Monday, July 20, 2009

VLC 1.0 Records Video from DVDs [Ripping]

VLC 1.0 Records Video from DVDs [Ripping]

Have you ever wanted to save a segment of video from your favorite DVD for watching later without fast-forwarding all the way through the movie? VLC 1.0 adds a new "Record" feature to help you.

Over at the How-To Geek web site (my home away from Lifehacker), blogger Mysticgeek writes up how to enable the new recording features: just use the View -> Advanced Controls menu item, and then you can record videos by hitting the record button to start saving the video, and then pressing it again when you are done. You'll find the segment of the video in your Documents folder, saved in MPG format.

This isn't quite the same as ripping a DVD, which we've covered many times before—but you could use it for that purpose if you wanted to, especially if you wanted to cut out the stuff at the beginning of a movie that isn't necessary. Readers should note that it doesn't seem to work with just any video, but we've successfully tested it with a number of DVDs and even AVI files that seemed to work without problems.

Hit the link for the full walk-through, read up on how to turn your PC into a DVD-ripping monster, or check out the five best DVD ripping tools.



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TextDiff Compares Your Documents and Files for Changes [Downloads]

TextDiff Compares Your Documents and Files for Changes [Downloads]

Windows only: TextDiff is a simple and portable tool for quickly comparing and merging changes in documents and files.

Plug in a pair of documents and TextDiff will quickly highlight all the differences by line and by the portion of the line which has changed. You can ignore spaces and special characters, edit the text from within TextDiff, and generate reports highlighting the differences. For file comparisons you simply point TextDiff at the two different folders and it will highlight which files share names but otherwise fail to match each other.

For another text comparison tool, check out our guide to WinMerge. TextDiff is freeware, Windows only.



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UTube Ripper Saves and Converts YouTube Videos [Downloads]

UTube Ripper Saves and Converts YouTube Videos [Downloads]

Linux only: Video downloading utility UTube Ripper saves a copy of your favorite YouTube videos for your offline viewing pleasure, even converting them into a non-flash format.

Installation on Debian-based versions of Linux like Ubuntu is a breeze—just download the .deb file from the downloads page and double-click to install everything. You'll want to make sure that you have Adobe Flash and the ffmpeg library installed as well, or the utility won't end up working properly.

Once those steps are completed, you can launch the utility, paste in a link to a YouTube video and click the Download button to retrieve a copy. The Convert FLV section of the application will let you convert into MPG or AVI format, or you can use the "Rip audio only" option to convert a YouTube video into an MP3 file.

UTube Ripper [SourceForge via Addictive Tips]


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How Modern Processors Are Made [Science]

How Modern Processors Are Made [Science]

I knew that processors—like castles—are made of sand. But I didn't know they required stuff like ion implantation at more than 185,000mph, electroplating, and the creation of up to 20 metal layers of transistor connections in 500nm.

Thankfully, Intel has put together a slide show to tell how the little things are made, from sand grains to the final packaging, going through all the dicing, the slicing, and the dancing. [Intel via Dark Roasted Blend]













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YouTube Experiments With 3D Video; Supports Multiple Headache Technologies [YouTube]

YouTube Experiments With 3D Video; Supports Multiple Headache Technologies [YouTube]

One cross-eyed Googler has been spending his 20% on a 3D video display system for YouTube, which is open for experimentation/testing/goofing off right now.

It's a little rough right now, but it's already plenty of fun to play with, at least until your inevitable migraine sets in. The interface lets you switch between a fairly long list of viewing options, be it a particular type of glasses—red/cyan or amber/blue—or a simple cross-eyed option, all rendered from a single source file. It's incredibly obvious, simply mashing two-panel source video together in a variety of ways, but it's a surprisingly elegant way to deal with fragmenting 3D technologies. Details about how to activate and upload for the feature, as well as some samples, are available here. [SERoundTable]




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AMD's Neo to hit nettops, all-in-one PCs soon

AMD's Neo to hit nettops, all-in-one PCs soon


AMD's Neo ultra-portable platform was seen as something that just might rival Intel's mighty Atom in the oversaturated netbook space when it debuted back in January, but up until now, the system has remained largely in the background. Indeed, it has only found its way into a select few machines, none of which have managed to gain any sort of traction beside the sea of Atom-based alternatives. Now, however, it seems as if the chips -- which were originally engineered for ultraslim, thin-and-light laptops -- may find themselves shoved into an array of nettops and all-in-one PCs. Here lately, a slew of underpowered SFF-type desktops and PC-in-a-monitor type units have found favor with bargain hunters, and Bob Grim, the outfit's director of client marketing, isn't looking to miss a golden opportunity. To quote:

"We've known all along that this type of technology would really work well in multiple platforms and multiple types of form factors. These CPUs perform better than the Atom processor, and the graphics are superior. These things... can play Blu-rays, they can play games."

