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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

9 Examples Of Real Mind-Blowing Technology That You Haven't Heard Of Yet

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/incredible-technology-2013-9

Microsoft Star Trek

We're certainly not in Star Trek's neighborhood when it comes to technological capability, but the car is packed and ready to go.

While it's easy to lose yourself in daydreams of teleportation and interplanetary travel, already we can do amazing things, like turn the ocean into a big glass of drinking water.

A cancer-killing computer chip can run wild in a patient's bloodstream and wreak havoc on cancer cells.

NASA's even putting legitimate effort towards building a Star Trek-like warp drive system. So maybe we're closer to a science fiction universe than initially suspected.

Nanofiber salt filters could be used to harvest ocean water for drinking.

Living near the ocean may one day mean your drinking water is so plentiful that it's free or cheap.

Nanofiber is a fibrous material that's incredibly thin (less than 100 nanometers). It functions very effectively as a salt filter since individual grains of salt are too big to pass through the holes in the nanofiber.

Unfortunately they're cost prohibitive to deploy right now.

A cancer-killing computer chip could live in a patient's bloodstream.

It's called a "microfluidic" chip, covered in long strands of DNA. The DNA absorbs the malicious cancer cells, and if they need to be studied later, the cancer cells can be retrieved from the chip later.

Graphene supercapacitors could lead to the electric car of your dreams.

Imagine an electric car that could drive a couple hundred miles, then fully recharge its battery in one minute.

Graphene supercapacitors are what will make this possible. A supercapacitor can hold as much power as a battery, but they charge far more quickly. Graphene has a high energy density though, which is a fancy way of saying it can hold more electrons (and therefore electric charge) than a standard battery.

As graphene is no longer cost-prohibitive to manufacture at scale, graphene supercapacitors could easily end up in our phones, laptops, and basically anything that runs on a battery.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

drag2share: 24 'Geniuses' Just Won $625,000 To Spend However They Want

source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/2-pwLslSxNM/macarthur-fellowship-2013-winners-2013-9

Karen Russell The names of 24 MacArthur Fellows were revealed at midnight on Wednesday, bestowing recipients with a gift of $625,000, paid over five years, to be spent anyway they choose.

The so-called "genius awards" from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation have been handed out to around two dozen creative and talented Americans from all different fields every year since 1981.

The no-strings-attached money is intended to give recipients the freedom to pursue new ideas or move forward with their current work.

No one can apply for the awards. The fellows are chosen by an anonymous panel of experts, who inform the winners through a telephone call just a couple days before the official announcement.

This year, the fellows range in age from 32 to 60. There are several artists including a concert pianist, a playwright, and a choreographer of classical ballet. The other fellows include an organic chemist, a medieval historian, a behavioral economist, and an immigration lawyer.

You can see the full list of fellows at the MacArthur website.

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Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Use Google Analytics to Track Outgoing Gmail Messages

Source: http://lifehacker.com/use-google-analytics-to-track-outgoing-gmail-messages-1376730096

We've shown you before how to track your outgoing emails, but that can be costly and you might not need to track everything. With Google Analytics you can track emails on a per-message basis completely for free.

In the video above, engineer Amit Agarwal shows how to use this Google Drive spreadsheet script to set an Event tracker on an individual email. The process requires you to have a Google Analytics account (which is free, but requires a bit of set up), but once you're done it's relatively easy to add the tracker to an email, which can be handy for that one really important message you need to know has been seen.

How to Track Gmail Messages with Google Analytics | Digital Inspiration

Apple updates iMac with Haswell chips, available today starting at $1,299

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/24/apple-updates-imac/

While you would be excused for thinking the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c were Apple's latest offerings, you'd be wrong. Today, Cupertino has announced that the iMac range has been updated to include new silicon (Haswell) new GPUs and improved WiFi. The entry-level 21.5-inch iMac houses a 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 with iris Pro graphics, while the top spec version (both sizes) comes with 3.4GHz and NVIDIA GeForce 700 series graphics, plus the option to upgrade to core i7 at 3.5 GHz. That WiFi refresh brings "next gen" 802.11ac, and there's also support for PCIe-based flash storage meaning up to 3TB of Fusion drive, or 1TB SSD. The new models are available today, starting at $1,299 for the 21.5-inch, and $1,499 for the bigger display.

