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Tuesday, September 27, 2011

drag2share: Xiaomi Phone review

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/27/xiaomi-phone-review/

Any seasoned Android enthusiast would have no doubt come across Xiaomi Corporation's MIUI at some point. For those who haven't, here's a quick intro: MIUI is a heavily customizable Android ROM based on the works of CyanogenMod (at least on the driver level, so we've been told), and currently the Chinese startup is officially offering its free software for 12 well-known Android handsets, including the HTC Desire, Samsung Captivate and Motorola Droid. Of course, we'll also have the Xiaomi Phone on the list when it launches in China next month.

Using Foxconn's tooling and Inventec's manufacturing resources, the aptly named Xiaomi Phone is the company's first attempt at developing its own hardware, and boy, it's done one helluva job here with the specs: a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8260 SoC (note that this isn't just an overclocked 1.2GHz chip), 1GB RAM, 4GB ROM, eight megapixel camera and the usual wireless bundle including WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS (plus the rare GLONASS). By now you must be thinking: surely there must be a tradeoff somewhere for that tempting price of ¥1,999 ($310)? Read on to find out if this is the case.

Gallery: Xiaomi Phone review

Continue reading Xiaomi Phone review

Xiaomi Phone review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Thunderbolt Will Become Even Faster—Just with New Cables [Guts]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5844210/thunderbolt-will-become-even-faster++just-with-new-cables

Thunderbolt Will Become Even Faster--Just with New Cables Most of us have had zero opportunity to tap Thunderbolt's monster transfer speeds, but Intel's already promising huge boosts in the near future. The best part? The Thunderbolt ports we already have will get the upgrade, no changes necessary.

Intel's claim lies in the use of fiber optic Thunderbolt cables, which can rush data as beams of light, rather than as electrons via the copper wiring currently used for Thunderbolt. It's science, baby: photons just move faster. And the great news is that the new photon hotness will be backwards compatible with the Thunderbolt holes we already have, MacWorld reports, pushing data significantly further (long cables!) and quicker (700 MB/sec!).

Intel's eye on optical makes sense, given what's on the horizon: silicon photonics, which is just a fancy way of saying data on a chip converted to light, and then converted back again. It's something Intel's been working on for some time now, and has the potential to download a full HD movie in literally one second. So you can see why it's worth looking forward to, even if it's several years off, and will likely be expensive as hell at first. Maybe by that time, current Thunderbolt cables won't cost $50 goddamn dollars.

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drag2share: This Projector Will Turn Your iPad into Your Personal Home Theater [Projectors]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5844209/turn-your-ipad-into-your-home-theater-with-this-projector

There are already plenty of reason why you wouldn't own a TV, especially if you stream to your iDevice regularly. The Epson MegaPlex MG-850HD projector lets you give your iPad the big screen treatment in your living room.

The projector, complete with iDevice dock, has two 10-watt speakers buried in its backside, and its 3LCD system pumps out 720p video at a bright 2800 lumens. While you could feasibly buy a decent TV and an Apple TV for Airplay streaming with what you're paying for this thing, this projector thankfully rounds things out with plenty of ports for HDMI and component/composite cables. Nice. $800.

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drag2share: Steinberg CMC modular USB controllers, stack 'em how you want 'em (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/27/steinberg-cmc-modular-usb-controllers-stack-em-how-you-want-e/

The mere mention of the word modular is usually enough to get any self-respecting music geek hot under the collar, so when Steinberg announced its latest stackable collection of dedicated USB music production controllers, hardware fans will have felt a collective twitch of excitement. Specifically built for its much loved Cubase and Nuendo programs, each of the six units has its own speciality, and has been designed to let you get your tactile funk on, be it mixing melodies or mashing in beats. Plonk up to nine of these sleek, luminous lovelies on your desk for the music control surface of your dreams, but with no mention of price just yet, you might want to keep the plastic wrapped up until they hit the stores in October. Ogle the video after the break for the full company promo.

