Gigabyte Booktop M1305 ultraportable gains external GeForce GT220 GPU (update: now with video!)

Gigabyte’s Booktop M1305 was shown as far back as June, but now it seems the stark white ultraportable is nearing its ship date. Nothing about the 13.3-inch rig seems too special at first glance — after all, a Core 2 Duo, GMA 4500MHD graphics set, 1,366 x 768 panel, 4GB of DDR3 memory and a 320GB or 500GB HDD won’t set any carpets on fire — but it’s the docking station that makes this one special. When situated in the dock, the M1305 can take full advantage of the discrete NVIDIA GeForceSource: Engadget RSS Feed

iPhone coming to The Shack: Dallas and NYC this month, nationwide in 2010?

So we knew a select number of authorized resellers would start stocking iPhones soon, and thanks to a tipster, it looks like we might be getting a glimpse at a none-too-surprising recipient of the new order. As these pics from an anonymous tipster show, “big hug for your mobile life” retailer The Shack will be getting AT&T’s flagship device soon, with a letter supposedly from EVP of store operations Bryan Bevin (found after the break) adding that the 3G and 3GS rollout will begin this month Source: Engadget RSS Feed

Foursquare launching 14 new European cities today (update: it’s 15)

Good news for those of you desperate to play Foursquare, the hugely popular location-based game: new European cities are being switched on today.

Until now London and Amsterdam were the only European cities able to play.

We’ve been playing with the prelaunch testing of these cities for the past few days and can reveal that lined up for launch today are: Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, Helsinki, San Antonio, Madrid, Manchester, Paris, Prague, Rome and Source: The Next Web RSS Feed

Smoking Gun teases original IP with preview of ‘X’ graphic novel, ARG

It’s been two years since Relic staffers John Johnson and Drew Dunlop (producer and lead programmer on Company of Heroes, respectively) left the company to set up their own, Smoking Gun Interactive. As we reported back in May, the studio has teamed with cyberpunk trailblazer and author Douglas Rushkoff to create an array of multimedia products based on its yet-to-be-revealed premiere franchise. This week, we get a look at what they’ve been up to with the first of four sneak previews ofSource: Houstonist RSS Feed

The Carnage From Digital Predators Is Foul Indeed

George Parker is done with Facebook and Twitter, two places where digital scam artists got the best of him. …in the last few days, I have had dozens of emails from very pissed off people asking why I am bombarding them with shitty emails flogging everything from insurance to condoms. Obviously someone has hacked my account. Just as someone phished my Facebook account FIVE times a few weeks ago. That’s whey I am no longer on Facebook. Edward O’Meara sounded off in Parker’s comments andSource: AdPulp RSS Feed

Buffalo readies new trio of external hard drives

Buffalo has today announced the HD-CLU2-WH series of external hard drives which is set to debut this month with three models boasting 500GB, 1TB and 1.5TB of storage space. The drives measure 45 (W) x 175 (H) x 156 (D) mm and weight 1kg, have a shiny and sleek white enclosure, a USB 2.0/1.1 interface, and come with the eco Manager software which will help cut power consumption by up to 75% when they are not being accessed.
The 500GB, 1TB and 1.5TB HD-CLU2-WH HDDs will reach stores late Source: TechConnect Magazine RSS Feed

Iwata voices interest in Kindle-like free 3G service for DS

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has gone on the record with the Financial Times as being “interested” in the strategy Amazon has adopted for free internet access on its Kindle eBook reader. “I’m interested because it’s a new business model in which the user doesn’t bear the communications cost,” he told the publication.
There’s no fee for accessing Amazon’s “WhisperNet” 3G network on Kindle, as the cost is built into the price of the device up-front. Taking a similar route with DSSource: Houstonist RSS Feed

iTunes TV subscriptions? Let’s do this properly, Apple

It appears that Apple might be putting together a TV subscription package for iTunes. If true, let’s hope they do this the right way.

For $30 per month it would appear that you would get access to whole networks’ output rather than individual shows. All Things Digital suggests that Apple has been touting the idea to a number of TV networks but that none have yet come on board.

It’s understandable that networks may be cautious of the deal. While iTunes already offersSource: The Next Web RSS Feed

The Best of Big Download: October 26 – November 1

Wow. We had a ton of original features this week and it doesn’t look like it will let up anytime soon. Let’s take a look at what transpired on Big Download in the past seven days:
Exclusive features

• Reviews: We give our final verdicts to Tropico 3 , Eufloria and Cities XL along with impressions of the Left 4 Dead 2 PC demo
• Orson Scott Card Interview: The best selling novelist talks about his love of games and reveals a dream game project he would like toSource: Houstonist RSS Feed
  

The /Filmcast: After Dark – Ep. 73 – Making Trick ‘r Treat (GUEST: Mike Dougherty, Director of Trick ‘r Treat)

The /Filmcast: After Dark is a recording of what happens right after The /Filmcast is over, when the kids have gone to bed and the guys feel free to speak whatever is on their minds. In other words, it’s the leftover and disorganized ramblings, mindfarts, and brain diarrhea from The /Filmcast, all in one convenient audio file. In this episode, Dave Chen, Devindra Hardawar, and Adam Quigley chat with writer/director Mike Dougherty about the long and arduous process of making, distributing, Source: SlashFilm RSS Feed