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Thursday, March 24, 2011

Sharp LE830 series HDTVs now shipping: edge-lit LED, WiFi, no 3D

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/24/sharp-le820-series-hdtvs-now-shipping-edge-lit-led-wifi-no-3d/

Add another to your list of new HDTVs to keep an eye out for, as Sharp has announced its new LE830 series LCDs are shipping this month from its 10th generation plant. This lineup doesn't include any slick 3D features or the size of its 70-inch behemoth from CES, but they are embued with Quattron quad pixel tech, 120Hz refresh rates, edge LED lighting and built in WiFi. The jury's still out about whether the extra yellow pixel is a positive influence, but included wireless internet access is unfortunately still not a given for all new HDTVs and it will come in handy if you plan to use the included Netflix, Vudu and CinemaNow movie streaming apps. The line ranges in size from 40- to 60-inches, and the MSRPs are between $1,299 and $2,799. Check after the break for the rest of the details and price breakdown, plus a video of their CES presentation.

Continue reading Sharp LE830 series HDTVs now shipping: edge-lit LED, WiFi, no 3D

Sharp LE830 series HDTVs now shipping: edge-lit LED, WiFi, no 3D originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 04:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft application creates 3D model using a cellphone, blows our minds

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/24/microsoft-application-creates-3d-model-using-a-cellphone-blows/

Using your smartphone to take regular, or heck, even 3D images, is so last-gen -- thanks to Microsoft's Interactive Visual Media Group, we shall soon be able to use its new app to generate virtual 3D models. For example, if you want to capture that Ferrari on your neighbor's driveway, you'll need to circumambulate it while shooting around 40 photos. The final product, which is compiled using some beefed up PhotoSynth magic as each shot is uploaded to the cloud, is a beautifully crafted 3D model that can be panned around surprisingly smoothly. Hit the source link to feast your eyes on Redmond's new trick.

Microsoft application creates 3D model using a cellphone, blows our minds originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 08:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NVIDIA's dual-GPU GeForce GTX 590 emerges, can't slay the Radeon HD 6990 titan

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/24/nvidias-dual-gpu-geforce-gtx-590-emerges-cant-slay-the-radeon/

1,024 total CUDA cores, 94 ROPs, and 3GB of GDDR5 RAM on board. Yup, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 is indeed a pair of GTX 580 chips spliced together, however power constraints have meant that each of those chips is running at a tamer pace that their single-card variant. The core clock speed is down to 607MHz, shaders are only doing 1.2GHz, and the memory clocks in at 3.4GHz. Still, there's a ton of grunt under that oversized shroud and reviewers have put it to the test against AMD's incumbent single-card performance leader, the Radeon HD 6990. Just like the GTX 590, it sports a pair of AMD's finest GPUs and costs a wallet-eviscerating $699. Alas, after much benchmarking, testing, and staring at extremely beautiful graphics, the conclusion was that AMD retains its title. But only just. And, as Tech Report points out, the GTX 590 has a remarkably quiet cooler for a heavy duty pixel pusher of its kind. Dive into the reviews below to learn more, or check the new card out on video after the break.

Read - AnandTech
Read - HardOCP
Read - Tech Report
Read - PC Perspective
Read - Guru 3D
Read - X-bit labs
Read - techPowerUp!
Read - TechSpot

Continue reading NVIDIA's dual-GPU GeForce GTX 590 emerges, can't slay the Radeon HD 6990 titan

NVIDIA's dual-GPU GeForce GTX 590 emerges, can't slay the Radeon HD 6990 titan originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 09:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Getupp Helps You Stick to Your Goals by Notifying Your Friends If You Fail [Webapp]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/#!5783788/getupp-helps-you-stick-to-your-goals-by-making-your-friends-confirm-your-actions

Getupp is a neat webapp that helps you set your goals and share them publicly so you're held accountable to the world. To make sure keep your commitments, Getupp can notify your Facebook friends if you break a commitment so you can be sure everyone will find out that you're a slacker.

Making a commitment is very easy. Getupp uses Facebook to authenticate you, as it's a Facebook-based app, and from there you just choose your category, enter in what you're going to do, when you need to do it, how flexible that due date is, and how public you want your commitment to be. You don't have to alert everybody of your success or failure each time, but it is an option to help keep you accountable. If public humiliation is a big motivator for you—and it is a popular and successful method lately—Getupp is a free and easy option.

UPDATE: You can also grab the free iPhone app. It uses location-based services to keep track of where you are so it'll know when you're headed to the gym, for example, to meet your commitment to run (or not).

