@bmorrissey - http://ping.fm/Eofwb - the TwitteRFP: "seeking ad agency partner" - how many big agencies got the RFP, let alone replied?

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Wolfram Alpha Search Engine Answers Questions, Looks Amazing [Search Engines]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/2sJlvO7eelU/wolfram-alpha-search-engine-answers-questions-looks-amazing

Wolfram Alpha is a closed (for now) search engine that looks like an incredible hybrid between Wikipedia and Google's OneBox answers for simple, common search queries—at least that's what we've gathered from the demo video.

We haven't actually been able to try the site out ourselves, but it launches sometime this month, so it won't be long. Luckily the demo video embedded here walks through a lot of the possibilities this search engine offers, and those possibilities are mind-blowing—especially for a data lover. Unfortunately the video is a little blurry, so it's not the best possible look at the up-and-coming engine.

Don't think of Wolfram Alpha as a Google Killer, though, because frankly Google doesn't really have anything like it—except for maybe Google's new public data search, which, while impressive, doesn't look nearly as robust as Wolfram Alpha. (Then again, we'll have to wait and see how well Wolfram Alpha works when it gets in the hands of the public.) Either way, Google will still corner the market on most normal search. (We're not always looking for the kind of answers Wolfram Alpha provides when we hit up Google.) As for how this editor uses Google and Wikipedia, I'd actually imagine that Wolfram Alpha could be more of a Wikipedia competitor than a Google competitor.

Let's hear what you think of the yet-to-be-released search engine in the comments.

Wolfram Alpha

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Motion Detection Is an Effective, Dead Simple Security Camera App [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/c7o3iI3N0_Y/motion-detection-is-an-effective-dead-simple-security-camera-app

Windows only: Motion Detection is a free application that turns your webcam into a motion-sensing security camera in just a few clicks.

Assuming you've got a webcam hooked up to your computer, all you've got to do is run Motion Detector, set your preferences (Motion Detector can capture still images and/or movies complete with timestamps whenever it detects motion), and hit Start to run your new security webcam. Motion Detector's sensitivity slider lets you determine just how much motion the app needs to detect before it starts capturing images. As you can see in the screenshot, triggering motion is indicated by the red squares.

For its part, the application works very well, it's relatively lightweight, and it's very simple to set up and use. We've always pointed to previously mentioned Yawcam for some quick motion-detection via webcam, and while it offers its own impressive set of tools, including FTP upload, I'd still call Motion Detection easier to use. Either way you go, both are great applications for having a little fun setting up a motion-sensing security webcam.

Motion Detection (scroll to the bottom of the page) [via Shell Extension City]

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TrueCar Shows You What Cars are Really Selling For [Cars]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/U2jvCFTys9I/truecar-shows-you-what-cars-are-really-selling-for

Any car shopper will tell you it's nearly impossible to get a bead on fair prices from lip service alone. TrueCar aggregates sales data for a clear picture of what cars are really selling for.

If you'd like to get a feel for whether or not you're getting a good deal on a car you've been looking at, TrueCar has the dirt. TrueCar collects and analyzes data from 25% of the automotive sales in the US—a sizable portion, and more than enough to paint an accurate picture.

You plug in your ZIP code and search for the make and model you're thinking about purchasing. TrueCar returns information about the car, including dealer cost, factory invoice, average price paid in your area, and the sticker price. Based on those numbers and archival sales, the site charts out a bell curve, showing you where the sweet spot for wheeling and dealing is.

TrueCar also provides sales history for the previous six months which is handy to check and see if the sale price is falling. TrueCar is a free service. If you know of another service for checking the sales price of cars, share it in the comment belows.

TrueCar [via TechCrunch]

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Samsung Alias 2 launching on May 11, E Ink confirmed?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/01/samsung-alias-2-launching-on-may-11-e-ink-confirmed/

We're hearing that the Alias 2 is on track for a release in less than two weeks from now -- May 11, to be exact -- which would mean that we're just a few short days away from seeing the very first E Ink handset launch in the States. Yes, that's right, we said it -- after all the heated debate over the technology powering the Alias 2's configurable keypad, our tipster tells us that new information floating down from corporate confirms that the device is using E Ink, which would explain why it's able to maintain state even with the power off. We still think it's one awfully ugly phone, but this might be one of those all-too-frequent cases where cool tech ends up winning our hearts anyway. As for pricing, the tipster thinks it may come in at $79, which seems improbable even with deep contract discounting and a big mail-in rebate -- but if by some miracle it does end up being accurate, they're going to be selling tons of these to text-heavy geeks like ourselves.

[Image via PhoneArena, thanks ehjun]

Filed under: Cellphones

Samsung Alias 2 launching on May 11, E Ink confirmed? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 May 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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