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Friday, April 02, 2010

Alt+Tab Tuner Makes Windows 7's Task Switcher Thumbnails Larger and Much More [Downloads]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5507473/alt%252Btab-tuner-makes-windows-7s-task-switcher-thumbnails-larger-and-much-more

Alt+Tab Tuner Makes Windows 7's Task Switcher Thumbnails Larger and Much More Windows 7 only: System tweaking utility Alt+Tab Tuner customizes everything about the Windows 7 Alt-Tab dialog, from setting the transparency to increasing the size of the thumbnails.

To customize the settings, all you have to do is unzip and launch the utility, drag the sliders to suit your preferences, and click the Apply button. You can even use the utility to switch back to the old XP-style Alt+Tab dialog if you were so inclined. Alt+Tab Tuner is a free download for Windows 7 only.

If you aren't happy with the built-in Alt+Tab system, and even tweaking it won't help, make sure to check out the awesome VistaSwitcher alternative, which even includes the Alt+` key combination to switch between specific application windows.

Alt-Tab Tuner [Softpedia via Download Squad]

Marketing success is when users remember you, remember to look for you, and remember to tell their friends about you - http://bit.ly/cFZy6q

University of Washington's Prefab tool promises to 'unlock the desktop'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/01/university-of-washingtons-prefab-tool-promises-to-unlock-the-d/

The University of Washington may be overstating things a just a tad with a headline like "what if all software was open source," but the so-called "Prefab" software tool developed by some researchers at the university does indeed manage to pull of some fairly impressive tricks. The short of it is that the tool promises to you let you (or developers) modify any application without actually modifying it. To do that, the software constantly looks for easily identifiable elements of an application (dialog boxes, scroll bars, buttons, etc.) and then "alters their behavior" by effectively taking over your display, leaving the actual program running in the background and displaying the augmented version instead. According to the researchers, the possibilities from there on out are virtually endless, and include things like adding iTunes buttons to your Word toolbar and tweaking Photoshop to display previews for a whole range of effects at once. Head on past the break for a quick demo video, and look for more to be unveiled at the CHI 2010 conference in Atlanta next month.

[Thanks, Keith]

Continue reading University of Washington's Prefab tool promises to 'unlock the desktop'

University of Washington's Prefab tool promises to 'unlock the desktop' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Olympus E-PL1 review

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/01/olympus-e-pl1-review/

It seems like such a simple thing now, but it took Olympus three revisions to finally get its "Pen" Micro Four Thirds series down below (or even close to) the magical $600 mark. Lucky for us, the E-PL1 doesn't skimp on functionality, and in fact expands on the capabilities of the E-P1 and E-P2 with an integrated pop-up flash. We already rounded up some reviews from the big boys, so check out those in-depth walkthroughs if you're looking to get nerdy, but if you'd still like to hear our thoughts on this new shooter, follow along in our mini-review after the break.

Gallery: Olympus E-PL1 review hands-on

Continue reading Olympus E-PL1 review

Olympus E-PL1 review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fujitsu debuts thin-and-light LifeBook MH330 netbook

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/01/fujitsu-debuts-thin-and-light-lifebook-mh330-netbook/

We just got a chance to check out Fujitsu's MH380 netbook in February, but the company has now already followed it up with a new, thinner and lighter model: the LifeBook MH330. In addition to getting the weight down to 2.4 pounds (with a three-cell battery), the netbook sports a slightly more angular design than its counterpart, but remains mostly unchanged when it comes to specs, That includes the same 10-inch screen as before (albeit WSVGA instead of WXGA), along with an Atom N450 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, and the usual niceties like built-in Bluetooth and an integrated memory card reader. Still no official word on a release over here, but it looks like this one is now at least available in Singapore for the local equivalent of $500.

Fujitsu debuts thin-and-light LifeBook MH330 netbook originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Far East Gizmos | source

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Motorola patent application offers new option for 3D cellphones

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/01/motorola-patent-application-offers-new-option-for-3d-cellphones/

Flip phones may be somewhat on the outs these days (at least among those demanding the latest and greatest), but they may well be the key to future 3D cellphones -- at least if this Motorola patent application is any indication. The basic idea is actually a fairly simple one: you'd see a regular 2D image on the screen when the cover is open, but when it's closed you'd be able to look through the transparent lid and see the images with a "three dimensional appearance." As you can probably figure out, that screen would be a touchscreen that takes the place of a keypad, and another illustration also shows that the same idea could be applied to a slider phone. Of course, what the illustrations don't show is how effective that three dimensional appearance would actually be, although it seems like it could give Motoblur a whole new meaning.

