Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Monday, January 26, 2009

Acer's 10-inch netbook gets model numbers, release date

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/26/acers-10-inch-netbook-gets-model-numbers-release-date/

The world's been waiting for details on Acer's up and coming 10-inch Aspire, and we just got 'em in our hot little hands. The Aspire One D150 lineup hits the streets of France beginning in February with the D150-0B. This €329 ($425) netbook sports a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 1GB memory, 160GB hard drive, a 10.1-inch (1024 x 600) display, and a 3-cell battery. Then in March, the D150-1B makes its appearance. An enhanced version of the D150, this device is otherwise identical, save a 6-cell battery that should be good for up to 7 hours -- the battery upgrade will set you back a cool €349 ($450). Lastly, the D150-2BG will be rocking an Intel Atom 1.66GHz N280 processor and sports integrated 3G quadband UMTS/HSDPA mobile broadband, and the 6-cell battery. Also available in March, this one has a price tag of €449 ($575). No word on a domestic street date, but you'll know as soon as we do.

Continue reading Acer's 10-inch netbook gets model numbers, release date

Filed under: Laptops

Acer's 10-inch netbook gets model numbers, release date originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LP960 UAV flies around, shoots high def photography of its journey

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/26/lp960-uav-flies-around-shoots-high-def-photography-of-its-journ/

We've seen drones that do all kinds of things, but this one is on the special side. Lehman Aviation's just debuted its LP960 UAV -- a winged flyer that's just over three feet long, weighing under two pounds. The bot is equipped with a 12 megapixel camera, and its job is to zoom around snapping high resolution aeriel photographs and video of the area, while being controlled remotely. The man on the ground pulling the strings can also see what it looks like up above, making adjustments to the flight path accordingly. Check the video ater the break for a demo of the bird, and some examples of its work -- plus a stunning, moody soundtrack to boot. Oh, and if you were wondering, the LP 960 is priced at around $17,000.

Continue reading LP960 UAV flies around, shoots high def photography of its journey

Filed under: Robots

LP960 UAV flies around, shoots high def photography of its journey originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friday, January 23, 2009

Video: iFrame tablet PC in action

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/23/video-iframe-tablet-pc-in-action/

Oliver Seres has developed a tablet PC prototype that he's calling the iFrame (groan) -- which is somewhat similar to that CrunchPad we've been following -- and runs on a custom install of Ubuntu. It's built from an Amtek T10L UMPC, and looks like it's pretty snappy, with a really slick interface. We don't know a ton about the specs of the custom device, but the Amtek boasts an Intel Atom N270 processor, up to 2GB of RAM, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, an 80GB hard drive, and a 10.2-inch 1,024 x 600 resolution display, plus a 1.3-megapixel camera, dual speakers, and WiFi. There's no word on cost of the prototype, nor if and when it'll head into production. Check the sweet video of Oliver demoing after the break.

[Via 01Blog]

Continue reading Video: iFrame tablet PC in action

Filed under: Tablet PCs

Video: iFrame tablet PC in action originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Researchers tout new 60GHz RF chip for high-speed wireless transfers

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/23/researchers-tout-new-60ghz-rf-chip-for-high-speed-wireless-trans/

It's not the only group toying around in the 60GHz frequency range, but a team of researchers from Georgia Tech's Georgia Electronic Design Center seem to be a bit further along than most, and they say that their new 60GHz RF chip could pave the way into a whole host of new, speedier wireless devices. Apparently, the chip is the first 60GHz embedded chip designed for multi-gigabit wireless use, and the researchers have already pushed it to some pretty impressive lengths, reaching speeds of 15Gbps at a distance of 1 meter, 10Gbps at 2 meters, and 5Gbps at 5 meters, while also maintaining the lowest "energy per bit" to date. What's more, while it's been flying a bit under the radar, the industry group Ecma International has already announced a new standard for chips capable of sending RF signals in the 60GHz range, which is apparently expected to be published as an ISO standard later this year.

[Via Electronista]

Filed under: Wireless

Researchers tout new 60GHz RF chip for high-speed wireless transfers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aptera rolls out first pre-production vehicle, promises shipments in October

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/23/aptera-rolls-out-first-pre-production-vehicle-promises-shipment/

Although the swoopy Aptera electric went up for pre-orders back in October of 2007, we haven't really seen much of the futuristic car outside of the odd Star Trek cameo. Hopefully that's about to change, though -- the company just rolled out the first pre-production example its flagship model, the 2e. The three-wheeled car gets the equivalent of 200mpg, and the company claims the lithium-ion battery pack will last for 100 miles on a single charge. Aptera isn't giving out final pricing information apart from "between $25,000 and $45,000" but it says over 4,000 potential customers have already signed up for a planned California-only October release. We'll see how it goes -- and we'd bet the folks at the Automotive X-Prize are keeping a sharp eye as well.

