Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Monday, July 12, 2010

HTC Aria update for AT&T enables mobile hotspot, sideloaded app support (update: partially working!)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/10/htc-aria-update-for-atandt-enables-mobile-hotspot-sideloaded-app/

Well, this is genuinely awesome: it seems AT&T is pulling back from its ban on third-party sideloaded apps on its Android devices, because HTC has just released an Aria update that enables them (either that or HTC just went rogue here, but we highly doubt it). While that doesn't have much practical implication for your typical smartphone user, it's a strong sign that AT&T might be ready to take a more reasonable stance on the openness of its branded devices that would put it inline with the attitudes Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile have all taken with their Android phones so far. Additionally, the update includes "the Mobile Network sharing function," which we take to mean a mobile hotspot app in the same vein as the one that's shipping with Froyo -- if we had to guess, it probably requires AT&T's 2GB DataPro plan plus the tethering add-on, which would put it in line with what they're charging on the iPhone. Onward and upward, AT&T.

Update: We got downright excited for a second there, but an HTC spokesman just called to inform us there's been a mistake -- this download is only for the desktop HTC Sync client and doesn't actually enable anything on the phone. We're working to get more information right now, but it sounds like the sideloading ball is still squarely in AT&T's court.

Update 2: HTC apologizes for the confusion, saying the update description was in error -- it was merely supposed to read that the Aria now works with the company's desktop sync client. On Monday, the text will be updated to remove every last ounce of false hope.

Update 3: Sideloading works after all! Read all about it.

[Thanks, Dylan T.]

HTC Aria update for AT&T enables mobile hotspot, sideloaded app support (update: partially working!) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T handing out free 3G MicroCells to loyal customers?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/10/atandt-handing-out-free-3g-microcells-to-loyal-customers/

While we've no clue how widespread AT&T's generosity is, or how you might get one, it appears that the company's "most valuable customers" are now receiving free range-boosting femtocells. Today, loyal reader Jason got a old-fashioned paper letter in the mail, offering his iPhone-wielding family a 3G MicroCell with no strings attached. Driving down to the local AT&T store, he got the product, but the dumbfounded reps offered no explanation why. Though his calls do frequently drop at home, Jason says he wasn't terribly vocal about the issue and only pays around $180 per month for his family plan -- the only thing that might possibly qualify him, in his opinion, is that his contract was set to expire. We've reached out to AT&T for more information; in the meanwhile, see Jason's letter after the break.

[Thanks, Jason]

Continue reading AT&T handing out free 3G MicroCells to loyal customers?

AT&T handing out free 3G MicroCells to loyal customers? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cyanogen squeezes Android 2.2 Froyo into G1, MyTouch 3G

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/11/cyanogen-squeezes-android-2-2-froyo-into-g1-mytouch-3g/

Earlier this evening, we took the plunge -- now, we're rocking Froyo on our formerly old-and-busted T-Mobile G1. That's because Cyanogen's team of ROM hackers has come through once again for the little handset that could, serving early adopters with HTC Dream and Magic phones (as well as the Nexus One) with the first fully-functioning, stable build of CyanogenMod 6. Based on Google's famous frozen yogurt, the release candidate's got more fabulous tweaks than you can shake a stick at, but sadly doesn't seem to include Flash 10.1, and though WiFi and the camera are working great (as well as SurfaceFlinger and Chrome to Phone) many would-be shoppers in the Android Market are finding themselves faced with the dreaded force close. As usual, you'll find instructions at the source link if you understand the risks -- if you're not careful, you can easily brick your phone.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Cyanogen squeezes Android 2.2 Froyo into G1, MyTouch 3G originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 05:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Confirmed: HTC Sync lets tethered AT&T Aria sideload apps

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/11/confirmed-htc-sync-lets-atandt-aria-sideload-apps/

Looks like more than HTC's description was erroneous yesterday afternoon -- we've just confirmed that the HTC Sync desktop client for the AT&T Aria allows users to install third-party apps on non-rooted devices, just as promised. We ran some quick tests, and while it doesn't actually enable anything on the handset end, it most certainly does allow those of you with Windows PCs (or VMware) to sideload APKs like Swype over USB with a simple drag-and-drop maneuver. Given how quickly the company sought to correct our original post on the subject, we'd expect HTC will be issuing a rather different version of the software soon, so hit up that source link, pound in your serial number, grab the EXE, and get while the getting's good.

