Don't call it a GIF: Lightt is an app that lets you upload silent, looping clips for your friends to comment on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/17/lightt-ios-app-announced/

Technically speaking, it would be incorrect to call Lightt the Instagram for GIFs, but really, it's tough to explain it any other way. In short, it's a new app for iOS which captures short, soundless clips that play back in an endless loop. (See? Looks like a GIF and is mesmerizing like a GIF, except it's actually a proprietary file format.) Once you record a clip, or "Highlight," you can upload as many as you want, and then share them to either Twitter or Facebook. (Careful: the default privacy setting is public.) Then, once you offload those segments onto the company's servers, people can like them or leave comments. Similarly, too, anyone with a browser can see your feed, though you also have the option of viewing people's images from within the app itself. The Insta-comparisons end there, though: with Lightt, you can't run your clips through any sort of artsy filters.

As with other social networks, you can follow users you find intriguing. There's also a "Featured" list, curated by Lightt, but you can't currently search for things based on tags, which is how you might discover cool stuff on other sites, like Tumblr or Pinterest. There's an element of randomness, then, when it comes to unearthing new things, though you can at least find friends on the site by importing your contacts from other services. Interestingly, too, all your images live online: even when you view your feed on your phone, the app is simply pulling it in from the web. Still, if you really like something, you can save a still frame to your device. The app is available now for free in the App Store (no word on if it'll ever come to other platforms), and we've also got a gallery of screenshots at the ready below.

Gallery: Lightt screenshots

Filed under: Software, Mobile

Don't call it a GIF: Lightt is an app that lets you upload silent, looping clips for your friends to comment on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Facebook Just Launched Its Next Billion-Dollar Business (FB)

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-paid-app-installs-2012-10

For months, Facebook has been testing a new kind of ad on mobile devices—ads for other apps.

Now it's officially launched the app-ad program to all developers.

Here's how it works: Developers place ads on Facebook's website and its mobile apps. When users install their apps, developers pay a fee.

Because Facebook has a huge audience, and because its fast-growing base of mobile users have already shown they're willing to download Facebook's own app, it's a natural audience for these ads. TinyCo, a mobile games maker, reported having 50 percent higher click-through rates. Companies like Zoosk, the online-dating service, and Fab, the e-commerce site, have also been running ads in tests.

Facebook has been swiftly laying the groundwork for this business, first launching its App Center, a centralized place for promoting apps, in May and rolling it out internationally.

Having proven it can drive traffic to apps through the App Center and through ads placed in Facebook users' News Feeds, Facebook's now seeking to make money off of that traffic.

Here's a bonus: It keeps iPhone and Android developers, who might otherwise favor tools built into Apple and Google's mobile platforms, loyal to Facebook, s! ince add ing Facebook's social features to their apps is pretty much a requirement to get distribution—paid or unpaid—on Facebook.

Please follow SAI on Twitter and Facebook.

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GoPro's new Hero3 is lighter, faster, higher res and has WiFi, comes in three flavors starting at $199

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/16/gopro-hd-hero3/

At a San Francisco launch event GoPro has just revealed the next addition to its line of action cameras, the Hero3. The Hero3 claims specs that are 30 percent smaller and 25 percent lighter than its predecessor, with a resolution that's up to 4x higher and it has WiFi included. The top of the line Black Edition (pictured above) is capable of capturing video at up to 4K res -- if you're willing to drop the framerate down to 15fps -- however thanks to a processor it says is 2x faster, it has also doubled frame rates at lower resolutions. That means 1080p60, 1440p48 and 720p120 modes are supported for your super slow and still-HD capture needs. The Silver Edition maxes out at 11MP stills and 1080p30 video, while the White Edition drops down to 5MP stills. All three versions include WiFi (no BacPac necessary for remote control via the just-released-on-iOS app) however the Black edition includes a remote that can control up to 50 cameras at once with a 600ft range and is waterproof to 10 feet deep. It will also be available as a $79 accessory for the lesser versions.

