Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Saturday, August 08, 2009

Auslogics Duplicate File Finder Helps Declutter Your Disks [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/53cOxQG1K-E/auslogics-duplicate-file-finder-helps-declutter-your-disks

Unintended duplicate files can chew up a lot of disk space. Auslogics Duplicate File Finder will help you find dupes even when the file names don't match.

By scanning and compiling the MD5 hash of of each file it scans, Auslogics Duplicate File Finder can dig through your disks and find duplicates with mismatched names. Multiple copies of music and other media, even when oddly named, will be matched up. You can filter by file size and file type. Matching can be contingent on file name, date and size, and the file hash.

If you have a favorite tool for finding duplicate files, let's hear about it in the comments. Auslogics Duplicate File Finder is freeware, Windows only.

Auslogics Duplicate File Finder [via gHacks]

Use Ubiquity to Make Google Voice Calls [Ubiquity]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/4134cD6GsRE/use-ubiquity-to-make-google-voice-calls

It's fairly easy to head to Google Voice's homepage, paste in a number, type out a contact, then click a button to call. It's far easier, however, to use Ubiquity with Firefox to highlight a number and just type "call."

The earth2marsh site posts a Ubiquity command that requires just a little bit of configuration to hook up with your Google Voice account. Once it's set up, however, making a call with your pre-determined default phone is a simple matter of highlighting a number, activating Ubiquity, and using the action verb "call." Need help using or adding commands into Ubiquity? Check out Gina's guide to making Ubiquity your ultimate Firefox commander.

Google Voice Ubiquity Command [earth2marsh]

Cloud-Generating 1900-Ship Armada to Sink Climate Change [Science]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/bYIc_cG3v1c/cloud+generating-1900+ship-armada-to-sink-climate-change

The Copenhagen Consensus Centre—a respected European think tank which used to be skeptic on climate change—is now advising that we should spend $9 billion in building 1900 cloud-generating ships like the one above. Why? To cool down Earth:

When you spray saltwater into the air, you create nuclei that cloud condenses around, creating bigger and whiter clouds, thus bouncing more sunlight back into space.

That's what David Young, a member of the panel that created the report, says. The fully automated vessels will cross the oceans absorbing water and spraying it into the skies. They say this will help the formation of big, whiter clouds, which will make the sun light bounce, lowering temperatures.

The idea seems neat, but the concept of anyone in planet Earth claiming to understand how climate works to this extend blows my mind. We are still trying to grasp how a complex system like the weather works, but someone wants to put an idea like this in motion, without knowing about the ultimate consequences? Like we say in my home country: Do you experiments with pop soda. [Copenhagen Consensus via Daily Mail]

Buffalo adds 16GB microSD card / reader to its line of incredibly small USB memory

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/07/buffalo-adds-16gb-microsd-card-reader-to-its-line-of-incredibl/

We've seen Buffalo shrink USB drives down to preposterous sizes in the recent past, and now the company is throwing a microSD card reader into the mix. Available for ¥15,500.00 (that's $160, give or take) this guy stores 16GB internally, is available in both colors -- black AND white -- and would be right at home in any of your computer's favorite USB 2.0 ports. And just to get you started, this bad boy includes a 16GB card microSD card. How sweet is that?

[Via OhGizmo!]

Filed under: Storage

Buffalo adds 16GB microSD card / reader to its line of incredibly small USB memory originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Faulty GPUs reportedly cost NVIDIA another $119 million

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/07/faulty-gpus-reportedly-cost-nvidia-another-$119-million/

We already knew that NVIDIA had to shell out anywhere from $150 to $250 million last year to resolve issues related to its defective GPUs, but it looks like that may have only been the beginning, with The Inquirer now reporting that the company has also been forced to pay an additional $119.1 million over the past four months to fix a faulty die and weak packaging material used in the affected graphics chips. What's more, NVIDIA apparently won't say whether it expects to incur any further charges related to the defective chips or not, although it simply describes the whole situation as "small distraction," and says it hasn't affected its ability to launch new products.

