Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Google demos offline Gmail for iPhone, Android at MWC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/18/google-demos-offline-gmail-for-iphone-android-at-mwc/

If you were thinking offline Gmail on your desktop was the greatest thing since sliced bread, prepare yourselves people. If an MWC keynote from Google's VP of engineering, Vic Gundotra, is any indication, the same functionality might be coming soon to an iPhone / Android phone near you. Amongst other things, the souped up web app boasts an overhauled interface, supports labels, and of course, offline access. Despite our own hunch that Google's just using black magic and voodoo to make this happen, Gundotra claims that it's all made possible through HTML5 standards -- AppCache being the biggie. This development certainly opens the doors to more offline-enabled web apps in the future -- Docs, anyone?. Of course, we know Apple has a thing about people messing with its own apps, so it's probably going to take some time / knee-breaking to get them to come around, but for some reason, we don't think it'll take as long with Android. There's a demo video available after the break, and please, try to contain yourselves.

Continue reading Google demos offline Gmail for iPhone, Android at MWC

Filed under: Cellphones

Google demos offline Gmail for iPhone, Android at MWC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hulu asks Boxee to pull content, it complies

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/18/hulu-asks-boxee-to-pull-content-it-complies/

Hulu on Boxee

That was short lived -- it hasn't been six months since Boxee added one of its most popular features yet and now Hulu is putting a stop to it. A real reason wasn't given -- big surprise -- but Hulu is saying it was at the request of the content providers. While no one really knows what Fox and NBC's objections are to Boxee, we're sad to say it actually kinda makes sense to us. Both media giants make most of their money from traditional cable and broadcast TV, and offering this content on your TV in a convenient way threatens the current model (read money) -- you can't say you haven't thought about getting Hulu on your TV so you could cancel cable. The real bad news is that we'd bet that this is just the beginning, and that every STB out there with Hulu will follow. Of course some of them won't comply, but either way it puts them in a bad situation. Hopefully this won't another trend and that the likes of ABC, CBS and Netflix don't follow.

[Via Boxee Blog]

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Hulu asks Boxee to pull content, it complies originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gateway unveils 14-inch TC7306u and TC7307u laptops

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/19/gateway-unveils-14-inch-tc7306u-and-tc7307u-laptops/

We can't say for certain what's gotten into Gateway this year, but it's on a roll. The company's MD and UC families, which were introduced at CES, earned high praise from reviewers and came in at very respectable price points. Now, the outfit is expanding things further with the 14-inch TC line, which is currently comprised of the TC7306u and TC7307u. Designed to hit that sweet spot between a full blown 15-incher and an ultraportable, these media-centric lappies get going at $649.99 and tip the scales at 5.3 pounds. Each one sports a 1.3 megapixel webcam, WiFi, gigabit Ethernet, a 1,366 x 768 resolution panel, a built-in multicard reader and three USB 2.0 ports. You'll also find a variety of colors, Intel's Core 2 Duo CPUs, a dual-layer DVD writer and a 6-cell Li-ion battery. Nah, you haven't missed anything out of the ordinary, but these two don't seem half bad for handling basic tasks without spending a bundle. Full release is after the break.

Gallery: Gateway unveils 14-inch TC7306u and TC7307u laptops

Continue reading Gateway unveils 14-inch TC7306u and TC7307u laptops

Filed under: L aptops

Gateway unveils 14-inch TC7306u and TC7307u laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Verizon LTE Wireless Clocking 60Mbps In US Tests, Confirmed to Launch in 2010 [Mwc'09]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/fqAz31xSoRs/verizon-lte-wireless-clocking-60mbps-in-us-tests-confirmed-to-launch-in-2010

Verizon's rollout of its 4G Long Term Evolution network is in the trial phase in three metro areas, and lucky testers are seeing peak speeds of 60Mbps—wireless. Best of all, 2010 commercial launch is confirmed.

