Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Friday, July 09, 2010

Fring update approved for iPhone, does video calling with front cam over 3G

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/fring-update-approved-for-iphone-does-video-calling-with-front/

We weren't exactly sure whether Apple was going to approve third-party video calling apps using the front camera on the iPhone 4, but good news: the answer is "yes." Fring just slid in a new version of its longstanding iPhone app today featuring support for video calling, which is pretty awesome in and of itself -- but the real news is that it works just fine over 3G, as you can see in our quick test above between Chicago and London. This opens the door for services that could have potentially broader implications than FaceTime itself, since Apple's service is limited to WiFi and currently only works between iPhone 4s. Just make sure you're wearing clothes when you call, alright?

Fring update approved for iPhone, does video calling with front cam over 3G originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source

source

iTunes, Fring | Email this | Comments

Uplink Audio Strap System offers solar power for runners on the run

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/uplink-audio-strap-system-offers-solar-power-for-runners-on-the/

Designer Adam Hammerman's concept -- the Uplink Audio Strap System -- is for all you sports enthusiasts that want to listen to tunes while running but don't want to be bothered with headphones. It can connect with a variety of different mobile devices, and boasts four ultrasound speakers, meaning that you can hear the music but nobody else can, so you're not disturbing the peace! For outdoorsy types, of course, it would be a much safer system for things like running, since you would still be able to hear the street noise around you, and the device would also have flexible solar panels which charge the speakers on the go. It's just a concept for now, but one we'd like to see in reality.

Uplink Audio Strap System offers solar power for runners on the run originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

SlashGear | source

source

EcoSource, Design Related | Email this | Comments

iOS 4 adds direct access to iTunes library, iPhone DJ apps about to get crazy

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/ios-4-adds-direct-access-to-itunes-library-iphone-dj-apps-about/

Although there's been no shortage of iPhone DJ apps in the past few years, they've remained fairly niche, since Apple didn't allow devs official access to the iPod music library -- mobile DJs needed to upload a second separate music library per app, and that's no fun at all. Looks like that's about to change, though: one of the 1500 new APIs in iOS 4 provides direct access to the iPod library, meaning music apps of all kinds can play your tracks in any wacky way they want -- including, yes, scratching them. The first app to support the new API in the store is Flare Scratch, which is a relatively simple scratch app -- we just gave it a shot and yes, it does indeed load tracks from the iPod library and let you scratch 'em. There's a bit of a wait when loading up a new track, though, so it's not totally fluid to use in anything but a hey-this-is-fun context, but we're betting we'll see more serious DJ apps hit with smoother transitions soon enough -- and we can't wait to see what devs do once iOS 4 hits the iPad and they've got more room to work with. Video after the break.

Continue reading iOS 4 adds direct access to iTunes library, iPhone DJ apps about to get crazy

iOS 4 adds direct access to iTunes library, iPhone DJ apps about to get crazy originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Create Digital Music | source

source

Flare Scratch (iTunes), Flare Scratch site | Email this | Comments

Flash Player investing in a 3D future, plans coming in October

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/flash-player-investing-in-a-3d-future-plans-coming-in-october/

Man, Adobe is really teasing up Flash and 3D. Straight from the mouth (or, rather, keyboard) of product manager Thibault Imbert: "What kind of [3D] API? True textured z-buffered triangles ? GPU acceleration? Even better? What I can say is forget what you have seen before, it is going to be big." Big talk in regards to a session at the company's upcoming MAX 2010 conference entitled (aptly enough) "Flash Player 3D Future." According to the description and some added details care of Imbert, expect discussion and demos of a renderer coming in a future version of Flash Player. We'd love to give you something more concrete, but looks like that might be awhile -- the talk isn't until October 27th.

Flash Player investing in a 3D future, plans coming in October originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source

source

Adobe MAX 2010, Byte Array | Email this | Comments

Solar Impulse returns from 24 hour test flight 26 hours later

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/solar-impulse-returns-from-24-hour-test-flight-26-hours-later/

Rest easy, fans of solar-powered aeronautics. Captain Piccard's Solar Impulse has safely returned after 26 hours in the air -- powered by nothing but the sun. The four-engine aircraft, which features 12,000 solar cells arranged on its wingspan, reached a height of almost 29,000 feet before touching down at Payerne Airport near Berne, Switzerland today. The next step? The team is going back to the woodshed, with the hope of developing a plane that will circumnavigate the globe by 2013.

Solar Impulse returns from 24 hour test flight 26 hours later originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 20:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Netgear's ReadyNAS Ultra 4 and Ultra 6 stream to TiVo, mobile, and DLNA-certified devices

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/netgears-readynas-ultra-4-and-ultra-6-stream-to-tivo-mobile-a/

The "Death of Local Media Storage," eh Netgear? The company is certainly proud of its latest unveiling, the ReadyNAS Ultra series, as the aforementioned press release headline exemplifies. In addition to the usual network storage capabilities, the gang can stream media to any TiVo device, DLNA-certified machine (via Skifta), and mobile devices using Orb technologies. All machines feature 1.66GHz Intel Atom CPUs, 1GB RAM, and RAID 0, 1, 5, and 6 data protection. Need a hefty do-it-all box for storage? The Ultra 4 (2 x 2TB, single-core processor) and Ultra 6 (3 x 2TB, dual-core) will start shipping in mid-July, with pre-orders available in the very near future, for a penny under $900 and $1350, respectively. And if you want the capabilities in a lighter form factor, keep an eye out for an Ultra 2 in October.

