Kno launches 'Kno Me' interactive textbook metrics, lets you study your studying

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/09/kno-launches-kno-me-interactive-textbook-metrics-lets-you-stu/

It was almost a year ago that we first heard about Kno's smart textbook metrics system "Kno Me." Now the software is set to actually launch, and find its way into students' (and parents') hands. As a refresher, the system provides analytics on your (or your children's) study patterns, letting you see how long you have studied for, amount of time interacting with the subject matter, percentage of pages that have been annotated and more. Kno Me is available for all of the firm's interactive textbooks and launches tomorrow on the iPad, Windows 8 and browser platforms, with Android and Windows 7 coming by the end of the month. Kno Me is free, and will be pushed out via the existing app.

Continue reading Kno launches 'Kno Me' interactive textbook metrics, lets you study your studying

Filed under: Misc

Comments

Read More...

Summary only...

Panasonic FZ-G1 Windows 8 Pro and JT-B1 Android Toughpad tablets hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/09/panasonic-toughpad-fz-g1-jt-b1-windows-8-android/

Panasonic just revealed the two newest members of its Toughpad family here at CES, the FZ-G1 Windows 8 slate and the 7-inch JT-B1 Android tablet. Naturally, when the company's gave us the chance get handsy with this pair of chunky monkeys we jumped at the chance. Each of them have the telltale look of every Panasonic Toughbook and Toughpad -- a solidly constructed silver plastic shell with black rubber corners and a girth roughly twice that of its less robust gadget brethren.

We were surprised to find that the smaller of the two tablets we fondled failed to have Android 4.2 on board. Instead it was loaded up with Ice Cream Sandwich, which the slate's dual-core OMAP silicon kept humming smoothly during our brief time with it. Like its 10-inch sibling we saw last year, its matte screen mutes colors while it reduces glare. While the strap on the back is an optional accessory, we see its appeal for securing the device in hand, and fully expect it'll be a popular add-on for enterprise customers.

Gallery: Panasonic Toughpad JT-B1 Android tablet hands-on

Meanwhile, the Windows 8 slate's screen was a bit brighter and more vibrant, and its Core i5 had us swiping through the OS's tiles even more smoothly than its smaller stablemate. Build quality was, of course extremely solid, but results in a tablet with considerable heft. If you'd like to see the two Toughpads in action, a pair of videos await after the break.

Mark Hearn contributed to this article.

Gallery: Panasonic FZ-G1 Windows 8 Pro and JT-B1 Toughpad tablets hands-on

Continue reading Panasonic FZ-G1 Windows 8 Pro and JT-B1 Android Toughpad tablets hands-on

Filed under: Tablets

Comments

Read More...

Summary only...

CHART: Dividend Stocks Are Better In Both Bull And Bear Markets

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/dividend-stock-performance-2013-1

Dividend stocks are the lease sexy stocks in the market.  Companies that pay dividends generally have limited growth prospects, which is why they pay out that cash to shareholders.  Growth stocks on the other hand tend to offer more robust return opportunities as they shovel that cash back into their operations.

However, according to research published by BlackRock, dividend paying stocks have a long history of beating non-dividend paying stocks in both bull and bear markets.

From BlackRock:

Conventional wisdom holds that more information is better. However, investors are so distracted by daily headlines, they may not be focused on the longer term risk/reward of their portfolios. Fortunately, while dividend payers may lag the broader markets for short bursts, we've seen them outperform over the long term—across bull and bear markets—as the market acknowledges companies' underlying fundamentals. There is no guarantee that stocks will continue to pay dividends.

SEE ALSO: GOLDMAN: These Are The 23 Best Stocks For Fat Dividends And Big Buyback Plans >

Please follow Money Game on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »

Read More...

Summary only...

Everyone Went Nuts Over MakerBot's New 3D Printer

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/makerbot-replicator-2x-at-ces-2013-1

MakerBot's CEO Bre Pettis held a press conference at his company's booth at CES today.

The company is innovating in the consumer 3D printing market and unveiled the new Replicator 2X 3-D printer.

