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Monday, January 17, 2011

The Great Movie Sequel Debate Visualized [Charts]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5735548/the-great-movie-sequel-debate-visualized

Which sequels were truly better than the originals? Finally! The answers! This chart graphs the Rotten Tomatoes scores of a hundred-some sequels against the scores of the originals which preceded them. Apparently the first Star Trek movie really did suck!

Click to make bigger.

Yup, that's Wrath of Khan way up there above the "better-than-the-original" dotted line—the originals' scores are plotted on the the X-axis; the sequels' scores on the Y. Other quantitatively better sequels: Dark Knight, Stuart Little 2, and Mighty Ducks D2. I've always said that! Fans of Bad News Bears Go To Japan, however, which appears to be the greatest drop in critical acclaim from an original film to it sequel, might not like what they see.

The map was created by Edmund over at BoxOfficeQuant.com, and once you figure out how to read it, there's all sorts of interesting box office history to glean. Post it to your Facebook wall and watch your film-loving friends go absolutely crazy. [BoxOfficeQuant via We Love Data Vis]

X-pire! software will add digital expiration dates to your photos, photo-related embarrassment

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/16/x-pire-software-will-add-digital-expiration-dates-to-your-photo/

Wouldn't it be nice if photos you uploaded to Facebook, MySpace and Flickr just stopped being accessible after a while, saving you the almighty hassle of having to delete them yourself? Well, a few good Germans have come together to produce the X-pire! software, which promises to do just that -- make online imagery inaccessible after a given period of time following their upload. It's been around in prototype form as a Firefox extension, but next week should see its proper launch, complete with a subscription-based pricing model costing €24 per year. Yes, the observant among you will note that this does nothing to prevent others from grabbing those images and re-uploading them, but this software's ambition is humbler than that -- it just aims to give the less tech-savvy (or simply lazier) user a tool for controlling at least part of his or her presence on the web.

X-pire! software will add digital expiration dates to your photos, photo-related embarrassment originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 16 Jan 2011 22:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinect + projector = augmented reality fireballs (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/17/kinect-projector-augmented-reality-fireballs-video/

We've seen fancy augmented reality projection before, but we've rarely been able to take it home -- now, it seems Microsoft's hack-friendly Kinect can bring the same trick to the consumer realm. Elliot Woods took the idea that Kinect can map a three-dimensional space and twisted it to his own devious ends -- that is, throwing traditional Street Fighter fireball blasts, complete with the sound effect. What's impressive here, though, isn't the size of his hadouken, but rather the light it's made of -- each is a virtual dynamic light source casting light on the room's real objects to create virtual shadows on the surfaces that stick out. Sounds lovely, but if you can't wrap your head around all that, you'll find all the hot fireball action you need in the video after the break at roughly the five minute mark.

Continue reading Kinect + projector = augmented reality fireballs (video)

Kinect + projector = augmented reality fireballs (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 10:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Create Digital Motion | source

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Kimchi and Chips | Email this | Comments

More details emerge on Apple's A5 chip for upcoming iPad 2 and iPhone 5

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/17/more-details-emerge-on-apples-a5-chip-for-upcoming-ipad-2-and-i/

So, AppleInsider has some new info on Apple's successor to the A4, which we were talking up last week, and our sources say it's spot on. Specifically, AI claims that Apple is moving to dual-core SGX543 graphics, up from the A4's single SGX535 GPU (also known as the PowerVR 535). What's particularly great about this move is that the graphical power improvement is rated at around 4X the current generation -- which makes a true 4X resolution iPad "Retina Display" upgrade seem much more of a possibility. We're also starting to see 1080p HDMI video output as a "default" spec in this year's generation of devices, so there's no reason Apple will want to be left out -- particularly in the Apple TV -- and these dual graphics cores could handle that easily. The same cast of A4 characters are to credit for this new A5 generation, including the Apple-owned Intrinsity and PA Semi, while Samsung will again do the production duties. But details aside, we're just excited to play around with all this new horsepower when it hits -- apparently the PSP 2 is rumored to use the same graphics architecture with even more cores. Isn't Moore's law a grand thing?

