Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

drag2share: Verizon Galaxy Nexus extended battery makes blurrycam debut, shows off its hump

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/verizon-galaxy-nexus-extended-battery-makes-blurrycam-debut-sho/

LTE's dirty secret is also an open one -- it's a juice hog. So, if you're planning on snatching up a Big Red-branded Samsung Galaxy Nexus, you'll probably want to leapfrog that stock 1,850mAh battery for an extended one. Good thing, then, that Mr. Blurrycam stopped by Droid Life to give prospective owners a cure for what's about to ail them. The heftier battery only ups the ante to 2100mAh -- a far cry from the Droid Bionic's 2760mAh -- but, hey, it's better than the alternative. And for the style-obsessed mobile maven, it appears that de rigeur unsightly hump is less severe than you'd expect. You can check it out in the video after the break or in-store -- whenever that is.

Continue reading Verizon Galaxy Nexus extended battery makes blurrycam debut, shows off its hump

Verizon Galaxy Nexus extended battery makes blurrycam debut, shows off its hump originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Roku 2, LT update adds support for both MKVs and an upcoming official iOS remote app

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/roku-2-lt-update-adds-support-for-both-mkvs-and-an-upcoming-off/

Logitech's Revue isn't the only connected TV platform getting some holiday season update action, as Roku just announced a major update coming to all of its Roku 2 players (and the LT) with a slew of new features to. The two biggest additions we noted were support for MKV playback -- but no official local streaming channel yet, only USB playback is listed -- and mobile support for an official Roku iPhone app (unofficial ones are already available on many platforms, expect an Android version afterward) it says is "coming soon." That's not all however, as 3D (read: polygons, not glasses) game performance has been upgraded with new titles arriving soon to take advantage of it, while WiFi, Bluetooth remote battery and audio performance have all been tweaked. Hit the company blog for the official list of tweaks and keep an eye peeled for v4.2 build 1006 rolling out over the next couple of days to experience them firsthand. OG Roku boxes unfortunately appear to be left out of the fun for now -- the march from a onetime Netflix-only streamer to 300+ channels is not without a few casualties.

Roku 2, LT update adds support for both MKVs and an upcoming official iOS remote app originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Spectral Layers takes a cue from Photoshop, offers visual audio editing

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/spectral-layers-takes-a-cue-from-photoshop-offers-visual-audio/

Seemingly cooked up in the Law and Order squad room comes Spectral Layers, a Photoshop-inspired audio editing software from Divide Frame. The visual tool allows users to isolate, enhance and chop sounds using multiple layers and channels -- giving them complete control over individual voices, instruments and background noises. The whole process takes place within a 3D real-time display with commands reminiscent of the tried and true photo correcting staple. The software will set you back $695 for a single Mac or PC download, or $2199 for multiple licenses -- a small price to pay for musicians, sound junkies or Benson and Stabler wannabes. Check out the video after the break.

Continue reading Spectral Layers takes a cue from Photoshop, offers visual audio editing

Spectral Layers takes a cue from Photoshop, offers visual audio editing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, December 13, 2011

drag2share: Skype for Android Adds Photo and Video Messaging over Wi-Fi and 3G [Skype]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5867695/skype-for-android-adds-photo-and-video-messaging-over-wi+fi-and-3g

Skype for Android Adds Photo and Video Messaging over Wi-Fi and 3G Android: Want to send photos, videos, or files from your Android device over either Wi-Fi or 3G? Skype's latest Android app update can help you accomplish that.

The Skype blog is happy to announce that Skype 2.6 for Android now lets you embed pictures and videos in messages, whether you have a 3G connection or are on wireless. The app also boasts improved battery life and video quality for those owners of devices using the Nvidia Tegra 2 chipset, such as the Motorola XOOM or Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.

Skype for Android Adds Photo and Video Messaging over Wi-Fi and 3G You can download the app from the Android Market link below or scan the QR code to get free multimedia messaging over Wi-Fi or mobile data to any of your contacts.

Skype | Android Market

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drag2share: You Can Make Free Calls on Gmail Through 2012 [Google]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5867688/google-lets-you-call-your-friends-for-free-through-2012

You Can Make Free Calls on Gmail Through 2012 Google just announced an extension to free domestic calls using Gmail and the Google Voice web app. I'm currently calling every phone in America. So yeah, I'm pretty excited about the news.

The free domestic calls are for the United States and Canada only. Sorry Mexico. North American users can continue to make free calls from Gmail or their Google Voice account using the web app. (But not Mexico.) If you have Google Voice tied to your phone, you'll still have minutes deducted from your plan. Of course, if you have a mobile phone you probably have more minutes that you know what to do with. But still, it's a nice gesture. [Google]

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drag2share: Popcorn Hour bulks up for the C-300, can juggle an extra hard-disk or Blu-ray drive (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/popcorn-hour-bulks-up-for-the-c-300-can-juggle-an-extra-hard-di/

Some people may not be willing just yet to leave the world of physical media. Those circumspect media consumers may be intrigued by the latest Popcorn Hour box. Looking more substantial than the recent A-300, the C-300 model includes a 2.5-inch color TFT display at the front and packs space for both a quick-removable 3.5-inch HDD and an internal 2.5-inch SATA drive. A Blu-ray drive can also be mounted to the removable HD rack and you can expect support for the same plethora of file types we've come to expect from the Popcorn Hour family. Network options have been expanded, with a new built-in aerial supporting an optional Mini MII PCI WiFi N card. Syabas is already offering up a full UI walkthrough at the source below and you can take a peak at the C-300's built-in app market in action right after the break.

