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Thursday, January 28, 2010

Cypress demos 14-inch TrueTouch capacitive multitouch screen

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/cypress-demos-14-inch-truetouch-capacitive-multitouch-screen/

How big can tablets get? Pretty big, according to the folks at Cypress Semiconductor, who say their new new TrueTouch technology can be applied to capacitive screens ranging from seven to seventeen inches, all of which will have full multitouch support. To drive that point home, the company has now shown off a 14-inch "tablet-sized" prototype screen, which is able to recognize unlimited finger touches, and could potentially also find its way into laptops or convertible tablets (it's already Windows 7 certified). Of course, there's no word on any actual products using the screens just yet, but you can get an idea of what might be in store by checking out the video after the break.

Continue reading Cypress demos 14-inch TrueTouch capacitive multitouch screen

Cypress demos 14-inch TrueTouch capacitive multitouch screen originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOCIAL MEDIA NYC: Feb 3rd 4-6p Navigating Social Media in Healthcare & Pharma ONLY A FEW SPACES LEFT - http://bit.ly/7mzMK0

How Do I Speed Up Hundreds of Audio Files? [Ask Lifehacker]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/XwjGXC1GORM/how-do-i-speed-up-hundreds-of-audio-files

Dear Lifehacker,
I have unabridged Asimov audiobooks that are great, but read at a mind-wrenchingly slow pace. I can boost an MP3's speed 20 percent using Audacity, but I have around 250 MP3s. How can I process these files all at once?

Signed,
Sped-Up Sci-Fi Fan

Dear Sped-Up,

If you were a command line geek, or knew one who owed you a favor, speeding up all of your audiobooks at once would probably be a five-minute affair. That said, it's not that difficult to set up a "Chain" in Audacity (which runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux) that you can apply to multiple files from inside the program.

You already know the effect you want to apply to all your MP3s: a 20 percent "speed" increase, where pitch and tempo are sped up at the same time and no correction is applied, as if you were just playing a tape faster. Most folks would go for "ChangeTempo" instead, because a ChangeSpeed on a normal narrator sounds pretty Alvin & The Chipmunks. Still, you described your audiobook narrator as "mind-wrenchingly slow." Let's set this speed-up as a chain by hitting the File menu in Audacity and selecting "Edit Chains"—it's down near the bottom of the menu.

Update: If you don't see "Edit Chains" in your File menu, you may need to upgrade to the latest Beta release, as opposed to Stable.

You'll get a new window with two "chains" pre-loaded as examples. Hit the "Add" button in the lower left, give your new "chain" a name like "Asimov Audiobook Speed-Up," and hit OK. You'll notice that there's a single command listed for your new chain in the right-hand window, but it's just an empty "END" command. Double-click that command, or hit "Add." You'll get a pop-up window asking you to select a command and edit its parameters.

Click on the image below for a larger view.

I double-clicked "Change Speed" in the commands window, and it auto-filled the fields above with the basic command line operation to run a speed change on files. It's set to 0 percent, however, which won't do us much good. Hit "Edit Parameters," and you'll get a slider and numeric input you can use to set a percentage for the speed-up or slow down. You can use the automatic vinyl conversion tools if you were copying a 33 1/3 record to some other format, but we already know our number, 20 percent, and we'll stick with that. I'm not sure how the Preview button is supposed to work, but let's just leave it alone. Hit OK, hit OK back at the command chooser, and OK once more at the Edit Chains box, where you can see your one-line Asimov Audiobook Speed-Up chain.

Back in Audacity, close any files you happen to have open for editing. Hit the File menu and select "Apply Chain," and in the dialog that pops up, select your Asimov chain and click the "Apply to Files" button. Choose the audio files you want to run through your speed wringer. Audacity isn't the A-number-One most stable program I've ever used, so I'd recommend running around 10 files at a time through your chain—then again, maybe you can plug in 30 files at a time and just deal with the crashes when they happen, since it processes them one at a time anyways.

