Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Mozilla reveals Firefox OS Developer Preview Phone

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/22/firefox-os-developer-phone/

Mozilla reveals Firefox OS Developer Preview Phone

Mozilla said it won't be launching its own hardware to run the in-development Firefox OS when it's finished, but the company has just announced a "Developer Preview Phone" for putting the OS through its paces. It's not quite the same as the mystery device we saw sporting Firefox OS at CES, but its specs seem almost as basic. The handset will feature a 3.5-inch HVGA touchscreen and 3-megapixel camera on the outside, with a 1GHz Snapdragon S1 CPU, half a gig of RAM, 4GB of microSD-expandable storage and WiFi, 2G and 3G antennae inside. Sure, that processor isn't a beast, but an 800MHz S1 does just fine in the Lumia 610. A 1580mAh battery will keep the carrier-unlocked phone running, and Mozilla is promising OTA updates to Firefox OS to keep devs, well, up to date. At the moment, we have no idea how much the phone will cost, but the first units are expected to be available next month.

The developer handset is called the Keon, according to creator Geekphone's website, and while not mentioned in the Mozilla Hacks blog post, it appears to have a more powerful cousin called the Peak. It's got a 4.3-inch qHD screen, 8-megapixel back-facing camera (with flash) and 2-megapixel shooter round the front. A 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 CPU and larger 1800mAh battery are within, but storage, RAM and connectivity specs are the same as the smaller Keon. Mozilla may not be formally promoting this as its own dev handset, but it was still included in the picture which accompanied the announ! cement ( see above: the Keon is in orange, the Peak in white). We're getting in contact with Mozilla to clarify, and will update you when we hear back.

Filed under: ,

Comments

Source: Mozilla, Geeksphone

Read More...

Adafruit Gemma stuffs a wearable Arduino platform into a one-inch disc

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/22/adafruit-gemma-stuffs-wearable-arduino-platform-into-1-inch-disc/

Adafruit Gemma stuffs wearable Arduino into a oneinch disc

Adafruit's Flora wearable platform is barely a year old, yet it already has a little sibling on the way -- and we do mean little. The newer Gemma is Arduino-programmable over USB like its relative, but measures just over half the size of the Flora at an inch in diameter. It's even bordering on cute, as far as circuit boards go. Before developing any grand visions of wearable computers, though, be aware that Gemma's features scale down with its size: there's only three input/output pins, and a limited amount of memory won't let it handle more than about a dozen of Adafruit's NeoPixel lights. All the same, any aspiring tailor willing to trade flexibility for subtlety in a costume will likely want to sign up for notification of the Gemma's in-stock date at the source link.

Filed under:

Comments

Source: Adafruit

Read More...

The Firefox Phone Is Real And You Can Get One Next Month

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/firefox-mobile-os-developer-phone-2013-1

firefox phone

Mozilla, the company that makes the popular Firefox Web browser, is also working on a mobile operating system to rival Android and iOS on the iPhone

Before the final version of Firefox OS hits, Mozilla wants developers to start making apps, so it's selling smartphones running the new OS. (You can also install Firefox OS on your Android phone using these instructions.)

A company called Geeksphone makes the device. There's no price listed yet.

Like Android, Firefox OS is open sourced, meaning developers can download it for free and customize it. 

Ubuntu, another open mobile OS, will launch later this year.

Please follow SAI: Tools on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »



Read More...

LG Optimus G Pro official for Japan: 5-inch 1080p LCD, 1.7GHz S4 Pro and Jelly Bean

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/21/lg-optimus-g-pro-official-ntt-docomo/

LG Optimus G Pro official 5inch 1080p LCD, 17GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro and an NTT DoCoMo launch

Remember how the LG Optimus G Pro saw its biggest leak in Japan? We might just know why. Local carrier NTT DoCoMo has confirmed the new flagship's existence as part of a spring device lineup, and it's everything that was rumored just days ago. LG is adding to the rapidly burgeoning crowd of 5-inch, 1080p phones while freshening the formula we'd seen in the regular Optimus G: there's now a quicker, 1.7GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro chip, a heftier 3,000mAh battery and Jelly Bean (albeit Android 4.1, not 4.2) out of the box. Other elements are familiar carryovers, such as the 2GB of RAM, 13-megapixel camera, 32GB of built-in storage, a microSDXC slot and LTE. Japanese buyers will have to wait until early April to pick up an Optimus G Pro for themselves; as LG hasn't confirmed the phone separately, other countries' launches are still up in the air.