Filed under: Laptops

Faulty GPUs reportedly cost NVIDIA another $119 million originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lenovo's Android-powered O1 'OPhone' due next month

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/07/lenovos-android-powered-o1-ophone-due-next-month/

Good news, kids! It looks like Lenovo's O1 "OPhone" handset is finally ready to hit the shelves over on the Mainland sometime next month. Truth be told, the story arc of this Android-powered 3G (TD-SCDMA) handset has been quite the emotional roller coaster: Some were riveted by the sleek, sexy physical design of the thing, while others were repelled by its intensely KIRFish UI. China Mobile is obviously hoping for big things from the little guy -- and getting it into stores before Unicom gets the iPhone sorted can't hurt. Either way, it looks like someone's just taken a bite out of iOrgane's market share!

Filed under: Cellphones

Lenovo's Android-powered O1 'OPhone' due next month originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia device passes FCC for T-Mobile USA, looks an awful lot like a new Internet Tablet to us

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/07/nokia-device-passes-fcc-for-t-mobile-usa-looks-an-awful-lot-lik/

Every week, random, seemingly anonymous Nokia handsets quietly pick up FCC approval. Most will never see the light of day on an American carrier, and the ones that do have usually already been announced so that by the time we figure out what the FCC filing refers to, it's uninteresting. Today, though, we noticed a Nokia RX-51 get certification, and we were immediately intrigued; standard Nokia phones have an "RM" designation, so "RX" has us thinking that this is no ordinary phone. Taking a peek at the SAR documentation reveals that it rolls deep with AWS 3G, just the kind that T-Mobile USA needs to do its thing. The final piece in this amazing puzzle has to be the ID placement doc, which shows the outline of a device far wider than your standard dumbphone. Where are we going with this? You might recall MobileCrunch's information from a while back suggesting that T-Mobile USA would be getting a Maemo 5-powered superphone codenamed "Rover" -- and, well, we're pretty sure this is it. Stay tuned -- things are about to get interesting.

Nokia device passes FCC for T-Mobile USA, looks an awful lot like a new Internet Tablet to us originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First pic of Microsoft retail store's construction -- both Abercrombie & Fitch visibly nervous

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/07/first-pic-of-microsoft-retail-stores-construction-both-aberc/

Here you have it, folks. We knew this was coming, but the first photographic evidence of a Microsoft retail store under construction has just come to us -- via the company's Twitter account -- and we have to say, it brought a few tears of joy to our eyes. The first two stores are set to be opened in Scottsdale, Arizona and Mission Viejo, California this fall. Wonder if the inside will look anything like those plans we saw?

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Software

First pic of Microsoft retail store's construction -- both Abercrombie & Fitch visibly nervous originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sharp's AQUOS DX2 HDTVs don't need any help to burn Blu-ray discs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/07/sharps-aquos-dx2-hdtvs-dont-need-any-help-to-burn-blu-ray-disc/

So, Sharp, you introduced the world's first HDTV line with integrated Blu-ray players last year, what are you going to do next? Only naturally, the Japanese lineup of DX2 series one-ups the original DX by adding Blu-ray recording as well. It doesn't appear that these pack the LED backlighting of the new X-Gen based displays headed our way this fall, so for now buyers will have to make do with the 15,000:1 contrast ratio shared with the other D-series televisions. Still, the big deal here is that the 1080p (52-, 46- and 40-inch) and 720p (32- and 26-inch) displays will burn up to 30 hours of HD video on dual-layer Blu-ray discs, by way of transcoding and compressing to MPEG-4 format without any messy external boxes or wires. The price range from ¥170,000 ($1,740) at the low end to ¥480,000 for the largest size when these ship September 15 but don't count on seeing them on this side of the Pacific (or the Atlantic.)

[Via AV Watch]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Laptops

Sharp's AQUOS DX2 HDTVs don't need any help to burn Blu-ray discs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:19:00! EST. P lease see our terms for use of feeds.

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Subscription services like Netflix Watch Instantly generate 20x the revenue of pay-per-downloads

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/07/subscription-services-like-netflix-watchnow-generates-20x-the-re/

Netflix Streaming

Now this is one stat from an analyst that we wouldn't refute, but we do wonder how Versaly Entertainment aquired this information. How exactly does one calculate streaming revenue from a subscription service like Netflix anyways? To be fair we are only assuming that Netflix is involved here as it wasn't specifically mentioned, but we really can't think of any other subscription based video streaming service. Our best guess is that the revenue in question is based on what the studios are receiving and not for the service itself. Regardless, it isn't hard to figure out why no one is paying $4-$5 for the 24 hour rights to watch a movie on any of the pay-per-download services out there. Especially when you can rent a movie from just about anywhere via Redbox for $1.

