Official word says Canon's EOS 50D DSLR isn't shipping until October 6th, but we've found a number of pre-orderers that would beg to disagree. Take enthusiast Roland Lim for example, who has acquired a production unit and ran it through a series of basic, but entirely relevant tests. He's admittedly leaving the "comprehensive technical review" to someone else, but his laundry list of impressions is quite stout. We're told that the body is "essentially the same as the 40D," with the buttons, dials and LCD in exactly the same spots. In the end, he attempts to answer the all-important "should I upgrade?" question; thanks to this one being a mere evolutionary advancement of the 40D, he didn't think it was all that compelling unless you were still rocking some seriously old kit. Hit the read link for the writeup and a plethora of sample shots to see if you agree.

Don't hold out on us -- we know good and well you've been eying HP's bigger than big HDX 18 ever since it got real last month. For those unable to resist the urge to find out what life's like with an 18-inch entertainment notebook gracing their lap (and likely the lap of the guy one cube over), you can order this sucker up right now. Yep, the HDX 18t Premium series gets going at $1,549.99, but it won't take too many configuration tweaks to push that figure well over the $2k mark. Have fun!

[Via Laptoping]

We came for the car, we stayed for the promoter. Takara Tomy's previously announced AeroSpider RC car, which mystically scales walls and cruises upside-down, is finally shipping this month in Japan. Cool though that may be, the real news here is the overgrown 4-year old used to show off just how amazing this minuscule vehicle truly is. Head on past the break to see what we mean -- trust us, we wouldn't lead you on like this for nothing.

[Thanks, Clyde]

Is it really time to shine, BenQ, or are you just foolin' again? Judging by a product page at Italy's TIM website and a fresh report from the Italian branch of Tom's Hardware, the S6 (or MID Aries2, or BenQ MID... gosh, we're so confused!) is finally ready to order. The Atom-based MID impresses with built-in 3G capabilities, 512MB of RAM, a 2GB SSD, 4.8-inch 800 x 480 resolution display, WiFi / Bluetooth 2.0 and -- just to really pound the message home / incite jealously -- 7.2Mbps HSDPA. The current asking price sits at €429 ($626), and while the value proposition may be debatable, the amount of possibilities packed into a frame this small (6.2- x 3.5- x 0.86-inches) definitely isn't. Let's get these out to other nooks and crannies of the wide world, eh BenQ?

[Via UMPC Portal]

You already witnessed our unboxing and hands-on with Sling Media's Slingbox PRO-HD, and if you're anxious to know when you can grab one of your own, how's about right now? Sling has revealed that its $299.99 high-def box can be purchased this very instant from its website and other B&M retailers, and for Canadians feeling a touch left out, take heart -- you all will be able to purchase the unit "in the coming weeks" for $329.99.

Wait, what's this? Intel's shipping the dual-core Atom 330? Despite reports that the 1.6GHz chip wouldn't actually leave the dock until Q4, Intel itself has stepped up to ensure everyone that it's getting 'em out in Q3. The brief points out the obvious -- you know, that the 330 was designed with nettops in mind -- while also confirming that it boasts 1MB of L2 cache, an 8-watt TDP and support for DDR2 667. So yeah, let's get these in some systems, shall we?

The Rovio -- one of WowWee's finest if we should say so ourselves -- is finally ready to roam around domiciles and keep baddies at bay. First announced (and spotted) at CES 2008, this long-awaited robotic sentry is up for pre-order right now, and it comes packing a 640 x 480 webcam to stream back live video in MPEG4 format. Furthermore, it can snap stills, head out on a customized patrol route and avoid obstacles with its infrared sensor. Get ready -- this sheriff's rolling into your town next Friday for $299.95.

[Via Random-Good-Stuff, thanks Juergen]

Remember those way swank Digital Message Centers we peeked at CES this year? At long last, Audiovox has begun shipping the audio-only DPF710K ($149.99), which sticks upside your fridge and provides a 7-inch display, a dry erase board, digital clock, Post-it pad and a LED message indicator for good measure. If you haven't pieced it together, this thing seeks to simplify your family's lives by providing a base for leaving photos and messages, and we'll admit, it does have a smidgen of a Jetsons vibe to it. Those holding out for the video-capable DPF711K can lay down their $199.99 later this month. Nice hair, kiddo.

After a few false starts, the OS X-installing EFi-X dongle is finally shipping to consumers. Currently, two versions are up for grabs: the USB V1 for the average joe / jane and the USB V2 Developers Unit for, well, developers. In short, plugging this gem into your PC will enable select systems to install OS X, but we'd take a hard look at the fine print (and certified systems) before blindly plunking down $155 and hoping for the best.

[Via MacRumors, thanks Joseph]

The headline pretty much sums it up -- it appears that Dell hasn't wasted any time getting the first batch of Mini 9's out from Round Rock (or China, or wherever), as the earliest of adopters have already had the pleasure of peeling away the shipping label and firing one up. Hit the read link for two unimaginative shots of the netbook on a dirty desk, but only after you've phoned up Dell in search of your own tracking number.

[Via thegadgetsite, thanks K.C. Kim]

Previously, the ship dates for Rock Band 2 instruments ranged from "sometime within the next few months" to "sometime." Now, however, we're hearing that the standalone wireless drums ($90) and guitar ($70) will begin to ship out next week (at least for the Xbox 360). Additionally, Mad Catz's Fender P-Bass wireless guitar controller ($70) and the wired ION Drum Rocker set ($300) should clutter up floor space around the same time. RB2 party to celebrate the Q3 close? Sign us up.

Not a whole to say that we haven't already summed up in the title, but that hot little Voodoo Envy 133 is finally shipping right about now. A whole host of to-be owners have already received tracking numbers, and some folks have already had the pleasure of peeling away the tape and gettin' busy. So, are you still waiting for yours to leave the dock, or is it already halfway to your abode?

[Via CNET, image courtesy of Playername]

Well, took 'em long enough! Just about a year after JVC initially demonstrated the 4k x 2k DLA-SH4K projector, the firm has finally got up the courage to begin shipments. The beastly device is based on the company's proprietary 1.27-inch 10 megapixel D-ILA technology and provides a brain-melting native 4,096 x 2,400 resolution. Packed within is a 825-Xenon lamp that generates light output of 3,500 ANSI lumens (and likely murders your energy bill). 'Round back, you'll find four DVI-D (dual-link) terminals, an RS-232C port, USB connections and an Ethernet jack for making adjustments via a web browser. We are told it's available immediately, though we aren't told the price; chances are we couldn't fit that many zeros into this space, anyway. Full release is waiting beyond the break.

We've stated it before, but this time you really have ran out of excuses to run. Thanks to Yamaha's BODiBEAT, you can expect your tunes to automatically sync with your steps, giving you new reason to get out of the house and get to steppin'. Granted, the $299.99 price tag is pretty steep for just 512MB of space and 12-hours of battery life (marathon, what?), but we're sure there are a few of you out there willing to pay the premium to keep your head nodding perfectly in line with your pace. Oh, and if you completely skipped over the headline, it's shipping now. Right now.

[Via Coolest Gadgets]

Vodafone expected the Touch Pro to touch down in the UK this month, and sure enough, said expectation has become a reality. HTC's mighty WinMo-powered smartphone is now available from official UK distributor devicewire, and if you just so happen to use pounds as your primary currency, you can claim one of your own for the eye-popping price of £514.99 (including VAT). We won't bother converting that into dollars -- trust us, you're better off pretending you don't know.

[Via coolsmartphone]