Filed under: , ,

Comments

Source: NTT DoCoMo (1), (2)

Read More...

Intel Ivy Bridge now available in budget-friendly silicon

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/22/intel-ivy-bridge-budget/

Intel Ivy Bridge now available in budgetfriendly silicon

After almost a year of Ivy Bridge implementation in everything from Windows tablets to miniature computers, Intel has finally rolled out its latest architecture to its budget line of silicon. According to CPU World, the chip giant released pricing and concrete specs for three Celeron CPUs, four Pentiums and a new Core i3-3210, all of which are available today. The Celerons all have 2MB of L3 cache, HD graphics and range from 2.3GHz to 2.7GHz. Meanwhile, the Pentiums rank a touch higher with 3MB of L3 cache, HD graphics and processors that clock at 2.5GHz on the low end to 3.2GHz on the high end. Last but certainly not least, the 3.2GHz Core i3 tops the lot with 3MB of L3 cache and HD 2500 graphics.

All the Celeron and Pentium models have two cores and two threads each, but the Core kicks it up to four threads with the help of Hyperthreading. They're all compatible with existing Socket 1155 motherboards and cost anywhere from $42 for the cheapest Celeron to $117 for the Core i3. Of course with Haswell on the horizon, Ivy Bridge won't be the latest and greatest for much longer, but that shouldn't derail budget-conscious silicon lovers from a good deal. If all of this CPU speak gets your heart thumping, be sure to peek at the sourc! e to get a more detailed pricing breakdown of each individual chip.

Comments

Via: ZDNet

Source: CPU World

Read More...

Leaked HTC Sense 5 screenshots suggest a leaner, cleaner skin

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/22/leaked-htc-sense-5-screenshots/

Leaked HTC Sense 5 screenshots suggest a leaner, cleaner skin

Did yesterday's uncertain glimpse at a new HTC phone leave you wanting? Then grab a tray and find a seat, because the right-hand image above comes from XDA developer mdeejay, who claims to have a working port of the forthcoming Sense 5 skin. On the left, we've stuck up a Sense 4+ lockscreen to highlight how the new UI feels much leaner, cleaner and flatter -- following much the same trend as Android itself. The 3D ring pull is gone, for starters, and the time and weather widgets also have a calmer and less skeuomorphic feel, with what looks like a thinner font (Roboto condensed?). These same widgets carry over to the apps screen, shown after the break (Sense 5 on the right), which in turn shows off fresh icons that persist with the minimalist flavor. Head over to the XDA link below for the full screenshot buffet.

Leaked HTC Sense 5 screenshots suggest a prettier, leaner skin

Filed under: , , ,

Comments

Via: AndroidCentral

Source: XDA

Read More...

Huawei unveils Ascend G615: 4.5-inch 720p screen, 1.4GHz quad-core processor

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/22/huawei-ascend-g615-germany/

Huawei unveils Ascend G615: 4.5-inch 720p screen, 1.4 GHz quad-core processor

Huawei's just unveiled the Ascend G 615 (not to be confused with the G 520) in Germany, and it's packing a 4.5-inch 720p IPS display and 1.4GHz quad-core processor for 299 euros. In addition to the silicon, 8GB of built-in storage, 1GB of RAM and a microSD slot hide behind the 330 ppi display. As for optics, the phone carries a 1.3-megapixel front-facing cam and an 8-megapixel shooter accompanied by a dual-LED flash, and records 1080p footage. In terms of connectivity, the device features support for WiFi, Bluetooth and pulling down 21Mbps over HSDPA. Next month, the G 615 will be served up in Germany with Ice Cream Sandwich onboard, but Huawei says the hardware will be updated to Jelly Bean at some point in March. There's no word on a US release, but it's expected to hit the road for a few international markets in short order. If Huawei's latest offering strikes your fancy and you call Deutschland home, hit the source links for more details.

