Thursday, April 15, 2010

Gmail Adds Drag-and-Drop Attachment Uploads, Deeper Calendar Integration [Email]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5518074/gmail-adds-drag+and+drop-attachment-uploads-deeper-calendar-integration

Gmail Adds Drag-and-Drop Attachment Uploads, Deeper Calendar IntegrationStarting today, Google Chrome and Firefox 3.6 users can drag and drop attachments into Gmail messages without hassling through the slow, kind of annoying manual file upload. Gmail has also increased their support for Google Calendar with a new Invitation feature.

Drag-and-drop support allows you to simply attach a file into Gmail composition window by dragging the file from an open window into it. There's not much to it beyond that, but it's an incredibly handy feature to have.

Gmail Adds Drag-and-Drop Attachment Uploads, Deeper Calendar Integration

Also, provided you have permission and access to view other people's Google Calendar, you can now view them when sending out an invitation. Under the subject field in Gmail, there's a new Invitation link to invite other people to an event. You can check your invitee's availability without going into Google Calendar to compare times. When you're finished, a preview of the invitation will appear in your email message. After you send the email, the event's automatically added to your calendar and your friend's calendar.

Gmail Adds Drag-and-Drop Attachment Uploads, Deeper Calendar Integration

It's a good day to be a Gmail user.

Drag and drop attachments onto messages [The Official Gmail Blog]

Insert a calendar invitation [The Official Gmail Blog]

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Best Tools for Managing Your Multi-Monitor Setup? [Hive Five Call For Contenders]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5518235/best-tools-for-managing-your-multi+monitor-setup

Best Tools for Managing Your Multi-Monitor Setup?Having dual, triple, or even more monitors can be a productivity boon, but it's not without quirks. Despite the increase in multi-monitor-friendly features in current operating systems, you still have to tweak and tune for a smooth multi-monitor experience.

Photo by totalAldo.

This week we want to hear about the tools you use to manage, tweak, and tame your multi-monitor setup for maximum usability and productivity. What tools enhance your miles of screen real estate? Share your favorite tool and what makes it so great in the comments below.

Hive Five nominations take place in the comments, where you post your favorite tool for the job. We get hundreds of comments, so to make your nomination clear, please include it at the top of your comment like so: VOTE: X. Please don't include your vote in a reply to another commenter. Instead, make your vote and reply separate comments. If you don't follow this format, we may not count your vote. To prevent tampering with the results, votes from first-time commenters may not be counted. After you've made your nomination, let us know what makes it stand out from the competition.

About the Hive Five: The Hive Five feature series asks readers to answer the most frequently asked question we get: "Which tool is the best?" Once a week we'll put out a call for contenders looking for the best solution to a certain problem, then YOU tell us your favorite tools to get the job done. Every weekend, we'll report back with the top five recommendations and give you a chance to vote on which is best. For an example, check out last week's Five Best Home Inventory Tools.

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TVLogic debuts 56-inch LUM-560W 4K x 2K LCD a few years ahead of time

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/15/tvlogic-debuts-56-inch-lum-560w-4k-x-2k-lcd-a-few-years-ahead-of/

Oh sure, it's not that we've never seen a 4K x 2K display before, but few are both a) this small and b) this connected. Introduced over at NAB 2010, the LUM-560W is quite a different beast from the two OLED sets already shown by TVLogic. Boasting a 56-inch 10-bit panel, a native 3,840 x 2,160 resolution, 1,500:1 contrast ratio and support for the company's own color calibrator utility, the only major bummer is the totally corporate bezel that we're forced to deal with. There's also too many ports to count, but we'll try: four HDMI inputs, four DVI-D inputs, four 3G/HD/SD-SDI inputs and four 3G/HD/SD-SDI outputs. There's nary a mention of price of availability, but you'll probably need a nice archive of raw RED footage before you genuinely care about either.

TVLogic debuts 56-inch LUM-560W 4K x 2K LCD a few years ahead of time originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Droid Incredible officially official for Verizon, April 29 for $200 (updated with a live shot!)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/15/htc-droid-incredible-officially-official-for-verizon-april-29-f/

Though some information leaked out of Verizon's pipes yesterday, HTC just got really real with the Droid Incredible at the 99% Conference in New York today. Specs are pretty much what we expected: Android 2.1 with Sense, an 8 megapixel cam, 1GHz Snapdragon (not the underclocked core we'd heard rumored before, thankfully), WiFi, and a 3.7-inch WVGA AMOLED display. Basically, this unit is a Sense-ified HTC Nexus One with an up-spec'd camera and a penchant for Verizon's airwaves -- and for a whole lotta Android users, that's exactly what the doctor ordered. It hits on April 29 for $199.99 on contract after a $100 mail-in rebate -- but in the mean time, you'll be able to pre-order starting on the 19th. Full PR after the break.