Audacity will run through your files and convert them, one by one, and show you its progress. Not every Audacity command can be plugged into a "chain," but speed change just so happens to be one of the lucky ones.

Good luck with your listening,
Lifehacker

P.S. — We truly do appreciate the smiling coincidence of devising an automation process for the preeminent author of robotic-based fiction.

DÃ©jÃ Click Lets You Record and Automate Browsing Activities [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/2nYaybCm4U0/dejaclick-lets-you-record-and-automate-browsing-activities

Firefox: If you've ever been annoyed by having to do repetitive actions on a web site with no way to automate them, DéjàClick can help. Record and play back browser-based actions with DéjàClick and skip tedious future clicks.

DéjàClick is a Firefox extension offered by AlertSite, a company that specializes in software designed to monitor web sites and alert the site owners if specified processes are not occurring properly—essentially using automated script "robots" to go test out things like the search function and the checkout process. DéjàClick is their free offering for non-commercial use to allow users to record their own browsing and play it back to automate processes later on.

Any time there is an instance where you have to actually interact with the browser—as opposed to using a bookmark to jump somewhere in a site or a login tool—you can use DéjàClick to record yourself performing the actions and store that recording as a script. Every time you visit that site or interface again you can execute that script and save yourself the hassle. Check out the company site here or visit the link below to grab the extension.

DéjàClick [via MakeUseOf]

AutoHotkey AutoInclude Organizes, Consolidates Your AHK Workflow [Autohotkey]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/EmOu8gdrRyc/autohotkey-autoinclude-organizes-consolidates-your-ahk-workflow

Ed note: We love AutoHotkey around Lifehacker HQ due to its powerful Windows tweaking skills, so we were thrilled when Reader Scott Rippey wrote in with this extremely smart script for managing your AHK scripts.

I'm ashamed to say that this is my first contribution to Lifehacker. I say "ashamed" because I've been taking and taking, and I haven't given anything in return! So I thought it was high-time I contributed my most helpful AutoHotkey script. I call it "AutoInclude".

There are 2 problems that it solves: first, as an avid reader of Lifehacker, and a huge user of AHK, I come across dozens of GREAT scripts that I want to incorporate into my own "main script", but it can be quite a hassle combining them all into a single AHK file. Take a look at all these scripts:

Second, I use AHK on my Work PC, my laptop, and my Media Center — and I have different AHK needs for each of these locations, but I still want some AHK code to be shared across the board.

My AutoInclude script scans a list of folders for *.ahk, and creates a temporary AHK file that "#Include"s them all, and then executes the temporary file. It allows me to keep all my scripts VERY organized, allows me to determine which scripts are appropriate for each computer, and lets me edit my scripts very easily! Finally, I put all my AutoHotkey scripts into a Live-Mesh-Synchronized folder and share it across all my PC's.

On each PC, I modify the top of the file to only include the folders that apply to that system (such as All, XP, and Tablet, versus All, Dual Monitor, and Work) and I comment out the rest:

Finally, when I run the script, I only have a single AHK process running! I love it.

The only thing that is tricky is the fact that "#Include"ing a bunch of files can cause possible issues if the script needs an "Auto-Execute" section. The solution is as follows:

If a script needs to auto-execute, then the first line of the file should be the comment "; Auto-Execute", followed by the auto-execute code as usual, and there MUST be a "Return" before any other code or hot-keys. The AutoInclude script will put a label in front of the "#Include" statement, and will call a GoSub to that label, thereby auto-executing it!

Take a look at the auto-generated script:

You can download my AutoHotkey AutoInclude script here.

Thanks Scott! Want to get your feet wet with AHK? Take a look at our beginner's guide to turning any action into a keyboard shortcut with AutoHotkey.

Ben Color Capture Finds the Perfect Paint Color Match with iPhone Pics [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/gLky18KNi_0/ben-color-capture-finds-the-perfect-paint-color-match-with-iphone-pics

iPhone only: How do you know if the color you want so much for your kitchen renovation is sea foam green or surf green? Let the Ben Color Capture App for iPhone help you figure it out.

