Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

iPhone headed for T-Mobile USA in Q3?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/21/iphone-headed-for-t-mobile-usa-in-q3/

We hear so many iPhone-Verizon-tomorrow-OMG rumors that our nation's brave also-ran carriers hardly get a word in edgewise. While Sprint remains a total longshot, T-Mobile USA is an interesting proposition for the mere fact that it's a GSM network, though its 1700 / 2100 3G network remains ostensibly incompatible with the iPhone 4's existing radio. According to Cult of Mac, a "highly placed source" at T-Mobile let it slip that they've got an 80 percent chance of getting the iPhone in Q3. Now, that's an oddly specific number, and we have no idea what it's contingent on, or how much exactly this source knows. Basically, we don't know a lot here. Of course, the biggest evidence of this possible T-Mobile coup remains the statement from Deutsche Telekom's CEO in March, saying that the USA branch is hoping to get the iPhone later this year. We really don't know who or what to believe, but we do know one thing: if Apple decides to sell a T-Mobile USA iPhone, there's an 80+ percent chance it will tell everybody.

iPhone headed for T-Mobile USA in Q3? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MSI rumored to have TriDef 3D laptops on deck, no active shutters required

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/21/msi-rumored-to-have-tridef-3d-laptops-on-deck-no-active-shutter/

We've heard this song and dance before, but DigiTimes has it that MSI is on pace to shove out a 3D laptop this September. Before you open that jaw and feign a yawn, you should know that the company is purportedly not following convention by integrating NVIDIA's 3D Vision technology; instead, it'll rely on Dynamic Digital Depth's (DDD's) TriDef 3D software for transferring 2D images to 3D. This means that users will be able to use cheap-o polarized glasses rather than the more expensive (and battery draining) active shutter variety. Somehow or another, the whole thing is supposed to launch at under a grand, so we'll be poking around on the IFA show floor hoping that this one comes to fruition.

MSI rumored to have TriDef 3D laptops on deck, no active shutters required originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

PC Perspective | source

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RT @glenngabe Is Facebook censorship already rampant? And FB covering it up as an error message? Check the evidence - http://bit.ly/cBPTHX

Droid 2 Launching August 12 With R2-D2 Edition? [Unconfirmed]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5591941/droid-2-launching-august-12-with-r2+d2-edition

Droid 2 Launching August 12 With R2-D2 Edition? Never underestimate the power of a good pun. Er, maybe the Force of a good pun—Engadget's hearing that the Motorola Droid 2 will launch August 12, including a special R2-D2-bearing edition (presumably for enhanced starship navigation). [Engadget]

Flipboard, an iPad Magazine About Nothing [Apple]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5592389/flipboard-an-ipad--magazine-about-nothing

Flipboard, an iPad Magazine About Nothing Flipboard is new iPad app that aggregates all your social networking activities, presenting them in a nicely animated magazine format. Because magazines aren't dead, they're just free now. And all about you.

The app comes with a sort of auto-generated contents page, that lets you select from Facebook, Twitter or many other types of social news feed, presenting the results it drags out page by page—and inserting links to any web articles and videos your friends have shared. It's... visual Twitter in mag format, and quite an exciting idea.

Please watch the presentation video, it's strangely hypnotic. That man is so relaxed and reassuring we'd definitely buy this from him—if it wasn't free. [Flipboard]

Google signs 20-year deal to power data centers with wind energy

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/20/google-signs-20-year-deal-to-power-data-centers-with-wind-energy/

It's not the first investment Google has made in wind power, but anyone wondering about its commitment needn't look any further than the company's just-announced deal with NextEra Energy. It's agreed to buy wind power from NextEra's wind farm in Iowa for the next twenty years, which it says will provide enough power to supply "several" of its data centers. What's more, Google says that the size and length of the deal (taking 114 megawatts of energy off the market) will also lead to other indirect benefits for the wind power industry, and give NextEra the flexibility to invest in additional clean energy projects. Head on past the break for NextEra's press release on the deal.

Continue reading Google signs 20-year deal to power data centers with wind energy

Google signs 20-year deal to power data centers with wind energy originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Globe and Mail | source

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Toshiba shows off Smart Pad tablet prototype, promises launch before October

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/20/toshiba-shows-off-smart-pad-tablet-prototype-promises-launch-be/

It may not stand out from the pack quite as much as Toshiba's dual-screen Libretto W100, but it looks like the company will soon be expanding its tablet options a bit further. The latest addition was revealed in Australia by Toshiba's Mark Whittard, who showed off a prototype of a so-called "Smart Pad" tablet but unfortunately revealed few details about it. He did say that it would have both HDMI and USB connectivity, however, and that it could run either Android or Windows 7 -- Toshiba apparently hasn't decided which, though. There's no indication of a price either, but Whittard says Toshiba is looking to launch it "before October."

