Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Cellphones are dangerous / not dangerous: handsets alter brain activity -- scientists don't know what that means

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-handsets-alter-brain-a/

Cellphones are bad, mmkay? Or at least that is what many want us to believe, what with all these warning labels and studies telling us that mobile users will end up with brain cancer and kidney damage. Not to mention the dangers of phone addiction -- horror of horrors -- for our youth. Now, the National Institutes of Health have shown that radiation from your phone's antenna ~~turns you into a supergenius~~ increases brain activity. Using positron emission tomography (PET) scans on 47 individuals with a muted phone on each ear (to prevent aural brain stimulation), the study found a seven percent increase in brain activity in the area closest to the phones' antennas when receiving a call. The catch -- scientists don't know "whether this is detrimental or if it could even be beneficial," so don't go trading your Cell-Mate in for a Bluetooth headset just yet.

Cellphones are dangerous / not dangerous: handsets alter brain activity -- scientists don't know what that means originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use o! f feeds< /a>.

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iBike Dash turns your iPhone or iPod touch into a cycling computer

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/ibike-dash-turns-your-iphone-or-ipod-touch-into-a-cycling-comput/

There's not exactly any shortage of ways to mount your iPhone or iPod touch to your bike, but there's decidedly fewer options that actually turn your iOS device into a full-fledged cycling computer that's able to replace those from the likes of Garmin. This new iBike Dash device promises to do just that, though. It not only houses your device is a protective, waterproof shell, but it includes an ANT+ speed sensor and is compatible with other ANT+ devices so you can measure heart rate and cadence. It also has room for an extra rechargeable battery to extend your run time, and it naturally makes use of a free app that takes advantage of your iPhone's GPS capabilities (no built-in GPS here to help out iPod touch users). Of course, all that means this one also costs considerably more than a simple bike mount -- look for the basic model to set you back $199, while the deluxe package (including cadence and HR monitors along with an extra battery and charger) runs $329.

Continue reading iBike Dash turns your iPhone or iPod touch into a cycling computer

iBike Dash turns your iPhone or iPod touch into a cycling computer originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Snoop Dogggg goes 4G to celebrate launch of Samsung Galaxy Indulge, was probably paid more than 4Gs to do it

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/snoop-dogggg-goes-4g-to-celebrate-launch-of-samsung-galaxy-indul/

You laugh, but D-O-Quadruple-G does have a certain ring to it. In fact, it sounds a little like the ringing of Samsung's Galaxy Indulge, which is tucked inside the pocket of MetroPCS' CEO right about now. You see, the aforesaid carrier has presumably paid Snoop Dogg (or Snoop Dogggg, as he'll be known until he scurries outside of a 4G coverage area) to change his name in order to celebrate the commercial launch of the world's first LTE Android smartphone. The Froyo-based phone is just barely beating out LG's Revolution and HTC's Thunderbolt, and you can bet that MetroPCS is doing everything it can to let the world know about it. Taking things one step ~~further~~ too far, Snoop's also appearing in a new series dubbed "The G-Connection," and you can peek the first episode just after the brizzle. For rizzle, homedizzle.

Gallery: Snoop Dogggg goes 4G to celebrate launch of Samsung Galaxy Indulge

Continue reading Snoop Dogggg goes 4G to celebrate launch of Samsung Galaxy Indulge, was probably paid more than 4Gs to do it

Snoop Dogggg goes 4G to celebrate launch of Samsung Galaxy Indulge, was probably paid more than 4Gs to do it originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Xoom review