More details emerge on Apple's A5 chip for upcoming iPad 2 and iPhone 5 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 13:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG Optimus 2X 1080p video surfaces, captures a slow day at the docks

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/17/lg-optimus-2x-1080p-video-surfaces-captures-a-slow-day-at-the-d/

Since we reported that the Tegra 2-based LG Optimus 2X was slated to hit Korea and Europe this month, we've been dying to check out its 1080p video recording capability. Lucky for us, someone in Greece has uploaded a video to YouTube that was apparently recorded on the smartphone, and the results, well, decide for yourself. While we're impressed by the video quality (digital zoom excepted) the subject matter leaves something to be desired: a shaky camera slowly pans a port full of docked fishing boats. Sure, we'd like to see some more action, but this sample still has us excited about getting our hands on our very own Optimus 2X. HD video after the jump.

Continue reading LG Optimus 2X 1080p video surfaces, captures a slow day at the docks

LG Optimus 2X 1080p video surfaces, captures a slow day at the docks originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 13:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC 7 Pro now available on O2 Germany, â¬22 monthly or â¬599 up front

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/17/htc-7-pro-now-available-on-o2-germany-22-monthly-or-599-up-fr/

Not that we had any reason to doubt O2 Germany's Twitter account, but a formal press release does help ease our few concerns. The HTC 7 Pro is now official on the European carrier for the asking price of €29 down and 24 months of €22.50. If you want to rip the proverbial band-aid off faster, it's also available for a €599 flat fee -- both of those without SIM lock. The rest of the world? We imagine it's just a matter of time before HTC offers this through its other channels.

HTC 7 Pro now available on O2 Germany, €22 monthly or €599 up front originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 14:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BenQ debuts high-end EW2430, EW2430V LED monitors

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/17/benq-debuts-high-end-ew2430-ew2430v-led-monitors/

BenQ's monitors may have all come from the same glossy black plastic mold as of late, but the company's stepped things up a bit for its new 24-inch EW2430 and EW2430V "Vertical Alignment" LED monitors, which pack some high-end specs and some more refined looks to match. Chief among those specs is the VA LED panel used in each monitor, which promises a native 3,000:1 contrast ratio, minimal light leaking, an improved viewing angle, and a true 8-bit color range, among other benefits. You'll also get a full range of ports (including two HDMI and four USB on each), a pair of 2W speakers, and some added features like "Smart Focus," "Super Resolution," and "3D Noise Reduction" on the EW2430V model. Still no word on pricing, but you can look for both monitors to hit Europe and the Asia Pacific region this month, with a worldwide release set to follow sometime thereafter.

BenQ debuts high-end EW2430, EW2430V LED monitors originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RIM: PlayBook is a 'great standalone tablet,' not 'reliant on a BlackBerry'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/17/rim-playbook-is-a-great-standalone-tablet-not-reliant-on-a/

We're sure RIM would still prefer that you own both a BlackBerry smartphone and a PlayBook, but it looks like it's now going some way to address the potential misconception that you actually need a BlackBerry for the tablet to be of any use. Speaking with Forbes, RIM senior product manager Ryan Bidan insisted that "on its own, this is a great standalone tablet," and that "this is not a device that is reliant on a BlackBerry." As Forbes notes, however, it is true that the PlayBook needs to be tied to a BlackBerry for most PIM functions like contacts and calendar management, but Bidan says those features will come to the PlayBook separately "as the platform evolves" -- he didn't get much more specific than that, unfortunately.

