Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Monday, July 27, 2009

Disney Using Serious Science to Determine When You'll Look at Banner Ads [Ads]

Disney is spending millions on a research facility in Austin to see just what, physiologically speaking, makes us look at certain types of ads over others.

The facility is designed to figure out just what types of web ads we'll give our attention to. Do bumpers before videos work? What about those horrible ads that cover a whole website and force you to find the tiny X to close them? They're using eye tracking, heart monitors, skin temperature readings and facial probes to measure expressions to see what works and what doesn't.

It all shows that web ads are a serious business, with tons of money there for people who figure out how to make them really work. But really, come on, enough with those ads that block content. Nobody likes those, and you don't need any fancy research to figure it out. [NY Times]

Sony Vaio W Netbook Reviewed (Exactly What We Expected) [NetBooks]

If you read the original announcement, there's not a hint of surprise in Computer Shopper's review of Sony's stab at a conventional netbook, the Vaio W. Underpowered and uninspiring, though that 1366x768 screen sure is dandy. Come on, Sony. [ComputerShopper]

Apple, record labels working to spur album sales with interactive goodies, tablet due this September?

Let's face it, folks -- the CD insert is no longer "the new hotness." And besides, those wacky PDFs included with iTunes album purchases never did much more than take up valuable hard drive space anyway, right?. In an effort to get consumers to stop buying single tracks and start buying ~~more filler~~ entire albums, Apple has reportedly joined forces with EMI, Sony Music, Warner Music and Universal Music Group in a project that's being codenamed "Cocktail." Financial Times is reporting that said initiative is considering adding "interactive booklets, sleeve notes and other interactive features with music downloads," with one executive familiar with the situation saying that "it's not just a bunch of PDFs; there's real engagement with the ancillary stuff." Of course, all of this should still be taken with a pinch of salt for now, as even the music companies mentioned above refused to comment. And given the tremendous indifference consumers have shown with that other interactive tech that's being pushed so hard right now, we're not even sure it'll have the desired effect.

In related news, another sect of folks "briefed on the project" have stated that these new content deals could be launched alongside a new, full-featured "tablet-sized computer in time for the Christmas shopping season, in what the entertainment industry hopes will be a new revolution." Adding fuel to the already raging fire, the report asserts that the "touch-sensitive device... will have a screen that may be up to ten inches diagonally," and while it will "connect to the internet like the iPod touch, it'll probably [do so] without! phone c apabilities." You do know that Apple has been good for a music / iPod-related event right around September the past few years, right?

[Via AppleInsider]

Filed under: Portable Audio, Software

Apple, record labels working to spur album sales with interactive goodies, tablet due this September? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 01:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BIOS password snag subdues Intel's 34nm X25-M G2 launch party

Man, Intel can't win for losin'. After it was forced to issue a firmware update to remedy an off-the-wall slowdown issue that affected a few of its original X25-M SSDs, the outfit is already having to push out a patch to solve a minor quirk with its newfangled 34nm X25-M G2 drives. According to Puget System's William George, his company -- along with NewEgg and a number of other respected vendors -- was forced to yank the new drive from its website shortly after it became available. Turns out, there is a defect in the initial shipment that could cause data corruption if "a password is set on the drive in the system BIOS, and then changed or disabled later."

We're told that a firmware fix should be out within a fortnight, and while most companies are allowing folks to hold off and wait for factory-patched drives, those who don't foresee themselves placing such a password on their SSD can go ahead and enjoy the spoils of 34nm flash goodness while waiting for Intel's engineers to do their thang. Oh, and if you're thinking about buying in now, you should probably know that Intel has halted shipments until the fix is complete. Ready to deal with a shortage, are you?

[Image courtesy of HotHardware, thanks Joseph]

Filed under: Storage

BIOS password snag subdues Intel's 34nm X25-M G2 launch party originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 02:49:00 EST. Plea! se see o ur terms for use of feeds.

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WD ships industry's first 2.5-inch 1TB hard drive

After being snubbed by Hitachi in the race to push out the industry's first 1TB desktop hard drive, Western Digital made darn sure it was first to ship a 2TB version. Now, the company is raising its fists in celebration once more with the introduction of the sector's first 2.5-inch 1TB mobile hard drive. 'Course, this isn't the first 1TB drive of any kind in this size, as that honor goes to none other than pureSilicon and its ultra-spacious 1TB SSD. Still, we recall thinking that a drive of this capacity wouldn't hit until 2010 at best, so we're steadfastly elated to hear that the Scorpio Blue 1TB (and Scorpio Blue 750GB) are shipping now to retailers. Of course, we can't help but gripe that both of these boast unorthodox 12.5mm form factors, which dwarfs the standard 9.5mm-height slot found in most laptops, but hey, progress is progress -- right? With that in mind, it's easy to see why both of these are being marketed hard in the external HDD market, with each unit slated to ship within a My Passport SE for $189.99 (750GB) or $249.99 (1TB). The full release is after the break.

