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LG Blade: A thin-bezel laptop available everywhere but the U.S.

The LG P430 and P530 are 14- and 15.6-inch laptops, respectively, with something that we hope becomes a trend: smaller screen bezels that reduce the effective size of the chassis. The P430, in particular, promises a "14-inch screen in a 13.3-inch body," with an upper lid design that looks like a return to the thin-bezel laptops that used to exist not so long ago. (We actually already admitted to pining for small bezels...guess we're not alone.)

As far as we can tell, there's not much differentiating the Blade series from similar laptop designs by Samsung, Sony, Acer, and others, but a metallic 13-inch laptop with a slightly bigger screen? Sure, who wouldn't go for that? A second-gen Intel Core i3/i5/i7 CPU and optional Nvidia GeForce GT 520M graphics sound like a solid package.

Of course, there's a catch: these laptops will be available starting in May in Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Asia...but not in North America. LG, may we humbly suggest an addendum?… Read more

Android Atlas Weekly 45: I sue you, you sue me

Apple sues Samsung, Samsung sues Apple, the Army uses Android in the battle field, and we get a tour of the latest round of Android Tablets. Join Justin Eckhouse and guest hosts Eric Franklin and JT Tabencki as they dive into the world of Android.

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News Stories

Apple sues Samsung for ‘copying’ smartphones, tablets http://news.cnet.com/8301-27076_3-20055033-248.html

Samsung countersues Apple over iPhone, iPad http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/22/us-samsung-apple-idUSTRE73L0DG20110422

Android phones record user-locations … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1450: Lick my 9Volt (Podcast)

Can you tell Brian Tong is back on the show? Actually, we're legitimately wondering whether a home-brew electroshock like battery licking could produce video game skill improvements like DARPA is seeing with their electroshock research. No, really. Also, Google shuts down Google Video, President Obama wants a universal login that's not Facebook Connect, and Match.com just got a whole lot more trustworthy. --Molly

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iPad 2 scarce at Toys 'R' Us

Toys "R" Us store began selling the iPad 2 today, but only select stores have them.

The iPad 2 has been chronically selling out at stores everywhere so news that a new outlet will have the iPad 2 can potentially send shoppers scurrying to that location.

But don't expect to waltz into a Toys "R" Us today and get one. In the Los Angeles area, only select Toys "R" Us stores got a shipment of iPad 2s.

And a store in Tustin, Calif.--a Los Angeles suburb--had already sold out of the iPad … Read more

Samsung Gem review: Edgy personality in a basic Froyo phone

Does it have Samsung's signature high-polish glossy body? Of course! But the Samsung Gem, an Android 2.2 Froyo smartphone for U.S. Cellular, also has some style all its own. With its swooping lines and repeated pentagonal, superhero-esque accent, it doesn't look like just any other Android phone.

Related links • Read our T-Mobile G2 review • Alltel also has the Samsung Gem • See other Samsung phones

We're pleased that Samsung left its custom TouchWiz interface off this model, giving us the default (some would call it "pure") Android experience.

The specs are typical for a … Read more

U.S. Cellular offering prepaid Androids

U.S. Cellular will start offering Android smartphones for its prepaid customers tomorrow, April 15. Handsets include the LG Optimus U and the LG Apex, which cost around $199.99 and $249.99 respectively. While the initial cost might be high, the monthly plans are quite affordable. U.S. Cellular prepaid customers can get 450 minutes, unlimited messaging, and 2GB of data for $60 a month, or unlimited talk and text plus 2GB of data for $70 a month.

If you would rather go without the data plan, you can opt for just the unlimited minutes and messages for $50 … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 1445: We have lasers (Podcast)

The U.S. Navy demonstrates how it can set a boat on fire remotely using a laser. Which is super awesome as a video, and slightly terrifying as a demonstration of future military capabilities. Also, Steve Jobs finally agrees to an authorized biography, Sony blinks in the George Hotz PS3 jailbreaking lawsuit, smart phone users are wasting hundreds of dollars a year, and Facebook is working on its latest venture: the Socialist Network. --Molly

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The 404 796: Where we're playing offense tonight (podcast)

If Wilson is the brains of The 404, and Jeff is the brawn, then what is Justin? Aside from answering that question, we're also thinking of new names for Jeff's hockey team and talking about Adobe's new software rental program, the iPad 2 coming to Toys "R" Us stores and Best Buy vaults, and the future of the Apple iPod Touch.

The 404 Digest for Episode 796

Adobe Creative Suite 5: Why buy when you can rent? Photoshop Touch SDK drives three Adobe iPad apps. Aviary.com puts light image edits in the cloud.

Episode 796 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS VideoRead more

Rumor: Toys 'R' Us to sell iPad 2

According to a rumor from tech site modmyi.com, Toys 'R' Us is training their employees to begin selling Apple's iPad 2 in their stores, offering perhaps one of their most compelling reasons for not wanting to grow up.

"We received a tip this morning from a Toys "R" Us employee that the venerable children's toy store will begin selling the iPad 2 next month. Although there have been rumors in the past about Toys "R" Us possibly carrying the iPad at some point in the future, this is the first we've … Read more

The 2012 Audi A7 ships this month at a price of $60,125

Spending a good chunk of change on a luxury ride usually means sacrificing fuel economy. But the 2012 Audi A7, which starts at $59,250--plus $875 shipping charges--promises to offer top fuel economy for its class.

The A7 rides on an aluminum-hybrid lightweight construction, with aluminum body panels and a steel frame, which allows for a U.S. EPA rating of 18 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, a combined 22 mpg.

Inside the A7 is an Audi first: a heads-up display with a high-resolution, full-color display, which were also recently introduced in the Audi A8. … Read more