Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

NEC Wireless USB Prototype Just As Fast As USB 2.0 [Wireless USB]

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/372855816/nec-wireless-usb-prototype-just-as-fast-as-usb-20

Wireless USB has finally begun to match regular USB 2.0 speeds, making our inevitable launch into a life untethered by the confines of copper and rubber cabling all the more forthcoming. At the Fall 2008 Intel Developer Forum, NEC unveiled a WUSB prototype that transfers at speeds of 200Mbits per second. The company didn't mention the effective range or when it plans on commercializing its new technology, but it's still exciting news for all of us who have trouble finding our desks under the tangle of our various USB doohickeys. [Tech On via EverythingUSB]

Spitzer Space Telescope Celebrates 5th Birthday With Portrait of Stellar Nursery [Happy Birthday]

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/373062741/spitzer-space-telescope-celebrates-5th-birthday-with-portrait-of-stellar-nursery

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, the last of the space agency's Great Observatories satellites to launch, celebrated its fifth birthday recently... giving me the opportunity to post this amazing multigenerational picture of star-forming region in the constellation Cassiopeia, 6,500 light-years from Earth. The photo takes in an area equivalent to four full moons and puts on show how one generation of massive stars can give birth to the next.

The $800 million telescope, which was named after the first man to propose putting telescopes in space, Dr. Lyman Spitzer Jr., launched on August 25 2003 from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Its mission will conclude when its onboard helium supply is exhausted—estimates from 2007 put that date at April 2009. So happy birthday, Spitzer Space Telescope! May you continue to provide us with awesome pictures for the last leg of your journey! [Cosmiclog]

The Latest Gear Behind 3D Movie Making [3D Movie Making]

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/373068832/the-latest-gear-behind-3d-movie-making

DLP recently teamed up with former LucasFilms effects studios Kerner Optical and Tippett Studios to work on a stereoscopic 3D Trailer for their cinema projectors. Pushing this style of filmmaking (kinda like the 3D attractions at theme parks) forward was something they were all excited about, and they took me around Kerner Optical's facility and showed me the latest camera gear they used to make the 3D trailer.

Seeing the camera setup in person is pretty awesome. It consists of two cameras — one facing straight forward in a horizontal orientation, and one facing straight down, in a vertical position. Between them sits a mirror, angled at roughly 45 degrees, that acts as a beam splitter, directing the image to the vertically facing camera and helping to create the 3D effect.

While the vertical camera remains stationary, the horizontal camera slides from left to right. In doing so, the intensity of the 3D effect varies according to position as the pictures from the two cameras phase in and out. Once the camera has done its job, its up to the viewing apparatus to carry out the rest of the magic.

Kerner Optical uses special LCD monitors with the ability to display 3D images with the help of polarized glasses. Many rear-projection DLP televisions actually do the same thing, but a lack of content support has kept the technology obscured from most owners.

Many people in ! the indu stry are pushing for 3D filmmaking to take off, as they think it's the next big technical innovation in movie production. Personally, I'm all for it, because it really is fun to watch, but until the industry finds a way to get the same effect without glasses , I'm not sure mainstream acceptance will be easy. [DLP and Kerner]

Olympus Hazard-Proof Tap-To-Snap Stylus 1050 SW and Its Skinny Sidekick, the 1040 [Digital Cameras]

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/373945473/olympus-hazard+proof-tap+to+snap-stylus-1050-sw-and-its-skinny-sidekick-the-1040

Olympus' tough-as-nails Stylus 1050 SW updates the 1030 SW with a tap-control feature that makes it easy to take pictures in extreme environments. While the specs are nearly identical to the 1030—10.1MP, 5 feet shockproof, 10 ft. waterproof, 14°F freezeproof—the 1050 uses an accelerometer to allow button-free control. Tapping the top, back or sides of the camera cycle through different options, so you can make adjustments to your pictures even if you're wearing gloves. It'll be out in October, and for $300, I'd tap that. The Stylus 1040, one of the best looking Olympus point-and-shoots we've seen, down below.

The 1040 is a super-slim cam, and in fact, the thinnest Stylus yet. It ditches the big zoom lens typical of other Olympus cameras for a more common slick, boxy style with flat controls on the back. As far as specs go, it's basically the 1050 SW without the huevos, a 10.1MP point-and-shoot with 3x optical zoom and a 2.7" LCD screen. Also out in October, the 1040 will run $200. [Olympus]

Albatron intros Tee PC mini tablet

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/372087528/

Filed under: Tablet PCs

Albatron apparently had a prototype of one of these on display at Computex earlier this year, but it looks like it's now nailed everything down and taken the wraps off the final version of its very first so-called "mini tablet PC," which is now officially dubbed the Tee PC (or Tee PC Rocker, according to the box). This one bucks the current trends with a 400MHz ARM926 processor, which leads off the spec list that also includes a 7-inch 800 x 480 touchscreen, a whopping 128MB of RAM, 128MB of NAND Flash, an SD card slot for expansion, built-in WiFi and Bluetooth and, last but not least, Windows CE 6.0 for an OS. Unfortunately, while it's apparently "ready for market," there's no word on a price or release date just yet. Then again, unless it really undercuts some of the other tablets and netbooks on the market, we can't quite see this one shaking things up too much.

