Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Netflix Testing Saturday Shipping [NetFlix]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/3eikr04Zqw8/netflix-testing-saturday-shipping

If you've been a Netflix customer, you know it can be a little frustrating to send back a disc Thursday/Friday only to wait until Monday for the replacement to ship. That's going to change.

The company is going to begin testing Saturday processing so that late week returns don't hose customers. (Good news for us, bad news for Netflix employees who like their weekends.) It's unclear as to how many of Netflix's 60 shipping centers will participate, but of course, it'll be a wash once the US Postal Service cuts down their delivery week to five days anyway. [Hacking Netflix via Zatz Not Funny]

Once the Ultimate Sign of Universal Mastery, Private Jets Are Now Totally Uncool [Financiapocalpyse]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/iIChhCbPLmA/once-the-ultimate-sign-of-universal-mastery-private-jets-are-now-totally-uncool

Now is a really good time to pick up a second-hand Gulfstream. Why? In our bailout-ridden times, a private jet has become as stigmatic as those knockoff L.A. Lights you had on the playground.

Seasoned in their coverage of the many laments of being rich, the NYTimes talked to many current and former jet owners about what's happening. It's pretty much a given now that if you're taking bailout cash (and these days, who isn't?), the jets have to go. Making now totally the time to buy!

"A year ago, there would be 30 people looking for one airplane," said Jay Mesinger, a corporate jet broker, who said that prices had fallen 30 to 40 percent since late 2007. "Today there are 30 airplanes looking for one buyer."

Aside from the U.S. becoming one giant used jet lot for the young emirs and oligarchs of the world, something tells me that the hip-hop community will raise up and do its part to keep the Gulfstreams of the world in solvency. They've never really had a problem with blatant displays of excess, have they? [NYTimes]

BlackBerry Storm Is Pricier to Build Than iPhone 3G [Blackberry Storm]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/JFbeLhegY9k/blackberry-storm-is-pricier-to-build-than-iphone-3g

The Storm's wunderkind network chip, which plays on CDMA and GSM networks, and fancier 3.2MP camera is why it costs $203 to build, about $30 more than the iPhone 3G. [BW]

Grand HD Cinema Converts USB to HDMI [Hdmi]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/D7k3T2fVT9Q/grand-hd-cinema-converts-usb-to-hdmi

Before the Grand HD Cinema, I honestly didn't know that a USB to HDMI converter was possible. (Though in truth, it's still really only half possible.)

The Grand HD Cinema does indeed take USB video (along with audio) and upconvert the stream to a 720p HDMI signal that can drive six different HDMI devices. As a means to get clips from PMPs to TVs it certainly makes a lot of sense.

But what you'd consider an impossibly calculation-intensive process really is. The converter requires an XP or Vista rig with a 2.4GHz (or better) processor. So while the Grand HD Cinema is still a pretty interesting device, it's by no means some convenient little adapter that will play your iPod on your HDTV.

The Grand HD Cinema is available for $140 imported from Japan. [Lancerlink via Crunchgear]

New $3 Light Bulb 12 Times More Efficient, Lasts 60 Years [Led]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/3C4TlApluNA/new-3-light-bulb-12-times-more-efficient-lasts-60-years

Cambridge University researchers have developed a $3 LED-based lightbulb that is 12 times more efficient than regular tungsten light bulbs, three times more than low energy ones. It lights up instantly, lasting for 100,000 hours,

The cheap lightbulb could cost the energy bill in any house by as much as three quarters. In fact, if everyone replaced their current light bulbs, the proportion of lighting in electricity consumption would go down from 20 to 5 percent worldwide.

They also avoid using any toxic materials, like lead: The new LEDs use gallium nitride, which until now was too expensive to obtain because it had to be grown on sapphire wafers, which brought the cost of the lightbulbs to $28 each.

The new method, developed by Cambridge University-based Centre for Gallium Nitride, uses silicon wafers, bringing the cost down to $3 each. And if you think this is a thing of the future, think again: Prototypes are already being produced and the light bulbs may reach the market in a mere two years. [Daily Mail]

Google launches Measurement Lab to monitor the tubes, expose meddling

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/29/google-launches-measurement-lab-to-monitor-the-tubes-expose-med/

There's not exactly a lack of internet measurement tools out there, but there's none quite as ambitious as the new Measurement Lab (or M-Lab) just launched by Google, along with a little help from the New America Foundation's Open Technology Institute and the PlanetLab Consortium. While it's apparently just now getting up to speed, the tool will eventually let individuals and researchers of all sorts poke and prod the internet to their heart's content, measuring performance, and exposing attempts by telecoms to meddle with network traffic and clamp down on things like BitTorrent or Skype. Those efforts will be facilitated by 36 servers in 12 locations across the U.S. and Europe that Google will be opening up early this year, and all data collected using M-Lab will be made publicly available for other researchers to expand upon. Complete details are available at the link below, although Google seems to be having some bandwidth troubles of its own with the M-Lab site at the moment.

