Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

GreenChip lighting lets you flip the switch remotely, thumbs nose at IPv4 depletion

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/17/greenchip-lighting-lets-you-flip-the-switch-remotely-thumbs-nos/

Despite the looming IPv4 apocalypse, a new lighting system coming out of NXP Semiconductors promises an "IP address for every light bulb." The GreenChip "smart lighting solution" incorporates NXP chipsets into both LED and compact flourescents to enable dimming, extended lifespans, quick start times, and IP connectivity -- via IPv4 or IPv6. Proprietary network software allows users to control their bulbs from smartphones, PCs, and other devices, enabling them to fiddle with mood lighting -- including adjusting color -- via a specific IP address. So at least when IPv4 doomsday finally descends someone will have their lighting just right. Video and PR after the break.

Continue reading GreenChip lighting lets you flip the switch remotely, thumbs nose at IPv4 depletion

GreenChip lighting lets you flip the switch remotely, thumbs nose at IPv4 depletion originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 May 2011 01:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Droid X 2 turns up on Moto and Verizon sites, confirms qHD screen and 1GHz dual-core processor

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/17/motorola-droid-x-2-turns-up-on-moto-and-verizon-sites-confirms/

Hey Motorola, your unannounced phone is showing. The Droid X 2 is spending this morning hanging out on the bright and airy support pages of motorola.com, though you may also spot it sneakily listed alongside some compatible accessories on vzw.com as well. Yes, the leaks are now happening from official sources, too, indicating an imminent landing for what we've confirmed to be a dual-core 1GHz Android smartphone with qHD resolution on a 4.3-inch display. Those long-rumored specs were revealed by the Droid X 2's user guide, which Moto has kindly provided at the link below. So thoughtful!

[Thanks, 3vil]

Continue reading Motorola Droid X 2 turns up on Moto and Verizon sites, confirms qHD screen and 1GHz dual-core processor

Motorola Droid X 2 turns up on Moto and Verizon sites, confirms qHD screen and 1GHz dual-core processor originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 May 2011 02:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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10 gigapixel, 360-degree panorama of Wembley Stadium is world's largest for a sports venue

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/17/10-gigapixel-360-degree-panorama-of-wembley-stadium-is-worlds/

Jeffrey Martin is a busy man. Having already shot an 80 gigapixel panorama of London's skyline and a 40 gigapixel peek inside a Czech library, he has now turned his attention to England's hallowed Wembley Stadium. The recently rebuilt home of football served as the stage for a new 360-degree panorama, shot during the FA Cup Final this Saturday, which spans 10 gigapixels in total and has been made available online at the source link below. Recording was done using a DSLR mounted to a custom robot rig that would continually pump out imagery to an equally exclusive Fujitsu workstation equipped with 192GB of RAM and 24 processing cores. All that grunt was used to automatically stitch more than 1,000 high-res images together, earning the finished product the title of world's largest 360-degree sports panoramic photo. Give the source a bash to tag yourself if you were at the Final or to check to see who else was there.

[Thanks, Adam]

10 gigapixel, 360-degree panorama of Wembley Stadium is world's largest for a sports venue originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 May 2011 04:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Puccini touted as a 10-inch LTE tablet with 1.5GHz processor, Honeycomb flavor

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/17/htc-puccini-touted-as-a-10-inch-lte-tablet-with-1-5ghz-processor/

Hey look, the Flyer just got itself a bigger brother. A 10-inch tablet codenamed the HTC Puccini has been revealed by our old buddy 911sniper (who has a habit of finding and leaking HTC ROMs), living up to a longstanding rumor that places two 10-inch Android slates on HTC's roadmap for this summer. It's said to pack LTE for Cingular (AT&T) in the US and to be built atop Android 3.0.1. A 1.5GHz Qualcomm MSM8660 offers plenty of processing power within and screen resolution should match the 10-inch pack with 1280 x 800 pixels. Gazing at the above screenshot reveals a UI very similar to the Flyer's Sense 3.0 look, including the Notes app being in a prime position, which could very well mean Magic Pen compatibility will also be part of the Puccini's arsenal. You'll know more about this as soon as we do.