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/motorola-xoom-review/

As we put rubber to road on our Motorola Xoom review, it's important to note that it was only a matter of time before the Android army delivered a proper iPad competitor. Moto's partnership with Google (and use of the 3.0 version of its mobile operating system, Honeycomb), has made that assumed inevitability a very serious reality. There can be little question that the Xoom is certainly a contender for the hearts and minds of potential tablet buyers in the market. Besides boasting that fancy new software (a completely redesigned experience masterminded by the man behind webOS, Matias Duarte), the Xoom is equipped with formidable hardware. The 1GHz, NVIDIA Tegra 2-based slate boasts a sizable 1GB of DDR2 RAM, 32GB of internal storage, a 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800 capacitive display, 3G connectivity (Verizon on our review unit), along with front and rear facing cameras, HD video capability, and loads of wireless options. Not only is the Xoom clearly competitive (and frankly, more stacked) than most of its competition, Motorola has attempted to futureproof the device by offering a free hardware upgrade down the road which will give the tablet access to Big Red's 4G LTE network. Of course, all this power comes with a cost... literally. With a list price off contract of $799, the Xoom is quite a pricey piece of technology to own. Still, with all that's packed inside -- and more importantly with what Google has done on the software side -- the Xoom could represent the next stage of tablet evolution. Is it time to take the plunge? Read on for our definitive answer in the full Engadget review!

Gallery: Motorola Xoom review gallery

Continue reading Motorola Xoom review

Motorola Xoom review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple and Intel unveil Thunderbolt I/O technology

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/24/apple-unveils-thunderbolt/

thunderbolt

So it's perhaps not the most original moniker that Apple and Intel could have chosen, but it's here just the same. After years of waiting Apple has launched its implementation of Intel's Light Peak standard and it's called Thunderbolt. It's making its appearance on new MacBook Pro models and it's promising 10Gb/second transfer rates. That's dual-channel, too so you'll get 10Gb/sec both to and from your devices. Apple suggests this will be useful for external RAID arrays, Gigabit Ethernet adapters, and also mentions support for "FireWire and USB consumer devices" along with HDMI, DVI, and VGA over DisplayPort. Apple expects that Thunderbolt will be "widely adopted as a new standard for high performance I/O," but we think the USB 3.0 crew might have a thing or two to say about that. Full PR is embedded below.

Update: Intel has thrown up its page on the technology, and it looks like the Light Peak name is officially no more. Intel indicates this speed will be enough to transfer a full-length HD movie (roughly 10 - 20GB in size) in less than 30 seconds. Intel also reinforces that this is compatible with existing DisplayPort devices and it also uses the PCI Express protocol for enhanced compatibility. Daisy-chaining will be possible, along with bus-powered devices, and cables can be made using either optical or electrical construction.

Continue reading Apple and Intel unveil Thunderbolt I/O technology

Apple and Intel unveil Thunderbolt I/O technology originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple refreshes MacBook Pros with Sandy Bridge processors, AMD graphics, Thunderbolt I/O tech, and HD cameras

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/24/apple-refreshes-macbook-pro-family-with-sandy-bridge-processors/

Come on, you knew this was coming! Oh yes, Apple's pulling the curtain off its new MacBook Pro family, and compared to the last refresh cycle, there are a serious amount of updates. Just as we had heard, all three will be getting new Intel Sandy Bridge Core i5 and i7 processors, AMD Radeon HD 6000M graphics (bye bye, NVIDIA!), FaceTime HD cameras, and some super fast Thunderbolt I/O transfer speeds. There are two new 13-inchers, two 15.4-inch versions, and one lone 17-inch model. How much will they cost you and what are the exact specs? You'll want to hit the jump for all of that and the official press release.

Gallery: Apple MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt

Continue reading Apple refreshes MacBook Pros with Sandy Bridge processors, AMD graphics, Thunderbolt I/O tech, and HD cameras

Apple refreshes MacBook Pros with Sandy Bridge processors, AMD graphics, Thunderbolt I/O tech, and HD cameras originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 09:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barnes & Noble says Nook owns one quarter of US e-book market, we don't doubt it

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/24/barnes-and-noble-says-nook-owns-one-quarter-of-us-e-book-market-w/

Barnes & Noble says Nook owns one quarter of US e-book market, we don't doubt it

There are many players in the e-reader world, but few have managed to gain any sort of traction. Though it hasn't achieved Kindle levels of success Barnes & Noble is taking pride in saying that its Nook series of readers has conquered 25 percent of the US e-book market. The company doesn't cite any specific sales figures to back up that number, but we'll go with it. Sadly, though, there's another 25 percent number that is detailed and isn't nearly so positive: that's how much the company's profits dropped from this period last year. That was said to be due to heavy investments in the Nook but, despite that, B&N managed to post a $60.6 million profit -- certainly better than some of the competition.

