Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Who Wants to Buy Cameron's House From Ferris Bueller's Day Off? [Architecture]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5725230/who-wants-to-buy-camerons-house-from-ferris-buellers-day-off

Who Wants to Buy Cameron's House From Ferris Bueller's Day Off?So you failed to win the auction for Cameron Frye's Dad's red Ferrari last year. Now what? Well, if that $1.65 million is burning a hole in your pocket, you could always buy the glassy Ferris Bueller house, recently reduced.

It's just gone back on the market with a cool price-tag to match its cool, stark exterior (though the interior certainly looks more homely...just), and yes, the price even includes the infamous garage (above) which the Ferrari crashed through after Ferris and Cameron's day off.

Any Gizmodo readers want to club together and buy this Illinois house for the official Ferris Bueller appreciation commune? [Huffington Post via Curbed via Gawker]

UPDATE: Either it's been on the market since 2009, or the buyer has put it up for sale again. Whichever way, it's now a veritable bargain since it's dropped from $2.3 million. Hive five for the economy crash!

Who Wants to Buy Cameron's House From Ferris Bueller's Day Off?

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Canon's Best HD Camcorders Kill Unnecessary Pixels to Shoot More Incredible Video [Canon]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5725085/canons-best-hd-camcorders-kill-unnecessary-pixels-to-shoot-more-incredible-video

Canon's Best HD Camcorders Kill Unnecessary Pixels to Shoot More Incredible VideoFunny thing about HD camcorders using 10-megapixel (or bigger) sensors. Most of those pixels are wasted when you're shooting 1080p video. So Canon's new HD CMOS Pro sensor is just 2 megapixels. With gianter pixels, more like a studio camera.

Bigger pixels usually means awesomer low-light performance and dynamic range. The HD CMOS Pro sensor's pixels are 2.75 microns, to be precise—which is still smaller than 6.4-micron pixels in Canon's 5D Mark II image sensor—but not too shabby.

The HD CMOS Pro is inside of Canon's very best consumer camcorder, the $1500 HF G10. It's got an 8-blade iris, 32GB internal storage + dual-slot SXDC recording, a 922,000-dot, and 3.5-inch touchscreen. One of the perks is a mic that adjusts based on the zoom level; it tries to hone in on the audio coming out of whatever you're looking at, whether it's near or far. Or, you can save money and snag it inside Canon's M series camcorders, which go from $650-$800, but with fewer creature comforts.

New 2011 Canon VIXIA Camcorders Enable Users To Easily Capture Stunning HD Video Quality And Push Their Creative Limits

Features Include a Newly Designed HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor to Improve Resolution, Enhance Low-Light Performance and Expand Dynamic Range

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., January 5, 2011 – Canon U.S.A., Inc, a leader in digital imaging, today announced an exciting new line of eight VIXIA High Definition flash memory camcorders. The 2011 high-definition lineup includes Canon's new flagship model the VIXIA HF G10, the high-end VIXIA HF S30, three compact VIXIA HF M-series models and three entry-level VIXIA HF R-series models. Constantly pushing digital imaging forward, Canon has improved upon its Full HD CMOS image sensor, with the introduction of the new HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor, available in the VIXIA HF G10 and VIXIA HF M-series camcorders. This new sensor incorporates larger, more sensitive pixels resulting in high video resolution, outstanding low-light performance and an expanded dynamic range [www.usa.canon.com/HDCMOSPro]. Other new features enhancing Canon's 2011 VIXIA lineup include dual SDXC-compatible memory card slots for maximum storage capacity, Cinema-Look Filters that add various cinematic effects, and new Story Creator and Touch Decoration features for an easy and fun way to shoot great video and add creative flair.

"Canon's tradition of delivering best-in-class image quality and performance is continued with the introduction of the new HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor. Our enhanced sensor technology helps deliver better overall image quality with stunning resolution and low-light performance for HD video," said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A.

