dynamo called the MiniStation Turbo USB HD-PS320U2. This 5,400rpm platter features 256-bit AES encryption courtesy of Buffalo's Secure Lock Ware utility, and Windows users also getting Memeo's AutoBackup software thrown in to boot. Look for this portable powerhouse next month for around £155 ($319).

Sony rekindles rumors of PSP phone

It's been a hot minute since we've heard any marginally believable chatter surrounding the so-called PSP phone, but the idea of such a device has been given new life thanks to Sony Computer Entertainment co-chief operating officer Jim Ryan. Apparently, Mr. Ryan told the India Times that the "PlayStation is a proven success and so is Sony Ericsson," and that "convergence with the two arms working together is definitely plausible." Granted, he did note that it could be quite some time before such a device would see the market, and that if indeed it did, it would likely resemble a handheld gaming system with a phone blended in and not vice-versa. So yeah, we're not really any closer to knowing whether this thing truly is somewhere in the pipeline, but here's to hoping that we don't have to wait another year or so to find out more.

Samsung's BlackJack II fittingly launches on Black Friday for $150

If you're already drafting a plan of what stores to hit in what order come Black Friday, and you've been craving Samsung's forthcoming BlackJack II, we've got yet another locale that you'll need to show yourself at. CNET has it that Sammie's SGH-i617 will be landing on AT&T tomorrow, and just in case you still weren't connecting the (dark) dots, it'll initially be available only in black. Reportedly, the red edition is slated to surface around December 12th, and both will demand $149.99 and your name on a two-year contract. Don't worry about showing up early, though -- the chances of this thing selling out before noon tomorrow (or ever, to be frank) are slim to none.

Ricoh's new Caplio RR770 sports 3-inch LCD

Continuing its trend of pushing out evolutionary -- rather than revolutionary -- digital cameras, Ricoh has just introduced the new Caplio RR770, a model barely distinguishable from the now two-generations-old RR730. Just as the move from the 730 to the RR750 brought with it little more than a minor resolution bump, the 7.16 megapixel RR770 improves upon its predecessor by simply upgrading the LCD to a 3-incher -- but retaining the ho hum 3x optical zoom and limited scene selections of Caplios past. Price and release are currently shrouded in mystery, but don't expect to spend much more than $250 on this unremarkable shooter.

Wii Light Sword brings out the Skywalker in you

We knew it was just a matter of time before something like this happened, particularly with Star Wars: The Force Unleashed headed to the Wii next Spring, but it's good to see a lightsaber attachment come early. Available to order now through Play.com, this third-party accessory sports a power up / down effect to get your saber a-glowin' (and dimmed back down), 22 ultra-bright LEDs and an on / off switch for good measure. The adornment relies on a trio of AA cells to stay lit, and while it isn't slated to ship until later this month, you can commence searching for an extra £14.99 ($31) right away.

GM reaffirms commitment to 2010 Volt launch

Although we haven't noticed an atypical resurgence in doubters, General Motors' Bob Lutz apparently has. The exec has come forward and stated that the 2010 timeline for its much-anticipated Chevy Volt is still valid, despite the fact that employees working on the vehicle are "becoming increasingly nervous." While speaking at the Reuters Autos Summit in Detroit, Lutz also noted that there was "a lot of skepticism within the company," but that those in leadership roles firmly believe that it "has to be done." More specifically, GM is hoping to "leapfrog anything that is done by any other competitor," and while we're delighted to hear that the commitment is still strong, three years offers up a lot of time for situations to change.

Exmocare's wristwatch cares about your feelings

Exmocare has been prepping this watch for quite a while now, but it certainly seems to be shaping up of late. The Exmocare wristwatch monitors your heart rate, heart rate variability, movement and galvanic skin response, all of which the watch uses to determine how you're doing, specifically emotionally. If something's too outside the norm, the watch can report the condition to a loved one or caretaker over email, SMS or IM. It's primarily designed for elderly patients, and will be hitting the market early 2008.

Fujitsu's LifeBook S6510 gets reviewed

Fujitsu's LifeBook S6510, which we just caught wind of earlier this month, has made its way over to Notebook Review not a moment too soon, and the kind folks over there have put the machine through its paces in order to give you the skinny. As expected, reviewers marveled at the thinness of the 14.1-inch lappie, and even with the optical drive loaded in, they were delighted to find that it only weighed four pounds. Additionally, it was stated that the S6510 was surprisingly rigid, and while the LCD didn't exactly live up to the standards Fujitsu has set for itself, it was far from abysmal. Furthermore, the unit performed admirably in a plethora of tests, the keyboard was a joy to use and the battery life was right on par. Notably, the unit did emit quite a bit of heat, but all in all, this LifeBook should certainly fit the bill if you're looking for a business laptop that won't add any undue strain on your back.

