Wednesday, December 22, 2010

App of the Day: Camera+ for iPhone [Video]

App of the Day: Camera+ for iPhone [Video]

After getting a bit overzealous with the iPhone 4's volume buttons, Camera+, my favorite iPhone photography app, was booted from the App Store. Thankfully it's back Apple's good graces, and it's just been updated with more photo-fancifying features than ever.

App of the Day: Camera+ for iPhone

What is it?

Camera+, iPhone, $2. Even during its brief hiatus from the world of sanctioned App Store apps, Camera+ remained my favorite all-around photography app for the iPhone. Of course, it has all the photo effects you'd expect—HDR, miniaturize, polarize, color dodge, '70s, toy camera, sepia, and one or two dozen more—as well as a variety of presets for various scenes—cloudy, fluorescent, portrait, concert, etc. But it's also got some less obvious stuff for both before and after you shoot: touch focus and exposure, white balance lock, timer mode, burst mode, and plenty of borders and cropping options. It pretty much does it all. And it's on sale for a buck. OH, and, with its reintroduction into the realm of the living, the beloved volume button-shutter button feature is gone. So don't update if you wanna keep that around.

Who's it good for?

People who don't want to switch between a bunch of different apps to get their photos looking just right; people who find MMS and email adequate for sharing those photos; people who are fed up with Hipstamatic's authentic-to-a-fault UI.

Why's it better than alternatives?

Well, it does just about everything you could want it to, it's only $2, and, in my estimation, it's got some of nicest looking effects of any iOS photo app. The update also does some nice things under the hood, like maintaing meta data and geographic info when you export shots to the camera roll.

How could it be even better?

This new and improved version of Camera+ is noticeably slower than the previous version, which I wouldn't have described as snappy to begin with. Hopefully that'll be addressed in the next update. And with so many features and options, it'd be nice to be able to save a custom workflow that you could quickly apply to photos on the run without doing all that tapping.

You can grab Camera+ in the App Store for $2. Scratch that! Currently on sale for $1

We're always looking for cool apps—for iOS, Android, Windows Phone or whatever else—to feature as App of the Day (yes, apps for other platforms will start popping up soon!) If you come across one you think we should take a look at, please let us know.

For more apps, check out our weekly app roundups for iPhone, iPad, and Android

Video music: Kevin MacLeod

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Digital Storm's xm15 gaming laptop rolls with NVIDIA's Optimus

Digital Storm's xm15 gaming laptop rolls with NVIDIA's Optimus

Lookin' to straddle the fence with your next laptop purchase? Or maybe you're just lookin' to conserve battery life when not picking off enemies in Counter-Strike. Either way, Digital Storm's new xm15 (not to be confused with Alienware's M15x) can satisfy the yearning, as the $999 base configuration comes equipped with a 2.4GHz Core i5-520M, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a 320GB HDD and NVIDIA's GT 425M (1GB). Naturally, Intel's integrated graphics chipset is also included for less demanding times, and if you're in need of a little more oomph, a $1,086 build jumps to a 2.53GHz Core i5-540M and a $1,367 model steps up to a 2.8GHz Core i7-640M. 'Course, far nicer editions are available if you're got the cash to customize, but we'll leave all that between you and your wallet. And whoever fills your wallet.

Continue reading Digital Storm's xm15 gaming laptop rolls with NVIDIA's Optimus

Digital Storm's xm15 gaming laptop rolls with NVIDIA's Optimus originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 14:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer Aspire 5742G laptop with NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M graphics reviewed, es ist schnell

Acer Aspire 5742G laptop with NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M graphics reviewed, es ist schnell