Update: We've also got a live shot of the device after the break. Thanks, Bryan!

Update 2: Verizon's own Incredible site is now live -- have fun over there! Thanks, Artem!

Update 3: We've confirmed that the phone will be up for pre-sale at Best Buy starting on the 18th, and per usual, this route will ensure you get the handset for $199.99 sans any mail-in rebate hassles.

Continue reading HTC Droid Incredible officially official for Verizon, April 29 for $200 (updated with a live shot!)

HTC Droid Incredible officially official for Verizon, April 29 for $200 (updated with a live shot!) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple looking to hire camera expert, iPad Camera Kit to support USB audio?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/15/apple-looking-to-hire-camera-expert-ipad-camera-kit-to-support/

We know it's been hard to deal with the comparative lack of iPad rumors now that the thing has actually be released (in some places, at least), but we've got a bit of a treat today: not one but two camera-related iPad rumors. The first comes courtesy of an Apple job posting for a Performance QA Engineer for iPad media who, among other things, must rely on their "knowledge of digital camera technology (still and video) to develop and maintain testing frameworks for both capture and playback pipelines." While anything to result from that may have to wait until iPad 2.0, Apple software engineering manager William Stewart has dropped another interesting detail on an Apple mailing list concerning the soon-to-be-available Camera Connection Kit. Apparently, in addition to accommodating your digital camera, the USB adapter will also support class-compliant USB audio devices -- although that is yet to be confirmed by Apple itself. Of course, you'll also need some apps to take advantage of that, but Stewart seems to also imply the necessary functionality is at least already built into the OS, which would seem to make apps only a matter of time. We'll let you take the speculation from there.

Apple looking to hire camera expert, iPad Camera Kit to support USB audio? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Apple Insider  |  sourceApple, iLounge  | Email this | Comments

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Winscape virtual window features Wiimote headtracking, absolutely made of win

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/15/winscape-virtual-window-features-wiimote-headtracking-absolutel/

We have not modified the above picture in any way -- Scout's Honor. That's a real baby, wearing a real IR necklace that interacts with a real Wiimote. What's not real, of course, is the view of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. That is generated by Ryan Hoagland's DIY virtual window, a brilliant pastiche of interior design, RED ONE footage and Johnny Chung Lee-style headtracking, all directed to your eyes by a Mac Pro feeding a pair of plasma screens. As the viewer moves around, dual 1080p images move the opposite direction, providing the convincing illusion of looking out a real pane of glass at the incredibly detailed scenery beyond. Exciting? Then you'll be giggling like Jr. when you hear it's for sale. After spending a year figuring out how to mount, drive and cool the whole shebang, Hoagland would like you to have one too; he plans to have basic kits ready by July for under $3000. Watch baby-powered plasma in motion after the break, as well as a sweet time-lapse video of the build process.

[Thanks, Andy, ArjanD]

Continue reading Winscape virtual window features Wiimote headtracking, absolutely made of win

Winscape virtual window features Wiimote headtracking, absolutely made of win originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Slashdot  |  sourceRationalCraft  | Email this | Comments

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Leica V-Lux 20 gets leaked with (nearly) reasonable price tag

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/15/leica-v-lux-20-gets-leaked-with-almost-reasonable-price-tag/

An M9 it ain't, but Leica's latest still might tickle the fancy of those who see value in paying for that cute red logo. If the image above and details linked down there in the source are to be believed, the V-Lux 20 will be launching in five short days, bringing with it a 3-inch rear LCD, 25mm to 300mm zoom range, integrated GPS and price of nearly €549 ($744). The tough news is that this thing is based around Panasonic's ZS-7, which can be had right now for under $400, so it's hard to say how much value you'll get in paying more for Leica's variant. If all goes well, it's rumored to be in stores by May 9th, sitting right alongside the ultra affordable leather case (€99) and extra battery (€69).