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Intel slips new Core 2 Duo "S" processors out the door

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/372164453/

Filed under: Laptops

Not exactly many surprises here, but it looks like Intel used its big Developer Forum this week to finally, and quietly, get official with its tiny new Core 2 Duo "S" processor, which is the stock version of the processor used in laptops like the MacBook Air and Voodoo Envy 133. The new 45nm processors boast same 1,066MHz system bus and 6MB of Level 2 cache as the newer Core 2 Duos, and will apparently be available in 1.6GHz and 1.86GHz versions to start with (dubbed the SL9300 and SL9400, respectively). That, of course, hasn't stopped folks from speculating that Apple will once again go its own way and push well past the 2.0GHz mark for its seemingly imminent MacBook Air revision, but we'd recommend waiting for some official word out of Cupertino before getting too excited about that tantalizing possibility.

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Archos 5, 7 internet media tablets now on sale

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/372275335/

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

It's just been a few short days since Archos took the wraps off its new Archos 5 and Archos 7 "internet media tablets," but if you're already sold, you can now get your order in for one of 'em on Amazon (and no doubt plenty of other places shortly). Prices start at $350 for the lowest-end 60GB Archos 5, and go all the way up to $550 for a 320GB Archos 7. You can also take your pick from a range of accessories, including a DVR Snap-On or more full-fledged DVR Station ($80 and $100, respectively), a Battery Dock for $50, a Mini Dock for $30, and even a Helmet Camcorder for $130. Just don't expect any of that to arrive right away -- everything's listed with a two to four week shipping estimate.

[Via I4U News]

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ASUS launches a slew of new laptops

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/372869629/

Filed under: Laptops

ASUS took a break from cranking out an endless series of Eee PCs to revamp some of its traditional laptop lines today, here's what you need to know:

B50A business laptop: 15.4-inch screen, Penryn Core 2 Duos on Intel's GM45 Express chipset with ASUS's Expressgate SplashTop implementation and integrated X4500 graphics, max 4GB RAM and 320GB drive, spill-resistant keyboard, Bluetooth, WiFi, dual-layer burner, 1.3 megapixel webcam.
F8 laptops (pictured): 14.1-inch WXGA screen, Penryn Core 2 Duos with 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470 graphics with Express Gate, TV tuner with remote control, up to 4GB RAM and a 320GB drive, 1.3 megapixel swivel webcam, five available colors.
F6 "scented" laptops: 13.3-inch screen, lids feature five available graphics and fragrances (really), Penryn Core 2 Duos with 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3470 graphics with Express Gate, TV tuner with remote control, up to 4GB RAM and a 320GB drive, fingerprint scanner.
G71V and G50V "Republic of Gamers" laptops: 17-inch (G71) and 15-inch (G50) gaming laptops with up to Intel Core 2 Quad QX9300 processors and 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 9700M GT graphics, 4GB of RAM, 2x 500GB hard drives, dual-layer burner, 2.0 megapixel swivel webcam, LED lighting effects, gaming hotkeys.

No pricing or ship dates yet, but we'll get you those as they come in.

Read - B50A
Read - F8
Read - F6
Read - G71V and G50V

[Via i4u, thanks Vinit]

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New 80GB PS3 provides minimal power savings, might have 65nm RSX GPU

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/373147030/

Filed under: Gaming

Last we heard, it was still up in the air somewhat as to whether upcoming PlayStation 3 consoles would house the elusive 65-nanometer RSX graphics processor. According to a curious buyer of Sony's newest 80GB unit, there is a smidgen of data that hints at a 65nm chip actually being under the hood. By using the oh-so-scientific Kill-A-Watt, he discovered that his older 40GB PS3 sucked down 125.8-watts when idle, while the fresh 80GB edition ate up just 111.9-watts. The findings were similar when looking at power draw during DVD playback and while spinning Metal Gear Solid 4. Unfortunately, this mighty fine fellow is planning to return the new unit after being disappointed by the minimal energy savings, so he's not apt to rip the thing open and prove once and for all what kind of GPU is in there. Meanwhile, we heartily suggest that someone do just that and put this question to bed.