Filed under: ,

Comments

Via: Android Community

Source: Huawei, BestBoyZ (translated)

Read More...

Monday, January 21, 2013

New Metamaterial Camera Has Super-Fast Microwave Vision

Source: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/01/new-metamaterial-camera/

New Metamaterial Camera Has Super-Fast Microwave Vision
A small, microwave-detecting camera that can see through solid materials in real-time has been developed. Soon, the device could be adapted and used in law enforcement and security, where among other uses, its inventors envision airport scanners that screen passengers ...

Read More...

How Keys Work Explained In One Perfect Animated GIF

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5977794/how-keys-work-explained-in-one-perfect-animated-gif

How Keys Work Explained In One Perfect Animated GIFEver wondered how a key opens a lock? Wonder no more. If this is not one of the best animated GIFs I've ever seen, I don't know what is. First, because it taught me something new. And then, because it's so satisfying to see it work. Aaaaaah. Oh yes. [soupThanks Karl!]

Read More...

Micromax's five-inch, quad-core Canvas HD hitting India first week of February

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/21/micromax-canvas-hd/

Image

What better time to announce a smartphone than in the lull between CES and MWC? Micromax is using the occasion to reveal another five-inch handset, the Canvas HD. The display packs a 1,280 x 720 resolution, and inside you'll find a MediaTek MT6589 1.2 GHz quad-core processor and a 2100mAh battery. The phone's also got an 8-megapixel rear camera and expandable storage up to 32GB. All of that's powered by Android 4.1. The Canvas HD is coming to India the first week of February, carrying a Rs. 15,000 ($279) price tag. Assorted additional information can be found in the press release after the break.

Show full PR text

Micromax launches Canvas HD to strengthen phablet leadership

Micromax, India's leading handset manufacture today announced its partnership with MediaTek, the leading chipset manufacturers for the launch of their first quad core processor phone -A116 Canvas HD.

Designed for comfort and convenience, the Canvas HD is powered by MediaTek's MT6589 1.2 GHz quad core processor and run on Android Jelly Bean. With an HD IPS screen with a HD resolution of 1280x720 and a color depth of 16.7 million, the phone comes with superb graphics and HD viewing experience. Supported by a 2100mAh battery, it is the ideal phone for the young generation who is always on the lookout for better, faster and savvier smart phones on the go!

Commenting on the launch and association with MediaTek, Mr. Deepak Mehrotra, Chief Executive Officer, Micromax said, "At Micromax, we constantly strive to innovate and develop great technological experiences for our consumers. Today's launch ma! rks our association with MediaTek to bring forth our first quad core phone in this segment, offering consumers a great user experience with latest features and added functionality." He further added, "We are excited with the success of Canvas 2, which has clearly established Micromax as number one player in the new 5" phablet category in India. We are looking forward to similar success with the new phone being unveiled today."

The A116 Canvas HD promises superior quality graphics, multi-tasking and improved application performance. The phone sports an 8MP rear camera with LED flash and multiple camera settings such as night mode, 4X zoom - to further enhance the superiority of the memorable moments. 3G enabled A116 will help users in faster browsing, downloading attachments and watching streaming videos with excellent quality. The users can download HD quality videos and watch them on their phone without compromising with the quality. Users now can get to keep all their downloaded music by storing them in the phone's external memory which is expandable up to 32GB.

Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Finbarr Moynihan, General Manager - Business Development at MediaTek, said, "In less than 2 years of launching our first smartphone chipset, MediaTek's shipments in this category have grown more than ten times, with 110 million units in 2012. As the world's first commercialized quad-core Cortex-A7 SoC, the MT6589 is an innovative solution that accelerates product development, simplifies differentiation, and offers the best possible experience that mid to high-end smart device owners desire. Micromax shares our core philosophy of pushing the bar on innovation and bringing it within the reach of the masses. We are delighted that India's leading youth mobile brand has chosen MediaTek to power its top-end mobile smartphones."

