Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Monday, April 26, 2010

Japanese Show Off Gesture-Controlled Phone For Natal-Style Emailing [Sensors]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5524390/japanese-show-off-gesture+controlled-phone-for-natal+style-emailing

Between various patents and even a bog-standard Sony Ericsson, we've already thought about the possibilities of gesture-controlled phones. The University of Tokyo, in typical form, has taken it one step forward and released a video showing some sweet Natal-like possibilities.

Recombu likens it to the Project Natal of smartphones, which is a pretty accurate description for the phone pictured in the video, capable of detecting finger gestures by the motion-sensing camera located at the base. While I can't imagine typing out a text message using finger gestures, let alone an email, the idea of scrolling through photos or media is really appealing—and most definitely possible in this day and age. [Ishikawa-Komuro Lab via Recombu]

Intel Arrandale shortages leading to premium prices, potential product delays

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/24/intel-arrandale-shortages-leading-to-premium-prices-potential-p/

Now this might explain Apple's curious choice to not upgrade the 13-inch MacBook Pro to a Core 2010 CPU. Yahoo! News is reporting shortages of the more budget-minded Core i3 and i5 laptop processors launched by Intel this January, which has led to chip buyers outbidding each other to the point of paying 20 percent premiums on contract prices. That's according to US chip distributor Converge, while research firm CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets estimates that product rollouts could be delayed by up to three months as a result. What has Intel got to say for itself?

"We don't comment on speculation, what I can say is that we are pleased with the strong product demand for our laptop platforms."

Well sure, you get paid more on a per-CPU basis, why wouldn't you be pleased? On a more serious note, during Intel's latest earnings call both Paul Otellini and CFO Stacy Smith expressed their surprise at the vast demand for their 32nm products, with Smith noting that their production of 32nm chips is the fastest ramping process in the company's history. So there's not really any villainy afoot here, just good old demand catching supply napping.

Intel Arrandale shortages leading to premium prices, potential product delays originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Apr 2010 07:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source

source

Yahoo! News | Email this | Comments

Dell Sparta and Athens netbooks, Looking Glass Pro and Streak variants teased in Android roadmap

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/25/dell-sparta-and-athens-netbooks-looking-glass-pro-and-streak-va/

Good morning to you too, Dell! Android Central's just gotten hold of yet another leak from the Texan computer giant, only this time we have two new Android or ~~Linux (as suggested by the Tux icon)~~ Moblin devices. First, we have the Sparta netbook tablet featuring an 11-inch 1024 x 768 TFT display, ARM processor, optional connectivity modules (3G, WiFi, Bluetooth) and a unique swivel mechanism -- the screen appears to be rotatable within its frame. The second device is the Athens sub-0.9kg (1.98 pounds) netbook sporting the same screen size, ARM processor and optional connectivity modules. If all goes well, the Sparta and Athens should be launched in early and late Autumn respectively, but there's a lot more so keep reading after the break.

Update: thanks for pointing out the Moblin logo, thoughtmonster!

Continue reading Dell Sparta and Athens netbooks, Looking Glass Pro and Streak variants teased in Android roadmap

Dell Sparta and Athens netbooks, Looking Glass Pro and Streak variants teased in Android roadmap originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Apr 2010 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source

source

Android Central | Email this | Comments

iPad Camera Kit ships with USB headset and keyboard support

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/25/ipad-camera-kit-ships-with-usb-headset-and-keyboard-support/

Reports are coming in that the iPad Camera Connection Kit has finally shown up on a couple buyer doorsteps, and that the pair of white dongles may actually have been worth the wait. While one is a simple SD card adapter that adds one-touch image and video import (including RAW, complete with EXIF data) to the iPad, the second provides a USB port with some exciting new functionality. TUAW reports one reader could type on an iPad via USB keyboard, and those rumors about USB audio were true, too: TidBITS was actually able to make a Skype call after connecting a USB headset. Before you get too excited, however, please note that the USB and SD image transfers are one-way, and not all peripherals are supported -- for instance, TidBITS' iPad sneezed at an external hard drive. Also, according to the Apple Store, Camera Connection Kit shipments are still two to three weeks out, so don't be surprised if it still takes some time to get yours. For now you can make do with the video after the break.