There's still no word on who exactly plans on equipping their future machines with this here platform, but considering just how tired we are of Intel's sluggish N270 and N280, we'll take all the competition we can get.

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AMD's Neo to hit nettops, all-in-one PCs soon originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Jul 2009 06:18:00 EST. Please see our ter ms for use of feeds.

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Gateway gives Intel a go with Atom N270-equipped LT2000 netbook

Gateway gives Intel a go with Atom N270-equipped LT2000 netbook

After giving AMD the first crack, Gateway is issuing its second bona fide netbook with an Intel Inside(R) sticker instead. The LT2000 is a 10.1-inch machine with a list of specifications that any avid netbook follower could spout off in their sleep. For everyone else, here goes: a 1.6GHz Atom N270 CPU, LED-backlit 1,024 x 600 resolution display, 1GB of DDR2 memory, 160GB 5400RPM hard drive, GMA950 graphics set, a card reader, built-in webcam, twin stereo speakers, a trio of USB 2.0 sockets, three-cell battery and a chassis that tips the scales at 2.62 pounds. Gateway's making these available as we speak for $299.99, with the LT2001u receiving a NightSky Black coating and the LT2021u arriving with a Cherry Red outfit. The full release is after the break.

Continue reading Gateway gives Intel a go with Atom N270-equipped LT2000 netbook

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Gateway gives Intel a go with Atom N270-equipped LT2000 netbook originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba coating NB200 netbook in silky pink and blue

Toshiba coating NB200 netbook in silky pink and blue


The Dynabook UX / NB200 netbook has only been out for a few months now, but already Toshiba's looking to score a few more buyers with two new hues. Originally launched in white, brown and black, Tosh has decided to queue up a pair of fresher, brighter colors for those looking for something a bit different. Now, you can expect the lappie to start making the rounds in "silky pink" and "blue," though we get the feeling these will hit the UK first. Head on down to the read link for a hands-on gallery, but don't expect any exciting new hardware -- it's still the same ole 1.6GHz Atom, 1GB of RAM and 160GB hard drive that we're so painfully used to seeing.

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Toshiba coating NB200 netbook in silky pink and blue originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 03:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BeamBox Essential G2 projector is tiny, available for pre-order

BeamBox Essential G2 projector is tiny, available for pre-order


Remember when 190 grams felt feathery light? BeamBox wasn't satisfied with that, and has put its pocket projector on a strict diet, cutting its weight all the way down to 75 grams. The Essential G2 promises VGA resolution on up to a 73-inch projection, though we'd expect the listed 20 lumens to produce usable images closer to 7.3-inches. Alas, you have to expect sacrifices when moving to such miniature dimensions. USB connectivity takes care of both power and image source, though there's 1GB of integrated memory if you don't feel like lugging a comparatively monolithic laptop or netbook along. If this has piqued your interest, a remote control comes as part of the deal and pre-orders are being taken now -- £220, $250 or €240, depending on your local currency -- with general availability set for July 29.

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BeamBox Essential G2 projector is tiny, available for pre-order originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS' Eee PC 1101HA netbook gets unboxed on video, shown in black

ASUS' Eee PC 1101HA netbook gets unboxed on video, shown in black


Unlike ASUS' Eee PC 1005HA, which seemed to ship just days after debuting, the company's 1101HA is taking its sweet time in going from "real" to "really available" here in America. This next member in the expanding Seashell range boasts a larger-than-usual 11.6-inch display and can be ordered with optional 3G (eventually, anyway), and the good folks over at NewGadgets managed to get ahold of one and unbox it for the cameras. Better still, they undressed a glossy black unit, which is noticeably different than the shiny white version we've seen thus far. Care to have a look? It's all there just after the break.

Continue reading ASUS' Eee PC 1101HA netbook gets unboxed on video, shown in black

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ASUS' Eee PC 1101HA netbook gets unboxed on video, shown in black originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexar Media issues 64GB, 128GB and 256GB Crucial M225 SSDs

Lexar Media issues 64GB, 128GB and 256GB Crucial M225 SSDs


It's been a long, long while since we've seen a new Crucial-branded SSD, but we'd argue that Lexar Media couldn't have picked a better time to end the hiatus. The M225 solid state drive family is the fastest, most capacious Crucial SSD line to date, and while they still lag behind OCZ's new Vertex Turbo SSD drives, they don't lag by much. The 2.5-inch SATA units can hit read speeds of up to 250MBps and write speeds of up to 200MBps, and the whole lot features MLC NAND flash memory and a SATA 2.0 (3Gbps) interface. Available in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB models, the trio is also fully compatible with the Crucial SK01 external drive storage kit, and unlike so many competitors, Lexar decided to go rouge and actually announce prices for the now-available units: $169.99, $329.99 and $599.99 in order of mention. Not too shabby, wouldn't you agree?