All of the 2011 VIXIA High Definition camcorders retain Canon's proprietary imaging technologies - a Genuine Canon HD Video Lens, Canon DIGIC DV III Image Processor, and Canon Full HD CMOS Image Sensor. Additional advanced features include:

New Advanced Technologies and Features:
Canon HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor: A new 1/3-inch native 1920 x 1080 sensor which delivers professional-level HD video performance. Unlike image sensors found in other consumer camcorders, Canon HD CMOS Pro uses fewer pixels, which are significantly larger (61 percent) and more sensitive, resulting in high video resolution, outstanding low-light performance, and expanded dynamic rangei:
Video resolution of 900 horizontal and 800 vertical TV lines, for Full HD video with professional precision
A 25 percent improvement in low-light sensitivity with a minimum illumination rating of 1.5 Lux, Canon's lowest Lux rating to date in a consumer HD camcorderii
A 280 percent improvement in dynamic range for exceptional reproduction of both highlights and shadowsiii
Dual SDXC-compatible Card Slots: Each new model in Canon's 2011 VIXIA lineup includes two card slots which ensure that users always have multiple sources of memory and allow for super-high capacity storage that expands as the capacity of SDXC memory cards increases.
High-Quality Microphone: Canon has enhanced the internal microphones on its 2011 VIXIA models to give users the high-quality sound to match their HD video. With four directional options, users can set internal microphones to Monaural, Normal (Stereo), Wide, and new Synced with Zooming mode. When in Synced with Zooming mode, the microphone will adjust directionality to coincide with the lens's focal length position to properly match the audio with the portion of the scene being captured. Users can also adjust frequency response characteristics to dampen the effect of unwanted noise.
Tele Macro: Reduces the minimum focusing distance at the telephoto end of the zoom range to 1.3 feet (from 3 feet) allowing users to capture spectacular close-ups at full telephoto with the appearance of a shallow depth of field for stunning imagery. This is one of 38 scenes available in Canon's Smart Auto mode.
Cinema-Look Filters: Nine different built-in cinema filters - Cinema Standard, Cool, Dramatic B&W, Dream, Memory, Nostalgic, Old Movie, Sepia, Vivid - allow users to create video with a variety of professional cinematic looks.
Story Creator: Canon's new Story Creator assists you in the process of storyboarding an organized and sophisticated video shoot. Choose one of five themes - Travel, Kids & Pets, Party, Ceremony, and Blog - and the camcorder provides a list of suggested scenes to shoot to help walk users through the process of creating a complete video storyline.
Touch Decoration: While shooting, Touch Decoration allows users to add creative flairs to video via the Touch Panel LCD screen. Users can superimpose fun images into their video, such as animations (i.e. shooting stars or thought bubbles), freehand drawing or writing, clip art, or decorative frames.
Popular VIXIA Features:
The 2011 VIXIA line-up retains many popular features that make it easy to record outstanding HD video, such as Canon's Smart Auto mode which intelligently detects and analyzes brightness, color, distance and movement and automatically selects the best setting for the scene being recorded. Canon's Touch & Track feature allows users to select any subject on the Touch Panel LCD screen with their finger, the camcorder will then track the subject ensuring sharp focus and proper exposure. All 2011 VIXIA models have Relay Recording for seamless uninterrupted video recording from one memory source to the next. When the primary recording media is full the camcorder continues to record the scene by switching to the next memory source, so that users won't miss a moment of action. Canon's Powered IS provides a higher level of compensation for subtle hand movement at the telephoto end of the zoom range. In addition, all VIXIA camcorders with built-in memory feature HD-to-SD Downconversion which enables users to convert recorded high-definition video to standard-definition files while preserving the original HD footage. These down-converted files make it even more convenient to share video online or create a DVD. Each new model is also compatible with Eye-Fi SD Memory Cards, allowing for wireless uploading of video content to a computer, social networking site or video sharing website.

VIXIA HF G10:
Packing in every feature a video enthusiast could ask for, the VIXIA HF G10 Flash Memory camcorder is Canon's new flagship consumer camcorder providing the ultimate in HD video performance and quality. Recording Full HD 1920 x 1080 video, this camcorder features a Genuine Canon 10x HD Video Lens (35mm equivalent of 30.4mm-304mm) with an 8-blade iris providing smooth background blur and reduced lens diffraction. The lens also includes a dedicated manual-focus ring for enhanced control. The VIXIA HF G10 features the new HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor for high video resolution, outstanding low-light performance and an expanded dynamic range. It also features a 3.5-inch High Resolution (922,000-dot) Touch Panel LCD screen for a large, bright display and easy menu navigation. A Custom Key and Dial can also be used to assign commonly used functions for quick and easy access. As the flagship model in the lineup the camcorder includes, selectable zooming speed, Face-Only AF, Canon's new customizable Cinema-Look Filters and Tele-Macro as well as Touch & Track technology, Smart Auto, Relay Recording, Powered IS, and HD-to-SD Downconversion. The VIXIA HF G10 comes with 32GB of internal flash memory and dual SDXC-compatible card slots which allow for simultaneous card recording enabling users to create immediate back-up.

