Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Monday, November 02, 2009

GSM Motorola Droid (aka Milestone) Gets Multi-Touch Support!? [Droid]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/iPHY8QtdQKs/gsm-motorola-droid-aka-milestone-gets-multi+touch-support

Talk about unfair: this video appears to show that the GSM version of the Motorola Droid will support multi-touch gestures like pinch-zoom. The U.S version doesn't do multi-touch, even though Android 2.0 supports it, so what gives?

Maybe it goes back to the whole multi-touch patent issue with Apple, I don't know. If it turns out the Milestone does indeed have multi-touch when it arrives on November 9, hopefully some sort of patch hack will make its way State-side. [Mobile-Review (translated) via SlashGear]

Is Apple Trying to Kill the Hackintosh Netbook? Snow Leopard 10.6.2 Ditches Atom CPU Support [Apple]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/PGvrDVc1tOc/is-apple-trying-to-kill-the-hackintosh-netbook-snow-leopard-1062-ditches-atom-cpu-support

Coders have confirmed that the developer build of OS X 10.6.2 kills support for netbook Atom processors. Nothing's final yet, of course, but given Apple's lame fight with Palm over iTunes compatibility, are hackintosh netbooks next in the firing line?

The current recommendation is to stick with 10.6.1 if you're running Snow Leopard, or 10.5.8 if your Hackintosh has Leopard. You could also try upgrading to 10.6.2 using an older or modified kernel.

If this is a conscious strike by Apple, it's likely the Hackintosh community will find a work around, but it's definitely something to watch before your next update. [OS X Daily]

Leaked docs show HTC's DROID Eris launching on November 6th for $99, running Android 1.5

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/31/leaked-docs-show-htcs-droid-eris-launching-on-november-6th-for/

Like it or not, we've got it on pretty reasonable authority that HTC's first "DROID" phone is nothing more than a rebadged, shape-shifted Hero (something we've been hearing for a while now), and that it'll be launching on Verizon on November 6th, the same day as Motorola's DROID. That means Android 1.5 "Cupcake," Sense UI, 3.2-inch screen, 528MHz processor and so forth. The Eris will retail for $199 but with a $100 mail-in rebate. It'll pack in an 8GB microSD card and the hopes and dreams of a generation of cheapskates that will be hopin' and prayin' that HTC manages to push Android 2.0 onto this thing so they don't look too bad in front of their DROID-toting buddies on Verizon.

[Thanks, anonymous]

Gallery: HTC's DROID Eris leaked docs

Filed under: Cellphones

Leaked docs show HTC's DROID Eris launching on November 6th for $99, running Android 1.5 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone and Windows 7 don't play nice, Intel P55 chipset to blame

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/31/iphone-and-windows-7-dont-play-nice-intel-p55-chipset-to-blame/

The iPhone is one of the most wildly popular phones the world has ever seen, while Windows 7 is well on its way to becoming the globe's most ubiquitous OS. So compatibility between the two would be kinda sorta important, right? Tell that to Intel's quality control team who seem to have somehow missed an issue between Apple's app carrier deluxe and the P55 Express chipset's USB controller. Consistent (and persistent) syncing issues have been reported on Apple's support forums, wherein iTunes on Windows 7 machines recognizes the iPhone, but spits out an "error 0xE8000065" message whenever the user attempts to sync. While some have found limited success with using PCI-based USB cards (and bypassing the chipset), this is clearly a major issue and something Apple would expect to be fixed before shipping its Core i5 / i7 iMacs, which are likely to sport the chipset. Hit the read link for the original thread of sorrow and regret, and do chime in with your own experience in the comments.

[Via The Register]

Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops

iPhone and Windows 7 don't play nice, Intel P55 chipset to blame originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ATI's dual-GPU Radeon HD 5970 pictured in the wilderness

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/31/atis-dual-gpu-radeon-hd-5970-pictured-in-the-wilderness/

And now... fighting out of the red corner, weighing in with two Evergreen GPUs, and wearing black trunks and red trim, it's the Radeon HD 5970. ATI's latest challenger for the title of undisputed graphics champion has been snared in the wild, and its photo shoot reveals a suitably oversized beast. Measuring in at 13.5 inches and requiring both an eight- and six-pin power connector, the pre-production sample can fit inside only the roomiest and best-powered rigs around. It's named somewhat confusingly, with AMD dropping its X2 nomenclature for dual GPU setups, but it features two HD 5870 chips running in onboard Crossfire on the same PCB, and foreshadows a HD 5950, which will combine a pair of the more affordable HD 5850s. Performance figures available earlier have been pulled, at the behest of AMD, but we've got plenty of eye candy to admire, and there's also no price tag in sight to spoil our daydreaming pleasure.