Leica V-Lux 20 gets leaked with (nearly) reasonable price tag originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceLeica Rumors  | Email this | Comments

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Intel's experimental sensor analyzes appliance power consumption from single outlet

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/15/intels-experimental-sensor-analyzes-appliance-power-consumption/

It's pretty much set in silicon -- in the future, you will monitor your home power consumption, and perhaps even enjoy doing so. Futuristic touchscreen panels and free monitoring software abound, each designed to reward you with a warm, fuzzy Captain Planet feeling and a reduced energy bill when you finally turn off that blasted light. Thing is, unless you've got a home automation system, you won't know which switch to flip. Intel wants to change that with a new wireless sensor that can identify each individual appliance in your house by their unique electrical signal, just by plugging into a single outlet in your house. The reportedly low-cost sensor works by simply recognizing voltage drop patterns when devices are turned on and off, and doesn't require special appliances to function; Intel demonstrated it on a standard toaster, microwave and fridge in Beijing this week. Demonstrate your supreme demand for this "why didn't I think of that" idea by directing traffic to our source link -- you can jump to 20:10 to see the sensor in action.

Intel's experimental sensor analyzes appliance power consumption from single outlet originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RipCode Can Stream Flash Videos to the iPad, No Problem [Ipad]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5517240/ripcode-can-stream-flash-videos-to-the-ipad-no-problem

RipCode Can Stream Flash Videos to the iPad, No ProblemA company named RipCode has an interesting solution to Apple's blocking of Flash on the iPad. Simply transcode Flash video to play right in Safari, much like you can stream various video codecs over your home network.

According to RipCode, their TransAct Transcoder V6 requires no special clients or modifications to host sites. Rather, RipCode will transcode simple Flash content like Hulu clips in the cloud to an iPad-friendly codec, providing a transparent fix to the Flash-less iPad.

(You could play YouTube clips straight from YouTube, for instance, without ever knowing the difference.)

Of course, two things need to happen for RipCode to be successful: Individual siites needs to adopt the technology (even if it requires no special site recoding), and Apple needs to turn a blind eye to the loophole (lest they seal it shut through a firmware update).

In other words, RipCode could spark a minor revolution, or it could just smoke itself out. [RipCode via Notebooks]

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Google's Insane Number of Servers Visualized [Google]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5517041/googles-insane-number-of-servers-visualized

Google's Insane Number of Servers VisualizedYou already just sort of know, logically and instinctively, that Google's got a ridiculous number of servers working for them. That doesn't make it any less mind-boggling when visualized. Get ready for a lot of scrolling.

Of course, not all servers are created equal—so "more" is a problematic word here. And I'm betting this wouldn't look quite so lopsided if big hitters like Microsoft, Yahoo, and Amazon were represented. Regardless, though, such a massive difference of scale is incredibly impressive, even if not entirely surprising. [Intac via Reddit]

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Freeplay ZipCharge Battery Promises Hours of Juice From 60 Second Charge [Batteries]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5517136/freeplay-zipcharge-battery-promises-hours-of-juice-from-60-second-charge

Freeplay ZipCharge Battery Promises Hours of Juice From 60 Second ChargeIt's a familiar situation: you're halfway out the door when you realize the gadget you just pocketed is utterly out of juice. The FreePlay ZipCharge battery can give you precious extra hours of life with a mere 60 second charge.

It's not quite as sleek as some other batteries, like the HyperMac Nano, but the FreePlay ZipCharge is for when you need juice and you need it fast.

The company claims that charging the battery for 60 seconds will give you 2 hours of iPod playback and 8 hours of standby on your phone, or 15 minutes of talk time. A 10 minute charge, they say, will give you 10 hours of talk time or 20 hours of playback on your MP3 player. The kit comes with 8 different adapters for charging all manner of gadgets from big name brands.

The £49.95 super battery, which charges 4 times faster than a lithium-ion counterparts, gets its power from "clever nano physics stuff that you need a very big forehead to understand," though the 850mAh ZipCharge can only give your device of choice one full charge, as opposed to the 1800mAh HyperMac Nano which can do so almost twice over.

We'll be reviewing the ZipCharge soon to see if it lives up to its claims. It's only available in the UK for now, with a US-compatible version coming in the next few months, but if you're a UK resident sick of dead (device) weight pulling down your pockets, you can order a ZipCharge now at CuteBitz.

clever nano physics stuff that you need a very big forehead to understand.

