Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Planex GW-USMicronN: A Teeny, Tiny Wireless-N Adapter [Wireless]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/NBj3Y3bC2IA/planex-gw+usmicronn-a-teeny-tiny-wireless+n-adapter

Wireless-N speeds sound great and everything (74Mbps!), but who wants to buy a bulky new adapter? The GW-USMicronN from Planex makes the upgrade painless, assuming you have an N router. Possibly the smallest 802.11n USB adapter to date (1/6 the size of the D-Link beside it), early testing shows that its range and transfer speeds are competitive with its class, and it features all of the security measures found in bulkier adapters. Arriving in the US for $30 next month, this Planex is definitely worth keeping an eye on. [CNET and Planex]

Scientist Designs Nanoparticle Optics That Self-Assemble [Nanotech]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/d1J68l5cJKs/scientist-designs-nanoparticle-optics-that-self+assemble

Nanoparticles that self-assemble into complex optical structures sounds like an early ingredient in a future Robot Uprising recipe, but the science team at University of California, Berkeley thinks they'll be useful for nicely tame things. The self-assembly of the nanoparticle silver crystals can be controlled to produce different nano "devices" and it's a a neat way of putting together nanotech that is more typically produced top-down by lithography. The devices can be as diverse as color-changing paint, optical computer elements, and ultrasensitive chemical sensors.

Most interesting, perhaps, is the possibility of using the nanoparticles to construct metamaterials. In this guise they may find use as "invisibility cloaks"... which are currently nearly impossible to manufacture, and that's where the self-assembly part comes in.

The octahedral silver nanoparticles are produced in solution, and are relatively large scale, which lends them potentially better optical properties than competing nanoparticle inventions. [TechnologyReview]

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Dell's M109S pocket projector gets itself a ho-hum review

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/FhkVm9M5gDc/

Filed under: Displays

The portable Dell M109S projector which we saw a while back has just been reviewed over at Laptop Magazine. Similar to other pocket projectors, the verdict seems to be that the quality is nothing to explode in excitement over, but is impressive for such a small machine. Laptop praised the projector's LED as one of the "brightest in its class," though they seem disappointed with its non-standard native resolution of 858 x 600. They also laud the simplistic design of the projector, but found the buttons on the box "hard to use," and complained about the lack of remote control capability. Ultimately, they conclude that the size -- not as small as pico projectors, but not large enough to compete with higher-end models -- makes the M109S an awkward middle child. If you want the full rundown, however, hit the read link.

Dell's M109S pocket projector gets itself a ho-hum review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

TV-B-Gone Inventor Makes it Open Source, Explains Why [TV-B-Gone]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/DE3zcziO-Z4/tv+b+gone-inventor-makes-it-open-source-explains-why

Mitch Altman, inventor of TV-B-Gone has done something kinda alien to many inventors of successful gizmos: he's made it open source. Interesting, since when he first came up with the idea, Altman patented it, on the advice of his patent attorney brother.

Now he's sold a bundle of them, he's had a change of heart. Seeing patent laws as responsible for stifling "the creativity that patents were supposed to encourage," he's making the source code, board layout and TV power codes all available online. Can we expect a host of DIY hacks? Ohboyyes. Read on at the Makezine link: the full skinny on his reasoning is pretty interesting. [Makezine]

How To Tether the G1 for 3G Laptop Browsing [Android]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Oq96-w4GBiA/how-to-tether-the-g1-for-3g-laptop-browsing

We're not sure how well this method sits with your T-Mobile TOS, but a process has been revealed to share the G1's high speed wireless access with a laptop via USB. Configuring the necessary apps, drivers and settings is a bit more involved than a simple 2 or 3-step process, but it's all explained (and definitely followable) in the link. Actually, we'll put it this way: The method looks a lot easier than shelling out the cash for another 3G data plan. [TmoNews Forums via jkOnTheRun]

USB Microscope Digitally Magnifies at 200x, 1600x1200 Resolution [USB]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/Lk6qWVt1QMk/usb-microscope-digitally-magnifies-at-200x-1600x1200-resolution

We've seen digital microscopes before, but few can claim that they have a 1600x1200 sensor, 200x magnification and 2 GB of free online storage. This £50 device works improves upon last year's 640x480 Microscope Pen from the same company, and lets you take stills or AVI movies.. And the test pics from the microscope don't look half bad (if they're actually real). The USB microscope can be found over at [IWOOT via Geek Alerts].

Apple chimes in to debunk those Mac mini / iMac rumors

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/TDyafAXGb2w/

Filed under: Desktops

There was a day during an age not far removed from our memory in which Apple would remain dead silent on any murmuring going on regarding its wares -- clearly, that day has passed. In a rather unprecedented move, an actual spokesman named Bill Evans emerged from the Cupertino cocoon in order to put to rest all those wildly speculative rumors going on about new iMacs and / or Mac minis. Quite frankly, he uttered that "[Apple's] holiday line-up is set." Our take? This move is likely being made in order to assure prospective holiday shoppers that buying now is "safe," and that new gear isn't just weeks / days / nanoseconds away. C'mon, you know a well-oiled machine like Apple doesn't want all sorts of about-to-be-outdated Mac inventory clogging its supply chain when Macworld rolls around, don'tcha?

[Via CNET]

Apple chimes in to debunk those Mac mini / iMac rumors originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T kicks off BlackBerry Bold sales on the web

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/NIZbUB9xFfg/

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Some stores have already let a few slip out the door a day early, but for those of us who haven't left our parents' basements since 1989, turns out there's now a sweet alternative to heading down to the brick-and-mortar. The BlackBerry Bold's now up on AT&T's site ready to ship for $299.99 after rebate on a two-year contract, so go ahead and whip out the plastic. If you haven't been using a Curve or an 8800 lately, prep your unsuspecting thumbs with some hardcore workouts -- and if you have been using a Curve or an 8800, get those freakishly muscular, overbuilt digits out of our sights.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

AT&T kicks off BlackBerry Bold sales on the web originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

12-inch not-Eee PC S101 followup expected this year

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/Rmwluzh-SN4/

Filed under: Laptops

If you think ASUS has a lot of Eee PCs in its product portfolio then you should check out its laptop lineup sometime. Last we counted, ASUS was offering over 50 different models of laptops. Here's another: a rumored 12-inch, 16:9 aspect followup to the svelte 10.2-inch Eee PC S101. However, since this edges above Jerry Shen's maximum Eee PC size-threshold of 10-inches, the new slimster will be launched under ASUS' ZX-series and hopefully come packing something a bit heartier than say, an Atom processor. Only, with an expected NT$30,000 (about US$912) launch by year's end, we're forced to stubbornly let go of our hope to find a refreshed Core 2 Duo on the inside.

12-inch not-Eee PC S101 followup expected this year originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 03:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments