Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Netflix Will Continue To Farm Its Research Out To Cash-Strapped Nerds [NetFlix]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/sXQghTdxX64/netflix-will-continue-to-farm-its-research-out-to-cash+strapped-nerds

Netflix's last foray into research bribery, a million dollar prize for anyone who could improve the company's recommendation algorithm by 10%, was a success, both as a programming project and a spectator sport. Naturally, they're doing it again.

Neil Hunt, Chief Product Officer at Netflix, dropped this on the Netflix forum:

The advances spurred by the Netflix Prize have so impressed us that we're planning Netflix Prize 2, a new big money contest with some new twists.

Here's one: three years was a long time to compete in Prize 1, so the next contest will be a shorter time limited race, with grand prizes for the best results at 6 and 18 months. While the first contest has been remarkable, we think Netflix Prize 2 will be more challenging, more fun, and even more useful to the field.

He doesn't give any meaningful clues as to what the second challenge will be about, but CNET, having either talked to Hunt or simply just made a bunch of stuff up, seems to think it could be all manner of objectives, from "creating an algorithm to suggest other users to befriend" to "helping the company better determine which movies to purchase to meet demand." But hey, why not just do this for everythi! ng? It'd be like having an endless army of unusually eager, underpaid employees, except without all those pesky "labor laws" and "benefits."

Details of the second contest should come on September 1st, when the company will also announce who's getting the cash from the first contest, after that more-fun-than-it-had-any-right-to-be nailbiter of a finish. [AP via CNET]

Android 2.0 Debuting Multitouch with Motorola? [Rumor]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/9TBMx2tnEXM/android-20-debuting-multitouch-with-motorola

According to CNET, Android multitouch is on the way and should arrive by the end of the year. You know, if you haven't hacked it.

Backing up for a second, It's easy to think that Android supports multitouch, since Android phones like the HTC Hero use special builds of the software that include the feature. But your average Android phone is stuck in the single-touch world, which is just sinful when compared to the multitouch iPhone or Pre.

CNET believes that upcoming Android variant "Eclair" will feature multitouch, and they believe Eclair will first make its arrival on a Motorola phone this holiday season.

Until then, just try to forget that Android lacks multitouch. [CNET]

Dell Inspiron Zino HD: Eat It, Mac Mini [Dell]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/VrgtpIVsx2Q/dell-inspiron-zino-hd-eat-it-mac-mini

Can't tell you the specs or price on this thing, but I can show you the back of the Inspiron Zino HD, which should tell you almost everything you want to know about it.

Now, I doubt it'd have an HDMI port and be called the Zino HD if it didn't output HD video. It's a little bit taller than the Mac Mini, but not by much. Not too shabby at all.

Pentax W80 Camera Review: Waterproof and Now Slightly Ruggedized [Lightning Review]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/OpZdGydHtPk/pentax-w80-camera-review-waterproof-and-now-slightly-ruggedized

The Pentax W80 is their latest in a long line of waterproof cams that take decent shots, but have always been my favorite because of their compact size. This one is a bit bigger, but gains ruggedization and depth.

The Price: $300

The Photos and Video: In sample shots on our kiteboarding trip and at the local beach, the W80 was not the best but sill surprisingly good. Compared to periscoped lens setups, the traditional internal 5x zoom lens made the 12mp shots look sharper than most other waterproof cameras. The 28mm equivalent lens was sharp edge to edge. Color was good, too.

But I noticed the lens was a little too slow to capture sharp motion underwater where light is rarer than on the surface. (The first sample shot I took in dim light triggered the flash where other models didn't need one.) Colors and exposure was fine, but the grunge resisting lens and lcd were only marginally helpful in combating substances like suntan lotion, grime and surfboard wax. Video is captured at up to 720p, but it didn't look so great. Face detection locked on pretty quickly, and there are several shake reduction capabilities, including digital and movie modes.

The Design: The casing is still one of the smallest and is by far the most pocketable ruggedized model around, but its only good for drops up to 3.3 feet. Models by Lumix and Olympus are far more rugged, although more Hummer-esque, too. Pentax's various scene modes are amongst the most useful around, and there's an simple button to switch between them, but that button and menu is also the only way to easily switch between video and still mode. Quite a chore.

The camera could use a design re! fresh, i n all honesty, and more metal. But it's also good for winter sports, rated to function down to 14 degrees. I liked Pentax's optional floating wrist strap, too.

The Waterproofness: Good down to 16 feet, up from 13 feet in the last generation. Good enough for light to medium beach duty.

The Recommendation: My favorite rugged-ish waterproof camera when size is a consideration.

Compact considering its quasi-rugged chassis.

Decent shot quality.

There are tougher cams out there that take better photos, but only slightly so in all regards.

Could use a redesign, since the W60, W40 and W20 had similar cases.

