Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Intel says Light Peak coming next year, can and will coexist with USB 3.0

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/15/intel-says-light-peak-coming-next-year-can-and-will-coexist-wit/

How do you sell a generation of hardware manufacturers on yet another standard? If you're Intel, you tell them that it'll transfer files at 10Gbps and is compatible with every major protocol that came before... and if that doesn't work, you simply fail to give your competitor hardware support. But PC World reports that while Intel is still dragging its feet regarding USB 3.0, it's planning to have Light Peak fiber optic devices in the market next year. Intel insists Light Peak isn't meant to replace USB, in so much as it can use the same ports and protocols (photographic evidence above), but at the same time it's not shying away from the possibility of obliterating its copper competition with beams of light. "In some sense we'd... like to build the last cable you'll ever need," said Intel's Kevin Kahn. Now, we're not going to rag on Light Peak, because we honestly love the idea of consolidated fiber optic connectivity. We just want to know now whether we should bother locking ourselves into a USB 3.0 ecosystem if better things are just around the corner.

Intel says Light Peak coming next year, can and will coexist with USB 3.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 01:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wednesday, April 14, 2010

The Secret Behind Apple's New MacBook Graphics [Apple]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5516517/the-secret-behind-apples-new-macbook-graphics

The Secret Behind Apple's New MacBook Graphics The new Intel Core i5/i7 MacBooks come with "automatic graphics switching technology" to instantly toggle between Intel's onboard graphics and more powerful Nvidia hardware. Sound familiar? Well, weirdly, it's not Nvidia's Optimus switcher—it's something entirely new.

Nvidia's Optimus, which allowed for basically what Apple is talking about here, was—and apparently, is—a Windows-only solution. And even on Windows, it has some irritating limitations, particularly a requirement that apps be registered with Nvidia in order to initiate a switch from one graphics unit to another. (A game, for example, wouldn't kick over to the more powerful accelerator unless it contained explicit instructions to do so.) With Optimus off the table, Apple's remaining choice is to revert to a graphics switching system like the one currently in MacBooks with the Nvidia 9400m discrete graphics processor, which requires a manual switch, and a log out/long in routine. It's awkward! So they developed something new. Ars Technica's got the rundown:

Apple's approach in the new 15" and 17" MacBook Pros differs from Optimus in two key ways. The first is that the switching is all handled automatically by Mac OS X without any user intervention (though there is actually a System Preference to deactivate it, if you choose). Apps that use advanced graphics frameworks such as OpenGL, Core Graphics, Quartz Composer or others will cause the OS to trigger the discrete GPU. So, when you are reading or writing Mail, or editing an Excel spreadsheet, Mac OS X will simply use the integrated Intel HD graphics. If you fire up Aperture or Photoshop, Mac OS X kicks on the NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M.

So the hardware switching occurs automatically, based on reasonable parameters (Is the laptop running a game? Using Photoshop? Etc.) The second key difference is that New MacBooks' onboard graphics are powered down when the more powerful accelerator is in use, which saves a wee bit of power, as opposed to leaving both graphics cards running. Apple told us that the lower 8-hour figure they cite for battery life is with the discrete graphics on. What's curious is that while there's an option to force the 330M to stay on, there isn't one to keep it off to stick with the integrated Intel graphics, eking out those last few drops of battery life.

Also, unlike some other graphics switching stuff, which power up when the notebook's plugged in, Apple's is solely based on the programs that are running—so you can't tell it to kick on the more powerful card whenever it's plugged in. Instead, the 330M turns on any time you plug in an external display, since the assumption is that you're powered up.

It's a slight evolution of the graphics switching concept, and an inevitable one. The final evolution, of course, will be a single graphics accelerator that doesn't suck too much power when it's not working hard, negating the need for a laptop to have two sets of graphics hardware, but hey! One step at a time. [Ars Technica]

Toshiba Regza Z1 LED TVs Can Record Over LAN [TVs]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5516901/toshiba-regza-z1-led-tvs-can-record-over-lan

Toshiba introduced a whole mess of new Regza LED LCD TVs today over in Japan, but it's the Z1 series that grabbed our attention: 37- to 55-inch edge-lit LEDs with USB and LAN recording functionality. Gimme!

A TV that can record over LAN isn't something that we've seen before, and would be a neat little home entertainment feature. As part of today's announcement. Toshiba's also rolling out its first Regza-branded HDD (for said recording, and sold separately). The Z1 series also features video-on-demand support, 10Wx2 speakers, Regza Link, 4HDMI interfaces and an SD/SDHC slot. The pricing will range from $2700 to $5200 when they're released this summer in Japan. The rest of us will just have to be patient. [Toshiba (translated) via CrunchGear]

DXG's 3D View sacrifices HD, but makes 3D video recording pocketable

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/14/dxgs-3d-view-sacrifices-hd-but-makes-3d-video-recording-pocket/

It's not a trade that we'd ever willingly make -- dropping to standard definition for the sake of some 3D shenanigans, but DXG is offering you the choice anyway. The budget cam maker has just announced its 3D View stereoscopic shooter, which interestingly comes with a separate 7-inch LCD display (800 x 480 resolution) for playing back your recorded footage without requiring glasses -- thanks to some parallax barrier magic. We might be tempted to spend the $400 this package costs just to get a preview of what the Nintendo 3DS -- based on the same spectacle-free technique -- might look like, but retail availability isn't expected until June, which is just that tiny bit too far out for our limited attention span.