Toshiba shows off Smart Pad tablet prototype, promises launch before October originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

SlashGear | source

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PC Authority | Email this | Comments

Samsung's new plasmas will do 3D for much cheaper - Update: $989 for 50-inch 720p

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/20/samsung-new-plasmas-will-do-3d-for-much-cheaper-maybe-under-1/

Looks like Samsung's 3D Blu-ray players aren't the only ones coming in cheaper versions, as it's unveiled the new 680 Series and 490 Series plasma HDTVs. Both were shown off in Korea yesterday, though the US website only features a product page for the 50-inch PN50C680 so far, showing off its 1080p specs and DLNA access. You will give up a few features from higher end plasmas, which add picture-in-picture, widgets, a higher contrast ratio and slimmer designs to the mix. The PN50C490's situation is a bit murkier, but FlatpanelsHD reports it will be the first 720p 3DTV of the current generation. With current series 4 plasmas retailing for around $720, it could also be the first flat 3D set to crack (or at least approach) the $1,000 barrier -- if you're willing to miss out on the extra pixels.

Update: A listing on ABC Warehouse shows the PN50C490 with a few specs plus $1,099 MSRP, but already up for preorder for just $989. Perfect for some PS3 gaming or ESPN3D watching, right? Of course, as a few commenters have mentioned, you can get a 60-inch 1080p projection 3D capable HDTV from Mitsubishi for even less, so that's hardly your only cheap 3D option. [Thanks, John Doe]

Continue reading Samsung's new plasmas will do 3D for much cheaper - Update: $989 for 50-inch 720p

Samsung's new plasmas will do 3D for much cheaper - Update: $989 for 50-inch 720p originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Engadget Korea | source

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HP Slate 500 with Windows 7 surfaces on HP's site

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/20/hp-slate-500-surfaces-on-hps-site/

We can't say we know exactly what's going on here, but it does appear that the HP Slate still lives in all its Windows 7 (and Intel Atom) glory. Yep, the guys at IDG News spotted the good ol' 8.9-inch HP Slate -- now apparently the Slate 500 -- hanging out on a rather hidden HP.com page. The details are few and far between, but they do seem to coincide with all that we originally had heard about the tablet -- it runs Windows 7 Home Premium, has "exclusive" HP software and two cameras. And that's not all, the chaps at IDG also noticed that the Slate 500 was Energy Star certified, and a listing for the same product on Energy Star's site confirms that it will have a 1.6GHz processor. That too seems to line up with what we had heard about the Slate having a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530 CPU. We know, it's all a bit surreal considering we just got word yesterday that HP had filed a trademark on the term PalmPad, and we figured the Slate may have seen its day. There's no telling what will happen next, but it sure is looking like a HP Win 7 and WebOS tablet may just live in harmony.

HP Slate 500 with Windows 7 surfaces on HP's site originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

PCWorld | source

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HP (1), (2), Energy Star | Email this | Comments

Handy Light for iPhone's dirty little secret: tethering (update)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/20/handy-light-for-iphones-dirty-little-secret-tethering-video/

You may ask yourself, why on earth would anyone pay 99 cents for an iPhone app whose sole purpose is to flash bright, solid colors? We certainly wouldn't recommend it, but Handy Light has a great little Easter egg that undoubtedly doesn't jive with the folks at Cupertino HQ. Like Nullriver's Netshare app before it, this little piece of software allows for SOCKS proxy tethering, without having to sign up for AT&T's tethering plan. Instructions available via the video below, and if you're looking to pick up the app yourself, better hurry -- we can't imagine Apple will let this one stay in the store for very much longer.

Update: Looks like the app's been pulled. Ye who snoozes, ergo must lose. If you did manage to nab and the video below isn't working (we see it just fine), check out App Shopper for more detailed, text-based instructions.

Continue reading Handy Light for iPhone's dirty little secret: tethering (update)

Handy Light for iPhone's dirty little secret: tethering (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Mac Rumors | source

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Droid 2 and Android 2.2 fated to be together from the start, according to latest leaks

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/21/droid-2-and-android-2-2-fated-to-be-together-from-the-start-acc/

You know, some people get married with less information about their partner than we already have about the Droid 2. Today, we have a pair of independent leaks seemingly confirming that the second coming of Moto's QWERTY-sportin' Doer will be running Android 2.2 right out of the gate. Droid Life has a tipster that's apparently spent some quality time with the device, describing its keyboard as "phenomenal" and pointing out that it feels notably snappier than the original. The Froyo connection is reiterated by Phandroid's sources, which provide images of Verizon's device database indicating once again that Android 2.2 and Droid 2 will be an appropriately matched pair when the launch codes get entered (last mooted for August 12) and this thing finally hits retail.