Archos GamePad 2 outed with quad-core CPU, higher-res display

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/24/archos-gamepad-2-leaked/

Even in the age of the NVIDIA Shield, dedicated Android gaming handsets are still a bit of a rarity, which is all more of a reason to take a gander at the leaked GamePad 2 from Archos. The device first reared its head at the FCC, and thanks to an online retailer -- which has since scrubbed all references to the product -- we're now treated to a press shot and a smattering of technical specs for the successor to the original GamePad. This time around, it's purported to sport a slightly more dense 1,280 x 800, 7-inch IPS display, along with a 1.6GHz quad-core CPU and 2GB of RAM. In addition to the previously available 8GB model, a new 16GB version is said to be in the works, and in both cases, the GamePad 2 will retain a microSD expansion slot. There's no word yet on pricing or availability, but you can bet that we'll hear more from Archos soon enough.

Filed under: Gaming

Via: SlashGear, Liliputing

Source: HKTDC (inactive)

Monday, September 23, 2013

drag2share: Here's A Peek At Facebook's New Way To Pay For Stuff With Your Smartphone (FB)

source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/1NvrtAgvMhM/a-peek-at-facebooks-autofill-2013-9

On Monday night, a small number of mobile Facebook users will gain access to a new feature, a way to easily pay for stuff with their phones.

Update: Facebook tells us that this is not a feature of the Facebook mobile app, but an option that developers can build into their own apps.

As we previously reported, the feature is called "Autofill with Facebook" and Facebook is slowly rolling it out to the public. Two mobile apps are participating in the test, men's clothing store JackThreads and photo book site, Mosaic.

Right now only users who have their credit card information stored in their Facebook profiles will be able to see the new feature.

This is not a competitor to PayPal. The feature works with PayPal, as well as as Braintree and Stripe.

This is a way to automatically fill in credit card information with a drop-down menu. It is to mobile shopping what autofill/autocorrect is to texting.

Facebook sent us a couple of photos of the new feature. Take a look:

JackThreads Facebook Autofill

Mosaic Facebook Autofill

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Coolpad intros 5.9-inch Magview 4 phone with CoolHub and cWatch accessories

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/23/coolpad-magview-4/

Oppo isn't the only company launching a 5.9-inch smartphone today. Coolpad has just unveiled the Magview 4, which mates a similarly large display with a 1.8GHz Tegra 4 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, a 13-megapixel f/2.0 rear camera and an aluminum chassis. The Android 4.2 handset doesn't offer as many built-in tricks as its Oppo counterpart, but it's arriving alongside a trio of clever accessories. The pocketable CoolHub combines a battery with a Bluetooth speaker, a microSD card reader and NFC tag support; the CoolHub 2 extends this with environmental sensors and a pedometer. Coolpad is also launching the cWatch C1, a waterproof smartwatch with alerts for calendars, calls and messages. While the company hasn't yet priced its add-ons, it will ship the Magview 4 to mainland China in October for ¥3,980 ($650).

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Mobile

Via: Engadget Chinese (translated)

Source: Coolpad

iPhone 5S And 5C First Weekend Sales Are Less Impressive Than They Seem

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-5s-and-5c-launch-results-reappraised-2013-9

Mobile Insights is a daily newsletter from BI Intelligence delivered first thing every morning exclusively to BI Intelligence subscribers. Sign up for a free trial of BI Intelligence today.

FirstWeekendiPhone

Once China Is Factored In, iPhone 5S and 5C Weekend Results Are Less Impressive (BI Intelligence)
Apple sold a combined 9 million units of the new iPhone 5S and 5C over the weekend. That seems far greater than the 5 million sold during last year's iPhone 5 launch, but looks can be deceiving. First, Apple launched not one but two devices. Also, unlike the new 5S and 5C, the iPhone 5 was not available in mainland China in its first weekend. Accounting for these factors, and our estimate for the sales mix between 5S and 5C, high-end iPhone sales would actually be dead-even with last year. Full analysis, data, and charts available to BI Intelligence subscribers. Click here to sign up for a 2-week trial. Read >

BlackBerry Lays Off 4,500 Employees After $950M Quarterly Loss (MarketWatch)
Struggling Canadian handset maker BlackBerry had its stock market shares halted Friday. This came on the heels of an announcement in which the company claimed a $950 million loss for the most recent quarter. The company's performance this past quarter will lead to a 40% reduction in its global workforce, about 4,500 people. Read >