[Via InformationWeek]

Filed under: Networking

Google launches Measurement Lab to monitor the tubes, expose meddling originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer uncages AMD-powered Ferrari 1200 ultraportable

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/29/acer-uncages-amd-powered-ferrari-1200-ultraportable/

Wow, has it really been almost a year since Acer's Ferrari 1100 ultraportable was released from the garage? Believe it or not, the proper successor to the aforesaid machine is just now getting its inspection sticker, and it's apparently planning to hit the streets of Britain in the near future. The Ferrari 1200 arrives with an elegant LED-backlit 12.1-inch panel, a carbon fiber cover, a unique ventilation design that "echoes the exhaust pipes of F1 cars" and an "anodized-metal touchpad that resembles the brake and acceleration pedals of a Ferrari car." Corny? Sure, but it's good to know you aren't paying a premium for a logo and nothing more, right? At any rate, you'll also find a bundled BT wireless mouse, an optional Xpress VoIP phone, WiFi module, an AMD Turion X2 Ultra CPU, up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM, a SATA HDD and a fingerprint reader for good measure. Mum's the word on pricing / availability, but we'd bank on "expensive" and "soon."

Filed under: Laptops

Acer uncages AMD-powered Ferrari 1200 ultraportable originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Propel Pro in the wild, caught on camera

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/29/samsung-propel-pro-in-the-wild-caught-on-camera/

More spy shots from the net, eh? This latest set shows what's purported to be the Propel Pro, an update to Samsung's QWERTY that launched last October. There's a more streamlined interface under the screen, including a new optical joystick that according to Boy Genius Report's source is "worthless." The Windows Mobile 6.1 device also sports 3G and a camera of unknown quality, although we expect to at least match its 1.3-megapixel predecessor. Mum's the word on price and availability.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

Samsung Propel Pro in the wild, caught on camera originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Super Talent unloads 32GB / 64GB SSDs for ASUS Eee PC S101

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/29/super-talent-unloads-32gb-64gb-ssds-for-asus-eee-pc-s101/

If your prior budget forced you to select an ASUS Eee PC S101 with just 16GB of succulent SSD storage space, Super Talent has the cure. The outfit has just introduced three new solid state drives made specifically for the aforementioned netbook, all of which tout 90 MB/sec maximum sequential read speeds and up to 55 MB/sec write speeds. You can select from the FPM16RSE (16GB), FPM32RSE (32GB) or the FPM64RSE (64GB), though you'll have to guess on the prices of the first two. As for the big daddy? It'll run right around $169.

[Via HotHardware]

Filed under: Laptops, Storage

Super Talent unloads 32GB / 64GB SSDs for ASUS Eee PC S101 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Two Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras rumored for soonish release

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/two-olympus-micro-four-thirds-cameras-rumored-for-soonish-releas/

Usually, we'd just brush something such as this off and carry on about our day, but there are just too many stars aligning to ignore this one. Given that Olympus pledged its allegiance to Micro Four Thirds early on -- not to mention that we've already seen proof of prototypes -- we're really, really tempted to believe the latest rumors from Russia. As the story goes, Olympus is gearing up to launch a pair of MFT cameras, likely named the M-1 and M-100. Both units are apt to be about the size of a bulky point-and-shoot, with the former boasting a 3.2-inch LCD monitor and HD video capture. Oh, and did we mention that PMA is just over a month away? Sounds like a perfect spot to launch this duo into the mainstream.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Two Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras rumored for soonish release originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba readies three 1080p Camileo camcorders for Europe

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/28/toshiba-readies-three-1080p-camileo-camcorders-for-europe/

We can't say with any level of certainty why Toshiba chose to announce its new Camileo after CES and before CeBIT, but whatever the reason, we're sure it's a good one. Introduced today over in Germany are three new camcorders, all of which boast simple controls for the technologically challenged and easy uploading to YouTube. The whole lot captures in gorgeous 1080p, and they all feature a handy HDMI output for showing off clips as soon as you snag them. The higher-end Camileo P30 arrives with 128MB of internal storage, an SD card slot, a 3-inch LCD monitor and a 5x optical zoom; the H20 steps down to a 2.5-inch display, while the S10 remains mostly mysterious. As for the bits that matter most, the S10 and P30 will be available early next month for €149 ($197) / €199 ($263), respectively, while the H20 can be snapped up now for €249 ($329).

