Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Thursday, September 05, 2013

Chrome apps gain native powers and desktop launcher on Windows and Chrome OS, Mac, Linux versions to follow

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/chrome-apps--native/

The line between native and web apps has been blurring more and more with the advent of HTML 5, and now Google's taking things even further with what it's calling a "new breed of Chrome apps." These new apps, while built with web technologies and the Chrome browser, appear and act like native apps. In fact, Google is rolling out a Chrome app launcher for Windows to allow users to launch these new apps directly from their desktop. Windows and Chrome OS users will get first crack at using these apps, with Mac and Linux folks getting them a bit later.

To give these apps a native feel, Google has given devs a whole host of new tools. Apps work offline, can save data locally or in the cloud, provide desktop notifications and can connect with any device hooked into your computer via USB or Bluetooth -- meaning games can be designed to use external controllers. And, apps won't look tied to the browser as they won't be saddled with tabs, buttons, text boxes or any other browser-esque visual cues. The idea is to create Chrome apps that are nigh indistinguishable from their locally installed counterparts. For now, there are over 50 such apps available in the Chrome Web Store, with offerings including games, basic photo editing and task tracking apps, among others. However, we have a sneaking suspicion that Google's going to ensure that number grows exponentially in the near future.

Filed under: Internet, Google

Source: Google Chrome blog

Chrome OS beta adds touchscreen support for selections, drag and drop (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/chrome-os-beta-touchscreen-select-drag-drop/

We don't know when Google plans to release another device like its Chromebook Pixel, but Chrome OS support for touchscreens is continuing to improve. A new update in the beta channel brings support for both touch enabled text selection and touch enabled drag and drop on touch based devices. Right now the Pixel is the only Chrome OS laptop that supports it, but who knows what could be around the corner. Google "Happiness Evangelist" François Beaufort noted the new feature in Chrome OS' dev channel a couple of weeks ago and recorded a demonstration video, which you can check out after the break. Otherwise, Chrome OS users living on the not-quite-bleeding-edge can also expect tweaks like an audio source selector in the tray menu, ability to share folders and files from the Files app and an improved UI for the release channel switcher.

Filed under: Laptops, Google

Source: Chrome OS Releases

Mozilla's 'Phone for Apps' initiative hits phase two, lures devs into porting HTML5 apps to Firefox OS

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/mozilla-firefox-os-phone-for-apps-phase-two/

Mozilla's 'Phone for Apps' initiative hits phase two, lures devs into porting HTML5 apps to Firefox OS

Firefox has certainly taken some pretty huge steps since Mozilla initially announced its "Phone for Apps" program back in May. Still, the browser maker knows there's a lot to be done before the mobile OS becomes more of a household entity. To help it achieve that, Mozilla's launching phase two of the "Phone for Apps" initiative, offering developers a Firefox OS device -- in this case the Geeksphone Keon -- in exchange for porting their HTML5 apps to the young platform. More specifically, this qualifies devs who have "already built and shipped an HTML5 web app and have the time now to port that app to the new Firefox OS." Is this you? Then here's what's left to do: click the source below to peruse the rest of the guidelines, fill out the application and, if you're amongst the chosen group, expect a confirmation to reach your inbox sometime thereafter.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Mozilla

Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro: Basically a Perfect Upgrade

Source: http://gizmodo.com/lenovo-yoga-2-pro-basically-a-perfect-upgrade-1256038591

Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro: Basically a Perfect Upgrade

Last year's Lenovo Yoga was one of the better laptops we've ever used, and certainly right at the top of Windows 8 convertibles. This year's Yoga 2 Pro refines the hell out of that notion, and adds a super high res screen on top.

Sony Made the First Curved LED TV, and It's Worthy of Your Lust

Source: http://gizmodo.com/sony-made-the-first-curved-led-tv-and-its-worthy-of-y-1254853239

Sony Made the First Curved LED TV, and It's Worthy of Your Lust

Sony unveiled a mountain of new gear at its IFA press conference yesterday, but for whatever reason it decided to quietly slip this beauty out under all the noise. Comparable to the 55-inch OLED set that Samsung unveiled at CES, Sony's new 65-inch, 1080P, S990A is the first set to put a gentle curve on LED flatscreen technology. And since LED sets are pretty common these days, it means the S990A is available for pre-order right now for just $4,000, compared to the $9,000 that Samsung wants for its curvy offering.

