Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Monday, January 04, 2010

HSTi Wireless Media Stick nixes the need for dedicated storage drives

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/04/hsti-wireless-media-stick-nixes-the-need-for-dedicated-storage-d/

The banners aren't even officially up in Vegas yet, and already we're catching a drift of what all will be unveiled in the days to come. Take this Wireless Media Stick for example, which is HSTi's way of telling you that a dedicated storage drive beside your Blu-ray player or media player is completely unnecessary. Put simply, this device (and the accompanying software, we presume) plugs directly into any USB-enabled disc player or media streamer that's connected to your television; from there, you can easily stream media that's already shacked up within your main PC to your TV-connected device(s), which cures the problem of having your media fragmented between varying drives. We're still waiting to hear exactly what kind of technology this thing relies on (we're guessing 2.4GHz), but hopefully we'll find out more (along with a price and ship date) real soon.

HSTi Wireless Media Stick nixes the need for dedicated storage drives originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ChipChick | source

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QNAP gets serious with Turbo NAS line, packing Pineview, iSCSI, and VMWare certification

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/04/qnap-gets-serious-with-turbo-nas-line-packing-pineview-iscsi/

QNAP is generally known around these parts for its ever shrinking line of NAS devices that pack plenty of goods in a small space. The company's latest series sets a new bar for functionality, but does so in a device you probably won't be wedging in on a bookshelf between your well-worn (but never finished) copy of Ulysses and your leaning tower of software boxes. The latest Turbo NAS series is intended for small businesses, available in sizes ranging from one to the eight bay monster you see above, each packing an Intel D510 processor with enough oomph to fuel virtualized environments, so VMware vSphere4 certification and Windows Server 2008's Hyper-V are on-tap. iSCSI is also supported, as is IPv6 and, in one small nod toward consumers, Apple Time Machine backups have been enabled. We're expecting to see the full suite of devices at CES just a few days hence, while they're all slated for retail release in the coming weeks at prices ranging from $599 for the two-bay TS-259 Pro all the way up to $1,499 for that eight-bay TS-859 Pro flavor. You didn't think all this professionalism would come cheap, did you?

QNAP gets serious with Turbo NAS line, packing Pineview, iSCSI, and VMWare certification originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 07:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Casio Exilim G EX-G1 hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/04/casio-exilim-g-ex-g1-hands-on/

Casio's Exlim G EX-G1 certainly managed to turn a few heads when it was announced back in November, with it introducing a new angular design to complement its status as the "world's thinnest shock-resistant camera." Add to that the promise of being freezeproof, waterproof and dustproof, and you just know this is one we had to check out first hand. As we're happy to report, the $299 Exlim G definitely feels solid and substantial from the moment you pull it from its packaging, although all that shock-proofing and weather-proofing does come with a few minor inconveniences compared to a standard point-and-shoot. The first of those is that the battery compartment requires a special tool and some pretty nimble fingers to open and, secondly, the two extra side protectors that provide even more ruggedness require that you first remove some very tiny screws from the camera and then attach the protector with some slightly longer screws (Casio thankfully provides a few spares). Once you've got things set, however, the camera should easily survive life in a pocket or backpack during even your most arduous travels -- and take some decent pictures and YouTube-ready video, to boot.

Be sure to check out the gallery below for our extensive hands-on look at the camera, and check back later for some sample shots and additional impressions once we've had a chance to really put the Exilim G through its paces.

Gallery: Casio Exilim G EX-G1 hands-on

Casio Exilim G EX-G1 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba mini NB305 adds Atom N450 to a successful formula (hands-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/04/toshiba-mini-nb305-adds-atom-n450-to-a-successful-formula/

Toshiba hasn't strayed far from its NB205 series of 10-inch netbooks with the all-new mini NB305, but the few tweaks made are welcome. Obviously the Atom N450 processor is the central attraction, but tweaks like a 250GB hard drive, less protrusive 6-cell battery (which clocks in a purported 11 hours of battery life), and a slightly lighter finished product (2.6 pounds) all add up to a compelling offering. The regular version of the laptop with "true" chiclet keys goes for $400, while a black version with a less impressive keyboard takes the entry spot at $350.