[Thanks, Dylan]

Continue reading Confirmed: HTC Sync lets tethered AT&T Aria sideload apps

Confirmed: HTC Sync lets tethered AT&T Aria sideload apps originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 12:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Twelve flavors of GeForce GTX 460 now shipping from Newegg (update: official)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/11/twelve-flavors-of-geforce-gtx-460-now-shipping-from-newegg/

NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 460 hasn't even been officially announced, much less reviewed, but that won't keep you from buying the company's latest Fermi-based graphics card anyhow. Over at Newegg, usual suspects ASUS, EVGA, Gigabyte, MSI and Palit have fielded twelve models in all, most with slightly different features, thought it seems the base configuration has 336 CUDA cores (down from 352) and a mere 768MB of GDDR5 memory. Interestingly enough, this silicon's actually rated faster than its older brother the $280 GTX 465 with 675MHz graphics and 1,350MHz processor speeds, and a 3.6GHz effective memory clock. All your frames are pushed through a decidedly narrower 192-bit memory interface, though, so we'd guess that for around $200, you won't be getting (much) more than you pay for. Let's just hope they run cool.

Update: The card's official, and it seems there's a 1GB, 256-bit version of the GTX 460, too. Hit the break for the full press release, filled with all the puffery a video game marketing team could want.

[Thanks, Polytonic]

Continue reading Twelve flavors of GeForce GTX 460 now shipping from Newegg (update: official)

Twelve flavors of GeForce GTX 460 now shipping from Newegg (update: official) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 16:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mimo goes giant with 10-inch iMo Monster USB-driven monitor

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/11/mimo-goes-giant-with-10-inch-imo-monster-usb-driven-monitor/

Who says the USB monitor fun has to end at seven diagonal inches? Not Mimo, that's for sure. The famed secondary display company has issued its latest device, and this one's a looker. The 10-inch iMo Monster is aptly named, offering 10 full inches of touchscreen real estate with a native 1,024 x 600 resolution panel. The whole thing weighs just 1.77 pounds and it fully supports both Windows and OS X platforms; best of all, a single USB 2.0 cable provides all the power and connectivity you'll need. Mimo throws in a stylus, 4.5-inch USB cable and a boatload of bragging rights, but given the "limited availability," you may want to part ways with your $259.99 right away if you're looking to pick one up.

Continue reading Mimo goes giant with 10-inch iMo Monster USB-driven monitor

Mimo goes giant with 10-inch iMo Monster USB-driven monitor originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Entelligence: Time for Microsoft to once again embrace and extend

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/11/entelligence-time-for-microsoft-to-once-again-embrace-and-exten/

Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he'll explore where our industry is and where it's going -- on both micro and macro levels -- with the unique wit and insight only he can provide.

A core part of Microsoft's strategy from days gone by was known as embrace and extend. With a reboot of their mobile platform due later this year, is it time for Microsoft to think about moving some of their services and applications to competitor's platforms? To some degree, it's already happening. Microsoft licenses the ActiveSync protocol which allows Android, iOS and other platforms to wirelessly sync with Exchange. It's developed Bing and Live Messenger apps for iOS and also done a deal to bring mobile Office apps to Nokia's platforms. One could argue that in some of these cases Microsoft has given competitors access to what could have been key differentiators for its own mobile efforts. I'm not sure I disagree with that analysis, but now that it's happening, I think Microsoft should think even more broadly about porting some applications and services. Here's what I'd like to see made available for other platforms.

Office Mobile: Sure, there are other solutions for viewing and editing Office documents on almost every platform, but none of them carry the Microsoft Office brand. A version of Office for mobile (including a touch-enabled version of OneNote) would be an instant best seller on every platform and a become the de facto standard for mobile office applications. A combination of free document viewers and a suite of applications at a reasonable cost would put Microsoft at the top of mobile productivity and at the same time help continue to drive Office sales for PCs and Macs.