As far as pricing, the Black Edition is $399, the Silver is $299 and the White $199. Pre-orders are scheduled to start at 12:01AM PT (3:01AM ET), and there's a handy counter on the GoPro site if you otherwise might forget. The variety of models and ubiquitous WiFi may help fight off competition at the pricing low end like the new ContourROAM2, a! mong oth ers. Naturally we were in the house and will have hands-on pics and impressions soon, check the gallery for pics of the box and detailed specs.

Update: Our hands-on is live! Check out how tiny the Hero3 really is right here.

Gallery: GoPro Hero3

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading GoPro's new Hero3 is lighter, faster, higher res and has WiFi, comes in three flavors starting at $199

Filed under: Cameras

GoPro's new Hero3 is lighter, faster, higher res and has WiFi, comes in three flavors starting at $199 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 23:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sharp's 7-inch AQUOS Pad SHT21 brings low-power IGZO LCD tech to tablets in Japan

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/17/sharp-aquos-pad-sht21-igzo-lcd/

The AQUOS Phone Zeta SH-02E was first with Sharp's new IGZO LCD technology a few days ago and it's been followed quickly by another device, the AQUOS Pad SHT21. Scheduled to debut on Japanese carrier KDDI in mid-December, this 7-inch slate claims battery life of up to two and a half times greater than the previous model thanks to the low-power characteristics of its display, and weighs just 280g. It's powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 CPU, and features a 1280x800 screen resolution, pen input, 1GB RAM, 16GB built-in storage, microSDXC slot, Bluetooth 4.0, MHL, NFC, 3,460mAh battery and 4G LTE capability. Hit the source link for more details courtesy of Engadget Japanese.

Filed under: Tablets, Mobile

Sharp's 7-inch AQUOS Pad SHT21 brings low-power IGZO LCD tech to tablets in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 01:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GoPro Hero3 action camera hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/17/gopro-hero3-action-camera-hands-on/

GoPro just revealed its new flagship action camcorder, the Hero3, and we managed to get our mitts on one this evening. First things first, the Hero3 is tiny, particularly when considering that it shoots 4K video (albeit at a paltry 12fps), a resolution usually reserved for much larger, cinematic cameras. Having handled its competition recently -- the Action Cam from Sony and the Contour+2 -- we can say that the Hero3 feels smaller and lighter than both of them. It's about the size of a couple of matchboxes stacked together and is quite lightweight, yet still feels sturdy. The textured plastic exterior is finger friendly, and the big round power / mode and record buttons give a reassuring snick with every press. The WiFi remote that comes with the Hero3 Black Edition is similarly solid in its construction, though we wish it had the same textured skin as the camera instead of its smooth exterior. We didn't get to use the Hero3 for its stated purpose just yet, but we'll be filming with the thing tomorrow, so stay tuned for all the POV footage. In the meantime, feel free to enjoy a tour of GoPro's new diminutive hardware and check out its first sample video after the break.

Gallery: GoPro Hero3 and WiFi remote hands-on

Continue reading GoPro Hero3 action camera hands-on

Filed under: Cameras

GoPro Hero3 action camera hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 02:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gertboard extender for Raspberry Pi ships to advanced tinkerers

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/17/gertboard-extender-for-raspberry-pi-ships-to-advanced-tinkerers/

If a seemingly infinitely programmable mini computer like the Raspberry Pi is just too... limiting, we've got good news: the Gertboard extender has started shipping. The $48 companion board reaching customers' doorsteps converts analog to digital and back for Raspberry Pi fans developing home automation, robotics and just about anything else that needs a translation between the computing world and less intelligent objects. The one catch, as you'd sometimes expect from a homebrew project, is the need for some assembly -- you'll have to solder together Gert van Loo's Arduino-controlled invention on your own. We imagine the DIY crowd won't mind, though, as long as they can find the fast-selling Gertboard in the first place.