Gallery: Netgear Ultra 4 and Ultra 6

Netgear's ReadyNAS Ultra 4 and Ultra 6 stream to TiVo, mobile, and DLNA-certified devices originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 22:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Renault DeZir recharges while you stare, not while you wait

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/09/renault-dezir-recharges-while-you-stare-not-while-you-wait/

Oh, sure -- Shelby's practically nonexistent Aero EV can recharge in around 10 minutes, but if you're hoping to find a similarly quick vehicle that's even close to your price range, you've probably come up empty so far. Thankfully, Renault has a mind to change that with the new DeZir. Slated to take the stage at this year's Paris Motor Show, the lascivious concept rolls with a mid-mounted electric engine capable of screaming a solid 100 miles before petering out. The good news here, though, is that the outfit's Quick Drop technology enables the battery packs to regain 80 percent of their charge in just 20 minutes using a 400V three-phase current, though a standard household plug will require a good night's rest (read: eight hours) to rejuvenate it fully. 'Course, only time will tell if this beaut will ever hit the production line, but we'd go ahead and brace yourself for it to look far tamer should that green light ever get lit.

Continue reading Renault DeZir recharges while you stare, not while you wait

Renault DeZir recharges while you stare, not while you wait originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Register UK, Dvice | source

source

Autoblog | Email this | Comments

ComScore: Android grows US smartphone market share as all others decline

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/09/comscore-android-grows-us-smartphone-market-share-as-all-others/

Slip on your fine silk smoking jacket and light up a victory cigar US Android fans, the latest comScore numbers are out for the three-month period ending in May 2010. The most notable trend spotted was a 4 point (up from 9.0% to 13.0%) quarterly increase in Google's Android market share as all other smartphone OS subscribers declined. ComScore also saw Motorola's slide continue, slipping behind LG now for a third place US finish as Samsung continued to bolster its dominant position. Expect the numbers to be jostled a bit next quarter when Apple's iPhone 4 numbers are factored in. Just don't expect to see the Android numbers suffer, especially with the Samsung Galaxy S launching on all the major US carriers before the quarter is done.

[Thanks, Jeremy]

ComScore: Android grows US smartphone market share as all others decline originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 02:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source

source

PRNewswire | Email this | Comments

ASUS Eee PC 1215N to ship in the US at the end of August

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/09/asus-eee-pc-1215n-to-ship-in-the-us-at-the-end-of-august/

With the NVIDIA Ion 2-powered Acer Aspire One 532g falling by the wayside and the ASUS Eee PC 1201PN hitting the market sans NVIDIA Optimus, all eyes are on the ASUS Eee PC 1215N to be the true Ion 2 machine. Well, super-charged netbook fans, we've got good news: the 12-inch laptop, which has a 1.8GHz dual-core Atom D525 CPU and NVIDIA's Optimus to intelligently switch between discrete and integrated graphics, will ship in the US around August 23. And while an MSRP hasn't been set in stone, we're told "it should be below $500." Sure, a glance at the calender will reveal that you won't get your mitts on this bad boy for at least 40 days, but we're confident you'll find something to pass the time.

ASUS Eee PC 1215N to ship in the US at the end of August originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Jul 2010 03:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Thursday, July 08, 2010

Chinese Scientists Claim Diamond Bullet Could Achieve Nuclear Fusion [Fusion]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5581817/we-are-one-2-million-mph-diamond-bullet-away-from-achieving-cold-fusion

Science, what with all of its rigorous procedure and stifling detail, can sometimes be a bore. But this wacky new study that says we could achieve cold fusion with an ultra fast diamond bullet: not boring at all!

Chinese researchers say that firing a tiny, millimeter-sized diamond bullet into a block of methane at 1,000 km/s (about 2,200,000 miles per hour) could yield heat high enough to achieve nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion, of course, is the elusive Holy Grail of clean energy that could power our world sustainably into the future. Just don't miss that methane block.

According to computer simulations, the initial impact of the diamond bullet would be 4 petawatts, about 80% of which scatters immediately. What's left, though, is still enough to get things hot enough for fusion, the scientists say.

At this stage, obviously, all of this is very hypothetical, but it has already served to confirm one thing quite empircally: DIAMONDS + BULLETS + 2 MILLION MILES PER HOUR = the coolest science news of the day. [PopSci]

Samsung's LED 9000 Installed in Harrods, For Benefit of The Queen [TVs]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5582066/samsungs-led-9000-installed-in-harrods-for-benefit-of-the-queen

Samsung's LED 9000, its super-thin, bread-knife of a TV, has been installed in the window and lobby of posh London store Harrods—in a move that will let it "Greet the upper class in Europe" according to Samsung.