BlackBerry Co-Founder Seeks Bid To Be Taken Private (New York Times)
BlackBerry's co-founder, Mike Lazaridis has begun aggressively reaching out to several private equity firms about a possible bid for the handset maker. Lazaridis and BlackBerry's other co-founder stepped down as executives last year in an attempt to hand over the company to a new executive team and spur growth. One year later, with no growth, BlackBerry continues to cede its already limited market share in the global smartphone market. A full-fledged buy out would likely lead to significant consolidation within the smartphone industry. Read >

BBM For Android Leaks, And BlackBerry Pulls BBM From iOS App Store (BlackBerry)
A leaked version of BlackBerry's popular messaging service, BBM, is forcing the company to put a hold on the global rollout of BBM for Android. Amid all the Android market confusion, BlackBerry also decided to pull the already released iOS version of BBM from the app store. BlackBerry reported that the unofficial Android app pulled in more than 1.1 million active users in just 8 hours. Read >

Microsoft Is Ready To Tackle Phablets (ZDnet)
At Microsoft's recent Financial Analyst Meeting, Executive Vice President Terry Myerson clued in on the company's future, claiming that phablets will be a critical part. He also mentioned that the convergence of Windows Phone 8 and Windows RT technologies may be imminent. Read & gt;

Photos Are Becoming The Next Cheap, Abundant Data, So We Need More Photo-Sharing Apps (David Lee)
David Lee, an angel investor in Silicon Valley, claims that photos are quickly becoming the newest well of cheap, abundant data. More cheap photo data will be necessary and beneficial in the long run for companies and services like Google Glass, Google Earth, connected cars, and others. Because of this, he feels the photo-sharing app landscape is wide open and ripe for many newcomers. Read >

Join the conversation about this story »

Android Turns 5 Years Old Today

Source: http://gizmodo.com/android-turns-5-years-old-today-1372692260

Android Turns 5 Years Old Today

Today in 2008, Google executives stood on stage and announced the much-rumored T-Mobile G1 (also known as the HTC Dream). It was the first commercial product to run a new, Linux-based operating system called Android. It turned out pretty OK.

T-Mobile Moto X gets updated with significant camera enhancements

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/23/moto-x-update-camera/

In our review of the Moto X, we determined that while its ClearPixel camera was decent, its performance was hit or miss. Fortunately, Motorola has taken a lot of feedback and has cranked out a software update with improvements to the camera's performance, specifically in the areas of exposure, color accuracy and focus speed. The refresh, which is so far getting pushed out to T-Mobile phones -- we expect it to roll out to other carriers as soon as each one is done testing the new firmware, though nothing is currently confirmed -- appears to make a rather substantial difference in several scenarios, such as reducing noise in low-light and eliminating haze in outdoor shots. Anandtech's Brian Klug had the opportunity to take the updated shooter for a test run and declared it to be "nothing short of the biggest [improvement] I've ever seen come across in an OTA update."

In addition to the camera improvements, Motorola also threw in a few other enhancements as well. Users who have downloaded the update should expect increased Touchless Control accuracy, a fix for the choppy audio issue some have experienced in voice calls and an improvement to Moto Assist as well.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Google, T-Mobile

Source: Anandtech

This Hanging Bed Is the Ultimate Tiny Apartment Hack

Source: http://gizmodo.com/the-bed-in-this-awesome-apartment-hangs-from-a-giant-sk-1370885942

This Hanging Bed Is the Ultimate Tiny Apartment Hack

Creative ways to hide your sleeping space are as old at the first murphy bed, but this might be a first: The owners of this London apartment have found a way to maximize their living space without resorting to a bed that folds into a closet.

Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear smartwatch for Sprint: ships October 4th with 'unlimited data for life'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/23/galaxy-note-3-galaxy-gear-smartwatch-sprint-ship-date/

As has become the norm, Sprint's primary differentiator is its "unlimited data for life" policy affixed to new flagships. Granted, the carrier isn't promising that the amount it charges for said data will remain the same for life, but at least you'll have the option to pony up for it. Following the footsteps of AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon, Sprint has announced that its version of the Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Gear watch will arrive on shelves October 4th. The former will cost $349.99 on a two-year contract (a full $50 more than most of its rivals), while the latter will go for $299.99 outright. Outside of being compatible with Sprint's LTE airwaves and including a bit of carrier-branded bloatware, the handset itself will be the same one that we've previewed extensively.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung, Sprint