DXG's 3D View sacrifices HD, but makes 3D video recording pocketable originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TVLogic introduces a pair of 15-inch OLED monitors, one does 3D

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/14/tvlogic-introduces-a-pair-of-15-inch-oled-monitors-one-does-eve/

TVLogic introduces a pair of 15-inch OLED monitors

Hot on the heels of Sony dazzling us with its 7.4-inch, $3,850 PVM-740 monitor comes TVLogic, introducing not one but two professional OLED sets that are each twice as large -- and probably at least twice as expensive. Both are 1,366 x 768 with a 100,000:1 contrast ratio, apparently based on LG's 15-inch panel, but only the TDM-150W is 3D-capable. This makes it seemingly the first 3D OLED display on the market, and so it's poised to intrigue those looking to shoot the next Avatar. Again, no mention of pricing, but they won't be cheap -- the company's 17-inch LCD monitors already clock in at $3,500, and adding that O on the front should result in a big premium.

TVLogic introduces a pair of 15-inch OLED monitors, one does 3D originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Onda VX560 looks like a slate, acts like a PMP, outputs 1080p

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/14/onda-vx560-looks-like-a-slate-acts-like-a-pmp-outputs-1080p/

The kids at Onda have had a sideline in nondescript PMPs for years now, but that doesn't mean they lack dreams and aspirations, no sir! The VX560 shows 'em taking a cautious step up the evolutionary ladder with a 7-inch touchscreen slate that rocks 1080p video output via HDMI, support for a plethora of video formats (including H.264, AVI, MOV, MPG, and FLV), a 800 x 480 display, an array of ebook formats (including PDF, PDB, and CHM), and text-to-speech -- although exactly what language it will be reading in is anybody's guess. You know what else is "anybody's guess?" When it will be released, and for what price.

Onda VX560 looks like a slate, acts like a PMP, outputs 1080p originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MIT researchers demonstrate more efficient wireless power

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/14/mit-researchers-demonstrate-more-efficient-wireless-power/

MIT researchers have been working on wireless power longer than most (Nikola Tesla aside), and it looks like they've now made a somewhat surprising discovery that could lead to more efficient wireless power. In addition to reducing the size of the transmitters and receives used in their system to something approaching practical, the researchers found that the system's efficiency at transmitting energy increased "significantly" if multiple devices are charged at the same time. What's more, while the amount of power transmitted in the latest experiment only amounted to 100 watts, MIT's André Kurs says that is only limited by the amplifier used for the transmitting coil, adding that the system could easily "feed power to a medium-sized room and power a dozen devices."

MIT researchers demonstrate more efficient wireless power originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 13:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dragoman Batch Converts Nearly Anything with Drag and Drop Simplicity [Downloads]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5516265/dragoman-batch-converts-nearly-anything-with-drag-and-drop-simplicity

Dragoman Batch Converts Nearly Anything with Drag and Drop Simplicity Mac only: We recently featured a multiple file type converter for Windows, but now Mac users can share in that same drag-and-drop joy with Dragoman, a free app that can batch convert images, photos, music, documents, and archives with minimal effort.

Dragoman could not be more simple to use: All you do is drag one or more files into its window, choose a compatible file type for the output, and wait for it to pop out your shiny new files. It can convert tons of different file types, too, like images (including many RAW formats), music, documents, and even archives—useful if you start using a different camera or program that can't open a certain type of file (like Apple's TIFF or Webarchive formats). It can also convert multiple files at once—even if your original batch contains files of more than one type, you can convert them all at once to one. In addition, if applicable, you can edit image preferences like JPEG quality and DPI for your converted files. If you're still not convinced, be sure to check out the full list of supported file types—it's nothing to sneeze at.

Dragoman is a free download, Mac only.

Dragoman [via Addictive Tips]

Viewsonic rolls out energy-efficient VT2300LED LCD TV

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/13/viewsonic-rolls-out-energy-efficient-vt2300led-lcd-tv/

Well, it's taken quite a while since its debut at CES in January, but Viewsonic has now finally managed to get its 23-inch VT2300LED LCD TV out the door. While there's not exactly a ton of stand-out features here, the side lit LED backlighting does apparently help to deliver energy savings of 30 to 50% over traditional LCDs, and you'll get some decent specs all around, including a full 1080p resolution, a 5 ms response time, an ATSC/NTSC/QAM tuner, and three HDMI ports, among other standard fare. What's more, while this one has a list price of $399, it looks like some retailers (including Amazon) are already selling for it as little as $299.

