Monday, June 28, 2010

Aiptek's 3D photo frame serves up the fruit of your 3D camcorder's labor

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/28/aipteks-3d-photo-frame-serves-up-the-fruit-of-your-3d-camcorder/

Aiptek's 3D photo frame serves up the fruit of your 3D camcorder's labor
When Aiptek introduced its i2 3D Camcorder, it pledged to release a 3D photo frame to match. Well, here it is, the "Portable 3D Photo and Video Display," a 7-inch parallax LCD display that will not require glasses to create the illusion of depth -- but we're curious to see what it'll look like from across the room. It's capable of displaying photos and videos captured by the i2 (or other 3D device) and releases on August 15 for $200, meaning the entire package (shooter and viewer) will set you back $400. That's not a terrible price for taking and displaying photos of the future.

Aiptek's 3D photo frame serves up the fruit of your 3D camcorder's labor originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Viliv's N5 UMPC finally reviewed, deemed worth the wait

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/28/vilivs-n5-umpc-finally-reviewed-deemed-worth-the-wait/

Viliv's N5 UMPC finally reviewed, deemed worth the wait
We wouldn't say that Viliv is always tardy with its product releases, but neither would we say that we're particularly surprised the N5 UMPC is only now making its way to retail seven months after being announced. It's a Windows 7-toting, clutch-sized device packing specs that are at least seven months old: a 1.3GHz Atom Z520 processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 32GB SSD. Despite that, performance is said to be good, capable of handling 720p and even 1080p video without a hitch on its 4.8-inch, WSVGA display. Build quality is said to be "superb," the optical thumbpad thing is apparently a respectable mouse replacement, and 3G wireless (in addition to 802.11b/g and Bluetooth) is quite easy to enable. Unfortunately we're still not sure what Viliv is going to charge for this, but we're told it'll be appearing for order in the very near future.

Viliv's N5 UMPC finally reviewed, deemed worth the wait originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HD webcam 3-way shootout: SkypeHD's best take on Logitech

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/28/hd-webcam-3-way-shootout-skypehds-best-take-on-logitech/

HD webcam 3-way shootout: SkypeHD's best take on Logitech
As we mused when we recently got a chance to try out the Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910, it wasn't long ago that VGA was good enough for online chatting. No more, and with the release of SkypeHD going high-def is easier than ever. To find out which multi-megapixel movie maker you want to clip onto your display, and to see how the SkypeHD-compatible offerings stack up against Logitech's latest HD shooter, we gathered three cameras at a range of prices. Two will work with some particularly advanced TVs, while the third cam shuns Skype, offsetting that shortcoming with a middle-ground price and superior video quality. Which is your ticket to HD chat bliss, and how do they all compare to plain 'ol VGA? Find out after the break.

Gallery: HD Webcams

Continue reading HD webcam 3-way shootout: SkypeHD's best take on Logitech

HD webcam 3-way shootout: SkypeHD's best take on Logitech originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Developers to get native x86 version of Android 2.2 this summer?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/28/developers-to-get-native-x86-version-of-android-2-2-this-summer/

We knew that Intel had designs on Android for its Moorestown CPU, and as you might have guessed, the company's plans don't stop there. Renee James, a Senior VP at Intel, recently said as much in a conversation with APC. Apparently, devs can look forward to seeing a fully native x86 version of Froyo at some point this summer. James goes on to say that "all of the code will be fed back into the open branch that will be created for x86." Awesome! Perhaps 2011 will see a flood of generic, Atom-powered Android tablets. Because we don't see enough generic Android tablets as it is.

Developers to get native x86 version of Android 2.2 this summer? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 11:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sunday, June 27, 2010

Top 10 Clever Google Voice Tricks [Lifehacker Top 10]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5573714/top-10-clever-google-voice-tricks

Earlier this week, Google Voice opened to everyone in the U.S.. The phone management app is great, but even cooler hacks exist just under the hood. Here are our favorite tricks every Google Voice user should know about.