Though AT&T seems to be talking excitedly about its own LTE network—a technology that derives from the GSM networks that AT&T and T-Mobile run, and not the CDMA networks of Sprint and Verizon—Verizon really will be first, and at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week, Verizon CTO Dick Lynch made a point of letting the world know it. Most of the chatter was stuff we'd published before, but the coolest part of the released statement, about the current and upcoming trials, was new:

Utilizing their existing spectrum, Verizon Wireless and Vodafone have been field testing 4G LTE networks in Minneapolis, Columbus, Ohio, and Northern New Jersey in the United States, as well as in Budapest, Düsseldorf, and Madrid in Europe, with a variety of network infrastructure providers. These field trials have demonstrated download rates of 50 to 60 Mbps peak speeds, though actual average download results will not be determined until the commercial launch of the new Verizon Wireless LTE network. Utilizing its recently acquired 700 MHz spectrum, Verizon Wir! eless wi ll expand trials this summer, and Lynch said the company will commercially launch its LTE network in 2010. Once the initial rollout is complete, plans are in place for aggressive deployment throughout Verizon Wireless' entire network, including areas not currently covered by the existing Verizon Wireless footprint.

WiMax is already here, and Sprint has proven to be adept at rolling out next-generation data services, but still, I can't help but think that between Verizon and AT&T, LTE will definitely be the 4G technology of choice in America. [More Mobile World Congress 2009 Coverage]

Canon Digital ELPH SD970, SD960 SD780 and SD1200 Point-and-Shoots Look Pretty, Feel Nice [Digital Cameras]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/1nvZQ5J1yUU/canon-digital-elph-sd970-sd960-sd780-and-sd1200-point+and+shoots-look-pretty-feel-nice

Most point-and-shoots have extremely similar feature sets now, whoever they're from—smile, booger and blink detection; image stabilization and other boingos you never use. So Canon's choice to focus on look-and-feel stands out—and pays off.

Here's the new PowerShot Digital ELPH line, most expensive to cheapest:

The SD970 is the fully loaded model with 12MP, 3-inch screen, 5x optical zoom lens, 720p video recording and more creative features like Zoom Blur and Creative Light Effect. Unlike the other cameras though, you don't have a whole rainbow of colors to pick from. It's $380.

The SD960 stepdown knocks off $50 for shrinking the screen to 2.8 inches and zoom to 4x (but it's a 28mm wide-angle lens), but it's still 12MP and can shoot 720p video. And it come in a few different (pastel-y) colors.

The SD780 has a tapered boxy look to it that I really liked because it felt classy, but spec-wise it's a stepdown from the SD970 and SD960, with a smaller 2.5-inch screen, 3x optical zoom and fewer whizbang modes. But it's still 12.1MP and does the 720p thing for $280 when it drops next month. Multiple colors, all very metallic, but the hot rod red is pretty nice.

• The SD1200 is the cheapie side, as the neon Lifesavers colors probably clued you in. 10 megapixels is the only spec Canon deems worthy of mentioning besides the $230 price, if that tells you anything. But they're delicious looking!

I got to grope all of the! se a mon th ago, and all of these cameras really do look and feel fantastic in your hand, a noticeable step above the other new point-and-shoots I've seen so far in the design department. How well they actually shoot, we'll have to wait and see, but if you really care about aesthetics, these are lookin' like the cameras to look at (at least until I see what else is coming out for PMA). [Canon]

Canon SX200 Point-and-Shoot Looks Classy, Has 12x Zoom Wide-Angle Lens [Digital Cameras]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/DhcF-ysxKyg/canon-sx200-point+and+shoot-looks-classy-has-12x-zoom-wide+angle-lens

Aesthetically speaking, Canon's SX200 pro point-and-shoot is my second favorite camera of the bunch, after the shockproof Cold-War-and-candy inspired D10. It just looks so classy, and it's got a 12x zoom, 28mm wide-angle lens.