For more advanced videographers, the VIXIA HF G10 includes manual color temperature adjustment (2,000K-15,000K in 100K increments), color bars with test tone, manual shutter speed and aperture control, a built-in Remote Control Terminal (which supports LANC protocol), and Native 24p recording. For shooting on a sunny day, the camcorder also includes a color viewfinder which offers a reliable viewing environment when shooting in bright conditions. The VIXIA HF G10 Flash Memory camcorder is scheduled to be available in March with an estimated retail price of $1,499.99.

VIXIA HF S30:
The Canon VIXIA HF S30 Flash Memory camcorder continues the appeal of Canon VIXIA HF S-series camcorders with professional and easy-to-use features to allow anyone to capture outstanding HD video quality and high resolution photos in one device. The camcorder captures Full HD 1920 x 1080 video and features a Genuine Canon 10x HD Video Lens and a Canon 1/2.6-inch, 8.59-megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor for stunning video and outstanding eight megapixel photos. Equipped with 32GB of internal memory and two SDXC-compatible card slots, the camcorder features Canon's 3.5-inch High Resolution (922,000-dot) Touch Panel LCD screen and a color viewfinder. The VIXIA HF S30 offers Canon's Touch & Track technology, Smart Auto, Relay Recording, Powered IS, HD-to-SD Downconversion, and Advanced Video Snapshot. Users can also to assign commonly used functions to the Custom Key and Dial for quick and easy access.

The VIXIA HF S30 includes a host of professional features such as color bars and selectable Zebra patterns, a built-in Remote Control Terminal (which supports LANC protocol), and Native 24p recording. The VIXIA HF S30 Flash Memory camcorder is scheduled to be available in March for an estimated retail price of $1,099.99.

VIXIA HF M-series:
The Canon VIXIA HF M41, VIXIA HF M40 and VIXIA HF M400 Flash Memory camcorders offer consumers stunning HD video in an ultra-sleek, compact and lightweight body. Recording Full HD 1920 x 1080 video, the new VIXIA HF M-series feature a Genuine Canon 10x HD Video Lens and Canon's new HD CMOS Pro Image Sensor for high video resolution, outstanding low-light performance and a wide dynamic range. All three models include Canon's 3.0-inch Touch Panel LCD screen for a large display and easy menu navigation. The VIXIA HF M-series include Canon's new Cinema-Look Filters, Story Creator and Touch Decoration, as well as Touch & Track technology, Smart Auto, Powered IS, Tele Macro, and Advanced Video Snapshot. The VIXIA HF M41 and VIXIA HF M40 incorporate 32GB and 16GB of internal flash memory, respectively, and feature HD-to-SD Downconversion. The VIXIA HF M400 records directly to dual SDXC-compatible card slots. The VIXA HF M41 features a color viewfinder which helps provide a reliable viewing option, free from glare, when shooting in bright conditions. The new VIXIA HF M-series is also compatible with the new Canon WP-V3 Waterproof Case. The VIXIA HF M41, VIXIA HF M40 and VIXIA HF M400 Flash Memory camcorders are scheduled to be available in March for an estimated retail price of $799.99, $699.99 and $649.99 respectively.