Source: Sprint

Oppo N1 puts a 13MP camera on a hinge, keeps selfie addicts happy

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/23/oppo-n1-swivel-camera-phone/

Oppo's been prepping its photography-centric N1 for quite some time, but at last, the teasing stops today as the company unveils its first N-Lens series device in Beijing. We're looking at a 1.7GHz quad-core APQ8064 phone with a 5.9-inch 1080p display, a backside touch panel (for scrolling and taking photos) and a generous 3,610mAh battery, but the focus is obviously on the camera. Not only do you get a 13-megapixel imager with an f/2.0, 6-element lens plus dual LED, but it's also rotatable over 206 degrees! While THL's W11 beat the N1 to being the first phone with both a front and back 13-megapixel cameras, it's not as versatile as the latter's implementation, and it's ultimately all about the image quality.

In case you're wondering, Oppo said the N1's swivel camera has passed a 100,000-time rotation test, which works out to be seven years of usage if you rotate it 40 times a day. This is quite reassuring, given that you can also activate the camera -- which takes just 0.6 seconds -- with a rotation of over 120 degrees. Oppo also boasted that its camera's been tested in over 100 scenarios, which is apparently the highest in the industry. Other features include long exposure of up to 8 seconds, an updated version of Oppo's beautification algorithm, and support for video beautification in China's popular IM app, QQ. %Gallery-slideshow89972%

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Source: Oppo (Chinese)

Catch our Surface 2 liveblog tomorrow at 10:30 AM ET!

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/22/catch-our-surface-2-liveblog-tomorrow/

Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready to meet the follow-up to Microsoft's Windows 8 tablet? There's most definitely new Surface (and likely Surface Pro) hardware in store at tomorrow's NYC event, so you'll want to tune in as Ballmer and co. unveil the goods. Keep your browsers locked here from 10:30 AM ET and on -- we'll be updating you live from the NYC launch!

September 23, 2013 10:30:00 AM EDT

Filed under: Tablets, Microsoft

LG Vu 3 official: 5.2-inch 4:3 display, Snapdragon 800, 13MP camera, LTE-A

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/23/lg-vu-3/

Considering LG's G2 was leaked many times before it became official, we're a little surprised that the company managed to keep the Vu 3 under wraps before today (more or less, anyway). The Korean firm's latest Android smartphone drops the Optimus tag of its predecessor, but keeps the Vu series' signature 4:3 aspect ratio for its 5.2-inch IPS display (1,280 x 960 resolution). Specs include a Snapdragon 800 processor, 13-megapixel camera and LTE-A radio. Aside from the stylus, translucent QuickView cases and a couple of LG software titles we recognize (like guest mode and KnockON), there's not much else to glean from the Korean press release. If your linguistic skills (or Google Translate translation skills) are better than ours, however, the source awaits you.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG

Via: FoneArena

Source: LG

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Firefox for Windows 8 enters Aurora channel with touch and gesture support

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/21/firefox-for-windows-8-enters-aurora-channel/

The path to bring Firefox to Windows 8 may be longer than Mozilla had originally anticipated, but the first important milestone to its January arrival is now at hand. Firefox for Windows 8 has graduated into the Aurora (pre-beta) channel, which provides experienced users and tire kickers a more reliable alternative to the previous nightly builds. In this release, the browser includes touch and gesture support, and it even offers up Firefox Sync and Windows Share integration. There's plenty to appreciate on the backend, too, such as WebGL, asm.js and hardware-accelerated HTML5 video. According to Mozilla, it'll focus on improving performance and responsiveness over the coming weeks, which is something to look forward to, if your trial run is less than ideal.

Filed under: Internet

Source: Mozilla (1), (2)

drag2share: Apple iPhone 5s's A7 SoC built by Samsung, M7 processor comes from NXP

source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/20/apple-iphone-5ss-a7-samsung-m7-nxp/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget&ncid=rss_semi

Rumors swirled ahead of the iPhone 5s' launch that the silicon inside it would come from a source other than Samsung. Despite signing a deal with TSMC to manufacture future SoC's, Chipworks has confirmed that the A7 powering the new flagship iPhone comes from a familiar place: Samsung's fabrication facilities. Yet, while Apple couldn't cut the tie that binds it to its greatest rival for the main brain of the phone, it did manage to source the secondary M7 chip from NXP. Again, Chipworks discovered the M7's origin, and while we'd love to send you straight there for the nitty gritty now, it appears the site is currently down -- so, iFixit's secondary reporting of Chipworks' work will have to do... for n! ow.