[Image credit: Stuart Green, Flickr]

Filed under: Misc

Gertboard extender for Raspberry Pi ships to advanced tinkerers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 03:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Facebook Just Made It Harder for Hackers to Jack Your Account [Security]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5952193/facebook-just-made-it-harder-for-hackers-to-jack-your-account

Facebook just announced it's partnering with seven new anti-virus companies, in addition to the ones it already worked with. They'll be offering software in the Facebook AV Marketplace, which lets users download antivirus security software. But the real benefit might be in how they affect Facebook at large.

Here's an excerpt from the release:

Our new anti-virus partners bring with them both the latest software and comprehensive intelligence. As with our existing partners, these seven companies will help protect Facebook's community of over a billion users by improving our URL blacklist system. This system scans trillions of clicks per per day, and before each click, the system consults the databases of all our AV Marketplace partners to make sure the website you are about to visit is safe. This means that whenever you click a link on our site you are protected both by Facebook and 12 of the industry leaders in computer security. We will be cooperating with these partners more in the future, and look forward to announcing new tools soon.

You know what that's about. "You won't BELIEVE what Justin Beiber put in his mouth! With Video!" You've clicked on one or two of those, even if you're usually good about it. The URL blacklist helps make Facebook less spammy, and more partners putting more brainpower into getting it up to date faster means a less spammy, virusy, hacky Facebook for everyone. [Facebook]

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IBM's Watson Supercomputer Is About to Start Helping Actual People With Their Medical Problems [Watson]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5952276/ibms-supercomputer-now-goes-by-doctor-watson

Last year, Watson beat humans in a battle of wits. Starting this fall, IBM's insanely intelligent supercomputer will begin diagnosing patients at New York's Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

For the past six months, Watson has been working on a virtual residency of sorts, learning how to practice medicine through simulations carried out using an app IBM created. But sometime this fall, the robot will start seeing actual patients. Watson will essentially take data from a person's chart, crunch it through some algorithms, and come up with a couple of plans of action. For example, it might suggest two courses of chemotherapy, but it will also say that it has a 90 percent level of confidence in one and just 75 percent in the other. That's when an actual doctor would come in and make the final decision.

FastCo explains why the jump from digital prototype to human tests is such a big deal:

Watson could provide any doctor anywhere with the world's best second opinion. A physician in a community hospital in the Midwest, or at a remote medical center in China, could have instant access to everything that the medical field's best oncologists—people like Kris and his colleagues at Sloan-Kettering—have taught Watson. What is more, Watson will be able to excavate facts beyond the ken of Sloan-Kettering's current lineup of specialists. As Kris says, "We could ask Watson: What is the best treatment for this rare condition based on all of Sloan-Kettering's records?" It could then go through several years of cancer cases looking for the most successful outcomes. In time, it could even look at hospital records from around the world.

Watson was built to learn, so it will only become more intelligent the more it works around the hospital. And Wellpoint, a healthcare provider in Virginia, already uses the genius machine to manage very complex cases. However, Watson's job at Sloan-Kettering is even more impressive. It goes to show that the computer is more than just a novelty game show guest. [FastCo]

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Red offers 'truckload' of one-time rental Scarlet-Xs for almost $5K off each

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/16/red-offers-truckload-scarlets-5k-off/

If you were thinking of getting a Red Scarlet-X 4K baby cinema cam for that pet film feature, but were on the fence because, well, $11,900 is a lot of cash -- there's good news. The company just announced they would be selling "a whole truckload of Scarlets" for $7,100 each instead, as they had been used on a rental for a "pretty special 3 second shot." As such, the camera body has less than a minute of recording time, and would come with an SSD module, Canon mount and full warranty for that sum -- along with the option to change out the MX sensor to Red's upcoming Dragon model, presumably. Bear in mind that you'd still lack the SSD drive, LCD, batteries or charger needed to shoot, but even with all that would still be under the regular basic price -- meaning you might be able to stop saving up and start shooting.