We got a few moments to play with the netbooks, and came away pretty impressed. It might not be quite the bang-for-buck on offer from other manufacturers, and the lack of a higher-end graphics option is a little off-putting, but as for simple build quality and usability (we're particular fans of the oversized trackpad), the NB305 might be hard to beat. Toshiba's also pursuing the software angle here with a Media Controller app to expose some of Windows 7's media streaming abilities, along with a visual search app called RealTime and a fridge-style Bulletin Board.

Gallery: Toshiba mini NB305 press shots

Gallery: Toshiba mini NB305 hands-on

Toshiba mini NB305 adds Atom N450 to a successful formula (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CinemaNow 2.0: 3D, 1080p, Android & WinMo get a taste of online movie distribution

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/04/cinemanow-2-0-3d-1080p-android-and-winmo-get-a-taste-of-online/

Thought digital delivery would get left behind in the jump to 3D? Roxio's CinemaNow 2.0 platform is ready to build on the success of its predecessor -- already embedded in many devices and powering the online stores for Blockbuster, Best Buy and Zip.ca -- and flip the switch bringing streamed or downloaded 1080p or 3D, plus the ability to add additional background info on each movie or previously disc-exclusive extras like multiple audio tracks, subtitles and more. Also new for 2.0 are plans for access on Android and Windows Mobile devices. We're still thinking a combo of lower prices, all you can eat subscriptions or a disc tie-in is the logical next step, but we'll wait for a CES demo to ask about that, and whether the new features will be backwards compatible on old hardware.

CinemaNow 2.0: 3D, 1080p, Android & WinMo get a taste of online movie distribution originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skiff Reader is largest yet, will be hitting a Sprint Store near you

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/04/skiff-reader-is-largest-reader-yet-will-be-hitting-a-sprint-sto/

Skiff Reader is largest, thinnest reader yet, hitting a Sprint Store near you

Amazon's Kindle DX may be big, but it's not the biggest any more. The Skiff Reader is here to take that crown -- despite being a mere quarter inch thick. It packs a 1600 x 1200 11.5-inch touchscreen (finger and stylus) that, as you can see from the above screenshot, should do much better justice to magazine and newspaper layouts than we've yet seen from an e-ink-based reader. That's exactly the sort of advance Hearst was promising when it first mentioned the device last month. Skiff includes 4GB of on-board storage (just over 3GB is available for content) with SD card expansion, and there's a 3.5mm headphone jack for tunes and, hopefully, text-to-speech. Content can be side-loaded over a mini USB jack or delivered via WiFi but, more importantly, 3G is also on offer thanks to Sprint, who will also dedicate some space in its retail stores to sell the thing when it launches sometime this year. Price? That we don't know.

Gallery: Skiff Reader press shots

Skiff Reader is largest yet, will be hitting a Sprint Store near you originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BenQ's Joybook Lite U103 packs an SSD for when you're feeling frisky, HDD for when you're not

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/04/benqs-joybook-lite-u103-packs-an-ssd-for-when-youre-feeling-fr/

If money were no issue we'd all be rocking slinky notebooks with terabytes of flash-based storage, but alas this recession means a more budget-conscious approach is warranted. BenQ's solution is to offer a bit of both with its latest Joybook Lite, the U103, offering a large (500GB max) HDD paired with an optional 32GB SSD. Install your OS and critical apps on the SSD, dump everything else to platter, and make the most of what the company advertises will be an eight hour battery. That the laptop packs what is advertised as "Intel's new Atom" processor (surely the N450) is a good sign that battery life will indeed be good, something that should also be helped by a 10-inch, LED-backlit display of indeterminate resolution. Also on the docket is pseudo-3D sound from the two integrated speakers courtesy of SRS TruSound HD, a multitouch trackpad, and a weight of just 2.4lbs. No price yet, but that should change soon enough.

