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Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Samsung OmniaHD's camera put to the test

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/17/samsung-omniahds-camera-put-to-the-test/

Samsung sure has made some high claims about its OmniaHD supermegaphone, and now we've got some HD footage and stills to put those claims to the test. The camera does seem pretty stellar for a phone, and the video is undoubtedly HD, but we saw pretty sluggish performance in the HD recording mode, both in the on-screen preview and in the finished product. We'll chalk that up to the super-early build of the device software, but hopefully this will be resolved before the phone ships. The phone also does ultra-slowmotion video, which is awesome, but seems similarly inconsistent and stuttery in frame rate. We'll shut up and let you see it all for yourself, both in the gallery below and the videos after the break. Again, this is all from a pre-production phone, and we're really expecting (or at least hoping for) the frame rate to smooth out by launch. The video was shot in 720p, but it was downsampled for web playback -- it looks pretty sharp in native form, and the first image in the gallery is a screencap from the video in full resolution for your perusal.

Gallery: Samsung OmniaHD's camera put to the test

Continue reading Samsung OmniaHD's camera put to the test

Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras, Handhelds, HDTV

Samsung OmniaHD's camera put to the test originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon PowerShot SD780 IS, SD960 IS make brief, semi-official debut

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/17/canon-powershot-sd780-is-sd960-is-make-brief-semi-official-deb/

These aren't completely official just yet, but an impromptu appearance on Canon's own website certainly seems to indicate that the company's new PowerShot SD780 IS and SD960 IS should be getting the official treatment sooner rather than later. Both of these are 12-megapixel compacts and, most notably, each pack an HD movie mode (720p) and the requisite HDMI port to go along with it, along with Canon's trademark DIGIC IV image processor, and a 3x optical zoom on the SD780 (pictured above) and a 4x on the slightly larger SD960 (after the break). Unfortunately, there's no indication of a price, but both are apparently on track for a release sometime in April in a range of colors. Oh, and as if those weren't enough, we've also seen a stable of new models names leaked, though there aren't any images to back these up: A480, A1100 IS, A2100 IS, SD780 IS, SD960 IS, SD1200 IS, SX1 IS and SX200 IS. Is PMA just around the bend, or what?

[Thanks, Craig]

Read - PowerShot leaks
Read - Model name leaks

Continue reading Canon PowerShot SD780 IS, SD960 IS make brief, semi-official debut

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Canon PowerShot SD780 IS, SD960 IS make brief, semi-official debut originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Pico Projectors Offer DVD-Quality Resolution [Projectors]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/vXqlEQvxltM/new-pico-projectors-offer-dvd+quality-resolution

Guess which version is the second gen DLP Pico projector. (Hint: It's the smaller one on the right that's better in every way.)

There's really nothing exciting about micro projectors now other than where they can go. And TI's second generation projector is a promising step to mobile media "is that HD in your pocket?" nirvana. 20% smaller than the first Pico (and, maybe more importantly, 20% thinner as well), the new Pico projects an 854x480 (DVD quality) image with a contrast ratio of 1000:1. The missing spec is, of course, probably the most important one—brightness.

Still, how cool is that picture? Really cool. OK? Really cool. [TI via bbGadgets]

Discovered Materials Formed In Asteroid Impacts and Volcanic Eruptions Much Harder Than Diamonds [Diamonds]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/_fHQV0WQ9Yk/discovered-materials-formed-in-asteroid-impacts-and-volcanic-eruptions-much-harder-than-diamonds

Two materials, lonsdaleite and wurtzite, have just been recognized as being harder than diamonds. Lonsdalite, similar to diamonds that its made from carbon, is formed during asteroid impacts, and is 58% harder than its cousin. Wurtzite boron nitride is formed during heavy volcanic eruptions and can be up to 18% harder than diamonds.

oth are exceedingly rare in nature, and both form under crushing, searing conditions. Lonsdaleite is a cousin of the diamond, a hexagonal arrangement of carbon atoms that's 58% stronger than its shimmering relative, according to a computer simulation of its behavior. It's forged in nature during asteroid impacts.

The other mineral, wurtzite boron nitride is even more enigmatic. It comes together in especially punishing volcanic eruptions, and has flexible atomic bonds. When placed under stress it hardens until it is 18% stronger than a diamond.