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GPNC Korea announces the first me-too Android HDTV

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/14/gpnc-korea-announces-the-first-me-too-android-hdtv/

Anyone opposed to another Android packing TV announced by a foreign manufacturer of questionable validity? We figured you weren't, so say hello to GPNC Korea's television running Android 1.5 on a 833 Mhz ARM Cortex A8 chip. While it's claiming NTSC and ATSC support among other broadcast standards, the USA doesn't appear to have made the cut for availability, with 10 different countries including Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Poland, Australia and Dubai. Practically identical to People of Lava's effort, it is slated for 42-, 47- and 55-inch LED-backlit versions with no real price or date, and even this promo pic looks very familiar. GPNC managed to keep the screen clear of error messages this time, but its website is flagged by Google as "dangerous" so we'd probably wait for something more official before making any attempts to preorder. At this rate, these TVs will be as ubiquitous as Android/ARM tablets before long -- let's hope Sony and Intel spill the details on those Google TV plans sooner rather than later.

GPNC Korea announces the first me-too Android HDTV originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Android Community  |  sourceAkihabara News  | Email this | Comments

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Sony UK's 3DTV launch includes a few free games to get early adopters started

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/14/sony-uks-3dtv-launch-includes-a-few-free-games-to-get-early-ado/

As the GMT turns, Sony's divisions are revealing their 3D plans for the rest of the year and the latest is its UK branch. The HX803 3D-ready model is first out the door in June, with LX903 and HX903 models arriving shortly afterward packing specs identical to their US cousins, with the addition of Freeview HD tuners and PAL-friendly refresh rates. Since the HX803 doesn't come with any of those 100-hour battery rated glasses , viewers getting ready for the 2010 World Cup will likely opt for one of the 3D accessory packs with two pairs included plus the necessary IR emitter. No word on prices for any of these yet, but PS3 owners who buy a new TV within the launch "limited period" can expect to vouchers with download codes for 3D-upgraded versions of four PSN games: PAIN (3 episodes), WipEout HD (full game), Motorstorm Pacific Rift (single level demo) and Super Stardust HD (full game). Movie heads get Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Deep Sea Blu-ray 3D discs bundled with unspecified "selected products," with the former going on sale by itself June 14. Check out all the details in the press release below or just refresh the Sony UK store until that preorder button shows up and we find out just how many pounds are needed to bring one home.

Continue reading Sony UK's 3DTV launch includes a few free games to get early adopters started

Sony UK's 3DTV launch includes a few free games to get early adopters started originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung NB30 netbook gains touchscreen, inflated price tag

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/14/samsung-nb30-netbook-gains-touchscreen-inflated-price-tag/

A touchscreen on a netbook may not be everyone's idea of a good time, but it looks like Samsung thinks there's a sizable enough market for them, as it's now introduced a touchscreen-equipped counterpart to its NB30 netbook. Dubbed the NB30 Touch, this version packs a 10.1-inch 1,024 x 600 touchscreen (matte, no less) and remains otherwise identical to the standard NB30, including an Atom N450 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB or 250GB hard drive, and Windows 7 Starter Edition for an OS. Of course, the one other big change is the price, which comes in at €399 (or about $545) for the NB30 Touch, compared to just €279 (or $380) for the non-touchscreen version.

Samsung NB30 netbook gains touchscreen, inflated price tag originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 22:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Electronista  |  sourceNotebook Italia  | Email this&nb! sp;|&nbs p;Comments

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Intel says Light Peak coming next year, can and will coexist with USB 3.0

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/15/intel-says-light-peak-coming-next-year-can-and-will-coexist-wit/

How do you sell a generation of hardware manufacturers on yet another standard? If you're Intel, you tell them that it'll transfer files at 10Gbps and is compatible with every major protocol that came before... and if that doesn't work, you simply fail to give your competitor hardware support. But PC World reports that while Intel is still dragging its feet regarding USB 3.0, it's planning to have Light Peak fiber optic devices in the market next year. Intel insists Light Peak isn't meant to replace USB, in so much as it can use the same ports and protocols (photographic evidence above), but at the same time it's not shying away from the possibility of obliterating its copper competition with beams of light. "In some sense we'd... like to build the last cable you'll ever need," said Intel's Kevin Kahn. Now, we're not going to rag on Light Peak, because we honestly love the idea of consolidated fiber optic connectivity. We just want to know now whether we should bother locking ourselves into a USB 3.0 ecosystem if better things are just around the corner.

Intel says Light Peak coming next year, can and will coexist with USB 3.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 01:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourcePC World  | Email this | Comments

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