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Friday, July 15, 2011

Apple considering TSMC mobile chips?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/15/apple-considering-tsmc-mobile-chips/

We hope you're ready for a heaping helping of Apple speculation, because Reuters is serving up a nice big slice of rumor pie today. According to the ever-present "source with knowledge of the matter," Taiwanese chipmaker, TSMC is gearing up to supply Apple with its next generation mobile processors. According to the apparently credible anonymous source, TSMC has already begun trial manufacturing on the chips and "has got all the authorization and details ready." As you may already know, Apple's current supplier of its A5 CPU is Samsung, and relations between the two have been rocky (at least in court). This round of speculation also comes just one year after TSMC began construction on its new $9.3 billion foundry, and teamed up with ARM -- the brains behind the A5. Of course all parties have declined to comment, which lands this report squarely in the grapevine for now, but we'll keep you posted if it winds its way into reality.

Apple considering TSMC mobile chips? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Store to expand retail presence by 2014, makes shopping for a PC redundant

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/15/microsoft-store-to-expand-retail-presence-by-2014-makes-shoppin/

Microsoft really wants to hang with the cool kids at the mall. Or, at least park its retail derriere next to the likes of Apple's sleek boutiques -- to the tally of 86 stores by 2014. We know most of you are scratching your heads thinking, "Microsoft store? Don't you mean Best Buy?" Aye, but we don't. The MS-branded outfits started cropping up in 2009 and with 11 locations already dotting our map, COO Kevin Turner hopes to plant some more Windows flags in California, Florida and most of the northeast. Comments regarding the Ballmer-led company's retail expansion came during the 2011 Worldwide Partner Conference and centered mostly on the benefits of customer feedback. It sure is nice to see the former market monopolist catering to us plebes, but we're more interested in the D-list stars and awkward dancing destined to accompany opening ceremonies.

Microsoft Store to expand retail presence by 2014, makes shopping for a PC redundant originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Arduino delivers Android and Ethernet toys for all the good little DIYers

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/15/arduino-delivers-android-and-ethernet-toys-for-all-the-good-litt/

Adruino Ethernet

It's like Christmas in July Arduino fans. The Italian open-source hardware platform just scored a number of new add-ons and a pair of fresh iterations that are sure to keep you tinkering and hacking for some time. First up is the Arduino Ethernet -- which, as you may have guessed -- sports an onboard Ethernet jack. You'll probably want to pick up a USB Serial Adapter to program the ATmega328 chip but, once you've loaded your code, it can be hooked up to the web without the need for a Ethernet shield -- and an optional PoE (Power over Ethernet) module means you'll only need one cable for all you net-connected projects. The DIY scene's favorite microcontroller was also blessed with the new Arduino ADK board, a take on Google's accessory development platform. And, if you're not sure where to get started, you can pick up an entire kit for €249 (about $352) that includes not only the ADK board, but a huge pile of sensors and components, and the Mega Sensor Shield to arrange them on. The ADK alone will run you €59 ($83), while the Arduino Ethernet costs €39.90 ($56) with an additional €14.90 ($21) for the PoE module. Can you say a synonym for awesome?

Continue reading Arduino delivers Android and Ethernet toys for all the good little DIYers

Arduino delivers Android and Ethernet toys for all the good little DIYers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ITC finds HTC guilty of infringing two of Apple's patents, appeal expected in 3... 2...

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/15/itc-finds-htc-guilty-of-infringing-two-of-apples-patents-appea/

Talk about a sting to start the weekend. The International Trade Commission has just made an initial determination in the ongoing patent infringement case between HTC and Apple (not to be confused with yet another, similar case involving Apple and Samsung), and it's not looking great for HTC. The judge ruled that HTC had infringed on two of the ten patents in question, and if this ends up flushing through, it's possible that select HTC products would be banned from ever arriving in the US. More likely, however, is a settlement between the two at war, with HTC forking out untold quantities of greenbacks in exchange for Apple backing away from the blockade trigger. Naturally, HTC's already saying that it'll appeal the ruling, while Cupertino's legal team is remaining mum. And, you know, grinning slyly.

ITC finds HTC guilty of infringing two of Apple's patents, appeal expected in 3... 2... originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Make an Awesome Lamp Out of Plastic Cups [DIY]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5820515/make-an-awesome-lamp-out-of-plastic-cups

Having recently moved into an apartment with far less built-in lighting, I've come to find that lamps are pretty useful when you want to actually see indoors. Lamps can be pricy, ugly, or both, however, but Bit of Green has a neat solution to this problem: plastic cups and staples.

Basically, you need 250 cups and 600-700 staples to create a cup sphere (as you see pictured above). Once you've managed to put together your 250 cup combo ball you just need a lamp socket, cord, and plug. Stick that in the middle and you've got an awesome lamp. (Just be sure to use a bulb that doesn't get too hot. You are dealing with plastic after all).

