As Windows Mobile 6.5-based handsets go, LG's eXpo unquestionably stands near the top of the pile thanks to its WVGA display, 1GHz Snapdragon core, and optional pico projector hump for the rear -- but there's a problem: it's really, really hard to find. Nigh impossible, actually, especially now that AT&T has pulled it off its online store altogether (it had been showing out of stock for weeks anyway). The reason for that isn't entirely clear -- LG and AT&T are happy to cite "strong demand," naturally, but the company that supplies the eXpo's fingerprint sensor says there are actually some outstanding antenna problems that have the production line backlogged. So when's it coming back? "Soon," according to LG, but in this business we've seen "soon" mean anything from a few minutes to a few years, so that doesn't mean much -- and in the meantime, we're thinking T-Mobile's HD2 stands to eat its lunch.

[Thanks, Luda]

AT&T's LG eXpo pico projects itself right out of stock, production problems to blame? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We've talked about how to comment, but there's still some confusion about these mysterious #tags. What are they all about? Well, to put it simply: They're the most fun you could have with a comment system.

#broken, #whitenoise, #tips, #lifechanger, #whateveryouwant. You'll see plenty of these tags in the comments. Each of them links to a corresponding tagpage which is like a forum of sorts. You can contribute to one of those pages by using the box right next to the Gizmodo logo. Just enter whatever tag you want to use, be it #tips or some silly secret tagpage you decide to create and tada! You've just made a whole new tagpage linked to your tag. If you ever want to view what's on a certain tag's page, just head to gizmodo.com/tag/TYPEATAGHERE.

How can this all be fun though? Well, I asked some of the commenters in #whitenoise to share their favorite tags and what they're for. Here's what they came up with:

• #greatgizwar for an ongoing playful "battle" among sites in the Gawker Media network
• #mondayvent for when you just need to blow off some steam
• #tuesdaytunesmodo for some music recommendations
• #wednesdaybookclub for the bookworms of Gizmodo
• #drunkmodo for all your intoxicated commenting needs
• #starthisperson for petition-style demands that someone receive a star
• #rosarocks for kissing my bum
• #saturdaymovienight to talk about what you're watching and get recommendations from others
• #commentoftheweek for posting your favorite comments (sometimes this'll lead them to be featured in the #fromwhitenoise post)
• #fakerumorthursday for a series of the rumors so fake that they're believable
• #wotd also known as #wordoftheday
• #comicmodo for silly images
• #birthdaymodo for celebrating those special days

I'm sure there are plenty of tags that I've yet to discover—or maybe some secret ones that small groups of commenters are keeping to themselves—and that's half the fun. The tagpages are your way to have a corner of Gizmodo to call your own. Heck, you can make a tag for #yourusername if you want.

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/apple/The_iPad_introduction_video_as_captioned_by_Google'; Hey remember that feel-good iPad introduction video with the Ben Folds cover of "In Between Days" Apple posted on launch day? Yeah, well you're going to remember the hell out of it once you watch it with Google's auto-transcription enabled on YouTube. Trust us, you owe yourself these few moments of absurdity.

[Thanks, Jeff]

The iPad introduction video, as captioned by Google originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yesterday someone expressed sorrow about forgetting to pack books when he moved to a new city and I felt my heart break on his behalf. I can't imagine life without being surrounded by shelves of books. But should I?

Globe and Mail's Russell Smith wrote a piece entitled "A Lament for the Bookshelf," and in it he contemplates how it appears that books are slowly taking a similar path to the one CDs once took—from racks of plastic discs to libraries full of digital files. More and more people are reaching for ebook readers and sending books through email, IRC, torrents, or gifting them in the form of links.

Does this mean that old-fashioned bookworms like me a dying breed? Was it weird to head to Amazon and place an order of essential books to be shipped to my fellow book lover's doorstep? Should I have sent ebooks instead? [Globe and Mail via NYT]

We've had TiVo firmly on deathwatch since 2005, and although the company's shares have recently surged with the launch of the TiVo Premiere and another legal victory over Echostar, things are still looking somewhat bleak: the Q4 numbers are in, and everyone's favorite DVR company just posted a $10.2m loss. Why? For the same reason that's plagued the company for five damn years now: it's hard to sign up new subscribers when the cable company offers a similar good-enough product for less money, especially when TiVo can't access cable VOD. And let's be brutally honest here: we love TiVo and we're more than excited to get our Premiere review units, but we don't think a revised interface is going to stem the tide -- almost every feature of the Premiere is available on the TiVo HD, after all. We've offered up our suggestions on how to re-energize the company in the past -- that new QWERTY remote is a great start -- but until TiVo stops playing ball with the same cable companies that actively try and cut it off at the knees and starts going for the jugular with features and pricing, we don't think things are going to get any better.