Acer Aspire 5742G laptop with NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M graphics reviewed, proven wunderbar
When first announced, we had fears that the new NVIDIA GeForce GT 500M-series graphics would be little more than a tweak of a clock speed here and a new sticker there, as the specs of the 540M (96 CUDA cores, 128-bit memory interface) match the 435M series bit-for-bit. But, a Notebook Journal review of the first laptop to bear NVIDIA's latest, the Acer Aspire 5742G, finds that the performance boost is tangible. "Much stronger," even, scoring 8315 points in 3DMark 06 -- a good bit higher than the 435M scores we've seen. The laptop otherwise is said to be quite a powerhouse, with a massive 8GB of DDR3 memory onboard, but it's a gentle machine too, Optimus letting the thing run cool and long (up to five hours on a charge) when you're not getting your frag on. Indeed it's deemed the most powerful notebook you can buy for €700, and while that translates to roughly $920, we'll have to see what Acer decides to charge when it comes Stateside.

[Thanks, Markus]

Acer Aspire 5742G laptop with NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M graphics reviewed, es ist schnell originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 14:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Viliv to debut Android-based X7, X10, Windows 7-based X70 tablets at CES

Viliv to debut Android-based X7, X10, Windows 7-based X70 tablets at CES

We can't say for sure just yet, but we're starting to get the feeling that we're going to see lots of tablets at CES. The latest to join the party is Viliv, which has just announced that it will be showing off its new Android-based X7 and X10 tablets, along with the Windows 7-based X70 "slate" -- the latter of which is touted to be the "most slim and light Windows 7 based tablet in the world," and is presumably a successor to the company's existing X70 tablet. As you might expect, however, Viliv is still saving most of the key details for the official unveiling at CES, but you know we'll be there to check them all out first hand.

Viliv to debut Android-based X7, X10, Windows 7-based X70 tablets at CES originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 19:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC EVO Shift 4G spotted in the wild, said to have 800MHz CPU

HTC EVO Shift 4G spotted in the wild, said to have 800MHz CPU

We had our doubts the last time we encountered an HTC EVO Shift 4G, but it looks like they were mostly unfounded -- here's Sprint's new QWERTY slider in the flesh -- armor finally shed -- revealing a chrome bezel beneath. PhoneArena obtained these pics from an anonymous tipster, who says the device has an 800MHz processor much like the T-Mobile G2, and while we can't infer much more about the internals than we have before, there are a few new things to note: HTC Sense is alive and well, there's a particularly large camera module buried in the smooth plastic back and a headphone jack up top, and it appears there's a pair of status LEDs for Caps Lock and Function Lock right above the keyboard. See two more pics of the device at the source link below, while we wait for Sprint to own up.

HTC EVO Shift 4G spotted in the wild, said to have 800MHz CPU originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 19:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourcePhon eArena  | Email this | Comments

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Google Translate gets Doug E. Fresh-approved Beatbox button

Google Translate gets Doug E. Fresh-approved Beatbox button

We still don't believe that machines (or machine translation, for that matter) will ever replace the artistry that beatbox pioneers like Doug E. Fresh, Darren Robinson (RIP), or that guy from the Police Academy movies brought to the table, but it is nice to see Google acknowledging the wonderfully percussive nature of the German language phrase "pv zk pv pv zk pv zk kz zk pv pv pv zk pv zk zk pzk pzk pvzkpkzvpvzk kkkkkk bsch".

[Thanks, benhc911]

Google Translate gets Doug E. Fresh-approved Beatbox button originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 20:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinect paired with Vuzix VR920 shades, creates zany virtual reality game (video)

Kinect paired with Vuzix VR920 shades, creates zany virtual reality game (video)

It was only a matter of time before Microsoft's continually-hacked Kinect became embroiled in a VR simulation of some sort, and while we're not riding light cycles quite yet, enterprising developer Nao_u has managed to put himself in the shoes (and short skirt) of a Japanese virtual pop icon. Mapping his every move onto the virtual skeleton of Vocaloid's Miku Hatsune probably won't impress you much at this stage of the game, but there's the little matter of what Nao_u did next: he hooked up a pair of Vuzix VR920 LCD glasses to see through the digital diva's eyes, too. Find the terribly cutesy video after the break, and fast-forward to 4:30 to watch Nao attempt to walk a narrow beam set atop a virtual skyscraper.

