Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Gmail Chat Exporter Makes Copying and Printing Chats Much Easier [Bookmarklets]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/#!5769118/gmail-chat-exporter-makes-copying-and-printing-chats-much-easier

Gmail quietly, automatically saves your chat messages, as if they were emails. That makes copying, saving, or printing multiple chats across a few days pretty difficult. Enter Gmail Chat Exporter, a bookmarklet that creates a simple text chat history with any contact.

Gmail Chat Exporter Makes Copying and Printing Chats Much Easier You'll need to copy Jim Matteson's JavaScript code and create a bookmark for it (with the code as the URL). Once it's in place, click the bookmark while you've got Gmail or Google Apps mail open, and enter the name of a contact, exactly as they would appear in your Chat sidebar. Give the script a bit of time to work, as Matteson made it respectful of Google's servers. When it's all done, you'll see a text output that goes back quite a ways—but you can search out a date to find what you need.

Handy stuff. Got another way of grabbing your Google Talk chats for copying? Tell us in the comments.

Chrome 10 Now Lets Extensions Run in the Background [Updates]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/#!5769168/chrome-extensions-now-allowed-to-run-in-the-background

Certain extensions—like Gmail notifiers, for example—are great when your browser is running, but can't run when it's closed. Chrome's added a new feature that will let extensions stay open, even if you don't have any open browser windows.

There aren't a ton of extensions using this feature yet, but it's fairly new. We expect that just like desktop extensions, a lot of developers will be adding this feature to their extensions very soon. Essentially, it allows you to start a process and close all your Chrome windows. The process (checking your Gmail, for instance) will stay open in your system tray (or the Dock, in OS X's case), so it can keep giving you desktop notifications even when you don't have any Chrome windows open. You can also access your background-enabled apps from the system tray or dock, which is pretty handy.

This feature actually has quite a few neat possibilities. For example, it also allows Chrome apps to load content in the background too, so apps can update in real time even when they're not open. That means in theory, something like Mint—which is right now, just a bookmark to Mint.com in the Chrome Web Store—could load all that information in the background, ready for you when you open it up, no waiting required.

We're pretty interested to see what developers do with this feature now that it's out. To test it out, you can check out the countdown timer app, which will send you notifications even when you've closed all your Chrome windows. You'll need Chrome 10 for the background feature to work. Hit the link for more information.

Background: Extending Your App's Life [Google Code Labs via ReadWriteWeb]

You can contact Whitson Gordon, the author of this post, at whitson@lifehacker.com. You can also follow him on Twitter and Facebook.

It's a Good Thing the World's Thinnest Phone Has a Gorilla Glass Screen [Phones]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/#!5769024/its-a-good-thing-the-worlds-thinnest-phone-has-a-gorilla-glass-screen

Matching Monday's leaked pics perfectly, the NEC Medias actually looks really nice. When was the last time you could say that about an NEC product?

It'll run on Android 2.2 when it goes on sale mid-March with the NTT Docomo carrier, and will no doubt be a hit with Japanese girls (and slender businessmen who don't want to ruin the line of their suits.)

It's just 7.7mm thick, which topples the Samsung Galaxy S II from its pedestal—not a mean feat, you could say, when it only measured 8.49mm anyway. Other components that have been crammed into the 105g body include a 4-inch Gorilla Glass LCD screen with 854 x 480 resolution; a 5.1MP camera; 1Seg TV tuner; NFC tech, and the usual other sensors and connections.

Live outside of Japan? It's back to the Galaxy S II for you. [MobileCrunch]

Is Samsung Making an 11-Inch Notebook 9 Series to Rival the Tiny MacBook Air? [Laptops]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/#!5769079/is-samsung-making-an-11+inch-notebook-9-series-to-rival-the-tiny-macbook-air

Coming in lighter and thinner than the 13-inch MacBook Air, Samsung's Notebook 9 Series looks like a veritable contender for your lap. But wait, what's this—a sniff of an 11-inch model?

The Notebook 9 Series was formally introduced in South Korea today, which is where Samsung claimed they would be launching an 11-inch model in March, to fill the space between tablet and laptop. Or smartphone and laptop. Or smartphone and desktop. Now I'm just confused.