RIM: PlayBook is a 'great standalone tablet,' not 'reliant on a BlackBerry' originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sunday, January 16, 2011

Starr Labs AirPower, Missing Link adapters take MIDI into the wild world of wireless

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/15/starr-labs-airpower-missing-link-adapters-take-midi-into-the-wi/

Ah, MIDI. How we love thee. You're older than dirt itself, but still totally relevant -- something we could only hope to one day be. But now, it's time to make a move. A move to a world where copper wires and insulated cabling aren't necessary. A world where wireless rules. Create Digital Music has a new report out on two of the most prominent options when it comes to wireless MIDI, with the both of 'em distributing bleeps and bloops over totally different airwaves. The Starr Labs AirPower relies on a proprietary 2.4GHz communications protocol, enabling MIDI guitarists to finally get their groove on without worry over cable ejections. 'Course, with a $425 (upgrade) / $250 (MIDI-only) price tag, it's far from being affordable, and that $250 dongle is needed in addition to the $425 adapter for any instrument not made by Starr. The Missing Link relies on traditional WiFi waves, enabling phones and tablets to easily tap into its potential. You'll need to be aware that even the slightest bit of WiFi interference could ruin a live gig, but at just $150 (limited first run), it may be worth the risk. Head on past the break for a live demonstration of the latter, and tap that via for more dirt on the duo.

Continue reading Starr Labs AirPower, Missing Link adapters take MIDI into the wild world of wireless

Starr Labs AirPower, Missing Link a! dapters take MIDI into the wild world of wireless originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 15 Jan 2011 03:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Create Digital Music | source

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Notion Ink Adam clears FCC, begins shipping 'around Wednesday'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/15/notion-ink-adam-clears-fcc-begins-shipping-around-wednesday/

We don't see it in the FCC database yet but Notion Ink's charming Rohan Shravan just penned a post on the company's blog with news that Adam has official clearance from the US government. That's right, after several delays the tiny startup will finally condense its occasionally vapory molecules into a solid slab of shipping tablet starting "around Wednesday" after the hardware receives its FCC tattoo. Remember, Adam was that tablet good enough to earn a Best of CES 2011 honorable mention at an event absolutely flooded with tablets from a who's who of consumer electronics companies. While our first impressions of the production unit were positive, we're holding off on making a final judgement until we've had the chance to perform a full review. Having said that, Adam's final NI3421A01 product code is so nerdy -- the "3421" continues Rohan's tradition of numbering product iterations along the Fibonacci number sequence -- that we're almost tempted to place an order ourselves. Almost.

[Thanks, John]

Notion Ink Adam clears FCC, begins shipping 'around Wednesday' originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 15 Jan 2011 04:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NTIA says LightSquared proposal could pose national security threat

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/15/ntia-says-lightsquared-proposal-could-pose-national-security-thr/

Last summer it looked like Philip Falcone's LightSquared was on the path to a democratic LTE solution: a coast-to-coast network, incorporating satellite connectivity to cover the entire country. It's an ambitious goal to be sure -- perhaps too ambitious. In a letter to the FCC, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) warned that the wholesaler's wireless network, which would operate on the MSS spectrum, could interfere with systems like Department of Defense communications. Here's the snag: last year the FCC approved the company's initial proposal to create a network that would incorporate both terrestrial and satellite services. Now LightSquared wants to offer the option of terrestrial-only phones to their clients. According to the NTIA, such a system would require far more land-based stations, causing potential MSS overcrowding and increasing the risk of interference with everything from aeronautical emergency communications to Federal agency systems. The FCC has yet to make a decision on the revised proposal, and LightSquared hasn't made a peep, leaving us to wonder whether it was all too good to be true.