Continue reading Steinberg CMC modular USB controllers, stack 'em how you want 'em (video)

Steinberg CMC modular USB controllers, stack 'em how you want 'em (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 09:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Music Radar | source

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drag2share: Rumor: Amazon's New Tablet Will Be the Kindle Fire [Amazon]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5844019/rumor-amazons-new-tablet-will-be-the-kindle-fire

After TechCrunch's MG Siegler gave his initial glowing impressions of Amazon's heretofore-unnamed tablet, we were understandably excited. A true iPad competitor. Now, with Amazon's unveil just days away, new details have started trickling out. Including a new name: the Kindle Fire.

Which... is kind of a silly name? Anyway, in terms of build, the 7-inch Fire has been confirmed to be very PlayBook-esque. That's because, as gdgt's Ryan Block confirms, Amazon called in the Playbook's designers, Quanta, to push the design out the door quickly. That shouldn't belie what's underneath; it'll probably have a dual-core 1.2GHz OMAP processor running a completely retooled build of Android 2.1.

And, sure, an iPad killer that does not make. You might even call the final product a tad rushed. But you maaay want to blame Barnes & Noble for that, as sources tell TechCrunch that an unannounced Nook Color 2 is right on the horizon. And their tablet will also have a dual-core OMAP processor running on Android 2.3. With their main competitor already getting ready to hit the field, Amazon likely wants a player ready to go and soon. Rumor still has it that this will hit stores this November for $250, with an extra $50 getting you an Amazon Prime account with tons of streaming. Still better than a Playbook.

So what happens to the regular old e-ink Kindle? Not sure yet, but Amazon will probably update their flagship product with at least medium fanfare.

But with a mature content environment that will only benefit from the newly inked deals with Fox and KEY publishers, Amazon is poised to have the one of the biggest tablet releases of the year. [TechCrunch, gdgt]

You can keep up with Kwame Opam, the author of this post, on Twitter, Facebook, and occasionally Google+.

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Another @Groupon deal gone wrong - unlicensed bus co sells $45 RT tix to Vegas, leaves passengers there http://ping.fm/MlwRM

drag2share: Location Based Jewelry Helps the GPS Obsessed Accessorize [Location]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5844113/location-based-jewelry-helps-the-gps-obsessed-accessorize

This pendant from Fluid Forms will knock the socks off your location-crazed friends and bore the uninitiated who think GPS is an acronym for Great Public Schools.

Not some mass-produced, dime-store jewelry, this silver pendant from Fluid Forms has the 3D landscape of any location you provide and is individually crafted for each customer. The design company forges the pendant using information taken from a satellite image of that oh-so-special place. Fluid Forms will even send you the image so you can compare the jewelry with the real thing.

It's definitely not for everyone and it isn't cheap (Euro 300, $450), but if you have a girl that's hard to buy for, why not consider some location-based jewelry? It's definitely unique and absolutely a conversation piece. [Fluid Forms]

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drag2share: ASUS announces trio of new E Series all-in-one PCs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/26/asus-announces-trio-of-new-e-series-all-in-one-pcs/

It's already been a fairly busy month for ASUS, but it's not done just yet -- the company has now announced three new E- Series all-in-one PCs, one of which is available starting today. That would be the 23.6-inch ET2410, which starts at $899 and packs your choice of second-gen Intel Core processors, up to a 1TB hard drive, a max 8GB of DDR3 memory, a Blu-ray drive and an HDMI input that'll let you use it as a display for your game console or other devices (it's also conveniently wall-mountable). Those same basic specs also extend to the 21.5-inch ET2210 and 27-inch ET2700, which are set to roll out in October and November, respectively, although there's no word on pricing for those just yet. Check out the gallery below for a closer look at the ET2410.

Gallery: ASUS ET2410 all-in-one

Continue reading ASUS! announc es trio of new E Series all-in-one PCs

ASUS announces trio of new E Series all-in-one PCs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 15:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Galaxy Tab 8.9 hits pre-order, ships October 2nd in US; Galaxy Player 5.0 and 4.0 shipping October 16th

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/26/galaxy-tab-8-9-hits-pre-order-ships-october-2nd-galaxy-player/

