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Monday, September 07, 2009

Stanford's open-source camera could revolutionize photography, you'll still use 'Auto' mode

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/06/stanfords-open-source-camera-initiative-could-revolutionize-pho/

Here's the moment where you pretend that a breakthrough in a given industry would just revolutionize the way you do work, yet you know -- deep down in your heart -- that you'd never take advantage. Okay, so maybe you would, but your friend wouldn't. At any rate, a gaggle of boffins at Stanford have set out to "reinvent digital photography" with the advent of the open-source digital camera. The idea here is to give programmers the power to conjure up new software to teach old cameras new tricks, with the hope being to eliminate software limits that currently exist. In fact, a prototype shooter has already been developed, with the Frankencamera hinting at a future where owners can download apps to their devices and continuously improve its performance and add to its abilities. The actual science behind the concept is stupendously in-depth, so if you're thinking of holding off on that new Nikon or Canon in 2034, you might want to give the read link a look for a little more encouragement.

[Via HotHardware]

Continue reading Stanford's open-source camera could revolutionize photography, you'll still use 'Auto' mode

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Stanford's open-source camera could revolutionize photography, you'll still use 'Auto' mode originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UMEC's Android videophone and MID prototypes stray from the beaten path

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/06/umecs-android-videophone-and-mid-prototypes-stray-from-the-beat/

We've seen plenty of odd Android permutations, but UMEC seems to be striving to do something all its own. It's showing two devices it currently has in the works, one is a videophone / hub / DECT phone / etc. unit (pictured), which might be at home on a countertop, while the other is a brightly hued MID, with similar internal specs but more portable aims. Both are running ARM Cortex A8 processors (like the iPhone 3GS), though there's some significant OS optimization to be done: everything was incredibly sluggish on the videophone, and the MID was locked up at the time we dropped by. UMEC also doesn't have the touchscreen drivers working for either device, though the good news is that they're looking at both capacitive and resistive touchscreens, based on what the reseller that picks these up desires. Luckily, the videophone has USB plugs galore (along with plenty of Ethernet jacks) so we were able to get a quick demo of the device using a mouse and keyboard. The MID also has a full-size USB plug, and both devices sport HDMI out, so the end usage for both of these is really up in the air. Check 'em out on video after the break.

Gallery: UMEC's Android videophone and MID prototypes

Continue reading UMEC's Android videophone and MID prototypes stray from the beaten path

Filed under: Handhelds, Household, Portable Audio, Portable Video, Tablet PCs, Networking

UMEC's Android videophone and MID prototypes stray from the beaten path originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 14:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG HS200 'pocket projector' hands-on reveals an FM transmitter and embedded DivX surprise

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/06/lg-hs200-pocket-projector-hands-on-reveals-an-fm-transmitter-a/

Small, bright, and wireless: a potent trifecta of win for an ultra-portable projector. LG's new HS200 DLP projector is here at IFA sourcing DivX video off local USB media and throwing the audio over its embedded FM transmitter. And because it's LED-based, it racks up numbers like 200 ANSI-Lumens and 30,000 hours of operation before burn-out -- that's 4 hours of operation per day for oh, say, 20 years. The 80-inch, 800x600 pixel moving image that we saw was reasonably bright in a demo-room where ambient lighting was on par with a daytime living room, curtains closed. The viewing and listening experience was more than passable, enjoyable even, and far superior to what you'll get from a pico projector. Jacks include HDMI, RGB / component, and composite with an expected price of €499 when it lands in Europe this month (coming to the US a few months later). See it for yourselves in the video after the break.

Continue reading LG HS200 'pocket projector' hands-on reveals an FM transmitter and embedded DivX surprise

Filed under: Displays

LG HS200 'pocket projector' hands-on reveals an FM transmitter and embedded DivX surprise originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 14:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MSI X600 hands-on: 15.6-inches on a slim plastic platter

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/06/msi-x600-hands-on-15-6-inches-on-a-slim-plastic-platter/

There's not really much to say about MSI's X600 that can't be said about the X340: both laptops slightly improve upon the (rather shoddy) build quality of the X320, but the X600 is just bigger, and packs a numeric keypad. The keyboard is really the definition of mushy, though it's at least got a bit of a backbone underneath now, and the machine overall feels like it could snap in half at the slightest bit of misapplied pressure. We're sure that's an overstatement, and it's hard to find this much computer in this thin of a form factor at this low of price, but you might want to save a few dollars for a new pair of kid gloves if you're thinking of making the plunge.