Other vital specs: 12MP sensor (Canon likes the number 12, I guess), 720p video recording and a 3-inch screen. Yep, there are multiple colors too, a cherry red besides the black and blue I've got here. It's available end of next month for $350. [Canon]

Lenovo First to Pack Nvidia Ion HD Graphics Into Netbooks [Rumor]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/6cKu59bTulU/lenovo-first-to-pack-nvidia-ion-hd-graphics-into-netbooks

We're gonna see Nvidia's Ion platform in dirt-cheap desktops first, but Taiwan rag Commercial Times says Lenovo looks like the first to put it in netbooks, starting with 11.6 and 12.1-inch IdeaPads. [Digitimes via Electronista]

Pantech's Matrix PRO slides two ways onto AT&T

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/18/pantechs-matrix-pro-slides-two-ways-onto-atandt/

This thing's been on quite a journey from concept to production, but here we are -- finally, a true successor to Pantech's quirky Duo on AT&T. The Matrix PRO features HSDPA (up from UMTS), integrated GPS with AT&T Navigator, Bluetooth, a 2 megapixel cam, Video Share support, and Windows Mobile 6.1 Standard, but the real draw lies in the device's pair of sliders -- one for QWERTY, one for digits. At nearly 23mm thick, it's not the thinnest smartphone in the world -- that honor supposedly belongs to the Nokia E55 -- but where else are you going to get this many buttons on a single device? Pricing and availability are forthcoming.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Pantech's Matrix PRO slides two ways onto AT&T originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WiMAX-equipped Samsung SWD-M100D MID spotted at MWC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/18/wimax-equipped-samsung-swd-m100d-mid-spotted-at-mwc/

We've been waiting on more details about a "forthcoming" Samsung MID for what feels like centuries now, but if a recent find is what it says it is, we'd say a Samsung-branded, WiMAX-enabled Mobile Internet Device is pretty close to production. The so-called SWD-M100D was spotted chillin' out, relaxin' all cool at Sammy's MWC WiMAX kiosk, which makes perfect sense given its ability to connect to WiMAX networks. Unfortunately, it was caught running WinMo 6.1, though the slide out QWERTY keyboard, 3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR module, 4.3-inch touchscreen, microSD slot and TV output were all welcome inclusions. Samsung's PR folks have been somewhat dodgy so far, but a recent press release about its innovation in the WiMAX space specifically makes mention of an elusive MID. We're on to you, Samsung, and we're not looking away for even a second.

[Via Pocketables]

Read - In the wild shots
Read - Samsung release

Filed under: Handhelds

WiMAX-equipped Samsung SWD-M100D MID spotted at MWC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Corel brings InstantON technology to Sony's VAIO P

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/18/corel-brings-instanton-technology-to-sonys-vaio-p/

Man, that first edition VAIO P was not the one to buy. Just a month after we saw the thing unveiled at CES, we've already learned that a Gobi-equipped version is on the way. Furthermore, Corel has just proclaimed that all future VAIO Ps will ship with its own InstantON technology to alleviate slow boot times associated with running Windows Vista on an Atom CPU. As with most alternatives, Corel's version of the software enables users to surf the web, check email, chat online and play back photos, videos and music in seconds after turning on their machine, and it sounds like Corel has crafted a customized interface specifically for this pocket-friendly(ish) PC. If this just made your decision to run out and snag a VAIO P, you can find the Corel-equipped version now in Japan and elsewhere later this month.

[Via GadgetMix]

Filed under: Laptops

Corel brings InstantON technology to Sony's VAIO P originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Facebook Retracts New Terms of Service [Privacy]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/fxpgKl_a-os/facebook-retracts-new-terms-of-service

In a late-night blog post responding to the recent outcry over a recent change to Facebook's terms of service, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the social network's TOS will revert to a previous version.

Check out the new/old terms at Facebook, and be sure to jump into your account and dig into 10 privacy settings every Facebook user should know. Are you glad to see Facebook respond to user concern, or does the social networking cloud leave you as wary as ever?