Anyway, if you want the 13-incher, it should be on sale this month for $1,600. [WSJ]

Livescribe Pens Let You Search for Info On Your Written Words [Wikipedia]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/#!5769094/livescribe-pens-lets-you-search-for-info-on-your-written-words

Before you whine about this Livescribe pen app only containing 100,000 of the 3,567,121 articles currently on Wikipedia, just stop and remember how freakin' advanced our world has become, now that you can tap a written word and see information on that subject instantly.

The app costs $2, and only works with the English language at the moment. [Livescribe via SlashGear]

Apple Patent Reveals iPhone 5 With NFC Icon [Apple]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/#!5769115/apple-patent-reveals-iphone-5-with-nfc-icon

It's not the first time we've heard inklings of near-field communication being incorporated into the next iPhone, and I doubt it'll be the last. However, this Apple patent application showing an e-wallet icon is pretty damning.

Not that it's conclusive evidence, mind. The other icons may be in order, but that e-wallet icon could be a little joke at the tech-blogging world's expense—or a deft clue at what to expect come June. [Patently Apple]

What Is Thunderbolt? [What Is]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/#!5769321/what-is-thunderbolt

Along with snappy Sandy Bridge processors and beefy GPUs, Apple's new MacBook Pros have a superfast, versatile new I/O tech called Thunderbolt. Whazat?

Thunderbolt is a new standard for connecting peripherals to your computer...

If your laptop is untethered and on your lap right now, it's only there temporarily. Our machines still spend most of the time bound to our desks by myriad peripherals, all of which are connected through various interfaces. Intel's Thunderbolt, formerly known as Light Peak, is a faster, simpler way to plug some of those things in.

...that's works with both PCI Express and DisplayPort devices...

One of the best things about Thunderbolt is that it's dual-protocol, meaning that different types of devices—specifically, those using PCI Express and DisplayPort connections—can work from a single Thunderbolt port. Displays using MiniDisplay port will plug in right off the bat; DVI, HDMI, and VGA displays will work with one of the existing adapters. Thunderbolt has two independent channels, too, so it can supply full bandwidth an initial device and another one daisy-chained down the line.

...and way faster than USB...

To do that, it has to be fast. And it is! Thunderbolt moves at 10 gigabits per second, up to 20 times faster than USB 2.0 and 12 times faster than Firewire 800. Early versions used an optical connection, though the first wave to roll out in consumer products will likely work over copper-based wires. Still, the researchers behind the standard say that transfer rates could be boosted to 100 Gbit/s by the end of the decade.

...that was developed by Intel...

Intel first showed off Light Peak back in September of 2009, zapping a Blu-Ray disc's worth of data in just 30 seconds. Impressive! Since then, they've worked closely with Apple to develop the standard, which brings us to...

...and first implemented by Apple...

Apple's new MacBook Pros are the first to incorporate Thunderbolt.

...with devices coming from LaCie, Western Digital, and more

Intel says a handful of companies are already developing products that will support Thunderbolt, including
Aja, Apogee, Avid, Blackmagic, LaCie, Promise, and Western Digital. They see the new standard appealing to audiovisual professionals, who need to deal with a ton of data with low latency. But Thunderbolt-compatible hard drives will make backing up huge amounts of data hella fast, too.

Cellphones are dangerous / not dangerous: handsets alter brain activity -- scientists don't know what that means

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/cellphones-are-dangerous-not-dangerous-handsets-alter-brain-a/

Cellphones are bad, mmkay? Or at least that is what many want us to believe, what with all these warning labels and studies telling us that mobile users will end up with brain cancer and kidney damage. Not to mention the dangers of phone addiction -- horror of horrors -- for our youth. Now, the National Institutes of Health have shown that radiation from your phone's antenna ~~turns you into a supergenius~~ increases brain activity. Using positron emission tomography (PET) scans on 47 individuals with a muted phone on each ear (to prevent aural brain stimulation), the study found a seven percent increase in brain activity in the area closest to the phones' antennas when receiving a call. The catch -- scientists don't know "whether this is detrimental or if it could even be beneficial," so don't go trading your Cell-Mate in for a Bluetooth headset just yet.

Cellphones are dangerous / not dangerous: handsets alter brain activity -- scientists don't know what that means originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use o! f feeds< /a>.