Filed under: Transportation

Aptera rolls out first pre-production vehicle, promises shipments in October originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Beautiful Sunset, Painted in Fluorescent Bacteria [Science]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/ljEZUDWhjc8/a-beautiful-sunset-painted-in-fluorescent-bacteria

This beach is awash in bacteria colonies that express eight different colors through fluorescent protein modification. And yes, that canvas is a petri dish. [Andrew Hires via MAKE]

Android Cupcake OS Update Screenshots Show Virtual Keyboard, New Applications [Android]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/X-MdnVQWOGA/android-cupcake-os-update-screenshots-show-virtual-keyboard-new-applications

While Google's Android "Cupcake" updates may not be available just yet, detailed screenshots of the platform update show new applications in addition to the highly-anticipated virtual keyboard.

Developer Arron La was able to test the most recent batch of Cupcake and make his own observations about the changes. According to him, there will be a new Notes and Global Time application, along with various other fixes. Since February is almost here, I wouldn't be surprised to find most of these coming to the G1 soon.

1. New Local Setting Page - Gives you option to pick different locales and pick different text inputs.
2. New Option to view running and third party applications - An option to view running and third party applications from the normal application list. Does not provide a way to terminate them.
3. New windows opening/closing animation effect - a new popping effect when windows are opened/closed.
4. New default notepad - a very simple and ugly default notepad.
5. New Global Time application - not sure if it will be provided by T-Mobile but it's just a rotating Earth and I couldn't get it to do anything else.
6. New Spare Parts Application - Once again not sure if the official version will have this, but it provides a number of extra settings such as setting windows animation and transition animation speed, font size, end button behavior and etc. It also has a "display rotation" option which supposedly should allow auto-rotate base on orientation across the entire os, but it is not currently working.
7. New Virtual Keyboard (as seen on video -ed.)- The virtual keyboard will pop up on every edit box. I didn't feel any haptic feedback but I am thinking that it's just not there on the example ke! yboard. Because the phone does not auto-rotate (an option exists but it doesn't work), it's very hard to type on it. The sample keyboard also does not provide auto-corrections.
8. Slightly better looking buttons with more shadow.

Star Wars Tilt-Shift Photos Convert Fanboys Into Their Beloved Action Figures [Star Wars]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/wDTYKe7OTRw/star-wars-tilt+shift-photos-convert-fanboys-into-their-beloved-action-figures

I find these Star Wars images fascinating. They are not special because of the technique: We have featured amazing tilt-shift photography before. What makes these special is the combination of technique and subject matter.

I just find it funny that these could actually be made with real action figures, as if someone broke into one of the biggest Star Wars figures collection in the galaxy and ran away with a thousand Imperial stormtroopers to make these shots.

[Star Wars Blog]

Giant Laser Cloud Takes Over Helsinki's Sky [Art]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/LP1w6xxUipk/giant-laser-cloud-takes-over-helsinkis-sky

They are here. With their lasers. And their clouds. And their secret tunnels that go 413 feet into the ground to extract energy. No, not the aliens. I mean the hippies with their art installations.

It's the Ga Green Cloud, in Helsinki, Finland. Designed by artists Helen Evans and Heiki Hansen, it paints a green laser cloud over the smoke plume of the Salmisaari power plant's chimney. The structure raises 508 feet and its tunnels dig 413 feet deep into the Earth's crust to feed coal directly into the plant's furnaces. According to them: ""No other space, network, grid, community could better represent a city and it's activity as a whole." Translation from Finnish: "Oh boy, this kicks ass." [The Contaminated]

Japanese Media Vehicle is Virtual Reality in a Capsule [Vr]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/XVyzNxuWMlg/japanese-media-vehicle-is-virtual-reality-in-a-capsule

This "media vehicle," recently shown at an IT exhibition in Tokyo, looks like something out of Ghost in the Shell and is the coolest thing I've seen all day.

Riders enter the vehicle by popping open the top and entering what looks like a futuristic cockpit. A large spherical display covers the upper body while a bottom area allows your legs to move freely on a special track.

The machine, which is a prototype, can only handle a weight of up to 60kg (132 pounds). According to the reporter, being inside felt like living in a large video game. Uh, where can I sign up to try this thing out? [Robot Impress]

1,474 Megapixel Inauguration Panorama is a Treasure Trove of Candid Captures [Photography]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/VHC0Tn2l0Eo/1474-megapixel-inauguration-panorama-is-a-treasure-trove-of-candid-captures

We've all seen the iconic imagery of the day again and again: the nervous smile as the oath went haywire, the rapt crowds, Aretha's hat. But what about everything else? It's all in here.