You can follow Adam Dachis, the author of this post, on Twitter and Facebook. If you'd like to contact him, Twitter is the most effective means of doing so.

Chrome 11 Arrives in Beta with Speech Input and New Icon [Updates]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/#!5784771/chrome-11-arrives-in-beta-with-speech-input-and-new-icon

Windows/Mac/Linux: Chrome 11 has made its way to the Beta release of Chrome, bringing with it an HTML5-powered speech input ability (which you can test out here), GPU-powered 3D CSS rendering, and, most immediately noticeable, the new, flatter Chrome icon. Chrome 11 is due to hit the Stable release relatively soon, given how quickly it moved into Beta. [Chrome Releases Blog via TechCrunch]

Gigabyte's 15.6-inch P2532: world's thinnest second-gen Core i7 laptop (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/22/gigabytes-15-6-inch-p2532-worlds-thinnest-second-gen-core-i7/

We suspect that some other laptop manufacturer will be coming out of the woodwork in around 4.98 seconds here to refute Gigabyte's claim, but as of now, the 15.6-inch P2532 above is the planet's thinnest laptop with a second-generation (Sandy Bridge) Core i7 CPU. It's not "ultrathin," per se, but for packing such a serious amount of horsepower, it's definitely on the anorexic side of things. Our pals over at TweakTown managed to get their paws on one, and they noted that it was sporting a 1920 x 1080 resolution display, a 500GB (7200RPM) hard drive, NVIDIA's GeForce GT550M (2GB) with Optimus technology, a DVD burner, two USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, four speakers, a makeshift subwoofer and more ventilation ports than would normally be considered healthy. The company's also offering up a smattering of interchangeable lids, with the pastel yellow one in particular catching our eye -- can't say it's for the right reasons, but we digress. Sadly, there's no price or release date to share just yet, but there is a hands-on video just past the break. Head on down and hit play, won't you?

Continue reading Gigabyte's 15.6-inch P2532: world's thinnest second-gen Core i7 laptop (video)

Gigabyte's 15.6-inch P2532: world's thinnest second-gen Core i7 laptop (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 16:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google scores a patent for its 'Doodles'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/22/google-scores-a-patent-for-its-doodles/

Google's Doodles have certainly come a long way from their humble beginnings, but the company has now pulled off what may be its most jaw-dropping feat yet -- it's just been awarded a patent for them. Described as "systems and methods for enticing users to access a web site," the patent credits Google co-founder Sergey Brin as the sole inventor, and it comes more than ten years after Google first filed the application. As you might expect, the patent seems to cover some fairly broad territory, although it's not clear how or if Google actually plans to enforce it -- either way, we can only assume that some other companies who enjoy having a bit fun with their logo from time to time might have something to say about it.

Google scores a patent for its 'Doodles' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Boeing's biggest jet takes flight, promises lowest 'seat mile' cost of any commercial airliner

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/22/boeings-biggest-jet-takes-flight-promises-lowest-seat-mile-c/

Boeing took a huge -- both literally and figuratively -- step in the development of the largest commercial jet in its history when the 747-8 took to the skies for the first time. Granted, the airframe's cargo version has already logged over 1,600 hours up in the air, but putting the 250-foot passenger plane with a 224-foot wingspan -- 19 feet longer and 13 feet wider than the gargantuan 747-400 -- through its first few paces without incident is no small feat. The 747-8 borrows some of the 787 Dreamliner's weight-trimming tech for better fuel efficiency and lower operational costs than older 747s and jumbo jet competition from Airbus. We just hope it didn't inherit the 787's penchant for delays as well. If all goes according to plan, the new jetliner should complete the 600 test flight hours needed for FAA certification in time to deliver the first 747-8s to customers by the end of the year. We doubt airlines will use the plane's extra space to give us shlubs riding coach any more legroom, but at least its improved all-around efficiency should make flying a little cheaper. PR's after the break.

Continue reading Boeing's biggest jet takes flight, promises lowest 'seat mile' cost of any commercial airliner

Boeing's biggest jet takes flight, promises lowest 'seat mile' cost of any commercial airliner originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC's WiFi-only Flyer launching exclusively with Best Buy 'this spring'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/22/htcs-wifi-only-flyer-launching-exclusively-with-best-buy-this/

Now that it's received its big US debut courtesy of Sprint and under the name EVO View 4G, HTC's Flyer tablet is free to, um, fly under the radar with a WiFi version this spring, exclusively through Best Buy. Specs on the Flyer are somewhat atypical for the current crop of Android tablets, as it opts for Gingerbread instead of Honeycomb and a 1.5GHz Qualcomm chip intead of the popular Tegra 2 dual-core solution. That, and it's a 7-inch tablet with a capacitive stylus and an aluminum unibody shell. Notably, this WiFi-centric variant looks set to beat the WiMAX-capable EVO View (which Sprint expects in the summer) to market, so we'll be keeping a very curious eye on pricing as and when it is announced. For now, we have a retailer and a rapidly dwindling release window. Oh, and a press release, which you'll find just past the break, augmented with a neat little promo video.