NTIA says LightSquared proposal could pose national security threat originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 15 Jan 2011 08:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Research shocker! Keyless car entry systems can be hacked easily, elegantly

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/16/research-shocker-keyless-car-entry-systems-can-be-hacked-easily/

We know you are vigilant enough not to trust your car's security to a wireless system, but plenty of other folks like the convenience of putting away the metallic keys and getting into their vehicles with a bit of Bond-like swagger. Professor Srdjan Capkun of ETH Zurich found himself perched on the fence between these two groups when he recently purchased a vehicle with a keyless entry system, so he did what any good researcher would: he tried to bypass its security measures. In total, he and his team tested 10 models from eight car makers and their results were pretty conclusive: each of the tested vehicles was broken into and driven away using a very simple and elegant method. Keyless entry systems typically work by sending a low-powered signal from the car to your key fob, with the two working only when they're near each other, but the wily Zurich profs were able to intercept and extend that signal via antennas acting as repeaters, resulting in your key activating your car even when it's nowhere near it. The signal-repeating antennae have to be pretty close to both the key and the car, but that's why heist movies stress the importance of teamwork. Hit the source link for all the chilling details.

Research shocker! Keyless car entry systems can be hacked easily, elegantly originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 16 Jan 2011 19:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friday, January 14, 2011

World's first room-temperature semiconductor plasmon nanolaser created by Berkeley scientists

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/14/worlds-first-room-temperature-semiconductor-plasmon-nanolaser-c/

We're big proponents of the idea that everything is better with lasers, and a team of researchers at UC Berkeley has created a new type of semiconductor plasmon nanolaser, or spaser, that could eventually find a home in many of your favorite devices. The big breakthrough is that Berkeley's spaser operates at room temperature -- previous spasers could only sustain lasing at temperatures below -250° C -- enabling its use in commercial products. Plasmon lasers work by amplifying surface plasmons, which can be confined to a much smaller area than the light particles amplified by conventional lasers. This allows for extreme miniaturization of optical devices for ultra-high-resolution imaging, high sensitivity biological sensors, and optical circuits 100 times faster than the electronic variety. There's no word on how soon the technology will be commercially available, so you'll have to wait a bit longer for your first laser computer.

World's first room-temperature semiconductor plasmon nanolaser created by Berkeley scientists originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 01:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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KFA2 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 WHDI graphics card is first to go wireless

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/14/kfa2-nvidia-geforce-gtx-460-whdi-graphics-card-is-first-to-go-wi/

What you're looking at is the world's first wireless graphics card affectionately dubbed the KFA2 (aka, Galaxy) GeForce GTX460 WHDI 1024MB PCIe 2.0. The card uses five aerials to stream uncompressed 1080p video from your PC to your WHDI enabled television (or any display courtesy of the bundled 5GHz WHDI receiver) at a range of about 100 feet. Otherwise, it's the same mid-range GTX 460 card we've seen universally lauded with 1024MB of onboard RAM helping to make the most of its 336 CUDA cores. Insane, yes, but we'd accept nothing less from our beloved graphics cards manufacturers.

KFA2 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 WHDI graphics card is first to go wireless originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 04:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fujitsu unveils Esprimo FH99/CM, touts it as the world's first glasses-free 3D desktop

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/14/fujitsu-unveils-esprimo-fh99-cm-touts-it-as-the-worlds-first-g/

After seeing Sharp's 10.6 glasses-free 3D display last September, we left convinced that parallax barrier 3D technology was a long way off from being ready for prime-time, and then we reached for a bottle of aspirin. Demonstrations by Intel and Sony at CES this year proved, however, that a lot can change in four months, and we hope for Japan's collective eye sight that Fujitsu's Esprimo FH99/CM desktop PC follows this trend. That's because Fujitsu claims it's the world's first glasses-free all-in-one, and it's scheduled to launch in the country on February 25th with a whopping $3,100 price tag. All that dough will get buyers a naked-eye 23-inch full HD 3D display plus top-of-the-line features such as a Blu-ray drive with 3D Blu-ray support, a 2Ghz Core i7 processor, 4GB of memory, a 2TB hard drive, and two USB 3.0 ports. There's no word whether the computer will land stateside, but if it doesn't, Toshiba has hinted they could fill the void with a glasses-free 3D PC of its own by late 2011. Still, we wouldn't recommend stomping your 3D glasses just yet.

Fujitsu unveils Esprimo FH99/CM, touts it as the world's first glasses-free 3D desktop originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 07:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Crunch Gear | source

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