VIXIA HF R-series
The Canon VIXIA HF R21, VIXIA HF R20 and VIXIA HF R200 Flash Memory camcorders offer the ideal combination of price and performance for the budget-conscious consumer who wants Full HD 1920 x 1080 video. All three models include a Genuine Canon HD Video Lens with 28x Advanced Zoom, 3.28-megapixel Canon Full HD CMOS Image Sensor, a 3.0-inch Touch Panel LCD screen, Touch Decoration, Dynamic IS, Smart Auto and Advanced Video Snapshot. All three models feature Relay Recording while both the VIXIA HF R21 and VIXIA HF R20 include Canon's HD-to-SD Downconversion. Additionally the VIXIA HF R20 will be available in three stylish colors, black, red, and silver. The VIXIA HF R21 and VIXIA HF R20 models incorporate 32GB and 8GB of internal flash memory, respectively, and the VIXIA HF R200 records directly to dual SDXC-compatible memory card slots. The VIXIA HF R21, VIXIA HF R20 and VIXIA HF R200 Flash Memory camcorders will be available in February for an estimated retail price of $499.99, $399.99 and $379.99 respectively.

FS series:
In addition to the new VIXIA High Definition lineup, Canon is also introducing two standard-definition models, the FS40, and FS400 Flash Memory camcorders. The Canon FS40 model records to 8GB of internal flash memory, while the FS400 records video directly to an SDXC-compatible memory card slot. Compact and lightweight (approximately 7.8 oz.), both new FS models offer 41x Advanced Zoom to help capture great video even at extreme telephoto distances, as well as Dynamic IS. In addition, the Canon FS400 will be available in three eye-catching colors, silver, red, and blue. The Canon FS40 and FS400 Flash Memory camcorders are available in February for an estimated retail price of $299.99 and $279.99 respectively.

New Optional Camcorder Accessories
The new Canon WP-V3 Waterproof Case helps protect any of the 2011 VIXIA HF M-series Flash Memory camcorders in depths of water up to 130 feet, allowing users to capture exciting HD footage even underwater. The ultimate camcorder accessory for diving and snorkeling enthusiasts, this compact and lightweight housing seals the camcorder, allowing easy on-camera operation and control. The Canon WP-V3 Waterproof Case will be available in February for an estimated retail price of $599.00.

Also new from Canon is the WM-V1 Wireless Microphone* for recording accurate audio without cumbersome wires from up to 164 feet away, ideal for ceremonies, family events and recitals. This new WM-V1 Wireless Microphone is compatible with the new 2011 VIXIA HF G10, VIXIA HF M-series, and VIXIA HF R-series camcorders and will be available in May for an estimated retail price of $250.00.

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Samsung's Infuse 4G: A Spectacular Google Android Phone [Android]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5725053/samsungs-sgh+i997-uh-why-wasnt-this-awesome-phone-the-new-nexus

Samsung's Infuse 4G: A Spectacular Google Android Phone"Holy shit." It's not what usually comes to mind when I touch a new phone. But Samsung's Infuse 4G is spectacular. Ridiculously good 4.5-inch screen. 1.2GHz processor. 4G on AT&T. Why, exactly, wasn't this the new Nexus phone?

I pick it up. Whoa. This is quality. The first Samsung phone in ages that doesn't feel cheap—it's a radically better tactile experience than any Galaxy phone, even the Nexus S. The plastic is dense and matte, the back textured. The phone itself a nearly perfectly sculpted, sufficiently thin slab (AT&T's thinnest), the expanse of the 4.5-inch screen making it seem somehow thinner. It's what a high-end phone should feel like.

Let's consider the specs: 1.2GHz processor. The fastest Android phone yet. The screen is comically, hyperbolically named, like the umpteenth version of Street Figher II—Super AMOLED Plus—except that it lives up to the name, in that it's noticeably better than Samsung's current Super AMOLED displays (which are already great), since it packs more subpixels into each pixel. The screen definitely pops more. It's also one of AT&T's first 4G phones. (This may sound confusing, but it's 4G in the same sense as T-Mobile's 4G, since it runs on AT&T's HSPA+ network, not its LTE network.)

Any downsides? Well, I'm mildly concerned about the battery life on this beast. And it's running Samsung's TouchWiz UI on top of an as-of-yet unknown Android variant. A clean build of Android 2.3 would be killer, effectively making it the real Nexus. That said, it might wind up being one in a sense anyway: This is the new blueprint for building an Android phone.