[Via Stuff]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Toshiba readies three 1080p Camileo camcorders for Europe originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Days to 1 million: the smartphone wars

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/29/days-to-1-million-the-smartphone-wars/

In a fit of editorial sobriety, reader Noel just sent us this handy "1 million devices sold" graphic above. The image demonstrates the speed (in terms of days) at which each competing handset achieved the magic milestone. What it leaves out is the footprint at launch which of course, affects the total population able to purchase the device. For example, the iPhone 3G launched in 21 countries simultaneously whereas the G1 launched in the US only. It's also worth noting that the precision reflects that of the announcements made. For example, VZW announced that the Storm hit 1M "through January" which could be interpreted as January 31st or January 27th, the day of the announcement -- and that's just US sales. Still, the table is a valuable tool for the fanboy braggarts and budding marketeers amongst you. Data after the break.

[Thanks, Noel F.]

Continue reading Days to 1 million: the smartphone wars

Filed under: Cellphones

Days to 1 million: the smartphone wars originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 06:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung NC20 sees foreign review, universal appreciation

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/29/samsung-nc20-sees-foreign-review-universal-appreciation/

According to a remarkably lengthy review penned in Russian, the NC20 is a real stunner. Somehow, Samsung managed to stuff six hours of battery life into a machine with a 12.1-inch display, which ought to please anyone truly looking for ideal netbook functionality. Of course, it didn't fare so well under intense gaming pressure, and even the art of multitasking with three or more applications seemed to bog it down. That said, we are talking about a netbook (and not an ultraportable), and its ability to handle HD video was rather impressive in its own right. So far as we can tell, reviewers were pretty pleased with the overall package given the relatively low anticipated price (we're hearing $500 or so for the US market), but you can draw your own conclusions by giving the read link a visit.

[Via Slashgear, thanks Brian]

Filed under: Laptops

Samsung NC20 sees foreign review, universal appreciation originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 10:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Screenshot Tour: Taking Android's "Cupcake" 1.5 Update For An Early Spin [Android]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/IpmtjZBeOGA/screenshot-tour-taking-androids-cupcake-15-update-for-an-early-spin

If you want to see what's next for Android in "Cupcake"—including that delicious on-screen keypad—you can grab the SDK and root around yourself before T-Mo pushes it to your G1. Or, check our gallery.

We've known how this Cupcake tastes for a few days now, and we're still most excited about the soft keypad, of course, which will come in handy in the many situations where you don't want to flip open the G1 just to type a few letters. There are also a few mysterious new apps, some of which look like dev tools but may be polished for eventual release, as well as hints of haptic feedback for the keyboard and a few more tidbits. Check out our captioned gallery for a tour:

My number one wish, though, would have to be improved battery life via smarter data connection management. The G1's hardware battery may be partly to blame, but one of the reasons the G1 usually can't make it through a whole day without re-juicing is that the data connection is constantly active for email and contacts sync as well as push updates and whatever else you may be doing. Sure you can turn most of the automatic data syncs off, but that kind of defeats the purpose of the phone. Hopefully cupcake will fix some of this.

If you want to load Cupcake on your computer via the Android SDK, grab the SDK here. Then, follow the instructions laid out by the folks at Nullwire (very easy) to replace your system image files with the new 1.5 Cupcake versions, then simply run the "emulator" app (a UNIX executable on OS X and Linux, and an .exe in Windows) inside the SDK's "tools" directory and you're in business. [Nullwire]

Datto's Box2Box Is Easy But Expensive Peer to Peer Offsite Backup [Offsite Backup]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/14Pqwu9OlN0/dattos-box2box-is-easy-but-expensive-peer-to-peer-offsite-backup

Offsite backup is the way to go if you want your data to survive a fire, but it usually requires costly monthly subscription fees and bandwidth usage. Datto's Box2Box does not.

Datto's previous boxes consisted of an on-site (in your home/office) NAS that uploads its contents onto a server for safekeeping. This Box2Box consists of two boxes, one at your place and one at your friend's, that synchronizes between each other. This way there's no subscription fee for online storage, but you still have to transfer the files between the two boxes—a time-intensive task the first time you do it over a cable modem connection.

Although there's no subscription fee, you still have to pay for the box itself, and prices are quite high.

Two 250GB boxes come at $620, two 500GB are $660 and two 1TB are $850. If you're somewhat familiar with Linux, you could build a cheap homebrew version yourself, but for small businesses that don't have much of an IT staff, it's not a bad choice. [Datto]

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