Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Saturday, August 04, 2012

Adafruit launches Raspberry Pi Educational Linux Distro, hastens our hacking

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/03/adafruit-launches-raspberry-pi-educational-linux-distro/

The Raspberry Pi is already considered a hacker's paradise. However, that assumes that owners have all the software they need to start in the first place. Adafruit wants to give the process a little nudge through its Raspberry Pi Educational Linux Distro. The software includes a customized distribution of Raspbian, Occidentalis, that either turns on or optimizes SSHD access, Bonjour networking, WiFi adapter support and other hack-friendly tools. The build further rolls in Hexxeh's firmware and a big, pre-built 4GB SD card image. Before you start frantically clicking the download link, be aware that the "educational" title doesn't refer to a neophyte's playground -- Adafruit still assumes you know enough about Linux and Raspberry Pi units to be productive (or dangerous). Anyone who was already intrigued by the Raspberry Pi by itself, though, might appreciate what happens when it's tossed into a fruit salad.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Software

Adafruit launches Raspberry Pi Educational Linux Di! stro, ha stens our hacking originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 19:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SLIPS liquid repeller is inspired by carnivorous plants, enemy to insects and graffiti artists alike

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/03/slips-liquid-repeller-is-inspired-by-carnivorous-plants-enemy-t/

When a team of Harvard researchers wanted to create the ultimate liquid- and solid-repelling surface, they looked toward the Nepenthes pitcher plant, where curious insects check in and never check out, thanks to slippery walls that lead to their tiny, horrific fate. The tropical plant inspired the creation of SLIPS (Self-healing, Slippery Liquid-Infused Porous Surface), a synthetic material that utilizes nano/ microstructured substrates, capable of repelling just about anything you can throw at it. During a visit to the hallowed Crimson halls, the team was kindly enough to show off the material through a series of messy, messy demos, dropping water, motor oil, liquid asphalt and newly-mixed concrete on aluminum and glass. The team even went crazy with a can of black spray paint, comparing the results to a Teflon surface. The outcome was the same in all case -- an amazingly repellent material.

The team has published a number of papers on the stuff, including ones that demonstrate its ice- and bacteria-repelling properties. Oh, and like its natural inspiration, SLIPS does a great jobs keeping bugs off its surface. You can check out our demos and one unhappy ant filmed by the SLIPS team. No insects were harmed in the making of our video, at least -- and the lab assures us that ant had a good life before learning the hard way why it shouldn't mess with Harvard scientists.

Continue reading SLIPS liquid repelle! r is ins pired by carnivorous plants, enemy to insects and graffiti artists alike

SLIPS liquid repeller is inspired by carnivorous plants, enemy to insects and graffiti artists alike originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 20:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumored HTC One X+ with 1.7GHz Tegra 3 revealed in NenaMark report?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/03/rumored-htc-one-x-with-1-7ghz-tegra-3-revealed-in-nenamark-repo/

DNP Rumored HTC One X with 17GHz Tegra 3 revealed in NenaMark report

We've heard murmurings of it before, but they've been just that. Now we've got the first shred of hard evidence that the fabled HTC One X+ is actually real. Rumored to be heading to T-Mobile (or AT&T, depending on who you ask), this 1.7GHz super phone popped up over at NenaMark's site, bearing the model number PM63100. Sadly, that internal moniker doesn't really reveal much, but between that and the fact that it's running Jelly Bean 4.1.1 we're confident this isn't something already on the market. And the reported resolution of 1280 x 720 combined with its high-speed Tegra 3 innards puts this squarely in flagship territory. What else do we know? Not a whole heck of a lot. But, as always, the truth will be revealed in time.

Filed under: Cellphones

Rumored HTC One X+ with 1.7GHz Tegra 3 revealed in NenaMark report? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 21:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola RAZR V goes on sale at Bell, gives Canadians a thin slice of Ice Cream Sandwich

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/03/motorola-razr-v-goes-on-sale-at-bell/

Bell's version of the Motorola RAZR V might not be the media darling that is the Atrix HD, but that shouldn't dampen the interest for Canadians that can at last buy what's potentially a slick deal for an Android 4.0 phone. For $30 on a 3-year contract, or $400 contract-free, the carrier is offering an arguably improved version of the late 2011 RAZR (Droid RAZR for Yankees). Although it bulks up slightly to a third of an inch thick, it's still a skinny, Kevlar-clad wedge. The primary upgrade outside of the OS is a swap-out of that frankly mediocre Super AMOLED screen of the original RAZR smartphone for a much nicer ColorBoost LCD -- sorry, ColourBoost. Otherwise, you're getting the familiar 1.2GHz processor, 14.4Mbps HSPA+ data and 8-megapixel rear camera, although Motorola has shaved the built-in storage to 4GB to keep the costs down. We'd still be tempted to snag the Galaxy Nexus across the aisle to get us a taste of Jelly Bean for the same money, but Canucks with a penchant for Smart Actions now have an option outside of Rogers to get their fix.