Philips 9000 series 4K TVs eyes-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/philips-9000-series/

We heard about that 65-inch, award-winning Philips 4K set a while back, and earlier today, we finally got to see the thing trotted out on stage in all of its ultra high-def glory. Turns out it's also got a bigger sibling, an 84-incher. We managed to get up close and personal with both of the sets on the floor, sitting side by side in Philips' booth. The bezels on the 9000s are reasonably thin, though not nearly as svelte as we've seen on the sort of sets that Samsung and Sony like to trot out. Same goes for the profile -- if you're really interested i! n the th innest 4K sets on the market, you're going to want to look elsewhere -- not shocking, of course, as the company is positioning these as budget sets. Ultra high-definition for the people.

The sets are available today in the UK and Russia, priced at €4,999 ($6,588)and and €14,999 ($19,768), respectively. You can get a bit of a closer look at them in the gallery below.%Gallery-slideshow79655%

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Mobile

Lenovo's mid-range 'Flex' line includes two Yoga-like laptops, a portable all-in-one (hands-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/lenovo-flex-14-15-20-hands-on/

It's pretty much a given that everything we love about flagships will eventually make their way into more affordable products. And why shouldn't that include the form factors themselves? In addition to unveiling the Yoga 2 (as well as the ThinkPad Yoga for business), Lenovo is trotting out two additional convertibles, with prices that put them squarely in the middle tier. Meanwhile, the company also announced the Flex 20, a 19.5-inch, battery-powered all-in-one that's basically a smaller, cheaper version of the Horizon PC announced earlier this year.

Starting with the laptops, the Flex 14 and 15, as they're called, each resemble the Yoga in that the screen folds backward, allowing you to use the notebook in different positions. Here, though, it only goes 300 back degrees, not 360, meaning you can't use these products in tablet mode. Basically, then, your choices are to use it as a traditional notebook, or fold the screen over into "Stand" mode (pictured above), with the screen facing outward, and the keyboard planted face-down. %Gallery-slideshow73860%%Gallery-slideshow73861%

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Lenovo

Lenovo Vibe X stuffs 5-inch 1080p display, quad-core chip into slim and light body

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/lenovo-vibe-x-ideaphone-s960-mt6589t/

While Lenovo's Snapdragon 800-powered phone has yet to make an official appearance, the Chinese company's gone ahead and unveiled its other quad-core flagship device: the Vibe X aka IdeaPhone S960. Much like most of its recent siblings, this Android 4.2 slate is powered by a MediaTek SoC -- the quad-core 1.5GHz MT6589T, specifically, with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in storage. There's also a 5-inch 1080p IPS display and a 2,000mAh internal battery, along with a 5-megapixel, 84-degree front-facing camera plus a 13-megapixel main imager on the back. As you'd expect, the camera app will come with face enhancement features for your bad skin days, and Lenovo also teases a "full-featured" photo app that lets you organize your photos (with tags and folders), as well as making puzzles with them.

Thanks to Gorilla Glass 3 and the "premium polycarbonate body" (with "fabric-like surface" and side chrome accents), the overall package weighs 121g only and is just 6.9mm thick -- the same thickness as the slightly larger but metallic, Intel-powered K900. Also, while the Vivo X3 with the same MediaTek chip and battery capacity is way thinner at 5.75mm (sorry, Huawei!), do bear in mind that its 5-inch display only has a 720p resolution.

