Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Monday, October 06, 2008

RIM's BlackBerry Storm 9500 / 9530: details galore

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/412081214/

RIM's BlackBerry Storm 9500 / 9530, which is more affectionately known 'round these parts as the Thunder, is definitely within striking distance. Still, just because you don't have too much longer to wait doesn't mean you aren't anxious to get your hands on as many details as possible beforehand, right? The Boy Genius has managed to procure a few mundane stacks of PowerPoint slides that just so happen to contain some pretty scrumptious information on the touchscreen-based BlackBerry, and while there aren't any mind-melting surprises in there (like, confirmation that it can indeed read and reply correctly to each e-mail automatically), it's not the kind of data any real RIM fan would want to overlook. Go on and hit the read link, what exactly are you waiting for?

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World's largest computing grid lives to go live

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/412497931/

Filed under: Desktops, Misc. Gadgets

Contrary to popular belief, the world as we know it didn't implode after the Large Hadron Collider was flipped on. Sure -- someone, somewhere is growing a ninth arm and trying desperately to land a cameo on Fringe, but the planet at large is still humming along just fine. Now, the world's most ginormous computing grid (the Worldwide LHC Computing Grid, or WLCG) has gone live, and the gurus behind it are celebrating the beginning of its momentous data challenge: to analyze and manage over 15 million gigabytes of data each year. The Grid combines the IT power of over 140 computer centers, 100,000 processors and the collaborative efforts of 33 countries. Unfortunately, there's no word on when the official WLCG-based Call of Duty 4 server will be green-lit for action, but we hear it's pretty high on the priorities list.

[Via China View]

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Mitsubishi unveils beastly FL6900U 1080p projector

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/412328923/

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

There's nothing lightweight about Mitsubishi's latest beamer, as the burly FL6900U checks in with a man-sized 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, 4,000 ANSI lumens, an RS-232 control port, automated zoom / focus and digital keystone correction, and a built-in motion-sensitive anti-theft alarm. It also packs a man-sized price, but hopefully that corporate card can handle another $9,995 when this thing lands later in the month.

[Via AboutProjectors]

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Toshiba's MacBook Pro-esque Satellite E105 arrives at Best Buy

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/412420648/

Filed under: Laptops

The Toshiba E105 has been sneaking around the fringes for a few days now, but apparently it's not just announced -- it's available for purchase. That's right, the oddly familiar looking 14.1-incher can be had at Best Buy for the totally reasonable price of $1,199.99, packing a 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo, a 1280 x 800 TruBrite LCD display, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, and an Intel 4500MHD integrated GPU. The Satellite also sports 802.11a/b/g/n, an HDMI out, Vista Home Premium, and that all-important fingerprint reader (just remember, this increases the odds of someone cutting off your finger). The laptop is available right now online, no word if it's on store shelves yet.

[Via LogicBUY]

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Friday, October 03, 2008

Netflix Watch Instantly Adds Movies from Starz [Movies]

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/408506522/netflix-watch-instantly-adds-movies-from-starz

DVD rental service Netflix has added over 1,000 movies from premium movie network Starz to its Watch Instantly streaming service. That means movies like No Country for Old Men are now available to stream in your browser—and you've got even more incentive to turn your Xbox 360 into a streaming Netflix player. [via]

"Windows Cloud" Operating System Release Within a Month [Windows]

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/408649707/windows-cloud-operating-system-release-within-a-month

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announces that within a month, MS will release a new operating system he described as "Windows Cloud"—for webapp developers working on "cloud computing" apps like Zoho Suite and, um, Gmail (except not those). Computerworld reports:

The operating system, which will likely have a different name, is intended for developers writing cloud-computing applications, said Ballmer, who spoke to an auditorium of IT managers at a Microsoft-sponsored conference in London.

The Windows Cloud OS is a separate project from the upcoming Windows 7. Sheesh, this fall is shaping up to be a real tech humdinger, what with Google making browsers and Microsoft making light operating systems especially for webapps. Would you be interested in running "Windows Cloud," or is a light XP (or, ahem, Linux) install with Firefox or Chrome good enough for you? Tell us what you think in the comments. Photo by allyaubry.

Microsoft will soon release 'Windows Cloud' OS, Ballmer says [Computerworld via Download Squad]

Best Media Converters? [Hive Five Call For Contenders]

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/408649706/best-media-converters

Virtually every gadget you own is now capable of playing back music and videos—from your computer and phone to your MP3 player and video game console—but the problem is compatibility. Popular format X may play perfectly well on your computer, but it won't think about playing back on your iPod. Not long ago you needed to hunt down obscure command line tools or purchase specialized converters to get your file in the correct format, but today there are countless free tools available that can convert just about any piece of media to whatever format you need. For this week's Hive Five, we want you to share your favorite media converter—whether it runs on the web, desktop, or command line. Keep reading for more details and to nominate your favorite digital media converter.

