Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Friday, January 28, 2011

Qwiki Is Like a Mini, Visually-Rich Wikipedia That Reads to You [Webapp]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5744339/qwiki-is-like-a-mini-visually+rich-wikipedia-that-reads-to-you

Qwiki is a new webapp that helps you learn about virtually anything, but aims to inform you quickly by reading the articles to you while showing you a slideshow of pictures while you listen.

Qwiki was announced awhile back but just launched to the public—as an alpha release—this week. When I first heard about it I thought it sounded kind of stupid—why do I need a web site to read to me, especially in a computerized voice?—but after giving it a try you'll come to see what it's compelling. It doesn't hurt that it's nice to look at (the format of the slideshows are especially creative), but each article is so concise yet sufficiently informative that you can brush up on any topic in about a minute and actually feel like you know a fair amount about it. It's one of those things you have to try.

Of course, it's not perfect. The page on George Orwell is far more compelling than, say, the page on Lifehacker. This is primarily because there's only one picture of the Lifehacker site and several pictures related to George Orwell (and other featured topics). The difference really demonstrates how effective the slideshow can be. Their computerized voice also needs a little work on her pronunciations, as I imagine Jizmodo would be a very different kind of blog. Again, it's an alpha release, so we should see improvements and more content as time goes on. Right now, it's pretty cool and definitely worth a look.

You can contact Adam Dachis, the author of this post, at adachis@lifehacker.com. You can also follow him on Twitter and Facebook.

Toshiba Used Nano-Technology For This Color-Changing Laptop [Laptops]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5745828/toshiba-used-nano+technology-for-this-color+changing-laptop

Considering most of Toshiba's laptops have a design only their R&D department can love, they must've turned to the mood rings of yesteryear for styling inspiration with their Dynabook Qosmio T750. Supposedly it's the first-ever color-changing laptop.

Unfortunately it doesn't change color like a chameleon, but instead uses nano-technology for the metallic look, which changes from green through to blue and then purple. The effect was achieved without using any metal, making it kinder to the environment according to Toshiba.

Under all that gloss, there are some powerful components ticking away to ensure it's got brains as well as beauty: there's a 2.66GHz Intel Core i5-480M, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, plus a 750GB HDD. The laptop itseld measures 15.6-inches, and has a 1366 x 768 resolution screen. For now, it's only available to our Japanese friends. [JapanToday via The Earth Times and RegHardware - Thanks, Yogesh!]

Stanford researchers demo social NFC applications on the Nexus S

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/27/stanford-researchers-demo-social-nfc-applications-on-the-nexus-s/

To hear most mobile companies tell it these days, you'd think that NFC (or near field communications) is only for mobile payments. That's not the case at all, of course, and a group of researchers at Stanford's MobiSocial lab have now thrown a few new ideas of their own onto the table after getting a pair of Nexus S phones to play with. After first making a few tweaks to overcome some of Gingerbread's limitations -- it only uses NFC for reading tags -- they were able to develop a few social-minded applications that make use of the P2P functionality possible with NFC. That includes one example that lets you share photos simply by pressing two phones together, and a second that lets two phones share an application -- collaborative whiteboard, in this case. Unfortunately, those aforementioned tweaks to Android mean you can try out the apps yourself just yet, but the researchers are hopeful that similar applications will eventually be supported by Android and other platforms. Head on past the break to check them out on video.

Continue reading Stanford researchers demo social NFC applications on the Nexus S

Stanford researchers demo social NFC applications on the Nexus S originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MSI's Windows 7-based WindPad 100W now on sale for $710

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/27/msis-windows-7-based-windpad-100w-now-on-sale-for-710/

MSI's first entry into the wild, wonderful, and oftentimes wishy-washy world of tablets is now on sale, but frankly, we aren't too sure we'd be jumping to hand over our $710 -- er, $709.95 -- for the WindPad 100W. The retailer is Simply Electronics, which just so happens to rank a few rungs below Amazon in terms of heardability-ness. At any rate, those willing to take a flying leap of faith should expect a 10.1-inch device loaded up with Windows 7 Starter, Intel's Atom Z530 1.6GHz single-core processor, 2GB of memory a 32GB SSD and a battery that'll keep things humming for around six hours. Here's hoping it'll perform better than that first wave of Win7 tablets, and you know, that you actually receive one.