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Friday, September 20, 2013

Article: Expanding camera lens combines insect, human vision

This hybrid approach could give smartphone cameras dynamic focus, and add depth to surgical imaging.

Insects' hemispheric eyes have a wide field of view and high resolution. What if they could be combined with the focusing abilities humans enjoy?

This lens from Ohio State University is a hybr...

http://news.cnet.com /8301-17938_105-57603728-1/expanding-camera-lens-combines-insect-human-vision/

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Article: Meet the newest cord cutters: college campuses

TV isn't coming back to school at Northwestern University this fall: The college decided earlier this year that it was going to turn off its campus-wide television service over the summer. "The decision to discontinue NUTV was the result of many factors including demonstrated non-use by our stude...

http://gigaom.com /2013/09/20/universities-tv-netflix-tivli /

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Hackers Mistake NASA For NSA, Take Down Wrong Home Page

Source: http://gizmodo.com/hackers-mistake-nasa-for-nsa-take-down-wrong-home-page-1350457603

Hackers Mistake NASA For NSA, Take Down Wrong Home Page

We're a little late to this party, but it's too fun not to share. Last week, a group of Brazilian hackers decided to get the NSA back for all its spying with a big huge cyberattack. And hack they did! The only problem is that they mixed up their acronyms, and hit NASA instead.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

LG G2 Review: A Braindead Hercules

Source: http://gizmodo.com/lg-g2-review-a-braindead-hercules-1349343131

LG G2 Review: A Braindead Hercules

You could put a helicopter engine on a motorcycle and fill it with rocket fuel, but if you put a toddler behind the wheel, it's not going anywhere. The same is true with phones; you can turbo-charge the processors and hardware, but if the software is stupid and terrible, you've got a stupid and terrible phone on your hands. This is that phone.

HP SlateBook x2 review: HP takes on ASUS with a dockable Android tablet

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/19/hp-slatebook-x2-review/

Until now, ASUS hasn't had much competition in dockable Android tablets. Sure, we've seen the odd model from Lenovo and other companies, but for the most part, "Transformer" has become one of those words like "Kleenex" -- you know, the kind that refers just as much to a category as a specific brand. Nonetheless, HP is throwing its hat in the ring. The SlateBook x2, only the company's second Android tablet, is a 10-inch slate that competes on price as much as performance. For $480, the keyboard dock comes included, and the tablet itself boasts some top-notch specs, including a 1,920 x 1,080 screen and a Tegra 4 processor. And, of course, in addition to being a keyboard, that dock has a built-in battery of its own, promising to extend the total runtime to up to 12.5 hours. So is it good enough that you'll remember not to call it a Transformer?%Gallery-slideshow88713%

Filed under: Tablets, HP

Google makes its Quickoffice app free for both Android and iOS users

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/19/google-makes-its-quickoffice-app-free-for-both-android-and-ios/

Less than two weeks after Apple decided to make iWork free for new iOS devices, Google went and did us one better: it's offering its Quickoffice suite for free, to both Android and iOS users. If you recall, the apps have actually already been free to Google Apps subscribers, specifically, but now the offer applies to anyone, regardless of when they activated their device or what OS version they're using. As an added incentive, if you sign in to your Google Account from the Quickoffice app by September 26, 2013, you get 10 gigs of extra storage space for two years. And that's all there is to it. Hit up the source link for more details, if you need them, or else find the app on Google Play or the App Store.

Source: Google (Google+), Google Play, iTunes

HP lays claim to the first fanless Haswell PC and the first Leap Motion laptop

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/19/hp-envy-17-leap-motion-edition-spectre-13-x2/

What do a fanless PC and a motion-controlled laptop have in common? Nothing, really; just that HP is going to be first to market with both of these things. After teasing a fanless tablet back in June, the company has formally announced the Spectre 13 x2, which isn't actually a tablet so much as a hybrid laptop. Additionally, HP unveiled a special edition version of its Envy 17 notebook with a Leap Motion controller built into the palm rest.