Continue reading Entelligence: Time for Microsoft to once again embrace and extend

Entelligence: Time for Microsoft to once again embrace and extend originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Jul 2010 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 becomes everyone's favorite midrange graphics card

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/12/nvidia-geforce-gtx-460-becomes-everyones-favorite-midrange-grap/

It's rare to come across a universally lauded product nowadays, but NVIDIA's fresh new GTX 460 is just that sort of exceptional creation. Contrary to its GTX 465 elder brother, the 460 isn't a chopped-down top-tier part and is instead built on the new GF104 core. This smaller core, designed from the start to perform humbler functions, has ameliorated the famed power inefficiency that has been a Fermi signature so far, and has resulted in AnandTech describing the new card as "the $200 king." You'll get 768MB of onboard RAM at that point, but we'd splurge an extra $30 to make that a round gigabyte and enjoy some extra L2 cache and ROPs on the card. Either way, the GTX 460 seems to have completely killed off the market for the 465 and is stepping all over ATI's toes with its competitive pricing and, for once, decent heat and power metrics. Oh, and apparently it "overclocks like a monster" too -- hit the links below for the full reviews.

Read - AnandTech
Read - HardOCP
Read - Hot Hardware
Read - Tom's Hardware
Read - PC Perspective
Read - Bit-tech
Read - Guru 3D
Read - Legit Reviews

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 becomes everyone's favorite midrange graphics card originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 03:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android App Inventor lets you be the developer (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/12/android-app-inventor-lets-you-be-the-developer-video/

Google is following in Nokia's footsteps today by offering its users a simple-to-use DIY app maker. Employing a design scheme that relies on visual blocks rather than oodles of arcane code, the App Inventor -- still in Beta, of course -- has functions for "just about anything" you can do with an Android handset, including access to GPS and phone functionality. All that's really missing is the raw creative talent, which we're sure you'll be happy to provide. Hit the source link to get involved or skip past the break for an educational video.

Continue reading Android App Inventor lets you be the developer (video)

Android App Inventor lets you be the developer (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friday, July 09, 2010

Paste Web URLs in File Upload Dialogs for Quick Uploads from One Web Site to Another [Windows Tip]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5582432/paste-web-urls-in-file-upload-dialogs-for-quick-uploads-from-one-web-site-to-another

If you want to upload a file to a web site and that file's already on another site—say, an adorable dog photo from Flickr to your blog—this handy shortcut shaves a few steps off how you're probably doing it.

Rather than save the file to your desktop, then opening the upload file dialog and navigating to where you downloaded the file, you can just copy the URL to the file and paste that URL in the Select File dialog. When you hit Open, Windows takes care of downloading the file from the original server and then uploads it to the server in question without requiring the extra steps from you. It's maybe not a life-changing revelation, and it's also not new, but it was new to us, and is a nice shortcut to have in your arsenal.

The Government's "Perfect Citizen" Program Will Protect Companies By Monitoring Them [BigBrother]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5582348/the-governments-perfect-citizen-program-will-protect-companies-by-monitoring-them

In order to curb cyber attacks on companies that control critical infrastructure, the US federal government is launching a new surveillance program dubbed "Perfect Citizen." The people behind it are already calling it "Big Brother."

The purpose of the "Perfect Citizen" program is to monitor critical infrastructure like electricity grids and nuclear-power plants and prevent cyber attacks from occurring. The NSA would place sensors in computer networks and watch for any unusual activity. An internal e-mail said, "Perfect Citizen is Big Brother", which is damn scary but the truth is, many large, older computer control systems like subway systems, air-traffic control networks, etc, weren't designed to connect to the internet but are now linked in to it, making them vulnerable to such attacks. These old systems could maybe use a big brother.

A US military official said:

The program [is] long overdue and any intrusion into privacy is no greater than what the public already endures from traffic cameras. It's a logical extension of the work federal agencies have done in the past to protect physical attacks on critical infrastructure that could sabotage the government or key parts of the country

The overall goal of the program, according to the US government, is to close the holes in our critical infrastructure and eventually, when the government builds up enough data, help other companies deal with cyber attacks (like Google earlier this year). That sounds very charitable of our government.

The truth likely lies somewhere in between that and "Big Brother", but as long as "Perfect Citizen" keeps the important things running and doesn't extend a peek into unimportant ol' me, I'm actually okay with it. I think. [WSJ]

The Pirate Bay Hacked, 4 Million Usernames, Email Addresses and IPs Compromised [Security]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5582418/the-pirate-bay-hacked-4-million-usernames-email-addresses-and-ips-compromised

Oops! It looks like Argentinian "researcher" Ch Russo hacked The Pirate Bay, acquiring a whopping four million usernames, email addresses and IP addresses.

I didn't even realize you could sign up for an account at The Pirate Bay! If you've just visited the site and downloaded some things, you should be fine, as you don't need to have an account to do that. Presumably, these accounts are for uploaders and more heavy users.