There's no price nor a date just yet, but as with most Lenovo phones these days, we've been told that the Vibe X will not be entering either Europe or the US. As the Chinese saying goes: you can quench thirst by thinking of the plums. By "plums" we mean the press release and our first impressions after the break. %Gallery-slideshow79651% %Gallery-slideshow79657%

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Lenovo

Samsung announces the world's first curved UHD TVs at IFA 2013

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/samsung-reveals-the-world-s-first-curved-uhd-tvs-at-ifa-2013/

You didn't think Samsung was done announcing TVs at IFA yet, did you? This time, Samsung's folded two of its new TV notions into one set, announcing the world's first curved Ultra High Definition TVs. They don't appear to be OLED (so our money's on LED), but the new screens will be available in both 55-and 65-inch sizes. the company saying that differently-sized curved UHD TVs sets will come, "based on consumer response", so if people are buying 'em big, these high-pixel curves could get bigger too -- Samsung's range of flat 4K TVs now stretches to a one-percenter-baiting 98 inches. At almost the same time, Sony has just taken the wraps off its own curved display, a 65-inch LED TV -- but it's not UHD. Hyun-suk Kim, executive VP of Visual Display, reckons the new TVs are another milestone for the company, and will "invigorate" the UHD market, one that's only just taking its first steps.

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, HD, Samsung

Hands-on with the LG G Pad 8.3 (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/hands-on-lg-g-pad-8-3/

Handson with the LG G Pad 83 video

LG announced its new slate, complete with specs, ahead of IFA, but the tradeshow is our first opportunity to see the G Pad 8.3 in the flesh -- or in the aluminum package, as it were. The company is positioning this tablet as the first full HD tablet in the 8.0-inch category, and as the device best optimized for one-handed use. Specific as those distinctions may be, they do sound pretty appealing.

First thing's first: the G Pad 8.3 in our hands today is not the final version that will ship at the end of the month. LG likely has some software kinks to work out, but it's safe to say that today's model gives us a good idea of what consumers can expect. The G Pad is part of LG's flagship G series line, which includes high-end handsets like the Optimus G Pro and the recently announced G2. As such, this guy looks like a bigger version of its smartphone siblings, which is to say it looks quite nice. The bezels are almost non-existent, and the backside features a silver aluminum backing -- it's a nice contrast to the Pad's black or white plastic finish. The 8.3-inch, 1,920 x 1,200 IPS panel provides the vibrant colors and excellent viewing angles that you'd expect; we've seen similarly high caliber displays on other LG devices like the Optimus G Pro.

At 338 grams, the G Pad is extremely light; a rep made sure to point out that some paperback books even weigh more. Less weight means the tablet is easier to hold in one hand -- even with LG reps talking up the device's featherweight footprint, we found it surprisingly insubstantial. More than the weight, though, the device's 126.5mm makes it quite comfortable to use. And guess what? It can also fit in a jacket pocket, which may or may not improve your life dramatically. LG utilized data collected by the Korean government about the average hand size in order to arrive at an optimal width for the tablet. We found the slate quite comfortable to grasp with just one hand; it didn't feel like a stretch to grasp across the device.%Gallery-slideshow79665%

Filed under: Tablets, LG

T-Mobile to launch LG G2 in stores on September 25th, sells Optimus F6 today

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/t-mobile-to-launch-lg-g2-on-september-25th/

At last, the LG G2 has a US release date: T-Mobile is shipping the Android flagship to stores on September 25th, with online availability starting September 18th. The 5.2-inch smartphone will require a $100 initial spend on a downpayment plan, and costs $630 outright. Both black and white colors will be available, although you'll have to order the white version online; thankfully, you can pre-order either model today. Too expensive for your tastes? You can buy the newly available Optimus F6 instead. The 4.5-inch budget smartphone is now selling online for $50 on a downpayment plan, or $290 at full price. Those who'd prefer a walk-in purchase can pick up the F6 at a retail store on September 11th.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG, T-Mobile

Source: T-Mobile (G2), (Optimus F6)

Eyes-on with LG's 55-inch Gallery OLED TV (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/eyes-on-lg-55-inch-gallery-oled/

LG's showing off its new 55-inch OLED set here at IFA, and (get this) it's not a curved one. Though it's bucking the trend made so popular by LG itself (along with Samsung), the product is hardly boring; the so-called Gallery comes complete with a sound bar disguised as an art mat. LG's included its canvas speakers all around the panel to pump out 2.2-channel sound, along with a subwoofer.