Alienware gets official with Area-51 m15x, m17x laptops

While they don't exactly come as much of a surprise after a couple of leaks and that little website slip-up, Alienware has finally gotten official with is new Area-51 m15x and m17x laptops, which each pack more power than you'll likely need in your choice of two eye-catching designs. The m15x, as you can no doubt surmise, is a 15.4-inch model, which gives you enough room for dual hard drives, along with your choice of Core 2 Duo Extreme processors, NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTX graphics, 667MHz DDR2 memory, and plenty of other high-end specs to match. The m17x appears to be identical in most respects, but its 17-inch display also affords just enough room for a third hard drive which, as we had heard earlier, can include SSD if you so choose. Still no word on a release date, but Alienware will gladly inform you of that little detail if you're willing to hand over your email address.

Bluetrek unveils the Sense touch-sensitive Bluetooth headset

Although we've certainly seen our share of glitz in the Bluetooth headset market, thankfully several manufacturers have realized that the less noticed a headset is, the better -- and Bluetrek's new Sense headset seems as low-key as any. The piano black device features a touch-sensitive talk button, voice alerts for common functions like redialing and pairing, voice dialing, and a detachable thin support wire designed for glasses-wearers. At £49 ($100), it's not necessarily the deal of the century, but it'll definitely stack up well against similarly austere headsets when it goes on sale early next year.

Cambridge SoundWorks i765: Superpowered Dock Radio

There's not much this Cambridge SoundWorks i765 radio can't do. It's an iPod dock. It's a clock radio with alarm. Its slot-loading CD player also plays DVDs to an attached TV. It looks like a nice all-in-one solution for small apartments or dorms.

But here's the thing: it's $500. And that's before you buy a little LCD panel to go along with the DVD player. While I'm sure it sounds better than a laptop's speakers, it seems like it would be almost as cheap to buy a little laptop and some nice speakers. You'd only lose the AM/FM radio, but you'd gain, you know, a computer.

Ah well. It should get much cheaper in a year or so. These sorts of dock/radios always drop to more realistic prices surprisingly quickly.

SentySafe Fire- and Water-Resistant Hard Drive Enclosures

SentrySafe has teamed up with Maxtor to create a line of fire resistant and waterproof USB hard drives, the better to protect your data in a disaster. The drives can withstand temperatures up to 1,550° Fahrenheit for 30 minutes and can be submerged in water for up to 24 hours.
They're maddeningly expensive for the capacity—$260 for an 80GB version—but have undeniable appeal to industrial strength data solution fetishists like myself.

Sentry is also selling a safe with slots of DVDs with a USB cable passthrough to a small drive inside. In fact, it looks like all these units may use 2.5-inch drives instead of full-sized 3.5-inch ones—that would explain the lack of capacity.

Toilet Tunes

"Toilet Tunes" is a simple light-detecting audio player designed to both cover up the symphony of gastrointestinal sounds that accompany your Opus Number Two and to remind you to put down the lid after your final note has rung true. A simple stick-on sensor takes three AAA batteries and attaches to the underside of the toilet lid, triggering the pre-recorded music (including Latin guitar!) or nature sounds from the tank-top speaker.
It's $30—but what price art?

SiCortex intros SC072 Catapult -- 72 processor cluster for $15000

Off hand, we can't think of how we'd truly utilize the horsepower generated by a 72-processor cluster shoved into a "whisper-quiet, low-power deskside cabinet," but we'd happily draw up a plan if forced. SiCortex -- the same folks who delivered the bicycle-powered supercomputer -- has introduced its new SO072 Catapult, which features a standard Linux environment, 48GB of RAM and a trio of (optional) PCIExpress slots. This aptly categorized high performance computer (HPC) sucks down less than 200-watts of power, sports a pair of gigabit Ethernet ports and has room for six internal hard drives. Reportedly, each of the 12 SC072 nodes is a multi-core chip with six CPU cores, and while $15,000 may seem steep for your average tower, we'd say this is a pretty good value considering the hardware.