MSI's Windows 7-based WindPad 100W now on sale for $710 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola will enable Atrix 4G's 1080p video recording in post-launch software update

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/28/motorola-will-enable-atrix-4gs-1080p-video-recording-in-post-la/

The software on Motorola's upcoming Atrix 4G has already been subject to some stern (and premature) scrutiny, but here's some rather more concrete information about it, courtesy of the company's own spec page for the device. As it turns out, Moto intends to launch the Atrix with some of its hardware capabilities clipped -- specifically its Tegra 2-derived power to encode 1080p content -- but will deliver them to users in an update (hopefully soon) thereafter. LG's Optimus 2X, which is built around the same dual-core chip from NVIDIA, has been spending its time before launch showing off exactly what those 1080p encoding skills can deliver -- both with video recording and through its HDMI connection -- so it'll be a downer for Moto fans to learn that their hallowed new superphone won't be able to match up at launch. Then again, when we think about how often phone makers fail to tap the full potential of their hardware, maybe we should just be happy that 1080p abilities are coming to the Atrix at all, eh?

[Thanks, Mr. techcrunch]

Motorola will enable Atrix 4G's 1080p video recording in post-launch software update originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 02:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fujitsu's tablet is easy like a hammer, cozy as a scarf, and never scratchy like Windows 7 (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/28/fujitsus-tablet-is-easy-like-a-hammer-cozy-as-a-scarf-and-nev/

There's no denying that Meinolf Althaus brings some personality to an otherwise stoic slate. Good thing too, because the idea of Fujitsu and Microsoft spawning a stylus-driven tablet from a session of ugly-bumping doesn't elicit much excitement in the burgeoning tablet space. Enter Mr. Althaus who begins his lesson with an explanation that software user elements must be based on recognition and not on something that's remembered. You know, like a hammer (or Fujitsu's new slate) which is obvious in its usability and function. He then likens the current crop of consumer-based tablets to chocolate bars: they're great for consumption but do little to help with content creation unlike Fujitsu's Windows-based slate that's optimized for corporations -- spreadsheets naturally, not music or illustrations. The highlight, however, has to be the point in the video where he equates the Windows 7 user experience to a "scratchy" kitchen sponge that's useful for utilitarian tasks like cleaning the dishes. Fujitsu's tablet, he contends, is "cozy" like a silk scarf thanks to a custom-built layer that sits on top of the standard Win7 desktop. Brilliant. We'll take two... Meinolfs that is. You will too after watching the video embedded after the break.

[Thanks, Hanson]

Continue reading Fujitsu's tablet is easy like a hammer, cozy as a scarf, and never scratchy like Windows 7 (video)

Fujitsu's tablet is easy like a hammer, cozy as a scarf, and never scratchy like Windows 7 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 05:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox veteran Ed Fries joins Razer in an advisory role, probably to work on something awesome

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/28/xbox-veteran-ed-fries-joins-razer-in-an-advisory-role-probably/

What do you do after spending nearly three decades tinkering with software -- from the humble Atari, through Microsoft Office, and into the modernity of Xbox gaming? Well, in Ed Fries' case, we're guessing you go to CES, find the wildest, most awesome gaming concept around, and sign up with its maker to help guide its development. Again, we're guessing that's what Ed's done, we can't know for sure what he'll be doing as a member of Razer's Board of Advisors, but there's no denying the proximity of the Switchblade's announcement and his joining the gaming peripheral company. Even if the kindly gent's focus isn't on Razer's portable gaming device, we imagine he'll be a good influence on other products going forward. After all, when has it ever been a bad idea to have more veterans on your team?

[Thanks, JL]

Continue reading Xbox veteran Ed Fries joins Razer in an advisory role, probably to work on something awesome

Xbox veteran Ed Fries joins Razer in an advisory role, probably to work on something awesome originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 06:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geolocation app appeals to your inner good samaritan, makes you an amateur EMT

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/28/geolocation-app-appeals-to-your-inner-good-samaritan-makes-you/

When you go into cardiac arrest, you've got about ten minutes to live if you don't receive medical attention, and the average emergency response time is seven minutes after you dial 911. In an effort to get folks help more quickly and leverage the iPhone's life saving abilities, the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District in California has created the FireDepartment app to enlist the help of the citizenry in fighting the (unfortunate) results of a lifetime of eating tacos. The iPhone app -- Android and BlackBerry versions are currently in the works -- allows emergency dispatchers to notify users via text of a nearby crisis. For those feeling heroic, the app displays a map with the victim's location and any nearby automatic electronic defibrillators, and provides "resuscitation reminders" in case you're the CPR teddy-toting type. For now, the service only works in San Ramon but there are plans to port it for use elsewhere. That means we can look forward to a nation of amateur EMTs, which makes us thankful that mouth-to-mouth is no longer a part of CPR. Check the video after the break to see the app in action.