In theory, the Gallery (model 55EA8800, if you must know) sounds a bit gaudy, but the execution is anything but. For one, it looks sleek despite the soundbar backing -- it won't distract your eye from the 55-inch panel. Colors looked extremely vibrant, and images extremely clear, when we viewed the OLED in LG's booth at IFA. Sound quality is strong as well. This is a straightforward (premium) TV, of course, but if you want to leverage the product's artsy pedigree, you can enable Gallery Mode, which displays a selection of works of art from Van Gogh and others. The set ships with a simple, thin black frame, but other, more elaborate options could become available later on.

The Gallery and the sound bar "art mat" will be sold as a bundle for €8,999. An LG booth attendant told us the TV will launch at the end of the year, though the company has made no official comment. Check out the eyes-on video for a closer look.%Gallery-slideshow79668%

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, LG

Haier's new OLED TV is harder to push over than most

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/haier-tv-stand/

Eye control is all well and good, but what Haier was really pumped about at this year's IFA was its new 55-inch OLED set. And, granted, the set is nice and thin at four millimeters, with a 1.5 millimeter bezel. What the company was really excited about, however, was the built-in stand. Yep, it's a four millimeter thick TV that can stand on its own, making it really difficult to push over in one direction, at least. We appreciate the sentiment, but we'll be more excited when we can start controlling the thing with our brains.

Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

drag2share: 'WAKE UP, YOU LITTLE...' Dad Wakes To Hear A Man Talking To His Little Girl Through Her Internet-Connected Baby Monitor

source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/Xv3iqhg-oNU/the-dark-side-of-the-internet-of-things-2013-9

baby monitor

There is a new trend in technology called "the Internet of things."

All your household electronics and appliances are getting connected to the Internet – everything from your lights to your thermostats.

In the long run, connecting these things to the Internet will provide all sorts of conveniences and efficiencies.

But there is a dark side to the Internet of Things.

Forbes, for example, just published a story by Kashmir Hill about a man named Marc Gilbert who woke up on the night of his 34th birthday to hear a sound coming from his 2-year-old daughter's bed room.

Gilbert says he heard a man saying to his daughter: "Wake up, you little slut."

Awful.

The voice was coming through her Internet-connected baby monitor.

Hill says the hacker probably found the baby monitor through a search engine called Shodan, which indexes the "Internet of Things" the way Google indexes the regular Internet.

Shodan can find all kinds of stuff: webcams, traffic lights, glucose meters.

Scary.

Hill says the key to protecting yourself against invasions like the one Gilbert went through is to never buy an Internet-connected gadget that is not password protected. Also, if you buy one that comes with a default password and user name, change it immediately.

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drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email c! ontacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

Enable Google's Hidden Themes for the Stock Android Keyboard

Source: http://lifehacker.com/enable-googles-hidden-themes-for-the-stock-android-key-1253487329

Enable Google's Hidden Themes for the Stock Android Keyboard

If you don't love the look of Android's stock keyboard, Google actually has a few other themes built-in. You just need to uncover them with this trick.

You'll need a custom launcher that can access Android Activities for this to work, like Apex or Nova—which we highly recommend downloading anyway, since they're awesome. Once you've got one installed, just follow these steps:

Long-press on the home screen and head to Shortcuts > Activities from the menu that pops up.
Choose "Google Keyboard" (or "Android Keyboard (AOSP)" depending on your device and Android version), and head to "Android Keyboard Debug Settings." This will create a shortcut on your home screen.
Tap that new shortcut and you'll get some advanced settings for your stock keyboard. Choose "Keyboard Theme" to pick a new theme for your keybaord.

Enable Google's Hidden Themes for the Stock Android Keyboard

You can choose from Basic (which is the pre-Gingerbread theme), Stone, Gingerbread, and IceCreamSandwich (the default on ICS and higher), with a few variations. Pick which one you like, and enjoy!

Google Keyboard Themes | Google Operating System

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