HTC Puccini touted as a 10-inch LTE tablet with 1.5GHz processor, Honeycomb flavor originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 May 2011 05:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slingbox inventor releases Crestron R2 Control App for Android, teases something big

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/17/slingbox-inventor-releases-crestron-r2-control-app-for-android/

Own a professionally installed Crestron home automation system? Then check this out mister moneybags. Former Sling boxer, Blake Krikorian, has turned his home automation hobby into a full-fledged Android app ready for download. The R2 Control App will set you back $99 (hey, it's Crestron) from the Android Market and give you control over your 2-Series and 3-series systems from anywhere in the world via WiFi or cellular data networks. At least it will after an authorized Crestron programmer enables it. The app works natively with Mobile Pro / Pro G projects built for Crestron touchscreen or iOS devices and automatically resizes the UI to the native resolution of the Android device you're using.

Great, we guess, but what we find most compelling is what Blake teases about the future. We had a chat with the Slingbox inventor who shares our concerns about the current state of home automation and believes that the industry is "on the brink of something big" that could finally take it to the mass market. Given his entrepreneurial lineage and clear home automation interests, we're more than a bit intrigued by where this might go now that Blake and Google are in the mix.

Continue reading Slingbox inventor releases Crestron R2 Control App for Android, teases something big

Slingbox inventor releases Crestron R2 Control App for Android, teases something big originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 May 2011 06:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer postpones Iconia Tab A100 launch to second half of the year

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/17/acer-postpones-iconia-tab-a100-launch-to-second-half-of-the-year/

Looks like Acer's 7-inch Iconia Tab A100 has opted for a fashionably late entrance. We've just been informed by the company that its Honeycomb-sporting, Tegra 2-powered slate will not be arriving, as had been expected, right around now, but will in fact make its debut in the second half of 2011. No reasons have been given for the move, other than to say that the device has been postponed. The thing that prompted us to query Acer's PR team was a report out of Poland suggesting the A100 had been cancelled. Acer's UK reps are adamant that's not been the case, but anyone who was looking forward to grabbing one soon will be disappointed either way.

Acer postpones Iconia Tab A100 launch to second half of the year originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 May 2011 06:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mizzou Professor says nantenna solar sheet soaks up 90 percent of the sun's rays, puts sunscreen to shame

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/17/mizzou-professor-says-nantenna-solar-sheet-soaks-up-90-percent-o/

Photovoltaics suffer from gross inefficiency, despite incremental improvements in their power producing capabilities. According to research by a team led by a University of Missouri professor, however, newly developed nantenna-equipped solar sheets can reap more than 90 percent of the sun's bounty -- which is more than double the efficiency of existing solar technologies. Apparently, some "special high-speed electrical circuitry" is the secret sauce behind the solar breakthrough. Of course, the flexible film is currently a flight of fancy and won't be generating juice for the public anytime soon. The professor and his pals still need capital for commercialization, but they believe a product will be ready within five years. Take your time, guys, it's not like global warming's getting worse.

[Image source: Idaho National Laboratory (PDF)]

Mizzou Professor says nantenna solar sheet soaks up 90 percent of the sun's rays, puts sunscreen to shame originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 May 2011 07:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Facebook Ads would be more "buyer friendly" if they actually worked - http://bit.ly/kyEjQx

Monday, May 16, 2011

RIM's PlayBook is DOA in More Ways Than One - http://bit.ly/kXND2W

Single-purpose devices like Kindle have no future - http://bit.ly/k9n7mA

HP x2301 Micro Thin monitor makes other displays feel bloated, insecure

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/16/hp-x2301-micro-thin-monitor-makes-other-displays-feel-bloated-i/

HP x2301 Micro Thin

Those new desktops HP unveiled today are little more than humming foot rests without a monitor, so the company also trotted out the x2301 Micro Thin -- a 23-inch, LED-backlit, 1080p display that's an absolutely anorexic 9.8mm (0.39 inches) thick. Most of the important internals have been shoved into the blue-tinted base to keep the brushed aluminum and glossy black screen as thin as possible. It's not exactly a high-end model, but the 3ms response time and 8,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio are nothing to sniff at. The x2301 is expected to ship on June 10th for $280, just after its slightly cheaper (and chubbier) cousin, the Elite L2201x. Fashionistas, the line starts right around the bend.