Samsung's Infuse 4G: A Spectacular Google Android Phone

Samsung's Infuse 4G: A Spectacular Google Android Phone

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LG TVs in 2011: Smart Software for Film Fans, Apps Ahoy, and New 3D [Lg]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5725454/lg-tvs-in-2011-smart-software-for-film-fans-apps-ahoy-and-new-3d

LG TVs in 2011: Smart Software for Film Fans, Apps Ahoy, and New 3DLG's new "Smart TV" software adds a simple way to browse movies, websites, and—of course—apps, from their own new storefront. Paid flicks, along with beloved Netflix streaming, will be available, making it easier to watch what you want.

LG TVs in 2011: Smart Software for Film Fans, Apps Ahoy, and New 3D

Aside from adding a big new library to browse from the couch, and web browsing, the Smart TV's "Media Link" feature will add overlaid info what you're already watching—background on actors, synposes, and viewer ratings.

LG TVs in 2011: Smart Software for Film Fans, Apps Ahoy, and New 3D

The new smartness will be available across a bunch of LG's 2011 TV lineup—including the standout of the crew, their huge 72-inch 3D LED backlit set, the LZ9700. The LZ9700's got a smooth 400Hz refresh rate, local dimming, and, probably most importantly, a lot of giganticness.

In not so surprising news, LG's got a 3D announcement, bringing what they call "Cinema 3D" to two 2011 models, the INFINIA LW6500 and LW5600. Claiming "zero flicker" and improved viewing angle, the glasses are essentially the same polarized shades you put on at the movie theater—meaning no batteries or emitters.

LG TVs in 2011: Smart Software for Film Fans, Apps Ahoy, and New 3D

Smart TV can also be hooked up with a handful of LG's Blu-ray players—or, if you don't feel like buying a new set, there's a discrete upgrade box that'll add the Smart TV interface to your existing TV. Along with the aforementioned Netflix, Smart TV will offer access to VUDU, YouTube, Hulu Plus, Amazon VoD, and live streaming pro sports (among others). [LG]

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Motorola's Atrix Android Phone: Twin CPU Cores And a Laptop Dock! [Motorola]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5725505/motorolas-atrix-android-phone-has-two-cores-and-is-atts-fastest

Motorola's Atrix Android Phone: Twin CPU Cores And a Laptop Dock! It runs Android 2.2, with HTML5 support, and is AT&T's first dual-core processor in an Android phone. And it docks into a laptop. They're calling it the world's most powerful smartphone. ORLY?

Motorola's Atrix Android Phone: Twin CPU Cores And a Laptop Dock!It also has 1GB RAM, a 1900mAh (that's ginormous) battery, and 2x faster than competing web browsers. You can "view HD video".

Motorola's Atrix Android Phone: Twin CPU Cores And a Laptop Dock!Also! There's a Motorola Atrix Webtop Application, which docks your phone into a laptop, using it to power the entire laptop. This is like Palm's Foleo idea, but, you know, maybe not crappy. Firefox browser inside, running on this device, using the desktop version.

Motorola's Atrix Android Phone: Twin CPU Cores And a Laptop Dock!
In short, the Motorola HD Dock, the thing that hooks the Atrix to a laptop, is going to let you use your phone as a laptop, taking advantage of the keyboard and mouse on the laptop. Still wondering about the employment of android 2.2 instead of something more contemporary, though!

Motorola's Atrix Android Phone: Twin CPU Cores And a Laptop Dock!

Motorola's Atrix Android Phone: Twin CPU Cores And a Laptop Dock!

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What Is Nvidia's Tegra 2? [Guts]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5725646/what-is-nvidias-tegra-2

What Is Nvidia's Tegra 2?It's everywhere. CES, which hasn't even officially started yet, has already given birth to more Tegra 2 phones and tablets than I care to count. So, again, what's so special about this thing?

It's a system on a chip...

A system on a chip combines a CPU, GPU (graphics processor) and various interconnecting bits and bobs into a single product. It's the kind of thing a company can buy and construct an entire product around, in a similar way to how a PC buyer might buy a barebones PC and build it out. The Tegra 2 is far from the first SOC, but for mobile hardware, it's easily one of the most powerful.

...not unlike the hardware inside your new smartphone...