Filed under: , Mobile

Comments

Read More...

Planetary Resources shows off Arkyd-100 prototype, gives a tour of its workspace

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/21/planetary-resources/

Planetary Resources shows off Arkyd100 prototype, gives a tour of its workspace video

We last heard about Planetary Resources back in April of last year, when the team formally announced plans to mine asteroids for things like water and precious metals like platinum. Chris Lewicki, who sports the unspeakably cool title of president and chief asteroid miner, assures us all that his team has been very hard at work in the interim. While he's not quite ready to show everything off just yet (due, in part, to intellectual property concerns), the space executive gave the internet a glimpse of the Arkyd-100 mechanical prototype, a space telescope and technology demonstrator packed into a dense 11 kilograms.

In the below video, Lewicki give a quick walk around the lightweight, low-cost prototype. There's also a glimpse of the of the company's Class 10,000 clean room and Arkyd-100 manufacturing facility.

Filed under:

Comments

Source: Planetary Resources

Read More...

Swann Bolt HD action camera shoots 1080p video, 12MP stills with laser targeting

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/21/swann-bolt-hd-action-camera-shoots-1080p-video-12mp-stills-with-laser/

Swann Bolt HD action camera shoots 1080p video, 12MP stills with laser targeting

We're starting to wonder where introducing lasers doesn't make everything better. Case in point: Swann's just-shipping Bolt HD action camera. While the 1080p video, microSD storage and 135-degree lens will be familiar from the Freestyle HD we saw in 2011, there's now a laser pointer to make sure the camera is on target when it isn't an option to peek through the detachable LCD. A sleeker look and an upgrade to 12-megapixel still photos also give us reason to upgrade. It's not a uniform move upwards from the Freestyle HD, however -- the Bolt HD can only submerge to 32 feet versus the 65 of its ancestor. As long as your scuba dives don't run that deep, however, the lower $200 price for the new camera might prove tempting.

Show full PR text

Swann Security Unleashes Bolt HD[TM], A High Definition Waterproof and Wearable Mini Action Camera

Waterproof camera and DVR combo lets adrenaline junkies capture their most extreme moments

Santa Fe Springs, Calif. - (January 20, 2013) - Swann Security, the global leader in security monitoring solutions, proudly debuts the Bolt HD[TM] mini high definition action camera. Making its debut at the 2013 International CES, this mini HD camera / DVR combo is rugged, waterproof and comes with a myriad of mounting options so outdoor enthusiasts can live and relive their most extreme moments. The Bolt HD is available at ww! w.swann. com for $199.99.

At the core of Bolt HD is a color camera that can record 1080p or Full HD high resolution video at real time or 12 MP still images. With a built in laser pointer, Bolt HD allows the user to confirm the camera is on target and ready to shoot. The protected lens allows the user to record more with a 135 degree angle lens. The Bolt HD has an included stereo microphone that enables audio recordings to not only see but hear the action. The device stores approximately 10 hours of video recordings on a removable MicroSD card (up to 32GB), so users can easily swap out cards while on the go. Bolt HD's mini HDMI connection allows the user to connect right in to their home TV to relive the action in HD right away. Bolt HD is powered by a lithium-ion battery that recharges via USB and gives the user hours of life per charge.

Not only is the Bolt HD shockproof, but it's also waterproof up to 32'. Equipped with a number of mounting options, Bolt HD is an ideal solution for a variety of sports and outdoor applications. With no dials, gauges, knobs or any preferences to configure, users simply turn it on, strap it on and hit record.

Bolt HD Features Include:

* Record professional high definition action videos at 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels) in real time (30fps) with stereo audio
* Use the laser pointer to check the camera is on target and shoot in any conditions with waterproof casing to 32ft below the surface
* Relive the action in high definition with mini HDMI connection
* Record footage to MicroSD card (up to 32GB), or use the USB cable to transfer to PC or Mac for easy uploading to your favorite websites
* Convenient lithium-ion battery is rechargeable via USB with hours of recording per charge
* Wearable mounts include: curved surface mount, Helmet mount, flat surface mount
* ! Wireless Remote

Availability

Swann's Bolt HD (MSRP-$199) is available through Swann's network of retailers and at www.swann.com.