If you're just signing up for Google Voice, and wondering, in general, what it's good for, we've previously offered our take on whether Google Voice makes sense for you, and how to ease your transition to your new number and system. Google Voice also offers the option to just use it for voicemail and keep your number, but you won't get use of much of the SMS features touted here. Now, onto Voice's lesser-known perks and features:

10. Manage Voicemail and Text Messages Through Email

Top 10 Clever Google Voice TricksIt's not a "hidden" feature, per se, but it's not made apparent that you can have Google Voice send you an email when you get a new voicemail message or a text message—and that you can reply, from your email client, to those text messages. Because they come from a standard txt.voice.google.com, they're also easy to filter and set alerts for. If you're a Gmail user, you can also play messages back right in Gmail, and they'll be marked as listened to in your Voice account. (Original post)

9. Set as Your Skype Caller ID

Top 10 Clever Google Voice TricksFree internet calling service Skype is a really cheap way to make phone calls to a landline from your computer. One big downside, though, is those you're calling probably don't recognize the caller, and your number might change every time you call. Google Voice set up their servers, though, to allow setting your Google Voice number as a Skype caller ID. Commenter downdb explains the step-by-step process, which generally involves confirming a text message code and waiting for Skype to change your number.

8. Use Your Location to Determine Which Phones Ring

Top 10 Clever Google Voice TricksYou can set up time-based rules for your phones in Google Voice—so, for example, your home phone doesn't ring from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.—but not everybody works a regular schedule. Chad Smith, a Wichita-based geek who loves him some Google Voice, set up a clever means of syncing Google Voice with your GPS location, using some PHP scripting and the Locale geo-location app. When you're away from home, you can have only your cellphone ring. When you're at home, you can have a VoIP line and your home line ring. If you're not rocking your own PHP-friendly server space, there's a somewhat beta-level app in the Market, Google Voice Locations (scan-able QR link here) that accomplishes much the same kind of GPS-aware phone management.

7. Use "Do Not Disturb" to Get Work Done

Top 10 Clever Google Voice TricksIf you've managed to make Google Voice your one number that rings all your phones, you can enact a cloak of silence when you really need to get things done by enabling "Do Not Disturb" for a certain amount of time. All your calls go straight to voicemail, and nothing buzzes or plays a ringtone. It would be even nicer if Google could delay your SMS for the same time—that's often just as deadly a distraction. (Original post)

6. Send Yourself Advanced Voice Memos

Top 10 Clever Google Voice TricksTrue, you could use a digital recorder, or just call your own voicemail, to leave yourself a voice memo about something you need to remember later. But using Google Voice, you can have that voice memo transcribed to text, sent to your Outlook inbox at work, backed up forever in Gmail, and smartly delivered just where you need it. Drew Vogel's setup sets up his system so that all his other phones don't ring when he calls himself from one of them, and also gets his note-to-selfs into his Outlook box. Mark Stout's method sets up a special greeting for when he calls ("Record note now"), then has that message sent first to Gmail, then forwarded to cloud-based memory service Evernote. Mix and match settings from the two, and you'll feel like you've got your own personal assistant that lives in the cloud and only wants to help you remember things. (Original posts: Stout, Vogel).

5. Upgrade Your Cellphone Voice Plan to Unlimited

Top 10 Clever Google Voice TricksEvery major U.S. cellular carrier offers some kind of "pick a few numbers, talk with them for free" plan. You know what happens when you make your Google Voice number one of your "friends"? Yep—unlimited free calls on your cellphone. Since everyone gets a unique Google Voice number, it would be hard for AT&SprintRizon-Mobile to start universally blocking Google Voice from your picks. So, for the time being, enjoy living beyond your cellular talk time means through the magic of whatever business plan Google has for Voice.

