The ROI of Social Media Is Still Zero; but the Social Media Total Value of Ownership #SMTVO will be HUGE - http://bit.ly/cV9z3J

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CHART OF THE DAY: Foursquare's Weekly Checkins Are 5X As Big As Facebook's

Foursquare is still whipping Facebook in the world of checkins, according to a set of data we've collected for the last month.

Once a week we looked at the checkin stats for three popular restaurants near our office -- Gramercy Tavern, Craft Bar, and Shake Shack. Shake Shack in particular is the sort of place people want to checkin at. You have to stand in line for a really long time, and it has cachet.

Despite Facebook's huge advantage in terms of user base, so far it hasn't beaten Foursquare. Every week for the last four weeks Foursquare's checkins at the below restaurants have been five times as large on average as Facebook's Places checkins.

We charted the number of checkins for each week below. The stats are on Foursquare's restaurant pages and in the "info" section of the places in the Facebook iPhone app.

Follow the Chart Of The Day on Twitter: @chartoftheday

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Social media is not media; social marketing is not marketing; what is the ROI of social? http://bit.ly/cV9z3J

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The ROI of Social Media Is Still Zero; here's why - http://bit.ly/cV9z3J

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Opera Mobile coming to Android within a month, bearing hardware acceleration and pinch-to-zoom

Forget all that Mini stuff, Opera is bringing its full-flavored mobile browser to Android some time very soon indeed. To tempt people on board, the new software will support hardware acceleration for buttering up frame rates while you zoom around at potato-scalding speeds, while pinch-to-zoom will also be implemented in a big O Android browser for the first time. Opera Mini will be partaking in the latter upgrade as well, while Opera Mobile proper is expected to make its debut on the Android Market at some point over the next month. All versions of the "well diversified" OS are supported too!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Opera Mobile coming to Android within a month, bearing hardware acceleration and pinch-to-zoom originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 04:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Man develops power to rip holes in the fabric of reality [Photography]

It's not something that happens very often, but once in a while a person is born who can grab the fabric of reality and wad it up like paper. One such individual was recently captured on film.

This is the work of Polish photographer Jan Kriwol, who likes to present bizarre scenarios as if they were perfectly ordinary moments. Check out more of his work on his website. (Spotted on Illusion 360.)

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The Best File Sharing Apps [Appbattle]

One thing smartphones aren't very good at? Sharing. They keep to themselves, hoard what they create, and bristle at the thought of accessing and sharing files like a normal computer. Thankfully, we have these apps.

These apps will fall into one of two categories, and sometimes both. Some are cloud-based storage apps, and others focus more on local sharing, via USB or network. All are a means to the same end: being able to access your computer's files while you're on your phone, and your phone's files while your using the computer.

iOS

GOLD MEDAL: ReaddleDocs

ReaddleDocs' devs seem to have set out to build a document reader, slipped into some kind of ecstatic coding frenzy, and added features until their fingertips turned to pulp. Along with extensive document (primarily PDF) reading and file managing abilities, it acts as a network drive over Wi-Fi, supports two-way file sharing over 3G or EDGE, can connect to pretty much any major cloud storage service from Dropbox to MobileMe to Google Docs, has a phone-to-phone transfer feature and accepts any files sent to a unique ReaddleDocs email address. I've only scratched the surface, really. $5, iPhone and iPad

SILVER MEDAL: Dropbox

The official Dropbox app is by far the best implementation of the widely use and supported cloud storage service, earning its place not for a particularly impressive feature list, but for ease of use and the strength of its parent service. Think of it as a substitute for having an accessible filesystem for your iOS device, with the bonus that it's available everywhere. Free, iOS

BRONZE MEDAL: Box.net

Box.net is a distinctly Dropbox-y app, but with a specialty: Collaboration. Most cloud services and apps let you store and to some extent share files, but Box.net lets people comment and exchange notes on a given file. Free, iOS

OTHERS TESTED
• SugarSync: A cloud storage service with a generous free allocation, and a less than perfect app.
• MobileMe iDisk: You'd think Apple's own cloud service and accompanying app would fare a bit better, but a combination of service cost and an anemic feature list held it back from the leading pack.
• Goodreader: Another document reader with sharing abilities, Goodreader is at its best when the files at hand are all business: PDFs, Word docs and the like.
• Air Sharing Pro: An old favorite supplanted by cheaper, snazzier upstarts. Still worth a look, though, if sharing over Wi-Fi is a priority.

Android

GOLD MEDAL: Dropbox

It really doesn't get easier than Dropbox. With its Android app, you can view and edit all your Dropbox files in a sweet and simple interface and even stream music and videos you've uploaded to Dropbox in its media player (or save for offline viewing). Plus you can upload photos and videos taken from your Android phone straight to Dropbox too. The cherry on top is that Dropbox on Android works with a bunch of third-party apps and offers easy link sharing. If you're not using it already, there's really no excuse not to try it (especially since Dropbox gives you 2GB of storage for free). Free, Android.

