Thursday, October 29, 2009

Ubuntu 9.10 'Karmic Koala' released, could decide your OS fate

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/29/ubuntu-9-10-karmic-koala-launching-today-could-decide-your-fu/

It's October 2009 which means something very special for Linux fans: a 9.10 release of Ubuntu. Today we see the launch of "Karmic Koala" featuring a faster graphical boot sequence (no more scary text scrolls), a revamped audio framework that improves sound control across multiple applications, and a new Software Center that visually simplifies the Add/Remove Applications tool. These are just a few of the user-centric improvements meant to have a "transformative effect" on the OS experience and help bring "the world of open source closer to the user." It's available in desktop, server, and netbook editions now so get to it, before you know it you'll be updating to Lucid Lynx.

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Ubuntu 9.10 'Karmic Koala' released, could decide your OS fate originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 12:24 PM

Best Buy offering DROID pre-orders as of today, automates the mail-in rebate

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/29/best-buy-offering-droid-pre-orders-as-of-today-automates-the-ma/

In the best sort of tradition, Best Buy Mobile has gone for a repeat of its Palm Pre offering and is offering the $299 Motorola DROID at $199 thanks to the automation of a mail-in rebate you'd have to actually "mail in" if you were to purchase the handset straight from the carrier. Best Buy also seems to be the first place to offer pre-orders of the phone, so if you're worried about a sell out or just generally averse to affixing stamps to things, Best Buy appears to have you covered.

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Best Buy offering DROID pre-orders as of today, automates the mail-in rebate originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 12:05 PM

Qooq recipe and cooking tablet pc launched for French speakers only

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/29/qooq-recipe-and-cooking-tablet-pc-launched-for-french-speakers-o/

Cooking tablets and recipe readers have been pretty limited (and not very good) in the past -- but this one looks extremely promising. Called the Qooq, the 10.2-incher boasts -- in addition to a bunch of recipes, of course -- complete meal prep videos, instructions and advice on choosing ingredients, shopping lists, meal planners -- all which can be updated monthly via a subscription service. Specwise, we're looking at a glass touchscreen, Ethernet and USB ports, an SD slot, WiFi, and a built-in stand. The custom UI looks pretty attractive, but there are some drawbacks. The Qooq does not have a browser (though it's got built-in weather, digital photo viewing, and internet radio apps), and it's only available for French language speakers for now. If you do speak the language of love, you can get one of these puppies for €349 (about $513), with the subscription service running an additional €12.95a month (about $19).

[Via Red Ferret]

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Qooq recipe and cooking tablet pc launched for French speakers only originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 12:05 PM

GazoPa Finds Images Similar to Uploads, Links, or Drawings [Image Search]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/A32WLXOY7tA/gazopa-finds-images-similar-to-uploads-links-or-drawings

Hitachi-powered image search site GazoPa (boy, they're really out of web names, no?) is a fairly robust engine for finding same or similar images. Its differentiation comes in hunting similar videos, digging through Flickr, and letting you draw your search.

Yep, you can use GazoPa's simple drawing tool to roughly outline the type of image you're looking for, and GazoPa will use its search prowess to find, well, something akin to what you scribbled. As you can see from the test result below, it knows the basic shapes and color tones you're going for, but we don't have to worry about CyberNet overtaking collective human intelligence just yet.

For images you're passing on a URL or upload for, GazoPa seems a lot more serious and useful. Hover over an image to get a good deal of info, or to perform another similar search for that picture. The Flickr integration is very useful, allowing for Creative Commons licensing filters, and video search worked for a quick Google demonstration frame I uploaded.

GazoPa is free to use, no sign-up required.




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Posted by Augustine at 1:34 AM

Google Voice AIR App Keeps Voicemail and SMS on Your Desktop [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/rQXJy_F6ePw/google-voice-air-app-keeps-voicemail-and-sms-on-your-desktop

Adobe AIR: If you'd like to keep quick access to your Google Voice voicemail and SMS messages handily in place on your dock or taskbar, a cross-platform app gives you exactly that by packaging up Google Voice's mobile site.

Just like on a mobile browser, Voice's interface is surprisingly spry for such a pared-down site, but it's also lightning fast running on a desktop or laptop. The app allows you to play and pause voicemail messages through your system's audio, set up calls with your hooked-up phones, and run through your contacts and search your SMS and transcription history. With Google Voice no longer requiring a new number, this little app might be a nice introduction to the service for those who don't want to commit to keeping a browser tab open all day.

Google Voice Desktop is a free download, works on any system with Adobe AIR installed.




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Posted by Augustine at 1:33 AM

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