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Lexar Media issues 64GB, 128GB and 256GB Crucial M225 SSDs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saturday, July 18, 2009

Collins America announces new Mini DisplayPort LCDs, HDTV tuners

Collins America announces new Mini DisplayPort LCDs, HDTV tuners


Collins America may have been first out of the gate with the promise of some non-Apple Mini DisplayPort LCDs back in April, but it never got around to the little business of actually releasing them. That hasn't stopped the company from coming back with some fresh new promises of updated models, however, and it's even thrown in a whole new product for good measure. Leading off this batch is the 24-inch CinemaView 24 LCD, which packs a full 1080p resolution, a 2ms response time, a 1,000:1 static contrast ratio, four USB ports, and the same $499 price tag as before. Moving on up considerably is the all new CinemaView 47, which is intended to double as both a TV and PC monitor, and of course packs that same 1080p resolution, along with four USB ports, a 4ms response time, a 4,000:1 contrast ratio, and a significantly higher $1,499 price tag. To go along with it, Collins has also debuted its new $399 CinemaView TV device, which packs dual HD tuners, both Mini DisplayPort and HDMI outputs, picture-in-picture support, and inputs for up to four separate HDMI sources. While things are obviously still subject to change (or disappear), both it and the CinemaView 47 are now slated for release in January, while the CinemaView 24 is supposedly on track for an October release.

[Via Electronista]

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Collins America announces new Mini DisplayPort LCDs, HDTV tuners originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fujitsu's sleek FUTRO S100 gets VIA Eden implant

Fujitsu's sleek FUTRO S100 gets VIA Eden implant


By and large, thin clients are relatively boring. That said, they're typically dead silent and plenty powerful to handle the most basic of tasks, and thanks to Fujitsu, this one's even halfway easy on the eyes. The new FUTRO S100 was revealed today, complete with a 500MHz VIA Eden ULV processor that enables the entire system to suck down just 11 watts under full load. Other specs include 1GB of DDR2 memory, a pair of USB 2.0 connectors, VGA output, Ethernet, a VX800 media processor, Chrome9 HC3 graphics and internal CF-based storage support. There's nary a mention of price, but it's ready to ship today for those with the correct change.

[Via HotHardware]

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Fujitsu's sleek FUTRO S100 gets VIA Eden implant originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 03:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel's 34nm-based 320GB solid state drive creeps closer to reality

Intel's 34nm-based 320GB solid state drive creeps closer to reality


Hankering for an SSD that's as big as your traditional HDD? So is Intel, or so we hear. In fact, we've been hearing whispers that a capacious 320GB solid state drive was in the works since January, and now those whispers have been upgraded to library-like voices. According to the generally reliable Golum, Intel's so-called Postville SSD family is well on its way to reality, and with them should come much needed price drops. The new series should top out at 320GB, with an 80GB and 160GB version falling underneath. Word on the street has it that both of the smaller two will be around $100 cheaper than the same-sized X25-M drives, though there's been no leaks on the 320GB model's MSRP. Still, Intel has a golden opportunity here if it'll just get these things to market -- a cheap(er) SSD with a brand name like Intel could blow the solid state market wide open.

[Thanks, Marius]

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Intel's 34nm-based 320GB solid state drive creeps closer to reality originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friday, July 17, 2009

HDR imaging for the cheap and gifted

HDR imaging for the cheap and gifted


People who are seriously after HDR output tend to pony up the dough for a big and chunky DSLR, knowing they'll get the highest quality possible. But if you're short on cash, here's a homebrewed mod that combines a gutted Polaroid x530 Foveon shooter with a Viliv to produce HDR-like imagery on the cheap. Essentially, the Viliv does all the processing and control work, while the el cheapo camera is used for its ability to save to raw format. You could instead pick up a compact Ricoh CX1 and save yourself a lot of trouble, but where's the fun and tinkering in that? The homemade hardware might not be pretty to look at, but make your way past the break to see if the results are worth the effort.

[Via Hack a Day]

Continue reading HDR imaging for the cheap and gifted

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HDR imaging for the cheap and gifted originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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