Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Forthcoming UMID M2 already dancing on M1's spotlight

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/forthcoming-umid-m2-already-dancing-on-m1s-spotlight/

In today's world, it's a pretty safe bet that revision two is already on the drawing board by the time revision one hits the market. That said, it's still somewhat embarrassing for UMID that we already have leaked proof that the M2 is on the way to replace the just-barely-official M1. Judging by a purported roadmap, the MID M2 will be smaller than 3-inches and will boast calling capabilities. Furthermore, it'll support HSPA, WiMAX and a slew of other wireless protocols (or at least some of 'em), but we wouldn't expect to see more of it until late 2009. Unless UMID wants to completely cannibalize sales of that M1, of course.

Filed under: Handhelds

Forthcoming UMID M2 already dancing on M1's spotlight originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SSD-equipped netbooks getting cheaper?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/ssd-equipped-netbooks-getting-cheaper/

We know, we know -- it's just the natural evolution of technology, right? With Intel just recently slashing the MSRP on its 80GB SSD, not to mention to scads of others ratcheting things down as well, it's not shocking to hear that SSD-equipped netbooks are becoming all the more affordable. DigiTimes has it that demand for SSD-based 8.9-inch netbooks in particular are clogging up sales channels, which is forcing companies to move them (at least in Taiwan) for lower-than-advertised amounts. Of course, we're still betting it takes a month or so before these elusive price drops make their way to America, but keep a close eye out for sudden discounts if you're in the market.

[Via GadgetMix]

Filed under: Laptops, Storage

SSD-equipped netbooks getting cheaper? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MSI X-Slim X340 hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/msi-x-slim-x340-hands-on/

Engadget Chinese managed to score some face time with MSI's new X-Slim X340 at a pre-CeBIT press event today, and we're seriously impressed -- just like the Atom-based X320, the X340 weighs just 2.8 pounds with a four-cell battery and 1366 x 768 13.4-inch screen, but it's got more horsepower with a ULV Penryn chip and GMA4500 graphics with HDMI out. Not bad, especially if this thing comes in under $1000 like we've heard -- we'll keep an eye out while you check out the rest of the pics in the gallery.

Gallery: MSI X-Slim X340 hands-on

Filed under: Laptops

MSI X-Sl! im X340 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell Studio 15 with HD screen and Mobility Radeon HD 4570 graphics lands in Singapore

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/24/dell-studio-15-with-hd-screen-and-mobility-radeon-hd-4570-graphi/

We first caught wind of an updated Dell Studio 15 when drivers for a 1555 model with ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4570 graphics popped up on Dell's support site, and surprise -- Dell Singapore's gone and posted specs and pricing. The 1555 gets more than just a GPU boost to a 512MB 4570, it's also scoring a new 15.6-inch WLED 1366 x 768 screen, so you can actually watch some of that high-def media at an appropriate res. The basic config nets you all the new stuff plus a 2.4GHz P8600 Core 2 Duo, 3GB of RAM and a 250GB drive for S$1,599 ($1,044), which is actually a pretty stellar deal -- let's hope this bad boy makes it Stateside, and soon.

[Thanks, Karthik]

Filed under: Laptops

Dell Studio 15 with HD screen and Mobility Radeon HD 4570 graphics lands in Singapore originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MSI Wind Box DC100 hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/24/msi-wind-box-dc100-hands-on/

MSI was showing off its latest Wind Box at the same pre-CeBIT press event Engadget Chinese caught the X-Slim X340 at, and man -- looks like someone at MSI was studying up on the ASUS Eee Box. Nothing you don't know about the internals here: 1.6GHz Atom N270, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, same as the other Wind Box -- but it's seriously tiny. No word on pricing or a US release date, but we'll keep an ear to the ground. One more shot after the break.