Continue reading iPad Camera Kit ships with USB headset and keyboard support

iPad Camera Kit ships with USB headset and keyboard support originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Apr 2010 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Electronista | source

source

@jerrodh (Twitter), TUAW, TidBITS | Email this | Comments

WOWee One portable speaker latches onto surfaces, iPad's coattails

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/26/wowee-one-portable-speaker-latches-onto-surfaces-ipads-coattai/

Portable devices that turn any surface into a speaker are hardly anything new, but the folks behind the WOWee One portable speaker (not WowWee) seem to be making some slightly bigger claims than most, and are even throwing out the increasingly popular "perfect companion for the iPad" phrase for good measure. As with other similar devices, the WOWee One conducts sound through any surface you rest it on (even a wall with an optional attachment), but it also has the benefit of patented "Gel Audio" technology, which promises to produce bass frequencies about three octaves below any other comparable device. You'll also apparently get about 20 hours of use from the built-in rechargeable battery, and your choice of three different colors -- all for the not so low price of $79.99. Head on past the break for a quick video.

Continue reading WOWee One portable speaker latches onto surfaces, iPad's coattails

WOWee One portable speaker latches onto surfaces, iPad's coattails originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 01:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source

source

WOWee One, Amaz! on | Email this | Comments

AMD's six-core Phenom II X6 1055T CPU now shipping, 1090T up for pre-order

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/26/amds-six-core-phenom-ii-x6-1055t-cpu-now-shipping-1090t-up-for/

We'd been assured that AMD's days of missing ship dates ad naseum were over, but there's nothing like a little action to prove that your words mean business. Just a month after unearthing clock speeds and proposed release quarters for AMD's gaggle of six-core Phenom II X6 processors, two of 'em have already popped up on Amazon. The 2.8GHz Phenom II X6 1055T is actually shipping as we speak for $222.29, while the 3.2GHz Phenom II X6 1090T is up for pre-order at $324.65. The lower-end 2.6GHz 1035T and 3.0GHz 1075T are both nowhere to be found (yet, anyway), and the mysterious 1095T isn't even supposed to pop up anywhere until Q4. So, who's getting themselves a new slab of silicon? Don't be bashful.

[Thanks, Brian]

AMD's six-core Phenom II X6 1055T CPU now shipping, 1090T up for pre-order originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 03:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source

source

Amazon [1055T], Amazon [1090T Black Edition] | Email this | Comments

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 4-way SLI exemplifies law of diminishing returns

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/26/nvidia-geforce-gtx-480-4-way-sli-exemplifies-law-of-diminishing/

What's better than three monstrous GeForce GTX 480 graphics cards in a 3-way SLI configuration? How about four... is what we'd like to say, if Hardware.info hadn't just discovered that said setup is a huge waste of cash. With a full four GTX 480 cards buckled into an X58 Classified 4-Way SLI motherboard plus a Core i7-980X processor and a massive 1.5 kilowatt power supply to squeeze the juice, the €4,064 ($5,440) box still lost to a similarly configured 3-way rig in a wide variety of benchmarks. You could argue the system was CPU-limited, but Hardware.info used the fastest consumer chip available -- so it seems there's no place in today's market (keyword: today) for GTX 480 4-way SLI. Except, of course, for droolworthy snapshots like the above.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 4-way SLI exemplifies law of diminishing returns originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 05:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source

source

Hardware.info | Email this | Comments

Confirmed: Droid Incredible's multitouch support is better than the Nexus One's

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/26/confirmed-droid-incredibles-multitouch-support-is-better-than/

You might recall that fascinating video a while back showing the Nexus One's touch sensor getting all discombobulated when the tester's multitouch fingerwork started to get a little too fancy, and now, Android Central has confirmed that Verizon's Droid Incredible doesn't suffer the same fate -- but why is that, exactly? Android and Me is reporting that the Droid Incredible and EVO 4G both employ an Atmel maXTouch sensor with unlimited touch support -- a relatively new product launched in late '09 -- whereas the Nexus One is using Synaptics' older ClearPad 2000, which was designed to top out with simple two-finger gestures like pinch zoom. The upshot? Complicated multitouch games might end up being less playable (or downright unusable) on the Nexus One, but the silver lining is that HTC's gone ahead and rolled out better components for its latest round of devices that should prevent this from being a problem going forward. Follow the break for Android Central's video of the Droid Incredible multitouching circles around the Nexus One -- figuratively speaking, of course.

