Thursday, August 06, 2009

LG's 15-inch OLED Screen in Production: Could MacBooks Be A Beneficiary? [Oled]

LG's 15-inch OLED Screen in Production: Could MacBooks Be A Beneficiary? [Oled]

It's been widely rumored that LG may supply Apple with screens for its future products. If that's true, LG's plans to have a super thin and bright 15-inch OLED in stores this December could signal big things.

The update comes from OLED-Display.Net, which also reports that LG plans a global roll out soon after the display hits Korea in December.

So even if Apple's next MacBook, MacBook Pro (or even Tablet) don't have any OLED love, at least we've got LG's display (TV?) to look forward to. And at 15-inches, it'll be a welcomed step up from Sony's beautiful, but small 11-inch XEL-1. [OLED-Display.net]




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Zune HD's browser previewed, sounds just as sexy as the hardware

Zune HD's browser previewed, sounds just as sexy as the hardware

The folks over at CNET got a quick look at a recent build of the Zune HD, and the player seems to be getting rather close to a final product. Among praise for the hardware, video playback and a quite refined music player and music discovery experience, they found the Zune HD's browser to be particularly excellent. It's been built by the IE team, which bodes well for prospective Windows Mobile 6.5 users, and it's apparently very comparable to the iPhone in features and speed. There's pinch to zoom, accelerometer-based reorientation, and a good onscreen keyboard -- no Flash, but from the pain it's inflicting on the Android browsing experience, perhaps that's a good thing.

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Zune HD's browser previewed, sounds just as sexy as the hardware originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Shack, short on money for new signs, asks for your help

The Shack, short on money for new signs, asks for your help


Like the rest of America, we've gotten some serious LOLs out of Radio Shack's current bid for relevance. But, as you know, rebranding comes at a price -- all those new signs excising the word "Radio" from the chain's storefronts aren't exactly cheap, you know. That said, we were equally amused and annoyed by today's email blast urging consumers to carry around little pieces of paper with the word "THE" printed on it. That way, you can obscure the offending noun whenever you find yourself within close proximity of one of these signs -- saving the company money on signage and increasing brand recognition in one bold move. Still unclear of the concept? Get yourself detailed instructions after the break, or hit up that read link to catch some rockin' videos on the company's Facebook page... and prepare to be underwhelmed.

Continue reading The Shack, short on money for new signs, asks for your help

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The Shack, short on money for new signs, asks for your help originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vice President Biden announces $2.4 billion in battery-related grants

Vice President Biden announces $2.4 billion in battery-related grants


It hasn't been much of a secret that the US government was planning to dole out a couple of billion in battery-related grants to automakers this week, but we only got the details on who gets what today when Vice President Joe Biden made the big announcement himself in Detroit. As you might expect, the big three automakers all got a sizable chunk of the $2.4 billion up for grabs, with GM snagging $240 million for three separate grants, Ford getting $92.7 million (part of which will fund an electric-drive-parts facility in Michigan), and Chrysler receiving $70 million to develop and deploy advanced plug-in hybrid pickups and minivans. The single biggest winner, however, is Johnson Controls Inc., which got close to $300 million to produce battery parts for hybrid and electric vehicles. Chrysler partner A123 Systems Inc. was the next highest with $249.1 million, while EnerDel got $118.5 million that it'll use for its Indianapolis plant that produces lithium-ion cells and battery packs.

[Image courtesy Wood TV8]

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Vice President Biden announces $2.4 billion in battery-related grants originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uber-nano nanolasers could lead to faster computers, reliable internet, neverending list of awesome things

Uber-nano nanolasers could lead to faster computers, reliable internet, neverending list of awesome things

Researchers at Arizona State University and Technical University of Eindhoven in the Netherlands have been collaborating on a project to make lasers significantly smaller than the ones that are currently available, by finding a way around the traditionally accepted diffraction limit -- the idea that the size of lasers in any one dimension (say, thickness) is limited to half of the wavelength involved. One way around the size limitation, they've found, is to use a combination of semiconductors and metals like gold and silver, which causes electron excitement which helps confine the light in a laser to smaller spaces than that of the supposed limit. Using this method, the team has created nanoscale lasers that are one quarter of the wavelength or smaller -- as opposed to the previously accepted size limitation of one half of the wavelength. As far as consumer applications go, the smaller the laser, the easier it will be to integrate them into small electronics components, leading to things like faster products and more reliable internet access. Sounds great, right? Well, chill out: they're still working on it, with no word on when we'll see any street application of the nano nanolasers.

[Via Gizmag]

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Uber-nano nanolasers could lead to faster computers, reliable internet, neverending list of awesome things originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon-branded Touch Pro2 plays 'spot the difference' with previous spy shot

Verizon-branded Touch Pro2 plays 'spot the difference' with previous spy shot

It's been some time since we last spotted HTC's Touch Pro2 in the wild with a Verizon tattoo, and yet, there's a tinge of unfamiliarity with these new shots. For whatever reason, on this model the HTC logo has been banished to the opposite reaches of the front display, whereas previously it was fit to share space right next to the Verizon logo / check mark. Everything else seems to be identical, however, including any indication of when and for how much we'll be able to pick one up ourselves. Hey VZW, how's that fire sale of the original Touch Pro coming along?