Inspiration strikes at the strangest times. You'll search for the perfect paint color for weeks, only to stumble across it splashed on the side of a city bus advertisement as you're heading to lunch. Whip out your iPhone, snap a pic, then fire up the Ben app. Open up the picture you just took, tap anywhere on the image that displays the color you like, and the app will name the closest match available in a Benjamin Moore paint color. Alternatively, you can use a picture you've already got stored in your camera roll.

A store locator feature lets you know the nearest place that stocks Benjamin Moore paint, so you can run right over and grab some. Once you've settled on a paint color you like, the app also clues you in on what other colors will compliment your selection and keep you from making eye-burning choices like purple walls with fuchsia trim.

If you're planning on doing some repainting, there's really no reason not to grab this handy and free little app.

The ben® Color Capture™ app for iPhone [via DIY Life]

Enable Firefox's Secret Mousewheel Scrolling Acceleration [Firefox Tips]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/_YtqnV-xqaI/enable-firefoxs-secret-mousewheel-scrolling-acceleration

Windows only: If you are accustomed to scrolling quickly through long documents, there's a secret Firefox 3.6 config setting that allows you to enable acceleration, which will scroll more quickly based on how many times you've scrolled.

To tweak the acceleration for yourself, head into Firefox's about:config page, and then filter by mousewheel.acceleration to find the two settings that apply—the mousewheel.acceleration.start setting actually enables acceleration by setting the number of times you need to scroll your mouse before the acceleration kicks in, while the mousewheel.acceleration.factor setting specifies how much acceleration to apply.

The new mouse wheel acceleration feature is disabled by default in Firefox 3.6 because it can conflict with your mouse drivers, especially if you've enabled faster scrolling in the Mouse panel in Control Panel, but you can tweak the setting either way. It's not a setting that everybody will want to apply, but if you're unhappy with the current Firefox scrolling, you can play around with the settings to figure out your preferred level of acceleration. It only works in Firefox 3.6 on Windows, and make sure to hit the link for a full explanation on how it works.

Faster! Accelerate Firefox 3.6 page scrolling [Mozilla Links via Life Rocks 2.0]

8 Things That Suck About the iPad [Dissenting Opinion]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Rd_y7uwogPE/8-things-that-suck-about-the-ipad

A lot of people at Gizmodo are psyched about the iPad. Not me! My god, am I underwhelmed by it. It has some absolutely backbreaking failures that will make buying one the last thing I would want to do. Updated

Big, Ugly Bezel
Have you seen the bezel on this thing?! It's huge! I know you don't want to accidentally input a command when your thumb is holding it, but come on.

No Multitasking
This is a backbreaker. If this is supposed to be a replacement for netbooks, how can it possibly not have multitasking? Are you saying I can't listen to Pandora while writing a document? I can't have my Twitter app open at the same time as my browser? I can't have AIM open at the same time as my email? Are you kidding me? This alone guarantees that I will not buy this product.

No Cameras
No front facing camera is one thing. But no back facing camera either? Why the hell not? I can't imagine what the downside was for including at least one camera. Could this thing not handle video iChat?

Touch Keyboard
So much for Apple revolutionizing tablet inputs; this is the same big, ugly touchscreen keyboard we've seen on other tablets, and unless you're lying on the couch with your knees propping it up, it'll be awkward to use.

No HDMI Out
Want to watch those nice HD videos you downloaded from iTunes on your TV? Too damned bad! If you were truly loyal, you'd just buy an AppleTV already.

The Name iPad
Get ready for Maxi pad jokes, and lots of 'em!

No Flash
No Flash is annoying but not a dealbreaker on the iPhone and iPod Touch. On something that's supposed to be closer to a netbook or laptop? It will leave huge, gaping holes in websites. I hope you don't care about streaming video! God knows not many casual internet users do. Oh wait, nevermind, they all do.

Adapters, Adapters, Adapters
So much for those smooth lines. If you want to plug anything into this, such as a digital camera, you need all sorts of ugly adapters. You need an adapter for USB for god's sake.