Filed under: Cameras

Red offers 'truckload' of one-time rental Scarlet-Xs for almost $5K off each originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 09:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint's Galaxy Note II to arrive October 25th, with LTE and $300 price tag

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/16/sprint-samsung-galaxy-note-ii/

Fancy being more than just a statistic on a Japanese balance sheet? Come October 25th, you can be a statistic and the proud owner of a stylus and an accompanying Note II to scrape it against. The Now Network just announced that it'll make the handset available to new customers and upgrade-eligible folk for $299.99 on a two-year contract, in either marble white or titanium gray. Expect to pay a significant monthly sum too, especially if you eventually want to exploit that Sprint-flavored LTE we keep hearing about.

Continue reading Sprint's Galaxy Note II to arrive October 25th, with LTE and $300 price tag

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Sprint's Galaxy Note II to arrive October 25th, with LTE and $300 price tag originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 09:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beats By Dre launches Executive noise-cancelling headphones, keeps 'em dapper in aluminum for $300 (ears-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/16/beats-by-dre-executive-headphones-ears-on/

Aside from announcing its entrance into the portable Bluetooth speaker category today, Beats Electronics has also launched its first new set of headphones post-Monster. Aiming to cater to the jet-setting business crowd, the company is classing things up with its (finally released) $300 Executive noise-cancelling over-ears. The design of the headphones seems to be a blend of the Mixr and classic Studios, wrapped in brushed aluminum that's complimented by dark gray leather pads and the requisite "b" on each earcup. Requiring two AAA batteries for power, these active cans (read: they don't work passively) are rated to last up to a healthy 25 hours. The Active noise-cancellation functionality is aided along by two microphones inside the headphones that automatically adjust the effect depending on your surroundings. That said, we'd be remiss not to note that ANC is always enabled, as it's tethered to the power -- you know, to help avoid making your head ring from the likes of jet engines and subway cars. A detachable 3.5mm cable is included, featuring a 3-button in-line remote and mic and a right angle jack on its end. While we're fans of 90-degree jacks, we found that this one couldn't plug into our cased iPhone 5 fully, rendering the remote useless. Lastly, you'll notice from the photo above that the earcups on this pair thankfully fold flat, allowing for easier storage that its Solo and Studio siblings in a briefcase and the! like.

We only had a paltry few minutes to try out the cans, but we came away with good vibes about them. To get this out of the way, the voicing from its drivers is totally colored and seems to have that typical Beats S-curve with boosted sub-bass and treble -- a stark contrast from what you'd get with a passive set like the V-Moda M-100 cans. Compared to a similar active pair like like the Klipsch Mode M40, the sound is much more aggressive and lively. Although we listened in a quiet hotel room, the ANC circuitry did seem to dampen a significant chuck of the ambient noise around us -- however, it did have a very noticeable hiss (more apparent than similar cans) from it that we'd likely become annoyed by without music. The earpads are very supple and moderately deep, and the inside of each earcup has some padding over the driver which should help you to evade the dreaded cartilage cramps. The headphones feel extremely sturdy and miles more robust the plasticky Studios, all while still retaining a light feel free of excessive clamping force on this editors head -- very similar, actually, to what we enjoyed with the Parrot Zik cans. All in all, while these aren't the f! irst alu minum clad cans from the company, the Executive headphones really seem like they could stand to be a much better option than the Studios for overall value. Of course, we'll let you know either way when we come to our conclusion. For now, the Executive headphones are on sale today from the Beats Electronics and various retailers if you'd like to try 'em out for yourself.

Gallery: Beats by Dre Executive noise-cancelling headphones (hands-on)

Continue reading Beats By Dre launches Executive noise-cancelling headphones, keeps 'em dapper in aluminum for $300 (ears-on)

Filed under: Portable Audio/Video, Wearables

Beats By Dre launches Executive noise-cancelling headphones, keeps 'em dapper in aluminum for $300 (ears-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 11:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple announces 'Special Event' for October 23rd -- we'll be there live!