Continue reading Geolocation app appeals to your inner good samaritan, makes you an amateur EMT

Geolocation app appeals to your inner good samaritan, makes you an amateur EMT originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 08:59:00 EDT! . Pleas e see our terms for use of feeds.

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New research suggests our brains delete information at an 'extraordinarily high' rate

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/28/new-research-suggests-our-brains-delete-information-at-an-extra/

The mysteries of the brain may be virtually endless, but a team of researchers from two institutes in Göttingen, Germany now claim to have an answer for at least one question that has remained a puzzle: just how fast does the brain forget information? According to the new model of brain activity that the researchers have devised, the answer to that is one bit per active neuron per second. As Fred Wolf of the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization further explains, that "extraordinarily high deletion rate came as a huge surprise," and it effectively means that information is lost in the brain as quickly as it can be delivered -- something the researchers say has "fundamental consequences for our understanding of the neural code of the cerebral cortex."

Continue reading New research suggests our brains delete information at an 'extraordinarily high' rate

New research suggests our brains delete information at an 'extraordinarily high' rate originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 09:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IDC: ZTE takes fourth in global cellphone rankings, leapfrogs Apple and knocks RIM out of top 5

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/28/idc-zte-takes-fourth-in-global-cellphone-rankings-leapfrogs-ap/

IDC: ZTE takes fourth in global cellphone rankings, leapfrogs Apple and knocks RIM out of top 5

You like numbers? Good, because it's the season and amid all these lovely financial reports we've been hitting there are some broader trends to look at. IDC has released its mobile phone report for 2010 and has concluded that, worldwide, the industry grew 18.5 percent over 2009, shipping a massive 1.39 billion units. That's nice and all, but check out this bit about ZTE. The manufacturer boosted its annual shipments by 94 percent, stealing Apple's recently-won fourth place position globally and, in doing so, knocking RIM straight into the dreaded "others" category. Can RIM make it back? Will Apple recover? Will Siobhan and Lucky ever reconcile their differences? Tune in next quarter to find out.

IDC: ZTE takes fourth in global cellphone rankings, leapfrogs Apple and knocks RIM out of top 5 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 10:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Atrix 4G apparently priced at $150 by Costco, too

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/28/motorola-atrix-4g-apparently-priced-at-150-by-costco-too/

Never would we have guessed that third-party wireless retailers would be aiming to launch AT&T's powerhouse Atrix 4G for just $150 on contract -- $200 or $250, sure, but not $150. Alas, just a few hours after AmazonWireless' peep show, we're seeing an alleged leaked screen shot of Costco's inventory system showing the same blockbuster price. Now, bear in mind that AT&T itself will probably sell the phone for at least $50 more -- third parties usually have a second ETF on top of the carrier's that allows them to subsidize a little more heavily -- but it's a good sign regardless.

Motorola Atrix 4G apparently priced at $150 by Costco, too originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 11:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola lifts our spirits with new Atrix 4G video

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/28/motorola-lifts-our-spirits-with-new-atrix-4g-video/

Been feeling down this cold and dreary January? Well, let Motorola "introduce" you to its new smartphone! The CES conqueror we already know as the Atrix 4G has received its first promo video from the mothership, highlighting its laptop and HD multimedia docks (giving us a decent peek at the docked UI for both), dual-core processor and related gaming credentials, and, of course, that gorgeous qHD screen resolution on the handset itself. It's all set to a very uplifting soundtrack, connoting all the beautiful opportunity and potential that our collective smartphone future holds.