Filed under: Cellphones

Motorola RAZR V goes on sale at Bell, gives Canadians a thin slice of Ice Cream Sandwich originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 22:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seagate completes purchase of LaCie in quest to become king of the hard drive hill

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/03/seagate-completes-purchase-lacie/

The final price may end up being more than the initially proposed $186 million, but Seagate has successfully acquired a controlling share of LaCie stocks. The provisional price of €4.05 per share could increase to €4.17 if Seagate manages to accumulate 95 percent of the company's stocks in the next six months. As of now, however, it hold just shy of 65 percent, enough to take control of the French manufacturer. With LaCie and its valuable consumer business under its belt and Samsung's SSD expertise, the move to reject a Western Digital take over is looking better and better. After all, consumer choice is the engine of capitalism and now Seagate has more than enough ammunition to take on WD and its Hitachi properties. Check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading Seagate completes purchase of LaCie in quest to become king of the hard drive hill

Filed under: Storage

Seagate completes purchase of LaCie in quest to become king of the hard drive hill originally appeared on Engadget on F! ri, 03 A ug 2012 23:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon-branded Galaxy S III wireless charging kit starts showing up at retail stores

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/04/verizon-samsung-galaxy-s3-wireless-charging-kit/

Back when we met the Galaxy S III for the very first time, Samsung promised a wireless charging solution would be coming soon to its sleek and potent slab. Unfortunately, Sammy's power-boosting companion's been hit by hapless delays that have prevented it from seeing the light of day. Now, thanks to a few recent shots from Phone Arena, it looks like at least some S3 owners could see a bundle in the near future, albeit not the official one from the Korean outfit. According to the site's kind tipster, Verizon's allegedly pricing the charging station at $50, while the rear case is expected to be around $40 -- making it nearly $90 for the entire kit. Naturally, this could change at any given moment, but hey, at least we know it's out there.

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Wireless

Verizon-branded Galaxy S III wireless charging kit starts showing up at retail stores originally appeared on Enga! dget on Sat, 04 Aug 2012 00:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IBM pushing System z, Power7+ chips as high as 5.5GHz, mainframes get mightier

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/04/ibm-pushing-system-z-power7-chips-as-high-as-5-5ghz/

Ten-core, 2.4GHz Xeons? Pshaw. IBM is used to the kind of clock speeds and brute force power that lead to Europe-dominating supercomputers. Big Blue has no intentions of letting its guard down when it unveils its next generation processors at the upcoming Hot Chips conference: the company is teasing that the "zNext" chip at the heart of a future System z mainframe will ramp up to 5.5GHz -- that's faster than the still-speedy 5.2GHz z196 that has led IBM's pack since 2010. For those who don't need quite that big a sledgehammer, the technology veteran is hinting that its upcoming Power7+ processors will be up to 20 percent faster than the long-serving Power7, whose current 4.14GHz peak clock rate may seem quaint. We'll know just how much those extra cycles mean when IBM takes to the conference podium on August 29th, but it's safe to say that our databases and large-scale simulations won't know what hit them.

Filed under: Desktops

IBM pushing System z, Power7+ chips as high as 5.5GHz, mainfra! mes get mightier originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Aug 2012 02:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friday, August 03, 2012

A Wi-Fi NEX Camera Would Be Fine and All But Sony Needs to Chill Out [Rumors]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5931550/a--wi+fi-nex-camera-would-be-fine-and-all-but-sony-needs-to-chill-out

A purported leak reported by Sony Alpha Rumors has outed the latest incarnation of its Sony's mid-range mirroless, interchangeable-lens camera beast, the NEX-5N. Well, it's two cameras really; the Sony NEX-5R and Sony NEX-6 will supposedly be announced in September.