Containing over 2GB of photo data and comprised of over 220 images shot from a Canon G10 Bridge camera on a Gigapan robotic camera mount, David Bergman's incredibly detailed panorama is filled with pieces of information that you previously weren't able or bothered to see. Some are just obviously cool—nearly being able to read the sheet music on performers stands, seeing the comically varied expressions in the VIP area behind the President as he speaks—but others are more subtly awesome.

Take Yo-Yo Ma snapping a picture on his iPhone, the unreal number of personal digital cameras or the endless, imposing banks of photography equipment surrounding the event from every conceivable angle. Sorry CNN, this is cooler than Photosynth. Tell us what you find in the comments. Full screen view here. [David Bergman via Cult of Mac]

New Storm OS 4.7.0.90 leaked, includes QWERTY keyboard in portrait mode

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/new-storm-os-4-7-0-90-includes-keyboard-in-portrait-mode/

As you know, a new beta OS for the Storm has made its way into the wild. Although we haven't had a chance to give OS 4.7.0.90 the what-for ourselves, those of you who have certainly have a lot to say. The big news for both 9500 and 9530 users is that there is now a QWERTY keyboard in portrait mode -- no more flipping the phone around just for an ill-advised late night tweet! Besides that, users have noted an increase in overall stability (unless you're trying to listen to music -- more on that in a moment) and some visual enhancements (including the older-look application folder and fonts that are slightly larger). Additionally, when the device is locked, the screen doesn't light up every time you bump it -- good for battery life. And as one user noted, the charging issue "which plagued OS version 88" has been resolved. Unfortunately, there has also been plenty of chatter about buggy multimedia players -- at least on the Storm 9500. Users have complained about music and video playback crashing the phone, fast forward not working, and an overall video performance decrease. Brave Blackberry fans can hit the read link to browse the forums and maybe even download the new OS for themselves. More images after the break.

Continue reading New Storm OS 4.7.0.90 leaked, includes QWERTY keyboard in portrait mode

Filed under: Cellphones

New Storm OS 4.7.0.90 leaked, includes QWERTY keyboard in portrait mode originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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15.2 megapixel Sony Alpha A800 DSLR rumored

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/15-2-megapixel-sony-alpha-a800-dslr-rumored/

At this point, it's remarkably tough to say how legitimate these claims are, and while we'd wholeheartedly recommend digesting these details with a dose of NaCl, we'd be shortchanging you to not pass 'em on. According to a curious post over at Photofan.jp, Sony is readying an Alpha A800 DSLR (mockup pictured) with a 15.2 megapixel sensor, an ISO range of 200 to 12,800, a new high-speed sync flash, 23 total AF sensors, a fresh metering / AF sensor tracking system and inbuilt WiFi. We're told that the camera will be officially unveiled at PMA 2009 alongside a trio of new lenses -- thankfully, March (and our answer) is less than two months out.

[Via Photography Bay]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

15.2 megapixel Sony Alpha A800 DSLR rumored originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Miu has big plans for the new HDPC, if only they had big money to make them come true

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/miu-has-big-plans-for-the-new-hdpc-if-only-they-had-big-money-t/

The economy is putting the hurt on everybody these days -- and while it's no less true for Miu, the company is working feverishly to release their everything-at-once handheld, despite some serious setbacks in the funding department. Ready to go into production at the drop of a hat (and a $500,000 check), there are currently two versions of the device in development -- the basic Atom-powered netbook / PMP / e-book reader will stay at the $500 price point, while the $900 version is a dual-boot Windows XP / CE device that includes a GPS and a mobile phone. As far as we can tell the thing is still a fist-full of ugly, but we hope these crazy kids make it, and we wish them the very best. We really do.

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Handhelds

Miu has big plans for the new HDPC, if only they had big money to make them come true originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Forget chocolates, Samsung offers pink NC10 for Valentine gifting

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/22/forget-chocolates-samsung-offers-pink-nc10-for-valentine-giftin/

If a pink MSI Wind isn't the way to your significant other's heart, Samsung has an alternative for you in the form of a rose-colored NC10. The similarly-spec'd 10.2-inch netbook sports a 1.6GHz Atom processor, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, and Windows XP Home. Additionally, it's got a suspiciously-long 7-hour battery life and anti-germ keyboard. UK retailer dabs has it listed for £316 ($434) with VAT and a February 9 release date. Let's just hope she doesn't lament the color choice come March.

[Via Portable Monkey]

Read - Overclockers product page
Read - Dabs product page

Filed under: Laptops

Forget chocolates, Samsung offers pink NC10 for Valentine gifting originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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