Filed under:

Comments

Source: B&H

Read More...

ASUS MeMo Pad 10 makes unexpected appearance, could become official at MWC (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/21/asus-memo-pad-10-video/

ASUS MeMo Pad 10 makes unexpected appearance, could become official at MWC video

It's been but a mere few days since ASUS quietly introduced that Jelly Bean-loaded, 7-inch Memo Pad, though if a recent video shown off on YouTube is to be believed, the company's got yet another, larger Memo Pad up its sleeve. Such tablet's said to be the MeMo Pad 10, which has yet to be officially unveiled by the Taiwanese firm but has somehow made its way to the folks over at MobileArena. Just like its smaller sibling, the MeMo Pad 10 is reportedly sporting a flavor of Android's latest, but, as its moniker would imply, a 10-inch (1280 x 800) display is among the highlights here -- other purported specs include a 1.2GHz Tegra 3 CPU, 1GB RAM and 16GB of built-in storage (which could be expanded via microSD). We'll have to wait and see if ASUS makes a MeMo Pad 10 announcement in a few weeks at Mobile World Congress; until then, however, there's a video after the break for anyone interested in getting an early peek at the slate.

Filed under: ,

Comments

Via: Android Communit! y

Source: MobileArsenaldotcom (YouTube)

Read More...

Report: The Next BlackBerry Will Cost Less Than $199 (RIMM)

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/blackberry-z10-pricing-2013-1

BlackBerry 10 L series leak

BGR has a huge feature on BlackBerry 10 with a 100-screenshot tour of RIM's next operating system. 

BGR says this version of BlackBerry 10 is the "Gold Master," or the final version that will appear on new BlackBerry phones when they launch in a few weeks. 

The source who provided the images also told BGR the new phone, called the BlackBerry Z10, will cost less than $199 on contract.

That leaves a lot of wiggle room, but it sounds like RIM is willing to sell its new phone on the cheaper side in the hope that people will choose it over other top-tier phones that cost $199 and up.

Now go to BGR and look at all the screenshots of BB10 >

Please follow SAI: Tools on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »



Read More...

Scientists Spot Quadruple Helix DNA Working in Human Cells

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5977579/scientists-spot-quadruple-helix-dna-working-in-human-cells

Scientists Spot Quadruple Helix DNA Working in Human CellsForget the humble double helix: scientists from Cambridge University have now spotted four-stranded strings of DNA working inside human cells.

The researchers have published a paper in Nature Chemistry which demonstrates the existence and function of quadruple helix human DNA. The researchers believe it might be related to cancer—and that understanding it could be key to treating the disease in the future. Prof Shankar Balasubramanian from Cambridge University explains to the BBC:

"The existence of these structures may be loaded when the cell has a certain genotype or a certain dysfunctional state. We need to prove that; but if that is the case, targeting them with synthetic molecules could be an interesting way of selectively targeting those cells that have this dysfunction."

The four-stranded DNA is known as the G-quadruplex. That "G" refers to guanine, which is one of the four chemical bases which form DNA, and it seems the quadruple helix tends to form wherever there are unusually high concentrations of the base. The team were able to spot the G-quadruplex in human cells by creating proteins that bind to its structure—made possible by the fact that it's been spotted before in microscopic organisms called ciliates. The scientists watched as the quadruplex became more prevalent during cell division.

Now the researchers know that the four-stranded DNA is present in humans, they're set to explore its implications for cancer treatment. "I'm hoping now that the pharmaceutical companies will bring this on to their radar and we can perhaps take a more serious look at whether quadruplexes are indeed therapeutically viable targets," Balasubramaninan told the BBC. Here's hoping he's onto something. [Nature Chemistry via BBC]

Read More...