[Via PC Perspective]

Gallery: ATI's dual-GPU Radeon HD 5970

Filed under: Desktops

ATI's dual-GPU Radeon HD 5970 pictured in the wilderness originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Creative working on Zii-based MediaBook with color touchscreen, e-book slant

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/01/creative-working-on-zii-based-mediabook-with-color-touchscreen/

What's an e-book without the e-ink? So very much, according to Creative, who just dropped word of an upcoming "MediaBook" device (which will undoubtedly look nothing like this mockup above). It sounds a bit more like a PMP to us, with "video, pictures, text and services," and a "media-rich experience" on the table, but Creative is also apparently working with publishers for content, with an obvious emphasis in Singapore sources, where Creative already does e-learning work. There's no word of what it'll look like, but it'll be a large touchscreen of some sort, so it sounds like we've got another slate on our hand. Any differentiation might come from having Zii under the hood and Creative's own particular approach to content for this device, but there's not really enough to get excited about at this point.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Creative working on Zii-based MediaBook with color touchscreen, e-book slant originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zii MediaBook UI video explains very little

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/01/zii-mediabook-ui-video-explains-very-little/

Somebody apparently managed to get a camera up during Creative's presentation of its upcoming Zii Mediabook e-reader, but unfortunately the UI mockup that was demonstrated on screen is hardly standard (no hints of Android, for instance), and it's hard to separate proposed UI elements from flashy video transitions. If there's anything to take away, it seems that the device has an edge to edge screen, and is heavily touch and gesture based on a very custom-seeming GUI. One thing that happens repeatedly in the video is that a bit of text is highlighted, and then when it's "flicked" up it shoots out as a web page or a video or what have you -- seems like an odd way to go about things, but it at least demonstrates that Creative isn't just working on any old e-book reader here. Hit up the read link for the vid.

Filed under: Handhelds

Zii MediaBook UI video explains very little originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RIM posts job listing for 'WebKit Developer,' gets one step closer to a real browser

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/01/rim-posts-job-listing-for-webkit-developer-gets-one-step-clos/

Needed some more evidence that future BlackBerrys may be getting a much needed improvement in the browser department? You got it. Following up on the news that Research In Motion has acquired Torch Mobile (developers of the WebKit-based Iris browser), the Candian phonemaker is now looking to fill the position of "WebKit Developer," according to a job listing. The posting calls for a number of skills which would come in handy whilst creating a next-gen browser for the BlackBerry OS, clearly calling for someone with hands-on experience coding... WebKit style. Look, if you love Canada and hate the BlackBerry browser, here's your chance to make the world a better place. What are you waiting for?

[Thanks, Daniel M]

Filed under: Cellphones

RIM posts job listing for 'WebKit Developer,' gets one step closer to a real browser originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unfinished Windows 7 feature exploited for virtual WiFi hotspots

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/02/unfinished-windows-7-feature-exploited-for-virtual-wifi-hotspots/

It wasn't all that long ago that Microsoft was talking up the Virtual WiFi feature developed by Microsoft Research and set for inclusion in Windows 7, but something got lost along the road to release day, and the functionality never officially made it into the OS. As you might expect with anything as big and complicated as an operating system though, some of that code did make it into the final release, and there was apparently enough of it for the folks at Nomadio to exploit into a full fledged feature. That's now become Connectify, a free application from the company that effectively turns any Windows 7 computer into a virtual WiFi hotspot -- letting you, for instance, wirelessly tether a number of devices to your laptop at location where only an Ethernet jack is available, or even tether a number of laptops together at a coffee shop that chargers for WiFi. Intrigued? Hit up the link below to grab the beta.

[Via PC World]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Wireless, Software

Unfinished Windows 7 feature exploited for virtual WiFi hotspots originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GSM DROID with multitouch pinch-to-zoom demoed on video hating America

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/02/gsm-droid-with-multitouch-pinch-to-zoom-demoed-on-video/

The GSM flavor of Motorola's DROID, or Milestone as it will be known in Europe, has multitouch built-in to the UI. For reasons we can only assume have something to do with an unspoken intellectual property agreement between Google and Apple, the US version of the user interface lacks multi-touch features like pinch-to-zoom even though the underlying 2.0 OS supports multitouch events. However, the video of a GSM DROID headed to Europe clearly shows this feature at the 3 minute mark. No really, see for yourselves after the break.

