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Monday, March 14, 2011

MIT's Junkyard Jumbotron turns your motley collection of devices into one large display (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/14/mits-junkyard-jumbotron-turns-your-motley-collection-of-devices/

Got a handful of mobile devices layin' 'round when what you actually need is one large display? The kids at the MIT Center for Future Civic Media got you covered! The Junkyard Jumbotron, designed by Rick Borovoy, Ph.D. and Brian Knep, is an ingenious project that makes stretching an image across damn near any collection of displays with web browsers. When you assemble the displays (such as in the picture above), the Junkyard Jumbotron website will ask you to point them all to the same URL. This will cause each device to load the same QR code, which -- once you snap a digital pic and email it to the project -- will allow it to calibrate and stretch a JPEG across your assemblage. It certainly does look like something scrounged up at a junkyard, doesn't it? Well, sometimes that's part of the fun. Hit the source link to try it for yourself. Video after the break.

Continue reading MIT's Junkyard Jumbotron turns your motley collection of devices into one large display (video)

MIT's Junkyard Jumbotron turns your motley collection of devices into one large display (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 11:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS Eee Pad Transformer passes through the FCC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/14/asus-eee-pad-transformer-passes-through-the-fcc/

Well, it hasn't reached Eee PC levels of confusion just yet, but it looks like ASUS's Eee Pad line is well on its way to filling store shelves with numerous different models. One of those has now hit the FCC under the guise of the Eee Pad TF101, although it's also referred to as the EP101 in some of the documents. Assuming nothing has changed with ASUS' naming scheme (always a possibility), that would peg it as the Transformer -- a tablet / keyboard dock combo that we first got our hands on back at CES (and later at CeBIT). Unfortunately, ASUS wasn't able to give us a release date then, and that still hasn't changed, although the FCC certification does certainly suggest that it could be coming sooner rather than later.

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer passes through the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wirefly: 'no Skype' on Thunderbolt, but simultaneous 3G voice and data is a go; ships on March 17th

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/14/wirefly-no-skype-on-thunderbolt-but-simultaneous-3g-voice-an/

Wireless retailer Wirefly is pushing ahead with pre-orders for the beleaguered HTC Thunderbolt starting at midnight Pacific Time this evening with the promise that they'll start shipping this Thursday, the 17th; that lines up with a whole lot of noise we've heard recently, so we can't really argue with it at this point. They're also confirming a couple rumors that have been floating around since the phone's January debut: first, they're saying "no Skype," which we're taking to mean that the promised Skype video calling app won't be installed out of the box. We're also assuming (or at least hoping) that you'll be able to install the standard voice-only version. Secondly, they're saying that the phone definitely does simultaneous voice and data over 3G, a feature that was just recently made possible on Verizon's CDMA network through software upgrades -- and the Thunderbolt, it seems, will be the first retail device to have the pleasure of taking it for a spin.

Wirefly: 'no Skype' on Thunderbolt, but simultaneous 3G voice and data is a go; ships on March 17th originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 19:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPad 2 specs discerned, 900MHz dual-core ARM CPU and PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU blow away graphical benchmarks

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/12/ipad-2-specs-discerned-900mhz-arm-cortex-a9-and-powervr-sgx543m/

iFixit may have physically uncovered Apple's latest silicon, but it's the processor gurus that have discovered what's truly inside -- using software benchmarks, they've unearthed the speeds and feeds of the Apple A5. As you'll no doubt be aware having read our headline above, there actually isn't a 1GHz CPU at the helm, as AnandTech and IOSnoops report the dual-core ARM chip is dynamically clocked around 900MHz, likely in search of reduced power consumption. Perhaps more interestingly for all you gamers in the audience, the iPad 2 reports that it has a dual-core PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU on the die as originally foretold -- and, spoiler alert -- it mops the floor with both the original iPad and the Motorola Xoom. Though the new chip didn't quite demonstrate 9X the graphical prowess of its predecessor, it rendered 57.6 frames per second in a GLBenchmark test where the (admittedly higher-res) Tegra 2 tablet managed only 26.7fps, and last year's iPad pulled only 17.6fps. That's some serious Tai Chi. Hit up our source links to see the difference it can make in games like Infinity Blade.