Continue reading Kinect paired with Vuzix VR920 shades, creates zany virtual reality game (video)

Kinect paired with Vuzix VR920 shades, creates zany virtual reality game (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 21:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Adafruit  |  Nao_u Diary  | Email this | Comments

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Microsoft to announce ARM-based Windows at CES?

Microsoft to announce ARM-based Windows at CES?

We know Windows CE jibes with ARM-based architecture, but full-blown Windows? Looks like everyone and their respective mothers today -- to be specific, Bloomberg, AllThingsD, and the Wall Street Journal -- are reporting "sources" that claim Microsoft is set to announce Windows compatibility with ARM chips, which currently rule the roost in the mobile and embedded scenes, and more importantly dominate the tablet market. So yeah, we get the need for such a merge, and it'd really put Microsoft in a smart position for lower-power devices, but here's the catch: the products aren't expected for some time -- two years according to WSJ -- as drivers need to be written for the hardware.

Then again, this may all be for nothing. Cue another well-connected Microsoft reporter, ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley, who has a decidedly tamer prediction: a new Windows CE / Embedded Contact -- you'll remember we saw it running on a Tegra 2 tablet back at Computex -- and maybe ARM support for Windows 8 (or Windows 8 "Lite"). In other words, no one has a clear, 100 percent idea of what to expect in January, so as we say, just stay tuned.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Microsoft to announce ARM-based Windows at CES? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 22:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceWSJ, AllThingsD, Bloomberg, ZDNet  | Email this | Comments

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AirFlick allows streaming of arbitrary media, DVDs, even screencasting to the Apple TV (video)

AirFlick allows streaming of arbitrary media, DVDs, even screencasting to the Apple TV (video)

AirFlick allows streaming of arbitrary media, DVDs, and even screencasting to the Apple TV (video)If you've run out of things to do with your Apple TV and have been using it as a hockey puck now that the lakes are getting solid, you'd better go dig it out of the snowbank. Following up on her iOS AirPlay hacks, Erica Sadun has released an alpha version of a tool called AirFlick which enables the playback of any 'ol media files on an Apple TV. That's demonstrated in a video below. Things aren't perfect yet but already others are having a field day with the tool, the folks at TUAW figuring out how to not only stream whole DVDs to an Apple TV but their entire desktop image too by simply providing a VLC screen:// URL into the player. The quality looks a little iffy and, as you can see in the video below, it's not entirely error-free. But, if you have the smallest little bit of patience, it's sure worth a shot, eh?

Continue reading AirFlick allows streaming of arbitrary media, DVDs, even screencasting to the Apple TV (video)

AirFlick allows streaming of arbitrary media, DVDs, even scre! encastin g to the Apple TV (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 07:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink MacRumors  |  sourceTUAW (Airflick), (DVD Playback), (Screencasting)  | Email this | Comments

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CHART OF THE DAY: 44% Of New Twitter Accounts Were Made In The First 7 Months Of This Year

CHART OF THE DAY: 44% Of New Twitter Accounts Were Made In The First 7 Months Of This Year

Want to get the Chart of The Day before everybody else? Get it in an email.

We've seen plenty of charts on Twitter's growth, but this one really grabbed our attention.

In the first half of 2010, 44% of Twitter's total account population joined the service, according to data from Sysomos, a social media tracking company.

It's a pretty impressive growth spurt for the already formidable social network.

The caveat: New Accounts created do not equal new and active users. Twitter appears to have many Zombie accounts, according to data from the Pew Research Center. Zombie accounts are people signing up to spam Twitter, and do other non constructive things.

So while this looks pretty great on face of it, the growth might be a little bit slower than what we're seeing here.

chart of the day, new twitter accounts created, dec 2010

Follow the Chart Of The Day on Twitter: @chartoftheday

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Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Your iPhone Takes Stirring Long-Exposure Photos With This Magic App [Video]

Your iPhone Takes Stirring Long-Exposure Photos With This Magic App [Video]

Your iPhone Takes Stirring Long-Exposure Photos With This Magic AppSure, you've got your Hipstamatic filters and your ProCamera bag of tricks. But to capture truly ethereal slow-shutter speed shots and lithe light paintings, you're going to need Magic Shutter. It looks pretty amazing, and amazingly pretty.