Update: Why stop at 8? Here are more things we are discovering that suck about the iPad.

It's Not Widescreen
Widescreen movies look lousy on this thing thanks to its 4:3 screen, according to Blam, who checked out some of Star Trek on one. It's like owning a 4:3 TV all over again!

Doesn't Support T-Mobile 3G
Sure, it's "unlocked." But it won't work on T-Mobile, and it uses microSIMs that literally no one else uses.

A Closed App Ecosystem
The iPad only runs apps from the App Store. The same App Store that is notorious for banning apps for no real reason, such as Google Voice. Sure, netbooks might not have touchscreens, but you can install whatever software you'd like on them. Want to run a different browser on your iPad? Too bad!

[This post does not necessarily reflect the opinions of others at Gizmodo]

Apple lifts VoIP over cellular restrictions in new iPhone SDK

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/apple-lifts-voip-over-cellular-restrictions-in-new-iphone-sdk/

Great news for the VoIP world: iCall, the maker of the iCall VoIP iPhone app that can catch a GSM call and flip it over to WiFi, has issued a press release saying that the new iPhone SDK allows for VoIP over 3G cellular connections. Previously such calls had to be made over WiFi, since AT&T's network (or someone well acquainted with AT&T's network) didn't think it was man enough to take the VoIP traffic. Interestingly, iCall says its 3G-friendly VoIP app is available now, and is the first and only such app in the App Store -- which seems like some pretty quick turnaround on everyone's part, but apparently the 3G restriction wasn't anything to do with the software itself, but instead a server-side block. We just tested this out and it totally works, and while we'll be looking for more verification that the ban has indeed been lifted, it sounds like it's time for some cheaply connected international parties in the streets.

Filed under: Cellphones

Apple lifts VoIP over cellular restrictions in new iPhone SDK originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple's iPad keyboard dock, case and other accessories get the hands-on treatment

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/apples-ipad-keyboard-dock-case-and-other-accessories-get-hands/

Apple didn't give us a great amount of time with its newly unveiled iPad today, and as you've likely seen, we spent the bulk of our allotment touching the unit itself. Lost in the proverbial shuffle were a number of the unit's launch accessories, including the admittedly intriguing keyboard dock ($69), case ($39), iPad Dock Connector to VGA adapter ($29) and camera connection kit ($29). Each of these doodads seem to look and feel exactly as you'd expect 'em to, though we're still baffled by Apple's decision to make you pay extra for access to the world's most widely accepted connector. We're also somewhat appalled (but not surprised) by the $39 price tag purportedly attached to the stripped-down case, and while the $69 MSRP on the keyboard dock is apt to cause some grumbling, at least there are a few iPad-specific keys on there to make it (marginally) worth your while. Dig in below for more on each.

Read - iPad keyboard dock hands-on
Read - iPad case hands-on
Read - iPad Dock Connector to VGA adapter hands-on
Read - iPad camera connection kit hands-on

Apple's iPad keyboard dock, case and other accessories get the hands-on treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPad won't handle GSM voice calls -- or will it?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/ipad-wont-handle-gsm-voice-calls-or-will-it/

Like the camera references, this could just be another case of vestigial SDK weirdness -- but for whatever reason, devs have noticed (and we've been able to reproduce) a "Touch to return to call" bar in the iPad emulator just like you'd expect to find on an iPhone during a traditional GSM call. It certainly seems like Steve would've bothered to mention during today's festivities if you could do something crazy like pair up a Bluetooth headset and go to town (and you'd need a voice plan on top of that $29.99 data anyway), so who knows: either Apple's just made every UI element as adaptable as possible regardless of whether it's applicable to a particular device, they're planning a higher-res iPhone down the road, or they're integrating the bar into some VoIP action. Or... you know, none of the above.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

iPad won't handle GSM voice calls -- or will it? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jan 2010 03:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

FaderTouch creates custom trippy visuals for your own private club, opium den (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/fadertouch-creates-custom-trippy-visuals-for-your-own-private-cl/