TiVo posts $10.2m loss, remains on deathwatch originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 22:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maybe sleep deprivation finally got to me or maybe these are really the cutest Android pillows I've ever seen. I just wanna grab a pair and snuggle up for a quick nap.

The pillows measure twelve by twelve inches, are handcrafted, and can be purchased for twenty bucks a piece. [Etsy via Technabob]

Remember that waterproof Bluetooth speaker that you picked up last summer after none other than Billy Corgan endorsed it? Here's comes round two. Available exclusively in the Land of the Rising Sun (surprised?), the Music Planet speaker ball is IPX7-certified to shrug off water damage for up to 30 minutes at a depth of one meter, and it's designed so that the speaker itself sits just above the water line. Internally, you'll find an FM radio tuner, an SD / SDHC card slot for loading up MP3 files, a USB socket (good luck with that non-waterproof thumb drive) and an alarm clock. You know, in case you fall asleep underneath two feet of soapy water. Power comes from six AA cells, which provides enough juice for 13 straight hours of your own jams or 28 hours of whatever's on the radio; it's up for order right now at ¥10,500 ($117), but sadly, no fancy shower gels are bundled in. Opportunity, missed.

Music Planet waterproof speaker ball makes bath time more melodic originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Like clockwork, we've just been dropped a line by T-Mobile USA asking us to join them for a very special media event to check out the HTC HD2 -- "a larger than life entertainment powerhouse" -- in fabulous New York City on the evening of March 16. That lines up nicely with the company's earlier assurances that we'd see a launch in March -- but what day in March, exactly? Well, we're hearing from a number of tipsters (including trusted sources) that the 24th is the day this thing breaks loose at retail, so set your watches and calendars accordingly -- assuming you haven't been wooed into Windows Phone 7 Series' tender, loving grasp, that is.

Update: MobiTV -- which has an app bundled with T-Mobile's version of the HD2 -- says the HD2 is launching on the 23rd, and frankly, they're probably in a position to know. Thanks, Stephen!

T-Mobile invites us to 'come experience the HTC HD2' on March 16; release on the 24th? (update: or 23rd!) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scientists have developed a new type of semiconductor structure—using microscopic crystals called magnetic quantum dots—that could more than double current hard drive storage capacity. That's just for starters.

The crystals themselves aren't new; they've been around for over a decade in computer chips, solar cells, and LEDs, according to CBC News. This particular application, though, is unprecedented:

The new work, reported today in the journal Nature Materials, describes a class of quantum dots that not only control electrons, but also have good magnetic properties allowing them to read the electron's spin.

The research team claims it's the first successful synthesis of magnetic quantum dots above room temperature.

The breakthrough came after two years of research, when the team was able to get the right concentration of manganese combined with the germanium matrix of the quantum dot. Makes perfect sense! But however high-level the science, the end result is clear: a new breed of semiconductor could be on the way, bringing with it speed, efficiency, and storage increases bordering on the exponential. The only question now is how long? [CBC News]

This weekend, up to 300 Newegg customers who pulled the trigger on a new Intel Core i7-920 processor found themselves puzzling over a clever fake instead. Who's to blame? It's not exactly clear -- Newegg initially said that the processors were "demo units," but has now posted a statement to Facebook saying that supplier IPEX shipped counterfeit chips and has had its contract revoked. That's good news for D&H Distributing, another Newegg supplier that responded to an initial wave of finger-pointing by issuing legal nastygrams to sites covering the story, thus ruining whatever good vibes generated by the truth.

Finally, here's the statement Intel just sent us, explaining in no uncertain terms that these are counterfeit parts:

"Intel has been made aware of a limited number of counterfeit i7 920 packages in the marketplace, specifically Newegg, and is working to how many and/or where they are being sold. The examples we have seen are not Intel products but are counterfeits. Buyers should contact their place of purchase for a replacement and/or should contact their local law enforcement agency if the place of purchase refuses to help.

Intel is getting samples to inspect and until then we can say that everything in the package appears fake. Some of the photos of the processor look like it is a casting and not even a real processor of any kind. Newegg has moved quickly to replace the suspect units."

No matter who's at fault here, the damage has been done. We'll never build another PC without losing precious seconds carefully examining its CPU first.

[Thanks, Cody C.]

Newegg terminates supplier relationship over counterfeit Core i7 CPUs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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