You can choose among front and rear-curtain sync effects in flash modes, meaning that the blur effect either tails or leads the sharp image. It's a creative blend of the iPhone's video and still camera, and may just elevate the app camera effects game from "hipster art" to "art art."

While Magic Shutter does a terrific job of mimicking the blurry beauty of a long-exposure photo, you are a wee bit limited in output resolution because of limitations Apple puts on using the camera at full resolution for video. It's disappointing! But not so much, I'd guess, that it's a dealbreaker, especially at $3 and with an upgrade coming next month that promises improved output. [Magic Shutter via iPhoneography via Wired]

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Streaming Video from iPad and iPhone to Linux Computers [Video]

Streaming Video from iPad and iPhone to Linux Computers [Video]

Someone has ported Apple's Airplay to a Linux box running Ubuntu and XMBC. It seems to work flawlessly, allowing the user to select and stream from any Airplay-enabled device. It seems pretty simple and straightforward, and works with video and audio.

I wonder how long it would be before we start seeing Airplay in every Linux-based TV set or video box coming from China. [Ubergizmo]

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JBL's AirPlay-enabled On Air Wireless speaker dock hits the FCC

JBL's AirPlay-enabled On Air Wireless speaker dock hits the FCC

JBL was one of the first companies besides iHome and Denon / Marantz to announce support for Apple's AirPlay technology, so it's no surprise that the company's On Air Wireless speaker dock just hit the FCC, complete with its manual -- we've been hearing that AirPlay will be all over the place at CES 2011. The On Air Wireless seems like a fancier riff on JBL's On Air line of speaker docks and alarm clocks -- it features that familiar swoopy-loop design but adds in a large color LCD display that displays album artwork while streaming music. Looking at the manual, the display also makes WiFi setup and configuration a little easier, which is nice. All in all, it looks promising, but we'll see what price and availability looks like when we get to CES.

JBL's AirPlay-enabled On Air Wireless speaker dock hits the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 09:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planex MZK-SNG02US brings DLNA to your SD cards and USB drives

Planex MZK-SNG02US brings DLNA to your SD cards and USB drives

Not looking to go all out with a DLNA-ready NAS or dedicated media player to get some streaming started on your home network? Then you might be able to get by with something like Planex's new MZK-SNG02US device, which packs a single USB port and an SD card slot, and basically acts as DLNA-enabled bridge between your storage media and your router. Unfortunately, it looks like this one is only available in Japan at the moment, and its ¥8,000 (or $95) price tag places it a bit closer to some of those aforementioned dedicated devices than we would have liked. We're guessing that will get knocked down a bit if and when it's released (and most likely rebadged) over here, though.

Planex MZK-SNG02US brings DLNA to your SD cards and USB drives originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 10:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Akihabara News  |  sourcePlanex !  |& nbsp;Email this | Comments

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Electric Motorbikes as Tires

Electric Motorbikes as Tires

Behold an electric motor vehicle who indeed does fit the mold of “more than meets the eye.” This is no robot though, it’s a compact urban city car, but what’s more is that its rear wheels transform into bikes. Each of these bikes have only a single tire, functioning on the same system as the Segway! The car with the bikes still integrated has a light weight structure, 2 parallel side panels and a bunch of cross panels making the car like a feather yet totally tough.

To separate the bikes from the car, you’ve only to open the rear hood, take the bumper out, set down the stand to keep the car aloft, remove the docking lock, and activate the bike. A couple more features in the car are a solar panel roof, glass panels for side doors, and an overall essence of architecture embedded in the whole structure.

This project is a 2010 Red Dot Design Awards winner!

Designer: Bobin Kil

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