Monday, May 18, 2009

ColorRotate Creates Design Color Palettes [Design]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/IBPM1RuibKU/colorrotate-creates-design-color-palettes

Need a new color palette for your next design project? ColorRotate is a color palette generator with a heavy dose of eye candy and easy-to-use controls.

The default setup for ColorRotate is a 3D diamond shape, which you use to set the tint, hue, and the blending for your palette. If you prefer a more traditional appearance, you can switch it over to a series of sliders. You can create a completely new palette or browse through popular user-created palettes, or modify them. If you create an account, you can save your palettes, but even without an account you can export palettes in .ACT format, which allows for import into Adobe products.

Palettes can be created in a variety of color schemes including RGB, CMYK, and LAB. For another interesting way to generate a color palette, check out Color Palette Generator which extracts a color palette from an image.



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Why Should I Want This MID

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/yankodesign/~3/cfRUS87jROo/

Really, why would I want this MID (Mobile Internet Device) over the current iPhone I use? Lord! I know you're up to your neck with Apple banging, so for a change let's compare it to an LG Arena, Samsung I7500 or even BlackBerry Storm 2. Where does this MID score over the rest of these Internet efficient phones? Two places: Prime Real Estate i.e. a three screen setup that opens to 210 x 210 mm and an Integrated Stand.

On the flip side, this MID is merely a concept, but is pompous enough to include a clip-like anti-theft mechanism! I'm not going to get into the tech-specs, coz any dandy designer can pump out just about anything they like these days. So my focus stays on the screen.

How important is the screen of a mobile phone anyways. Plenty! Those who chanced on the LG Arena etc. will have to admit, that when you are using a device that small for net browsing, you wished for that moment the screen was a bit larger. Unfortunately I do need to quote Apple here, but damn; the panning in and out on the iPhone, sure compensates for not having a large computer screen handy. So yeah, a mobile device with a three tier screen layout giving easy keyboard access to fat fingers really scores, even if it's a concept!

Designer: Petr KubĂ­k

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Second-Tier FiOS Providers Undercut Verizon, Are Verizon [FiOS]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/h-HdOwETaS0/second+tier-fios-providers-undercut-verizon-are-verizon

Verizon FiOS, which can pipe the internet into your home at 50mbps, is something like bliss. It's also hideously expensive. Luckily, smaller ISPs are offering the same service for less. The exact same service.

Midsize ISP DSLExtreme has announced that it will be offering a 50mbps service in 17 states at an introductory rate of $100/mo. This will climb to $105 after the first year, but still undercuts Verizon's standard price (in most markets) of $145/mo. The weird thing? DSLExtreme is beating Verizon's prices on Verizon's own service. The ISP has become a FiOS wholesaler, meaning that DSLExtreme's service operates on their fiber, through their network.

That makes it all the more odd that they can undercut a giant like Verizon, but they're doing it anyway. Voodoo! Economics! [Ars Technica]



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Killer Xeno Pro Network Card Lightning Review [Lightning Review]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/VA7Kb_RbdfM/killer-xeno-pro-network-card-lightning-review

A specialized networking card—with blingtastic LIGHTS—designed to murder lag for gamers, the $130 Killer Xeno Pro practically screams "snake oil." It's not quite.

If you've got a crappy ISP, obviously, a special thingamajig on your end won't help you—it can't fix the whole internet, and it doesn't claim to. What it claims is that network traffic running through it bypasses the Windows network stack, so it's a more direct connection to your game, and less load on your CPU, resulting in less lag and theoretically a higher framerate. Different from the older Killer cards, this also has a built-in voice processor to offload chat. You can customize network and bandwidth priority, app by app—giving your games the highest priority, obvs—so theoretically you can leave your torrents running and game normally.

Did it work? No and yes. I really didn't notice any difference in my framerates or latency playing Team Fortress 2. I keep the game's netgraph feature running by default, and I always play on the same server, so I have a pretty solid grip on what's typical of my machine in terms of framerate and latency. Playing 10 minutes on my standard connection and then switching immediately to the Killer Xeno for 10 minutes, and repeating this sequence three times, it was about the same every time—if it improved my connection or framerate, I couldn't taste it.

It does do a pretty decent job as a local QoS (quality of service) client. I ran a bunch of torrents and my game played perfectly okay, just like if I wasn't downl! oading a whole bunch of crap. However, if you've got a decent router, you could do the same thing if you know what you're doing. And really, router-level QoS is the only way to deal with your roommate's crazy torrent habits—the Killer Xeno Pro can't do anything about what the other people on your network are doing, so even then, its application is fairly limited.