Continue reading MSI Wind Box DC100 hands-on

Filed under: Desktops

MSI Wind Box DC100 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Foam-infused Impress DIS.PLAY encourages touching

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/24/foam-infused-impress-dis-play-encourages-touching/

Move over Surface, we just found our next tabletop display. The aptly named DIS.PLAY beautifully merges the functionality of a touch panel with the allure of dimly-lit scenarios, and the inclusion of memory foam just makes it all the more sweet. In one usage scenario, we're told that objects could be put into motion with sound, and when a certain "shape" is mashed and deformed, the respective audio would bend along with it. Another instance showcased 3D modeling that could be varied by simply twisting the hand or intensifying a finger press. Check the demonstration video after the break, and grab your Tempur-Pedic pillow if you're looking to play along.

[Via KanYeWestBlog, thanks DellAppleFan24]

Continue reading Foam-infused Impress DIS.PLAY encourages touching

Filed under: Displays

Foam-infused Impress DIS.PLAY encourages touching originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 3D Eye Tracking from TAT, the guys behind the T-Mobile G1 UI

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/24/video-3d-eye-tracking-from-tat-the-guys-behind-the-t-mobile-g1/

Ever notice the word "Malmo" emblazoned across the face of Android's analog clock widget? That's a subtle nod to the city where the Swedish design team called TAT (The Astonishing Tribe) is headquartered -- a group of nerds responsible for finessing the look and feel of the T-Mobile G1's user interface including such innovations as the window shade menu and 9-point visual key-lock. In fact, TAT's software prowess can be seen on the Samsung Instinct, S60 handsets from Nokia, and a variety of devices from Motorola and Sony Ericsson. So when TAT releases a new "3Deyetracking UI" concept that lets you see behind on-screen objects, well, you can bet that the entire cellphone industry is paying attention. Check the video after the break.

Read -- TAT's industry influence

Continue reading Video: 3D Eye Tracking from TAT, the guys behind the T-Mobile G1 UI

Filed under: Cellphones

Video: 3D Eye Tracking from TAT, the guys behind the T-Mobile G1 UI originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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$100 EyeClops Mini Projector announced for untatered tots

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/24/100-eyeclops-mini-projector-announced-for-untatered-tots/

We knew it was coming, and sure enough Jakks Pacific just introduced its EyeClops Mini Projector for a penny shy of $100. Still light on specs, we can tell you that the palm-sized, LED projector features built-in speakers and up to 10 hours of operation off an unspecified number of D batteries when away from the mains. As to the quality, well, you typically get what you pay for and this pup is targeting a demographic of ages 8 and above -- 'nuff said. Look for it to ship sometime in the Fall.

Filed under: Displays

$100 EyeClops Mini Projector announced for untatered tots originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mini microphone spruces up voice recording possibilities on iPhone / iPods

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/24/mini-microphone-spruces-up-voice-recording-possibilities-on-ipho/

Not that this is the very first microphone designed to function with Apple's iPhone or anything, but it's certainly amongst the cheapest and most universal that we've seen. The Mini Microphone reportedly plays nice with the iPhone 3G, iPod touch and iPod nano, giving 'em all that extra special voice recording oomph that's so badly needed. The best part(s)? It's only $14.99, and it's barely bigger than a valve stem cover to boot.

[Thanks, Junior]

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio

Mini microphone spruces up voice recording possibilities on iPhone / iPods originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday, February 23, 2009

Sigma DP2 shows itself in pre-production form

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/sigma-dp2-shows-itself-in-pre-production-form/

Sigma hasn't had a whole lot to say about its DP1 follow-up, the DP2, since it announced it last fall, but it looks to have pulled out all, or most of the stops for the Focus on Imaging trade show in Birmingham this week, where it has a fully functional pre-production model on hand. As you can see above, the camera doesn't stray very far at all from the straightforwardness of the DP1 in terms of appearance, but the folks at SigmaUser did find quite a few less immediately noticeable differences once they got to check it out up close, including an improved grip and larger thumb rest area, a new startup / shutdown screen, an improved menu system and, ISO settings right up to 3200, among other promised improvements. Hit up the read link below for a closer look.