Droid 2 and Android 2.2 fated to be together from the start, according to latest leaks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic adds Blu-ray 3D/HDD all-in-one plasmas; redesigned, rechargeable 3D glasses in Japan

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/21/panasonic-adds-blu-ray-3d-hdd-all-in-one-plasmas-redesigned-re/

Panasonic Japan's push to bring 3D to wider audiences means more than just offering it in smaller HDTVs. The RT2B series plasmas announced today can record TV broadcasts onto their hard discs or Blu-ray drives, and are the first all-in-ones that play Blu-ray 3D movies as well. Available in 42- and 46-inch versions, it's unlikely we'll see them on this side of the Pacific, but much more likely to make the jump are some new 3D glasses (pictures after the break.) Now available in different sizes for the whole family, they also include sealed batteries rechargeable by USB, as opposed to the current one-size-fits-all design that relies on a replaceable watch battery. Two hours charging via USB should equal 30 hours of watching, and at 38g, Panasonic's claiming the small kid-sized TY-EW3D2SW active shutter glasses are the lightest around. What hasn't changed yet is the price -- ¥13,000 ($149.) Barring bundle deals, outfitting the family for some festival viewing will still be an expensive proposition when all of these start shipping August 27.

Continue reading Panasonic adds Blu-ray 3D/HDD all-in-one plasmas; redesigned, rechargeable 3D glasses in Japan

Panasonic adds Blu-ray 3D/HDD all-in-one plasmas; redesigned, rechargeable 3D glasses in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 04:13:00 E! DT. Ple ase see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic Japan (1), (2) | Email this | Comments

ARM and TSMC team up for tinier 20nm Cortex SOCs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/21/arm-and-tsmc-team-up-for-tinier-20nm-cortex-socs/

It's no secret that ARM ideas are powering much of the mobile revolution these days, but the company doesn't print its own systems-on-a-chip, that duty gets outsourced to silicon foundries -- like TSMC, who just got all buddy-buddy with the firm to transition future smartphone chips to the 28nm and obscenely tiny 20nm high-k metal gate processes. (We're not sure what this means for GlobalFoundries, who had a similar deal earlier this year.) As per usual with a die size reduction, ARM chips will see higher speed and have decreased power consumption, but since 20nm is (relatively) unexplored territory it could be years before chips hit the market. PR after the break, or hit the more coverage link for further explanation by an ARM VP of Marketing.

Continue reading ARM and TSMC team up for tinier 20nm Cortex SOCs

ARM and TSMC team up for tinier 20nm Cortex SOCs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Eat the Seasons Tells You What's in Season Now [Food]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5590903/eat-the-seasons-tells-you-whats-in-season-now

If you're trying to increase the amount of fresh and local food you're eating it helps to know what's in season. Eat the Seasons tells you what fruits, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and meats are in season now.

Visit the site and you're immediately show what is in season for the US/Canada—for those across the Atlantic you can switch to the UK/Ireland view for more accurate results. You can click on individual items in the list of seasonal foods to read more about the nutritional content, buying and storing tips, and interesting facts about the food in question.

While you're checking out seasonal foods don't forget to take a peek at the Epicurious Seasonal Ingredient Map and how to lower your food bill by shopping for food in season.

Eat The Seasons

TrueCrypt 7.0 Gets Intel Hardware Acceleration and Better Automatic Mounting [Downloads]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5591445/truecrypt-70-gets-hardware+accelerated-encrypting-and-automatic-mounting

TrueCrypt 7.0 Gets Intel Hardware Acceleration and Better Automatic Mounting Windows/Mac/Linux: TrueCrypt, the smart and secure way to encrypt your data, has shipped a seventh version that can encrypt faster on select Intel hardware, as well as configure your encrypted volumes or drives to automatically mount with specific preferences.

The hardware acceleration is implemented through Intel's AES-NI instructions, which are usually present in processors sold as Core i5, Core i7, and so forth. Using such a processor with the strong AES algorithm, and enabling acceleration in TrueCrypt's settings, should give you faster on-the-fly access to encrypted data.

That's a neat feature for those with newer hardware, but for everyone else, there's also a host of new volume and drive options. Encrypted packages can now be managed through a "Favorites Organizer," where individual preferences for mounting and other access can be set in batches. Drives and volumes created on external storage, like a USB drive, can also be set now to auto-mount whenever the storage is connected. More good stuff in 7.0 is detailed in the version history document.

TrueCrypt 7.0 is a free download for Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. Got a great use case for TrueCrypt? Share it with the cyber-class in the comments.

TrueCrypt [via Ghacks]

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