Amex Digital intros tiny 1080p media player

Amex Digital has introduced what it says is the world's smallest 1080p media player, the MP-501. The gloss-coated device measures a discrete 175mm x 128mm x 15mm (around 6.8 x 5 x 0.6 inches) and weighs 250 grams, but still packs the basic functionality of larger media players.

The MP-501 is powered by an ARM Cortex-A8 processor and it seems to be compatible with seemingly every major media file, including MP3, WAV, WMA, FLAC, OGG, AC3, JPEG, GIF, TIF, BMP, PNG, AVI, MPEG, VOB, MKV, as well as playlists and subtitles. Supported drive formats include FAT32, NTFS, and HFS+.


The front has an SD card slot and a standard USB 2.0 port, allowing you to attach portable storage devices, while the rear is populated with HDMI and composite audio/video outputs, as well as a mini USB port. There doesn't seem to be any network connectivity, but that's forgivable with a $49 price tag. No word on when or where it'll ship.

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Apple looking to identify iOS users via heartbeat, more

Apple has applied for a patent on a method to differentiate between users of an iOS device. Titled "Systems and Methods for Identifying Unathorized Users of an Electronic Device," the patent describes various ways a device could recognize users, including voice print and heartbeat analysis, facial recognition, and even some form of detection system for "suspicious behavior" (read: jailbreaking, unlocking, hacking, or removing a SIM card).

Such a feature would have many practical applications, not least in security. For instance, an iPhone could lock itself if it detected an unauthorized user and notify the owner by calling or sending an email, not to mention the ability to provide GPS coordinates. It might also be handy on shared devices, like iPads, which are commonly used by more than one person. Different settings and profiles could be applied on the fly for each person.


On the less innocent side of things, Apple is generally recognized as a control freak and you have to wonder whether such a mechanism would be used against jailbreakers. The US Library of Congress recently updated the Digital Millennium Copyright Act with various exemptions, including a few lines that effectively legalize jailbreaking and unlocking cell phones. Apple responded by reminding users that jailbreaking an iPhone voids its warranty.

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Microsoft unveils Age of Empires Online, Microsoft Flight

Besides announcing the first wave of Xbox Live games to arrive for Windows Phone 7 devices this holiday season, Microsoft also took the opportunity at GamesCon 2010 to revive some classic PC franchises. First up is Ensemble's popular Age of Empires series, which will return set in a persistent online world shared with friends and rivals around the globe, combining old school real-time strategy with massively multiplayer online game elements.

That means player-versus-player mode as well as cooperative multiplayer quests, trading, and a level-based system that lets you progress at your own pace. The free-to-play game is themed around Ancient Greece and features a more colorful, cartoony visual style compared to previous games in the series -- presumably to keep system requirements low.

Development is being handled by Robot Entertainment, which is staffed almost entirely by ex-Ensemble Studios developers, who in turn made all previous Age Of Empires titles before Microsoft shut them down in 2008. Go figure. Age Of Empires Online will launch exclusively for Microsoft's Games for Windows - Live platform some time in 2011, but you can already sign up for a chance enter the public beta set to begin later this year.

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Another classic making a comeback after being shut down early last year is the popular Microsoft Flight Simulator franchise. Not much has been revealed other than a short teaser trailer and a name: Microsoft Flight. We are not sure what the axing of the word "Simulator" from the title means for flight enthusiasts who cherished the series' realism and customizability, but it seems Microsoft may be aiming for a broader audience with this release.

According to the company's own words: "Microsoft Flight will bring a new perspective to the long-standing genre, welcoming everyone, including long-time fans, to experience the magic of flight."

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Rumor: Google Chrome OS tablet coming November 26

It was rumored in May that Google was developing an iPad rival, and an unnamed tipster cited by Download Squad has shed more light on the project. The device will supposedly use Chrome OS and it's being built by HTC, the same folks who made Google's Nexus One smartphone. Unsurprisingly, the tablet will use Verizon's wireless network, and it could be heavily subsidized or even free when purchased with a data contract. Note: the picture is a mock-up.


Download Squad speculates Google's slate will use Nvidia's Tegra 2 platform and carry a 1280x720 multitouch display, two gigs of RAM, a 32GB SSD (at least), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and LTE connectivity, along with GPS functionality, a webcam and expandable storage -- but that's not from the source. However, the insider did say the release date would be November 26, which just so happens to be Black Friday, the busiest shopping day in the US.

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Shuttle ships ultra-compact XS35 nettop series with Ion 2

Shuttle has launched its latest ultra-compact nettop PC, the XS35. Already on virtual shelves around the Web, the 1.5-inch thick machine comes in three preconfigured flavors to accommodate various budgets: one "made for every day" ($220) another "for media" ($280) and the last is "for HD" ($380). They're all outfitted with a dual-core 1.66GHz Intel Atom D510 CPU, built-in 802.11n wireless, five USB ports, VGA-out, and a 4-in-1 card reader.


The least expensive model (XS35-702) uses Intel's integrated GMA 3150 graphics and has 1GB of memory, 160GB of storage, and an empty optical drive bay. At the midway point, the XS35-704 gets you 2GB of RAM, a 320GB HDD, and a DVD drive, while the XS35GT-804 throws in Nvidia's Ion 2 GPU and a 500GB hard drive. All are passively cooled (no fans), can be mounted behind a flat panel display, and the latter can handle 1080p video.

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