The Replicator 2X makes it even easier for casual users to manufacture right at home.

The new device is a dual extruding 3D printer, meaning you can now print in two colors, use dissolvable materials, have varying densities, and other uses that weren't possible before.

MakerBot wants to target a higher end audience with the Replicator 2X; it will retail for $2,799 and will be available later this month.

After the MakerBot took the wraps off the Replicator 2X, the crowd went wild for it. The company displayed several units printing at once. It was pretty impressive.

Besides the new uses, Pettis also used the press briefing as a way to plug his new book which details how to get started with 3D printing.

Now check out 10 useful things you can make with a 3D printer >

Please follow SAI: Tools on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »

Read More...

Summary only...

A First-Hand Look At The Smartphone Operating System That Wants To Destroy Android And The iPhone

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/ubuntu-os-hands-on-ces-2013-1

Ubuntu is a new open-sourced operating system for smartphones that seeks to be a free alternative to Android and iOS.

We got a personal demonstration of how the new Linux-based smartphone will work when it launches late this year.

 

<div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div>

Don't Miss: If You're Bored Of Your iPhone or Android, You'll Love This New Custom OS >

Please follow SAI: Tools on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »

Read More...

Summary only...

If This Company Has Its Way, Every Gadget We Own Will Be Waterproof From The Inside Out

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/waterproof-gadgets-2013-1

Have you ever dropped your phone in water?

If you've fallen victim to one of the most common smartphone mishaps, you'll definitely be interested in HZO's technology.

HZO's big news at CES 2013 is that now besides being immune to water, its coating is completely resistant to coffee, beer, sports drinks, soda, and other liquids that our phones are susceptible to.

Instead of wrapping your phone in a film or covering it with a case, the company has figured out a way to coat your phone on the inside, making it completely liquid-proof.

HZO uses a form of nano coating that was originally designed for emergency response situations but it is now adding consumer products to its arsenal. 

Unfortunately, it isn't as easy as sending in your phone and getting it back waterproof. HZO is aiming its technology at manufacturers.

That means that your phone, Kindle, and tablet could one day be shipped to you already waterproof.

Check out this short video of the technology in action:

 

<div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div>

Don't Miss: Everyone Went Nuts Over MakerBot's New 3D Printer >

Please follow SAI: Tools on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »

Read More...

Summary only...

Turn Used Coffee Grounds into Coffee Granitas

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5973965/turn-used-coffee-grounds-into-coffee-granitas

You've brewed your coffee and enjoyed it, but that doesn't mean your java experience ends there and you have to toss the spent grounds in the trash. The Food Network suggests creating another drink from them: cool coffee granitas.

Steep the grounds again and add some sugar and salt, then freeze to make a frozen coffee drink. The extra steeping, freezing, and added condiments make the granitas taste as good as if you used fresh-brewed coffee for this process—plus you get more mileage for those expensive coffee beans.

Jonathan Kallini, patry chef at Atlanta's Floataway Cafe, offers this clever coffee reuse on the Food Network, which showcases a few more ways to use up kitchen waste (apple cores and corn silk, for example) in the link below.

(And if you don't want to re-steep your coffee for drinking, you can always use those old coffee grounds for cleaning up a fireplace, cleaning dishes and killing fleas, touching up wood furniture dings, and more.)

At Your Disposal: How to Use Up Kitchen Waste | Food Network

Photo by Emily

Read More...

Summary only...

Panasonic 4k Tablet Hands-On: Unbelievable Tiny Details Make Windows 8 Lag Like Hell

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5974219/panasonic-4k-tablet-hands+on-unbelievable-tiny-details-make-windows-8-lag-like-hell

The pixels on Panasonic's new 20-inch 4K tablet so itty bitty that I couldn't even see them when I pressed my eye almost to the tablet's touch screen. The viewing angles for the tablet were excellent. But they're going to have to up the power of this baby's guts if you really want to take advantage of its potential.

