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Wednesday, May 02, 2012

Olympus TG-1 iHS Tough leaks out at Best Buy, brings OLED to the rugged camera party

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/olympus-tg-1-ihs-tough-leaks-out-at-best-buy/

Looks like Olympus won't be waiting long to follow up on its 2012 Tough camera updates: Best Buy accidentally posted details of the TG-1 iHS Tough. Although it's since been taken down, the store listing showed that Olympus will be bringing a 3-inch, 610,000-pixel OLED display to the mix, making a preview of your scuba diving photos that much prettier. It shares the 12.3-megapixel CMOS sensor and 1080p movie making of the TG-820 iHS, with waterproofing now good for up to 40 feet. Olympus is, however, making a trade-off, where photogs get a shorter 4X optical zoom in return for a much wider f/2.0 aperture that will get those fish in focus. There's no word on when the TG-1 will ship, but Best Buy was showing a $400 price tag before the store took down its inadvertent sneak peek.

Olympus TG-1 iHS Tough leaks out at Best Buy, brings OLED to the rugged camera party originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 May 2012 05:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, May 01, 2012

Intel enters mini-computer fray with Core i5-powered NUC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/intel-mini-computer-core-i5-powered-nuc/

The mini-computer game has so far been dominated by upstarts such as FXI and Raspberry Pi, but a big name is getting ready to join the party, too. Intel first demoed its NUC (Next Unit of Computing) at PAX East in April, but details are just hitting the web now. One standout spec is the NUC's 10 x 10-cm (4 x 4-in) form factor, which places it between the Raspberry Pi and Mini-ITX boards in terms of size. Moreover, the NUC packs a Core i3 / Core i5 Sandy Bridge chip with last-gen Intel HD 3000 graphics, and sports Thunderbolt, HDMI and USB 3.0 sockets on the back. There's a heatsink and fan assembly on board, too, and the mini PCIe connectors leave the door open for added functionality. Because it runs an Intel Core i5 CPU instead of the ARM processors found in options such as the Cotton Candy and Raspberry Pi, the NUC promises to be a more powerful mini-desktop. But don't get too excited: Intel envisions it as a component in digital signage instead. Look for Intel's mini-PC at a kiosk near you in the second half of 2012, when it's expected to drop.

Intel enters mini-computer fray with Core i5-powered NUC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 12:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rimac Concept_One EV now a reality: cash in those stock options (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/rimac-concept_one-ev-reality-980K/

If you don't have a sonorous v-something under the hood guzzling gas, do you still have a supercar? Judging by the nearly one million large needed to buy its Concept_One high performance EV, Rimac clearly thinks so. Since our last dalliance with the sinuous eco-powerhouse, the Croatian maker has announced that it's producing 88 units priced at $980K each -- with its carbon fibre body, 1088 HP, 190 mph top speed, and 2.8 second 0-62 mph time all still intact. Sure, there's no Lamborghini rumble, but at those speeds you'll be gone so quickly no one would appreciate it anyway. Watch it cruise sedately in the video after the break.

Continue reading Rimac Concept_One EV now a reality: cash in those stock options (video)

Rimac Concept_One EV now a reality: cash in those stock options (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 22:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel enters mini-computer fray with Core i5-powered NUC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/intel-mini-computer-core-i5-powered-nuc/

The mini-computer game has so far been dominated by upstarts such as FXI and Raspberry Pi, but a big name is getting ready to join the party, too. Intel first demoed its NUC (Next Unit of Computing) at PAX East in April, but details are just hitting the web now. One standout spec is the NUC's 10 x 10-cm (4 x 4-in) form factor, which places it between the Raspberry Pi and Mini-ITX boards in terms of size. Moreover, the NUC packs a Core i3 / Core i5 Sandy Bridge chip with last-gen Intel HD 3000 graphics, and sports Thunderbolt, HDMI and USB 3.0 sockets on the back. There's a heatsink and fan assembly on board, too, and the mini PCIe connectors leave the door open for added functionality. Because it runs an Intel Core i5 CPU instead of the ARM processors found in options such as the Cotton Candy and Raspberry Pi, the NUC promises to be a more powerful mini-desktop. But don't get too excited: Intel envisions it as a component in digital signage instead. Look for Intel's mini-PC at a kiosk near you in the second half of 2012, when it's expected to drop.