Starting with the Leap Motion machine, this is truly the same Envy 17 that's already on the market, complete with an aluminum chassis, backlit keyboard and generous Beats branding. Except, you know, it has a conspicuous motion sensor below the keyboard, allowing you to control games and other apps using hand gestures. Per Leap Motion's requirements, HP includes a shortcut to Leap Motion's Airspace Store, where there are currently 100-plus apps and counting. (If you read our review, you know the selection is hit or miss.) Once you calibrate the sensor, you can turn the controller off by pressing the spacebar plus the Fn key; a small LED indicator will light up to let you know when it's on. Surprisingly, too, that the sensor doesn't add to the thickness of the laptop, as the module only measures 3.5mm thick (granted, a 17-inch machine probably has plenty of leeway inside the chassis). Look for it October 16th, with a starting price of $1,049.99 and your choice of Intel processors and NVIDIA graphics.%Gallery-slideshow88784%

Filed under: Laptops, HP

Article: Small, Stackable And Cheap, Microduino Puts ‘Arduino In Your Pocket’

Microduino Studio wants to make Arduino more accessible by creating a smaller, flexible and cheaper hardware addition to the prototyping platform. All Arduino-compatible boards and extension modules created by Microduino are about the size of a quarter and stackable, which makes it easy to build ...

http://techcrunch.com /2013/09/16/small-stackable-and-cheap-microduino -puts-arduino -in-your-pocket/

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Article: HP packs cool tech into its fall line-up of tablets and laptops

Hewlett-Packard is unveiling a bunch of fall consumer PCs today with a variety of bells and whistles, including its first consumer laptop with integrated gesture controls from Leap Motion.

The machines reflect more creative designs that are aimed at bringing back the mojo to personal computers ...

http://venturebeat.com /2013/09/19/hp -packs-leap-motion-and-other-cool-tech-into-its-consumer-pc-line-up/

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drag2share: Bloomberg: Staples and RadioShack remove Amazon lockers from stores

source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/18/staples-radioshack-remove-amazon-lockers/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget&ncid=rss_semi

Perhaps placing Amazon lockers right within the confines of a couple of its toughest competitors might not have been such a great idea after all. Several months ago, Staples and RadioShack agreed to add the online retailer's lockers inside a few brick and mortar locations so that Amazon customers could choose to pick up their goods at the store instead of missing a delivery, with the host retailer getting a small fee in exchange. According to Bloomberg however, Staples and RadioShack have now decided to yank the lockers from their stores. Staples claimed the Amazon deal "didn't meet the criteria" that was set up, while RadioShack stated that the lockers "didn't fit with its strategy." We can't say we're terribly surprised to see the rivals part ways, but hey, at least you can still find an Amazon locker in select 7-Elevens.

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Nikon's AW1 is the world's first waterproof interchangeable-lens digital camera (hands-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/19/nikon-aw1/

Have any interest in bringing an interchangeable-lens camera along on your next snorkeling adventure? You could pick up a pricey DSLR housing, sure, but you might want to consider Nikon's new 1-Series AW1, the first digital device of its kind to score an integrated waterproof enclosure. An O-ring combines with a regular bayonet lens fitting to create a reassuringly tough seal that will survive down to a depth of 49 feet, at the expense of requiring just a little bit more time and physical effort to swap lenses. You'll need to re-surface before attempting that, of course, and you'll also have to make sure you're using one of just two waterproof pieces of glass: either a 11-27.5mm f/3.5-5.6, which comes as part of the kit, or a wide 10mm f/2.8 lens that is sold separately. Regular 1-series lenses will still fit on the AW1, courtesy of a little accessory, but they won't offer any of the ruggedness of the dedicated pair -- which means you'll miss out on the water-proofing, dust-proofing, freeze-proofing (to 14-degrees Fahrenheit) and shock-proofing (from a maximum drop of 6.6 feet).

Internally, the AW1 is similar to the CES-era J3. There's the same 14.2-megapixel CX-format sensor and 6400 top ISO, along with 1080p video capture, but the new model adds thrill-seeker essentials like an altimeter, depth gauge, GPS, compass and an accelerometer-powered option for switching modes with one hand. Finally, at risks of startling the little fishes, there's also pop-up flash that works underwater. All this will set you back $800 with the 11-27.5mm lens, when the AW1 ships next month, while the 10mm f/2.8 will be $200 more. Oh, and check out the hands-on video after the break to see how the AW1 fares in our own, hastily compiled durability test.