Update on Terms [via Consumerist]

Freescale's i.MX515 netbook chip now supports Android and Xandros

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/18/freescales-i-mx515-netbook-chip-now-supports-android-and-xandro/

When we first laid eyes on Freescale's five-core i.MX515 processor this January, we hoped it was all it claimed to be -- promising an extremely cool machine with a low power budget and a price point that'll take your next netbook down near the fabled $199 range. So far, so good: the Pegatron machines we peeped at CES fit the bill quite nicely, and now ZD Net is reporting that the Cortex-A8-based chip supports the HyperSpace instant-on OS, specially optimized 3G HSDA data modules from Option and Wavecom, and both Android and Xandros. Of course, none of this will be of any help to you if you're married to Windows -- but then again, even if you are we wouldn't really blame you for wanting a little Linux on the side. Especially if it comes in a sweet package like this.

Filed under: Laptops

Freescale's i.MX515 netbook chip now supports Android and Xandros originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 02:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DIY multitouch 67-inch rear-projection TV

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/18/diy-multitouch-67-inch-rear-projection-tv/

Sure, this ain't the first multitouch / rear-projection tv hack we've seen, but the thing is still rather novel. Using a 67-inch television, this guy put together a system that utilizes four IR laser line generators to produce a plane of infrared light across the entire surface of the screen. Two cameras mounted inside the TV look for the clusters of light generated when one touches the screen and tracks them using an app called tbeta for the Mac OS. If you'd like to build one yourself -- or if you're morbidly curious -- the kids at IDEO Labs have put the step-by-step out there in excruciating detail. Hit the read for some of that action or, if you really just like to watch, be sure to catch the videos after the break.

[Via Hack A Day]

Continue reading DIY multitouch 67-inch rear-projection TV

Filed under: Displays

DIY multitouch 67-inch rear-projection TV originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 04:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Texas Instruments and Wind River do up Android right

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/18/texas-instruments-and-wind-river-do-up-android-right/

We just got a great look at the potential of Android on Texas Instruments' new Zoom OMAP34x-II Mobile Development Platform, a sort of sexy cousin to Compulab's exeda. The OMAP3430-powered unit is being built by Logic and is meant for software developers to work on the OMAP3 chipset, but it's actually a pretty neat "device" in its own right, with a 4.1-inch WVGA capacitive touchscreen LCD, HDMI out, all sorts of connectivity, 16GB of storage, an SD card slot, large QWERTY keypad and an 8 megapixel camera. There's also a debug board with Ethernet, USB plugs and some other technical stuff. For $1150 developers can pick up a WiFi-only unit, and $1399 buys you a 3G unit -- consumers can buy 'em too, and we can imagine certain enthusiasts wouldn't mind the cost for what basically amounts to the ultimate Android device. The unit runs other flavors of Linux, but we're really in it for the Android, especially thanks to that screen. Wind River has been doing development on Android for a while, contributing to the original source code as part of the OHA, and one of its developers even ported Android to OpenMoko. They've got a refined Android interface running on the Zoom, which includes a tabbed application browser, fancier widgets and a spruced up unlock screen. They wouldn't consider what they're doing a skin or a port, but it's exactly the type of stuff that device manufacturers will be looking for to differentiate their Android-powered handset. Video of all the magic is after the break.

Gallery: Texas Instruments and Wind River do up Android right

Continue reading Texas Instruments and Wind River do up Android right

Filed under: Handhelds

Texas Instruments and Wind River do up Android right originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 07:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's Internet Tablet hacked into secondary PC monitor

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/17/nokias-internet-tablet-hacked-into-secondary-pc-monitor/

What's more exciting than seeing Cupcake on a Nokia Internet Tablet? Seeing your Internet Tablet double as a secondary display, naturally! If you're too cash-strapped to go out and get one of those newfangled USB displays to run your widgets / chat windows / etc. in, and you're scrambling for reasons to not toss that N800 or N810 on eBay, you should certainly give the read link a look. We can't say this is the easiest hack in existence, but considering that no soldering irons are required, we'd say even the novice could at least give it a go. Plus, you can't put a price on extra utility. You just can't.

[Thanks, Addae]

Filed under: Handhelds

Nokia's Internet Tablet hacked into secondary PC monitor originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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