Friday, January 23, 2009

Video: iFrame tablet PC in action

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/23/video-iframe-tablet-pc-in-action/

Oliver Seres has developed a tablet PC prototype that he's calling the iFrame (groan) -- which is somewhat similar to that CrunchPad we've been following -- and runs on a custom install of Ubuntu. It's built from an Amtek T10L UMPC, and looks like it's pretty snappy, with a really slick interface. We don't know a ton about the specs of the custom device, but the Amtek boasts an Intel Atom N270 processor, up to 2GB of RAM, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, an 80GB hard drive, and a 10.2-inch 1,024 x 600 resolution display, plus a 1.3-megapixel camera, dual speakers, and WiFi. There's no word on cost of the prototype, nor if and when it'll head into production. Check the sweet video of Oliver demoing after the break.

[Via 01Blog]

Continue reading Video: iFrame tablet PC in action

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Video: iFrame tablet PC in action originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 9:41 PM

Researchers tout new 60GHz RF chip for high-speed wireless transfers

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/23/researchers-tout-new-60ghz-rf-chip-for-high-speed-wireless-trans/


It's not the only group toying around in the 60GHz frequency range, but a team of researchers from Georgia Tech's Georgia Electronic Design Center seem to be a bit further along than most, and they say that their new 60GHz RF chip could pave the way into a whole host of new, speedier wireless devices. Apparently, the chip is the first 60GHz embedded chip designed for multi-gigabit wireless use, and the researchers have already pushed it to some pretty impressive lengths, reaching speeds of 15Gbps at a distance of 1 meter, 10Gbps at 2 meters, and 5Gbps at 5 meters, while also maintaining the lowest "energy per bit" to date. What's more, while it's been flying a bit under the radar, the industry group Ecma International has already announced a new standard for chips capable of sending RF signals in the 60GHz range, which is apparently expected to be published as an ISO standard later this year.

[Via Electronista]

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Researchers tout new 60GHz RF chip for high-speed wireless transfers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 9:41 PM

Aptera rolls out first pre-production vehicle, promises shipments in October

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/23/aptera-rolls-out-first-pre-production-vehicle-promises-shipment/


Although the swoopy Aptera electric went up for pre-orders back in October of 2007, we haven't really seen much of the futuristic car outside of the odd Star Trek cameo. Hopefully that's about to change, though -- the company just rolled out the first pre-production example its flagship model, the 2e. The three-wheeled car gets the equivalent of 200mpg, and the company claims the lithium-ion battery pack will last for 100 miles on a single charge. Aptera isn't giving out final pricing information apart from "between $25,000 and $45,000" but it says over 4,000 potential customers have already signed up for a planned California-only October release. We'll see how it goes -- and we'd bet the folks at the Automotive X-Prize are keeping a sharp eye as well.

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Aptera rolls out first pre-production vehicle, promises shipments in October originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 9:40 PM

A Beautiful Sunset, Painted in Fluorescent Bacteria [Science]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/ljEZUDWhjc8/a-beautiful-sunset-painted-in-fluorescent-bacteria

This beach is awash in bacteria colonies that express eight different colors through fluorescent protein modification. And yes, that canvas is a petri dish. [Andrew Hires via MAKE]



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Posted by Augustine at 10:00 AM

Android Cupcake OS Update Screenshots Show Virtual Keyboard, New Applications [Android]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/X-MdnVQWOGA/android-cupcake-os-update-screenshots-show-virtual-keyboard-new-applications

While Google's Android "Cupcake" updates may not be available just yet, detailed screenshots of the platform update show new applications in addition to the highly-anticipated virtual keyboard.

Developer Arron La was able to test the most recent batch of Cupcake and make his own observations about the changes. According to him, there will be a new Notes and Global Time application, along with various other fixes. Since February is almost here, I wouldn't be surprised to find most of these coming to the G1 soon.

1. New Local Setting Page - Gives you option to pick different locales and pick different text inputs.
2. New Option to view running and third party applications - An option to view running and third party applications from the normal application list. Does not provide a way to terminate them.
3. New windows opening/closing animation effect - a new popping effect when windows are opened/closed.
4. New default notepad - a very simple and ugly default notepad.
5. New Global Time application - not sure if it will be provided by T-Mobile but it's just a rotating Earth and I couldn't get it to do anything else.
6. New Spare Parts Application - Once again not sure if the official version will have this, but it provides a number of extra settings such as setting windows animation and transition animation speed, font size, end button behavior and etc. It also has a "display rotation" option which supposedly should allow auto-rotate base on orientation across the entire os, but it is not currently working.
7. New Virtual Keyboard (as seen on video -ed.)- The virtual keyboard will pop up on every edit box. I didn't feel any haptic feedback but I am thinking that it's just not there on the example ke! yboard. Because the phone does not auto-rotate (an option exists but it doesn't work), it's very hard to type on it. The sample keyboard also does not provide auto-corrections.
8. Slightly better looking buttons with more shadow.


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Posted by Augustine at 9:59 AM

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