Filed under: Laptops

MSI X600 hands-on: 15.6-inches on a slim plastic platter originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Solar Roads get small DoE contract, confidence to change the world

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/06/solar-roads-gets-small-doe-contract-confidence-to-change-the-wo/

Solar roadways? Yeah, we've seen 'em before, but we've yet to see America's own Department of Energy give any one development company such a notable vouch of confidence. Just recently, the DoE handed over a $100,000 contract to Solar Roadways, which is just enough to build a prototype of the "first ever Solar Road panel." The 12- x 12-foot panels could theoretically be embedded into roads, and when shined upon, could pipe good, clean electricity straight into the grid. Heck, they could even boast LEDs in order to alert drivers to upcoming accidents or changes in road conditions. Reportedly, each panel would cost around $7,000 (at least initially), and if these were used on the entire US Interstate system, we could pretty much forget about using non-renewable energy sources to power our homes and businesses. Of course, our government is simultaneously wasting money on repaving perfectly good roadways with antiquated asphalt, so there's a tremendously great chance that this won't amount to anything.

[Via Inhabitat, thanks Miko]

Filed under: Transportation

Solar Roads get small DoE contract, confidence to change the world originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS planning dual screen Eee Reader: world's cheapest e-book reader

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/07/asus-planning-dual-screen-eee-reader-worlds-cheapest-e-book-re/

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? You betcha. After catching an up close and personal glimpse at ASUS' dual panel touchscreen concept at CeBIT this past March, we soon forgot ASUS even had such a beast in the R&D lab. Just over a week ago, however, all those fond memories came rushing back with an off-the-wall rumor that the company just might push out an Eee-book reader later this year. Fast forward to today, and the Times Online has it that such a device is very real, and it should be out and about before the year's end.

According to president Jerry Shen, the Eee Reader will become the planet's cheapest e-book reader, though a premium model could also be launched to satisfy those craving higher-end features -- probably amenities like inbuilt 3G, a web browser and expandable storage. The dual screen form factor would enable users to read books as books were intended to be read, or they could use the secondary panel to surf the web, type on a virtual keyboard or whatever else ASUS dreams up. We're told that the firm is aiming for the £100 ($163) mark on its low-end model, and based on the affordability of its Eee PCs, we'd say it'll probably get awfully close. Hey Kindle, you skeered yet?

[Via BestTabletReview, thanks Rob]

Filed under: Displays

ASUS planning dual screen Eee Reader: world's cheapest e-book reader originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Slim, wireless, LED-backlit Sony ZX5 LCDs prepped for November release

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/07/slim-wireless-led-backlit-sony-zx5-lcds-prepped-for-november-r/

Sony KDL-46ZX5 LCD TV

Sony's packed in a plethora of buzz-worthy tech into its ZX5 series of Bravia LCDs -- thin panels, edge-mounted LED backlighting, 240-Hz Motion Flow, and wireless connection between the media receiver section and the glass. The new 46- and 52-inch versions have got the styling portion of the competition aced, but we're still smarting over the move away from local-dimming Triluminos LEDs. As for the Motion Flow, we'll have to wait and see for ourselves if 240-Hertz is going to be the magic number to win us over. But then again, we're greedy like that; but there's something drool-inspiring about a 52-inch LCD that gets 1080p video wirelessly sent to its 16.6-mm thin frame. Somehow, we don't think our response will be different when these beauties are released to Japan in November. Video after the break.

Continue reading Video: Slim, wireless, LED-backlit Sony ZX5 LCDs prepped for November release

Filed under: Displays, HDTV

Video: Slim, wireless, LED-backlit Sony ZX5 LCDs prepped for November release originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 04:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Epson's Endeavor Na02mini-V netbook won't excite many

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/07/epsons-endeavor-na02mini-v-netbook-wont-excite-many/

Epson's Endeavor Na01 shipped with an astoundingly predictable set of specifications last November, and lo and behold, the unit's successor has a BOM that's equally guessable. If you're not in the mood for playing games (and be honest, you aren't), we'll inform that this bugger touts a 10.1-inch display, 1,024 x 600 resolution, 1.66GHz Atom N280 processor, 1GB of memory, a 160GB hard drive, WiFi, a trio of USB 2.0 sockets and a multi-card reader. It's also sporting one of the classier cases out there, and the built-in VGA / Ethernet ports are also handy. The included Li-ion isn't anything special, but we're told an extended cell that offers up ten hours of life should be coming soon; for those who can hardly wait, it should be ready to purchase this November for ¥39,800, or just north of $427 at current exchange rates.