BenQ's Joybook Lite U103 packs an SSD for when you're feeling frisky, HDD for when you're not originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sunday, January 03, 2010

Build a DIY Camera Stabilizer to Capture Smooth Video [DIY]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/1hmsYWzORHk/build-a-diy-camera-stabilizer-to-capture-smooth-video

One aspect of professionally shot video that amateurs most frequently want to emulate is how smooth the footage is. Shoot your own jitter-free video with this DIY stabilizer

If the contraption here looks a little familiar to you, you're not imagining things. It's the 5th version of homemade steadicams built by YB2Normal, who has been tinkering away with DIY stabilizers for several years now. We shared one of the first incarnations with you earlier this year.

His newest version requires the most machining and fine detail work out of any of his previous versions, so if you're put off by that you might want to check out this simple design we shared with you, courtesy of Make Magazine.

If you want to check out all the builds YB2Normal has undertaken, check out his project guide here. Have your own video-related DIY project? Let's hear about it in the comments.

DIY Steadi-Cam Version 5 [via Hack a Day]

Multitouch Browser Comes to Droid By Way of Software Hack [Droid]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/svYpllVEOMI/multitouch-browser-comes-to-droid-by-way-of-software-hack

We know the Europeans have been tooling around with Droid and mutlitouch since December, but today, courtesy a hack of sorts, we Yanks can have it too, albeit for a browser only in this particular case.

All you have to do is follow about five steps over at AllDroid and it's yours. You'll need to root your phone first, of course, so this isn't really a mom and pops operation just yet. There are also a few downloads and deletions to be aware of as well.

Voila. Users report that it works just fine on version 2.1, even as a beta. [AllDroid via Redmond Pie - Thanks, Taimur]

Exclusive: Google Nexus One hands-on, video, and first impressions

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/02/exclusive-google-nexus-one-hands-on-video-and-first-impressio/

That's right, humans -- Engadget has its very own Nexus One. You've seen leaked pics and videos from all over, but we're the first publication to get our very own unit, and we plan on giving you guys the full story on every nook and cranny of this device. In case you've been living under a rock, here's the breakdown of the phone. The HTC-built and (soon to be) Google-sold device runs Android 2.1 atop a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, a 3.7-inch, 480 x 800 display, has 512MB of ROM, 512MB of RAM, and a 4GB microSD card (expandable to 32GB). The phone is a T-Mobile device (meaning no 3G if you want to take it to AT&T), and includes the standard modern additions of a light sensor, proximity sensor, and accelerometer. The Nexus One has a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, and we have to say so far the pictures it snaps look pretty decent (and the camera software is much faster than the same component on the Droid). The phone is incredibly thin and sleek -- a little thinner than the iPhone -- but it has pretty familiar HTC-style industrial design. It's very handsome, but not blow-you-away good looking. It's a very slim, very pocketable phone, and feels pretty good in your hand. Thought you'd have to wait for that Google event for more on the Nexus One? Hell no -- so read on for an in-depth look. C'mon, you know you want to.

Gallery: Google Nexus One unboxing and hands-on

Continue reading Exclusive: Google Nexus One hands-on, video, and first impressions

Exclusive: Google Nexus One hands-on, video, and first impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 02 Jan 2010 18:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP Mini 210 spotted at retail with $350 pricetag

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/02/hp-mini-210-spotted-at-retail-with-350-pricetag/

The yet-to-be-confirmed HP Mini 210 has popped up at a couple online retail spots already, but now it seems to have landed in the Real World courtesy of a Costco in Hillsboro, Oregon. We've seen the netbook listed at $280, $320 and now $350 pricetags, so we really don't know who to trust anymore (certainly not our parent's generation), but the sexy design, chiclet keyboard and unibutton trackpad certainly smack of progress.

[Thanks, Dustin W. who sent this in via our new webOS app!]

Gallery: HP Mini 210 spotted at retail with $350 pricetag