Luckily for them, Russo claims that he has no plans to give out or sell the data, even though the copyright cops would surely find it to be very valuable. And TBP has since plugged up the hole that allowed for the breach to occur. So, uh, carry on, I guess. [Krebs on Security via Boy Genius]

If You Buy an iPad Mag, It Might As Well Be Popular Mechanics [IPad Apps]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5582442/if-you-buy-an-ipad-mag-it-might-as-well-be-popular-mechanics

The latest big magazine iPad app is here: Popular Mechanics. It's very possibly the best. Though for now, it's a glorified beta test.

That is, Pop Mech's Interactive Edition isn't the first "issue" of monthly apps—those won't arrive until later this year—it's more of a tech demo that mixes up older and newer material to show how they're thinking about a digital magazine. (Fortunately, it's just $1.99. I doubt this price will stick.)

It's essentially the same app I saw a couple months ago, which is mostly a good thing. It's down to a mere 27MB package—compared to 500MB for the similar Wired app. Video clips are seamlessly integrated with the page. (Though a couple, like the video for the article "Epic Air," were choppy and froze.) The neato interactive earthquake app, showing a wealth of data from the USGS, is built directly in the mag now.

Its color-coded navigator, for quickly skimming the entire magazine, is perhaps my favorite table of contents in an iPad mag yet (seen above). Except for the occasional moments when the app breaks its own navigational scheme—typically, swipe left-to-right to go to the next page—it's fairly easy to use, taking care to explain interactive wonkiness when it arises without feeling too fored. Which is more than can be said about some mag apps.

Pop Mech manages to mostly walk the line between being a "magazine" and some glimpse of the future of slick digital content you might pay for, though it never quite escapes that sensation of requiring "work" to read, versus leisurely flipping through a magazine. Which is the feeling I hope digital magazines really learn to mime in the end. Zippy videos don't replace the feel of high quality, glossy paper between your fingers. (Ironically, for the moment, my favorite iPad reading experiences are Instapaper, Reeder and BoingBoing's slick web features.)

If you're going to buy a fancy iPad mag, though, it might as well be this one. It's good. And it's the cheapest, at any rate. [iTunes, Popular Mechanics]

This Bendable Bike Can Tie Itself to a Lamp Post [Biking]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5582565/this-bendable-bike-can-tie-itself-to-a-lamp-post

This Bendable Bike Can Tie Itself to a Lamp Post I'm slowly customizing my new bike with the help of some friends from Ohio. I love it except for one thing: The massive lock that I've to use in NYC. This awesome bendable bike, however, doesn't need any lock.

This has to be one of the best bike inventions in the history of bike inventions. It was created by the guy in the photos, 21-yo designer—and Adam Frucci impersonator—Kevin Scott.

I know it's hard to believe, but this thing actually works and could go into production. The bike can literally bend around a lamp post. Again: The whole bike bends to lock onto itself. First, it's rigid. Then, you push a lever and it's flexible enough to tie it to a post. Rigid. Lever. Bendable. Lever. Rigid. Lever. Bendable. I'm sorry, but I just can't stop marveling at this invention. [DMU via Daily Mail]

OnLive's Lag Tested With SCIENCE [PC]

Source: http://kotaku.com/5582385/onlives-lag-tested-with-science

OnLive, a streaming service that hopes to replace both PCs and consoles as the gaming setup of the future, has its sceptics, who say it's too laggy to work. Why listen to them, when you can listen to science?

The boffins at DigitalFoundry have rigged up a PC and some testing units to see just how much lag OnLive really suffers from. At least in the case of this PC and this internet connection (its performance will of course vary on your location and bandwidth).

Don't mind the slow-motion footage. Take heed of the results, using Unreal Tournament III, which in this case show that the time between button press and on-screen action was around 150ms. That may sound like a lot, but it's typical of the kind of delays you'll face playing any kind of networked game, whether online or even locally.

Other games tested included Dirt 2 and Assassin's Creed II, with both of those games recording lag of around 150-216ms. While this is far from ideal, since it's still slower than you'd experience using a locally-based product (as in, a disc spinning in a console or a game installed on a hard drive), considering the nature and benefits of OnLive, they're...not bad.

It's worth noting, however, that the results were far slower than those originally promised by OnLive, who reckoned lag would only be between 35-80ms, proving perhaps that conditions in the real world are never as ideal as those in a testing environment.

OnLive Latency: The Reckoning [DigitalFoundry @ Eurogamer]

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