Update: As a good number of readers have pointed out, there's now also video of the phone, with 3.5mm headphone jack to boot. See it after the break.

[Thanks, ckeegan]

Continue reading Verizon-branded Touch Pro2 plays 'spot the difference' with previous spy shot

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Verizon-branded Touch Pro2 plays 'spot the difference' with previous spy shot originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony's CyberShot DSC-TX1 and DSC-WX1 cameras boast pet-friendly settings, 'Exmor R' sensor for low-light scenarios

Sony's CyberShot DSC-TX1 and DSC-WX1 cameras boast pet-friendly settings, 'Exmor R' sensor for low-light scenarios

If you've been waiting on the edge of your seat for some confirmation of last month's leak of the CyberShot DSC-TX1 and DSC-WS1, wait no longer. Sony's just gone official with the pair of 10.2 megapixel point and shoots, and they're about what you were expecting. The WX1 (pictured left) sports a Sony G lens, 2.7-inch LCD, 5x optical zoom with f/2.5 max aperture, 720p HD movie recording (MPEG4 format), and a new "Exmor R" back illuminated CMOS sensor for better low-light handling. The fancier TX1 has the same Exmor R sensor and 720p movie mode, but also comes with a 3-inch LCD and Carl Zeiss Vario-Tesar lens with 4x telescopic zoom. Both beauts possess the same anti-motion blur and multi-shot modes found in the DSC-HX1, as well as a BIONZ processor, facial detection, smile shutter (for snapping shots when people are smiling, of course), wide panorama capabilities, 10 frames per second burst shooting, and a "pet mode" for taking pictures of your little loved ones, helping to alleviate issues with blurring and pet red-eye. You want street date and price? WX1's coming in October for $350, black only, while the TX1's due out in September for $380 and a palette choice of silver, gray, pink, and blue. Full press release after the break.

Update: Akihabara News got some hands-on time during the Japanese unveiling.

Continue reading Sony's CyberShot DSC-TX1 and DSC-WX1 cameras boast pet-friendly settings, 'Exmor R' sensor for low-light scenarios

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Sony's CyberShot DSC-TX1 and DSC-WX1 cameras boast pet-friendly settings, 'Exmor R' sensor for low-light scenarios originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hitachi one-ups WD with industry-first 2TB 7200RPM 3.5-inch hard drive

Hitachi one-ups WD with industry-first 2TB 7200RPM 3.5-inch hard drive


Western Digital may have been first to launch a two terabyte 3.5-inch desktop hard drive, but it's Hitachi snagging the first 7200RPM 2TB crown (WD's entry hummed along at 5400RPM). Launched today, the 2TB Deskstar 7K2000 also features 32MB of cache and a 3Gbps SATA interface, but unfortunately, few other details are being disclosed. As in, there's no pricing or release information whatsoever. In related news, the company is also refreshing its 7200RPM Deskstar 7K1000.C line, which is available in sizes ranging from 160GB to 1TB. The full, completely unprovocative press release is just after the break.

Continue reading Hitachi one-ups WD with industry-first 2TB 7200RPM 3.5-inch hard drive

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Hitachi one-ups WD with industry-first 2TB 7200RPM 3.5-inch hard drive originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wednesday, August 05, 2009

ClickZ blog: The JK Wedding Dance: A Manufactured Success? - http://bit.ly/X8MV0

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TinyChat Doubles Video Resolution and Adds Moderator Tools [Video Chat]

TinyChat Doubles Video Resolution and Adds Moderator Tools [Video Chat]

We've been fairly impressed with TinyChat, the instant multimedia chat service that offers video and audio connections for a dozen people at once. Now the video resolution and frame rates are better, and room creators have better controls.

Tinychat's blog claims a 4x improvement to free account video quality, while ReadWriteWeb states that video resolutions and frame rates have doubled—though that might be the same improvement stated different ways. What's really helpful are the new controls for room creators. Room owners can force a "push to talk" mode, where those signing on without headphones only talk when they press a screen button, eliminating endless echo effects. Owners can also get specific enabling of certain chatters' audio and video feeds, force users to sign in with Twitter handles to verify identities, and ban users based on IP address for 24 hours.

A bunch more bug fixes and minor features went into Tinychat recently, detailed at the blog link below.



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Office on the Forest's Edge [Featured Workspace]

Office on the Forest's Edge [Featured Workspace]

The only thing today's featured office shares with your average office is the fact that it has a roof and a floor. Beyond that it's quite a different space than most of us spend our days in.