Continue reading Popcorn Hour bulks up for the C-300, can juggle an extra hard-disk or Blu-ray drive (video)

Popcorn Hour bulks up for the C-300, can juggle an extra hard-disk or Blu-ray drive (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Early Atom N2600 benchmark, can't cedar wood for the trails?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/early-atom-n2600-benchmark-cant-cedar-wood-for-the-trails/

It goes without saying that benchmarking something pre-release requires a cavalcade of sodium-chloride, but our curiousity was piqued at the prospect of some Cedar Trail sneak-peeks. Netbook Live has been at it again, pitting a 1.6GHz Atom N2600-touting ASUS Eee PC X101CH, against machines sporting 1.66GHz Atom N570 (ASUS 1015PX) and 1.0 GHz AMD C-50 (ASUS 1015B and Tosh NB550D) chips. The initial reports suggest that the 32nm-based N2600 is a touch behind the N570 in general CPU terms, but forges confidently ahead when it comes to graphics. The C-50 showed mixed results in CPU tests, with the N2600 falling behind on graphics this time round. The take-away being if you need more CPU oomph go for the meatier 1.83 GHz N2800. Hit the source link for the blow by blow breakdown.

Early Atom N2600 benchmark, can't cedar wood for the trails? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Inefficient? MIT's new chip software doesn't know the meaning of the word

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/inefficient-mits-new-chip-software-doesnt-know-the-meaning-of/

Would you rather have a power-hungry cellphone that could software-decode hundreds of video codecs, or a hyper-efficient system-on-chip that only processes H.264? These are the tough decisions mobile designers have to make, but perhaps not for much longer. MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory has developed a solution that could spell the end for inefficient devices. Myron King and Nirav Dave have expanded Arvind's BlueSpec software so engineers can tell it what outcomes they need and it'll decide on the most efficient design -- printing out hardware schematics in Verilog and software in C++. If this outcome-oriented system becomes widely adopted, we may never need worry about daily recharging again: good because we'll need that extra power to juice our sporty EV.

[Image courtesy of MIT / Melanie Gonick]

Inefficient? MIT's new chip software doesn't know the meaning of the word originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: YouTube launches education-only site, won't teach evolution of dance (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/youtube-launches-education-only-site-wont-teach-evolution-of-d/

The bandages are barely off after a recent nip-tuck and the internet's biggest time sink is going under the knife again with its new YouTube EDU initiative. Imagine your favorite video site with all the fun stuff stripped off -- it's essentially that. Gone are comments and related videos, and all the non brain-enhancing stuff, leaving just what's good for the grey matter. Why? Well, in the VHS era teachers had control, but now it's a minefield. With its wealth of knowledge, YouTube is an obvious choice for educators, but with so many ways to get RickRolled, or catch-up on the latest keyboard cat, pupils' attention can be lost in seconds. The project has content provided by over 600 educational outlets such as TED and the Smithsonian, with subjects broken down into more than 300 teacher-friendly playlists. We're not sure if "national constitutions"is going to be one of them, but hit the promo video after the break to find out more.

Continue reading YouTube launches education-only site, won't teach evolution of dance (video)

YouTube launches education-only site, won't teach evolution of dance (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Don't Use These 10 Words In Your Resume Or Cover Letter

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/most-overused-words-cover-letter-2011-12

using computer, shop, shopping, browsing, excited, mac book pro, computers, display, grand central apple store opening, december 9 2011, bi, dng

LinkedIn just released the most overused words in its 85 million user profiles. They are:

1. Extensive experience
2. Innovative
3. Motivated
4. Results-oriented
5. Dynamic
6. Proven track record
7. Team player
8. Fast-paced
9. Problem solver
10. Entrepreneurial

The company says to completely eliminate these in your resumes or cover letters, and instead replace them with specific examples of how you're a problem solver, etc.

In its release, LinkedIn also said users are 12 times more likely to be viewed as a potential job candidate if they have more than one position listed on their profile.

Now read about the worst questions to ask during a job interview >

Please follow War Room on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »

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drag2share: MIT builds camera that can capture at the speed of light (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/13/dnp-mit-builds-camera-that-can-capture-at-the-speed-of-light-vi/

A team from the MIT media lab has created a camera with a "shutter speed" of one trillion exposures per second -- enabling it to record light itself traveling from one point to another. Using a heavily modified Streak Tube (which is normally used to intensify photons into electron streams), the team could snap a single image of a laser as it passed through a soda bottle. In order to create the slow-motion film in the video we've got after the break, the team had to replicate the experiment hundreds of times. The stop-motion footage shows how light bounces through the bottle, collecting inside the opaque cap before dispersing. The revolutionary snapper may have a fast shutter but the long time it takes to process the images have earned it the nickname of the "the world's slowest fastest camera."