Update: Though it sure sounds like there's a dual-core ARM Cortex A9 in there, that's not yet a proven fact -- we only know that it's a dual-core ARM v7 chip which performs relatively similarly in non-graphical tests. [Thanks, Jim]

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

iPad 2 specs discerned, 900MHz dual-core ARM CPU and PowerVR SGX543MP2 GPU blow away graphical benchmarks originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 Mar 2011 20:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google ships last Cr-48 laptop 'for now,' partner Chrome OS devices still on track for summer

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/13/google-ships-last-cr-48-laptop-partner-chrome-os-devices-still/

The very same gentleman that introduced us to Google's Cr-48 laptop, Product Management VP Sundar Pichai, has disclosed the unfortunate news that Google has shipped the last of them, at least "for now." The next opportunity to catch a ticket to ride the Chrome OS bandwagon will come in the middle of this year, as promised, with devices from Acer and Samsung coming to market. Rumor had it that Google received about 60,000 Cr-48s from ODM Inventec back in December, though whatever the number of manufactured units was, the fact is that it's now been fully depleted. We'd urge Google's partners not to stray too far away from the Cr-48 template in the summer -- we're huge fans of its minimalist good looks, even if the OS itself could do with a few more layers of spit, polish and features.

Continue reading Google ships last Cr-48 laptop 'for now,' partner Chrome OS devices still on track for summer

Google ships last Cr-48 laptop 'for now,' partner Chrome OS devices still on track for summer originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 showcased on video, doesn't look all that inadequate to us

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/14/samsung-galaxy-tab-10-1-showcased-on-video-doesnt-look-all-tha/

We have no small amount of respect for Samsung for coming out and admitting that its Galaxy Tab 10.1 slate won't necessarily be the best thing since sliced Apples, but we wouldn't go so far as to describe it as "inadequate," which is what company VP Lee Don-Joo recently called it. It's a handsome, svelte and undeniably powerful device, a set of qualities that is in full show during AndroidHD's 11-minute long video of a day spent in the company of a Tab 10.1. Now, this isn't a hands-on video so much as a commercial made by someone other than Samsung. You can tell Sammy didn't author it because nobody tries to fit this Galaxy Tab inside a pocket. Jump after the break for the ocular feast.

[Thanks, Taylor]

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 showcased on video, doesn't look all that inadequate to us

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 showcased on video, doesn't look all that inadequate to us originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 04:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friday, March 11, 2011

Flash 10.2 beta hits Android Market on March 18th, only supports Honeycomb at release

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/11/flash-10-2-beta-hits-android-market-on-march-18th-only-supports/

Contrary to reports floating about the web, the Motorola Xoom isn't getting Adobe Flash Player 10.2 today -- rather, the tablet is getting updated to support Flash which will actually arrive in one week. Adobe now says that a beta of Flash Player 10.2 will be ready to download from the Android Market on March 18th, supporting only Honeycomb tablets (in other words, just the Xoom) to start, and will eventually be available for Android 2.2 smartphones -- again, contrary to what we'd been told, but we can't really complain on that count. Froyo devices won't get the full battery-friendly Stage Video rendering pipeline and deep browser integration like their Honeycomb tablet brethren, but dual-core phones will reportedly see a performance improvement nonetheless, and there's a new tweak that'll let Flash web apps pull up a virtual keyboard if needed for full functionality. PR after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Flash 10.2 beta hits Android Market on March 18th, only supports Honeycomb at release

Flash 10.2 beta hits Android Market on March 18th, only supports Honeycomb at release originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pop-Up Restaurant Will Sit Atop Famous Buildings and Mountains [Architecture]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/#!5780818/pop+up-restaurant-will-sit-atop-famous-buildings-and-mountains

Swedish appliance giant Electrolux is commissioning a series of restaurants to temporarily sit on top of famous buildings and mountains in Europe. Yes, the idea is insane and no, we have no idea how they got permission to do this.