Barnes & Noble says Nook owns one quarter of US e-book market, we don't doubt it originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 09:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NEC's razor-thin MEDIAS N-04C Android launched in Japan, gets carefully manhandled

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/24/necs-razor-thin-medias-n-04c-android-launched-in-japan-gets-ca/

We've already seen product shots of the crazy thin, drool-inducing NEC MEDIAS N-04C, but for a product boasting the "world's thinnest" title, it's always useful to see comparison shots for the sake of our curiosity. Thankfully, the good folks over at Akihabara News were present at DoCoMo's launch event, and they were able to get up close to inspect this 7.7mm-thin Android 2.2 handset (with Android 2.3 upgrade available around July). It's pretty amazing considering all the goodies packed within this phone -- here's a quick recap: NFC, 1seg TV Tuner, infrared port, 5 megapixel camera, 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7230 chip, etc. Oh, and this phone uses Gorilla Glass, too. If you happen to reside in Japan -- which is where it'll remain exclusive to -- you'll be able to pick up this NEC in black or white flavor on March 15, though price has yet to be announced. Video after the break, and more hands-on photos over at Akihabara News.

Continue reading NEC's razor-thin MEDIAS N-04C Android launched in Japan, gets carefully manhandled

NEC's razor-thin MEDIAS N-04C Android launched in Japan, gets carefully manhandled originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 10:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IMEC creates flexible microprocessor with organic semiconductors -- computational clothing right around the corner

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/24/imec-creates-flexible-microprocessor-with-organic-semiconductors/

Organic semiconductors have been teasing us with the possibility of computationally-inclined clothing for years, but until now we could only dream about our pants being the computer. That dream is closer to reality than ever, as researchers from IMEC have created a cheap (potentially 1/10th the cost of silicon chips), bendable microprocessor by layering a plastic substrate, gold circuits, organic dielectric, and a pentacene organic semiconductor to create an 8-bit logic circuit with 4000 transistors. Executing 6 instructions per second, these things won't be challenging Watson any time soon, but the chips should prove useful in creating cheaper flexible displays and sensors to tell us whether that week-old chicken in the fridge has gone bad. The trick was to overcome individual organic transistors' variable switching voltage thresholds -- as opposed to silicon's predictable nature -- that eliminated the possibility of organic-based logic circuits previously. But by adding a second gate to each transistor, IMEC was able to control the electrical field in each to prevent unwanted switching and usher in the dawn of plastic processors. The zenith of nerd fashion can't be far behind.

IMEC creates flexible microprocessor with organic semiconductors -- computational clothing right around the corner originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 11:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink&! nbsp;IEEE Spectrum | source

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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone & iPad updated with video out support

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/slingplayer-mobile-for-iphone-and-ipad-updated-with-video-out-supp/

If you have an iPod, iPhone or iPad with the SlingPlayer Mobile app, you now have a Slingbox to go since the app was just updated with support for video out over component cables in high quality mode. Version 2.1 also includes a few unspecified bugfixes, but we're figuring the opportunity to watch TV, on a TV in high bitrate streams is more than enough to get users mashing that update button and digging out their unused connectors.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

SlingPlayer Mobile for iPhone & iPad updated with video out support originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 12:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple's holding an iPad 2 event on March 2nd... we'll be there live!

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/apples-holding-an-event-on-march-2nd-well-be-there-live/

Hey look at that! The rumors were true. Apple will be holding a media event on March 2nd... and Engadget will be there live covering the whole thing. As you can tell by the image above (sent with the invite), this is going to be all about tablets -- iPads, to be exact.