The slightly off translation provided by Samsung says the LED 9000 will now also "greet most likely bigwigs of U.K. including royal family". Although we think the Queen actually sends a man round, rather than popping in herself when she's out of biscuits. [Samsung Flickr]

Shanghai Apple Store Opens for Business This Weekend [Architecture]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5582115/shanghai-apple-store-opens-for-business-this-weekend

Shanghai Apple Store Opens for Business This Weekend Chinese Apple fan club members have a new meeting place to talk about Apple in, with the Shanghai Apple Store opening this weekend. Fanatics descend from street level through a 40-foot cylinder, then serenely glide in via glass staircase.

Not so much a Shanghai Dream Cube, more of a standard, US-style collection of glass and white surfaces. Not a patch on artistic Paris, either. [Shanghaiist]

Clearwire ships Spot 4G and Spot 4G+ WiMAX portable hotspots

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/07/clearwire-ships-spot-4g-and-spot-4g-wimax-portable-hotspots/

It's not like you couldn't snag an Overdrive from Sprint or an IntelliGo from Time Warner Cable, but if you're dead-set on nabbing your WiMAX gear directly from Clearwire, we've ~~good~~ splendiferous news to share. The 4G-only Spot 4G and 3G / 4G Spot 4G+ (which is just a rebadged Overdrive, shown here) were up for pre-order prior to today, but now both are available in-store and online nationwide. In case the prices have slipped your mind, the Spot 4G will run you $99.99 (or $4.99 per month on a lease) with service plans starting at $40/month, while the Spot 4G+ goes for $224.99 (or $5.99 per month on a lease) with service plans starting at $55/month. Surf on, surfers.

Continue reading Clearwire ships Spot 4G and Spot 4G+ WiMAX portable hotspots

Clearwire ships Spot 4G and Spot 4G+ WiMAX portable hotspots originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 22:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Sony's latest Cyber-shots boast 3D sweep panorama, background defocusing

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/sonys-latest-cyber-shots-boast-3d-sweep-panorama-background-de/

It's getting to be that time of the year again -- time for Sony to expand / refresh its Cyber-shot lineup. Say hello to the 14.1 megapixel T99 and the 12.2 megapixel WX5 and TX9. All three feature BIONZ processors and 32MB internal memory (no word on external options). The T99's your underwater-capable option, capable of shooting sweep panorama shots submerged as well as 720p 30fps HD video -- or if you want something of an upgrade, the TX9 is also snorkeling-friendly, but itself can tout Full HD 1080i video recording, a Sweep Multi Angle for "3D-style" imagine, and the 3D sweep panorama with which the NEX series was just graced. Another neat trick of the Tx9 is its "background defocus" that gives you the DSLR-like effect of sharp foreground images with a blurry background (c.f. most of our headlining phone review images). If you're willing to sacrifice water resistance for a 5x optical zoom and Sony G lens (the previous two feature 4x and Carl Zeiss) while still retaining TX9's cool 3D tricks, you're gonna want the WX5. At this point, they carry no price tag, but you've got a bit to wait anyway: the trio will all debut in mid-September.

Update: Akihabara News is reporting these cameras also support TransferJet. Additionally, AV Watch has listed some expected prices for Japan, so without further ado: the WX5 for 35,000 yen (about $400), the TX9 for 45,000 yen ($512), and the T99 for a more budget-friendly 29,000 yen ($330).

Gallery: Sony Cyber-shot TX9, T99, and WX5

Sony's latest Cyber-shots boast 3D sweep panorama, background defocusing originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source

source

Sony | Email this | Comments

ASUS ARES cries havoc, lets slip the GPUs of war: a review roundup of the world's fastest graphics card

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/asus-ares-cries-havoc-lets-slip-the-gpus-of-war-a-review-round/

When you name your graphics card after the God of War, you'd better hope it brings some heat, but judging by early reviews, that's just what ASUS has done. The three slot monstrosity above is the ARES, a $1200 limited edition, fully custom board, sporting twin Radeon HD 5870 GPUs, four gigabytes of GDDR5 memory and practically enough raw copper to smelt a sword. We're not joking: the thing weighs nearly five pounds and requires a 750 watt power supply with three power connectors (two 8-pin, one 6-pin) to even run. Of course, you're getting a graphical behemoth for that kind of price, steamrolling every other GPU on the planet -- paired with even a 3.8GHz Core i7-930 CPU in 3DMark Vantage (on Extreme settings), Overclock 3D racked up a fairly ludicrous 15,000 score, and the card ripped past 25,000 with a Core i7-980X and a second ARES in CrossFire. The card was less impressive in actual gameplay, merely spanking the (much cheaper) Radeon 5970 and GeForce GTX 480 by a modest amount, and several reviewers complained it was fairly loud... but as the old adage goes, nobody needs a Ferrari to drive the speed limit, but we'll all drool over them anyhow. Bring on the liquid nitrogen, folks.

Read - Legit Reviews
Read - Overclock3D
Read - Guru3D
Read - PC Perspective
Read - TechPowerUp

ASUS ARES cries havoc, lets slip the GPUs of war: a review roundup of the world's fastest graphics card originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 03:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)