Both materials are exceedingly rare. [Discovery News]

Stream and Download Music with MP3 Search [Music]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/nxvcx9J6rEE/stream-and-download-music-with-mp3-search

MP3 Search is a web music finder with a simple interface. If you're in need of some quick tunes to listen to, or you're hunting down pieces of an obscure mix, take a peek.

Similar to previously reviewed Mix Turtle, MP3 Search sports a spartan, grab-it-and-go interface. Unlike Mix Turtle, though, you can download the tracks to your computer. The music you select loads in a small pop-up flash player for preview or quick listen, though you can't queue up multiple tracks as on Seeqpod.

For more methods to scour the web for musical bounty, make sure to check out our guide to finding free music. If you have a favorite site for streaming music or finding tunes, sound off in the comments below.

MP3 Search [via MakeUseOf]

ManicTime Tracks Your Work Day [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/NtKmP9UTibQ/manictime-tracks-your-work-day

Windows only: ManicTime is a detailed time-tracking application for keeping tabs on where your workday goes. Get a handle on how you spend your time with tags, graphs, and reports.

If you were intrigued by previously reviewed RescueTime but were turned off by the idea of uploading all your data to the RescueTime servers, ManicTime offers a very similar set of tools but stores your data locally.

ManicTime runs as a background process and consumes very few resources. When open, ManicTime records which programs are open and what files they're accessing. Even if you never plugged any input into it, the app would do a very thorough job telling you when you were working and what you were working on. There are three primary timelines in ManicTime: the activity line shows whether you were idle or active, the application line shows which applications were in use, and the tag line is for user supplied information about the work at hand. You can tag both idle and active blocks of time by simply highlighting them and applying the tag.

The ability to tag idle time adds a great deal of functionality to the application: you can tag time spent in meetings, making phone calls, or even time logged at the gym. The tag system makes it easy to keep tabs on what work you're doing for different projects and clients—an especially handy feature for people who spend all their time using a similar set of applications for nearly every task at work. You can graph user specified blocks of time based on a variety of parameters like the basic active/idle cycles, by applications, or tags to see how your time! is spen t. ManicTime is freeware, Windows only.

ManicTime [via MakeUseOf]

TinyChat Generates Disposable TinyURL Chatrooms [Chat]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/CXxiCaJoptM/tinychat-generates-disposable-tinyurl-chatrooms

TinyChat is a no-frills service for creating disposable chatrooms. Each chatroom gets a unique TinyURL for easy sharing, and nobody involved needs special software to join in.

TinyChat is from the same people who brought you the Twitter-friendly TinyPaste service we reviewed last year. TinyChat generates a basic chat room that supports IRC-esque commands like the ability to /msg people in the room and use /me to emote—similar to another disposable chat service we've reviewed, Stinto. Share the URL with friends and all they have to do is click the link and pick a nickname to join in. You can save the logs as text files, send them via email, create a TinyPaste text clipping, or save them to Twitter. Great for creating discussion space outside official chat rooms, or organizing people across different IM services.

TinyChat [via Download Squad]

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Android G2 Hands On: Close to Perfection [Htc Magic]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/CXZfT6JtiGY/android-g2-hands-on-close-to-perfection

HTC and Google are getting closer to perfection with the new Android G2, the HTC Magic. Nice finish, great form factor. Check out our video, including the obligatory comparison with Apple's iPhone, and hands-on impressions:

The bad news first: Apart from my gripes about the user interface—which are still there—there is one but. A big BUT, bigger than Ramona's, the planetary lady with accidental moustache who serves the bocadillos down at one of the fair's restaurants: The software keyboard. On this first touch, the keyboard felt cramped, probably a result of the screen size, which is smaller than the iPhone's—which is the obvious soft keyboard reference, since it was the first one to implement a finger-touch software keyboard.

In addition to that, there's an additional user interface problem, this time having to do with perception: Instead of popping up above your finger—like in the iPhone so you can clearly see what you pressed—the keys appear on the sides. They flash quickly as you press them, and I found it extremely distracting. They said that they put them on the sides not to obstruct the view, but knowing the over-the-key implementation in the iPhone's software keyboard, it doesn't make much sense. Furthermore, when you are typing with one finger only—like I often do—you will be obstructing the view of the flashing key with your finger. The reason: When you type on the right side of the keyboard, the flashing keys appear on the left. When you click on the right, they pop out on the left.

Other than this, the rest is great. There's a new Google Mail feature to delete or classify mail in bulk, as well as a faster camera, which now can take vid! eo&mdash ;which obviously means you can play back video as well. The rest of the interface and features is what you already have in the Android G1. However, what really steals the show here is the hardware itself.