Apple's holding an iPad 2 event on March 2nd... we'll be there live! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 11:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Captivate update to Froyo pegged for tomorrow, February 24th (update: HTC Aria update coming 'very soon')

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/samsung-captivate-update-to-froyo-pegged-for-tomorrow-february/

One false alarm is bad enough, but two would be positively evil, wouldn't it? We're cautiously optimistic that Samsung and AT&T are serious this time about posting the Captivate's update to Android 2.2 starting tomorrow, another step in Sammy's long, drawn-out road to getting all of its promised Galaxy S upgrades out the door. We're sure owners are going to appreciate some of the simple pleasures in life that Froyo (and Gingerbread) owners have come to take for granted like being able to move apps to external storage... and it's all just hours away. Can you feel the excitement?

Update: in an official Facebook video just posted, AT&T mentions that it's already in the process of testing a Froyo upgrade for the HTC Aria as well -- and it should be coming "very soon."

Samsung Captivate update to Froyo pegged for tomorrow, February 24th (update: HTC Aria update coming 'very soon') originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 11:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Talent debuts CoreStore MV, super small, super fast mini PCIe SSD

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/super-talent-debuts-corestore-mv-super-small-super-fast-mini-p/

Super Talent is living up to its name today with the release of the world's "smallest and fastest" mini PCIe SSD. When we last took a look at the company's mini PCIe offerings, they were rocking 40MBps reads and 15MBps writes, but with the release of the new CoreStore SSD line, these exceptional storage makers have destroyed those 2009 specs with speeds topping out at 350MBps and 80MBps. The speedy CoreStore MV measures a mere 30mm x 50.95mm, combines Marvell's latest controller with DDR ONFi 2 flash, and is compatible with netbooks, notebooks, and other devices sporting a second gen mini-PCIe slot. Those devices working a standard PCIe slot can expect 350MBps reads and 220MBps writes with MV's big brother, the CoreStore MP. Both drives come in 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB and should be available starting next month at an undisclosed price -- though we figure true speed freaks will pay just about anything to get their fix. Jonesing for specs? Check out the source link below.

Super Talent debuts CoreStore MV, super small, super fast mini PCIe SSD originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 09:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leaked Photo Shows MacBook Pro "Thunderbolt" Light Peak Connector [Apple]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/#!5768073/leaked-photo-shows-macbook-pro-thunderbolt-light-peak-connector

Apple's Thunderbolt connector has shown up in a supposed leaked pic of the new MacBook Pro, which we could see as early as tomorrow. While it looks just like a Mini DisplayPort connector, it could actually be Intel's Light Peak behind the lightning bolt icon.

Now Light Peak, which has been around for a couple of years, was designed as a replacement for USB, FireWire and other ports (like the SCSI, SATA and PCI Express), but as you can plainly see in the photo above, the lightning bolt icon is shown alongside two USBs, FireWire and ethernet.

Another leaked photo shows supposed Apple documents calling the technology "Thunderbolt," and listing the MacBook Pros as having Core i5 dual-core processors.

So what's going on? Either Apple's using Light Peak for different purposes, or this photo is fake. I guess all shall be revealed tomorrow if the rumors are correct—but do tell us what you think, below. [Mac4ever via @charavel via SlashGear]

Tiny EGO pseudo-submarine for the super rich is aptly named

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/22/tiny-ego-pseudo-submarine-for-the-super-rich-is-aptly-named/

Imagine you are so rich you want your own underwater pleasure vehicle, and you don't mind dropping what is likely to be a boatload of cash get it, today may be your lucky, lucky day. A company called Raonhaje has developed the EGO mini-submarine which floats atop the water, but which boasts a submersible capsule for passengers to check out what's going on beneath the surface. Sounds intriguing, right? Sure does! The relatively eco-friendly EV vehicle cruises at just less than five knots for four hours on a full charge. There are no details on price yet, but we expect it will be quite a lot. Video of the rendered model is after the break.

Continue reading Tiny EGO pseudo-submarine for the super rich is aptly named

Tiny EGO pseudo-submarine for the super rich is aptly named originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 20:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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