[Via Engadget Korea]

Continue reading Epson's Endeavor Na02mini-V netbook won't excite many

Filed under: Laptops

Epson's Endeavor Na02mini-V netbook won't excite many originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 06:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aiptek's tiny PenCam HD Trio camcorder looks more like a highlighter

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/07/aipteks-tiny-pencam-hd-trio-camcorder-looks-more-like-a-highlig/

Aiptek's tiny PenCam HD Trio camcorder looks more like a highlighter

Peoples' pants must be getting smaller, because so too are pocket camcorders shrinking down. Despite not making any dubious "world's smallest" claims, Aiptek's latest is one of the most slender we've seen that's able to shoot high-def video, and quite possibly the first with a 1.1-inch OLED screen on the back for previewing what your footage might look like on a First Class Forever stamp. It'll shoot video at 720p30, capture 5 megapixel stills, and record them both to 4GB of internal memory -- good for about two hours' worth of footage. You can upload to YouTube straight from the camera's (Windows-only) software, or spin it to your TV through the integrated HDMI port. It sounds like quite a nice little package, and while we wouldn't expect the video quality to knock anyone's proverbial socks off, given the brand we wouldn't expect a shockingly high price, either. But, that we can't say for sure, nor when these will be available.

Gallery: Aiptek PenCam HD Trio camcorder

[Via OLED-Display.net]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Aiptek's tiny PenCam HD Trio camcorder looks more like a highlighter originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 09:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP dm1 and dm3 ultraportables leaked, Pavilion dv8 to pack Core i7? Update: Mini 311 has ION!

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/07/hp-dm1-and-dm3-ultraportables-leaked-pavilion-dv8-to-pack-core/

Eager HP fans have been doing some digging around and have uncovered details on the company's Fall updates. Heading the pack will be the 18.4-inch dv8, set to feature a quad-core Core i7 720QM CPU, 640GB of storage and 4GB of memory. The processor formerly known as Clarksfield has 6MB of onboard cache and can be Turbo Boosted to 2.8GHz, which should do justice to the gargantuan screen size and included Blu-ray drive. If, on the other hand, you want to be able to move your laptop, there's the CULV-powered 11.6-inch dm1 or 13.3-inch dm3 (pictured). Both will come with 1366 x 768 glossy displays, while the dm3 will also offer a cheaper AMD Neo flavor. Another three models, a TM2 tablet and Mini 210 and 311 netbooks, are also known by name if not spec. While the usual pinch of salt is advisable, a Dutch website already has the new laptops listed in its price comparison engine, corroborating the specs and the expected arrival alongisde Windows 7's October 22 release.

Update: We've also come across the specs for the Mini 311. Apparently, it'll be an 11.6-inch NVIDIA ION machine, with the Microsoft-mandated Atom N270, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD spec and a six cell battery. See it in the flesh after the break.

[Via Liliputing and Notebook Spot]

Read - HP Softpaq update reveals new models
Read - Pavilion dv8 listing - €1,426.81 / $2,040
Read - Pavilion dm3 listing - €677.11 / $968
Read - Pavilion dm1 listing - €481.89 / $689
Read - Mini 311 specs

Continue reading HP dm1 and dm3 ultraportables leaked, Pavilion dv8 to pack Core i7? Update: Mini 311 has ION!

Filed under: Laptops

HP dm1 and dm3 ultraportables leaked, Pavilion dv8 to pack Core i7? Update: Mini 311 has ION! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG Etna Android phone sneaks onto the scene at IFA

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/07/lg-etna-android-phone-sneaks-onto-the-scene-at-ifa/

Well, well, looks like LG's got more in its Android bag than just that GW880 for China Mobile. Vodafone was casually displaying the Android-based Etna at its IFA booth, and while we don't know too much about the QWERTY slider, we do have some basic specs -- you're looking at at 3-inch touchscreen, a five megapixel camera, and what looks like a pretty stock Android install. No word on price or release date, but LG is supposedly launching three Android sets this year, so we're hoping we'll find out more real soon.