Is it worth $130? If your computer's crappy enough, getting back that slight amount of overhead used by the Windows network stack and your usual chat client could make a difference. And if you can't figure out QoS, its software is pretty easy to use. But if your computer's that crappy, why are you spending $130 on a network card? [Killer Xeno Pro]



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AMD to flood Computex with mainstream Tigris laptops, reveal Danube?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/18/amd-to-flood-computex-with-tigris-notebooks-reveal-danube/

Besides being overwhelmed by Intel's CULV thin-and-lights at Computex, it looks like AMD will use the event to punish Engadget editors and readers with the launch of its Tigris platform. Since you've most likely supplanted any memory of Tigris with something useful, let us remind you that Tigris is AMD's mainstream laptop platform built around a dual-core 45-nm Caspian processor supporting 800MHz DDR2 memory and ATI M9x series graphics. The Commercial Times is also reporting that Computex might even bring a possible unveiling of AMD's next-generation Danube laptop platform featuring a quad-core Champlain processor with support for DDR3 memory. Unfortunately, Champlain won't be available for consumers until 2010 -- 2009 is all about Tigris laptops and the Athlon Neo thin-and-lights for AMD. Where's the AMD netbook? Oh they ceded that market to Intel a long time ago; a bad move now that Atom-based netbooks are plundering mainstream laptop marketshare that AMD was betting on with Tigris.

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AMD to flood Computex with mainstream Tigris laptops, reveal Danube? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 May 2009 06:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft's Virtual WiFi will make Windows 7 wireless adapters do a double-take

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/18/microsofts-virtual-wifi-will-make-windows-7-wireless-adapters-d/

Microsoft's Virtual WiFi will make Windows 7 wireless adapters do a double-take
It's been a long, long time since Microsoft Research first released its findings on Virtual WiFi, or VWiFi, technology that would allow a single wireless network adapter to act like two, two, two NICs in one. Now that innovation is finally ready for the big show: inclusion in Windows 7 -- or at least some flavors of it. The tech lets one piece of WiFi hardware be represented in Windows as two separate adapters, meaning you can connect to two hotspots simultaneously if you like, or turn your virtual device into an access point that others can connect to. Apparently this functionality is indeed included in the latest release candidate, but as there are no drivers currently supporting this feature it's not enabled. Expect the driver situation to change very soon, and expect hotel fee-based wireless internet access companies to start crying foul not long after.

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Microsoft's Virtual WiFi will make Windows 7 wireless adapters do a double-take originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 May 2009 08:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android build for upcoming HTC Hero has revamped interface, social networking?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/18/android-build-for-upcoming-htc-hero-has-revamped-interface-inhe/


This one's a bit of a mystery, but it's certainly a tantalizing one: Haykuro of xdadevelopers fame has posted video of what purports to be the Android build off of HTC's upcoming Hero device. What's special about it is a reworked interface, which shows a lot of polish from icons to built-in apps to general interface elements... and maybe just a bit of TouchFLO flair. There are also new features like a login / logout menu for "social networks" in the settings menu. While the device lists the firmware as 1.5, there's a small possibility that some of this new look and feel could be headed for Android 2.0 "Donut," or perhaps HTC just feels like it needs to diverge from the pack a bit now that other manufacturers are starting to drop their own Android handsets. Check out the incredibly epic video after the break.

[Via Android Central]

Continue reading Android build for upcoming HTC Hero has revamped interface, social networking?

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Android build for upcoming HTC Hero has revamped interface, social networking? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 May 2009 09:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Prototype OCZ Z-Drive PCI-Express SSD splayed, scoped out

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/18/prototype-ocz-z-drive-pci-express-ssd-splayed-scoped-out/


Mmm, PCI-Express-based SSD storage. Be honest, is there anything more delicious? The camera-wielding cats over at Hot Hardware managed to climb behind the scenes at OCZ Technology and snap a bevy of shots of the outfit's highly anticipated Z-Drive in prototype form, and while the device doesn't look all that different than the press shots we peeked last month, there seems to be some ways yet to go before this bad boy's available for purchase. At any rate, the innards look about as you'd expect 'em to, with loads of green PCB littered about with oodles of ultra-speedy flash storage. The drive pictured above is actually a 512GB version with a single 4-pin molex power connector and an X4 PCI-e slot, and it benched at upwards of 500MB/sec during read tests and 400MB/sec on write tests. Check the read link for a closer look -- just don't forget to prep the drool rag before heading over.

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Prototype OCZ Z-Drive PCI-Express SSD splayed, scoped out originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 May 2009 08:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RT @amklaassen: Twitter accounted for 15% of a day's revenue for local pizza shop http://tinyurl.com/rdz7kj - #twitterROI

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Acer's Aspire One D250, 751h now on sale in North America

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/18/acers-aspire-one-d250-751h-now-on-sale-in-north-america/

Acer's 11.6-inch, WXGA Aspire 751h-1192 and 10.6-inch, WSVGA D250-1042 are nothing new around these parts, but now the company's officially priced the units and put up the "on sale" sign. Looks like both models are sporting the corner-placed VGA port as well as the usual netbook specs like a 160GB HDD, up to 2GB RAM, a three or six cell battery, 802.11b/g, GMA 950 integrated graphics, webcam, and Windows XP Service Pack 3. Both have a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270, but the 751h can swap it out for a 1.22GHz Atom Z520 instead. The larger screen portable's also got a mult-gesture trackpad and a slightly heavier body -- 2.75 pounds vs. 2.44. Starting prices are $298 and $380 for the D250 / 751h, respectively, with your choice of Diamond Black, Ruby Red, Sapphire Blue or Seashell White for colors. Full press release after the break.