Hot on the heels of a UK release, Samsung has just announced that its long-awaited (and long-delayed) Galaxy Player 4.0 ($229) and 5.0 ($269) will be available for pre-order starting September 27th, with US availability pegged for October 16th. Oddly enough, Samsung gave no reason behind the once-spring, now-autumn pushback, but at least we can finally stop wondering and instead start enjoying the spoils of an (almost) Galaxy Note-sans-phone. (Not like we haven't heard a similar tune before). All that aside, the Player 5.0 and 4.0 weigh in at 6.4 and 4.2 ounces, respectively, and both are powered by Android 2.3.5 (Gingerbread); other specs include 802.11b/g/n, WVGA Super Clear LCDs (800 x 480), Bluetooth 3.0, 8GB of onboard storage, a microSD expansion slot, 3.5mm headphone jack, voice recorder, mini-USB connectivity, front and rear cameras and support for Sammy's Media Hub content service. The big fellow gets a 2,500mAh battery, whereas its little(r) brother is equipped with a 1,200mAh cell. (Psst... you can catch our hands-on with these here and here.)

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Tab 8.9 is available for pre-sale right now, with shipments to hit retail on October 2nd. You'll be laying down $469 for the 16GB model, while a doubling of capacity will run you $100 more. Need a refresher on this one, too? How's about a WXGA (1,280 x 800) touchpanel, dual-core T250S processor, 6,100mAh battery, sub-one pound weight, DLNA compatibility, a 3 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front-facing camera, integrated Swype / Polaris Office and even a few amenities for those in the enterprise -- things like full support for Exchange ActiveSync (v14), on-device encryption, Cisco VPN, Sybase MDM and WebEx support. Best of all, the inbuilt FindMyMobile service allows users to track their lost / stolen Tab 8.9 down on a map as it moves, remotely lock the device to prevent unauthorized access and delete personal information stored on the device. Head on past the break for the full release.

Continue reading Galaxy Tab 8.9 hits pre-order, ships October 2nd in US; Galaxy Player 5.0 and 4.0 shipping October 16th

Galaxy Tab 8.9 hits pre-order, ships October 2nd in US; Galaxy Player 5.0 and 4.0 shipping October 16th originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: The Deleted City visualizes GeoCities as it was, today

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/26/the-deleted-city-visualizes-geocities-as-it-was-today/

GeoCities may be no more, but, unlike some other bits of internet past, its entire contents were thoroughly archived before the site was completely shut down in 2009. That opened up some interesting possibilities for anyone interested in playing around with the 650 gigabyte archive, and this so-called "Deleted City" project may well be the most interesting yet. Described as a "digital archaeology of the world wide web as it exploded into the 21st century," the project appropriately visualized GeoCities as one large city, which can be dived into and explored at will (complete with a soundtrack supplied by "nearby" MIDI files). Unfortunately, it's not clear when or if folks will actually be able to try it out for themselves, but you can at least take a guided tour in the video after the break.

Continue reading The Deleted City visualizes GeoCities as it was, today

The Deleted City visualizes GeoCities as it was, today originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Adafruit Industries | source

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drag2share: ASUS Ultrabooks to arrive in New York City on October 11

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/26/asus-ultrabooks-to-arrive-in-new-york-city-on-october-11/

The Ultrabooks are coming, and it looks like ASUS' first foray into thin and light computing will officially arrive on October 11th in New York. According to a UX series landing page, we need only wait 15 more days before getting our hands the ASUS UX21 and its larger, but still svelte sibling, the UX31, once again. Frankly, we can hardly wait for their arrival, but patience is a virtue, right?

ASUS Ultrabooks to arrive in New York City on October 11 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

PC World | source

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drag2share: Hands-on with HTC's Amaze 4G for T-Mobile (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/27/hands-on-with-htcs-amaze-4g-video/

So how does HTC's Amaze 4G stack up to its European counterpart, the Sensation XE? Pretty well actually. The 4.3-inch qHD smartphone also features Qualcomm's 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon CPU, but bumps the RAM from 768MB to 1GB. It's also HTC's first NFC toting device and joins T-Mobile's Galaxy S II as the other 42Mbps HSPA+ -capable handset on Magenta's network. More noteworthy is its trick eight megapixel shooter, which features the same backside-illuminated sensor, f2.2 wide-angle optics and 1080p video recording capability as the myTouch 4G Slide. Similarly, the Amaze 4G hangs on to quite a bit of that phone's camera software, including a new composite mode that automagically creates one stellar image out of five less than fabulous snapshots. We also liked the addition of two physical camera buttons, one for stills and the other for video. First impressions of the Sense-laden, Gingerbread smartphone? It's very much like a Sensation on steroids, with a definite T-Mobile flavor. Take a look at our gallery and hit the break for our hands-on video from Mobilize 2011.