The Cube is the French Spiderman of fine dining and then some. A pair of pop-up restaurants commissioned by the Swedish appliance giant Electrolux, they're expected to travel across Europe, briefly perching atop famous buildings, monuments, and cliffs; apparently, one of 'em will even settle down in the middle of a lake. And we thought the whole pop-up phenomenon couldn't get any wilder...

Designed by the Italian architects Park Associati, the Cubes will feature a laser-cut aluminum skin, a dining room for 18, and a 538-square-foot terrace that affords stunning views of the surroundings. The first Cube opens April 1 on the arc of the Parc du Cinquantenaire (above). Then it'll move on, along with a companion Cube, to Italy, Russia, Switzerland, and Sweden.

We're dying to know how Electrolux got permission to do this (or who they had to sleep with).

The point? Like most pop-up shops it's a marketing scheme. The kitchen will come equipped with Electrolux appliances, on which chefs will whip up what the press release bills as a "show-cooking service." "Electrolux" will be emblazoned on the wall, if the renderings here are any indication, turning the whole thing into a big, shameless billboard (ick). But with the majestic scenery all around, we reckon people will hardly notice.

[Photos courtesy of Park Associati; hat tip to Frame]

Republished with permission from Fast Co Design

Microsoft's OneVision Video Recognizer can detect, identify, and track your face on video... so smile!

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/11/microsofts-onevision-video-recognizer-can-detect-identify-and/

Here's your classic case of "just because you can, doesn't mean you should." Microsoft's Innovation Labs have just demonstrated a OneVision Video Recognizer algorithm that's powerful enough to perform face detection duties on a running video feed. It can recognize and track humanoid visages even while they're moving, accept tags that allow auto-identification of people as they enter the frame, and can ultimately lead to some highly sophisticated video editing and indexing via its automated information gathering. Of course, it's that very ease with which it can keep a watchful eye on everyone that has us feeling uneasy right now, but what are you gonna do? Watch the video after the break, that's what.

Continue reading Microsoft's OneVision Video Recognizer can detect, identify, and track your face on video... so smile!

Microsoft's OneVision Video Recognizer can detect, identify, and track your face on video... so smile! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 10:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVGA GeForce GTX 460 2Win has 'double the win,' becomes NVIDIA's first dual-Fermi graphics card

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/11/evga-geforce-gtx-460-2win-has-double-the-win-becomes-nvidias/

Why, it was only yesterday that we were eyeballing a dual-GF104 board from Galaxy, presuming it an artifact of a 2010 project that went nowhere, but there's at least one NVIDIA partner that's going to deliver exactly such a creation, and soon at that! EVGA has just set loose the details of a new GTX 460 2Win graphics card, which ticks along at 700MHz, has 672 cumulative CUDA cores served by 2GB of GDDR5, and reportedly collects more 3D Marks than NVIDIA's finest card out at the moment, the GTX 580. The company also gleefully reports that pricing of the 2Win model will be lower than the 580's. It's interesting that NVIDIA is opting for a pair of the older-gen GF104 Fermi chips here, but then again, those have been big winners with critics and price-sensitive gamers alike, with many touting the use of two GTX 460s in SLI as a more sensible solution than the elite single-card options. Well, now you have both, in a manner of speaking. Skip past the break to see EVGA's latest in the flesh.