[Via 1001 Noisy Cameras]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Sigma DP2 shows itself in pre-production form originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beambox launches Evolution R-1 pico projector

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/beambox-launches-evolution-r-1-pico-projector/

You may recall Beambox as the company that brought us the very tiny Beambox Pocket Projector. Well, its newest model, the just-announced Evolution R-1 is not quite as compact (though it's still pretty tiny), but it looks like it will pack a lot more punch than its predecessor. The R-1 will boast an LCoS chip, a brightness of 30 lumens, with a 200:1 contrast ratio and VGA (640 x 480) resolution, and will be capable of projecting an up to 100-inch image. The little guy will also have up to 4GB of onboard Flash memory, plus a microSD slot. The pico -- which weighs in at 175 grams -- is expected to ship around March 20th. It looks like the projector is going to run you £250 ($360), and be available in black, red, silver and white. One more shot after the break.

Continue reading Beambox launches Evolution R-1 pico projector

Filed under: Displays

Beambox launches Evolution R-1 pico projector originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World gets updated Samsung P3, US still gets none

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/world-gets-updated-samsung-p3-us-still-gets-none/

World gets updated Samsung P3, US gets none

It was hard to give back Samsung's P3 after caressing it for a few moments at CES, knowing we'd be sadly separated for at least a few months waiting for an indeterminate release date sometime before July. Today that official arrival is still just as vague, but now our hearts yearn just a little more with Samsung updating and extending the functionality of the player, adding the ability to play native resolution 800 x 600 video, enabling support for video subtitles in SMIs, adding mosaic browsing for videos, and throwing in a fun little drawing application to boot. A full (and jazzy) video breakdown of the new features is embedded below, which people on the fence about S9 now or P3 later won't want to miss.

Continue reading World gets updated Samsung P3, US still gets none

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

World gets updated Samsung P3, US still gets none originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 09:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell's Mini 10 comes with any amount of RAM you want, so long as it's 1GB

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/dells-mini-10-comes-with-any-amount-of-ram-you-want-so-long-as/

Dell's Mini 10 comes with any amount of RAM you want, so long as it's 1GB

The case of the Mini 10 just gets curiouser and curiouser. The company finally acknowledged the red-lidded QVC stepchild on its site just last week, but before that quietly mentioned an interesting bit of information on its official blog: the 1GB of memory figure that seemed like just a start is actually the end, too. The RAM in the first batch (or possibly batches) of Mini 10 models will be non-upgradable, and while we don't know why a company that built itself on allowing people to customize computers would prevent them from upgrading their netbooks, we are sure this won't be a popular move. Additionally, the first Mini 10's will all be running XP, though Ubuntu will be coming, as well as an optional 720P display and even a TV tuner. That all sounds fantastic, but after waiting through all this is anyone going to wait longer still for a proper-spec'd machine?

[Thanks, Eric]

Filed under: Laptops

Dell's Mini 10 comes with any amount of RAM you want, so long as it's 1GB originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gigabyte plans CeBIT debut for M1022, M1024 and M1028 netbooks

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/23/gigabyte-plans-cebit-debut-for-m1022-m1024-and-m1028-netbooks/

We already knew that Gigabyte was planning to wow onlookers in Hanover with its touchscreen convertible netbook (that'd be the M1028; pictured), but now we're finding that it'll be joined by two others when things get kicked off around a week from now. Reportedly, two other 10-inch netbooks will be showcased to the world at CeBIT: the M1022 and the Atom N270-equipped M1024. It's said that the latter will simply be a thinner and lighter version of the M1028, while the M1022 will get gifted with Intel's newer N280 processor. Beyond that, details are few and far between, but hopefully we'll get all up in their system profiles in a few days.

Filed under: Laptops

Gigabyte plans CeBIT debut for M1022, M1024 and M1028 netbooks originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Five Best Live CDs [Hive Five]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/JHw7NC7rvKE/five-best-live-cds

Live CDs (and DVDs) are versatile tools, allowing you to boot into an operating system without installing anything to your hard drives. Let's take a closer look at the five most popular live CDs.

