Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Toshiba shows off Smart Pad tablet prototype, promises launch before October

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/20/toshiba-shows-off-smart-pad-tablet-prototype-promises-launch-be/

It may not stand out from the pack quite as much as Toshiba's dual-screen Libretto W100, but it looks like the company will soon be expanding its tablet options a bit further. The latest addition was revealed in Australia by Toshiba's Mark Whittard, who showed off a prototype of a so-called "Smart Pad" tablet but unfortunately revealed few details about it. He did say that it would have both HDMI and USB connectivity, however, and that it could run either Android or Windows 7 -- Toshiba apparently hasn't decided which, though. There's no indication of a price either, but Whittard says Toshiba is looking to launch it "before October."

Toshiba shows off Smart Pad tablet prototype, promises launch before October originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

SlashGear | source

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Samsung's new plasmas will do 3D for much cheaper - Update: $989 for 50-inch 720p

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/20/samsung-new-plasmas-will-do-3d-for-much-cheaper-maybe-under-1/

Looks like Samsung's 3D Blu-ray players aren't the only ones coming in cheaper versions, as it's unveiled the new 680 Series and 490 Series plasma HDTVs. Both were shown off in Korea yesterday, though the US website only features a product page for the 50-inch PN50C680 so far, showing off its 1080p specs and DLNA access. You will give up a few features from higher end plasmas, which add picture-in-picture, widgets, a higher contrast ratio and slimmer designs to the mix. The PN50C490's situation is a bit murkier, but FlatpanelsHD reports it will be the first 720p 3DTV of the current generation. With current series 4 plasmas retailing for around $720, it could also be the first flat 3D set to crack (or at least approach) the $1,000 barrier -- if you're willing to miss out on the extra pixels.

Update: A listing on ABC Warehouse shows the PN50C490 with a few specs plus $1,099 MSRP, but already up for preorder for just $989. Perfect for some PS3 gaming or ESPN3D watching, right? Of course, as a few commenters have mentioned, you can get a 60-inch 1080p projection 3D capable HDTV from Mitsubishi for even less, so that's hardly your only cheap 3D option. [Thanks, John Doe]

Continue reading Samsung's new plasmas will do 3D for much cheaper - Update: $989 for 50-inch 720p

Samsung's new plasmas will do 3D for much cheaper - Update: $989 for 50-inch 720p originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Engadget Korea | source

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HP Slate 500 with Windows 7 surfaces on HP's site

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/20/hp-slate-500-surfaces-on-hps-site/

We can't say we know exactly what's going on here, but it does appear that the HP Slate still lives in all its Windows 7 (and Intel Atom) glory. Yep, the guys at IDG News spotted the good ol' 8.9-inch HP Slate -- now apparently the Slate 500 -- hanging out on a rather hidden HP.com page. The details are few and far between, but they do seem to coincide with all that we originally had heard about the tablet -- it runs Windows 7 Home Premium, has "exclusive" HP software and two cameras. And that's not all, the chaps at IDG also noticed that the Slate 500 was Energy Star certified, and a listing for the same product on Energy Star's site confirms that it will have a 1.6GHz processor. That too seems to line up with what we had heard about the Slate having a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530 CPU. We know, it's all a bit surreal considering we just got word yesterday that HP had filed a trademark on the term PalmPad, and we figured the Slate may have seen its day. There's no telling what will happen next, but it sure is looking like a HP Win 7 and WebOS tablet may just live in harmony.

HP Slate 500 with Windows 7 surfaces on HP's site originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

PCWorld | source

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Handy Light for iPhone's dirty little secret: tethering (update)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/20/handy-light-for-iphones-dirty-little-secret-tethering-video/

You may ask yourself, why on earth would anyone pay 99 cents for an iPhone app whose sole purpose is to flash bright, solid colors? We certainly wouldn't recommend it, but Handy Light has a great little Easter egg that undoubtedly doesn't jive with the folks at Cupertino HQ. Like Nullriver's Netshare app before it, this little piece of software allows for SOCKS proxy tethering, without having to sign up for AT&T's tethering plan. Instructions available via the video below, and if you're looking to pick up the app yourself, better hurry -- we can't imagine Apple will let this one stay in the store for very much longer.