[Thanks, Ben]

Continue reading EVGA GeForce GTX 460 2Win has 'double the win,' becomes NVIDIA's first dual-Fermi graphics card

EVGA GeForce GTX 460 2Win has 'double the win,' becomes NVIDIA's first dual-Fermi graphics card originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 02:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bridgelux silicon LED could mean bright future for solid state lighting

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/11/bridgelux-silicon-led-could-mean-bright-future-for-solid-state-l/

While Democrats and Republicans squabble over the future of the incandescent light bulb, a Livermore-based company has produced an LED that they claim could lead to brighter, more affordable solid state lighting. By growing gallium nitride on low-cost silicon wafers, as opposed to the typical sapphire and silicon carbide substrates, the company has achieved an output of 135lm/W (lumens per watt) with a color correlated temperature of 4730K-- brighter than any affordable LED lighting solution we've ever seen. Of course, this isn't the first time efficacy of this level has been achieved, and we've yet to see a practical application, but if Bridgelux's numbers are right, this could mean a 75 percent cut in LED production costs. The company expects the technology to make its way to real world lights in the next two to three years -- perhaps by then the furor over pigtail light bulbs will have settled a bit. Enlightening PR after the break.

Continue reading Bridgelux silicon LED could mean bright future for solid state lighting

Bridgelux silicon LED could mean bright future for solid state lighting originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thursday, March 10, 2011

@eMarketer - Inbound Marketing Channels More Cost-Effective - http://bit.ly/hMBsB3

RED EPIC shoots birds at 96fps, no dog needed to retrieve them (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/10/red-epic-shoots-birds-at-96fps-no-dog-needed-to-retrieve-them/

RED EPIC shoots birds at 96fps, no dog needed to retrieve them (video)

Forgive us if we take a moment every now and again to relish in some resolution overload courtesy of a RED EPIC, but we just can't help ourselves. The video below (and picture above) come courtesy of Tom Lowe, who filmed a sequence of birds frolicking in the water at Salton Sea, California, captured at 5K resolution and at 96fps. This gives everything a rather majestic air to it -- though the soundtrack certainly doesn't hurt. Click "play" and enjoy, and then wish that your connection were fast enough to handle an uncompressed 5K video stream.

[Thanks, Tom]

Continue reading RED EPIC shoots birds at 96fps, no dog needed to retrieve them (video)

RED EPIC shoots birds at 96fps, no dog needed to retrieve them (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Clement Valla's Postcards from Google Earth blend 3D with 2D, look freaky

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/10/clement-vallas-postcards-from-google-earth-blend-3d-with-2d-lo/

Clement Valla's Postcards from Google Earth blend 3D with 2D to blow minds

The satellite imagery used in Google Earth is captured in 2D. The terrain that it covers is rendered in 3D. Sometimes those disparate layers don't line up, and sometimes those results can be quite compelling. Artist Clement Valla has collected some of the most striking examples in an online gallery called "Postcards from Google Earth, Bridges." It's 60 images from around the virtual globe, pictures that are occasionally janky, occasionally boring, but often quite moving in a Salvador Dali sort of way. Our favorite is above, but feel free to share yours in comments below.

Clement Valla's Postcards from Google Earth blend 3D with 2D, look freaky originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 09:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Veritas RSIII Roadster Hybrid melds plug-in tech with 600HP

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/09/veritas-rsiii-roadster-hybrid-melds-plug-in-tech-with-600hp/

Veritas RSIII Roadster Hybrid melds technology with 600hp of muscle

It isn't exactly the hottest hybrid we've ever seen, Porsche's ludicrous 918 RSR still takes that crown, but the Veritas RSIII Roadster Hybrid is certainly no wheezy commuter. It's a tiny, open-topped racer that features a 507HP V10 from BMW that's been paired with a 105kW motor to spin the front wheels. It's much the same arrangement of the Porsche, again relying on a KERS flywheel to generate electricity that's stored in a Li-ion battery pack, which can also be charged separately. The car can actually limp around for up to 31 miles powered by just that front motor, but when both sources of thrust are called upon the sled gets to 62MPH in 3.1 seconds, as fast as a 911 Turbo S, and it'll keep on going until the speedo hits 205 -- or the car hits something immovable. No word on price or availability, but there is a version with a roof coming this summer, and a fully-electric model due in 2013.

Veritas RSIII Roadster Hybrid melds plug-in tech with 600HP originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 18:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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