Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Thursday, February 07, 2008

The gigantic "HTC Magnum" is convenient, inconspicuous

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/229885459/

We're not really sure what to make of this supposed HTC "Magnum" that's been doing the rounds today. Sure, it looks like a gigantic, touchscreen HTC phone -- but we'd be hard-pressed to say this has any use outside of demo purposes and party time hijinks. Our guess is that this is a hilarious prank meant to thrill the interblogs, but it is possible that HTC has decided to move away from the tried-and-true handheld market to a more robust, manly line of products. Like a participant in a cat-fight, we won't "go there" on the specs, suffice to say, they make it sound really, really real. Check the video after the break to see the "phone" doing its thing, Ten Commandments-style.

Update: Yep, not real.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading The gigantic "HTC Magnum" is convenient, inconspicuous

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3G + N95 + JoikuSpot + WiFi + iPhone = 3G iPhone (the hard way)

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/230260585/

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

In the unlikeliest of unions since Julia and Lyle, we bring you some hot iPhone on N95 symbiotic action. Using the free JoikuSpot application released this morning, you can now turn any S60 smartphone into a WiFi hotspot. Yes, just like WMWifiRouter does for WinMo devices. Sure, the solution doesn't make much sense from locations with tethered Internet and you can't encrypt the http and https (only) traffic. But if you've ever been in a WiFi dead spot and needed to share access (think PSP gaming), this type of solution is pretty unbeatable. Assuming you have an unlimited data plan that is. Click the read link for the video.

[Via IntoMobile]

Read -- Video
Read -- JoikuSpot

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N-Gage First Access hacked for N95 8GB, others

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/230304147/

Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming

That didn't take long. A mere day after the release of Nokia's N-Gage First Access gaming preview exclusively to N81 users, the app has been cracked open to work with any N-series device with enough horsepower. The hack was performed by Nokia regular P@sco, and comes in a convenient downloadable form, or an only slightly involved guide to hacking the app yourself. No rocket science here, and while we're sure Nokia could easily fight back, what we've really got to ask ourselves is why didn't Nokia just open it to everyone in the first place?

[Thanks, Michael J.]

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Cut four undersea cables, shame on you, cut a fifth, also shame on you

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/230444664/

Filed under: Networking

If you're reading Engadget today because your favorite Iranian gadget blog is offline, here's why: a fifth undersea cable has now been reported as cut (or at least damaged), responsible for ~~knocking Iran~~ and a few other million people mostly off the interwebs. Things were already looking awfully suspicious when a fourth undersea cable in the Mediterranean was cut yesterday, and while nothing about a fifth cable being cut necessarily means some sort of sabotage is to blame, it's not exactly reassuring. Emergency measures are already underway to repair the cables, but we're not sure our inter-continental Quake III Arena deathmatch can handle any more snips.

[Via Slashdot; image courtesy of I Love Bonnie]

Update: Just to be clear, early reports of the entirety of Iran being offline turned out to be exaggerated or perhaps entirely false.

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SanDisk unveils a 16-gigabit, 3 bits per cell flash chips, plans to move 43nm NAND into production

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/230458948/

Filed under: Storage

Usually with SanDisk flash announcements we just list a new higher capacity and post a shot of a memory card with the new number on it, but this time around the announcements are little deeper: two new memory technologies. The first, which will go into production in March, is a 16-gigbit flash chip that contains three bits per cell, based on Toshiba's "3D" flash tech we heard about over the summer. The chip offers 8MB/sec write performance, but is much smaller than conventional MLC chips. Speaking of MLC, SanDisk also announced that it's moving forward on 43nm MLC fabrication, which will allow it to ship 32 gigabit flash chips in the latter half of the year. Either way, it looks like we're going to have a lot of memory cards with bigger numbers on them to post up soon, eh?

Read - 16-gigabit 3D chip
Read - 43nm NAND

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Samsung's 3D-capable PN42A450P plasma display hitting the States in March

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/230504278/

Filed under: Features, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Spotted at CES and out this month in Korea, Samsung's 3D-capable plasma is going to be making an appearance Stateside in March. The 42-inch and 50-inch PN42A450P TVs use the TriDef 3D tech from DDD Group, which costs $200 for two pairs of 3D glasses and the TriDef 3D software. Samsung's calling this the "world's first 3D-ready flat-panel HDTV," but didn't leave out the other fixins like a 15,000:1 contrast ratio, 18-bit color processing and three HDMI-CEC plugs. No word on cost, but you can't put a pricetag on those migraines.

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Acer's H5350 entry-level HD projector

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/230748438/

Filed under: Displays

So CeBIT '08 is just around the corner, and Acer's warming up for the monstrous international tradeshow with this little gem. The H5350 projector blasts out a 1280 x 720 image at 2000 ANSI lumens, a 2000:1 contrast ratio and a 28 dB noise level. It can accept inputs up to 1920 x 1080 in resolution from its HDMI input, and boasts a 4000 hour lamp life. No word on price or exact release date.

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Modu mystery unravelled, look ma, a modular handset

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/230759275/

Filed under: Cellphones

Mystery solved, modu is of course, a modular cellular handset -- the answer was in the name the whole time, clever. The fun begins with the idea that the actual handset can be slipped into "modu jackets" which let users completely change the look of their handset without having to replace it -- we see the potential for way too much glittery gem-encrusted foolishness here. The other half of the deal is slapping the modu into different modu-enabled consumer electronics, or "modu mates" -- think car stereos, photo frames, DAPs, and whatever else you can dream up. If we were betting types, we think modu is on to something pretty interesting here, and it seems with likes of Blaupunkt, Universal Music, and SanDisk already onboard, the Q4 launch might prove to be something special. We don't have any pics showing detail or any technical specs handy just now, but rest assured, we're going to be all over them at Mobile World Congress for more info.

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Numonyx (Intel and STMicroelectronics) already shipping phase-change memory samples

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/230824759/

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We hear this new phase-change memory stuff is awful special, which is why we're hoping to get our hands on some now that Numonyx (the "pospective" company founded last year by Intel and STMicroelectronics to make the stuff), is apparently shipping "Alverstone"-codenamed prototypes. Of course, with progress comes hype: according to Ed Doller, Numonyx's "prospective" CTO, "This is the most significant non-volatile memory advancement in 40 years." Show us the memory!

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Monday, February 04, 2008

2008 Super Bowl Spots

source: http://adage.com/superbowl08/article?article_id=124815

Anheuser-Busch

Title: Clydesdale Team

Brand: Budweiser

Agency: DDB, Chicago

Title: Endorsement

Brand: Bud Light

Agency: DDB, Chicago

Title: Language of Love

Brand: Bud Light

Agency: LatinWorks, Austin, Texas

Title: Breathe Fire

Brand: Bud Light

Agency: DDB, Chicago

Title: Ability to Fly

Brand: Bud Light

Agency: DDB, Chicago

Title: Wheel/Bottle Opener

Brand: Bud Light

Agency: DDB, Chicago

Title: Wine & Cheese Party

Brand: Bud Light

Agency: DDB, Chicago

Audi of America

Title: Piranha

Brand: Audi

Agency: Venables Bell & Partners, San Francisco

Bridgestone Firestone North America

Title: Unexpected Obstacles

Brand: Bridgestone

Agency: Richards Group, Dallas

Title: The Scream

Brand: Bridgestone

Agency: Richards Group, Dallas

Cars.com

Title: Stone Circle

Brand: Cars.com

Agency: DDB, Chicago

Title: Witch Doctor

Brand: Cars.com

Agency: DDB, Chicago