Walmart's $350 17-Inch Toshiba Satellite Notebook Actually Isn't a Total Piece of Crap [Notebooks]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/4HWhOkK1lMw/walmarts-350-17+inch-toshiba-satellite-notebook-actually-isnt-a-total-piece-of-crap

A 17-inch notebook with a $350 MSRP? That's Walmart's Toshiba Satellite L355, which comes with 3GB RAM and a 250GB hard drive. Surprisingly, it's not garbage according to Laptop Mag, offering better specs than notebooks that cost $250 more. [Laptop]

Holy Eff, That's a Lot of iPhone Profit [Image Cache]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/S8969fsKEFc/holy-eff-thats-a-lot-of-iphone-profit

Compiling data from corporate reports and Bernstein estimates, iSmasphones this eye-popping chart showing how much profit the iPhone generates compared to the rest of the industry. A previous estimate was a little more conservative (though still crazy). [iSmashphone]

Lenovo caves, lets you order 14-inch IdeaPad U450p laptop

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/lenovo-caves-lets-you-order-14-inch-ideapad-u450p-laptop/

Apparently the note sent in by the collective internet had its desired effect, as the machine we knew was sitting somewhere in a Lenovo R&D lab two weeks ago is now available to order. The IdeaPad U450p packs a 14-inch "anti-glare" display (1,366 x 768 resolution), your choice of Intel's 1.3GHz SU2700 or 1.4GHz SU3500 CPU, Windows Vista Home Premium, GMA X4500 integrated graphics, 3GB or 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a 250GB or 320GB 5400RPM hard drive, six-cell Li-ion battery, WiFi and a bundled DVD writer with Ultrabase. Current shipping estimates show that machines ordered today won't arrive until mid-September, but those with ample amounts of patience (and at least $799 in marked US bills) can get in line right now.

[Thanks, M. Hellenthal]

Filed under: Laptops

Lenovo caves, lets you order 14-inch IdeaPad U450p laptop originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OCZ's Indilinx-based Solid 2 SSDs bring MLC NAND to the masses

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/oczs-indilinx-based-solid-2-ssds-bring-mlc-nand-to-the-masses/

Indilinx controllers are widely viewed as some of the best in the industry, and while most SSD manufacturers don't have any issues charging a few arms and a leg for the privilege of ownership, OCZ Technology is hoping to bring the charm and pizazz of said controller to the general populace. The firm's newest SSD range, the Solid 2 crew, is comprised of just two models to start: the 60 (64GB) and the 120 (128GB). Designed to fit into 2.5-inch laptop spaces, these "mainstream" SSDs offer up 125MBps read rates and 100MBps write rates, not to mention 64MB of onboard cache and "unique performance optimizations to keep the drives at peak performance." We're guessing that it's referring to that oh-so-endearing garbage cleanup system we heard about earlier in the week, but don't say you heard from us. Oh, and if you're curious about whether or not these are actually priced for Joe Six Pack, it looks like you'll have to ping your favorite flash dealer to find out.

Filed under: Storage

OCZ's Indilinx-based Solid 2 SSDs bring MLC NAND to the masses originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 07:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung's Blue Earth solar touchscreen phone gets dubbed S7550, handled in Moscow

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/samsungs-blue-earth-solar-touchscreen-phone-gets-dubbed-s7550/

Samsung's Blue Earth solar touchscreen phone gets dubbed S7550, handled in Moscow

Samsung has been teasing us with its Blue Earth solar-powered smartphone since February, and now it's showing us a bit more of that sultry photovoltaic skin a mere day after its budget-minded solar brother, the E1107, came out into the light. This cerulean one has finally been given an official name, the S7750, but we're still missing many bits if crucial information, including how effective that solar panel will be in the real world, when it will be available in that real world, how much real money it will cost, and how many eco-chic celebs will be spotted talking on these while drunkenly driving their Priora (it's Latin, dig) into crowds of spectators -- all bits of info we can't wait to learn.

Filed under: Cellphones

Samsung's Blue Earth solar touchscreen phone gets dubbed S7550, handled in Moscow originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Logitec DisplayLink-certified USB-to-DVI dongle handles QWXGA

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/logitec-displaylink-certified-usb-to-dvi-dongle-handles-qwxga/

DisplayLink may not have the rampant following you probably thought it would when it was originally introduced, but we'd credit much of the indifference to the inability of most adapters to hit the magical 1080p mark. Up until now, most USB-to-DVI dongles couldn't support resolutions higher than UXGA (1,600 x 1,200), but at long last Logitec has stepped in to provide an alternative that blows right on by 1,920 x 1,080 and stops at QWXGA (2,048 x 1,152). If this here product looks like just the thing you and your spare monitor have been waiting for, feel free to hit the read link and place your pre-order for ¥12,980 ($136). But hey, don't blame us if your graphics card gets envious.