[Thanks, Khattab]

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MIT working up microbatteries to power implantable medical sensors

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/373776488/

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

In the never-ending quest to make even the smallest devices on Earth a touch smaller, a talented team of MIT engineers have developed a method for creating and installing microbatteries, which could eventually power a plethora of diminutive devices including "labs-on-a-chip and implantable medical sensors." It's bruited that this is the first time in which "microcontact printing has been used to fabricate and position microbattery electrodes and the first use of virus-based assembly in such a process," and while you'd likely have to be a colleague to even digest that, the take away is that these gurus are one step closer to generating battery-powered Scrubbing Bubbles. And your shower could use 'em.

[Via PCMag]

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IOGEAR's Wireless USB to VGA kit extends your monitor sans wires

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/373953963/

Filed under: Displays, Peripherals, Wireless

Wireless VGA? Been there, done that. Wireless USB to VGA? Hello, IOGEAR. Said outfit has just revealed the world's first Wireless USB to VGA kit that enables users to extend or clone their desktop to another monitor sans wires. Certified by the USB-IF, this unit enables any machine with a spare USB port to stream video to a TV or projector with resolutions as high as 720p. So long as your USB dongle is plugged into your machine and the VGA adapter is connected to a display, you'll be good to go within a 30-foot radius. According to IOGEAR, the product is only compatible with Windows XP 32-bit or Vista 32- / 64-bit, but those with no qualms about that can grab one next month for $229.95. Full release after the jump.

Continue reading IOGEAR's Wireless USB to VGA kit extends your monitor sans wires

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Wednesday, August 20, 2008

NSF Tells The Story of The Birth of The Internet

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/OmMalik/~3/368239285/

National Science Foundation has put together a really great web site that tells the story of the birth of the Internet, using videos, presentations and documents from its archives. The history is divided into decades, and there is a special section devoted to Mosaic developed at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications in the early 1990s. It should be on your things to do today. Awesome!

Get the Wall Street Journal Free on Your BlackBerry, Even If You Aren't Gordon Gekko [BlackBerry]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/369265324/get-the-wall-street-journal-free-on-your-blackberry-even-if-you-arent-gordon-gekko

I only read two sections of the WSJ, partly because it's behind a pay wall, though there are ways around it. Their new Mobile Reader for BlackBerry drops the entire paper for free, constantly updated, right to your phone in an interface that actually works. Silicon Alley Insider says it's the best newspaper app for any phone yet.

Click the headline once and you see a paragraph summary—click again to read the whole article, which only takes 10 secs to load on EDGE. And you can save stories for subway or air reading. No word on an iPhone version specifically, but the Journal told us that the reader is "currently in development" for "other smartphone platforms." It makes sense to hit BlackBerry first since that's what the suit-and-tie, richer-than-you crowd—the WSJ's audience—are toting by and large. If you've got a BlackBerry, there's no reason to not grab this. If you don't read the Journal, try it, it'll make you smarter (maybe not the editorial pages, but the rest of it will). [WSJ via Silicon Alley Insider]

Visa and Eight Banks Test Real-Time SMS Notifications For Transactions [Credit Card]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/369426825/visa-and-eight-banks-test-real+time-sms-notifications-for-transactions

Visas and eight banks ("PNC Bank, SunTrust Bank, U.S. Bank, Wachovia, and Wells Fargo in the United States, and Royal Bank of Canada, TD Bank Financial Group, and Vancity in Canada") are testing real-time SMS notifications whenever your card makes one of a few types of transactions. The 2000 pilot beta customers can pick alerts for ATM cash withdrawals, internet or telephone charge, an out-of-country charge or a charge that's over a pre-defined amount. You can choose to have these alerts go to your phone or your email (if you're cheap like us and don't want to burn up all your messages), which you can then immediately use to alert Visa to any fraudulent activity. Great idea or greatest idea? You be the judge. [Slashphone]

HYDRA System Lets "Vastly Different" Video Cards Work, Play Together [Pc Gaming]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/369601553/hydra-system-lets-vastly-different-video-cards-work-play-together

Lucid's HYDRA GPU pairing technology could soon allow PC builders to incorporate multiple video cards that - hear this, ATI and Nvidia - don't have to be identical. What this potentially means, among other things, is that gamers could leverage old hardware instead of just sadly setting it aside, though paired cards must be of the same brand. HYDRA differs functionally from Nvidia's SLI and ATI's Crossfire solutions, which split rendering by sectioning off the screen and alternating frames between cards, respectively, by intelligently distributing highly specific rendering tasks between the GPUs. Instead of divvying up all the tasks equally, HYDRA will only send as many polygons or shader calls as each constituent card can handle (see right of the above pic for an example of what one of two cards might be rendering).

The most irritating aspects of current twin-card configurations (well, aside from the fact that you had to buy two cards in the first place) are the high cost and disappointingly low performance gains. HYDRA, which Lucid claims could scale to up to handle four unique GPUs, could remedy both of these issues if it ever comes to market. The company says it'll be soon, but that's as specific as they're getting for now. Visual learners can check out a detailed diagram of the system below. [PcPer via Slashdot]

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