HTC Hero

Guess what the Gadget Stork delivered on our doorstep today? A robot baby? No. Better. An actual, real, in-the-Teflon HTC Hero. Let's just say this -- it's pretty much the sexiest Android device ever created. We're not going to go into too much detail right now, as we're planning on delivering a full review next week, but we do want to say that this thing has our eyes glazed over like Scrooge McDuck checking out a pile of gold... if you know what we mean. HTC has truly outdone themselves here, not only with build quality (the thing kind of feels like a luxurious rock in your hand -- it's a good thing), but so far the software seems truly outstanding as well. Of course, we haven't taken the deep dive yet, so for now, feast your eyes on these photos, and get ready for the main event.

Update: Oh why, HTC? Apparently, this thing ain't covered in Teflon at all. According to the company's PR, only the white models are getting the dirt-resistant treatment. We're guessing the unit we have is just sporting a regular, soft-touch coating. It feels good and all... but now it seems so much less special.

New Firmware for Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR

Fujifilm has posted a firmware update for its Super CCD EXR sensor based FinePix F200EXR digital compact camera. Firmware v1.10 improves the performance of the camera's Super Intelligent Flash and adds four more languages in to its menu system.

Click here for more information and to download firmware v1.10

HD Radio Insignia NS-HD01

HD Radio has been desperately trying for years to become important in a world where most Americans are perfectly fine with tinny, 96kbps MP3s, and by and large, it's been unsuccessful. More vehicles today arrive with compatibility for a single shining portable media player (Apple's iPod, if you had to ask) than HD Radio, and up until this month, there was no way to easily strap an HD Radio player on your arm when heading out to the gym. One could argue that getting the technology into this segment is crucial for being ubiquitous, and while we aren't so sure we're in that camp just yet, we're still willing to give Insignia's NS-HD01 a fighting chance. Head on past the break for our take, and feel free to peruse the gallery for an up close and personal look at the hardware.

For $49.99, you get the player itself, a few instruction manuals, a bundled set of lackluster earbuds and a decent enough black armband. As you could probably guess from the brand name, the unit is being sold exclusively in Best Buy stores and through BestBuy.com. We've had the device in our possession for a few days now, and we have to say -- unless you're a huge, huge fan of listening to FM radio over your own library of tracks, I'm not exactly sure why you should take interest.

Tata Motors Delivers The Cheapest Car

Tata Motors Ltd. delivered today the first Nano, the world’s cheapest car.

Mumbai resident Ashok Vichare, 55, received the keys to a silver-colored LX version of the 624-cc vehicle from Tata Motors Chairman Ratan Tata at an event today in Mumbai. It is Vichare’s first car.

“This is the smallest and the cheapest car in India today and that’s why I bought it,” Vichare said.

Tata Motors, the Indian truckmaker that owns Jaguar Land Rover, got 206,703 orders for the car, more than double its initial sales plan. The company chose the first 100,000 customers for the 123,360 rupee ($2,500) Nano by a lottery, leaving it with at least a year of production as backlog.

The first Nanos are being built at a plant in Pantnagar, northern India, which can produce 60,000 units a year. Annual output will increase by a further 350,000 when a facility in Sanand, western India is completed at the end of this year.

“Tata Motors has commenced delivery of the Nano this month across the country from the Pantnagar factory,” the company said today in a statement.

A land dispute in eastern India earlier forced the automaker to shutter a purpose-built factory delaying sales of the two-cylinder car.

Volkswagen, Honda

Economic growth and rising vehicle demand in India has attracted a combined $6 billion of investment by Volkswagen AG, Honda Motor Co., Toyota Motor Corp. and other carmakers in the country. Car sales in India may triple to 3 million units annually by 2015, according to a government forecast.

The cheapest Nano retails for 123,360 rupees while the top- end variant goes for 172,360 rupees in New Delhi. The low-end model doesn’t have features such as air-conditioning, power steering and cup-holders.

Renault SA, France’s second-largest carmaker, has teamed up with India’s Bajaj Auto Ltd. to also sell a car for about $2,500.

Tata Motors may sell the Nano in the U.S. after 2 1/2 years, while European sales may begin in 2011. Chairman Tata in March said it was too early to comment on a breakeven for the vehicle.

Tata, 71, a Cornell University-trained architect, decided to develop the car when he saw an entire family riding on a scooter. Almost seven motorcycles are sold for every car in India, a nation of 1.1 billion people.

Chocolate LG BL40 spotted in the wild, LG BL42 tags after

Remember the extra long LG BL40? After an officially released teaser last week and a leaked promo video the other day, it now came time for its first live photos to appear online. To make things even sweeter another LG device with similar styling has joined the photo session.

We are guessing that this might be the LG BL42 which appeared in the model list at the LG web site last week. Then there's this XML file, which even reveals a few specs - a QVGA screen, capable of displaying up to 65K colors, 3G capabilities. It also mentions 3 softkeys but as it seems from the photos they're probably not physical.

Not that this is entirely surprising as the original Chocolate was one of the first phones to feature a touchpad instead of regular softkeys. So if the LG BL40 and BL42 are to be its rightful successors they should follow suit.

The LG BL40 and what could be the BL42 • front and back of the BL40

As for the BL40 you can see the souped-up S-Class interface, but for a better glimpse check out the video in our previous article.

There's something else interesting in model list we noticed - both the LG BL40 and BL42 have several entries, with suffixes like TMO, O2, ORG, VDF and others. Those sound like any carriers you know? So your favorite operator might be receiving its own customized version sooner than you thought.

Update: The second load of leaked photos for today confirmed that the second pictured device is LG BL42. The device is a slim slider, with a touchpad and a 5 megapixel camera.

LG BL42 photos, courtesy of AllAboutPhones.nl

LG BL42 next to the original Chocolate