4. Send Text Messages Through Your IM Client

Top 10 Clever Google Voice TricksGoogle Voice's web site is pretty fast and easy to grasp, and there are a few nifty desktop clients, like the Google Voice AIR app, that make it easy to send messages with a click or two. But you've already got an instant communication system set up—instant messaging, in fact—and you can receive, reply, and send SMS through it. GVXMPP hooks together your Google Voice text messaging, your email address, and your IM client, so that when a friend texts you, it shows up as a kind of IM, and when you reply, it goes back to their phone—no extra thought, web tab, or phone reach needed. (Original post)

3. Use Voice on an iPhone, Despite Apple's Block

Top 10 Clever Google Voice TricksApple generated a good bit of criticism when it blocked the Google Voice app from its iPhone app store, but doesn't seem to be backing down any time soon. In the meantime, Google has created a pretty powerful webapp as a partial work-around (that also works on Palm WebOS phones). For even tighter iPhone integration with Google Voice, you can use GVMax. The free app can send Google Voice SMS messages to your IM client or email address, and then notify you through a push message that you've got a new message. (Original post)

2. Use Google Voice SMS and Call Shortcuts from Any Phone

Google Voice has crafted pretty neat mobile apps for Android and BlackBerry phones that integrate Google's free SMS messaging. If you're not on one of those platforms, or don't have any kind of data plan, you can still hide your "real" number behind Voice and benefit from its inbox. Gina explained how to do it with a standard phone. It unfortunately involves saving a kind of "alternate" number for each contact, but most modern phones make that fairly easy. Luckily, you can also use that alternate number to call your contact through Google Voice.

1. Make and Receive Free VoIP Calls with Your Google Voice Number

Top 10 Clever Google Voice TricksGoogle Voice once integrated nicely with the free, Skype-like Gizmo5 service. Then Google bought Gizmo5 and closed down new registrations. They might come back—heck, Google might offer its own desktop client someday. In the meantime, we've detailed how to make free computer calls to any phone with Google Voice, using the free Sipgate service, which gives you your own actual phone number that you can feed to Google Voice as just another phone you can have ring whenever you want.


We're pretty enchanted with Voice, as you can tell, but there have to be other clever set-ups, third-party tools, and quirky uses we haven't encountered or written about yet. Know of one? Tell us about it in the comments.

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Rumor: Google Rolling Out "Google Me," Their Facebook Killer, Very Soon [Unconfirmed]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5573953/rumor-google-rolling-out-google-me-their-facebook-killer-very-soon

Well this is kinda wacky. Citing a "very credible source," Digg founder Kevin Rose tweeted that Google is readying "Google Me," a social service intended to go toe-to-toe (face-to-face?) with Facebook. It's like Google stalking, but official, and thus marginally less creepy!

Google Buzz, their most recent foray into social networking, was not a resounding success (read: total privacy shitshow) and I imagine there's some lingering skepticism about Google's ability to actually keep all of its users information on lockdown.

Then again, they already know just about everything there is to know about you, so maybe it'd be easier to forget Facebook altogether and just click a button in Gmail that says, "Yes! Cull your extensive records to make a "Google Me" profile in my best image, selectively including the photographs and personal interests likeliest to get me laid." Kidding, kidding, I promise that's not what I'm all about. Seriously! Google me! [Kevin Rose via Runnin Scared and SF Weekly]

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iPhone 4 vs. Galaxy S, part deux: HD video playback (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/26/iphone-4-vs-galaxy-s-part-deux-hd-video-playback-video/

We just couldn't leave this face-off of superscreens alone, and went back for another bite at the cherry. Admittedly, we found out the Galaxy S had a browser-specific brightness setting that we hadn't maxed out before setting off our camera hounds, so we've gone and remedied earlier comparison shots with the gallery below, and just as a bonus, we've now also run a HD video clip on both phones. This was to see how the Hummingbird and A4 SOCs, considered close siblings, handled some taxing video work and also to again compare performance deep down on the pixel level. What we can tell you now is that both handsets chewed through the 1080p clip with ease and that both gave results we have no hesitation in describing as sublime. Click past the break for the up close and personal video comparison action.