The cameras were discovered on the product listing of an Indonesian company. According to Sony Alpha Rumor's reports, the cameras will be Wi-Fi enabled much like Samsung's latest of mirrorless cameras. The NEX-5R will supposedly have the same vanity-friendly 180-degree tilting screen that's good for taking self-portraits. The NEX-6 looks to be a new addition to the line. It will supposedly be a cheaper version of the $1300 NEX-7 with a lower-resolution electronic viewfinder.

We're fond of Sony's NEX camers. At $600 with a lens, the fantastic NEX-F3 (pictured above) is one of the best camera deals out there—just like the NEX-C3 a year before and the NEX-3 a year before that. Yup, Sony has been upgrading its mirrorless line-up every single year. And now it's apparently adding a fourth camera? After a while these little iterations and different version almost start to feel like product spam. Why not save the bitsy upgrades for a monster refresh? Do we need so many concurrent versions of basically the same thing? As we've seen with companies like Nikon and Canon, sometimes spacing upgrades out gives consumers new products that actually have appreciable differences from their predecessors. But, hey, as long as Sony's cameras keep kicking butt, we've got no right to complain. [Postel.go via The Verge via Sony Alpha Rumors]

Verizon survey reveals FiOS Companion Android tablet, aka the Motorola Corvair

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/03/verizon-fios-companion-tablet-motorola-corvair/

While it hasn't actually started to roll out yet, one of our readers sent in pics of a Verizon FiOS survey gauging reactions to a new device that "may be available in the future" as the FiOS Companion tablet. As described in the survey, it's a WiFi-connected Android slate that not only runs the usual apps, but also works as universal remote control and streams "select" TV channels (probably the same ones as the Xbox 360 app) directly to its screen. The sole picture included confirms we're looking at the Motorola Corvair 6-inch Android 2.3 tablet that surfaced late last year with all of those features, home automation tie-ins and a 4000mAh battery. The survey questions don't reveal much else about its capabilities or potential pricing other than asking users if they would be interested in customizing their own home screen, and how. We'd hope the software has seen some updates since its original leak, but knowing this market that seems unlikely. All we can do now is help Verizon / Motorola with that customer research they were hoping to perform so let them know -- is this something you'd be interested in?

[Thanks, anonymous]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Tablet PCs

Verizon survey reveals FiOS Companion Android tablet, aka the Motorola Corvair originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 16:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BLU Products intros Vivo 4.3, says it's 'world's first' dual-SIM smartphone with Super AMOLED Plus

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/03/blu-products-vivo-4-3-smartphone/

It feels like it was only yesterday that BLU was keeping us slightly occupied with its Studio 5.3 and TouchBook 7.3 devices, which, as you may or may not know, left us with somewhat of a bittersweet taste in our mouths. Still, the past is the past, and now the company's back for more with the recent revelation of its Vivo 4.3 handset; one the company's loudly dubbing as the "world's first dual-SIM smartphone with Super AMOLED Plus." Regardless of any global, self-induced titles, the 4.3-inch Vivo appears to offer some interesting features of its own, including that aforementioned Super AMOLED Plus screen, a 1GHz, dual-core Cortex A9 CPU, dual-SIM capabilities and a tweaked flavor of Android 4.0. What's best, however, is BLU plans on selling the Vivo 4.3 unlocked in the US next month for $250, while additional availability is "soon to follow" through Latin America and some parts of Asia.

Continue reading BLU Products intros Vivo 4.3, says it's 'world's first' dual-SIM smartphone with Super AMOLED Plus

Filed under: Cellphones

BLU Products intros Vivo 4.3, says it's 'world's first' dual-SIM smartphone with Super AMOLED Plus! ori ginally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 16:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This $200 Camera Turns Your TV Into a Skype Center [Skype]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5931526/this-200-camera-turns-your-tv-into-a-skype-center

Using Skype on your TV is kinda neat: it opens the conversation right up and makes group chats more fun. Now Skype and Logitech have announced a new TV-mounted camera that lets you do that conveniently—for a price.

The TV Cam HD is compatible with any HDMI-equipped TV, and can use either Wi-Fi or ethernet to hook up to the internet. The device is pre-loaded with Skype—running on what we're not quite sure—so you can just use it to log in to your existing account and make video calls, or proper phone calls using credit.

The thing rings when your TV is on or off—which is either a curse or a blessing, depending on your view—and has a zoom feature which may be useful if you're sat on the sofa by yourself. It also claims to work well in low-light conditions, but some real-life experience is probably needed before that claim is believed.

If you feel like you've seen something like this before, then that's because you probably have. The TelyHD offers a very similar concept, but retails at $250.