Update: As some particularly knowledgeable readers have spotted, the AW1 is the first digital waterproof ILC, but not the first if you count the celluloid Nikonos series. Thanks guys -- the post has been tweaked.%Gallery-slideshow85051%%Gallery-slideshow88714%

Filed under: Cameras, Nikon

drag2share: New Internet Explorer Is 30% Faster Than Other Browsers, Microsoft Says (MSFT)

source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/2KMVXEOm1Ms/ie-11-is-30-faster-microsoft-says-2013-9

Internet Explorer 11

Despite the gains made by Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, Internet Explorer is still the most popular web browser and Microsoft hopes to keep it that way.

To that end, Microsoft on Wednesday released a "preview version" of the next incarnation of the browser for Windows 7, IE 11. Microsoft says IE 11 runs 30% faster than other browsers, according to benchmark tests.

This browser has many of the features of the IE for Windows 8.1. For instance, it supports multi-touch gestures. While there's scant few Windows 7 touch PCs out there, this will be helpful for enterprises buying new Windows 8 touch PCs and "downgrading" the operating system to Windows 7, which their enterprise licenses allows them to do.

The browser has some new features for developers, too, like support for something called F12 developer tools, which helps Web developers analyze their HTML code. Plus, it supports a Web standard called WebGL for 3D graphics.

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Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Verizon speaks out on Nexus 7 LTE activation, expects it will be certified 'shortly'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/18/verizon-nexus-7-lte-certification/

Despite the wide LTE support featured on the Nexus 7 2013's cellular modem-equipped model, early buyers have found Verizon won't activate it for a new line on the Big Red Network. The company responded officially on the matter today, explaining that its 4 - 6 week certification process must be completed first. The process apparently began in August, and spokesperson Debi Lewis said the company expects that to happen "shortly." The whole process is actually laid out on Verizon's website and shows how the testing is undertaken by a third party lab of the manufacturer's choosing -- feel free to read through it during the days / weeks your new Nexus 7 isn't connecting to LTE.

Filed under: Tablets, Wireless, Mobile, ASUS, Google, Verizon

Source: Verizon Wireless

Sharp's 70-inch, THX-certified Aquos Ultra 4K TV goes on sale in the US for $7,500

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/18/sharp-70-inch-aquos-4k-tv-usa/

Sharp's 70inch, THXcertified Aquos Ultra 4K TV goes on sale in the US for $7,500

We are well past mid-August, which is when Sharp initially estimated its new 70-inch Aquos 4K Ultra HD LED TV would begin hitting shelves. Despite the late arrival, however, something tells us folks will still be glad to have yet another choice when shopping for their next 4K television set. To make things better, Sharp's super high-res, THX-certified Smart TV is set to be carrying a $7,499.99 MSRP here in the States, making it about $500 cheaper than when it was originally announced. Those of you interested shouldn't have trouble finding one, as Sharp says it'll be available at many regional and major retailers across the country.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

Source: Sharp

Kogan debuts second Agora smartphone: 5-inch 720p display, 1.2GHz quad-core CPU, Jelly Bean, $189

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/18/kogan-agora-smartphone-mark-ii/

Kogan's Agora brand may not drive techies wild like Galaxies or iThings do, but its motto is clear: try to deliver reasonable hardware at the lowest possible price. The company's first bid for a piece of the smartphone pie launched earlier this year, and today we're learning of its sequel. Design-wise, this second Agora handset is a little curvier than the last, with a soft key replacing its predecessor's physical home button. A 5-inch, 720p IPS LCD display occupies the face, and inside we're looking at a 1.2GHz quad-core MT6589 Mediatek SoC (Cortex-A7), 1GB of RAM and 4 gigs of internal storage, expandable with up to 32GB cards of the microSD variety. It runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, hosts two SIM slots, an 8-megapixel main camera, 2-megapixel front-facer, 2,000mAh removable battery and 3G (850 / 1900 / 2100), WiFi (802.11b/g/n) and Bluetooth 4.0 antennae.

Most importantly, it costs $189, £149 or 199 Aussie dollars -- it's up for order now at the relevant source links and is expected to ship to the US, Australia, the UK and other European countries, as well as a couple of Asian markets starting October 3rd. We're hoping to get a review unit through soon, so keep an eye out over the coming weeks for our impressions. In our opinion, anything that rings up at under $200 is worth a fair trial.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Source: Kogan (UK), (Aus), (US & elsewhere)

drag2share: DOLLAR TANKS, RATES COLLAPSE, STOCKS EXPLODE TO ALL-TIME HIGHS

source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/-i4fAFOzMw0/markets-react-to-fomc-2013-9

The Federal Reserve's FOMC statement is out, and it's a shocker!

