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Tuesday, May 03, 2011

AMD's Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition wears the gigahertz crown

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/amds-phenom-ii-x4-980-black-edition-wears-the-gigahertz-crown/

AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition

At only $195, it's hard to deny that AMD's new Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition desktop chip is a bargain. Its four cores hum along at 3.7GHz, the fastest base clock speed of any consumer CPU, and the unlocked multiplier should make it trivial for overclockers to push this beast to 4GHz and beyond. The 980 slides right into the same price point as the previous champ, the Phenom II X4 975, and knocks a few bucks off the former clock-frequency king. All of this seems like great news for AMD fans. Of course, if you're starting from scratch and not just looking to upgrade an aging AM3 rig, keep in mind that only $30 more scores you the mid-range Core i5-2500K that consistently outperforms the 980, consumes less power, and also has an unlocked multiplier. Guess there's always the graphics market if you care to see AMD being competitive. For the nitty-gritty on how its latest central processing unit stacks up, see the source links.

AMD's Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition wears the gigahertz crown originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 18:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Olympus' LS-20M boasts dual mics and 1080p recording, split personality

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/olympus-ls-20m-boasts-dual-mics-and-1080p-recording-split-pers/

Cisco may have washed its hands of pocket camcorders, but Olympus is ready to dive into the market with gusto. The company, best known for its cameras and voice recorders, just brought those two worlds together by announcing the LS-20M, a handheld whose relatively high-end audio specs should help it go toe-to-toe with Zoom. In addition to 1080p video, the LS-20M records 24 bit / 96 mHz Linear PCM audio using a pair of condenser mics. Alas, at $300 it has a small 2-inch screen and no optical zoom, but at least Olympus borrowed four of the visual effects that make its PEN cameras so fun to use. Look for it in June, and in the meantime, hit the PR for more details.

Continue reading Olympus' LS-20M boasts dual mics and 1080p recording, split personality

Olympus' LS-20M boasts dual mics and 1080p recording, split personality originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 18:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dual-booting ViewSonic ViewPad 10 gets Android 2.2 upgrade, patient owners join 2010

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/dual-booting-viewsonic-viewpad-10-gets-android-2-2-upgrade-pati/

Good things come to those who wait. If you bought the dual-booting ViewSonic ViewPad 10, Android 1.6 be damned, we have some good news -- the tablet's getting an upgrade to Android 2.2. Just to refresh your memories, that leap from Donut to Froyo means ViewPad 10 owners will now get updated Gmail, Calendar, Google Maps, Gallery, and YouTube apps, a refined onscreen keyboard, compatabilty with newer applications, and a healthy dose of sorely needed eye candy. New customers can choose one that also runs Windows 7 Home Premium and has 16GB of flash storage ($599) or one with Win 7 Professional and 32GB of space ($679). As for those of you chomping at the bit to upgrade, ViewSonic is keeping things interesting by compelling you to download Froyo onto a thumb drive, and then plug both it and a USB keyboard into the ViewPad to install the update. Then again, something tells us the kind of person who would opt for the ViewPad 10 over other ViewSonic tablets might actually enjoy the challenge.

Continue reading Dual-booting ViewSonic ViewPad 10 gets Android 2.2 upgrade, patient owners join 2010

Dual-booting ViewSonic ViewPad 10 gets Android 2.2 upgrade, patient owners join 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 19:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft's home of the future lulls teens to sleep with Tweets (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/microsofts-home-of-the-future-lulls-teens-to-sleep-with-tweets/

Microsoft Home

Microsoft Home is a sort of "world of tomorrow" for the computer nerd set where Surface takes the place of video phones and dinner pills. The only difference is that, unlike those World's Fair staples, Redmond's vision of the not-so-distant future isn't open to the public. This is a private testing ground where researchers can try out concepts, like a watch that records health data and syncs it with your home network or a media center that can analyze video and identify products and locations featured on screen. You might not be able to swing by the campus and visit, but you can catch a glimpse of suburban life in 2025 -- populated by touchscreen wireless charging trays and interactive walls -- in the video after the break. We'll take it all, except the wallpaper -- we don't need #winning Tweets floating overhead while we try to get some shut-eye.