Photo by bulinna.

Earlier this week we asked you to tell us which live CD was your favorite. After tallying the votes we're back to share the top five contenders. The following tools are unique compared to many of our software Hive Fives in that they are entirely independent of the main operating system installed on the computer. Live CDs load into the memory and allow you to use operating systems and accompanying tools without having to perform a permanent installation on the machine.

Knoppix

Knoppix is a Debian-based Linux distribution and one of the first Linux live CDs that was available. While the Knoppix distribution is packed with open-source goodness, one of the most popular uses for Knoppix is recovering files from damaged drives. To that end Knoppix is packed with open-source applications for testing disk integrity, recovering files, reading corrupted drives, and more. There are a total of 2,000 programs packed into the disc covering everything from disc recovery to media playback.

Ultimate Boot CD 4 Windows

The Ultimate Boot CD 4 Windows has a familiar interface. If you're a Windows user, booting into a copy of Linux to get work done could be disorienting. The Ultimate Boot CD 4 Windows uses your Windows installation discs (only Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 are officially supported) to create a bootable version of Windows contained on a disc. Tons of quality Windows-based tools are included in the custom disc covering everything from backing up and cloning your discs to running diagnostics to partitioning and recovering data. Many of the tools on the disc are tools you may already be somewhat acquainted with, like UltraVNC, Recuva, and CCleaner. If you're looking for a well packed toolbox that keeps you firmly planted in a comfortable Windows environment, The Ultimate Boot CD 4 Windows is an excellent choice.

Puppy Linux

Puppy Linux belongs to the family of ultra small linux distributions. Weighing in at under 100MB, it can easily be loaded on everything from a CD to a USB drive. The user interface is friendly even for a non-Linux user, and the basic tools you need for partitioning and file recovery are readily available—although it's just as great for web browsing and basic computing. Puppy Linux also has a rather handy feature: If you burn it to a re-writable CD, you can save your user settings for your next session.

BackTrack

BackTrack isn't going to help you recover your lost vacation pictures, but it will make sure nobody can get into y! our netw ork to steal them. Packed with 300 tools covering everything from packet sniffing to hot spot probing to brute force password attacks, BackTrack is live CD designed to facilitate penetration testing of computers and networks. Deployed by a skilled user, BackTrack will leave no corner of your computer and network security un-poked, scanned, prodded, and analyzed. If BackTrack was your friend, he'd be the friend who responded to you bragging about how secure your new house was by throwing a brick through the front window to prove otherwise. (You have weird friends.)

Ubuntu

Ubuntu's enormous popularity as the mainstream Linux distribution certainly helps bolster its rank among live CDs. Many a new user to Ubuntu has messed around with the operating system using a live CD before using that very same live CD to install the full operating system. Even if you don't intend to do a full install, just like Puppy Linux you can do all manner of computing tasks without leaving a trace on the computer you're using. The Ubuntu live CD comes packed with Open Office, Firefox, Pidgin, the BitTorrent client Transmission, and the open source image editor GIMP—a decent stable of tools for using Ubuntu as a portable computing platform.

Now that you've seen the top five, it's time to vote on your favorite. Which live CD is the king of the bootable media?

Best Live CD?
( polls)

The following live CDs are worthy of honorary mention: Ophcrack is an extremely efficient rainbow-table based Windows password cracker (here's how it works). Hiren's Boot CD is a DOS-based boot disk that is absolutely packed with utilities like Partition Magic, Disk Director Suite, and Norton Ghost. A final nod goes to Gparted, a tool incorporated into many of the above live CDs. GParted is robust disk partitioning tool for creating, destroying, organizing and mirroring hard disks.

The five and accompanying honorable mentions merely reflect the most popular portion of the live CD based tools out there. If you have a tip, trick or tool to add to the heap, sound off in the comments below.

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