Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

BetterMe Helps You Give and Receive Honest Feedback Without the Awkwardness [Advice]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/gSoDS8CP2Hk/betterme-helps-you-give-and-receive-honest-feedback-without-the-awkwardness

It can be awkward asking for honest feedback from the people around you, but knowing how others perceive us is important to self improvement. New service BetterMe helps you solicit advice from others without putting them on the spot.

If you're wondering, for instance, if you talk too much during meetings, BetterMe can help you find out without cornering a co-worker to ask. Just sign up for a free account, then send an email to your colleagues via the service asking how you come across in meetings. They can respond to you anonymously and honestly, no hard feelings. Log in to your account to see responses and get feedback.

BetterMe can also be a tactful way to handle sharing feedback with others. Is the entire office annoyed at the team member who yaps away loudly on her cell phone all day? Use BetterMe to send a gentle—and anonymous—email to call her attention to the issue. Conversely, you can also use the site to send a verbal pat on the back to someone who's done a great job and deserves some praise.

Sure, there's the possibility that someone will misuse the service to deliberately hurt someone's feelings, but we think the premise of BetterMe is a great one. Many of us would love to get an honest opinion on everything from personality quirks to a new haircut, but don't want to corner our friends. BetterMe gives us a great way to ask others to help us improve without making them feel uncomfortable. Keep in mind that there's still a time and place for a good face-to-face, and in many instances confronting someone is actually important. For the other times, BetterMe is an interesting option.

BetterMe [via MakeUseOf]

Unofficial Better Gmail for Chrome Bends Gmail to Your Will [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/lmAQD5K52oQ/unofficial-better-gmail-for-chrome-bends-gmail-to-your-will

Chrome: We love Gina's Better Gmail Firefox extension, a bundle of user scripts that improves the Gmail experience. Now that Google's beefed up support for Chrome extensions, reader Dimitar Gruev has taken a shot at bringing an unofficial Better Gmail to Chrome.

Almost a year ago our own How-To Geek put together a version of Better Gmail for Chrome, but that was way back when Chrome didn't even have extensions (his were all bundled into a single user script). This new Chrome extension is an unofficial Better Gmail for Chrome that was inspired by Gina's Firefox extension and our earlier Better Gmail for Chrome bag o'scripts.

Once installed, access Better Gmail's options by clicking the wrench -> Extensions -> Better Gmail Options. Tick the boxes of the features you want activated and you're good to go. You can choose to hide little used fields like "Invite Friends," remove ads, show the number of unread emails in the favicon, and more.

Gruev says future versions of Better Gmail will hide spam count, move to next message on delete or archive, and include support for POP3 email. A big round of applause goes to Gruev for putting this together. What kinds of features do you hope for in future versions of Better Gmail? Share your ideas in the comments.

Better Gmail for Chrome [Chrome Extensions Gallery]

MIT Teaches Computers to Turn Sloppy Sketches Into Search Queries [Tablets]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/j-6phC4CjlU/mit-teaches-computers-to-turn-sloppy-sketches-into-search-queries

The compound sketched here is acetaminophen. Most wouldn't know that offhand and might struggle through messy Google searches in an attempt to find out. But what if our computers understood the sketch and we just had to voice our question?

Some folks at MIT figured out a way to turn what sounds like a sci-fi fantasy setup into reality. You grab a tablet computer, a smart whiteboard, or another device which allows for stylus-based input and draw out a molecule, a compound, or a circuit design. Then you ask your computer whether such an object exists anywhere in a database or on the Internet and if so, to identify it. Your trusty pal will not only be able to interpret your sloppy sketch and convert it into a query, but it will also be able to adjust to additional questions or demands for modification—even if you're simply pointing at the screen. What if you added an element here? What if this wasn't here? Is there something similar?

There's still plenty of work left to be done on this software—currently chemistry is its main topic—but we should soon see it developed further and adapted to other fields such as electrical engineering. I just can't wait for the day when I can doodle instead of trying to figure out how to Google search for "that thing with four triangles and a hexagon-like thingie on the side with the squiggly tail." [PopSci]

Inside Google's Secret Search Algorithm [Google]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/zzkIcilnJp4/inside-googles-secret-search-algorithm

Wired's Steven Levy takes us inside the "algorithm that rules the web"—Google's search algorithm, of course—and if you use Google, it's kind of a must-read. PageRank? That's so 1997.