Update: Looks like the app's been pulled. Ye who snoozes, ergo must lose. If you did manage to nab and the video below isn't working (we see it just fine), check out App Shopper for more detailed, text-based instructions.

Continue reading Handy Light for iPhone's dirty little secret: tethering (update)

Handy Light for iPhone's dirty little secret: tethering (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Droid 2 and Android 2.2 fated to be together from the start, according to latest leaks

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/21/droid-2-and-android-2-2-fated-to-be-together-from-the-start-acc/

You know, some people get married with less information about their partner than we already have about the Droid 2. Today, we have a pair of independent leaks seemingly confirming that the second coming of Moto's QWERTY-sportin' Doer will be running Android 2.2 right out of the gate. Droid Life has a tipster that's apparently spent some quality time with the device, describing its keyboard as "phenomenal" and pointing out that it feels notably snappier than the original. The Froyo connection is reiterated by Phandroid's sources, which provide images of Verizon's device database indicating once again that Android 2.2 and Droid 2 will be an appropriately matched pair when the launch codes get entered (last mooted for August 12) and this thing finally hits retail.

Droid 2 and Android 2.2 fated to be together from the start, according to latest leaks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic adds Blu-ray 3D/HDD all-in-one plasmas; redesigned, rechargeable 3D glasses in Japan

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/21/panasonic-adds-blu-ray-3d-hdd-all-in-one-plasmas-redesigned-re/

Panasonic Japan's push to bring 3D to wider audiences means more than just offering it in smaller HDTVs. The RT2B series plasmas announced today can record TV broadcasts onto their hard discs or Blu-ray drives, and are the first all-in-ones that play Blu-ray 3D movies as well. Available in 42- and 46-inch versions, it's unlikely we'll see them on this side of the Pacific, but much more likely to make the jump are some new 3D glasses (pictures after the break.) Now available in different sizes for the whole family, they also include sealed batteries rechargeable by USB, as opposed to the current one-size-fits-all design that relies on a replaceable watch battery. Two hours charging via USB should equal 30 hours of watching, and at 38g, Panasonic's claiming the small kid-sized TY-EW3D2SW active shutter glasses are the lightest around. What hasn't changed yet is the price -- ¥13,000 ($149.) Barring bundle deals, outfitting the family for some festival viewing will still be an expensive proposition when all of these start shipping August 27.

Continue reading Panasonic adds Blu-ray 3D/HDD all-in-one plasmas; redesigned, rechargeable 3D glasses in Japan

Panasonic adds Blu-ray 3D/HDD all-in-one plasmas; redesigned, rechargeable 3D glasses in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 04:13:00 E! DT. Ple ase see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic Japan (1), (2) | Email this | Comments

ARM and TSMC team up for tinier 20nm Cortex SOCs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/21/arm-and-tsmc-team-up-for-tinier-20nm-cortex-socs/

It's no secret that ARM ideas are powering much of the mobile revolution these days, but the company doesn't print its own systems-on-a-chip, that duty gets outsourced to silicon foundries -- like TSMC, who just got all buddy-buddy with the firm to transition future smartphone chips to the 28nm and obscenely tiny 20nm high-k metal gate processes. (We're not sure what this means for GlobalFoundries, who had a similar deal earlier this year.) As per usual with a die size reduction, ARM chips will see higher speed and have decreased power consumption, but since 20nm is (relatively) unexplored territory it could be years before chips hit the market. PR after the break, or hit the more coverage link for further explanation by an ARM VP of Marketing.

Continue reading ARM and TSMC team up for tinier 20nm Cortex SOCs

ARM and TSMC team up for tinier 20nm Cortex SOCs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Eat the Seasons Tells You What's in Season Now [Food]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5590903/eat-the-seasons-tells-you-whats-in-season-now

If you're trying to increase the amount of fresh and local food you're eating it helps to know what's in season. Eat the Seasons tells you what fruits, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and meats are in season now.

