Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Games at Google revealed in job posting, takes a stab at social gaming

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/games-at-google-revealed-in-job-posting-takes-a-stab-at-social/

Games at Google

Well, one of the few remaining sectors that Google has yet to conquer, gaming, will be Big G free no longer. The tech giant is looking for a product manager to man a new property called Games at Google. Obviously, with just a job posting to work with, details are scant, but we can tell you that the gaming platform will boast some social features -- an area where the Goog has struggled mightily. What don't we know? Just about anything else. Will it be a Game Center-like feature for Android phones? Or, perhaps, a web-gaming outlet for Chrome built with help from the folks at Zynga, who Google quietly partnered with back in the summer of oh-ten. Regardless, we're waiting with bated breath to find out when and where we'll be able to order hits in Mafia Wars next.

Games at Google revealed in job posting, takes a stab at social gaming originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon's 'DataGate' plans leaked in excruciating detail

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/edit-verizons-datagate-plans-leaked-in-excruciating-detail/

With each and every passing day, the rumors surrounding Verizon's new "usage plans" are getting tougher to ignore. It's only been two days since we initially heard Big Red was ready to ride its unlimited data plans into the sunset in favor of switching to a newer, more usage-friendly model, and the leaks continue to flood in. This go-round, very official-looking docs that offer up a whole slew of details are in the open air. Many of the details echo what we've heard before: the data plans are the same price, starting at $30 for 2GB and working up to increments of 5GB for $50 and 10GB for $80; mobile hotspot access is an additional $20 and you'll get hooked up with an extra pair of gigs; finally, going over these allotments will cost you $10 per GB.

As rumored yesterday, all customers grandfathered into the unlimited monthly data will be allowed to keep it, even when upgrading to new phones. Business discounts, currently applied to the limitless plans, would now only apply to primary lines that are willing to fork out $50 or more; however, the wording did not indicate whether or not those grandfathered in would still receive those same benefits. More leaked docs can be found after the break, so grab some lunch and find your favorite chair -- you'll need 'em.

Continue reading Verizon's 'DataGate' plans leaked in excruciating detail

Verizon's 'DataGate' plans leaked in excruciating detail originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lytro Is a Focus-Free Camera That Will Change How You Take Pictures Forever [Cameras]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5814337/lytro-is-a-focus+free-camera-that-will-change-how-you-take-pictures

The digital camera market is about to be turn upside by a young Stanford Ph.D named Ren Ng. Ng is the brainchild behind the Lytro camera which lets you take pictures without focusing. The technology is mind-bending. Mind-blowing. Wow.

The Lytro is a light field camera which is much different than your standard digital shooter. It doesn't capture one angle, one lighting effect or one focus plane. It captures everything, all at once, in one photo. The image can then be manipulated to change the focus from an item in the foreground to an item in the background on the fly. The camera is targeted for an end of the year launch and could cost under $500 if Ng can pull it all together.

You can check out a demo of the Lytro technology below. Click on different parts of the image and prepare yourself to be impressed. [Lytro, TechCrunch and Mashable]

Swatch Straps a Third Eye Onto Wrists [Watches]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5814353/swatch-straps-a-third-eye-onto-wrists

For their latest range of cheap plastic watches, Swatch enlisted legendary fashion photographer Rankin to snap high-res photos of variously-colored irises, which look almost like the swirling milky-way close-up. On sale now, they cost $61/£38. [Swatch via Sub-Studio]

Tilera's new 100-core CPU elbows its way to the cloud, face-melt still included

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/21/tileras-new-100-core-cpu-elbows-its-way-to-the-cloud-face-melt/

Hundred core chips might not be breaking news -- especially if the company announcing it is Tilera -- but what if that new multi-core CPU drew an insanely lower wattage and set its sights on powering a few cloud server farms? Well, that's exactly what chip maker Tilera has up its silicon sleeve. "Co-developed with the world's leading cloud computing companies" -- take a guess who that might include -- the new 64-bit TileGx-3100 clocks in at up to 1.5GHz while sucking down a lighter 48W. Line that up next to the current cloud favorite, Intel's Xeon, and your power consumption is slashed nearly in half. Of course, the barrier to entry is high for the nascent chip developer since most code written is for the x86 -- requiring a whole new set of instructions for data centers to play nice. Expect to see this face-melting monster sometime early 2012, by which time, you'll probably have your 50,000 strong music library synced to the cloud.

Tilera's new 100-core CPU elbows its way to the cloud, face-melt still included originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 22:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DisplayPort 1.2 adds active cable support: brings longer cords, more logos

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/displayport-1-2-adds-active-cable-support-brings-longer-cords/

It's been a while since we've heard anything from the VESA folks, so it was a pleasant surprise when the organization hit our inbox with a bit of PR announcing an update to the DisplayPort 1.2 standard. New active cables being introduced will allow video connections to stretch up 100 feet -- five times that of the old-school, passive variety -- and use thinner gauge wire for more flexible cords. The one kink is that the cables are directional, though, a new logo (above) should help minimize confusion over which end gets jacked into the source and which feeds your TV. Not that we're complaining about longer, thinner cables but, it sure would be nice if we could cover those 33 meters without making our apartment look like a data center - how's that wireless DisplayPort coming along?