It's known that Google constantly updates the algorithm, with 550 improvements this year—to deliver smarter results and weed out the crap—but there are a few major updates in its history that have significantly altered Google's search, distilled in a helpful chart in the Wired piece. For instance, in 2001, they completely rewrote the algorithm; in 2003, they added local connectivity analysis; in 2005, results got personal; and most recently, they've added in real-time search for Twitter and blog posts.

The sum of everything Google's worked on—the quest to understand what you mean, not what you say—can be boiled down to this:

This is the hard-won realization from inside the Google search engine, culled from the data generated by billions of searches: a rock is a rock. It's also a stone, and it could be a boulder. Spell it "rokc" and it's still a rock. But put "little" in front of it and it's the capital of Arkansas. Which is not an ark. Unless Noah is around. "The holy grail of search is to understand what the user wants," Singhal says. "Then you are not matching words; you are actually trying to match meaning."

Oh, and by the way, you're a guinea pig every time you search for something, if you hadn't guessed as much already. Google engineer Patrick Riley tells Levy, "On most Google queries, you're actually in multiple control or experimental groups simultaneously." It lets them constantly experiment on a smaller scale—even if they're only conducting a particular experiment on .001 percent of queries, that's a lot of data.

Be sure to check out the whole piece, it's ridiculously fascinating, and borders on self-knowledge, given how much we all use Google (sorry, Bing). [Wired, Sweet graphic by Wired's Mauricio Alejo]

10.1-inch ThinkPad X100e surfaces with Atom N450 processor

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/22/10-1-inch-thinkpad-x100e-surfaces-with-atom-n450-processor/

Well, here's a bit of an interesting development. While we've been seeing Lenovo's ThinkPad X100e out and about for a while now, it's always been with an AMD Neo processor and an 11.6-inch 1,366 x 768 display. According to a spec list that recently turned up on Lenovo's own site, however, it looks like the company may also have another version of the laptop in store that's even more netbook-like. That one not only includes a lower-res, 10.1-inch screen, but an Atom N450 processor as well -- something that had been rumored to be headed to Lenovo netbooks as far back as December. Unfortunately, there's no indication of pricing or availability, although it does seem a bit late in the game for this to simply be a slip-up of some sort.

10.1-inch ThinkPad X100e surfaces with Atom N450 processor originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DigitalRise X9 multitouch tablet reviewed, overpriced (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/22/digitalrise-x9-multitouch-tablet-reviewed-overpriced-video/

Hey, what's this? That DigitalRise X9 tablet we've heard to much about has been reviewed -- on video, to boot! The Atom-packing, 2GB slate doesn't look nearly as iPad-esque as we'd been led to believe from previous photos, and the much-ballyhooed multi-touch functionality doesn't seem quite as snappy as we'd like, but who knows? Maybe you've got $800 in your pockets and an urge to do some stylus-based computing: hit the source link to get started. As for the rest of us, I'm sure we'll be satisfied watching the thing in action after the break.

Continue reading DigitalRise X9 multitouch tablet reviewed, overpriced (video)

DigitalRise X9 multitouch tablet reviewed, overpriced (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Casio's GPS-equipped EX-10HG camera gets a price, launch date

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/22/casios-gps-equipped-ex-10hg-camera-gets-a-price-launch-date/

Last we saw Casio's GPS-equipped EX-10HG it was still in prototype form at CES, but the company was back with it again at PMA this week, and thankfully was a bit more talkative this time. The big news is that the camera will be available in October of this year, and will cost "around $400." That will get you a 12.1-megapixel camera that not only does geotagging of photos (with some accelerometer-based assistance when a GPS signal isn't available), but can even double as a navigation system in a pinch -- although it's still not exactly clear how fully functional that aspect of the camera will be.

Casio's GPS-equipped EX-10HG camera gets a price, launch date originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seagate ships 3.5-inch 2TB 6Gbps Constellation ES hard drive

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/22/seagate-ships-3-5-inch-2tb-6gbps-constellation-es-hard-drive/

Seagate's no stranger to the world of SATA 6Gbps, and if you really, really needed another option, here you go. The aforesaid company has just shipped what it calls the industry's first 2TB 6Gbps SAS enterprise drive, complete with a 7200RPM spindle speed and some sort of "best-in-class" reliability. And given the kind of thing that Seagate's own CEO recommends you use its drives for, you can be certain that you'll need that. Mum's the word on pricing, but 500GB and 1TB versions are also out there for those with less to archive.