Intel enters mini-computer fray with Core i5-powered NUC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 12:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BlackBerry 10 dev alpha unit unveiled: 4.2-inch screen, 1280 x 768 resolution

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/blackberry-10-dev-unit-unveiled-4-2-inch-screen-1280-x-7/

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. In this instance, it just leaves us wanting more. The image you see above is RIM's official dev unit for its just launched BlackBerry 10 platform. If it looks familiar, that's because you've seen it not too long ago when leaks of the much anticipated device began to hit the world wide rumor-mongering web. Waterloo's still keeping us in the dark as to the glorified guts this austere fella's packing, but it did confirm these alpha units will feature a jaw-dropping 4.2-inch, 1280 x 768 display that bests the 720p panels found on other similarly-sized handsets -- there's no word yet on if it's PenTile, though it likely doesn't matter much at that resolution. We've also learned the device sports 16GB internal storage and 1GB of RAM. No, this isn't your mother's BlackBerry and for good reason too, as the beleaguered mobile titan's got quite a bit of its continued prosperity riding on this QNX-based slab. Wondering where its QWERTY cousin is? We are too, but without any official announcements, you'll just have to stay tuned to see what fruits this week's BlackBerry World will bear.

BlackBerry 10 dev alpha unit unveiled: 4.2-inch screen, 1280 x 768 resolution originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 09:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Researchers make an RGB laser with a regular laser and quantum dots

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/researchers-make-an-rgb-laser-with-a-regular-laser-and-quantum-d/

The problem with lasers is, they tend to generate just a single color or light.To get more than one hue requires actually combining more than one type of laser to produce red, green and blue. But researchers at Brown University have figured out a solution to creating small RGB lasers by using colloidal quantum dots, or CQDs. The idea of leveraging the properties of the thin film isn't new, but past attempts to use CQDs in semiconductor lasers have failed because the necessary energy tends to wind up as heat instead of light. The work around scientists found was to excite the various dot sizes with a laser then filter out original light source. Unfortuneately, the solution is far from practical for use in commercial products, but it does represent a milestone in the march towards a single-material multi-wavelength laser. For more details check out the source link.

Researchers make an RGB laser with a regular laser and quantum dots originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 06:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ars Technica | source

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Monday, April 30, 2012

15-inch Samsung Series 7 laptops follow big brother across Intel's Ivy Bridge

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/30/15-inch-samsung-series-7-ivy-bridge/

Intel's bridge is a popular one and, while we don't know just what the toll to cross is, today the gatekeeper has a little extra change jingling in his pocket. Samsung is announcing that its 15-inch Series 7 Chronos laptops now offer Ivy Bridge processors, joining the 17-inch models that have already have made their way across. Thanks to a Samsung Canada leak last week, we knew the slightly more portable flavor wouldn't be far behind. NVIDIA graphics are onboard, joining the Core i7 processors and 1TB hard drives plus other pleasantries like backlit keyboards. No word on when these machines and their "uncompromised performance" will arrive at retail, but we hear getting over that bridge is the tricky part, so it shouldn't be long now.

15-inch Samsung Series 7 laptops follow big brother across Intel's Ivy Bridge originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 07:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sammy Hub | source

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Sunday, April 29, 2012

Google Drive now offers a bumpy ride for Chrome OS dev-channel users

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/27/google-drive-now-available-for-chrome-os-dev-channel/

You knew it was gonna happen, but Google's cloud-based storage service has now been married to its cloud-based operating system, as Chrome OS users who receive updates via the dev-channel may now benefit from integration with Google Drive. Most notably, Drive will now appear as an additional folder within the file manager, although the implementation isn't without its quirks. For example, our peers at TechCrunch described the inability to make these files available for offline access. It goes without saying that dev-channel releases aren't for everyone, but if you enjoy living on the edge, then be sure to take a peep at what Google has in store for the inevitable mainstream release.