FaderTouch creates custom visuals for your own private club, opium den

A night of trance insanity just isn't the same without some screen somewhere projecting bizarre and nonsensical but thoroughly trippy visuals -- but what if you host your own basement raves and all you have is basic cable with C-SPAN? What you need is the faderTouch, a road case-based "visual performance" device created by VJ Fader that allows you to play virtual instruments by dragging fingers across the screen, instruments like one seemingly based on Pong and another that spawns and destroys pixels and notes using Conway's Game of Life (the cellular one, not the one with the spinny wheel and the peg families). It's a fun toy, but it seems somewhat... overengineered to us. A simple laptop with a touchscreen could manage the same thing without the finnicky rear-projection system, but then that wouldn't look quite so road worthy, right? Video after the break.

Continue reading FaderTouch creates custom trippy visuals for your own private club, opium den (video)

FaderTouch creates custom trippy visuals for your own private club, opium den (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPad powered by custom 1GHz Apple A4 chip

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/ipad-powered-by-custom-1ghz-apple-a4-chip/

Look out Intel and friends, Apple is using its own P.A. Semi technology for a custom 1GHz "Apple A4" chip in the iPad. Apple claims to get 10 hours of battery life out of this sucker, along with a month of standby.

Update: we got a picture of the processor courtesy of the iFixit Twitter feed. The chip was apparently manufactured in September of last year! Also, we've got hands-on with the iPad for your external fixations.

iPad powered by custom 1GHz Apple A4 chip originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPad has optional keyboard dock, camera connection kit and Apple-designed case

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/ipad-has-optional-keyboard-dock/

This whole time we've been wondering how we'll really get any typing done on Apple's new iPad, and at last we have the answer: an optional keyboard dock! No word on price yet, or whether this will be available at launch -- we'd say "eat your heart out, netbooks" but we won't, because they shouldn't. In even better news, however, the device will also work with standard Bluetooth keyboards like Apple's own wireless QWERTY slabs. Additionally, Apple will be selling a "camera connection kit" to allow you to plug your camera in over USB or use an SD card to import pictures. Finally, there's an Apple-built case for the device that protects the screen, but also doubles as a stand in two different orientations.

Not enough for you? We've got hands-on right here.

Gallery: iPad has optional keyboard dock!

Gallery: Apple iPad accessories

iPad has optional keyboard dock, camera connection kit and Apple-designed case originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple iPad first hands-on! (update: video!)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/apple-ipad-first-hands-on/

Here it is folks, the Apple iPad. The screen is gorgeous, tilting is responsive, and the thing is super thin. Still, if you've used the iPhone before -- and you can see the two devices side-by-side here -- there's not a lot of surprises here so far. Here are some initial thoughts on the iPad:

It's not light. It feels pretty weighty in your hand.
The screen is stunning, and it's 1024 x 768. Feels just like a huge iPhone in your hands.
The speed of the CPU is something to be marveled at. It is blazingly fast from what we can tell. Webpages loaded up super fast, and scrolling was without a hiccup. Moving into and out of apps was a breeze. Everything flew.
There's no multitasking at all. It's a real disappointment. All this power and very little you can do with it at once. No multitasking means no streaming Pandora when you're working in Pages... you can figure it out. It's a real setback for this device.
The ebook implementation is about as close as you can get to reading without a stack of bound paper in your hand. The visual stuff really helps flesh out the experience. It may be just for show, but it counts here.
No camera. None, nada. Zip. No video conferencing here folks. Hell, it doesn't have an SMS app!
It's running iPhone OS 3.2.
The keyboard is good, not great. Not quite as responsive as it looked in the demos.
No Flash confirmed. So Hulu is out for you, folks!

Update: We've got video, head after the break to check it out!

Gallery: Apple iPad hands-on

Gallery: Apple iPad hands-on, part 2

Continue reading Apple iPad first hands-on! (update: video!)

Apple iPad first hands-on! (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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