Continue reading WD ships industry's first 2.5-inch 1TB hard drive

Filed under: Storage

WD ships industry's first 2.5-inch 1TB hard drive originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ricoh GR Digital III continues 28mm-equivalent, high-priced lineage

Having given its GR Digital II camera more than a year on the market, Ricoh has seen fit to now upgrade that model by latching on another digit and what it claims to be the "greatest ever GR image quality." It wouldn't be much of a step forward if that wasn't the case, but let's see what else the Japanese company hopes to tempt us with. The wide-angle 28 mm/F1.9 GR Lens is all new, while the high-sensitivity 10-megapixel CCD and the GR Engine III image processor are likely evolutionary steps from the previous generation. Collectively, they promise improvements in all the areas you'd expect: faster focus, less noise and better low light images. There's also a 3-inch 920,000-dot VGA display, video recording at 640 x 480 / 30 fps, SDHC expandability and a complete lack of optical zoom. The veracity of Ricoh's claims can be tested from mid-August in the UK in exchange for £530 ($870), while the full press release and specs are already available at the read link below.

Continue reading Ricoh GR Digital III continues 28mm-equivalent, high-priced lineage

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Ricoh GR Digital III continues 28mm-equivalent, high-priced lineage originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung announces world's fastest Cortex A8 core, iPhone 3GS frowns a little

Some of the most advanced mobile devices on the market today are built around cores based on ARM's Cortex A8 architecture, including a couple you may be familiar with: the Palm Pre and the iPhone 3GS. The 3GS, for example, runs a Samsung S5PC100 system-on-chip clipping along at a healthy 600MHz, enough to make it noticeably snappier than the 3G it replaces -- but time marches relentlessly forward, as always, and that S5PC100 is suddenly starting to look a little long in the tooth with today's news. Sammy has partnered up with silicon design firm Intrinsity to develop what it's billing as the world's fastest Cortex A8 core, a 1GHz unit codenamed "Hummingbird" that's based on 45nm manufacturing techniques and can deliver peak performance at a single volt with power consumption characteristics favorable for mobile use. Translation: this thing should be nipping at the heels of Snapdragon once Samsung finishes up work turning this core into a system-on-chip that can be sourced by manufacturers, and it should do so without causing batteries to beg for mercy. Unfortunately, there's no word just yet on exactly when we'll see phones running this setup in the market, so Pre, 3GS, you're safe for now -- but the clock's ticking.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Samsung announces world's fastest Cortex A8 core, iPhone 3GS frowns a little originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 07:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: life-altering 3D projection gets splashed on German building

It's not often that we take time to highlight the creativity and innovation involved in an artistic projection, but this one excited a few too many nerve endings to pass up. The latest in a long line of fantastical wall splashings comes to us courtesy of Urbanscreen, who has designed a downright mesmerizing 3D projection to "dissolve and break through the strict architecture of O.M. Ungers' Galerie der Gegenwart. The project is entitled "How it would be, if a house was dreaming," and it's without a doubt one of the most amazing spectacles you'll see in the next six to ten minutes. Hop on past the break to have your skepticism put to rest, your world view changed forever and your hope in humanity temporarily restored.

[Via freshome, thanks Hale]

Continue reading Video: life-altering 3D projection gets splashed on German building

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Video: life-altering 3D projection gets splashed on German building originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer's Aspire Timeline 1810T gets a price, release window

If you're in Europe and you love Acer laptops, today is your lucky day. The company has gotten totally official with its Aspire Timeline 1810T notebook, at least according to ComputerBase in Germany. If you'll recall, the laptop boasts an 11.6-inch, 1366 x 768 display, a 1.4GHz ULV CPU, can support up to 4GB of RAM, and sports a GMA 4500MHD graphics chipset. The base model includes a 250GB hard drive, and all the systems come with an HDMI out, Bluetooth 2.1, a 3G option, and are preloaded with Vista -- just in case you were worried. For the low-ish starting price of €499 (or about $708) you can take one of these puppies back to your flat soon (they're on preorder now and should be available in two or three weeks). Hit the read link for all the nasty details... if you dare.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

Filed under: Laptops

Acer's Aspire Timeline 1810T gets a price, release window originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic's new LUMIX consumer lineup: the high-powered FZ35, fashionable FP8 and thin-lensed ZR1

Panasonic is going at it from all angles today, with three new 12.1 megapixel LUMIX cameras with surprisingly distinct aims:

LUMIX FZ35 (pictured) - The requisite "superzoom" of every lineup, the FZ35 doesn't disappoint on features, but the $400 pricepoint certainly pushes the limits of "consumer" camera. Features include 18x zoom and HD video recording, including a Creative Movie Mode with shutter speed and aperture settings for video. It also expands on typical facial recognition functionality with a "Baby mode" for... finding babies.
LUMIX FP8 - While it can handle HD video, the FP8 is more about looks. Still, the 12.1 megapixel sensor and 4.6x zoom aren't bad for the form factor -- though the $300 pricetag isn't nothing.
LUMIX ZR1 - Featuring the "world's first 0.3mm thin aspherical lens," the ZR1 manages a full 8x optical zoom while keeping its girlish figure when extended. There's also room for a 12.1 megapixel sensor. The cam goes for $280.

All the cameras pack optical image stabilization and facial recognition, and the ZR1 and FZ35 have a "High Dynamic Mode" which presumably emulates HDR photography to some extent. All three will be out in September. Full PR is after the break.

Gallery: Panasonic's new LUMIX consumer lineup: the high-powered FZ35, fashionable FP8 and thin-lensed ZR1