[Thanks, Michael]

Continue reading HTC's WiFi-only Flyer launching exclusively with Best Buy 'this spring'

HTC's WiFi-only Flyer launching exclusively with Best Buy 'this spring' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy S II shows up in Ukraine, gets a loving preview (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/23/samsung-galaxy-s-ii-shows-up-in-russia-gets-a-loving-preview-v/

Where would we be without prototypes, eh? One such pre-production unit, of Samsung's dual-core Galaxy S II, has escaped into the ~~Russian~~ Ukrainian wilderness, where it's been thankfully rescued from the cold by the guys over at gagadget. Apart from squaring it up against the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 -- which we can only surmise was the nearest available Android handset, it surely can't have been the best -- they also dig pretty deeply into the latest TouchWiz UI and dish up a thoroughgoing gallery of sample images from that 8 megapixel autofocus camera on the back. It's an enlightening read, once you've enrolled Google Translate's help, though the video after the break might not be too informative if English is your only language. Still, it's a great visual tour of some yummy hardware.

[Thanks, DarkDvr]

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy S II shows up in Ukraine, gets a loving preview (video)

Samsung Galaxy S II shows up in Ukraine, gets a loving preview (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 05:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engineers create 3D microscope lens, see the tiny elephants in your ear

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/23/engineers-create-3d-microscope-lens-see-the-tiny-elephants-in-y/

The ability to view tiny images in the third D has been made possible by Lei Li and Allen Yi of Ohio State University. The two have crafted a one-of-a-kind 3D lens that, unlike other three-dimensional microscopes that capture images by circling around the subject, sees teeny objects while stationary. Although the engineers crafted the lens on a precision cutting machine using a diamond blade themselves, they say it can be produced using traditional molding methods. At the size of a fingernail, the thermoplastic material, aka acrylic glass, was cut with 10 nanometer spacing (that's tiny) to ensure a flat plane. The top is surrounded by eight facets -- sort of like a gem stone, but not symmetric -- allowing the viewer to see 9 different angles at once. This should pave way for scientists to get better angles of microscopic objects, but they can always try using the 3DS and some DIY lens attachments, right?

Engineers create 3D microscope lens, see the tiny elephants in your ear originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 02:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NVIDIA's next flagship graphics card to be unveiled at 9AM on Thursday, bring your own popcorn

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/23/nvidias-next-flagship-graphics-card-to-be-unveiled-at-9am-on-th/

In NVIDIA's own words, this Thursday will bring us the company's "next generation, highest performance graphics card." If that has you thinking GeForce GTX 590, you're not alone. The dual-GPU solution was expected to arrive at the PAX East get-together this month but seemed to shyly dodge the limelight, though now there's no escaping its date with destiny. Just make sure to be up nice and early tomorrow, say around 9AM US Eastern Time, for the inevitable barrage of reviews. An unsatisfyingly brief teaser video, featuring Crysis 2 slyly running in the background, can be found after the break.

[Thanks, Abdulmalik]

Continue reading NVIDIA's next flagship graphics card to be unveiled at 9AM on Thursday, bring your own popcorn

NVIDIA's next flagship graphics card to be unveiled at 9AM on Thursday, bring your own popcorn originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 04:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Asus Eee PC 1015B and 1215B go on sale starting at $289

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/23/asus-eee-pc-1015b-and-1215b-go-on-sale-starting-at-289/

It seems like just yesterday -- okay, more like three weeks ago -- we went hands-on with Asus' latest additions to the Eee PC family, and now these Fusion-equipped netbooks are getting their very own price tags. The Eee PC 1015B and 1215B offer 10-inch and 12-inch displays starting at $289 and $379, respectively. For that price, you'll get 250GB of storage, 1GB of memory, VGA, USB, and HDMI ports, and 1080p output. They grow up so fast -- don't they? Check out the source links to make one of these babies your own.

[Thanks, Daniel]

Asus Eee PC 1015B and 1215B go on sale starting at $289 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 06:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, March 22, 2011

T-Mobile's Android-Powered G2x Is Their First 42 Mbps 4G Phone [Smartphones]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/#!5784270/t+mobiles-android+powered-g2x-is-their-first-42-mbps-4g-phone

Well isn't this awkward! A day after AT&T declared it was swallowing T-Mobile, T-Mobile is announcing the G2x, a Tegra 2, Android smartphone that holds the distinction of being the first to support T-Mobiles 42 Mbps 4G network.