Visit the site and you're immediately show what is in season for the US/Canada—for those across the Atlantic you can switch to the UK/Ireland view for more accurate results. You can click on individual items in the list of seasonal foods to read more about the nutritional content, buying and storing tips, and interesting facts about the food in question.

While you're checking out seasonal foods don't forget to take a peek at the Epicurious Seasonal Ingredient Map and how to lower your food bill by shopping for food in season.

Eat The Seasons

TrueCrypt 7.0 Gets Intel Hardware Acceleration and Better Automatic Mounting [Downloads]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5591445/truecrypt-70-gets-hardware+accelerated-encrypting-and-automatic-mounting

TrueCrypt 7.0 Gets Intel Hardware Acceleration and Better Automatic Mounting Windows/Mac/Linux: TrueCrypt, the smart and secure way to encrypt your data, has shipped a seventh version that can encrypt faster on select Intel hardware, as well as configure your encrypted volumes or drives to automatically mount with specific preferences.

The hardware acceleration is implemented through Intel's AES-NI instructions, which are usually present in processors sold as Core i5, Core i7, and so forth. Using such a processor with the strong AES algorithm, and enabling acceleration in TrueCrypt's settings, should give you faster on-the-fly access to encrypted data.

That's a neat feature for those with newer hardware, but for everyone else, there's also a host of new volume and drive options. Encrypted packages can now be managed through a "Favorites Organizer," where individual preferences for mounting and other access can be set in batches. Drives and volumes created on external storage, like a USB drive, can also be set now to auto-mount whenever the storage is connected. More good stuff in 7.0 is detailed in the version history document.

TrueCrypt 7.0 is a free download for Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Got a great use case for TrueCrypt? Share it with the cyber-class in the comments.

TrueCrypt [via Ghacks]

Dell Streak review redux: thoughts from the New World

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/20/dell-streak-review-redux-thoughts-from-the-new-world/

If you've been following the ongoing saga of Dell's Streak, you've probably already read our review of O2 UK's version -- thing is, the British perspective can be very different from the Yankee one (we didn't see eye-to-eye during the War of 1812, for instance). To that end, we wanted to circle back now that the gargantuan Android beast is finally coming close to a US release and get another quick take.

As a refresher, this thing matches or exceeds the specs you'd expect to find on any modern high-end smartphone in most respects, starting with a 1GHz Snapdragon core, a 5 megapixel camera with dual LED flash, 850 / 1900MHz 3G for use on AT&T, Rogers, Bell, and Telus, and 2GB of internal storage coupled with a bundled and pre-installed 16GB microSDHC card. Where the Streak sets itself far, far apart from the crowd, though, is with an absolutely enormous 5-inch capacitive touchscreen at 800 x 480 resolution. Needless to say, it's a polarizing feature -- and for many, it'll singlehandedly determine whether the phone is a buy or a no-buy.

Our original review ultimately concluded that the Streak was a promising device in need of an update from Android 1.6 to Froyo. On second look, does our American reviewer agree? Read on.

Gallery: Dell Streak review redux: thoughts from the New World

Continue reading Dell Streak review redux: thoughts from the New World

Dell Streak review redux: thoughts from the New World originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RedEye Mini dongle now on sale for $49, looking good in early review

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/20/redeye-mini-dongle-now-on-sale-for-49-looking-good-in-early-re/

You've heard about it for months, and now the universal remote that looks nothing like a universal remote is finally on sale in 52 nations. Thinkflood's RedEye Mini -- which simply plugs into the headphone jack of your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch -- can now be procured for $49, and when used with the gratis app in the App Store, can control anything in your home entertainment setup that accepts IR commands. ZDNet was fortunate enough to get a little hands-on time with the device, and their early impressions are quite positive. In fact, they recommend skipping the Harmony hoopla and heading right for this if you're already an iDevice owner (who doesn't use an imposing case or Bumper), and at a buck under a Grant, we certainly aren't in a position to argue.

