Apple patent filing details touchscreen tablet

Trying to divine what Apple's up to from patent applications is never easy, but every now and again the diagrams actually make it obvious -- and it looks like Steve and his elves are hard at work on large-format touch interfaces, possibly for a tablet Mac of some kind. The latest touch-related filing is some 52 pages long and details everything from working with multiple finger inputs to onscreen keyboards how window controls would work, but we're mostly transfixed by the claw-like demon-hands that seem to be operating all this kit -- apparently Apple engineers have the same nightmares as the rest of us. If we had to bet, we'd say that a tablet Mac is still a long ways off, but we've been wrong before -- and there's always a chance Steve's got something wild in store for next month.

Radiopaq Rp5 does DAB, FM and internet radio

Look out, Pure Digital -- you've got a new rival in town. Radiopaq, best known for bringing thousands of internet radio stations and podcasts to listeners via the web, has decided to hop into the hardware game. The Rp5 tabletop radio features a five-way speaker system, digital / analog processors, a headphone jack, remote control and a rather stylish design. There's also an integrated WiFi module for tuning into the outfit's website and even sucking down news, weather and traffic information. Of course, the more traditional FM / DAB tuners are there as well, making this one quite the multifaceted box. Word on the British streets has this one pegged for a September launch at £250 ($468).

WD's Velociraptor I/O connection issue resolved with design update

Remember those uber-fast VelociRaptor drives that had the hardcore (and IT dwellers) in a tizzy? Turns out they had some inexplicable design flaw that put the power and serial connections in the wrong spot, rendering some 3.5-inch backplane server installations basically useless. WD has announced a new solution that fixes this, and the new drives are now shipping. No word on returns and exchanges, but we have a feeling WD will be making good on this. Oops, and good job on the quick fix, WD.

Intel appeases haters, reveals USB 3.0 controller specification

For months now, AMD, NVIDIA and a host of other caps-locked companies have been harshing on the chip maker for withholding critical information in relation to the USB 3.0 controller specification. At long last, Intel can finally throw up its left hand and ask those pundits to talk to it, as the outfit has finally unveiled the Extensible Host Controller Interface (xHCI) draft specification revision 0.9 in support of the USB 3.0 (SuperSpeed USB) architecture. The spec hopes to provide a "standardized method for USB 3.0 host controllers to communicate with the USB 3.0 software stack," and it's being made available under RAND-Z (royalty free) licensing terms "to all USB 3.0 Promoter Group and contributor companies that sign an xHCI contributor agreement.

Dell Vostro 2510 now configurable online

It looks like those already sold on Dell's slightly less business-like Vostro 2510 laptop don't have to wait too long to get their hands on one, as the just-leaked laptop is now configurable on Dell's website with an estimated ship time of 3 to 5 days. As we had heard, the base price starts at a reasonable $899, which includes a 1.8GHz Core 2 Duo T5670 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, and a better than usual 256MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS graphics card. If that's not enough, you can push things up past the $2,000 mark pretty easily with a faster processor, a max 4GB of RAM, an Blu-ray drive, and other premium add-ons. Hit up the link below to get started.

FujiFilm's 10 megapixel S2000HD with 15x wide angle zoom quietly introduced

FujiFilm Canada seems to have jumped the gun and outed a whole suite of cameras this morning. Starting with the headliner, we've got this 10 megapixel FinePix S2000HD with 15x wide angle zoom and 2.7-inch LCD. Listing for a thrifty CA$300, the S2000HD features a 1/2.3-inch CCD capable of capturing 3 megapixel images at 13.5fps and up to 6400 ISO at 5 megapixels with the help of FujiFilm's dual image stabilization. And "HD" in the name can mean only one thing: this cam also shoots HD video (720p Motion JPEG) in a pinch. No delivery date but we expect that to get sorted just as soon as this becomes officially official.