[Via Akihabara News]

Filed under: Displays, Peripherals

Logitec DisplayLink-certified USB-to-DVI dongle handles QWXGA originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Researchers develop infrared vegetable harvesting robot, to the disgust of children everywhere

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/researchers-develop-infrared-vegetable-harvesting-robot-to-the/

Researchers at England's National Physical Laboratory are working on a device that uses a modified microwave measurement system, terahertz and far-infrared radio frequencies, and a clever cauliflower detection algorithm to let robots "see" beneath -- and harvest -- crops that current technology cannot. So far, the imaging system has been successfully demonstrated in the lab, sparking the interest of at least one UK lettuce grower, and it looks like a product could be commercially available as early as next year. According to Dr. Richard Dudley, Project Lead at NPL, the team began by focusing on cauliflower crops because they're both "one of the hardest" to measure, and totally gross.

Filed under: Robots

Researchers develop infrared vegetable harvesting robot, to the disgust of children everywhere originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft and Nokia announce Office coming to Symbian

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/microsoft-and-nokia-announce-office-coming-to-symbian/

We didn't expect too many fireworks from Microsoft and Nokia's joint teleconference this morning, and, well, we didn't get any. As expected, Office Mobile is coming to Symbian, along with Office Communicator Mobile, SharePoint, and Microsoft System Center, and the two companies also said they'll be working on "future user experiences" for Nokia customers. Don't get too worked up about that, though -- Nokia said it was "deeply committed to Symbian," and that "there are no such plans" to work on a Windows Mobile device. So much for that. We did ask whether this partnership would affect Nokia's rumored Maemo plans, and we were told that development is Symbian-focused for now, but that there might be "other business opportunities" in the future, so at least that door remains open a hair -- but for the most part this is all about Microsoft and Nokia trying to stake out a stronger enterprise position, not anything else. Video after the break, if you're having a hard time taking that nap.

Continue reading Microsoft and Nokia announce Office coming to Symbian

Filed under: Cellphones, Software

Microsoft and Nokia announce Office coming to Symbian originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Palm lays the smack down on Pre theme for Android

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/palm-puts-the-smack-down-on-pre-theme-for-android/

Android's supposed to be all about peace, love, and openness, but that apparently doesn't exempt it from copyright law and trigger-happy general counsels (who knew?). In a move that should come as absolutely no surprise to anyone, Palm has sicced its legal team on the makers of the aptly-named "Palm Pre Android Theme" that borrows icons, wallpapers, and mojo (not to be confused with Mojo) directly from webOS. The concerns center around the usual suspects -- graphics copyrights and trademark infringement -- and the company is demanding that they cease use of the Pre's interface, name, and all that good stuff by some date that's been redacted from the leaked letter (we're assuming it's soon). To be fair, Palm comes out and says that it "appreciates that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery," but at the end of the day, they're concerned about the potential for consumer confusion. Interestingly, to the best of our knowledge, they haven't given the iPhone-based theme the same treatment -- but hey, maybe it's easier to confuse a Hero with a Pre than it is an iPhone... or something.

[Thanks, Justin]

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Palm lays the smack down on Pre theme for Android originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atom-based Inhand FireFly SBC promises netbook-level performance at a "fraction" of the power

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/atom-based-inhand-firefly-sbc-promises-netbook-level-performance/

SBCs (or single board computers) may not always be the most exciting components around, but it looks like InHand Electronics has managed to break out from the pack a bit with its new FireFly board, which the company claims is the world's "smallest and most power efficient full-function Atom-based SBC." That translates to a total power consumption of about 4.5 Watts in actual numbers (or 500mW in sleep state) and, just as notably, it apparently boasts some performance that's "comparable" to your average Atom-based Dell Mini netbook. What's more, unlike some other similar boards, the FireFly packs both on-board DDR2 and expansion capabilities, which not only broadens the potential product base for it, but could also mean that the eventual products will be smaller than your average handheld / UMPC / MID as well.

Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops

Atom-based Inhand FireFly SBC promises netbook-level performance at a "fraction" of the power originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lenovo debuts "fit anywhere" Q700 home entertainment PC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/lenovo-debuts-fit-anywhere-q700-home-entertainment-pc/

Looking for something in between a nettop and a full-fledged, sometimes HTPC? Then you might want to consider Lenovo's recently announced Q700 system, which the company describes as the "perfect fit" for anywhere in your home. That's apparently assuming you have some less-than-demanding computing needs, however, as the Q700 is currently only available with a Pentium Dual-Core E5200 processor, along with 4GB of RAM, a max 640GB hard drive, a built-in DVD burner, and the usual integrated Intel X4500 graphics. It does pack an HDMI out, TV tuner, and plenty of other media-friendly features, however, not to mention a starting price of just $499 and a form-factor that lets it be neatly tucked away in your home theater rack. Hit up the link below to get your order in, or a closer look if you're still undecided.

[Thanks, David]

Filed under: Desktops, Media PCs

Lenovo debuts "fit anywhere" Q700 home entertainment PC originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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