Filed under: Cellphones

Rumored Sony Ericsson "Kiki" handset isn't a boring one originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Mobil's dug up these photos of the XPERIA Racheal, supposedly their first Android phone. Exciting, since I love Sony Ericsson hardware.

These things are kind of all starting to look the same, but it's running the Snapdragon platform, meaning it could be 1GHz, and is rumored to have an 8MP imaging sensor. Let's hope they've got the image processing sorted out, though.

[Mobil via Engadget]

Chain restaurants are trying to lure in recession-weary diners with deep discounts, but franchisers worry that if you suddenly start paying half-price for sandwiches, you won't be willing to pay full price when the economy recovers. We're all accustomed to chain restaurant sandwiches costing $8 and up, but how much do those sandwiches really cost restaurants to make?

The heavy discounting is leading to tensions between the people who, as independent franchisees, operate many of the restaurants, and the corporate officers who control the brands, menus, advertising and strategy. The franchisees agree that discounts can get customers in the door, but wince at what they can do to profit margins.

A T.G.I. Friday's promotion in April and May offering $5 sandwiches and salads led to a small-scale revolt among franchisees. Ross Farro, who has seven T.G.I. Friday's restaurants in Ohio and Pennsylvania, said the promotion included salads that normally sell for as much as $10 and a steak sandwich priced at $11.89 on the regular menu. The ingredients alone for each steak sandwich cost about $4, he said.

The promotion brought in a flood of customers, but Mr. Farro said he could hardly afford to feed them. Within days of the promotion's start in late April, many franchisees began complaining to the chain's parent company, Carlson Restaurants Worldwide.

Franchisers also complain that thrifty consumers don't order profitable extras like soda or dessert. Have you been lured in by any recent restaurant deals?

Discounts Have Restaurants Eating Own Lunch [The New York Times]

Dance, dance to much booty in the, um, wrists? Your fingers have to dance like they've never danced before to shut off the alarm. Hope you don't suck at Tap Tap Revenge. $16. [Thumbsupuk via OhGizmo via Engadget]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Sony Ericsson "Rachael" Android XPERIA handset unveiled? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Activision's CEO has already gone public with his complaints about the price of the PS3, and it looks he's not alone among industry bigwigs with a bone to pick with Sony, with the CEO of the newly formed Tecmo Koei now coming out and echoing his concerns. Speaking with CVG, Tecmo Koei's Kenji Matsubara says that whenever he speaks about the issue with Sony reps, he asks them to "please cut the price" of the PS3, adding that "from a publisher's point of view we would welcome a price cut for PS3 and we are waiting, definitely." He doesn't quite go so far as pull an Activision and threaten to ditch support for the console if Sony doesn't drop the price, however, although it seems safe to assume that these complains will only grow louder -- at least until Sony actually does cut the price of the PS3, that is.

[Via gamesindustry.biz]

Filed under: Gaming

Tecmo Koei CEO to Sony: "please cut the price" of the PS3 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Bankrate shares 15 tips to protect your stash of cash while traveling abroad. Before leaving, strip down your wallet to the bare essentials, including a backup credit card, and make copies of all financial documents. While abroad, stash the copies and the backup card in your hotel safe, and take common-sense precautions like sticking to legitimate bank ATMs, and avoiding crowds. Hit the link for the rundown of all 15 tips.

15 ways to protect your money on vacation [Bankrate]
(Photo: Newton Free Library)

Whether you're just grilling, picnic lunching or heading out on a wilderness excursion for the holiday weekend, we've got a few recipes, projects, and ideas to run by you, cultivated from years of gathering clever outdoor hacks.

Photo by Nicholas_T.

It's by no means exhaustive or conclusive, but we wanted to provide an overview of some of the most clever or handy stuff we've seen involving nature's wonder and the great outdoors, along with its sometimes unpleasant side effects. Check out what interests you, get inspired for the weekend or a better-planned one, and, please, tell us what you're going to be doing outdoors this weekend, and how you're doing it, in the comments below. In the meantime, click through to the galleries to enjoy some of our favorite tips, projects, and food fun for your time outside this Fourth of July Weekend.

Click through on any of the images below for the full goods.

Lotions, Repellents, and Antidotes

We're talking homemade insect repellent, bug bite relief, and choosing the right sunblock.

Camping and Surviving

Start a fire with your cellphone, build a great campfire, tie killer knots, and more.

Outdoor Projects

Build an outdoor movie theater, a handy beverage barge for poolside fun, and then some with a few fun outdoor DIYs.

Summer Drinks

From better lemonade to beer cocktails to cold soda fast, we can quench that thirst.

Summer Eats

Avoid picnic disasters, grill the perfect burger, get to know your edible outdoor greens, and oh-so-much more.

Filed under: Gaming

GameStop hits the sauce for the 4th, offers up bizarre Wii bundles originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.