Update: LG tells us that the Etna will be available in Germany "before Christmas."

[Via MobileTechWorld; thanks Whois]

Filed under: Cellphones

LG Etna Android phone sneaks onto the scene at IFA originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thursday, September 03, 2009

Several power users got it right; but no one has reported the easter egg yet :-) http://bit.ly/19jQ32 - tweet me @acfou if you discover it!

For power users ONLY; if you're not a power user DON'T CLICK THE LINK - http://bit.ly/19jQ32 whoever can tweet me @acfou what this is, wins.

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

AdAge: 1H09 trad'l ad spending fell 15.4%; online display ads' first YOY decline since 2002 with a 1.0% drop - http://bit.ly/1cNDFB

Microsoft Offers 90-Day Trial of Windows 7 Enterprise RTM [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/DwoIEHqHqUA/microsoft-offers-90+day-trial-of-windows-7-enterprise-rtm

Disappointed you missed out on taking Windows 7 for a spin? Want to put it through the paces before committing to purchasing it? Microsoft is offering a free 90-day trial of Windows 7 Enterprise, no strings attached.

No need to worry about waiting in line for a download or scrounging for a license key. You can download the 32-bit and 64-bit, both with the license key packaged in the download.

If you want to dual boot Windows 7 and XP, make sure to check out our article on the topic.

On the fence about trying it out? Take a peak at the most under-hyped features of Windows 7 or browse our Windows 7 coverage to get a feel for what the new operating system has to offer.

Windows 7 Enterprise 90-day Trial [via Download Squad]

Windows 7 with Intel Optimizes Laptop DVD Playing [Batteries]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/40vmlpuHRC4/windows-7-with-intel-optimizes-laptop-dvd-playing

Microsoft's Windows 7 honchos recently showed off the power performance improvements of their soon to be released OS, playing a DVD on a Vista Ultimate and Windows 7 Ultimate laptop side-by-side. The Vista notebook showed 4.14 hours of life left, while Windows 7 offered 5.5 hours. The catches? Those improvements come by way of Intel-specific engineering, and Microsoft said real-world performance is due to vary based on other hardware. Still, it's worth knowing if you're the type to turn a flight into a cinematic marathon. [CNET]

IDâ¢This Identifies Things in Photographs with the Power of Humans [Webapps]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/ItVT5PYZsI0/idthis-identifies-things-in-photographs-with-the-power-of-humans

Ever wanted to figure out what you're looking at but not sure where to start? If you've got a camera handy, snap a pic and upload it to web site id•this for a little help from the hive.

id•this is a simple but brilliant little web application that lets users upload photos of anything they're looking to identify. If you feel like offering your expertise to the site, you can try your hand at identifying any pics other users have uploaded. Users can also vote up and down other suggestions so that, in theory, the most accurate identification will rise to the top. (It's sort of like Yahoo Answers with a very specific niche.) Some users appear to be uploading pictures as quizzes instead of actual questions (e.g., "Can you identify this? Hint: It was taken on a Greek island."), but we think its greatest potential lies in actually getting answers—provided it gets a decent user base.

id•this is also available as a free iPhone application for even easier picture snapping, uploading, and identifying on-the-go. Pretty cool.

id•this [via TechCrunch]

Is This the Full-Frame 18-Megapixel Leica M9 and Mysterious Leica X1? [Rumor]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/hmR-WZJ5o1k/is-this-the-full+frame-18+megapixel-leica-m9-and-mysterious-leica-x1

A supposed shot of Leica's M9—expected to be announced 9/9/09—complete with specs, was found on this Flickr page that's now locked, and it looks way interesting: a full-frame 18-megapixel CCD sensor. Oh, and what's this, the Leica X1?

The X1 looks just as intriguing, actually, taking a different tack with a 12-megapixel CMOS APS-C sized sensor and funky grip handle. Neither of the pages look like obvious fakes to us, though the specs, which sound damn impressive, are obviously more up in the air authenticity-wise. Still, we'll know for sure come Wednesday, which we're a little more excited for right now. [Thanks Jonti!]

Push Google Voice SMS and Twitter Messages to iPhone With Prowl, No Growl Required [IPhone Apps]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/C8N5uDsmsaU/push-google-voice-sms-and-twitter-messages-to-iphone-with-prowl-no-growl-required

While Prowl's designed for push notifications from a computer running Growl—opening up a world of possibilities—GVMax and Prey Fetcher push Google Voice SMS and Twitter messages via the web, without your computer running Growl 24/7.