Like most other Android phones right now, the LG-manufactured G2x has a 4-inch screen, a 1GHz dual-core processor, and a more-than-suitable 8-megapixel rear camera. That it runs Android Froyo and not Gingerbread is kind of a bummer, but whatever. As for pricing and availability, T-Mobile says it will be available "later this spring." And that's about the extent of it for now. Um, great!

T-Mobile Makes America's Largest 4G Network Even Faster by Lighting Up 42 Mbps Speed in Las Vegas, New York and Orlando

The Company's Innovative 4G Device Portfolio Expands With Tablet, Mobile Broadband Devices and Smartphones, Including the T-Mobile G2x with Google

ORLANDO, Fla. and BELLEVUE, Wash. - March 22, 2011 - Today at the International CTIA Wireless 2011, T-Mobile USA, Inc. announced the expansion of its broad selection of consumer-ready 4G products, including the T-Mobile® G2x with GoogleTM which is built for speed and mobile entertainment. T-Mobile also announced the first major markets where it is doubling the speed of its 4G network to achieve a theoretical download speed of 42 Mbps. T-Mobile customers in Las Vegas, New York and Orlando, Fla., will be the first in the country to experience the increased 4G speed, followed closely by Chicago and further expansion of the New York network into Long Island, N.Y., and Northern New Jersey. By mid-year, T-Mobile expects 140 million Americans in 25 markets to have access to increased 4G speeds.

"As T-Mobile continues the aggressive expansion of America's Largest 4G Network, we're doubling our maximum speed in more than two dozen markets, starting with three important cities today," said Neville Ray, chief technology officer, T-Mobile USA. "We will continue to build on our 4G network advantage this year, providing customers with an industry-leading mobile data experience."

As T-Mobile's 4G network continues to expand and get faster, the company's portfolio of 4G products is also growing. T-Mobile has announced plans to deliver 25 4G-capabile devices this year and this spring will introduce seven new 4G-capable devices spanning smartphones, tablets and mobile broadband products that will benefit from America's Largest 4G NetworkTM. T-Mobile's 4G devices allow customers to video chat, surf the Web, download and stream high-definition (HD) and 3D video, and use their favorite applications as new 4G- enabled products with these capabilities come to market.

"Access to mobile content is central to the experience on a vast and growing number of consumer devices, exponentially increasing the demand for fast 4G mobile broadband connections," said Cole Brodman, chief marketing officer, T-Mobile USA. "In fact, data traffic on T-Mobile's network is quadrupled year over year. With smartphone data plans starting at just $10 a month - and a growing line-up of innovative 4G smartphones and tablets - we are meeting the demand for mobile data, and making it easier than ever for customers to step up to 4G."

Industry-Leading 4G Smartphone Lineup
Adding to T-Mobile's industry-leading lineup of 4G smartphones, including the new Galaxy STM 4G and upcoming T-Mobile Sidekick® 4GTM, T-Mobile today introduced the T-Mobile G2x with Google. The latest 4G smartphone to join T-Mobile's innovative G-series devices, the G2x is powered by a 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core processor, brilliant 4-inch capacitive touch screen display and preloaded video games, such as Need For Speed SHIFT HD. Manufactured by LG Mobile Phones, the G2x is powered by AndroidTM 2.2 and comes equipped with an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash and autofocus and a front- facing camera paired with T-Mobile Video Chat powered by QikTM for staying in touch with family and friends.

Cube made of 512 LEDs does 3D with calculus, not glasses (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/cube-made-of-512-leds-does-3d-with-calculus-not-glasses-video/

Cube made of 512 LEDs does glasses-free 3D for real (video)

No goofy active shutter glasses, no headache-inducing parallax barrier screens, no optical trickery here. This is a pure 3D display -- unfortunately done at a resolution of just 8 x 8 x 8. It's a hand-built LED cube created by Nick Schulze, powered by Arduino, and driven largely by Matlab. Yes, Matlab, an application you probably deleted less than three minutes after signing off on your calculus final. We can't help you find that installation disc again, but we can encourage you to enjoy the video of this 3D matrix of blinkenlights after the break, and you can get the full details on how to build your own at the other end of that source link.

Continue reading Cube made of 512 LEDs does 3D with calculus, not glasses (video)

Cube made of 512 LEDs does 3D with calculus, not glasses (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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