[Thanks, Vygantas]

Continue reading Microsoft's home of the future lulls teens to sleep with Tweets (video)

Microsoft's home of the future lulls teens to sleep with Tweets (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 11:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Videolicious For The iPhone Helps You Edit Quality Videos, Fast

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2011/05/02/videolicious-helps-you-edit-good-videos-fast/

Videolicious for the iPhone and iPad is a free app designed for those of us who aren’t professional video editors but still want to have our important moments preserved in quality video. By walking people through the step by step combining of video footage, photos and music, Videolicious lets users create their own documentary style clips and share them to Twitter, Facebook and email.

Users who want to create a video simply choose the already existing shots or footage they want to include, in the order they want them to appear. Then the app records the user telling the story behind the photos or video, then asking them to select accompanying music from either within the app itself or iPhone playlists. Once all elements are selected, the Videolicious technology analyzes and fits together the components, taking less than a minute to process. The quality of the finished product is definitely greater than the sum of its parts.

While the format definitely doesn’t have the versatility of customizing and editing something with Final Cut Pro and can get cookie cutter after awhile, the system is meant to provide discrete units of video for users who want to create something good, quickly. Founder Matt Singer tells me that the app is designed specifically for those that want to “get the best possible result in the least amount of time.”

On launch Videolicious has partnered up with Martha Stewart, SELF magazine, Lucky Magazine and ReadyMade who are using the app to further engage with readers by letting them upload custom Videolicious video content. Stewart, for example, will be asking viewers a question every month and culling some of the best Videolicious responses for MarthaStewart.com.

“A lot of media companies are looking for a way to get their audiences involved with editorial,” says Singer “This empowers readers to participate.”

We shot a Videolicious video in the TechCrunch offices (below), and head of TechCrunch TV Jon Orlin was into it. “It’s impressive. It’s not going to put professional video editors out of business. But, for videos you shoot with your phone and don’t want to spend time to bring into iMovie or Final Cut, this software is great. By the time you imported all the clips into a separate editing program, Videolicious would have a finished video,” he said.

The Videolicious app is an outgrowth of Talk Market, a company that built custom automatic video editing systems for Fortune 500 retailers and media companies. Talk Market has $2 million in seed funding from former Bloomingdales CEO Marvin Traub and Amazon.

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The Talk Market

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Apple iMac refresh official: Thunderbolt and next gen quad-core processors

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/apple-imac-refresh-official/

The last time Apple updated its iMac line we were treated to Intel Core 2010 processors. So it's no surprise -- really, no surprise at all -- to see Apple refreshing the lineup today. Prices start at $1,199 (as usual) for the 21.5-inch (1,920 x 1,080 pixel IPS) model with new 2.5GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor and 512MB of AMD Radeon HD 6750M graphics. Prices soon jump to $1,999 for a 27-inch (2,560 x 1,440 IPS panel) model with 3.1GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 CPU and 1GB of AMD Radeon HD 6970M graphics, or optional 3.4GHz quad-core Core i7 proc and 2GB of HD 6970M graphics if you so desire. We're talking Intel Sandy Bridge, of course, but Apple never goes into specifics. New owners will also be treated to a Thunderbolt jack (one on the 21.5-inch model and two on the 27-incher) and FaceTime HD camera with 24 hours shipping. Yeah, it looks the same, but it's the insides that count.

Gallery: Apple iMac with Thunderbolt

Continue reading Apple iMac refresh official: Thunderbolt and next gen quad-core processors

Apple iMac refresh official: Thunderbolt and next gen quad-core processors originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 08:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Peugeot EX1 sets new lap record for electric cars at Germany's NÃ¼rburgring circuit

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/02/peugeot-ex1-sets-new-lap-record-for-electric-cars-at-germanys-n/

Some concept cars may just be for show, but not Peugeot's all-electric EX1. It made its debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and has continued to be fine-tuned by the automaker ever since -- work that has now paid off in the form of a new lap record for electric vehicles at Germany's Nürburgring circuit. Despite "unfavorable" weather conditions, the car managed to post a lap time of 9 minutes and 1.338 seconds (with an average speed of 85.9 miles per hour), which handily beat the previous record of 9:51 set by a modified Mini E last year. Unfortunately, that record doesn't mean Peugeot is any closer to actually selling one of these -- the car was primarily created to celebrate the automaker's 200th anniversary.