HTC has got a very smooth phone, which feels great on your hands and in your pants' pockets. While it's sightly thicker than the iPhone, the narrower, rounded body, and weight makes it feel the same size. For sure, a lot less bulky than the G1, which looks like a brick next to this. And as you have seen in the shots, the final HTC Magic is quite pretty. Have no doubt: This thing alone will make many consumers put up with the less-than-ideal software keyboard.

Overall, the first feeling is that we got a potential winner here. If they can manage to make the software keyboard better, Apple will definitely have a formidable enemy in the Android G2.

ASUS announces WiMAX-equipped Eee PC 1000HG

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/17/asus-announces-wimax-equipped-eee-pc-1000hg/

Despite the fact that LTE looks to be the de facto standard for next-gen mobile data, ASUS has an unwavering love affair with WiMAX. In fact, we've already seen the company introduce a WiMAX-equipped laptop, and a WiMAX-enabled Eee PC was demoed way back at CES 2008. That said, the company is just now getting around to producing a new one for the adoring public, but for whatever reason, it's not even boasting about it. Tucked deep, deep within a release gloating about the Eee PC 1003HA and T91's ability to handle Windows 7 Beta is the promise of an Eee PC 1000HG. Said netbook will include both WiMAX and WiFi capabilities -- or, more specifically, IEEE 802.16e, WAVE2 and WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n support in the 2.4GHz~2.7GHz and 5.1GHz~5.8GHz bands. Of course, "future" could mean "we'll release this in late 2019," but we're banking on hearing more details sooner rather than later.

Filed under: Laptops

ASUS announces WiMAX-equipped Eee PC 1000HG originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This Electric Car (Concept) Is Controlled by an iPhone [Cars]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/MVXuTHsnPio/this-electric-car-concept-is-controlled-by-an-iphone

The Rinspeed iChange is an electric car concept promising 0-60 in four seconds along with a transforming rear end that can create two extra seats. And an iPhone controls everything but the driving parts.

The dash features an iPhone dock, and as you can see, there really aren't many other buttons—heck, there's not even a slot for the key. So the iPhone is used to turn on the car, control the Harman/Kardon infotainment system with GPS navigation, and, we believe, even handle the air conditioning complete with vents.

And as ridiculous as the idea seems, I can't help but appreciate the idea of owning one wondrous device that manages every aspect of my life/identity...I'd just rather not hit up the App Store every time I need an oil change. [Jalopnik]

Android G2 Hands On: Close to Perfection [Htc Magic]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/CXZfT6JtiGY/android-g2-hands-on-close-to-perfection

HTC and Google are getting closer to perfection with the new Android G2, the HTC Magic. Nice finish, great form factor. Check out our video, including the obligatory comparison with Apple's iPhone, and hands-on impressions:

The bad news first: Apart from my gripes about the user interface—which are still there—there is one but. A big BUT, bigger than Ramona's, the planetary lady with accidental moustache who serves the bocadillos down at one of the fair's restaurants: The software keyboard. On this first touch, the keyboard felt cramped, probably a result of the screen size, which is smaller than the iPhone's—which is the obvious soft keyboard reference, since it was the first one to implement a finger-touch software keyboard.

In addition to that, there's an additional user interface problem, this time having to do with perception: Instead of popping up above your finger—like in the iPhone so you can clearly see what you pressed—the keys appear on the sides. They flash quickly as you press them, and I found it extremely distracting. They said that they put them on the sides not to obstruct the view, but knowing the over-the-key implementation in the iPhone's software keyboard, it doesn't make much sense. Furthermore, when you are typing with one finger only—like I often do—you will be obstructing the view of the flashing key with your finger. The reason: When you type on the right side of the keyboard, the flashing keys appear on the left. When you click on the right, they pop out on the left.

Other than this, the rest is great. There's a new Google Mail feature to delete or classify mail in bulk, as well as a faster camera, which now can take video—which obviously means you can play back video as well. The rest of the interface and features is what you already have in the Android G1. However, what really steals the show here is the hardware i! tself.

HTC has got a very smooth phone, which feels great on your hands and in your pants' pockets. While it's sightly thicker than the iPhone, the narrower, rounded body, and weight makes it feel the same size. For sure, a lot less bulky than the G1, which looks like a brick next to this. And as you have seen in the shots, the final HTC Magic is quite pretty. Have no doubt: This thing alone will make many consumers put up with the less-than-ideal software keyboard.