The 15:10 tablet in Panny's booth at CES is relatively stacked: Windows 8 Pro on an 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor with NVIDIA GeForce Graphics, 4GB of memory and an 128GB SSD. Even with those powerful specs, the high-detail applications Panasonic envisions for these tablets don't move as fast as you'd expect.

Swiping and dragging can be very slow on large documents, but the insane detail of the screen and the precision of the touch-sensitivity are impressive. Using a Panasonic stylus, you can draw very finely and make very precise edits in Photoshop.

But as those applications indicate, this tablet is really intended for business and professional use if (when?) it ever sees a commercial release. Most people probably don't need resolution that high on such a small screen. Still, with some beefed up speed, this thing would be a beast. And as a proof of concept, it's pretty amazing how many pixels we can pack into such a small space.

Read More...

Summary only...

Samsung announces 'world's first' curved OLED, we go eyes-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/08/samsung-announces-worlds-first-curved-oled-we-go-eyes-on/

Samsung's massive booth here on the CES 2013 show floor has barely opened and already we're getting a look at one of its latest TV innovations. Sitting pretty in a far roped-off corner and hailed as a "world's first," is the company's Curved OLED TV. Not much has been divulged about the uniquely shaped set at this time, but official details should be forthcoming quite soon. In the meanwhile, check out our gallery below.

Gallery: Samsung 'world's first' curved OLED

Brad Molen contributed to this post.

Fil! ed under : Displays, Samsung

Comments

Read More...

Summary only...

Panasonic 4K tablet prototype hands on (update: video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/08/panasonics-4k-tablet-hands-on/

The Panasonic liveblog was barely finished when we saw this beauty calling out to us from the show floor. This is Panasonic's 20" 4K tablet, running Windows 8. It's a prototype design right now, but seemed to be pretty well put together, and not something quickly knocked up for the show. Given that it's not a full release model, details on specifications are sparse, but we can tell you that as well as that truly jaw dropping display, there is a front facing camera (no details on resolution, but possibly 2-megapixel), and an Intel Core i5 running the show. Input / output wise there wasn't a lot going on, but there was micro-USB, microSD and at least WiFi. If you're thinking that that display is going to pretty much keep you tethered to a wall to keep it powered, then we were told that it will at least give you two hours of use on the go.

Panasonic also told us that Anoto digital writing technology features in the tablet, which makes sense given that -- judging by the display section for this device -- that the tablet is aimed at marketing professionals, architects, photographers and other such business users. Given the tablet's size, it's not the sort of thing you are likely to be slinging in a rucksack and taking out on the road. That said, in our time with it, picking it up and moving it about wasn't terrible, and you can imagine swanky design houses and media companies lining the walls of their offices with these things. No word on price or availability, but Panasonic were confident that this would make it to production.

Gallery: Panasonic's 4K tablet prototype hands-on

Continue reading Panasonic 4K tablet prototype hands on (update: video)

Filed under: Displays, Tablets

Comments

Read More...

Summary only...

LG's 55-inch 3D Google TV eyes-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/08/lgs-55-inch-3d-google-tv-eyes-on/

LG made tentative inroads into the Google TV space last year with only two available sets, but here at CES 2013, the company's announced plans to expand the line to seven additional models. The sets, which range in size from 42 to 60 inches, feature LG's Cinema Screen display at full 1080p resolution with 240Hz refresh rate and are also 3D capable. For input options, consumers will have ports for HDMI (4x) and USB 2.0 (2x) along with wired ethernet (WiFi is also supported). The company's custom Magic Remote has also seen some improvements as the buttons for navigation have all been moved further up, allowing users a more comfortable one-thumb experience. And from the time we spent holding it, it seems that slight change does help enhance overall in-hand comfort. As for new additions to the remote's layout, LG's added in dedicated buttons for voice control and its Prime Time Quick Smart Guide which brings up an overlay of currently airing programs and remaining air time. There's no pricing available at this time, but we do know these sets will hit the market in Q1 of this year.

Gallery: LG 55-inch Google TV (2013)

Continue reading LG's 55-inch 3D Google TV eyes-on

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, Google, LG

Comments

Read More...

Summary only...