Continue reading iPhone 4 vs. Galaxy S, part deux: HD video playback (video)

iPhone 4 vs. Galaxy S, part deux: HD video playback (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Jun 2010 15:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hacked N900 blazes through Froyo

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/27/hacked-n900-blazes-through-froyo/

While the various and sundry Android manufacturers are all scrambling (or casually strolling) toward official Android 2.2 updates for their manifold handsets, someone managed to get Google's Froyo running on the Nokia N900. Turns out, the two are a pretty great pair, with some super speedy browsing (like, really fast) and decent hardware support outside of an unfortunate lack of memory card support. Hit up the video after the break to see it in action, the browser starts kicking around the 4:45 mark.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Hacked N900 blazes through Froyo

Hacked N900 blazes through Froyo originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Jun 2010 05:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sapphire makes multi-monitor 3D gaming a reality with a single video card

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/26/sapphire-makes-multi-monitor-3d-gaming-a-reality-with-a-single-v/

Sapphire makes multi-monitor 3D gaming from a single video card a reality
Multi-monitor gaming is hardly uncommon these days, but 3D gaming on the PC is, well, decidedly less common. Perhaps it will be the merging of the two immersive approaches that finally gets 3D going on the PC, and Sapphire is showing that it's possible. A single ATI-based Sapphire graphics card with Eyefinity support powered these three Zalman Trimon 3D displays, which use simple (and cheap) polarized glasses to make those boomers in Left4Dead really pop. No word on the overall cost of the system, but we'd hazard a guess it wouldn't be significantly higher than a triple-monitor setup woefully stuck in just two dimensions.

Sapphire makes multi-monitor 3D gaming a reality with a single video card originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Jun 2010 17:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 4 gets preliminary 'userland' jailbreak, real freedom still forthcoming

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/27/iphone-4-gets-preliminary-userland-jailbreak-real-freedom-sti/

The most Twitter-vocal iPhone Dev Team member, Mr. MuscleNerd himself, has just posted a screenshot from a jailbroken iPhone 4. Before you get too excited, however, you should know that this is just a preliminary "userland" jailbreak, which means it uses Apple software to happen, and it's not of a low enough level to really be worth releasing, since it's easy for Apple to patch. Instead it's an important step toward a real, low-level jailbreak that can actually be released. We'd feign pins and needles if this community wasn't so gosh darned amazing at hacking these phones: we're sure that real jailbreak will be along shortly.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

iPhone 4 gets preliminary 'userland' jailbreak, real freedom still forthcoming originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Jun 2010 01:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NOVO Coloured Glaze HTPC refracts us into the next century

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/27/novo-coloured-glaze-htpc-refracts-us-into-the-next-century/

Sure, the massive clear block at the front of this Coloured Glaze HTPC from NOVO is completely pointless, but it also does the remarkable task of making a boring hunk of plastic powered by Intel Atom and NVIDIA Ion into an object of minimalist desire. Our colleagues at Engadget Chinese recently got their hands on one of these nettops, which were initially shown off at CES, and managed to plug it in and power it on in the midst of photographing its beauty from every angle. Hit up the source link for pics galore.

NOVO Coloured Glaze HTPC refracts us into the next century originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Jun 2010 03:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP TouchSmart tm2t review

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/27/hp-touchsmart-tm2-review/

Let's not forget that before "tablets" were all the rage there were, well, tablets. While most tablet PCs were -- and still are -- aimed at the business market, the HP TouchSmart tm2 (which began as the tx2000) was one of the first tablets for the average Joe. And despite rumors of a slate product and future WebOS devices, HP hasn't given up on the tm2, and rightfully so. Just updated with a brand new Core i3 ULV processor, the convertible has a 12.1-inch capacitive touchscreen, a new TouchSmart layer for laptops, an onboard stylus for taking notes, and a striking design with a rather stellar chiclet keyboard. There's no doubt the form factor still appeals to students or those simply looking for the power of a PC with a touch experience, but we wish HP paid a bit more attention to a few key features before shipping. Find out just what those are in our full review.