Gallery: HP x2301 Micro Thin Monitor

HP x2301 Micro Thin monitor makes other displays feel bloated, insecure originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 16:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung's 11.6-inch Series 9 now shipping in the US, priced at $1,160

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/16/samsungs-11-6-inch-series-9-now-shipping-in-the-us-priced-at/

It's been about a month since Samsung's 11.6-inch Series 9 laptop first surfaced for pre-order on Amazon, and now it's finally available for shipping. Touting a $1,160 price tag, this duralumin-enclosed little beast packs an Intel Core i3-380UM processor, 2GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD. The 2.3-pounder also ships with 802.11b/g/n wireless, Bluetooth 3.0 and WIMAX 4G capabilities, along with a 1.3-megapixel HD webcam and a 1366 x 768 display with 340 nits of brightness. The newest addition to the Series 9 family is available on Amazon, Circuit City and Tiger Direct, but if they don't suit your fancy, you can check with Samsung to find a full list of retailers, below.

Samsung's 11.6-inch Series 9 now shipping in the US, priced at $1,160 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 09:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung's free Explore 3D VOD service lands for British Smart TV owners

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/16/samsungs-free-explore-3d-vod-service-lands-for-british-smart-tv/

Samsung Explore 3D

Americans eager to get their eyes on Samsung's 3D video on demand service are just going to have keep waiting, but our friends across the pond can break out their active shutter glasses and Santana Champ because Explore 3D has arrived in the UK. While the rest of us are stuck shelling out for Blu-rays and premium cable subscriptions for the luxury of watching videos in all their three-dimensional glory, Samsung Smart TV owners in Britain can now fire up movies, music videos, trailers and other clips for free. The company promised the service would be coming to the US and Europe shortly after its Korean launch in March and plans to expand its library of free titles to over 70 by the end of 2011. So, if you're still excluded from Sammy's free 3D party, relax -- your patience will be rewarded. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Samsung's free Explore 3D VOD service lands for British Smart TV owners

Samsung's free Explore 3D VOD service lands for British Smart TV owners originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 10:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung, RealD announce licensing agreement for new LCD-based 3D panels

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/16/samsung-reald-announce-licensing-agreement-for-new-lcd-based-3d/

Remember that 3D display technology that Samsung and RealD were working on at CES? Today, the two companies announced that they've struck a licensing deal for the panels, which promise to deliver full resolution HD images to each eye by integrating active shutter technology directly within an LCD. This approach differs from the passive film patterned retarder (FPR) technologies that you'll find in Vizio and LG displays, which cut image resolution in half for each eye. The new panels will also be compatible with RealD's lightweight 3D glasses that are used in movie theaters. The technology should be available for 23 and 27-inch PC screens by early 2012, later making its way to 55-inch TV displays. No word on pricing or compatibility with other screen sizes, but expect more details to emerge at this week's SID Display Week in Los Angeles. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Samsung, RealD announce licensing agreement for new LCD-based 3D panels

Samsung, RealD announce licensing agreement for new LCD-based 3D panels originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 12:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba enters pixel density fray with 367ppi LCDs for cellphones

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/16/toshiba-enters-pixel-density-fray-with-367ppi-lcds-for-cellphone/

Toshiba LCD

Toshiba just fired its own salvo in the pixel density wars at SID 2011. The company is showing off a range of LCDs for cellphones that top out at an almost imperceptibly fine 367ppi on its 4-inch HD (720 x 1280) model. Beyond just cramming more red, green, and blue dots in each inch, these panels also top the bar-setting Retina Display in the contrast department with an impressive 1,500:1 ratio. The company also brought a smaller 3.3-inch screen with a resolution of 480 x 864 to Display Week that hits a respectable 300ppi. They're not quite as impressive as these HAST LCDs, but who really needs to put 1080p in their pocket? (Want is a different story.) Of course, Engadget is on the scene and, if you're lucky, we'll let you live vicariously through us as we tour Toshiba's booth -- you know, as a reward for your loyal readership.

Continue reading Toshiba enters pixel density fray with 367ppi LCDs for cellphones

Toshiba enters pixel density fray with 367ppi LCDs for cellphones originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 13:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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