Myriam Joire contributed to this report.

Gallery: HTC Amaze 4G hands-on

Continue reading Hands-on with HTC's Amaze 4G for T-Mobile (video)

Hands-on with HTC's Amaze 4G for T-Mobile (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Samsung's Galaxy S II for T-Mobile proves that unicorns do exist (hands-on video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/27/samsungs-galaxy-s-ii-for-t-mobile-proves-that-unicorns-do-exist/

After eluding our grubby little paws at its launch in New York and again this morning at Mobilize 2011, we're happy to report that we've finally caught up with T-Mobile's Galaxy S II. To recap, the carrier's permutation rocks the same WVGA 4.52-inch Super AMOLED Plus display as Sprint's Epic 4G Touch, but replaces Samsung's in-house 1.2GHz Exynos CPU with Qualcomm's dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S3 processor. T-Mobile tells us the brain swap was necessary as it wanted its variant to support 42Mbps HSPA+ on the network's AWS band (just like its cousin the Amaze 4G). Oh, and like AT&T's variant it comes with a little NFC glitter sprinkled on top. So is it the same delectable Galaxy S II as its European and Sprint counterparts? From our brief time with the handset, the transplant doesn't appear to have impacted performance at all -- it's just as snappy as ever. In terms of appearance, the phone sports a soft-touch matte black finish in back and its bezel is a lighter shade of chrome than used on its siblings. Check out our gallery below, and peek after the break for our hands-on video.

Myriam Joire contributed to this report.

Gallery: T-Mobile Galaxy S II hands-on

Continue reading Samsung's Galaxy S II for T-Mobile proves that unicorns do exist (hands-on video)

Samsung's Galaxy S II for T-Mobile proves that unicorns do exist (hands-on video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 01:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Scientists prove that active exploration isn't required to create memories, +1 for 2D learning

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/27/scientists-prove-that-active-exploration-isnt-required-to-creat/

In a small victory for gamers and TV junkies everywhere, scientists found that viewing 2D images helped create long-term memories, meaning that visual media can help your learn. To form lasting memories, nerve cells normally experience "long-term potentiation" and "long-term depression" -- both essential for learning. Researchers found that long-term depression was achieved when they let rats actively wander around a new environment. When they replaced the explorable area with a computer screen, the same memory-making phenomenon still occurred. The study's conclusion? Video games and TV shows can help us learn, similarly to traditional non-electronic methods. Of course, there are concerns that visual media overload could lead to shorter attention spans, interfere with lessons taught at school and... oh look! A cat! Check out the full findings by hitting the source link below.

Scientists prove that active exploration isn't required to create memories, +1 for 2D learning originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 04:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: LG Optimus EX gets official in Korea, sporting 1.2GHz Tegra 2 chip, 700 nits of brightness

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/27/lg-optimus-ex-gets-official-in-korea-sporting-1-2ghz-tegra-2-ch/

So, about that LG Optimus EX we saw last week -- it's now gone official in South Korea and it's looking slightly more alluring. Announced yesterday, this Gingerbread-coated handset is the first to ship with NVIDIA's revamped 1.2GHz Tegra 2 processor, which means it'll support 1080p video, much like the Galaxy S II. It also boasts a four-inch LCD with 480 × 800 resolution and a full 700 nits of brightness, along with 1GB of RAM, 8GB of onboard storage, a five megapixel camera and front-facing VGA shooter. Available in either black and silver or white and gold color schemes, the EX is slated to launch on Korea's SK Telecom at an unspecified price, though plans for an international release remain unclear. As soon as we find out, however, we'll be sure to let you know.

LG Optimus EX gets official in Korea, sporting 1.2GHz Tegra 2 chip, 700 nits of brightness originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 05:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Electronista | source

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