Motorola patent application offers new option for 3D cellphones originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix iPad app now available in the App Store (update: ABC Player, too)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/01/netflix-ipad-app-now-available-in-the-app-store/

We'd gotten wind of the Netflix iPad app earlier this morning, but when it wasn't included in the first batch of apps to hit the App Store we just assumed it was coming on Saturday -- or possibly even later. But fear not, movie fans: it's just gone live, complete with screenshot confirmation that it'll do streaming video. That's a huge win for Apple and the iPad, given the restrictions on mobile devices Netflix has traditionally operated under -- remember, Microsoft was only allowed to say the Windows Phone 7 Series Netflix app was a "prototype" when it was demoed at MIX. We're guessing the blurry line between the iPad and regular laptops / netbooks worked in Netflix's favor here, but that's just a semantic debate -- we're much more amused by the fact that the app itself is rated 12+ in the App Store for "Simulated Gambling," "Fantasy Violence," and "Suggestive Themes," simply because it plays back movies from your queue that might have such scandalous content. Oh, App Store -- you truly are a paradise of misapplied bureaucratic intent unequaled in the tragic history of our civilization.

Update: Looks like the ABC Player (opens iTunes) is now also available in the app store for the low, low price of nada.

Netflix iPad app now available in the App Store (update: ABC Player, too) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Think to start selling City electric vehicle in New York, other locales this year

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/01/think-to-start-selling-city-electric-vehicle-in-new-york-other/

Talk about a revival story. Recently saved from the brink of disaster, Think Electric is back in a big way. Fittingly announced around the New York Auto Show, the company has revealed that it will begin selling its Think City -- one of the planet's first highway-capable electric vehicles, it'll have you know! -- in New York and "other select cities" later on in 2010. Think's currently working in conjunction with the US Department of Energy's local Clean Cities chapters to make it happen in the Big Apple, but exact details (you know, like an on sale date and MSRPs) are nowhere to be found. Considering this company's position just six months ago, though, we'll take whatever progress we can get.

Think to start selling City electric vehicle in New York, other locales this year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo 3DS to feature 3.4-inch Sharp parallax barrier display?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/02/nintendo-3ds-to-feature-3-4-inch-sharp-parallax-barrier-display/

There aren't many mass production options on the market when it comes to glasses-less 3D displays for Nintendo's forthcoming 3DS handheld gaming console. And according to early leaks from Japan, the special Nintendo 3DS display is supposedly built by Hitachi and Sharp using a parallax barrier system. So guess where this new 3.4-inch, 480 x 854 pixel display is likely headed? While Sharp doesn't say for sure, it's a good bet that this parallax barrier 3D LCD will be fronting the user interface on the 3DS. Unlike the 3D displays you'll find in modern 3D HDTVs requiring the viewer to wear active or passive glasses, Sharp's display uses a parallax barrier system to create a sense of depth by using a series of vertical slits in an ordinary LCD to direct light to the right and left eyes. The panel offers a 500nit brightness, 1,000:1 contrast, and is available with or without a touchscreen. A non-touchscreen version of the display goes into mass production before June but there's no specific mention of the touchscreen timeline (but we imagine it won't be far behind). In other words, we could have a Nintendo 3DS on the market before the holidays. Just saying. Guess we'll find out for sure at E3 in June.

Update: Akihabara News went eyes-on with the display and came away impressed with the colors and brightness. Better yet, it says, "Sharp succeed to do what Sony and Panasonic does with 3D Glasses!" Well, that sounds hopeful.

Nintendo 3DS to feature 3.4-inch Sharp parallax barrier display? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 01:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba UX600 series: first HDTVs certified Windows 7 compatible

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/02/toshibas-ux600-series-wifi-tvs-feature-windows-7-logo/

Here's something you don't see every day: a Windows 7 certified 55-inch TV. Toshiba's 120Hz UX600 series is just such a beast, the first on the market to receive official Microsoft certification thanks in part to DLNA support over Ethernet or WiFi. The logo's a nice touch that takes the guess work out of the purchase equation for the average consumer looking to stream media to the living room. Just don't let us catch any retailers slapping a "Compatible with Windows 7" sticker on the bezel ok; this ain't no Best Buy laptop.

Toshiba UX600 series: first HDTVs certified Windows 7 compatible originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 04:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP and Dell said to be investing less in 10-inch netbooks, looking to bigger and better things

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/02/hp-and-dell-said-to-be-investing-less-in-10-inch-netbooks-looki/

The latest word from our favorite rumor rag DigiTimes suggests that HP and Dell are both curtailing investment in the 10-inch netbook market, with their sights now set on the chunkier 11.6-inch size class. Additionally, with profits from machines built on Intel's Pine Trail platform appearing lower than expected, both are also said to be contemplating AMD's alternatives, presumably in the shape of the Neo CPU and Radeon integrated graphics. HP is even claimed to be considering quitting the 10-inch space entirely, which wouldn't be that unusual given the progressive obsolescence we've witnessed with the 7- and 9-inch predecessors of the current de facto netbook standard. Not to worry, though, Acer, ASUS and Samsung are still deeply involved, and the 10-inch mini laptop isn't about to disappear on us anytime soon. What may happen, according to the source, is that we could see fewer smartbooks popping up as a result, which just means we'll have to find some other way to sate those media consumption needs.

HP and Dell said to be investing less in 10-inch netbooks, looking to bigger and better things originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 07:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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#FollowFriday - digital gurus I learn from @glenngabe, @dberkowitz, @wiltonbound, @christianbusch, @gregverdino, @jonathanmendez

Thursday, April 01, 2010

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