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iBike Dash turns your iPhone or iPod touch into a cycling computer

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/ibike-dash-turns-your-iphone-or-ipod-touch-into-a-cycling-comput/

There's not exactly any shortage of ways to mount your iPhone or iPod touch to your bike, but there's decidedly fewer options that actually turn your iOS device into a full-fledged cycling computer that's able to replace those from the likes of Garmin. This new iBike Dash device promises to do just that, though. It not only houses your device is a protective, waterproof shell, but it includes an ANT+ speed sensor and is compatible with other ANT+ devices so you can measure heart rate and cadence. It also has room for an extra rechargeable battery to extend your run time, and it naturally makes use of a free app that takes advantage of your iPhone's GPS capabilities (no built-in GPS here to help out iPod touch users). Of course, all that means this one also costs considerably more than a simple bike mount -- look for the basic model to set you back $199, while the deluxe package (including cadence and HR monitors along with an extra battery and charger) runs $329.

Continue reading iBike Dash turns your iPhone or iPod touch into a cycling computer

iBike Dash turns your iPhone or iPod touch into a cycling computer originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Snoop Dogggg goes 4G to celebrate launch of Samsung Galaxy Indulge, was probably paid more than 4Gs to do it

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/snoop-dogggg-goes-4g-to-celebrate-launch-of-samsung-galaxy-indul/

You laugh, but D-O-Quadruple-G does have a certain ring to it. In fact, it sounds a little like the ringing of Samsung's Galaxy Indulge, which is tucked inside the pocket of MetroPCS' CEO right about now. You see, the aforesaid carrier has presumably paid Snoop Dogg (or Snoop Dogggg, as he'll be known until he scurries outside of a 4G coverage area) to change his name in order to celebrate the commercial launch of the world's first LTE Android smartphone. The Froyo-based phone is just barely beating out LG's Revolution and HTC's Thunderbolt, and you can bet that MetroPCS is doing everything it can to let the world know about it. Taking things one step ~~further~~ too far, Snoop's also appearing in a new series dubbed "The G-Connection," and you can peek the first episode just after the brizzle. For rizzle, homedizzle.

Gallery: Snoop Dogggg goes 4G to celebrate launch of Samsung Galaxy Indulge

Continue reading Snoop Dogggg goes 4G to celebrate launch of Samsung Galaxy Indulge, was probably paid more than 4Gs to do it

Snoop Dogggg goes 4G to celebrate launch of Samsung Galaxy Indulge, was probably paid more than 4Gs to do it originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Xoom review

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/23/motorola-xoom-review/

As we put rubber to road on our Motorola Xoom review, it's important to note that it was only a matter of time before the Android army delivered a proper iPad competitor. Moto's partnership with Google (and use of the 3.0 version of its mobile operating system, Honeycomb), has made that assumed inevitability a very serious reality. There can be little question that the Xoom is certainly a contender for the hearts and minds of potential tablet buyers in the market. Besides boasting that fancy new software (a completely redesigned experience masterminded by the man behind webOS, Matias Duarte), the Xoom is equipped with formidable hardware. The 1GHz, NVIDIA Tegra 2-based slate boasts a sizable 1GB of DDR2 RAM, 32GB of internal storage, a 10.1-inch, 1280 x 800 capacitive display, 3G connectivity (Verizon on our review unit), along with front and rear facing cameras, HD video capability, and loads of wireless options. Not only is the Xoom clearly competitive (and frankly, more stacked) than most of its competition, Motorola has attempted to futureproof the device by offering a free hardware upgrade down the road which will give the tablet access to Big Red's 4G LTE network. Of course, all this power comes with a cost... literally. With a list price off contract of $799, the Xoom is quite a pricey piece of technology to own. Still, with all that's packed inside -- and more importantly with what Google has done on the software side -- the Xoom could represent the next stage of tablet evolution. Is it time to take the plunge? Read on for our definitive answer in the full Engadget review!

Gallery: Motorola Xoom review gallery

Continue reading Motorola Xoom review

Motorola Xoom review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple and Intel unveil Thunderbolt I/O technology

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/24/apple-unveils-thunderbolt/

thunderbolt

So it's perhaps not the most original moniker that Apple and Intel could have chosen, but it's here just the same. After years of waiting Apple has launched its implementation of Intel's Light Peak standard and it's called Thunderbolt. It's making its appearance on new MacBook Pro models and it's promising 10Gb/second transfer rates. That's dual-channel, too so you'll get 10Gb/sec both to and from your devices. Apple suggests this will be useful for external RAID arrays, Gigabit Ethernet adapters, and also mentions support for "FireWire and USB consumer devices" along with HDMI, DVI, and VGA over DisplayPort. Apple expects that Thunderbolt will be "widely adopted as a new standard for high performance I/O," but we think the USB 3.0 crew might have a thing or two to say about that. Full PR is embedded below.