Google Drive now offers a bumpy ride for Chrome OS dev-channel users originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

CNET |

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Canon reports slightly higher profits in Q1, teases new compact cameras on the way

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/28/canon-q1-2012-earnings/

Canon reported its Q1 2012 earnings this week, and things certainly appear to have gone better than the last time we checked in when it replaced the company president. While revenue declined slightly, net profit reached 61.54 billion yen ($766 million), up 11 percent from a year ago. There's no executive moves to report, however on the earnings call executive VP and CFO Toshizo Tanaka noted a unit sales increase of 30 percent for SLR cameras including the new EOS 5D Mark III as well as the cheaper T3i, Mark II and 60D models, combined with strong sales for WiFi-connected point-and-shoots. As far as new products, while its new cinema cameras got a glancing mention the plan this year includes compact cameras "offering the image qualities that approaches SLR cameras", with improved design and network connectivity features. All the numbers and earnings call talk are in black and white at the links below, although we prefer to spend our time speculating about the future of mirrorless cameras.

Canon reports slightly higher profits in Q1, teases new compact came! ras on t he way originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 05:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Origin PC joins the 11-inch, rebadged gaming laptop party, outs the EON 11-S

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/29/origin-pc-EON-11-S-gaming-laptop-announced/

Last week may have drawn to a close, but the march of Clevo news continues. On the heels of Maingear announcing an 11-inch gaming notebook, Origin PC is throwing its own ultraportable into the ring: the EON 11-S. Though this is a new model for the company (the smallest laptop it's ever sold, in fact), it's not quite fresh to us: this is the same exact Clevo-made notebook Maingear unveiled two days ago, only re-badged under Origin PC's brand and available in a wider range of colors. As far as performance goes, then, that means you can expect Ivy Bridge processors, a 2GB NVIDIA GT 650M GPU, Optimus graphics-switching technology and a battery rated for 6.5 hours of runtime. In Origin PC's case, the laptop starts at $999 (compared with $1,099 for Maingear), though you'll have to head over to Origin's site for a breakdown of what specs you'll be getting at that lower price. (Spoiler alert: adding an Ivy Bridge CPU instantly bumps the price to $1,294.)

Gallery: Origin PC EON 11-S

Continue reading Origin PC joins the 11-inch, rebadged gaming laptop party, outs the EON 11-S

Origin PC joins the 11-inch, rebadged gaming laptop party, outs the EON 11-S originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NVIDIA unleashes GeForce GTX 690 graphics card, loads it with dual Kepler GPUs, charges $1k

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/29/NVIDIA-GeForce-GTX-690-dual-kepler-gpu-graphics-card-announced/

Would you look at that? NVIDIA hinted it would be coming today, and it looks like the tease is living up to the hype. The company stormed into the weekend at its Shanghai Game Festival by unleashing its latest offering, the GeForce GTX 690 -- and oh yeah, it's packing two 28nm Kepler GPUs! Trumping the recently released GTX 680 as the "worlds fastest graphics card," it's loaded with a whopping 3,072 Cuda cores. The outer frame is made from trivalent chromium-plated aluminum, while you'll find thixomolded magnesium alloy around the fan for vibration reduction and added cooling. Aiding in cooling even further, the unit also sports a dual vapor chamber and center-mounted fan. It'll cost you a spendy $1,000 to pick up one of these puppies come May 3rd, and you'll likely be tempted to double up -- two can run together in SLI as an effective quad-core card. With that said, NVIDIA claims that a single 690 runs 4dB quieter and handles about twice the framerate as a duo of GTX 680s in SLI -- impressive, but we'll reserve judgement until we see it for ourselves. Check out the press release after the break if you'd like more information in the meantime (...and yes, it runs Crysis -- 2 Ultra to be exact -- at 57.8fps, according to NVIDIA).

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading NVIDIA unleashes GeForce GTX 690 graphics card, loads it with dual Kepler GPUs, charges $1k

NVIDIA unleashes GeForce GTX 690 graphics card, loads it with dual Kepler GPUs, charges $1k originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friday, April 27, 2012

Panasonic teams up with NHK on 145-inch 8K Super Hi-Vision plasma TV

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/27/panasonic-145-inch-8k-plasma-nhk-japan/