By comparison, the Logitech TV Cam HD is set to cost $200. But while that is $50 cheaper, it's still astronomical for what amounts to a webcam with some processing power and pre-installed software. What you're paying for, of course, is convenience—it's just up to you to decide whether it's worth it. [Logitech]

Dropped calls, slow download speeds rank among top gripes of mobile users

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/03/pew-research-dropped-calls-complaints/

Everyone has an opinion, and if they all stink, then Pew must have one hell of a tolerance for foul odors. The research group recently surveyed a number of mobile phone owners to determine their primary complaints, and while it's not much of a surprise, slow network performance stole the show. In all, 77 percent aired at least some dissatisfaction with download speeds, and nearly half of all respondents cited frequent frustration. The story is similar for dropped calls, as 72 percent of those surveyed claim to experience the annoyance at least occasionally. While less widespread, the distribution of those who receive unwanted marketing attempts via either telephone calls or text messages is roughly equal -- it seems reasonable to assume that many respondents are harassed by both means. For more surveys*, just text #eng-123 to 9999. *Outrageous fees will apply.

Continue reading Dropped calls, slow download speeds rank among top gripes of mobile users

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Dropped calls, slow download speeds rank among top gripes of mobile users originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 03:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASRock Vision 3D 252B reviewed: a quiet, top-shelf HTPC worthy of the premium price

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/03/asrock-vision-3d-252b-reviewed/

Sure, we know there's great temptation to go the DIY route when considering your next HTPC, but if you're looking for a small form factor solution, there are legitimate advantages inherent to prebuilt systems. HotHardware just put the ASRock Vision 3D 252B through a rigorous review, and while it isn't the newest rig on the block, it's said to be worthy of your consideration just the same. At the system's heart, you'll find a Core i5 2520M -- which is from the Sandy Bridge era -- but the diminutive computer is said to provide flawless playback of all media types. Other high points include the system's quiet operation and low power consumption, and in summation, "The component choices, connectivity options, and form factor all hit the sweet spot." While the roughly $900 price may deter some, HotHardware recommends the Vision 3D 252B as a worthwhile HTPC that provides better connectivity options and a smaller size than the DIY alternative.

Filed under: Desktops

ASRock Vision 3D 252B reviewed: a quiet, top-shelf HTPC worthy of the premium price originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 02:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Logitech launches TV Cam HD for living room video chats: built-in Skype, 720p, $200

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/03/logitech-skype-tv-cam-hd/

If Cisco's ill-fated Umi video conferencing system had been more like this, would it have survived? Logitech is about to find out, one way or the other, once its TV Cam HD -- recently spotted at the FCC -- arrives in the US this month. The $199.99 device hooks up to your TV and contains all the processing power needed to run Skype and transmit wide-angle, 720p footage of your couch over WiFi or Ethernet. Unlike the previous TV Cam, there's no need for a Viera Connect HDTV -- anything with HDMI-in will do. The company is banking on the notion that families will forgo the use of their existing mobile devices and laptops in favour of an always-on dedicated system with incoming call alerts, four noise-cancelling mics and a Carl Zeiss lens that "gets the whole family in the video call, so everyone from grandparents to grandchildren can move around naturally." If you're tempted, the publicity video after the break gives a decent overview of the product in action.

Continue reading Logitech launches TV Cam HD for living room video chats: built-in Skype, 720p, $200

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Peripherals, Networking

Logitech launches TV Cam HD for living room video chats: built-in Skype, 720p, $200 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 04:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thursday, August 02, 2012

Perfectly Clear for Android: Instant Edits to Your Smartphone Snaps [App Of The Day]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5931350/perfectly-clear-for-android-instant-edits-to-your-smartphone-snaps

Smartphone cameras have gotten so good that many people are ditching their point-and-shoots. Because of that, you can share your shots instantly, and if they're not to your liking you can make them even better right on your device with Perfectly Clear for Android

What does it do?

Lets you effortlessly edit photos on your phone using simple swipes and taps.

Why do we like it?

These days, everyone is a photographer, thanks to smartphones. But most people are pretty crappy photographers, although Perfectly Clear will help them fool the critics. You can make 10 detailed corrections like smoothing out skin, whitening teeth, and enhancing the eyes. When you're taking a snapshot there's always room for user error, but this app will fix those flubs with minimal effort.

Perfectly Clear

Download this app for:

Android, $0.99

The Best:

Lots of edits

The Worst:

Interface is ugly

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