The downside is that you're trusting your Google Voice and Twitter logins to third-party services, but if you wanna get push notifications about @mentions or DMs from Twitter or SMS messages from Google Voice without keeping a computer running at home with Growl whenever you're out, they're the way to go.

Any other services that use Prowl this way? [GVMax, Prey Fetcher, Thanks Zachary!]

Sony X-Series Carbon Fiber Ultraportable: Half Inch Thin, 1.5 Pounds [Vaio]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/MaFVfEBPKAI/sony-x+series-carbon-fiber-ultraportable-half-inch-thin-15-pounds

The ultrathin Vaio we've known Sony's had in them: The X-Series is built with carbon fiber, so the 11.1-incher is 0.55 inches thin and weighs about 1.5 pounds (half a MacBook Air). Plus, Sony's promising crazy battery life.

Update: Aaaand that's cause it's apparently got an Atom processor inside Engadget's been told. Didn't Sony learn anything from the Vaio P?

For those keeping score on thinness, Adamo is 0.65 inches and weighs around 4 pounds, while MacBook Air's ballooning ass is 0.76 inches and it weighs about 3 pounds, though both of them have 13-inch screens versus the X-series 11.1-inch display. But still, Atom? And god, I don't even wanna know how much it's gonna cost. [Engadget]

Nokia Booklet 3G and N900 Will Come to America, Absolutely No ETA [Nokia]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/2MD3BsYLy_w/nokia-booklet-3g-and-n900-will-come-to-america-absolutely-no-eta

In a U.S. press briefing this morning, Nokia said that its Booklet 3G and the N900 will eventually be sold in the US of A. The company would not detail if they would be sold through carriers or simply unlocked (and in Nokia's U.S. based flagship stores).

Nokia's Vice President of Devices Kai Oistamo wouldn't answer anything in terms of availability and when asked if the Booklet 3G netbook would be sold before the end of 2009 he again would not "disclose any dates on the product launch in North America."

Now we have to admit that both products look pretty darn good. The N900 could change our tune on Nokia's impending doom and the Booklet 3G has some unique netbook features including assisted GPS. But on the later I'm just not sure it will be worth the wait. And sure there is a lot of interest (Oistamo even says the video of it "crashed the YouTube servers"). Come on, it is Nokia's first laptop. But it will most likely be overpriced ($810 without subsides is ridiculous) with a few special features. You tell me, would you wait on the Booklet 3G?

GE's Wireless Patient Monitoring System beams your vitals at 2360MHz

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/02/ges-wireless-patient-monitoring-system-beams-your-vitals-at-236/

GE's Wireless Patient Monitoring System beams your vitals at 2360MHz

Patients admitted to hospitals often find themselves with dozens of wires and cables strung from their every extremity -- trying to roll over at night resulting in a very large, expensive cat's cradle with the strings ending at sticky pads affixed to sensitive areas. GE is working on a solution, the Wireless Patient Monitoring System, which would accept signals from dozens of non-tethered sensors, beaming that data straight to the people who need to view it whether they be down the hall at the nurse's station or down the road at the driving range. The company is working with the FCC to develop a vendor-neutral frequency band exclusively for such devices to communicate over, the results of which will surely become the latest impediment for whitespace wireless approval.

Filed under: Wireless

GE's Wireless Patient Monitoring System beams your vitals at 2360MHz originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony announces VAIO X ultraportable

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/02/sony-announces-vaio-x-ultraportable/

Sony just announced the VAIO X at IFA 2009, a half-inch thin ultraportable with an 11.1-inch screen and a new all-day battery that "will set the new standard for stamina." The machine's built of carbon fiber, so it weighs just a pound and a half, and we're ~~assuming it's CULV-based~~, although there's no hard specs at the moment. We're racing to find out more, we'll let you know.

Update: We grabbed some shots of the X in the flesh, but they won't let us hold it, and specs are still a mystery.

Update 2: Well, no wonder the battery lasts all day -- we're told the VAIO X currently has an Atom processor, although final specs haven't been locked in. Still -- Atom? Whatever Sony's going to charge for this thing is way too much.

Gallery: Sony Vaio X in the flesh

Sony announces VAIO X ultraportable originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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