SILVER MEDAL: GoAruna Files

GoAruna is a similar service to Dropbox (free 2GB online storage) and its Android app can do a lot of similar things (like stream uploaded media) but it just not quite as easy to use (due to some unnecessary pizazz). But! It does offer a little more versatility than Dropbox, with GoAruna you can dig around your phone's local directory and literally upload any file from your phone to GoAruna's cloud. If you're more concerned with uploading files from your phone to the cloud (as opposed to grabbing files from the cloud to your phone), GoAruna may be better suited for you. Free, Android.

BRONZE MEDAL: SwiFTP

If you're looking for an FTP server (and not cloud storage), SwiFTP is as good as it gets. It's fast and simple, all you need to do is create a username and password, set it to start, and you can access your phone from any FTP client (or browser) within your network. Free, Android.

OTHERS TESTED:
• SugarSync: Another cloud storage/file sharing app that's easy to use but not exactly the prettiest girl at the ball
• Zumodrive: Really straightforward UI but a little slower than Dropbox, also only gives you 1GB free when you sign up from your phone (have to earn the other 1GB on the computer)
• Files Anywhere: Complicated UI and only 1GB of cloud storage but lets you fax documents straight from the app.
• File Share: Basic way to bring files from your PC onto your phone over your network. Annoying that there's no way to exit the program.
• WebSharing File/Media Sync: Great way to transfer files over Wi-Fi, just not worth 3 bucks

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LG 72LEX9: the **largest 3D television you can purchase next year (updated)

If you're going to make the jump to 3D then don't pussyfoot around. Not when you can go all in with the world's largest commercial 3D LED backlit television from LG. The 72LEX9 stretches that 400Hz TruMotion panel to a full 72 inches while bunging NetCast online media streaming, Spot Control pixel dimming, DLNA, and Wireless AV Link into the mix. Look for it to be released in Q2 of 2011... at which time LG will probably release its 84-incher just to spite you. TV sans human after the break.

** Mitsubishi makes a 75-inch 3D-ready LaserVue TV. Talk about splitting hairs.

Continue reading LG 72LEX9: the **largest 3D television you can purchase next year (updated)

LG 72LEX9: the **largest 3D television you can purchase next year (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 03:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Elpida and Sharp team up for ReRAM in 2013: 10,000x the speed of current NAND flash chips

Want to know where the next breakthrough in mobile technology will come from? Well, if Elpida and Sharp have their way, the answer will be the usual suspect of Japan, where they're working away on new memory chips said to be capable of four orders of magnitude faster performance than the ordinary NAND flash storage of today. Dubbed ReRAM, or Resistive Random Access Memory, this project targets a 2013 date for commercialization and counts the University of Tokyo and Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology among its development team. Details on how such blinding speeds will be reached aren't readily available, but the Nikkei reports power consumption will be down to "virtually zero" when the memory's not in use. So with ReRAM and HP's memristors both set for three years from now, can we schedule NAND's funeral for 2014 or what?

Elpida and Sharp team up for ReRAM in 2013: 10,000x the speed of current NAND flash chips originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 04:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cybertecture Mirror reflects our fantasies, looks set to become a reality (video)

We're still trying to rub the disbelief out of our eyes, but no, this isn't a dream. The Cybertecture Mirror may look like yet another vapor-rich concept -- what with its translucent overlaid interface and cloud-connected ways -- but it's actually just had its launch in Hong Kong, is set to start taking pre-orders in December, and will (hopefully) be shipped by the middle of next year. The brainchild of one James Law, this reflective renegade measures 800 x 500 x 50mm, comes with stereo speakers totalling 10W of power output, WiFi, IP41 waterproofing, and fog-resistant glass. Before you ask if it runs Android, both the display and operating system are said to be proprietary, with the latter offering access to messaging, weather, calendar, and apps, such as an included fitness-tracking utility. Wen Wei Po reports a 60,000 HKD ($7,733) launch price and a very ambitious expectation that two million Mirrors will be sold over the first three years. Best of luck to them. You'll find masses of video after the break.