We thought the 8K 85-inch Super Hi-Vision LCD we saw during CES was impressive, but Japanese broadcaster NHK is already looking to surpass that by going even bigger. To that end it worked with Panasonic (above: that's Panasonic's Keishi Kubota on the left, Yoshio Ito of NHK on the right) to create this 145-inch prototype plasma, unveiled today as an example of the kind of displays we can expect to see once broadcasts jump to the higher resolution some day. The world's first self-illuminating Super Hi-Vision TV, it features every pixel of its expected 8K resolution -- 7,680 x 4,320. After working for months on smaller (only 85- or 103-inch) 4K plasmas, the two companies had to come up with an entirely new drive method for the display that works by scanning the pixels vertically to achieve a uniform picture quality. The NHK plans to show off the new display at its open house in May, although we're a bit more interested to see if we can watch the Olympics on it this summer. Check the gallery below for a few more pictures from DigInfo.TV's Ryo Osuga, or hit the more coverage link for a breakdown of the difficulties encountered in building a high resolution display that's this massive.

Gallery: Panasonic 145-inch Super Hi-Vision plasma

[Image Credit: Ryo Osuga, DigInfo.TV]

Panasonic teams up with NHK on 145-inch 8K Super Hi-Vision plasma TV originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG's IPS monitors head downmarket with 2D-only IPS4 series launching soon

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/27/lg-ips4-monitor/

While LCD monitors with in-plane switching technology were once decidedly settled at the high end, LG apparently thinks its time for everyone to have one and is launching its mainstream IPS4 line. Executive VP JJ Lee says the aim is for IPS monitors to become "ubiquitous in every room", bringing better color reproduction, picture quality and wide viewing angles with them. So far we know they're slotting in just below the 3D-capable models shown off at CES, but there's nothing mentioned in the press release (included after the break along with another pic) about prices, sizes, specs or model numbers. If you're in the market however, expect to find out more soon since they will roll out to Asia first in May, followed by Europe and North America in "the coming weeks".

Continue reading LG's IPS monitors head downmarket with 2D-only IPS4 series launching soon

LG's IPS monitors head downmarket with 2D-only IPS4 series launching soon originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 01:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thursday, April 26, 2012

Make Your Own All-Natural Hand Sanitizer with Ingredients You Already Have [Household]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5905294/make-your-own-all+natural-hand-sanitizer-with-ingredients-you-already-have

Make Your Own All-Natural Hand Sanitizer with Ingredients You Already Have Keeping a bottle of hand sanitizer nearby is a great way to keep your hands fresh and clean from time to time, and while it's not exactly expensive to buy, it's also really easy to make your own, and you may already have the ingredients required in your medicine cabinet or under your sink. All you need is some aloe vera gel, rubbing alcohol, some essential oil for fragrance, and a bottle to keep it all in.

The actual recipe is pretty simple—one-third of a cup aloe vera gel, two-thirds of a cup of rubbing alcohol, and 8-10 drops of your favorite essential oil to make the whole thing smell good. Mix it all up and pour it into a bottle to store it—if you have a bottle with a pump dispenser on it, like an old lotion bottle or the empty from your last hand sanitizer purchase, that'll work just fine.

We've shown you a similar recipe a long time ago, but it required much more obscure—and in some cases expensive—ingredients, although it definitely takes the "all natural" prize, if you're looking for another recipe. Do you make your own hand sanitizer? Swear off the stuff entirely? Let us know in the comments below.

Make Homemade Hand Sanitizer | Education.com via TipNut

Photo by liz west.

This Chip Will Power the New Samsung Galaxy S III [Guts]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5905282/this-chip-will-power-the-new-samsung-galaxy-s-iii

This Chip Will Power the New Samsung Galaxy S III While the new Galaxy S III is due to officially launch on May 3rd, Samsung has just announced what's set to be powering it, and things sound promising. Based on the ARM Cortex A9, Samsung's new chip—which is called Exynos 4 Quad—will feature four cores all running at 1.4 GHz.

It replaces, and will be entirely compatible with devices already using, the older Exynos 4 Dual, and uses 32 nanometer technology instead of the old'uns 45 nanometer innards. But, meh, enough of that—what can it actually do?

Samsung claim the new chip will be capable of full 30fps 1080p video playback and recording, will feature an interface for HDMI 1.4 and also come with some embedded image signal processing capabilities. The chip is also claimed to be 20 per cent more efficient than its predecessor. All in, it sounds like Samsung could be on to a winner. [Samsung via The Verge]

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