[Image courtesy of MIT / M. Scott Brauer]

Continue reading MIT builds camera that can capture at the speed of light (video)

MIT builds camera that can capture at the speed of light (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The New York Times | source

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Monday, December 12, 2011

drag2share: Groundbreaking photonic chip could spark Quantum Computing revolution

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/groundbreaking-photonic-chip-could-spark-quantum-computing-revol/

Quantum Computers already exist, but not in the "universal" form that would truly revolutionize computing. That's why the latest innovation from Bristol University has so much promise: a team from its center for Quantum Photonics has built a reprogrammable quantum chip. The 70mm x 3mm box is capable of measuring and manipulating entanglement and mixture -- fundamental elements of the mythical "universal" chip. It's taken the team six years to reach this point, but now it'll concentrate on scaling up the technology to create more complex systems, hopefully in time for our next smartphone purchase.

Continue reading Groundbreaking photonic chip could spark Quantum Computing revolution

Groundbreaking photonic chip could spark Quantum Computing revolution originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Extreme Tech | source

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drag2share: Lenovo IdeaPad U400 review

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/lenovo-ideapad-u400-review/

If you need evidence that the Ultrabook fad isn't impressing everybody, look no further than our inboxes. More than a few of you have been inquiring about the Lenovo IdeaPad U400, the 14-inch big brother to the IdeaPad U300s. And we think we understand why. Starting at a more palatable price of $800, it offers the same understated design as the U300s, except it brings an extra inch of screen real estate, along with an optical drive and discrete graphics. The best of both worlds, right? Beauty and a little more brawn? Not exactly. Though it looks the same, the U400 trades various components, starting with the storage disk and continuing on to the touchpad drivers. (Specs, schmecs, are we right?) So how much of a difference does this new set of innards make? Meet us past the break to find out.

Gallery: Lenovo IdeaPad U400 review

Continue reading Lenovo IdeaPad U400 review

Lenovo IdeaPad U400 review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: ASUS delays Transformer Prime's release until WiFi fix is found

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/asus-delays-transformer-primes-release-until-wifi-fix-is-found/

If you were hoping to get you hands on a Transformer Prime this month, prepare to be disappointed. After hearing rumors of the ASUS slate's delay due to Wifi issues, we've now received confirmation from ASUS Canada via one of our tipsters. The company says that "the WiFi range on the TF201 did not meet our quality standards" and that it will not release the product until the wireless is up to snuff. In order to combat the issue, ASUS "will be implementing a new solution," though it declined to elaborate on what the solution would be. Naturally, no timetable for the Transformer Prime's release was provided either. So, if you jumped on the pre-order, let us know if you've heard the same song and dance from ASUS in the comments below.

[Thanks, George]

ASUS delays Transformer Prime's release until WiFi fix is found originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Samsung Should Stop Pretending Its New 14-Inch Laptop Is an Ultrabook [Ultrabook]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5867181/samsung-is-pretending-its-new-14+inch-laptop-is-an-ultrabook-its-not

Samsung Should Stop Pretending Its New 14-Inch Laptop Is an Ultrabook

When is an Ultrabook not an Ultrabook? When it's got a 14-inch screen, weighs 4 pounds and has an optical drive, that's when.

Samsung has just announced its new Ultrabook range, branded Series 5 Ultra, reports Sammy Hub, and amongst them is one that stands out. Not for good reasons, though.

One of the models boasts a 14-inch screen. Nothing wrong with that, per se. But it also features an optical drive, a 1TB HDD, discrete AMD graphics, HDMI and Ethernet ports, and a whole swathe of brushed aluminum. All of which makes it 0.83-inch thick, and causes it to weigh in at 4 pounds.

Sorry, Samsung, did you miss the memo? Ultrabooks are supposed to high-performance, sure — but they're also supposed to ultra-portable. This 14-inch whopper is not an Ultrabook.

Samsung has also announced a more standard 13-inch model, which is 0.59 inches thick, weighs 3 pounds, and doesn't have an optical drive. With a Sandy Bridge processor, combined SSD and HDD and the usual shiny casing, it looks set to blend right in to the deluge of so-so Ultrabooks we've seen so far.

They're launching in Korea this month, and will appear in the US before too long. Launch price in Korea is equivalent to about $1,300 for the 13-incher and $1,345 for the 14-inch beast.

This a great example of just how absurd labels like "Ultrabook" are. When manufacturers stick a name like that on any old product, it's bound to cause confusion amongst consumers. The knock-on effect is that both the fat and thin products tagged as Ultrabooks suffer: the monster machine never lives up to its name, and the skinny one's reputation is tarnished by association.

Even if both are fine computers — and they might be — they're both going to suffer. And that's a shame. Sort it out, Samsung. [Sammy Hub via Pocket Lint]

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