Continue reading DisplayPort 1.2 adds active cable support: brings longer cords, more logos

DisplayPort 1.2 adds active cable support: brings longer cords, more logos originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zipcar Android app sheds the beta, late-night driverless honking to increase

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/zipcar-android-app-sheds-the-beta-late-night-driverless-honking/

It may have happened to you before -- you're walking down the street somewhere on a balmy summer night when, out of nowhere, the empty car next to you honks its horn and you spit your skeleton right outta that purty mouth. Yeah, you have Zipcar to blame for that. Ever since the introduction of its iOS app back in 2009, users have been able to reserve a car on-the-go, and freak out unwitting pedestrians. Now Android users get to join the party -- officially. While the apps' market availability is nothing new, the recent shucking of its beta tag and some UI enhancements make this coming out party noteworthy. There's a good reason Time Magazine named it one of the "50 best iPhone Apps in 2011." Also, wireless honking -- in case you forgot.

Continue reading Zipcar Android app sheds the beta, late-night driverless honking to increase

Zipcar Android app sheds the beta, late-night driverless honking to increase originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best Buy puts your music in the cloud, goes where others have gone before

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/best-buy-puts-your-music-in-the-cloud-goes-where-others-have-go/

Google, Amazon, and Apple have been hogging the headlines when it comes to storing your tunes in the internet ether. That doesn't mean there isn't room for another musically inclined cloud contender -- or at least, that's how Best Buy sees things. The big blue box has rolled out its aptly (if uncreatively) named Music Cloud service that lets you upload your audio to its servers and stream it wherever you go. You can also save songs locally, plus there are apps for Androids, Blackberrys, and iPhones to manage and play your music. There are two flavors of Music Cloud, Lite and Premium. The former is free, while the latter costs $3.99 a month, though Best Buy hasn't said what the difference is (other than price) between the two. The catch? It's currently only capable of grabbing songs from iTunes, so no uploading from file folders. Let's hope that's only a temporary problem.

Best Buy puts your music in the cloud, goes where others have gone before originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 01:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Amazon tablet with TI processor shipping as early as August?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/amazon-tablet-with-ti-processor-shipping-as-early-as-august/

For months now, DigiTimes has been fueling rumors of Amazon's first foray into the LCD tablet market. Today it ratchets up the specificity with sometimes contradictory claims that Quanta Computer will be responsible for assembling the tablet with a supposed TI (not NVIDIA) processor and Wintek (not EIH) touch panel among its components. According to DigiTimes, Amazon hopes to move some four million units in 2011 alone with plans to launch the new tablet as soon as August. Possible? Sure, likely even. But we'll wait for Bezos to sing before updating our holiday shopping lists.

Amazon tablet with TI processor shipping as early as August? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 01:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google working on video chat for Chrome, Skype cowers in fear

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/google-working-on-video-chat-for-chrome-skype-cowers-in-fear/

Watch out Skype, Google Chrome is comin' for ya. Not long after releasing WebRTC audio and video chat software as open-source, Google has started to integrate these capabilities into its prized browser. Looking to move past the played out features of Gmail and Google Voice, the company is planning for WebRTC to be a frontrunner for video conferencing and online chatting. The software was introduced as royalty-free, too, even promising to work with other browsers devs (namely Mozilla and Opera) to flesh out the project. This means that anyone building a site can make use of the new tech, and in theory, construct their own personal Skype battering ram. With the company being pro-web apps on all fronts, this is another step forward in its quest to bring the aforementioned technology up to par with native apps. Is this one of many dominoes to fall in the web-based app takeover, at least in terms of Chrome OS? It very well could be, especially if companies would rather see the traffic in-browser vs. within a native app. Now, if only Instagram could make use of that dusty webcam...

Filed under: Software

Google working on video chat for Chrome, Skype cowers in fear originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 04:33:00 EDT. Please ! see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia claims N9 is 'the fastest image-capturing phone' yet

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/nokia-claims-n9-is-the-fastest-image-capturing-phone-yet/

We've already established that the N9 is a delight of a phone, both inside and out, but our hands-on time with Nokia's new flagship gave us only a brief look at its camera performance. Now the company is graciously filling that gap in our knowledge with some further disclosure about its new 8 megapixel imager, including the lofty claim that the N9 is the fastest phone yet when it comes to capturing an image -- ousting the likes of the iPhone 4, the Galaxy S II, and even the Canon S95, perhaps the best pocket camera around at the moment. Measuring the time taken from activating the camera app to the completion of the first shot, the N9 clocks in at 2.6 seconds, whereas Apple's latest does it in 3 seconds and Samsung's takes a split second more. Aside from its speed, the N9 has Carl Zeiss optics, a wide F2.2 max aperture, dual-LED flash, continuous autofocus, and a 720/30p video mode to boast about, but the benefits of those items will need to be experienced first hand. So Nokia, when are you shipping this thing?