[Via SlashGear]

Continue reading GSM DROID with multitouch pinch-to-zoom demoed on video hating America

GSM DROID with multitouch pinch-to-zoom demoed on video hating America originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint launches Samsung Moment, Android empire expands by one

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/02/sprint-launches-samsung-moment-android-empire-expands-by-one/

And here comes more trouble for your wallet. Mixing up that unholy trifecta of a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, AMOLED screen and Android inside, Samsung's Moment -- in spite of its quirks and niggles -- is likely to lighten the load for quite a few Sprint customers today. Pricing is as expected, with a $279.99 initial outlay that gets reduced to $179.99 after rebates, but you'll also have to agree to a two-year contractual commitment. Unless you're locked in to Sprint for whatever reason, we might advise holding out for a couple of days and seeing if the DROID takes your fancy, but don't take our word for it -- check out what your fellow readers think right here.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Cellphones

Sprint launches Samsung Moment, Android empire expands by one originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple killing Atom support, dreams of netbook hackintoshers in next Snow Leopard release?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/02/apple-killing-atom-support-dreams-of-netbook-hackintoshers-in-n/

Apple killing Atom support, dreams of netbook hackintoshers in next Snow Leopard release?

Nobody said running a netbook hackintosh would be easy -- but nobody said they'd make it this hard. Apple is currently engaged in a war of compatibility with Palm and, if the developer build of Snow Leopard version 10.6.2 is any indication, the Atom processor is next on the smack down list. Word on coder street is that the upcoming revision of OS X will kill support for Intel's little powerhouse. That could certainly change before it hits the world at large, but we wouldn't bet on it. So, if you're viewing this on an netbook install of your own devising, you may be stuck at version 10.6.1 (or earlier) for awhile -- or you may need to do a little custom kernel building. Either way, we're thinking that if Apple ever gets around to making a netbook it probably won't be an Atom-powered one.

[Via OS X Daily]

Filed under: Laptops, Software

Apple killing Atom support, dreams of netbook hackintoshers in next Snow Leopard release? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slinky Lenovo laptop prototype outed by FCC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/02/slinky-lenovo-laptop-prototype-outed-by-fcc/

Slinky Lenovo laptop netbook prototype outed by FCC

Ooh, what's this? A new netbook from Lenovo, or some other flavor of tiny laptop? Little is known about the subject of this FCC filing from hardware assembler (and resurrector) Wistron, other than it will have a 10.1-inch screen, a 3-in-1 media reader, and plenty of wireless options including Bluetooth, WiFi, and HSDPA data. Dimensionally the device, referred to as the 0251, would fit into the IdeaPad category, but with no mention of processor or storage there's still some room to hope for something equally small but with a bit more chutzpah. Yeah, we're optimists.

[Via wireless goodness; Warning: PDF read link]

Filed under: Laptops

Slinky Lenovo laptop prototype outed by FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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T-Mobile nabs HTC's Touch HD2, schedules release for November 9

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/02/t-mobile-nabs-htcs-touch-hd2-schedules-release-for-november-9/

T-Mobile nabs HTC's Touch HD2, schedules release for November 9

WinMo folks, we wouldn't blame you for getting a bit of Android envy after last week's DROID onslaught, but if there's one thing that could make people pine for your OS it's HTC's HD2, and T-Mobile has just confirmed it's coming on November 9 -- a mere weekend after Moto's new hotness hits Verizon. Mind you, there is some confusion going on here, as the picture on T-Mo's site is of the old Touch HD, not the HD2 we met and loved, and the mention of "loads of applications to download from Android Market" is particularly perplexing. But, we've been told to go ahead and blame a bumbling marketeer rather than to expect some sort of cross-platform app marketplace love fest -- groovy as that may sound.

Update: We've also just learned that HTC is going to officially launch the HD2 on November 4 ahead of a November 11 release elsewhere. We're not entirely sure what there is left to learn about the thing, but we're always game for another press event.

[Via WMPoweruser.com]

Filed under: Cellphones

T-Mobile nabs HTC's Touch HD2, schedules release for November 9 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maingear unveils Core i7-packin' SHIFT, your own 'personal supercomputer'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/02/maingear-unveils-core-i7-packin-shift-your-own-personal-super/

We'll be straight with ya -- we're betting these "personal supercomputer" claims are just a bit out of line with reality, but even still, there's no denying that Maingear has shoved an insane amount of horsepower beneath the (admittedly large) hood of its newest rig. The beastly SHIFT does away with copious LED lighting and blinging accents found on many modern gaming PCs and instead opts for a classier, more ominous tower. Within, you'll find a vertical airflow system, a Core i7 processor, your choice of ATI or NVIDIA graphics, up to 8GB of DDR3-1600 RAM, up to 6 HDDs or 12 SSDs, DVD and Blu-ray options, an Asetek liquid-cooling solution, Razer peripherals, an optional Killer NIC Xeno Pro and Windows 7 running the show. The Intel P55 rig gets going at $2,199, while the X58 model starts $400 higher; for those in creative design fields, Maingear's expected to unveil a SHIFT just for you in the near future. Head on past the break for the full release.

Gallery: Maingear unveils Core i7-packin' SHIFT, your own 'personal supercomputer'

Continue reading Maingear unveils Core i7-packin' SHIFT, your own 'personal supercomputer'

Filed under: Desktops

Maingear unveils Core i7-packin' SHIFT, your own 'personal supercomputer' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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