Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Benchmarking the iBook Vs. a Hackintosh Nebook [Hackintosh]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/QF_Ist_HEOI/benchmarking-the-ibook-vs-a-hackintosh-nebook

No one expects an MSI Wind to run OSX as well as the latest MacBook, but how does the 1.6GHz N270 Atom system stand up to the 1.33GHz iBook G4 with 768MB of RAM?

In short, it competes. Comparing load times, as you see in this graph, it's quicker across the board. The MSI Wind (1GB version in blue, 2GB version in purple), boots 12 seconds faster than the iBook. And it loads all other tested apps faster as well.

Where the iBook still reined supreme, however, were complex processes like unzipping files. The Atom simply couldn't keep up in a few of these tasks.

Still, taking all tests into account, you could conclude that the MSI Wind is on a pretty level playing field with a 4-year-old Apple laptop packing a PowerPC processor. Is that some great feat? I'm not sure. Is it interesting? Yeah, it's kind of interesting, especially if you were considering a used iBook to save some cash. Hit the link for full testing results. [AppleDifferent via bbGadgets]

5-in-1 Spy Pocket Audio & Color Video Recorder Writing Pen Is the Ultimate Spy Gadget [Gadgets]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/TUnfVc9ixbc/5+in+1-spy-pocket-audio--color-video-recorder-writing-pen-is-the-ultimate-spy-gadget

This 5-in-1 Spy Pen is every secret agent's wet dream. It functions as an audio and video recorder, USB webcam, 2GB USB flash drive, and works as a fully functioning pen too.

Using a single rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, the pen can record up to 60 minutes of color video, and can be charged using a USB charging cable or an emergency AC power adapter. Also included is a special stand, which converts the Spy Pen from a simple video recorder into a webcam. And as for hiding all your important documents? Simply unscrew it in the mid section, and voila! The Spy Pen is now a 2GB USB flash drive.

It'll cost you $99 for the 5-in-1 Spy Pen, but if you pay just 10 bucks more, you can own one with 4GB of memory. Listen and sniff closely, do you hear/smell that? It's a collective orgasm from millions of spies around the world. [Product Page via Red Ferret]

UQ Communications kicking off WiMAX trials in Japan

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/03/uq-communications-kicking-off-wimax-trials-in-japan/

On a global scale, WiMAX may be folding under the pressure of LTE, but that's not stopping the next-gen technology from catching the attention of mobile web surfers in Japan. UQ Communications is gearing up to start a WiMAX trial for citizens located in one of the 23 wards of Tokyo, Yokohama or Kawasaki, and at first, speeds will be capped at around 16Mbps down / 4Mbps up. If all goes well, those figures will creep up to a mighty impressive 40Mbps / 10Mbps when the full-on launch occurs in July. The best part? Folks can apply now to get a free data card in order to be a guinea pig, and even after the test period ends, those who want to join in can get service for just ¥4,480 ($50) per month without any sticky contracts attached. Hit up the read links for all the nitty-gritty.

[Via PortableMonkey]

Read - WiMAX trial
Read - Data card details

Filed under: Wireless

UQ Communications kicking off WiMAX trials in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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College students contact space station with self-built radio system

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/03/college-students-contact-space-station-with-self-built-radio-sys/

While putting a call in to the International Space Station and chatting up an astronaut for a full ten minutes would likely be more than enough to satisfy most science classes, a group of students from Humber College in Toronto decided to go one big step further and do so with a radio system that they designed and built themselves. According to the school, that makes it the first time that's ever been done by students at the college level, which provided some well-deserved bragging rights for the students and their instructor, who said that they're "playing way, way above their league." Be sure to hit up the link below for a video of the big moment and, of course, the complete NASA control room-esque geek out.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

College students contact space station with self-built radio system originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Viliv's S5 MID goes haptic, will move you in March

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/03/vilivs-s5-mid-goes-haptic-will-move-you-in-march/

Viliv has been showing some potential lately with its touchable upcoming products, the clean looking S7 netbook tablet and S5 MID. We received some further information on the latter of those two this morning, most notable being the inclusion of haptic feedback that should make its 4.8-inch, 800 x 480 screen feel a little more tactile. We also got confirmation that the device will be running Windows XP hidden behind a custom UI overlay that, we presume, will be similar to the one we saw running at CES on the S7. Still no price, but the company is aiming for a March release domestically. Our fingers are tingling with anticipation.

Gallery: Viliv S5