Continue reading Confirmed: Droid Incredible's multitouch support is better than the Nexus One's

Confirmed: Droid Incredible's multitouch support is better than the Nexus One's originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 07:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Neowin.net | source

source

Android Central, Android and Me | Email this | Comments

Google updates Nexus One page, tells Verizon customers to get a Droid Incredible instead

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/26/google-updates-nexus-one-page-tells-verizon-customers-to-get-a/

Now this, this is all kinds of silly. Google has been busy updating its phone sales site, and the latest word for Verizon Wireless subscribers encourages them to look at the "similarly feature-packed" cousin of the Nexus One, the Incredible. Importantly, what's missing from the new wording is the "coming soon" tag, suggesting that for all intents and purposes the Nexus has been obviated by the arrival of the Incredible. In a separate blog post updating us on carrier partnerships, Google again reiterates its mini-advert for the new HTC phone on Verizon while keeping mum about the Nexus One's future. A true CDMA variant of le superphone should still be coming wearing Sprint regalia, but it's disappointing to see Google use such doublespeak techniques. Is the Verizon Nexus canceled or not?

Google updates Nexus One page, tells Verizon customers to get a Droid Incredible instead originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source

source

Google (1), (2) | Email this | Comments

BlackBerry Bold 9650 announced, targets Tour owners' big complaints

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/26/blackberry-bold-9650-announced-targets-tour-owners-big-complai/

RIM has a longstanding track record of refining its hardware with near-surgical precision -- from one generation of BlackBerry to the next, you almost always see a very careful, deliberate evolution, from the Storm2's revamped SurePress tech to the Bold 9700's optical pad and countless examples in between. "Evolution" is exactly how we'd describe the CDMA- and GSM-equipped Bold 9650, the Tour's spiritual successor that ditches the old name to join forces with the remainder of the Bold line. Dimensionally, the Bold 9650 is a dead ringer for the Tour -- it's still 4.4 x 2.4 x 0.56 inches -- but it packs on two-tenths of an ounce worth of weight in exchange for oft-requested WiFi support and an extra 256MB of internal storage (it's now up to 512MB total). The other big difference, of course, is the replacement of the dodgy trackball with an optical pad, continuing a trend that has now permeated throughout virtually all of RIM's lineup. Look for the Bold 9650 to hit American carriers -- presumably both Verizon and Sprint -- in May. Follow the break for a second shot and RIM's full press release!

Continue reading BlackBerry Bold 9650 announced, targets Tour owners' big complaints

BlackBerry Bold 9650 announced, targets Tour owners' big complaints originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source

source

RIM | Email this | Comments

BlackBerry Pearl 3G revealed: two keypad styles and 802.11n WiFi

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/26/blackberry-pearl-3g-revealed-two-keypad-styles-and-802-11n-wifi/

As smartphones go, the original BlackBerry Pearl 8100 series' longevity is nothing short of astounding -- with some minor tweaks, the phone has lasted essentially unchanged for well over three years. Needless to say, it's time for the granddaddy of consumer-grade BlackBerrys to start collecting pension, so it's an awfully good thing that RIM has chosen its WES conference this week to announce the all-new Pearl 3G. Rumored as the Pearl 9100, the phone becomes RIM's very first with 802.11n WiFi support (in addition to 802.11b and g, naturally) and features a 3.2 megapixel camera, 256MB of internal storage with microSD expansion up to 32GB, GPS, triband HSDPA with quadband GSM / EDGE, and a 360 x 400 display. RIM is making the Pearl 3G available in "several lustrous colors" and two different keypad configurations -- numeric 14-key and the more traditional SurePress 20-key -- though there's no indication that the rumored QWERTY version will make it to retail (at least, not yet) or that the company intends for users to be able to swap modules themselves. Expect the phone to launch with "various carriers" in May -- and considering that they've got both AWS and 850 / 1900MHz 3G versions in the mix, we'd expect to see it launch on AT&T and T-Mobile alike. Follow the break for RIM's full press release.