[Thanks, Brendan]

Continue reading Cybertecture Mirror reflects our fantasies, looks set to become a reality (video)

Cybertecture Mirror reflects our fantasies, looks set to become a reality (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 05:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon Cross Media Station pulls your pics and charges your cameras, wirelessly (video)

Pulling memory cards and downloading pictures? A pain. Keeping track of a drawer full of different-sized battery packs for your travel, studio, and video cameras? A headache. If that's you, Canon's Cross Media Station could be a big hit of aspirin. Finally shown to the world after being teased at the Canon Expo last month, the prototype device looks something like a chubby scanner from a dark future. However, the top is actually an inductive charging pad. Set your camera up there (up to three at once) and a blue light will pop on to indicate flowing electricity. While the power heads one direction the data goes whizzing by in the other, pictures pulled and categorized on the device based on time, place, and recognized faces. As you can see in the video after the break, photos can be displayed over HDMI onto your HDTV. We're guessing the wireless data spec is TransferJet, as Canon is a member of that consortium, but when it comes to the wireless charging we're somewhat in the dark. It looks like the models in the video are using adapters to enable this functionality, but surely this will be integrated eventually. You know, in the future, when all the best stuff happens.

Continue reading Canon Cross Media Station pulls your pics and charges your cameras, wirelessly (video)

Canon Cross Media Station pulls your pics and charges your cameras, wirelessly (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 08:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mushkin gets cozy with SandForce again, launches 6Gb/s EP Series SSDs for Enterprises

285MB/s read speeds from the Callisto series? Phsaw. We need at least twice that to get us out of bed in the morning, and Mushkin has our wake up call. Its announcing the EP Series of SSD drives, based on SandForce SF-2000-series processors, pledging 6Gb/s burst speeds. That sounds mighty impressive, but if you capitalize that B it turns into a somewhat less stunning figure of 768MB/s. Sequential read and write speeds are 500MB/s, while each can sustain a rate of 60,000 operations per second. That's a lot of I/O, and it's coming to gilded racks sometime in the first quarter of 2011.

Continue reading Mushkin gets cozy with SandForce again, launches 6Gb/s EP Series SSDs for Enterprises

Mushkin gets cozy with SandForce again, launches 6Gb/s EP Series SSDs for Enterprises originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mushkin gets cozy with SandForce again, launches 6Gb/s EP Series SSDs for Enterprises

285MB/s read speeds from the Callisto series? Phsaw. We need at least twice that to get us out of bed in the morning, and Mushkin has our wake up call. Its announcing the EP Series of SSD drives, based on SandForce SF-2000-series processors, pledging 6Gb/s burst speeds. That sounds mighty impressive, but if you capitalize that B it turns into a somewhat less stunning figure of 768MB/s. Sequential read and write speeds are 500MB/s, while each can sustain a rate of 60,000 operations per second. That's a lot of I/O, and it's coming to gilded racks sometime in the first quarter of 2011.

Continue reading Mushkin gets cozy with SandForce again, launches 6Gb/s EP Series SSDs for Enterprises

Mushkin gets cozy with SandForce again, launches 6Gb/s EP Series SSDs for Enterprises originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IDC: Apple's now third largest PC vendor in US with 10.6 percent market share

Apple might be billing its next big event as "Back to the Mac," but don't let that fool you into thinking its computer platform has been waning. Quite to the contrary, according to IDC, which reports the Cupertino team has grabbed third spot in the US PC sales charts with a 10.6 percent market share, bumping the incumbent Acer into fourth. Two million Mac shipments during the period represented an increase of 24.1 percent relative to last year, while the overall PC market turned in a somewhat morose 3.8 percent growth. Gartner's also unleashed its numbers unto the world today, giving Acer the lead for third by the slimmest of margins, but both stat teams agree that the Taiwanese vendor has suffered a bad year along with Dell, which has also experienced some shrinkage. Toshiba's the only major Windows machine seller to see its fortunes improve with double-digit growth, while HP seems to be hanging on to the top spot nice and steadily. Hit the source links for worldwide numbers.

IDC: Apple's now third largest PC vendor in US with 10.6 percent market share originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 18:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netgear Roku XD Player gets official, coming to big box retail everywhere

We knew something was up when we saw a Netgear-branded Roku XD hit the FCC and subsequently turn up at Fry's, and now it's official: Netgear will be selling the Roku XD as the -- wait for it -- Netgear Roku XD Player. Hardware and functionality-wise, it's the exact same Roku XD you've come to know and love -- 720p Netflix and Amazon streaming with support for 1080p on certain channels -- but Netgear's vast distribution network means that it'll be sold in Best Buy, Radio Shack, Fry's and anywhere else Netgear products routinely show up. It's a pretty aggressive move for Roku, which was previously online-only -- the company has been saying its goal is to put a box by every TV in your house, and the XD is certainly cheap and flexible enough to tempt quite a few big-box shoppers. Of course, you're be paying a little extra for that extra silkscreen and distro love: Netgear's MSRP is $89.99, $10 more than the straight Roku. (Fry's selling it for $79.99 after "instant savings," though.) That's not exactly impulse-buy pricing, but it's still $10 cheaper than the Apple TV, so it looks like the heat is on -- check out our Roku XDS review and just ignore the part about USB playback to get a feel for the XD.

Netgear Roku XD Player gets official, coming to big box retail everywhere originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 21:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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