Peugeot EX1 sets new lap record for electric cars at Germany's Nürburgring circuit originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 May 2011 16:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMD debuts first embedded GPU with support for OpenCL and six displays

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/02/amd-debuts-first-embedded-gpu-with-support-for-opencl-and-six-di/

Disappointed by the lack of support for multiple displays and OpenCL in embedded GPUs these days? Then AMD may have just made your day. It's just debuted its new "desktop level" Radeon E6760 discrete GPU, which packs both OpenCL support and Eyefinity-enhanced support for no less than six independent displays. AMD also notes that the GPU can be paired with its upcoming Llano APU for some additional graphics and parallel computing power and, while it might not wind up in many consumer devices, the company says it's ideal for everything from casino games to medical imaging. Head on past the break for the complete press release.

Continue reading AMD debuts first embedded GPU with support for OpenCL and six displays

AMD debuts first embedded GPU with support for OpenCL and six displays originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 May 2011 17:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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China joins Better Place on the battery-swapping bandwagon

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/02/china-joins-better-place-on-the-battery-swapping-bandwagon/

EV's are great for getting around in a green-conscious way, but plug-in people must practice patience while waiting hours to juice up their ride. Better Place's battery swapping stations offer much faster EV refueling, which is why China Southern Power Grid Co. (CSG) is betting big on the technology. The Chinese utility giant has teamed up with Guangzhou's municipal government and Better Place to build a power pack exchange depot and an EV education center. With exhibits, meeting rooms, and EVs to test drive, the education center aims to help persuade administrative officials, captains of industry, and the general populace to jump on the electric car bandwagon. In addition, Ghuangzhou's government will "encourage local car manufacturers" to create autos with switchable batteries and "promote" EV adoption in taxis and state vehicles -- all of which seems likely to happen post-haste, 'cause what the Chinese government wants, the Chinese government gets.

Continue reading China joins Better Place on the battery-swapping bandwagon

China joins Better Place on the battery-swapping bandwagon originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 May 2011 21:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Supply chain issues limit ASUS' Eee Pad Transformer production to 10,000 a month?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/supply-chain-issues-limit-asus-eee-pad-transformer-production-t/

So, it seems that ASUS' Eee Pad Transformer has been hard to find, at least in part due to reasons other than customer demand. According to Netbook News, the Taiwanese company is having trouble sourcing the supplies needed to build the tablet / keyboard combo in sufficient numbers. For now, that means only 10,000 Transformers a month -- a fraction of the 300,000 ASUS was reportedly hoping to make. Word on the web suggests components in greater quantities are coming soon, and production will ramp up significantly in June. Until then, would-be owners will have to go the beg, borrow, or steal route to get one. Investing in a horseshoe or four-leaf clover might not be a bad idea, either.

Supply chain issues limit ASUS' Eee Pad Transformer production to 10,000 a month? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 00:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG P430 and P530 Blade laptops bedazzle with slim bezels, aluminum bodies, and Core i7

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/lgs-p430-and-p530-blade-laptops-set-out-to-conquer-the-world-wi/

We heard of a bezel-hating LG Shuriken display sneaking its way onto Acer laptops recently, but the Korean company has wisely opted to debut that cutting-edge technology in its own portable computers first. The 14-inch P430 and 15.6-inch P530 mark the start of LG's new Blade series of laptops, which are the result of some obsessive slimming work at the LG labs -- display thickness is 4.5mm and 4.7mm, respectively, while the bezel on the 14-inch model is so narrow as to fit its screen within the dimensions of a traditional 13.3-inch laptop. Weight, at 1.94kg on the P430 and 2.2kg on P530, is also said to be on par with machines offering significantly smaller screens, but that's not at the sacrifice of construction materials as brushed aluminum is used to strengthen LG's new slimsters. A Core i7 CPU and GeForce GT520M GPU will provide the internal firepower, though the rest of the hardware specs are as yet unannounced. The P430 will launch in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America at the end of May, to be followed by the P530 in June. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading LG P430 and P530 Blade laptops bedazzle with slim bezels, aluminum bodies, and Core i7

LG P430 and P530 Blade laptops bedazzle with slim bezels, aluminum bodies, and Core i7 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 00:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Logitech's 720p TV Cam lets you get your Skype on your 2011 Viera Connect HDTV