Continue reading BlackBerry Pearl 3G revealed: two keypad styles and 802.11n WiFi

BlackBerry Pearl 3G revealed: two keypad styles and 802.11n WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 08:30:! 00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source

source

RIM | Email this | Comments

Friday, April 23, 2010

Onkyo busts out DP312 Ion nettop

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/22/onkyo-busts-out-dp312-ion-nettop/

Onkyo's just added the DP312 nettop to its lineup. This Ion-based box boasts a 1.6GHz Atom N270 CPU, 2GB of RAM, a 320GB HDD, and a DVD player to boot. So far, it looks like you'll only be able to get this one in Japan, and sold without any peripherals, it runs ¥64,800 (that's nearly $700), and can be upgraded for an additional ¥20,000 to include 4GB of RAM and a 500GB HDD.

Onkyo busts out DP312 Ion nettop originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Akihabara News | source

source

Onkyo | Email this | Comments

ATI Eyefinity hands-on: we played with the ultimate PC rig, and we're giving it away on the Engadget Show!

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/22/ati-eyefinity-hands-on-we-played-with-the-ultimate-pc-rig-and/

ATI's Eyefinity has a real corner on the market when it comes to speedy, gamer-friendly multi-display setups for "real people," and while plenty of ink has already been spilled on the HD 5870 card and the six-display experiences it can power, we just had a gander at possibly the most elite setup yet. The real key here are the Samsung SyncMaster MD230 displays we saw it demo'd with, which sport razor slim screen bezels and an easy-to-build, flexible 3 x 2 grid. Less in-your-face but equally as sexy is that BMW-designed Thermaltake Level 10 chassis (OK, it's still pretty in-your-face). It's a custom-configured iBuyPower system, which in addition to the $2k-ish display setup (an official price hasn't been announced by Samsung) should swipe a few months of your salary without any trouble.

Too rich for you? Well, maybe you'd like to win one for free! That's right, we're going to be demonstrating this system on the Engadget Show this Saturday, and one lucky attendee is going to win their very own Eyefinity setup! You have to be there to win, of course.

Not convinced? Follow after the break for some of our hands-on impressions and a quick video.

Gallery: ATI Eyefinity hands-on: we played with the ultimate PC rig

Continue reading ATI Eyefinity hands-on: we played with the ultimate PC rig, and we're giving it away on the Engadget Show!

ATI Eyefinity hands-on: we played with the ultimate PC rig, and we're giving it away on the Engadget Show! originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 2! 1:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Sharp's four-color HDTV, Samsung's cheapest 3DTV now on sale

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/22/sharps-four-color-hdtv-samsungs-cheapest-3dtv-now-on-sale/

This shot courtesy of Mr. Blurrycam might not give the "Oh my." reaction we were expecting from the ads but it appears Sharp's latest and greatest LCDs are showing up at retail, including this 40-inch Quattron model for $1,599. Our man spotted 46- and 55-inch versions as well but if that's not your speed, we also have word that Amazon is shipping the 240Hz Samsung LN46C750 a few weeks ahead of its anticipated May ship date. Sure, it's not a super slim LED model like the rest of the 3D lineup, but at $1,450 (no glasses) it is the cheapest 3DTV we're likely to see anytime soon. Choose wisely.

[Thanks, kalistyles11]

Sharp's four-color HDTV, Samsung's cheapest 3DTV now on sale originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

3D-Display-Info | source

source

Amazon | Email this | Comments

Fujifilm's Finepix HD Player HDP-L1 puts 3D W1 footage onto your new 3D HDTV

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/23/fujifilms-finepix-hd-player-hdp-l1-puts-3d-w1-footage-onto-your/

Still monkeying around with that Finepix Real 3D W1 camera, somewhat confused about what exactly you bought it for? Take heart, bandwagon jumper -- the bridge you've been searching for has just been constructed. Fujifilm has recently introduced a new card reader / HD player for use with its year-old 3D point-and-shoot, and judging by the topic of conversation at this year's CES, it sure seems like the timing is far better this go 'round. Put simply, the HDP-L1 (¥4,000; $43) accepts both 2D and 3D content stored on SD / SDHC cards from your W1, and the HDMI output pipes that content directly onto your shiny new 3D HDTV for at-home enjoyment. We're told that it'll also work with that antediluvian 2D content as well, but let's be honest -- you didn't buy a 3D camera just to shoot in 2D, now did you? On second thought, don't answer that.

Fujifilm's Finepix HD Player HDP-L1 puts 3D W1 footage onto your new 3D HDTV originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 06:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Akihabara News, Engadget Spanish | source

source

Fujifilm | Email this | Comments

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)