Update: Intel has thrown up its page on the technology, and it looks like the Light Peak name is officially no more. Intel indicates this speed will be enough to transfer a full-length HD movie (roughly 10 - 20GB in size) in less than 30 seconds. Intel also reinforces that this is compatible with existing DisplayPort devices and it also uses the PCI Express protocol for enhanced compatibility. Daisy-chaining will be possible, along with bus-powered devices, and cables can be made using either optical or electrical construction.

Continue reading Apple and Intel unveil Thunderbolt I/O technology

Apple and Intel unveil Thunderbolt I/O technology originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple refreshes MacBook Pros with Sandy Bridge processors, AMD graphics, Thunderbolt I/O tech, and HD cameras

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/24/apple-refreshes-macbook-pro-family-with-sandy-bridge-processors/

Come on, you knew this was coming! Oh yes, Apple's pulling the curtain off its new MacBook Pro family, and compared to the last refresh cycle, there are a serious amount of updates. Just as we had heard, all three will be getting new Intel Sandy Bridge Core i5 and i7 processors, AMD Radeon HD 6000M graphics (bye bye, NVIDIA!), FaceTime HD cameras, and some super fast Thunderbolt I/O transfer speeds. There are two new 13-inchers, two 15.4-inch versions, and one lone 17-inch model. How much will they cost you and what are the exact specs? You'll want to hit the jump for all of that and the official press release.

Gallery: Apple MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt

Continue reading Apple refreshes MacBook Pros with Sandy Bridge processors, AMD graphics, Thunderbolt I/O tech, and HD cameras

Apple refreshes MacBook Pros with Sandy Bridge processors, AMD graphics, Thunderbolt I/O tech, and HD cameras originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 09:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barnes & Noble says Nook owns one quarter of US e-book market, we don't doubt it

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/24/barnes-and-noble-says-nook-owns-one-quarter-of-us-e-book-market-w/

Barnes & Noble says Nook owns one quarter of US e-book market, we don't doubt it

There are many players in the e-reader world, but few have managed to gain any sort of traction. Though it hasn't achieved Kindle levels of success Barnes & Noble is taking pride in saying that its Nook series of readers has conquered 25 percent of the US e-book market. The company doesn't cite any specific sales figures to back up that number, but we'll go with it. Sadly, though, there's another 25 percent number that is detailed and isn't nearly so positive: that's how much the company's profits dropped from this period last year. That was said to be due to heavy investments in the Nook but, despite that, B&N managed to post a $60.6 million profit -- certainly better than some of the competition.

Barnes & Noble says Nook owns one quarter of US e-book market, we don't doubt it originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 09:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NEC's razor-thin MEDIAS N-04C Android launched in Japan, gets carefully manhandled

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/24/necs-razor-thin-medias-n-04c-android-launched-in-japan-gets-ca/

We've already seen product shots of the crazy thin, drool-inducing NEC MEDIAS N-04C, but for a product boasting the "world's thinnest" title, it's always useful to see comparison shots for the sake of our curiosity. Thankfully, the good folks over at Akihabara News were present at DoCoMo's launch event, and they were able to get up close to inspect this 7.7mm-thin Android 2.2 handset (with Android 2.3 upgrade available around July). It's pretty amazing considering all the goodies packed within this phone -- here's a quick recap: NFC, 1seg TV Tuner, infrared port, 5 megapixel camera, 800MHz Qualcomm MSM7230 chip, etc. Oh, and this phone uses Gorilla Glass, too. If you happen to reside in Japan -- which is where it'll remain exclusive to -- you'll be able to pick up this NEC in black or white flavor on March 15, though price has yet to be announced. Video after the break, and more hands-on photos over at Akihabara News.

Continue reading NEC's razor-thin MEDIAS N-04C Android launched in Japan, gets carefully manhandled

NEC's razor-thin MEDIAS N-04C Android launched in Japan, gets carefully manhandled originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 10:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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