Despite Nvidia being primarily known as a graphics company, the heart of the Tegra 2—or any SOC, for that matter—is its CPU. In the case of the Tegra 2, this is an ARM Cortex A9 core, clocked at around 1GHz. In other words, in terms of raw processing power, the Tegra 2 is basically inline with the chips found in the various 1GHz phones released over the past year—a bit more powerful in theory, on account of using newer architecture.

The Tegra 2's secret sauce is its graphic processor, an Nvidia-designed, ultra-low-power GeForce core. This promises 3D gaming performance without a huge battery drain, and accelerated HD video decoding with a low CPU draw.

...that was announced over a year ago...

I wrote a post sort of like this a while back. Actually, let me check—right, OK, it was in 2009. When the Tegra 2 was announced in 2010, it arrived into a strange climate: The original Tegra hadn't really taken off, and people were still using terms like "smartbook" and "MID" unironically. I said at the time:

Whatever happened to the Tegra, Nvidia doesn't want it to happen again. This time, they say, will be different.

And I guess it has been different, sort of? A few high profile products have used the Tegra 2 in the last year, from the Boxee Box to Audi's newest in-dash computers.

There were promises of Tegra 2 tablets and even phones last year, but they haven't really started to materialize until now.

...but which is showing up in tons of impressive smartphones and tablets this year.

In the year since its announcement, the Tegra 2 seems to have found its feet, featuring in new smartphones and tablets from Toshiba, LG, Motorola and plenty more.

What Is Nvidia's Tegra 2?

It also seems to have grown an extra core. The LG Optimus Black claims a dual-core Tegra processor, which could conceivably improve everything from multitasking to battery life, assuming Android and its apps support it well. Even in a single-core configuration, though, the Tegra 2 offers plenty of advantages for a tablet or phone: fairly low power consumption, even during HD video decoding; fast graphics performance; and generally high speed.

Nvidia has a Tegra 2 announcement scheduled for a bit later today, so we'll see what else they come up with.

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Isabella Products' Mini USB stick connects unconnected digital photo frames

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/05/isabella-products-mini-usb-stick-connects-unconnected-digital-ph/

Passed on Isabella Products' Vizit digital photo frame? 'Tis a shame, really. But hey, if you were one of the millions gifted with a lackluster, non-connected digiframe over the past few years, at least the aforesaid company is giving you a way to make things right. The outfit's newly launched Mini is one special USB key, embedded with an AT&T 3G SIM and tailor made to provide cellular connectivity to dormant frames. The key is linked to one's VizitMe content management service, and users will be able to email photos directly or have the device extract content from Photobucket and LIFE.com; once received, owners will see new images pop up on any frame that accepts USB keys. Furthermore, these same emailed images can be viewed on USB-equipped monitors and televisions. The company's planning to ship the Mini in Q2 of this year for an undisclosed rate, but naturally, we're more interested in the potential unadvertised capabilities. An off-contract, fee-free USB key with an AT&T SIM card within? Sounds like we're just a hack or two away from the most beautiful mobile broadband card this world has ever seen.

Continue reading Isabella Products' Mini USB stick connects unconnected digital photo frames

Isabella Products' Mini USB stick connects unconnected digital photo frames originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc breaks cover, announced at CES this week?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/05/sony-ericsson-xperia-arc-breaks-cover-announced-at-ces-this-wee/

Russian site Gagadget seems to have scored pictures of a phone that matches up perfectly with the teasers Sony Ericsson has placed strategically around the CES show grounds this week -- which, in turn, look a whole lot like the Anzu we've been seeing leaked for a few months. The site's saying this bad boy will come to market as the Xperia Arc, so called thanks to a concave backside. The specs, if legit, are decent: 1GHz Qualcomm processor (single-core, it seems), 4.2-inch 854 x 480 display, Gingerbread, 8 megapixel back-illuminated Sony sensor with HD video capture, and a body that measures just 8.7mm at the thinnest point. Sony's CES press conference is later today, so we might not have long to wait to get all the details on this one; in the meantime, follow the break for a quick promotional video Gagadget seems to have turned up.

[Thanks, SillentTroll]

Continue reading Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc breaks cover, announced at CES this week?

Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc breaks cover, announced at CES this week? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 10:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG announces super slim Optimus Black with NOVA display

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/05/lg-announces-optimus-black-with-nova-display/

It may have already tipped its hand, but LG has now just gotten fully official with its latest flagship Android phone, the Optimus Black (previously known as the LG "B"), which packs a 4-inch NOVA display that promises to be both bright (700 nits) and energy efficient. What's more, despite being just 9.2 mm slim (and tapering down to 6 mm), the phone also packs 1,500mAh battery that promises a full day of use, and you'll get a 2 megapixel front-facing camera in addition to another one of unspecified resolution presumably 'round back. According to LG, the phone will ship with Android 2.2 (plus LG's Optimus UI 2.0), but get a Gingerbread update at some point in the future. Head on past the break for the complete press release, and look for the phone itself to roll out globally in the first half of the year.

Continue reading LG announces super slim Optimus Black with NOVA display

LG announces super slim Optimus Black with NOVA display originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 11:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Infuse 4G announced for AT&T: 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, crazy thin

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/05/samsung-infuse-4g-announced-for-atandt-4-5-inch-super-amoled-plus/

First introduced just last year on the Wave, it feels like Super AMOLED was just starting to get its sea legs... but here we go again: Samsung's latest handset -- announced today in collaboration with AT&T at CES -- is the first to tout "Super AMOLED Plus" technology that features a 50 percent boost in sub-pixel count, promising improvements both in contrast and outdoor readability. Maybe more importantly, the display clocks in at a whopping 4.5 inches, besting HTC's 4.3-inch range (the EVO 4G, Desire HD, and likely the Thunderbolt) without getting dangerously close to Dell Streak territory. It's got an 8 megapixel camera on back paired with a 1.3 megapixel shooter up front, a 1.2GHz single-core Hummingbird processor, and still somehow promises to be the thinnest smartphone on AT&T when it launches at a to-be-determined date. Now, the controversy: despite the name, the Infuse 4G apparently doesn't have a hint of LTE -- it's HSPA+, which means AT&T's now playing the same game as T-Mobile.

We've had a brief chance to play with an early Infuse 4G dummy unit, so we weren't able to turn it on, but we got a pretty good impression of how it feels. Basically, we came away encouraged that 4.5 inches isn't going to feel too big for practical use -- if you're accustomed to something like an EVO, you probably won't skip a beat (that's undoubtedly due in part to the fact that the Infuse seems to be quite a bit thinner). We're told the tastefully textured matte rear cover that we saw wasn't final, but we're crossing our fingers that the retail unit doesn't diverge far from what they've done here, because it felt exceptionally high-quality and looked a whole lot better than the typical glossy plastic on the existing Galaxy S series. Speaking of Galaxy S, the Infuse is described as "a Galaxy S phone" -- so yeah, that brand isn't going away any time soon. Software-wise, we obviously weren't able to get a feel for speed on the non-functional model, but you can expect the usual TouchWiz skin atop Android 2.2; sure, Gingerbread would've been nice at launch, but you can dry your tears on that 1.2GHz silicon.

Samsung Infuse 4G announced for AT&T: 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, crazy thin originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Parcel Tracking Made Easy

Source: http://www.yankodesign.com/2011/01/04/parcel-tracking-made-easy/

Losing packages suck and if commercial couriers aren’t going to do anything about it, we as consumers should be able to do something to prevent it. The G.P. Stamp is a small stamp-sized electronic chip with a built-in battery that keeps tabs on your shipment. All critical information is sent wirelessly in real time to keep you in the loop.

The stamp uses advanced printed electronics to stay slim and on one side is a layer of flexible 0.2-millimetre-thick GPS circuit board. The other side features a flexible 0.4-millimetre-thick battery cell. You can get larger stamps with more battery life for longer shipment transits.

Too bad it’s only a concept. I'd so use this for my next parcel shipment.

Designer: Ho-Tzu Cheng

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The Many Faces of Asus's Android Tablets [Asus]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5724758/asus-eee-pad-memo-is-the-stylus+lovers-tablet

The Many Faces of Asus's Android TabletsIs there a different way to design a tablet? If so, Asus is going to find it! Their new Android slabs are all special snowflakes—including the QWERTY keyboard-hiding, Tegra 2- and Android 3.0-equipped Eee Pad Slider.