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/logitechs-720p-tv-cam-lets-you-get-your-skype-on-your-2011-vier/

Logitech's 720p TV Cam lets you get your Skype on your Viera HDTV

If you have yourself a Skype-compatible 2011 Viera Connect HDTV from Panasonic but still find your living room lacking the optics required to make high-latency VOIP calls that much more interesting, you now have yet another option courtesy of Logitech. The company has just announced its TV Cam for Skype, a 720p model that, if we didn't know better, we'd say was exactly the same as the camera you can get for the Revue -- which is also a dead ringer for the C910. Anyhow, it'll do 720p video, has cool blue lights, and is set to be available sometime this month for $149.99. More details in the PR after the break.

Continue reading Logitech's 720p TV Cam lets you get your Skype on your 2011 Viera Connect HDTV

Logitech's 720p TV Cam lets you get your Skype on your 2011 Viera Connect HDTV originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 04:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Electronic House crowns iOS-equipped dwelling 2011 Home of the Year

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/electronic-house-crowns-ios-equipped-dwelling-2011-home-of-the-y/

Electronic House just announced its pick for 2011 Home of the Year, and from the look of things, this iOS-enabled abode has the stuff to put your robotic butler out of work. The mammoth craftsman's interiors, designed by OCD poster boy Jeff Lewis, were automated by HD Media Systems using the Savant app. Everything from lighting to shower temperature are controlled using wall-mounted iPads or a series of unencumbered iOS devices. A pre-programmed "party button" immediately adjusts lighting and temperature, and bumps music to the 15 different Sonance in-ceiling speaker zones while displaying a slideshow on monitors dispersed throughout the house. Among the extravagant extras at work here are a switch in the master closet for flipping on the iron in the laundry room, a chandelier that flickers when it's time to switch out the toilet paper, and a virtual butler that warns of impending visitors. Looks to us like Rosie's days are numbered. Check out the source link for more automated overkill from this year's runners up.

Electronic House crowns iOS-equipped dwelling 2011 Home of the Year originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 07:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Strandbeests birthed from 3D printer pop out ready to walk (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/strandbeests-birthed-from-3d-printer-pop-out-ready-to-walk-vide/

While designer Theo Jansen's dreams of a race of independently multiplying Strandbeests is more than just a little bit out there, it seems he has found a way to streamline production of the rather fascinating self-propelled creatures. In language that is unique to Jansen's relationship with the things, he explains the impact of 3D printing on the Strandbeest production process as such: "Strandbeests have found a way to multiply by injecting their digital DNA directly into the Shapeways system." The 3D printed versions of his strolling mechanisms, known as Animaris Geneticus Parvus, are now available in the Shapeways store, and require zero post-printing assembly. Check out the video after the break for more of Jansen's eyebrow-lifting take on reality.

Continue reading Strandbeests birthed from 3D printer pop out ready to walk (video)

Strandbeests birthed from 3D printer pop out ready to walk (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 May 2011 08:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday, May 02, 2011

Gaming gets immersive thanks to union of pico projector and eye tracking camera (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/02/gaming-gets-immersive-thanks-to-union-of-pico-projector-and-eye/

Although in the earliest stages of development, this virtual reality gaming rig already looks pretty intriguing. Engineered by clever kids at the University of Texas at Austin, it hot-wires an eye tracking camera to a motorised pico projector with the result that the player literally can't take their eyes off the screen. Wherever they look, that is where their view of the gaming world is projected. The rig makes most sense in a first-person shooter, although the students have also tried it in a flight simulator where the player uses their head to roll and pitch the aircraft. Yes, it looks rather similar to the Microvision PicoP laser projection gun we wielded at CES, but there's a key difference: the player does not need to hold anything or have anything attached to their body. This unencumbered Kinect-esque approach could potentially allow a greater sense of freedom -- except that, for it to work, the player is forced to sit directly in front of the eye tracker. Find a way to fix this, dear Longhorns, and you could be onto something. Video after the break.

Continue reading Gaming gets immersive thanks to union of pico projector and eye tracking camera (video)

Gaming gets immersive thanks to union of pico projector and eye tracking camera (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 May 2011 09:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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