[Thanks, engadgeteer]

Continue reading Motorola lifts our spirits with new Atrix 4G video

Motorola lifts our spirits with new Atrix 4G video originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thursday, January 27, 2011

Sync Your Desktop Between Computers Using Dropbox [Syncing]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5744929/sync-your-desktop-between-computers-using-dropbox

We've detailed how to use Dropbox to sync your home folder across platforms, but for people whose entire workflow revolves around their desktop, that's not necessarily enough. The Mac blogger at Not Very Correct describes how he syncs his desktop, as well.

On Macs
His method is something we've seen before. Essentially he's created a symlink to sync files and folders outside the My Dropbox folder. On a Mac, the command looks like:

open up terminal and run the following commands

mv desktop desktop.bak
ln -s /Users/username/Dropbox/ ./Desktop

(change username for your Mac username)
Things may go screwy for a bit, but don't worry. Your next step is to reboot your Mac and login again.
You may then want to go to your Desktop.bak directory and copy the files you want back to Desktop.

On Windows
Not Very Correct's post only covers syncing your Mac desktop, but I think we can get to the bottom of this on Windows.

Windows users looking for a similar solution could try the JUNCTION utility, as described here; the handy utility Dropbox Folder Sync makes syncing folders outside of Dropbox easier, adding a Sync with Dropbox option to your right-click context menu. I haven't tested it on Windows, though, and I don't want to send anyone down the wrong path untested. It seems like you might need to use a relative path to your desktop in order to get desktop syncing working correctly—say something like %USERPROFILE%\Desktop—which you'd probably need to do from the command line using something like JUNCTION or mklink. I could be mistaken (maybe something as simple as using Dropbox Folder Sync would work), so if anyone's syncing desktops across Windows computers via Dropbox, we'd love to hear how you did it, and will update the post with your suggestions.

Dropbox Sync Desktop Between Macs [Not very correct]

Ford's intelligent vehicles communicate wirelessly, shoot hula hoops out of tailpipes (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/27/fords-intelligent-vehicles-communicate-wirelessly-shoot-hula-h/

Ford's intelligent vehicles communicate wirelessly, shoot hula hoops out of tailpipes (video)

Imagine how many accidents could be avoided if we all had perfect X-Ray vision -- assuming, of course, that everyone could refrain from being distracted by all the naked pedestrians. Drivers would never be surprised by rapidly slowing traffic, cars broken down around blind curves, or autos zooming into blind spots. No matter how many ads we respond to in the back of Mad Magazine we'll never have that, but Ford has an alternative with its Intelligent Vehicle Research: cars that simply rely on GPS and a wireless data connection to beam their location and speed to each other.

Autos alert their drivers when a car at the front of a convoy is rapidly decelerating or when there's a broken down rig right around the next bend. Interestingly the tech is using WiFi, not cellular data, so range is somewhat limited, but still far enough to warn drivers with blinking lights or trigger an automatic-braking system. It's all demonstrated in the video after the break and, while there are no crazy platooning stunts like Volvo recently showed off, we have to figure that's coming in version 2.0.

Continue reading Ford's intelligent vehicles communicate wirelessly, shoot hula hoops out of tailpipes (video)

Ford's intelligent vehicles communicate wirelessly, shoot hula hoops out of tailpipes (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 11:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sanjay Jha says multiple Motorola tablet sizes coming, hints at Atrix on other carriers

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/26/sanjay-jha-says-multiple-motorola-tablet-sizes-coming-hints-at/

Can't say this is any surprise, but Sanjay Jha just confirmed on Motorola's earnings call that he "sees good reason" to eventually release an entire family of tablets at "different multiple different display sizes and price points." Specifically, Jha mentioned 7-inch tablets, and later said that consumer demographics like kids, teenagers, and "women" want different things from a tablet than enterprise and professional customers -- which sounds suspiciously like Jha doesn't think women want a single device for work and home, but we'll give him the benefit of the doubt, since he's not always the smoothest speaker.

As for the Atrix, Jha simply said that "you will see our diversity in the retail channel as well with other carriers in the US," which certainly sounds like it'll hit other carriers once the AT&T exclusivity runs out. How long that exclusivity is, we don't know -- but keep in mind that the Droid Bionic is very nearly the same phone, so there's a chance a software update will bring that sweet docking action to the red side of the market in the future. And if not, we're sure the hacking community will have it covered.

Sanjay Jha says multiple Motorola tablet sizes coming, hints at Atrix on other carriers originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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