Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Monday, October 05, 2009

Netbook Linux Guide Lets You Easily Kick Windows XP To The Curb [Linux]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/10BpXCn0S94/netbook-linux-guide-lets-you-easily-kick-windows-xp-to-the-curb

Sometimes I think if I see another blue sky, green grass background on a netbook I am going to throw it out the window. Maximum PC is ridding my Windows XP blues with a guide to lightweight netbook computing.

They have rounded up some of the best Linux netbook solutions, including Easy Peasy and Eeebuntu. I'm a big fan of the latter and used it for quite a bit of time on my MSI Wind U100. The nice thing about the guide is that it provides step by step instructions on how to load the new OS on along with productivity software alternatives.

Left from the roundup is Moblin 2.1. I have been testing it out for the last few days and will post my impressions soon. In the meantime, if you are also suffering from Win XP sickness try one of these penguin-friendly options or you could always check out our Hackintosh guide. [Maximum PC]

Netgear RangeMax WNR3500L Wireless-N Router Packs USB, Linux Punch [Netgear]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/HR2uDptjlkU/netgear-rangemax-wnr3500l-wireless+n-router-packs-usb-linux-punch

If you haven't upgraded to wireless-N yet, now is a great time. The spec is finally ratified and Netgear is celebrating by dropping the WNR3500L with USB networking and pre-loaded Linux for open source tinkerers.

Indeed, having Linux on the RangeMax right from the start means you can load unofficial firmware on the router out of the box. And the USB port means you can also set it up as a media server. Other features include a a 480MHz MIPS processor with 8MB of flash and 64MB of RAM. Expect the WNR3500L to ship sometime this fall for $140. [Netgear via Electronista]

HYPOLED develops mega-tiny VGA projector display, has a tiny coin in the photo to prove it

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/hypoled-develops-mega-tiny-vga-projector-display-has-a-penny-in/

HYPOLED, an 18-month-old project tasked with creating OLED microdisplays for upcoming pico projectors, has just released a report of its recent progress. Among the advances is a Fraunhofer IPMS-designed all digital VGA, full color OLED microdisplay backplane with matching pico projector optics. The display measures just 0.18-mm thick and is already in prototype manufacturing. The super miniscule display is connected to a MediaBox enabling it to operate via WiFi. Fraunhofer is now expected to begin developing a prototype of the full projector, meaning that with any luck, our picos should be getting a teensy, tiny bit cooler in the near future.

[Via About Projectors]

Filed under: Displays

HYPOLED develops mega-tiny VGA projector display, has a tiny coin in the photo to prove it originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Sholes to launch by holidays, along with the BlackBerry Storm 2 and Nokia Booklet 3G

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/motorola-sholes-to-launch-by-holidays-along-with-the-blackberry/

Well well, it looks like the Android-powered Motorola Sholes will be out on Verizon by the holidays. That's at least the impression we're getting from a bunch of leaked Verizon retailer documents posted up by Boy Genius Report, which also indicate the BlackBerry Storm 2, Curve 2 and LG Chocolate Touch will hit Big Red in time for eggnog, along with an unspecified netbook -- we're guessing this Gateway number. Speaking of netbooks, a similar document from Best Buy Mobile also leaked over the weekend, and it looks like the Nokia Booklet 3G will be exclusive to Best Buy and compatible with AT&T 3G. Oh, and the Pixi is coming, but you already knew that. Here's the real mystery, though: "There are multiple Android launches across multiple carriers, along with some new technology that doesn't exist today." That's certainly open for interpretation, so we leave it to you -- is Best Buy Mobile about to start selling teleporters, or what?

Read - Sam's Club and Target Verizon docs
Read - Best Buy Mobile docs

Filed under: Cellphones

Motorola Sholes to launch by holidays, along with the BlackBerry Storm 2 and Nokia Booklet 3G originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Research shows off multitouch mouse prototypes

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/05/microsoft-research-shows-off-multitouch-mouse-prototypes/

Rather odd timing, given some recent developments in the Apple camp, but Microsoft Research has just surfaced some of its incredibly wild multitouch mouse prototypes. Each one uses a different touch detection method, and at first glance all five seem to fly in the face of regular ergonomics. The craziest two are probably "Arty," which has two articulated arms to cradle your thumb and index finger, with each pad housing its own optical sensor for mission-critical pinching gestures, and "Side Mouse" which is button free and actually detects finger touches in the table immediately in front of the palm rest. Of course, there's plenty of crazy in the FTIR, Orb Mouse and Cap Mouse (pictured), which rely on an internal camera, orb-housed IR camera and capacitive detection, respectively. Of course, there's no word on when these might actually see the light of day, but it should be quite obvious that Apple's not the only game in town thinking about this stuff. Check out the utterly enlightening video of these things in action after the break.

Gallery: Microsoft Research shows off multitouch mouse prototypes