Seagate ships 3.5-inch 2TB 6Gbps Constellation ES hard drive originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung PMA roundup: hands on HMX-U20, eyes on AQ100 and SL605

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/22/samsung-pma-roundup-hands-on-hmx-u20-eyes-on-aq100-and-sl605/

Samsung's curvaceous HMX-U20 was on display at PMA, but unfortunately one of its key selling points -- the optical 3x zoom -- was not working on the floor model.The picture itself was hard to see from the small LCD, so for now we're just gonna comment on the shape, which though unique and purported to be more ergonomic, to us seems like it'd be a pain in the pockets (of course, they didn't let us pocket it to find out, but we digress...). Also at the show were the waterproof AQ100 and scratch-resistant SL605, but unlike Sony's frosty setup, these weren't touchable. Don't let that stop you from enjoying the pictures below -- and don't forget our earlier hands-on impressions of the TL350 and TL500!

Gallery: Samsung HMX-U20 hands-on

Gallery: Samsung AQ100 and SL605 eyes-on

Samsung PMA roundup: hands on HMX-U20, eyes on AQ100 and SL605 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sigma trio espied at PMA, COO expresses interest in supporting 'mirrorless camera systems'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/22/sigma-trio-espied-at-pma-coo-expresses-interest-in-supporting/

Still no word on price, but Sigma's recently-announced DP2s, DP1x, and SD15 cameras were on hand at PMA, just out of reach of our greasy hands. A shame, really, but at least we managed to at least stand in the trinity's presence, right? Perhaps more interesting comes from the mouth of Chief Operating Officer Kazuto Yamaki, who in an interview with Digital Photography Review predicts that zoom lenses are in the future for mirrorless camera systems -- which, for those not hip to his jive, apparently include Olympus' and Panasonic's Micro Four Thirds shooters, Samsung's "hybrid DSLR" NX10, and quite possibly Sony's new Alpha compact concept. Color us intrigued, but as Yamaki noted, it's all a matter of whether or not the market picks up. Let's hope -- those cameras featured above? Closer shots below.

Gallery: Sigma DP2s, DP1x, and SD15 hands-on

Sigma trio espied at PMA, COO expresses interest in supporting 'mirrorless camera systems' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lenovo ThinkPad bumps bring X201, X201s, X201t, W701, and W701ds into the Core i7 fold

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/23/lenovo-thinkpad-bumps-bring-x201-x201s-x201t-w701-and-w701ds/

Lenovo's giving some of its ThinkPad flagships a nice little spec overhaul, specifically the X200 series of ultraportables and the spectrum-leaping W700 hardlyportable dual screen laptop. The new X201 and X201s start things off with a new option for touchpads on the 12.1-inch form factor, options for Core i7 and Core i5 processors, and sub-three pound weigh-ins on at least the 4-cell configuration. The X201s is slightly lighter and slightly thinner, and is limited to Core i7 procs, though neither version gets much under an inch thick. The X201t (pictured) is the well-leaked tablet version, adding on a bit more thickness in exchange for a highly configurable screen, which includes options for outdoor viewing, capacitive touch and of course pen input. All three laptops rely on Intel HD graphics and are rather extensively configurable, with batteries ranging up into the 12 hour ballpark with the 9 cell battery option on the X201 and X201s. Unfortunately you'll still have to look to Lenovo's consumer line for HDMI output -- none of these machines are packing anything other than VGA.

Meanwhile, on the other end of town, the 17-inch, Wacom-equipped W701 and W701ds (dual screen) are making the leap to Core i7 as well, though the Core i7-920 Extreme and Core i7-820 QM Quad Core on display here is fairly desktop class. There's also NVIDIA Quadro FX 3800M / 2800M graphics, and an option for a dual SSD drive configuration to really break the bank.

All of these laptops should be available in the beginning of March, with starting prices of $1,199 (X201), $1,599 (X201s), $1,549 (X201t), $2,199 (W701), and $3,799 (W701ds). Can't wait to find out more? We've got a review of the X201t all warm and ready for you.