Overall, the first feeling is that we got a potential winner here. If they can manage to make the software keyboard better, Apple will definitely have a formidable enemy in the Android G2.

OCZ Summit Series SSDs get boost from new Samsung MLC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/17/ocz-summit-series-ssds-get-boost-from-new-samsung-mlc/

Intel's X-25M SSD may be the current go-to drive for those primarily concerned with speed, but it looks like it could soon have some competition from OCZ's latest Summit Series drives, which get a significant boost from some new Samsung MLC memory, not to mention 64MB of on-board cache. According to PC Perspective, those additions show themselves the most in write speeds, which manage to top even the X-25M, although the Summit drive fell slightly behind when it came to read speed tests, prompting the site to still give the overall edge to the X-25M. PC Perspective does speculate, however, that, given OCZ's past track record, the drives (available in sizes up to 250GB) could come in significantly cheaper than Intel's offerings, which would make the X-25M a much harder sell even with its slight performance edge. Hit up the link below for the complete benchmarks and a peek inside the drive.

[Thanks, Ryan]

Filed under: Storage

OCZ Summit Series SSDs get boost from new Samsung MLC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Texas Instruments out-picos itself with newer, tinier projector chip

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/17/texas-instruments-out-picos-itself-with-newer-tinier-projector/

We love pico projectors, we love phones -- so the combo pack known as the Samsung Show stopped us in our tracks when we first spied it at CES. Well, Texas Instruments, makers of the DLP projector chip that runs the Show, if you will, have just announced the second generation DLP chip which is -- you guessed it -- smaller! The second-gen chip is about 20 percent smaller and thinner in fact, and it boasts the ability to display WVGA resolution (the previous model has HVGA resolution), all while delivering a brighter display! TI's press specifically mentions mobile phones, so don't be surprised if the Show doesn't have a host of comptitors to deal with any day now. Texas Instruments is on hand at MWC, and their press conference is tonight, so we'll be watching, magnifying glass in hand, to see what else they have in store for us.

Filed under: Cellphones, Displays

Texas Instruments out-picos itself with newer, tinier projector chip originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia's N86 makes its 8 megapixel debut

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/17/nokias-n86-makes-its-8-megapixel-debut/

Sure, things looked pretty legit yesterday, but we were awaiting official confirmation from Nokia. That's here, and now we can take a gander at the N86 purely on the up-and-up. The dual-slider (keypad on one end, camera and playback controls on the other) naturally centers on its 8 megapixel camera, which includes a Carl Zeiss Tessar lens, AutoFocus, a mechanical shutter and a dual-LED flash, but there's plenty of other N-series goodies like 8GB of storage, a 2.6-inch OLED screen, TV-out and a microSD slot. Nokia Maps, Ovi integration and all those other goodies are onboard -- though the new email capabilities of its E-series brethren seem absent. The phone is due in Europe in Q2 2009 for around 375 Euro before taxes and subsidies.

Gallery: Nokia's N86 makes its 8 megapixel debut

Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras, Handhelds

Nokia's N86 makes its 8 megapixel debut originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 03:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Magic is official, bringing Android to Vodafone sans keyboard

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/17/htc-magic-is-official-bringing-android-to-vodafone-sans-keyboar/

Vodafone just scooped planet Earth with the first touchscreen-only Android phone: HTC's Magic. All the specs look to line up with what was rumored, with a 3.2-inch QVGA screen front and center (that resolution might be a typo, HVGA seems more likely), HDSPA, GPS, 3.2 megapixel camera (no flash), and a G1-style trackball. Details on pricing and availability will be unveiled for local Vodafone markets as they see fit, but pricing in Spain will be from 99 to 199 Euro, depending on contract. Initial markets to nab the phone will be UK (due in April), Spain, Germany, France and Italy, with more countries to follow, and the phone will be a timed exclusive with Vodafone. Crazily enough, the phone has a proprietary headphone jack, proving once and for all that HTC doesn't like you, but at least this one will ship with a touchscreen keyboard out of the gate -- it's running Cupcake.

Update: We have confirmation that the device is indeed HVGA like the G1 before it, that's a typo on the original press release. More detailed specifications after the break.

Gallery: HTC Magic

Continue reading HTC Magic is official, bringing Android to Vodafone sans keyboard

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

HTC Magic is official, bringing Android to Vodafone sans keyboard originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 06:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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