Lifehacker reader Peter Frazier has the kind of home office and accompanying views that fill the daydreams of cubicle dwellers across the land. His office is glass on three sides with a cantilevered deck that looks over the densely forested shores of Chuckanut Bay. Peter describes his motivation for using the space as he does:

Like many in the computer industry, I graduated from college thin and fit, but since then, through years of all-nighters, sitting in front of my screen for long hours, and a rich diet I became overweight. I went from 190 to 242 pounds as I grew into each role: graphic designer, user interface designer, customer experience researcher, businessperson, husband, father, and community member. Last Fall I said, "Enough already!"

Recently I decided that working standing up would help me live a more active life. It's worked. Along with meditating, running, hiking, and kayaking, working standing up (with hourly interludes of pushups, situps or yoga) I've dropped 30 pounds. My thinking is clearer for longer and you're more likely to find me with things in perspective.

I'm fortunate enough to work at home above Chuckanut Bay in Bellingham, Washington.

This stand up desk is a piece of cedar with its live edge intact. On it I have room for a Dell 24" monitor as well as my MacBook Pro, and my good old Monsoon sound system. The hard drive holds the documentary I am working on called "Stumbleb! um".

Check out the photos below to see his office from different angles and make sure to visit the link below to his Flickr gallery for additional notes on each image.





If you have a workspace of your own to show off, throw the pictures on your Flickr account and add it to the Lifehacker Workspace Show and Tell Pool. Include some details about your setup and why it works for you, and you just might see it featured on the front page of Lifehacker.

Office on the Forest's Edge [Lifehacker Workspace Show and Tell Pool]


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Apple Tablet Probability Meter: 90% Chance, 4 Months Away [Apple Tablet]

Apple Tablet Probability Meter: 90% Chance, 4 Months Away [Apple Tablet]

After last Sunday's rumor on the Apple Tablet's September announcement, and yesterday's evidence of two new Apple products in the iPhone OS 3.1 USB devices list, we have decided to elevate the level inour Apple Tablet Probability Meter to 90%.

The launch date remains the same: September launch, November release. Or so we hope. Like always, remember this is just our bet based on the evidence and rumors at hand.




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Fraunhofer Institute's fruit checker device tracks optimum ripeness so you can stop sniffing those melons

Fraunhofer Institute's fruit checker device tracks optimum ripeness so you can stop sniffing those melons

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute have developed a small device that can be used to check the freshness of fruit, telling the interested parties whether it's ripe or not. Based on previous technologies which measure, for example car emissions, the device measures the volatile gases emitted by the fruit and analyzes its makeup to determine the state of freshness. The team already has a working prototype, and sees the device, which would cost somewhere in the thousands of dollars range, as having widespread application for businesses that supply food to grocery stores. So far the device has only successfully been used to test the freshness of fruit, but researchers see possible future applications in testing meat as well.

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Fraunhofer Institute's fruit checker device tracks optimum ripeness so you can stop sniffing those melons originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Orbiting fuel stations proposed for trips to the Moon, Mars, and beyond

Orbiting fuel stations proposed for trips to the Moon, Mars, and beyond


A US government panel, summoned by el presidente to review the future of human space travel, has expressed strong support for introducing fuel depots into Earth's orbit. Refueling between stops is expected to cut down significantly on the weight of spacecraft and, accordingly, eliminate the need to engineer ever more powerful rockets to launch missions. It would then be up to private companies to compete -- and NASA already knows a thing or two about privatizing space missions -- by reducing costs and developing more efficient methods. While by no means the only potion NASA has bubbling, if the panel concludes in favor of orbiting gas stations, they will form the backbone of all future extraterrestrial exploration. So we're just letting you know in advance -- we're nice like that.

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Orbiting fuel stations proposed for trips to the Moon, Mars, and beyond originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 01:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS' 11.6-inch 1101HA netbook finally on sale in America

ASUS' 11.6-inch 1101HA netbook finally on sale in America


Call it coincidence or call it fate, but just as soon as we saw Samsung's 11.6-inch N510 netbook go on sale across the pond, ASUS' long-awaited 11.6-inch Eee PC 1101HA has netted itself a date with UPS here on US soil. The machine is the first in the Seashell range to boast a display larger than 11 inches, though the atypical WXGA (1,366 x 768) panel is about the only thing that'll turn heads. Within, you'll find an exceedingly bland array of parts: an Atom Z520 processor, 1GB of RAM, GMA 500 integrated graphics, a 160GB hard drive (still with us?), three USB 2.0 sockets, a 1.3 megapixel camera, WiFi, Ethernet, Bluetooth and audio in / out jacks. If you aren't down with waiting to see what kind of netbook revolution coincides with the launch of Windows 7, you can order yours up from the links below for $429.99.

[Via Netbooked]

Read - BuyDig.com order page
Read - NewEgg.com order page

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ASUS' 11.6-inch 1101HA netbook finally on sale in America originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 04:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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