The Fed is NOT TAPERING its massive $85 billion large-scale asset purchase program.

Almost no one expected this.

The Dow went from -40 to +63 in the blink of an eye.

The S&P 500 got as high as 1,718, which is an all-time intraday high.

The U.S. dollar tanked, and gold spiked.

The 10-year Treasury note yield tanked to 2.76% from around 2.86% before the announcement.

Here's the market action charted via Bloomberg's Michael McDonough:

market chart

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drag2share: Bloomingdale's Figured Out How To Stop Customers From Wearing Expensive Items Once And Returning Them The Next Day

source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/loWWyIG0qFA/bloomingdales-black-tags-on-clothes-2013-9

strapless dresses school dance

Bloomingdale's has figured out a way to keep customers from wearing expensive items for big events and returning them the next day.

The retailer is putting three-inch black plastic tags in visible places on garments so the wearer can't easily conceal them, report Cotten Timberlake and Renee Dudley at Bloomberg. Once the clunky tag is removed, shoppers aren't allowed to return the item.

The practice of buying an item with the intention of wearing it once and returning it is called "wardrobing."

Shoppers are notorious for "wardrobing" for big-ticket items like prom dresses and other formalwear.

The problem cost the industry $8.8 billion last year, according to the National Retail Federation.

But Nordstrom told Bloomberg that it didn't plan on emulating Bloomingdale's strategy.

“Our experience is that if you treat the customer with respect, they respect you back,” spokesman Colin Johnson said.

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Sony Cyber-shot QX10 review: a WiFi 'lens camera' that mounts directly on your smartphone

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/18/sony-qx10-review/

Earlier this month at IFA, Sony introduced an entirely new type of point-and-shoot camera. The QX10 and its big brother, the QX100, are missing a built-in LCD. Instead, framing, image review, configuration and even storage are all handled on another device: your smartphone. These "lens cameras," as they've become unofficially known, mount directly on a handset you already own, pairing with Sony's PlayMemories Mobile app via WiFi. The benefits are considerable. The absence of a display allows for a more compact body, improved power efficiency and a lower price tag. The QX100, for example, includes the same optics as Sony's flagship RX100 Mark II, but retails for $500, compared to $750 for its fully equipped counterpart. The QX10 is the more mainstream of the two, with a smaller footprint and an affordable $250 price tag. We focus on this model just below.%Gallery-slideshow85039%

Filed under: Cameras, Peripherals, Sony

iTunes Radio now rolling out in iTunes 11.1 update, brings Spotify-like streaming to the desktop

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/18/itunes-radio-now-rolling-out-in-itunes-11-1-update/

The release of iOS 7 is undoubtedly the big Apple news of the day, but there's another new product rolling out with it as well: iTunes Radio. The Spotify-like feature, which was announced during Apple's iPhone event last week, is part of the new iTunes 11.1 and allows users to create custom radio stations based on their personal music libraries or musical proclivities (e.g., genre, artists, track, etc.). Naturally, the service, like its competitors, is freemium, so you'll have to pony up $25/year for iTunes Match in order to keep the hits coming sans advertisements. The update should be hitting all Macs running OS X 10.6.8 and up now, so while you're frantically hitting refresh on that iOS update, you may as well check for this -- or head to the source below for the download link.

Filed under: Desktops, Software, Apple

Source: Apple

PiCon Gives You Easy Control Over Your Raspberry Pi

Source: http://lifehacker.com/picon-gives-you-easy-control-over-your-raspberry-pi-1333823088

PiCon Gives You Easy Control Over Your Raspberry Pi

The Raspberry Pi has all kinds of setting hidden away inside its configuration file. If you don't want to mess about with that, PiCon is a program that allows you to easily set up your Pi without mucking around in the config.txt file.

PiCon is cross-platform and it simply creates a config.txt file that you can save to your Raspberry Pi. It's packed with all kinds of options for the Raspberry Pi, including forcing HDMI, changing aspect ratio, rotating the screen, and more. You can do all this stuff from the command line on the Pi if you want, but PiCon makes it easy to see all your options in one place. After you create the file, just upload it to your Raspberry Pi and you're all set.

PiCon, the Raspberry Pi Configuration Manager | Raspberry Pi Forums via Make

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