Gallery: Lenovo ThinkPad X201 and W701 press shots

Lenovo ThinkPad bumps bring X201, X201s, X201t, W701, and W701ds into the Core i7 fold originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ViewSonic's new VNB131 ViewBook Pro puts an attractive spin on the 13.3-inch ULV laptop

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/23/viewsonics-new-vnb131-viewbook-pro-puts-an-attractive-spin-on-t/

Viewsonic isn't quite our go-to for excellent PC design just yet, but its new VNB131 ViewBook Pro is a surprisingly decently attractive alternative to the usual ULV fare from the likes of Acer and ASUS. Maybe it's just that touch of "1999" in the aluminum curves and accents that we're finding ourselves suddenly drawn to. Outside of the looks, the VNB131 is mostly pretty stock ULV: there's an Intel ULV SU7300 Core 2 Duo processor, 320GB HDD, 2GB of RAM, a DVD burner, HDMI, VGA, 802.11n and a 7-in-1 card reader. Interestingly, however, you can swap out the DVD drive for an extra 3 cell battery, which in conjunction with the stock 6 cell should offer up to 12 hours of battery life. We're sure you sacrifice a bit on weight and thickness for that luxury, and the price isn't best-in-class either at $949. Still, it's not bad for a company that's still thinks it's pulling one over on people by trying to rip the "MacBook Pro" below-screen lettering. It's available now, wherever ViewBooks are sold. Check out another shot of the laptop after the break, along with some fancy PR.

Continue reading ViewSonic's new VNB131 ViewBook Pro puts an attractive spin on the 13.3-inch ULV laptop

ViewSonic's new VNB131 ViewBook Pro puts an attractive spin on the 13.3-inch ULV laptop originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG's in-cell multitouch laptop displays get unveiled, certified with Windows 7 Touch Logo (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/23/lgs-in-cell-multitouch-laptop-displays-get-unveiled-certified/

Want evidence for the old saying that there's always something next to wait around for with technology? We've only just reviewed the most bodacious X200 Tablet from Lenovo, yet already there's a capacitive multitouch display that promises to be that little bit better. LG's in-cell multitouch technology places the touchy-feely parts inside -- rather than as a film on top of -- the LCD panel, which we're told eliminates the loss of picture quality and brightness that regular multitouch results in. It only works with two fingers so far, but LG is still pretty pleased with itself for being the first to gain the Windows 7 Touch Logo sticker with this technology, which was previously limited to cellphone-sized displays. Mass production is set for the second half of this year, and we'll go ahead and assume that local nemesis Samsung will be using every moment until then to offer its own competing models. Bring on the marginally better touchscreens! We've now got a video for you as well, you know where to find it.

Continue reading LG's in-cell multitouch laptop displays get unveiled, certified with Windows 7 Touch Logo (video)

LG's in-cell multitouch laptop displays get unveiled, certified with Windows 7 Touch Logo (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:24:00 EST. Please se! e our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba Portege M780 marries Core i7 with tablet ergonomics, goes official

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/23/toshiba-portege-m780-marries-core-i7-with-tablet-ergonomics-goe/

What would we ever do without our eagle-eyed readers? Bob has spotted the above M780 tablet PC from Toshiba (which we first heard of a couple of weeks ago) on the company's official site, though its product page has yet to be linked to from any of the home pages. So it's official, but sort of prematurely so. Browsing through the spec sheet, this update to the M750 seems to lack for nothing, as its maxed out variant (priced at $1,799) offers a 2.66GHz Core i7-620M, 4GB of DDR3 RAM and a 7200RPM 320GB hard drive. Okay, you could stand to upgrade those integrated graphics perhaps, but it's a potent package nonetheless. It's also interesting to see these 12-inch convertible tablets maturing to the point of offering viable workstation performance, as the M780 is joined by Lenovo's ThinkPad X201T and Fujitsu's upcoming tablet in offering Intel's finest and fastest dual-core processor inside.

[Thanks, Bob]

Toshiba Portege M780 marries Core i7 with tablet ergonomics, goes official originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday, February 22, 2010

Chinese Hacker Responsible For Google Attack Code Identified [Google]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/0kpwKZ_GV7Q/chinese-hacker-responsible-for-google-attack-code-identified

U.S. authorities have tracked down the man who wrote the code used in the hacker attack on Google. He's a "freelance security consultant" in China, and his participation makes it even harder for the Chinese government to deny involvement.

The man's role was an oblique one: while he wrote the code that took advantage of a security hole in Internet Explorer, he himself didn't do any actual hacking. But according to the Financial Times, the Chinese government has "special access" to his work:

"If he wants to do the research he's good at, he has to toe the line now and again," the US analyst said. "He would rather not have uniformed guys looking over his shoulder, but there is no way anyone of his skill level can get away from that kind of thing. The state has privileged access to these researchers' work."

The "research he's good at," apparently, being breaking into computers and inserting spyware on them.

Hopefully by identifying the writer of the code, analysts are closer to tracking down the actual persons responsible. But until then, it's increasingly clear that the Chinese government had a prominent role in the implementation. [FT]

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