Viewsonic rolls out energy-efficient VT2300LED LCD TV originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spring Design Alex starts shipping tomorrow

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/13/spring-design-alex-starts-shipping-tomorrow/

We'd gripe about the wait, but given all the e-book readers we saw at CES that've fallen off the radar or been delayed to oblivion, we're actually pretty proud of Spring Design for shipping the Alex at last. Orders will start going out tomorrow for the $399 dual screen reader. Not sure it's worth the price? Well, we're not positive either. Check out our review for a bit of help deciding.

Spring Design Alex starts shipping tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel wraps up 'best first quarter ever' by teasing new dual-core Atoms for Q2

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/13/intel-wraps-up-best-first-quarter-ever-by-teasing-new-dual-cor/

Android support for Moorestown isn't the only morsel of Intel news to come out today. In an earnings call today that kicked off with word of a 288 percent year-over-year net income increase -- its "best first [fiscal] quarter ever" reportedly -- Intel CEO Paul Otellini said, "the next innovation coming out on Atom is dual core, which comes out in the second quarter." Given dual core Atoms already exist for nettops, we're gonna guess he's referring specifically to netbooks. That jibes pretty well with what we heard about the supposed D510 remake as N500. Guess we've got something to look forward to in the netbook category over the next few months.

Intel wraps up 'best first quarter ever' by teasing new dual-core Atoms for Q2 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Telstra's landlocked T-Hub tablet phone launches in Australia

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/14/telstras-landlocked-t-hub-tablet-phone-launches-in-australia/

A few years back, Telstra -- synonymous in Australia with "communication" -- told Apple it had no business making a cellphone. Look how that turned out. To make a long story short, the company has since repented, and is on the verge of releasing an app-filled touchscreen phone of their own, the Telstra T-Hub, on April 20th. Thing is, this tablet stays plugged into your wall. Marketed as a "family organizer," the T-Hub stores contacts, surfs Facebook, plays YouTube, displays photos, accesses personal bank accounts and even sends text messages like a smartphone, but does it all while connected to a landline telephone jack -- albeit with cordless handset as backup. While existing Telstra customers can get the device for $300 AUD, the company would of course prefer you get it for $35 with a 24-month service agreement... for a minimum total cost of about $1980 AUD with 2GB data per month. We're not Australian, but compared to US iPhone pricing, that doesn't sound terribly fair.

Telstra's landlocked T-Hub tablet phone launches in Australia originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 04:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, April 13, 2010

wondering why business travelers don't use JetBlue more, even though it's reputation has been solid so far? http://bit.ly/bCv2MB

LG's Snapdragon-powered LU2300 Android handset gets official

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/13/lgs-snapdragon-powered-lu2300-android-handset-gets-official/

This one's been floating around for a while now and just spotted in the wild last week, but LG has finally come clean with its new LU2300 Android handset, albeit in a somewhat roundabout way on its official UK blog. The biggest news is that LG has confirmed that the phone does indeed pack a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and Android 2.1, along with some other fairly impressive specs to match, including a 3.5-inch AMOLED capacitive display, a 5-megapixel camera, built-in WiFi, DivX support and a DMB TV tuner -- that last feature of which likely indicates that this one won't be available over here anytime soon. There's also still no indication of a price or a firm release date, although it will apparently be available in Korea sometime this month or next.

LG's Snapdragon-powered LU2300 Android handset gets official originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MeeGo Gone Wild! Features detailed, companies come on board at IDF 2010

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/13/meego-gone-wild-features-detailed-companies-come-on-board-at-i/

Wow, the MeeGo news is flying fast and furious today! Our first stop is the Intel Developer Forum, where a recent talk detailed feature lists for netbooks and handhelds running (presumably) 1.0. For the former, you can expect to see it rockin' Chrome (or Chromium), and overhauled social messaging, media, camera, email, and calendar apps. That's in addition to touch and gesture support. As for handhelds, Fennec with Flash support popped up on the slides (probably a carry-over from Maemo, since they already have Mozilla with Flash), VOIP (at least until the carriers start hollerin'), instant messaging, social networking, location-based services, cloud data syncing, and portrait mode support -- not to mention "the Intel app-store framework that can be used to make branded 3rd-party app stores." But that ain't all! According to some freshly minted PR, the Hotel Kabuki in San Francisco will be lousy with developers staring Wednesday when the Linux Foundation Collaboration Summit begins in earnest. To be announced announced at tomorrow's keynote are are a host of companies that are throwing their lot in with the mobile OS, including: EA Mobile, BMW Group, Acer, Gameloft, Novell, Asus, and more. Which is all well and good, but the question remains: when are we finally gonna get our hands on an LG GW990? PR after the break.

Continue reading MeeGo Gone Wild! Features detailed, companies come on board at IDF 2010

MeeGo Gone Wild! Features detailed, companies come on board at IDF 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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