Hive Five nominations take place in the comments, where you post your favorite tool for the job. We get hundreds of comments, so to make your nomination clear, please include it at the top of your comment like so: VOTE: Media Converter Goes Here. If you don't follow this format, we may not count your vote. To prevent tampering with the results, votes from first-time commenters may not be counted. After you've made your nomination, let us know what makes it stand out from the competition.

About the Hive Five: The Hive Five feature series asks readers to answer the most frequently asked question we get—"Which tool is the best?" Once a week we'll put out a call for contenders looking for the best solution to a certain problem, then YOU tell us your favorite tools to get the job done. Every weekend, we'll report back with the top five recommendations and give you a chance to vote on which is best. For an example, check out last week's Hive Five Best Sites to Stream TV.

Dealzmodo: $600 720P Planar Projector [Deals]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/409415331/dealzmodo-600-720p-planar-projector

In case you've had your eye out for a cheap, quality projector, this Planar PD 7130 over on Woot is a pretty nice deal. It features 900 lumens of brightness and an impressive 4500:1 contrast ratio through TI DarkChip tech. Hi def inputs include two component and one DVI, and its internal lamp is rated for 3000 hours (depending on use, of course). If you've wanted to see whether or not you could handle the whole projector lifestyle, this Planar seems like an inexpensive way to test the waters. [Woot]

Google's World-Saving Clean Energy Plan Costs $4.4 Trillion, Dramatically Shrinks Google's Power Bill [Google]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/409455874/googles-world+saving-clean-energy-plan-costs-44-trillion-dramatically-shrinks-googles-power-bill

Google, who in aggregate, effectively knows everything, unsurprisingly has a solution for our energy problems. The plan, called Clean Energy 2030 will cost $4.4 trillion over its 22-year span, if we start on it right now. Google says it'll give us back a net of $1 trillion, like half of which will be savings on Google's massive power bill notes the former Fake Steve.

None of the key points are radical, except for asking for a $4.4 trillion investment—90 percent of new cars electric by 2030, 45mpg average fuel efficiency, efficient electricity use to cut demand 33 percent, replacing all coal with renewable electricity. I was hoping for something more innovative and exciting, like Google Power, which would be in beta for 22 years. Cause if Google can't save the world, who can? [Google via Alley Insider]

iPhone-Backgrounder Hack Brings True Background Multitasking to iPhone Apps [IPhone]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/409520818/iphone+backgrounder-hack-brings-true-background-multitasking-to-iphone-apps

iPhone-Backgrounder (available for jailbroken iPhones via Cydia) brings another much-desired functionality that Apple's not allowing for legit apps—the ability to run in the background. After installing the extension, simply hold down the home button on the app you want to preserve, and it will keep running until you tell it to stop with another home button press. Looks like those jailbreak folks aren't done innovating just yet...

Like copy and paste, the only way to bring system-level functions to the iPhone remains via jailbroken software. If you have the "BigBoss & Planet-iPhones" source loaded, iPhone-Backgrounder should show up as a default install option. Our tipster says he's got Pandora playing while receiving background IMs while syncing at the same time (crazy!). He reports some bugginess with duped IMs and the like, but on the whole it's working as expected. [iPhone-Backgrounder - Thanks Horn!]

Use Our 150-Inch TV Photos to Make Me Look Like a Real Cool Dude [Photoshop Contest]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/409538682/use-our-150+inch-tv-photos-to-make-me-look-like-a-real-cool-dude

For this week's Photoshop Contest, I want you to use our photos of me playing with the 150-inch TV as a source (as found in Mahoney's awesome FAQ, my essay on the TV and these photos of me playing games on it). Then I want you to make me look awesome. This was a suggestion from reader WB (that's his work you see above), and it's good, but I want to make sure you understand me here: don't make me look like a jackass. Put me in cool places, like on the moon or in the Playboy mansion. Don't embarrass me guys. Guys? Please? Dammit, Chen, I can't believe you're making me do this.

If you must, submit your entries to contests@gizmodo.com with the subject line of "Adam is Awesome!" and no other subject line than that! Make your photos JPGs or PNGs or, if you must, GIFs. Send them in by Tuesday morning and I'll make a gallery of the best ones.

And remember that I'm a human being with feelings, you jerks!