Haier and AOL's PMP makes its debut as the ibiza Rhapsody

We haven't heard much of anything about Haier and AOL's WiFi-enabled PMP since CES way back at the beginning of the year, but it looks like the device has now finally made its way out the door, with it now dubbed the ibiza Rhapsody. From the looks of it, there's three different versions of the player, including a 4GB, an 8GB, and a 30GB model (each also available in a range of colors). Apart from that, however, the players all appear to be identical, with each boasting a 2.5-inch display, an FM radio, built-in WiFi, Bluetooth and, of course, integrated support for Rhapsody-To-Go and AOL's video service. Nice enough specs to be sure, although the player isn't exactly on the cheap side, with Amazon currently listing the 4, 8, and 30GB players for $230, $250, and $330, respectively.

N82 launch event in Helsinki today

In the next few hours, infosyncworld will be dropping the bomb on the new Nokia N82 launch in Helsinki (its 3am over there now). I really like this phone as this phone has a 5-megapixel Carl Zeiss camera that can auto-focus with a Xenon flash added. There’s also GPS maps, Wi-Fi for WLAN access, and 3G networking, which in Europe means HSDPA.

In the meanwhile, stay tuned for my review on the new Nokia feedback screen technology as I will be attending a Nokia event tonight and talking to the Nokia developers that created it.

N82 launch event in Helsinki today

In the next few hours, infosyncworld will be dropping the bomb on the new Nokia N82 launch in Helsinki (its 3am over there now). I really like this phone as this phone has a 5-megapixel Carl Zeiss camera that can auto-focus with a Xenon flash added. There’s also GPS maps, Wi-Fi for WLAN access, and 3G networking, which in Europe means HSDPA.

In the meanwhile, stay tuned for my review on the new Nokia feedback screen technology as I will be attending a Nokia event tonight and talking to the Nokia developers that created it.

Asus R50A to be launched

Asus has plans to launch the R50A in the near future, also known as the R3. No idea of its full specifications, but we do know that it will come with full computer and GPS functionality, which means you'll be able to perform all your office tasks on-the-go without a hitch, although you can forget about indulging in graphics intensive games. Chances are pretty good the Asus R50A will make an appearance at CES 2008, so keep your eyes peeled.

Boosted Tin Can Speakers

Normally, tin can speakers are often used as a derogatory term amongst audiophiles, but Boosted decided to go ahead and launch a limited edition of Boosted Tin Can Speakers (Volume 1) that features a tin can form factor. The Tin Can Speakers will be compatible with a host of portable media players such as iPods, consoles and computers. They're battery operated, so make sure you always carry some spares around with you wherever you go. Volume 1 boasts artwork from renowned street artists MINT (Mikhail Sokovikov), SERF (Jason Wall) and MAINFRAME (Dean Bradley). There will only be 400 of these in circulation, and the $99.99 price tag makes it highly affordable so you'll have to act fast if you want one.

Nokia NM705i heads for DoCoMo

Nokia is certainly taking its role in the Japanese market seriously with the NM705i cellphone which is available exclusively to NTT DoCoMo customers. Designed to work on the FOMA (WCDMA 2100MHz) network and WCDMA 800/850 network, this quad-band GSM phone will be able to function just about anywhere else in the world. Features include an integrated FM radio and Bluetooth 2.0 compatibility. As to pricing and availability details, they're just about as non-existent as life on Mars despite gaining FCC approval recently.

ASUS Ecobook is eco-friendly

The ASUS Ecobook aims to be as environmentally friendly as possible, with ASUS aiming for a 50% recyclable rate where the sum of the Ecobook's parts are concerned. In order to achieve this goal, the Ecobook features smooth strips of bamboo all over, but additional details are still scarce. Currently, the laptop's chassis is still not finalized as with its processor. Hopefully these bamboo strips have been treated lest termites eat up your 'homework'.

Dell 3008WFP 30” display

The great Dell 3007WFP 30” display (complete review) has a successor: the… 3008WFP. It has the same 2560x1600 maximum resolution, but it is most importantly capable of providing video scaling. The older 3007WFP did not have an image processor and its scaling capabilities were more than limited. This means that the new 3008WFP can scale any resolution to the full surface of the screen. It could also be used as a video monitor as it accepts pretty much any connection: VGA, component, video, HDMI, Displayport and of course DVI (2 ports).

Wibrain's B1 UMPC gets showcased on video

It's Wibrain's (recently redesigned) B1, and it's on video. Granted, it's narrated in a foreign language, but hey, it's the B1, and it's on video. Thankfully, the clip does include a shot of an updated specifications list (in English), so here's the skinny on all that: we're now looking at a VIA C7M ULV 1.2GHz processor, a 4.0-inch (or is that 4.8-inch?) 1,024 x 600 resolution panel, your choice of 512MB or 1GB of RAM, 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, a 30GB / 60GB 4,200RPM PATA hard drive, four-cell standard Li-ion battery (six-cells in the extended one), stereo speakers, a built-in webcam and a number of connectivity options including HSDPA / UMTS, GSM / GPRS / EDGE and WiMAX. As for ports, the sheet explains that it'll have a single USB jack, headphone output, microphone input and a cradle connector to boot. Go on, check out the video after the break, but make sure you call over a translator before pressing play.