Nokia claims N9 is 'the fastest image-capturing phone' yet originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 05:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola Xoom gets Android 3.1 update that activates microSD card support outside the US

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/motorola-xooms-in-android-3-1-update-that-activates-microsd-card/

You know that microSD card slot that's been laying dormant in your Motorola Xoom? Provided you don't reside in the US, that'll be getting activated soon as part of the tablet's Android 3.1 update, which is starting to roll out now and should have all of Europe covered within the next few weeks. Motorola explicitly identifies this as a firmware update for "non-US" Xooms, so Canadians would be well advised to check their software update utility, though the big question is why didn't the American 3.1 update include microSD support as well? What tangled web of intrigue lies behind this selective activation?

[Thanks, Alan]

Motorola Xoom gets Android 3.1 update that activates microSD card support outside the US originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 06:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung reveals 'premium accessory suite' for Galaxy Tab 10.1, includes premium prices

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/samsung-reveals-premium-accessory-suite-for-galaxy-tab-10-1-i/

Loving your Galaxy Tab 10.1 but just itching for some accessories? Samsung knows you are, and today helpfully unveiled a "premium accessory suite" to soothe your jones for both add-ons and premium prices. The collection (parts of which appeared earlier on Sammy's German site) includes a full-size keyboard dock ($70) and a multimedia dock ($35) enabling HDMI pass-through - you can have Tab video on your TV, as long as you buy the separate HDTV adapter ($30). You have your choice of cases, as well: a book cover model ($60) you can leave on while using the tablet, or a leather pouch edition ($30) that is, you guessed it, a leather pouch. A few miscellaneous items round out the collection, including various chargers, a conductive stylus and the already-released USB adapter. The company also promises a Bluetooth keyboard and SD card adapter to come "mid-summer," just in time to ease your next bout of premium-accessory fever.

Continue reading Samsung reveals 'premium accessory suite' for Galaxy Tab 10.1, includes premium prices

Samsung reveals 'premium accessory suite' for Galaxy Tab 10.1, includes premium prices originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 06:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FL Studio Mobile lands on iOS, more indie rap albums to be produced while commuting

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/fl-studio-mobile-lands-on-ios-more-indie-rap-albums-to-be-produ/

FL Studio Mobile HD

Dream no longer friends, FL Studio Mobile is here for your iOS device of choice. The iPhone and iPod touch version is being offered for $15, while the more expansive HD edition for the iPad is fetching $20 -- but both will see their price climb another $5 after the introductory sale is over. As mentioned you'll be able to pass project files back and forth between the desktop and mobile apps, though the iDevices lack support (and the muscle power) for VST instruments. It also appears the scope of the sequencer had to be scaled back from 128 tracks to 99, but that should be more than enough to keep you tapping out beats like 9th Wonder while riding the train. Hit up the source links to download the portable production suite and check out the gallery below.

Gallery: FL Studio Mobile and FL Studio Mobile HD

FL Studio Mobile lands on iOS, more indie rap albums to be produced while commuting originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 07:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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G-Technology's G-Connect offers 500GB of wireless storage, portable WiFi network to smartphone, tablet users

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/g-technologys-g-connect-offers-500gb-of-wireless-storage-porta/

Hitachi's G-Technology unit has already showered us with a slew of external hard drives, but it's taking a slightly more hybridized approach with the G-Connect -- a device that offers both wireless storage and portable WiFi access to smartphone and tablet users. Designed with nomadic content-hoarders in mind, this little rascal boasts 500GB of mobile storage, can simultaneously support more than five different devices on its 802.11n wireless network, and, when connected via Ethernet, serves as a WiFi access point. It's also robust enough to stream up to five standard-definition movies at one time (or up to three HD flicks), and, at about 9.7 ounces, it won't add too much weight to your quiver of gadgets, either. If you're worried about security, you can surround the network with a password-protected fortress, or store some of your less mentionable content in your very own private folder. iOS users can further enhance their G-experience by downloading the accompanying app, which will allow them to view and access all of their G-stored documents and media from the comfort of their iDevices (an equivalent app for the Android crowd will launch this fall). If you're interested, you can pre-order the G-Connect from G-Technology's website for $200, or wait until it hits retailers next month. Full PR past the break.

Gallery: G-Technology G-Connect

Continue reading G-Technology's G-Connect offers 500GB of wireless storage, portable WiFi network to smartphone, tablet users

G-Technology's G-Connect offers 500GB of wireless storage, portable WiFi network to smartphone, tablet users originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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