Read -- Subscription downloads outperform pay-view.
Read -- Redbox undermining DVD value

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Subscription services like Netflix Watch Instantly generate 20x the revenue of pay-per-downloads originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Fiesta: definitely Android, headed for AT&T

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/07/htc-fiesta-definitely-android-headed-for-atandt/

Months and months after the telltale signs appeared over at the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, we've now got further confirmation that HTC's as-yet-unpeeped "Fiesta" will indeed be an Android handset. The good folks over at Cell Passion "stumbled upon" the UA Profile for this bad boy, also known as the HTC T5252, and here's what we know: the phone will boast a QVGA display, and a numeric keypad (read: non-QWERTY). Did we mention that internal HTC linking indicates this puppy is headed to AT&T? Yeah, we're definitely getting one -- to go with our super stylish, tricked-out Ford of the same name.

Filed under: Cellphones

HTC Fiesta: definitely Android, headed for AT&T originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 22:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia RX-51 tablet captured in the wild

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/08/nokia-rx-51-tablet-captured-in-the-wild/

Not long at all after that mysterious Nokia RX-51 passed through the FCC comes shots from Indonesian message board Kaskus of the tablet-like device in the wild. The blurred box shot and the label behind the battery clearly say RX-51 prototype, and the design is unmistakably similar to the rumored press photo for the Maemo 5-powered Rover from back in May. We can't help but notice the 5 megapixel Carl Zeiss lens and, more importantly, SIM card slot and an ear piece, which would be perfect for placing calls on, say, T-Mobile's network. Few more shots after the break, and hit up the read link for the gallery of photos.

[Via Mobile Bulgaria; thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Continue reading Nokia RX-51 tablet captured in the wild

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablet PCs

Nokia RX-51 tablet captured in the wild originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 08 Aug 2009 12:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friday, August 07, 2009

Sadly This Is Not the PS3 Slim [Japan]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/VOR4kVyls-g/sadly-this-is-not-the-ps3-slim

I really thought—hoped, really—this sliver of black plastic was the Japanese PS3 Slim. It's not.

It's a wireless router from Logitec—not Logitech, which is known as Logicool in Japan—that's 7mm thin at its skinniest point, ballooning out to 24mm at its fattest. Except for its uncanny Sony style, it seems fairly unexceptional, but man, it got me good for a second. [Akihabara News]

Our Favorite Lifehacker Posts of the Week [Roundups]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/qyDgVOOSLjY/our-favorite-lifehacker-posts-of-the-week

This week the 'hack has burglary tips, BSOD tips, a few Gmail tips and a way to make a cheap tilt-shift lens with toilet parts.

• BlueScreenView troubleshoots your blue screen of death. Displays your last BSOD so you can Google for a solution
• Firefox's director talks about Firefox and Chrome
• How to block ads in Gmail with a simple signature. (Or you can just use a Firefox plugin and block that part of the page)

• A burglar's advice on hiding money
• Google Chrome is going to get cloud-based synchronization
• Five best PDF readers

• Make a cheap tilt-shift lens with plumbing parts
• Top 10 hardware fixes and upgrades
• Gmail removes "oh behalf of" for good

• Bypass cellphone voicemail instructions—all of them—with one key combo
• The computer cabinet office

3D Printing Now Available in Stainless Steel, Adamantium Next? [Printing]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/OLVRFekPPJA/

When Jay Leno replaced car parts, he could only print plastic molds in 3D. Life's easier now, because mold's are unnecessary in the creation of custom desk kitsch and car parts as 3D printing got a stainless steel upgrade.

21 days and $10 per cubic centimeter is all you need after you send a CAD design to Shapeways, a company who began offering 3D resin and plastic printing quite some time ago. There are specific size and detail guidelines to keep in mind due to models being printed in layers, but based on the moebius strip complete with moving parts, those guidelines can't be all that limiting. What's going to be your first 3D steel print? [Shapeways via PopSci via CrunchGear]

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