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/16/apple-ipad-mini-launch-announced-official/

Apple has just invited members of the press to attend a product launch on October 23rd, where we assume the long-rumored iPad mini will be unveiled. The event will go down merely weeks after Apple took the wraps off of the iPhone 5 (and strangely enough, the Foo Fighters played their last show for the foreseeable future). It's quite unlike Apple to throw two product parties in the fall, but if an entirely new iPad is being revealed, it may be a scenario that becomes more familiar in years to come. At this point, we're left with far more questions than answers: will the iPad mini really ship with a Lightning port, while the Retina iPad -- which was only introduced in March -- continues to ship with the "old" Dock Connector? Will Apple really continue to refresh its two iPad products at different intervals? Will the (presumed) AT&T iPad mini actually include mobile hotspot functionality?

And while we're at it, is Apple really going to throw a "one more thing" into the mix by bumping its 13-inch MacBook Pro into Retina territory? After all, tossing "little" into the invite could allude to a smaller iPad and an update to an already-! small la ptop. We'll be there to bring you the blow-by-blow as it happens, so feel free to go ahead and take next Tuesday off. We'll sign the approval form.

Filed under: Laptops, Tablets, Apple

Apple announces 'Special Event' for October 23rd -- we'll be there live! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lenovo IdeaTab S2110 review: a competent Transformer competitor running Android 4.0

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/16/lenovo-ideatab-s2110-review/

More Info

• Lenovo's IdeaTab S2 10-inch does tablet transformation, packs a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon
• Lenovo IdeaTab S2110 quietly goes on sale as the Gobots of transforming tablets
• Lenovo IdeaTab S2110 makes official debut at IFA 2012: a 10-inch hybrid Android 4.0 slate

It's taken nearly half a year for Lenovo's transforming IdeaTab S2110 to go from CES reveal to retail shelves and it's arrived barely unchanged. But despite the initial fanfare, the company chose to slip this slate into the marketplace quietly, ahead even of its official launch at IFA. In that time, ASUS managed to announce and ship a new hybrid tablet of its own, the Transformer Pad TF300 -- a keyboard-optional rival offering the same 10-inch, 1,280 x 800 IPS display and Android 4.0 experience, along with a quad-core Tegra 3.

While Lenovo's offering may not come with four cores or an unskinned version of Ice Cream Sandwich, there is a very contemporary dual-core S4 inside, clocked at 1.5GHz and buffered by! 1GB of RAM. Alongside that, the tab's also outfitted with a 1.3-megapixel front-facing shooter and 5-megapixel rear camera capable of 1080p video capture. Other specs include radios for WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0, a battery rated for up to 10 hours of browsing (augmented to 20 hours when connected to the dock) and either 16GB or 32GB of built-in storage. At $430 for the base model alone, it's already positioned as a higher-priced alternative to the TF300. Add the dock and full storage, and you're looking at a cool $580. So, will this be a case of "too little, too late" for Lenovo? Can the S2110 lure undecided customers away from cheaper similarly specced offerings? Read on as we attempt to answer all that and more.

Gallery: Lenovo IdeaTab S2110 review

Continue reading Lenovo IdeaTab S2110 review: a competent Transformer competitor running Android 4.0

Filed under: Tablets, Lenovo

Lenovo IdeaTab S2110 review: a competent Transformer competitor running Android 4.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel reports Q3 earnings, revenue holds steady at $13.5 billion

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/16/intel-reports-q3-earnings/

Hot off the heels of a slightly disappointing Q2, mega chip-maker Intel's Q3 results are in. Good old Chipzilla managed to wrangle $13.5 billion in revenues with a net profit of $3 billion. While Intel's latest figures reflect a profit of about 5.1 percent sequentially, the company is still taking a dip year over year of around 19 percent. "Our third-quarter results reflected a continuing tough economic environment," said Paul Otellini, Intel's CEO. Happy to take progress in any form during a trying economy, the company's fourth quarter strategy will highly focus on the success of ultrabooks, phones and Intel-powered tablets. While its recent gains may be somewhat slim, last we checked, a win is a win.

Continue reading Intel reports Q3 earnings, revenue holds steady at $13.5 billion

Filed under: Misc, Intel

Intel reports Q3 earnings, revenue holds steady at $13.5 billion originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 16:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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