Continue reading Acer's Aspire One D250, 751h now on sale in North America

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Acer's Aspire One D250, 751h now on sale in North America originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 May 2009 04:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sunday, May 17, 2009

Wolfram Alpha Fail Is Appropriately Nerdy [Fail]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/30QoOJlJ3Vg/wolfram-alpha-fail-is-appropriately-nerdy

Wolfram Alpha, the dorktastic computational search engine, got off to a bit of a rocky start when it launched last night. At least its first fail message had the foresight to include a HAL reference.

As it's an alpha, we're not too bothered that it's run into some overload problems. Hey, at least people are using it, right? But be warned, Wolfie: A pithy error message can only charm us for so long. [via Twitter]



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LG enV Touch (Voyager 2) Will Contain Many Ubiquitous Cellphone Features [Cellphones]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/BAEzawId04w/lg-env-touch-voyager-2-will-contain-many-ubiquitous-cellphone-features

We got a quick, blurry look at LG's upcoming enV Touch (aka Voyager 2) in April, and now we have the specs for this ho-hum handset:

- dual WVGA touchscreen displays
- full-QWERTY keypad
- stereo speakers
- Bluetooth
- microSDHC support
- 3.2 megapixel camera with auto-focus, flash and Schneider-Kreuznach lens

Don't get excited about release dates, because there aren't any in the stack of user manual images whence these vanilla specs came. [Phonearena BGR]



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Casio EX-FS10 reviewed, slides 1000 fps capture into the back pocket of your mom jeans

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/16/casio-ex-fs10-reviewed-slides-1000-fps-capture-into-the-back-po/


Casio's really blown out the feature list on the EX-FS10, and now PhotographyBLOG has taken the compact fashioncam through its paces. Sadly, like many modern compacts, straight up image quality is a bit scarce here, with obvious noise at ISO 200 and up, no optical image stabilization, and not even the silly 12 megapixel extravagance of its counterparts to blame it on -- the EX-FS10 shoots 9 megapixel stills. The HD and slow-motion video recording is also severely hampered by a lack of zoom during shooting, bad sound, and the oversized AVI format. Still, the camera is incredibly well built, very slim, and it can pull off some really wild feats -- 720p might be growing increasingly common, but 1000 fps slow motion, burst mode for stills and pre-record shutter lag adjustment make the FS10 quite unique in its category. It's obviously a tradeoff, but at least there's some good news: while the camera was supposedly slated to retail at around $450, it's hovering pretty close to $300 at the moment.

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Casio EX-FS10 reviewed, slides 1000 fps capture into the back pocket of your mom jeans originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 16 May 2009 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel presentation promises Medfield-based smartphones by 2011

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/17/intel-presentation-promises-medfield-based-smartphones-by-2011/


We've been hearing about Intel's Medfield processor for some time now, but much of the talk so far has been about it being an Atom-replacement for netbooks and MIDs. A seemingly recent Intel presentation obtained by the folks at UMPC Portal is now shedding a bit more light on the matter, however, and it's looking like smartphones could actually be at the heart of Intel's long-term plans. As you can see above, and in the complete presentation at the link below, Intel sees its base of devices getting larger and larger as its processors get smaller and more power-efficient, and it looks like "mainstream smartphones" could become a reality as soon as 2011. That's due largely to the 32nm manufacturing process used for the smaller Medfield processor, which also makes uses a smaller board size that leaves more room for keypads, batteries and whatnot. Of course, we are still talking about Intel predicting the state of devices two years out, so who knows how things will shake out in the interim.

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Intel presentation promises Medfield-based smartphones by 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 17 May 2009 19:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saturday, May 16, 2009

TiltShift Makes Your Photos Look Like Miniatures [Photography]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/hI4CG99bxKU/tiltshift-makes-your-photos-look-like-miniatures

Web site and Adobe AIR application TiltShift gives your photos a tilt-shift photography effect that normally requires expensive special lenses or Photoshop chops.

We've actually featured a similar service once before, but TiltShift is a much better tool, offering more advanced features and more control. As Jason pointed out last time we talked about tilt-shift photography: "Tilt-shift lenses start at $1200'ish and only rise in cost from there. Most people won't be running out to buy a lens that expensive for a little hobbyist fun." So true. Moreover, tilt-shift photography isn't exclusively used for the miniature effect; you can transform photographs of any kind with TiltShift and get amazing results.

TiltShift works either on its web page (where it's Flash-based), or you can download TiltShift for free as an Adobe AIR application (meaning it'll run on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux).



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