Continue reading HP TouchSmart tm2t review

HP TouchSmart tm2t review originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Jun 2010 08:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HP Envy 14 now on sale for both the washed and unwashed masses

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/27/hp-envy-14-now-on-sale-for-both-the-washed-and-unwashed-masses/

Our tips inbox rarely becomes flooded with news on a surprise laptop release, but such is the vibe that HP's stylish Envy series seems to inspire -- and now it looks as though that May-officiated 14.5-inch model is on sale for public consumption, albeit with a starting price just one Benjamin higher than expected. Base model nets you a 2.4GHz Intel Core i3-370M, 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650, 4GB RAM, and a 320GB 7,200rpm HDD... but if you want to go wild and crazy, crank it up to a Core i7, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD for a cool $2,139.99. Well-loved aesthetics are there, and last we heard HP was still touting a possible eight hours of battery life. Your credit card may not be happy, but you could be.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

HP Envy 14 now on sale for both the washed and unwashed masses originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Jun 2010 12:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Charm coming to T-Mobile with 'enhanced' Android 2.1 Motoblur? Update promised for CLIQ and CLIQ XT?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/27/motorola-charm-coming-to-t-mobile-with-enhanced-android-2-1-mo/

Usual rules apply -- we can't independently confirm this at the moment -- but a tipster has sent us what appears to be T-Mobile training materials for an upcoming Motoblur-infused candybar smartphone, the Motorola Charm. Only this Motoblur is allegedly powered by Android 2.1 and boasts the same scalable widgets as we saw on Droid X, in addition to improved Facebook / Twitter integration (hello, Like and Retweet) and the usual Eclair refinements.As far as the hardware is concerned, there isn't much to glean from it at this point, aside from a textured QWERTY keyboard reminiscent of the CLIQ and a "camera" button denoting some form of memory-capturing capabilities. Speaking of which, the materials mention that the enhanced Motoblur is heading to CLIQ and CLIQ XT. Let us bookend this entire post with another reminder that none of this is confirmed, but we do know more than a few T-Mobile users who would love to get their mitts on a candybar Android.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Motorola Charm coming to T-Mobile with 'enhanced' Android 2.1 Motoblur? Update promised for CLIQ and CLIQ XT? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Jun 2010 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Entelligence: App stores are not enough

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/27/entelligence-app-stores-are-not-enough/

Entelligence is a column by technology strategist and author Michael Gartenberg, a man whose desire for a delicious cup of coffee and a quality New York bagel is dwarfed only by his passion for tech. In these articles, he'll explore where our industry is and where it's going -- on both micro and macro levels -- with the unique wit and insight only he can provide.


A little over two years ago, Apple changed the face of mobile computing when it launched the App Store and broke down the barriers between app developers and end users. There was no longer a need for users to go to a third-party web site, hand over a credit card, download an app to their computer, and sync it to their device. The App Store's integration with iTunes made it easy for the consumer to purchase apps, and purchase apps they did. But while Apple now commands a major lead in the sheer number of apps for the iOS platform, it's far from game over in the mobile market, and other competitors can catch up. But it's going to take more than just an app store for other platforms to level the playing field -- that's just the table stakes now. Here's what mobile platform providers need to compete effectively.

First, the devices must stand on their own. Before Apple introduced the iPhone OS SDK, the developer program and the App Store, the company sold more than a million iPhones and iPod touches. That is, it had captured a large enough market for developers to notice before third-party apps were brought into the equation. Handset vendors and platform providers must have devices that are compelling to consumers out of the box, with features and form factors that attract buyers independently. Seeding a market with quality devices is one way to capture the attention of developers who will all want to be part of a platform with room to grow.

Continue reading Entelligence: App stores are not enough

Entelligence: App stores are not enough originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Jun 2010 20:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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