New Zunes get unboxed, reviewed, and Microsoft firms up plans

Well Zuneinites, the new models are primed and ready for store shelves tomorrow, but we've got first looks and reviews today. As Microsoft's new media players make their way into the hands of eager beavers across the internets, we're here for you, picking up the pieces and putting it all together. As it stands right now, we've got videos and reviews from a number of sources, including (but not limited) to: CNET, Zune Thoughts, and Zunerama. All of the sites currently have unboxing videos and / or reviews of the new units, and Zune Thoughts even has an informative video on some firmware update problems they discovered with the Zune 80. Some interesting Zune Marketplace info has also come out, including details that the DRM-free track cost will be $.99, or 79 Microsoft Points (the same as pricing on protected tracks). Additionally, we've received the official word from Microsoft on the Zune Originals, as well as all the confirmation you'll ever need that the Zune-bomb really does drop tomorrow. Hold on to your hats folks, it's going to be an exciting week.

HTC said to be planning 2-3 Android-based handsets next year

There's not exactly a flood of information here, but HTC CEO Peter Chou reportedly let loose a few details about the company's plans during a recent analyst meeting, including the tantalyzing tidbit that it plans to release 2 or 3 Android-based handsets in 2008. While the so-called "Dream" handset (pictured above) would seem to be a sure bet for one of those, Chou apparently didn't drop any hints as to what we might be able to expect from the other handsets. In other HTC news, according to DigiTimes, Chou also said the company plans to release a non-Qualcomm-based 3G handset in the "near future," along with a new user interface that'll be "better than its current TouchFlo technology," with a couple of WiMAX / TD-WCDMA devices thrown in for good measure as well.

Google's Android OS early look SDK now available

Just like the good folks promised, the early look software development kit for Google's soon-to-be huge phone OS has hit the streets... er, internet. From what we can tell, the OS is as comfortable on larger, VGA devices as it is on more traditional smartphone layouts. Oh yeah... and it plays Quake. Here's what we know the software will support out of the box:

Touchscreen
3G
Webkit-based browser
Threaded text messaging
MPEG-4, h.264, MP3, and AAC file formats
3D graphics
Below you can see an alternate fullscreen version of the phone (a hardware reference model, not a device you can expect to buy anytime soon) up and running its browser app. If you really want to get serious, pedal your steam-engine over to the Open Handset Alliance site where you can download the SDK for a variety of platforms. Otherwise, check out the gallery and view some videos after the break to see and hear more info than you can shake a stick at on the new platform.

Jensen's NVXM1000 Rock'N'Road XM / GPS system on sale now

Given that the last time we heard about Jensen's NVXM1000 was nearly 11 months ago, we won't hold it against you if you just can't bring back the memories of this well-spec'd XM mini-tuner / navigator hybrid. The $799.99 Rock'N'Road, as it's so affectionately dubbed, is finally ready to take to the streets, and it's packing a 4.3-inch color touchscreen, support for XM Instant Traffic, weather, sports and stocks, 11 million POIs, an 8GB hard drive, wireless FM modulator, an integrated media player / photo viewer, USB connectivity and a SD expansion slot. And if you just so happen to find yourself in a participating GM, Toyota, Honda, Nissan or Hyundai dealership, you can get hooked up with the rebadged Advent ADV800XM for the same amount of dough. Now, whether or not this thing's actually worth all eight Benjamins is another story, but it's available today for those who adamantly feel it is.

Crazy new Wolf King gaming keyboard hits the FCC

It looks like those that prefer their keyboards as unconventional as possible could soon have a new option to consider from Wolf King, which has just seen its latest less-than-ergonomic wonder pass through the FCC. From the looks of it, this one boasts a good deal of similarities to the Wolf Claw keyboard we saw a while back, minus the full-size QWERTY keyboard. That gets replaced by a jumble of keys that could probably be used to actually type something in a pinch, although we're guessing you'll want to have another keyboard as a backup. According to the manual, you can also expect a pair of extra USB ports, seven customizable hotkeys and, of course, some blue backlighting to really make it stand out on your desk. No word on a price or release but, as you can see above, it sure looks about ready to roll out the door.