Gallery: Thinkflood RedEye Mini

Continue reading RedEye Mini dongle now on sale for $49, looking good in early review

RedEye Mini dongle now on sale for $49, looking good in early review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung ships 1TB Spinpoint MT2 2.5-inch hard drive, but it won't fit in your laptop

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/20/samsung-ships-1tb-spinpoint-mt2-2-5-inch-hard-drive-but-it-won/

So, we've good news and bad news. Given that we aren't accepting votes for which you'll be fed first, we'll go ahead and extol the virtues of cramming a full terabyte of space into a 2.5-inch form factor. Not that this feat hasn't been accomplished before, but the 2.5-inch 1TB HDD realm could certainly use the competition. Now, the rough part -- Samsung's Spinpoint MT2 boasts a 12.5mm height, which is 3mm too high for your existing laptop. Unless, of course, you're rocking one of those otherworldly Clevo machines with enough space for a Karmann Ghia in there. There's also the fact that it's humming along at just 5,400RPM and rocks just 8MB of buffer memory, meaning that this one's entirely more likely to find a home within a portable HDD case than inside of Apple's next MacBook Air. Oh, and there's no price being made public, but honestly, we're sort of glad Sammy didn't bother teasing us.

Continue reading Samsung ships 1TB Spinpoint MT2 2.5-inch hard drive, but it won't fit in your laptop

Samsung ships 1TB Spinpoint MT2 2.5-inch hard drive, but it won't fit in your laptop originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adobe FlashTime to bring peer-to-peer video calls to Android (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/20/adobe-flashtime-to-bring-peer-to-peer-video-calls-to-android-vi/

With tongue wedged firmly in cheek, Adobe has named its latest little bit of demo software FlashTime and given it a quick spin to whet our appetites. Built using the forthcoming Air 2.5, this peer-to-peer video chat client harnesses your smartphone's camera to get some direct visual communication going with your fellow Android lovers. Okay, so Android users already have other options for doing just this very thing, but the point being made here is that you can do just about anything with Flash, and since it's Flash it'll be easy to port around to other platforms. Skip past the break to see the demo, which has a multipeer chat session with a desktop Mac thrown in for good measure.

[Thanks, Faheem]

Update: Just for clarification's sake, Adobe's Mark Doherty got in touch with us to say there are no plans to release this little mockup client and that indeed the FlashTime moniker is a mere placeholder. Ah well.

Continue reading Adobe FlashTime to bring peer-to-peer video calls to Android (video)

Adobe FlashTime to bring peer-to-peer video calls to Android (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Hexus.net | source

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Sony stereoscopic screen sharing patent puts two players on one display

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/20/sony-stereoscopic-screen-sharing-patent-puts-two-players-on-one/

After that last bummer, where Sony applied for a patent "feature erosion" in game demos, we're glad to see the company come up with something positive for the gamers among us. Two recent patent apps, titled "Stereoscopic Screen Sharing Method and Apparatus Patent" and "3D Shutter Glasses with Mode Switching Based on Orientation to Display Device," detail the use of stereoscopic 3D technology to let two individual players see different information on the same screen (you might remember that Microsoft has also been working on something similar). Not only that, but the glasses could have earbuds -- for separate audio feeds. Of course, you'd need a 3D display for this to work, and you'd need to wear those silly glasses -- but that's a small price to pay to get rid of the ol' split screen, don't you think? [Warning: PDF source links]

Sony stereoscopic screen sharing patent puts two players on one display originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

3D Vision Blog | source

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Free Patents Online (1), (2) | Email this | Comments

Samsung Creating Unbreakable AMOLED Screens [AMOLED]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5591022/samsung-creating-unbreakable-amoled-screens

Samsung Creating Unbreakable AMOLED Screens Samsung is planning to launch a display with an AMOLED plastic panel on the universal board within two years. Why? Because by switching to the plastic panel, the AMOLED display would become unbreakable.

Samsung's process in making the indestructible screen is to put a thin film transistor (TFT) on the plastic panel and to replace the vinyl protection sheet with polyimide film. Of course, if you drop your phone the glass will still break, but at least you'll have a working touchscreen underneath the shards.

Samsung plans to start producing these new AMOLED screens in two years. Let's hope they can figure out how to make AMOLED readable in the sun by then too. [OLED-display.net]

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