There will be tablets aplenty at this year's CES, and Asus's strategy is basically trying a bunch of different stuff and seeing what sticks. Which is commendable, in a way! They've got three Android tablets in their brood.

Eee Pad Slider

The most intriguing? The Eee Pad Slider, a 10.1" tablet that hides a QWERTY keyboard a la the Dell Inspiron Duo. It'll run Android 3.0 Honeycomb and has an NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor. And, crucially, it's not gigantic! It's only half an inch thick, about the same as an iPad, and weighs 2.2 pounds, a bit more than the iPad. It's also got cameras on the front and back—1.2MP and 5MP with auto focus, respectively—and a mini USB port, a mini HDMI port, and a Micro SD card reader.

The Many Faces of Asus's Android Tablets

They had a little trouble sliding this apart on stage, but it looks impressively thin considering its hidden keyboard.

Here's what their fully-skinned Android UI, which they're calling My Wave, looks like:

Eee Pad Transformer

The Eee Pad Transformer, another presto-changeo tablet, also has the full keyboard—though instead of sliding like the Sliders, this one is detachable. The tablet part has the guts—a Tegra 2 processor, dual cameras (1.2MP and 5MP), and a 32GB SSD with 1GB of memory—though adding the keyboard doubles the battery life up to a reported 16 hours. This one, too, will have Android 3.0, though we'll see how well it pulls off the pad-mode/docked-mode balancing act.

Here's the Transforming being yanked apart:

The Many Faces of Asus's Android Tablets

The Many Faces of Asus's Android Tablets

And that's not all!

Eee Pad Memo

The Many Faces of Asus's Android TabletsThe Eee Pad MeMO measures up at a is-it-a-phone-or-is-it-a-tablet 7 inches, it's got a Snapdragon processor, 1.2MP and 5MP front and back cameras, and can make calls and send texts with a Bluetooth MeMic accessory. It's been optimized for use with a capacitive stylus, and Asus is showing off apps that take advantage of things like handwriting and drawing.

The Many Faces of Asus's Android Tablets

And here are the prices and availability for the whole set:

The Many Faces of Asus's Android Tablets

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Imagine an iPad Dock With a Built-In Projector [Projector]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5724876/imagine-an-ipad-dock-with-a-built+in-projector

Imagine an iPad Dock With a Built-In ProjectorWowwee's Cinemin Slice is a pretty useful kitchen dock, perfect for the iPad, which is a kitchen computer. You dock in an iPad or iPhone, and the DLP Picoprojector takes care of putting the image where you can see it.

It also takes in mini-HDMI and VGA, but it's not spectacularly bright (only 16 ANSI lumens), if you're trying to watch stuff in a brightly-lit room. And it's only a 854x480 resolution, which is fine enough for iPad resolutions. No price yet. [Wowwee]

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Toshiba's Glasses-Less 3DTVs Will Hit the US in 40 and 50-Inch Sizes [3dTv]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5725149/toshibas-glasses+less-3dtvs-will-hit-the-us-in-40-and-50+inch-sizes

Toshiba's Glasses-Less 3DTVs Will Hit the US in 40 and 50-Inch SizesJapan had the chance to buy Toshiba's GL1 3DTVs in December in 12 and 20-inch options, but the rest of the world will get the glasses-less 40 and 50-inch 3DTV models sometime this year, claims Reuters. [Reuters]

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Liquid Image Xtreme Sport Cam goggles hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/04/liquid-image-xtreme-sport-cam-goggles-hands-on/

When you're racing down the slopes, scuba-diving somewhere exotic, or zipping around on your motorcycle, the last thing you probably want to think about doing is shooting video. But if you're the type who just has to capture every adrenaline-pumping moment, Liquid Image has you covered with its new line of camera-equipped goggles. The $349 Scuba camera mask supports depths up to 100 meters, and does stills and video in 720p. The $400 Impact series also does both still and video, but it bumps the resolution up to 1080p. All of these goggles have a microSD slot, as well as buttons along the side for switching between the respective modes. Beware, once you start recording, you'll no longer be able to tell your friends you're in the Black Diamond Club when you really just spend all day on the bunny slope. Press release is after the break.

Continue reading Liquid Image Xtreme Sport Cam goggles hands-on

Liquid Image Xtreme Sport Cam goggles hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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