Want the full instructions? Go check out this project over on Bit of Green.

Crafts :: Plastic Cup Lamp | A Bit of Green via Curbly

You can follow Adam Dachis, the author of this post, on Twitter and Facebook. Twitter's the best way to contact him, too.

Smart Converter Is A Free, Easy-To-Use Audio and Video File Converter [Video]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5820647/smart-converter-is-a-free-easy+to+use-audio-and-video-file-converter

Mac: There are plenty of file conversion utilities for the Mac, but Smart Converter is probably the easiest. Simply drag your file onto the window, select the destination device, and click convert. Smart Converter handles the rest.

The app will automatically convert your files to the format required for the destination device. If you're not sure whether your file needs to be converted, or if you have a video where the audio needs conversion but the video does not, Smart Converter will do it.

The app relies on ffmpeg for audio and video conversions, but there's something to be said for its simple interface and ease of use. How do you convert video when moving it to multiple devices? Share your tips in the comments.

Smart Converter | Shedworx via AddictiveTips

You can reach Alan Henry, the author of this post, at alan@lifehacker.com, or better yet, follow him on Twitter.

Sleeping in an Underwater Bedroom Would Be Amazing [Architecture]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5820721/sleeping-in-an-underwater-bedroom-would-be-amazing

The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island Hotel in the Indian Ocean has a stunning undersea restaurant. To celebrate its 5th anniversary, the hotel turned the restaurant into a private bedroom for two with a fancy champagne dinner and breakfast in bed.

And it gets even better. The bedroom lies 16-feet below the water and is enclosed by a clear glass window. It's a semi-circle so you have a stunning 180-degree view of the local marine life and nearby coral reef. Yeah, it's probably expensive, but think of all the memories you will make. Ooh la la. [My Modern Met]

You can keep up with Kelly Hodgkins, the author of this post, on Twitter or Facebook.

Google Won't Let Ex-Employee Release Book Called Social Circles [Google]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5820740/google-wont-let-ex+employee-release-book-called-social-circles

What follows is the awkward tale of Paul Adams's (ex-UX Researcher guy at Google-turned-Facebook advertising product manager) Social Circles research book, which he wrote while working for Google. Research which contributed directly to Google+, particularly its friends groups.

Having joined Facebook in January some seven months before the launch of Google+, you can imagine he was both anticipating and dreading the launch of his pet project. Now describing the launch being like "bumping into an ex-girlfriend," Adams' obviously keen to finally launch his book—only trouble is, Google isn't. Supposedly the big G gave Adams the thumb's up in June last year, telling him to publish Social Circles—this was before he left Google, and before work on Google+ began. But since then, Google's asked Adams to wait until after the launch before publishing the book—and now, they're trying to block him from publishing his work at all.

Fair enough that a lot of workplaces have clauses written into employees' contracts about any work done whilst on the payroll is owned by that employer, but you'd think a book about social-networking—a book which is practically a puff-piece for Google's own service!—would be fully supported by them.

Adams has said that "the book contains no proprietary information, it is based almost entirely on research from 3rd parties (mostly universities) and any Google research referenced is already in the public domain," so it's not like he's divulging secrets or anything.

Having written up a lengthy blog-post about the situation, Adams sums up that "the industry needed this book...the irony that Google is blocking this endeavor is not lost on me." He is now working on a new book called Grouped, which he promises will be out soon. [Paul Adams via TechCrunch]

Sensor-Laden Gloves Help Songstresses Make Music From Thin Air [Music]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5820751/sensor+laden-gloves-help-songstresses-make-music-from-thin-air

Developed specially for the musician Imogen Heap, these gloves are equipped with an accelerometer, magnetometer, gyroscope, wireless mics and a bunch of other sensors. Performing at the TEDGlobal stage yesterday, she made music using just her hands.

Instead of strumming a guitar or banging the drums, she created loops by simply opening her hand, or shifted volume by opening or closing her arms. Inspired by prototypes at MIT, Heap worked on the gloves with a team at the University of West England, and will be using the gloves for future performances, so hopefully more than just TED nerdlingers can experience the singer walking on stage and playing an entire concert using just her voice and hands. [Mashable and BBC]

Now's Your Chance To Buy a Bionic Camera Eye For a Lady [Cameras]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5820839/nows-your-chance-to-buy-a-bionic-camera-eye-for-a-lady

After a close encounter with Death's sickle during a car accident in 2005, Tanya Vlach lost her left eyeball. Not content with any old prosthetic replacement, she wants the Kickstarter community to fund a totally Terminator-style cyborg eyeball.

Having appealed to WIRED magazine founder Kevin Kelly, engineers flocked to her call for ideas, and provided her with a list of features she should be looking for. Well, if you're going to kit out your body with a high-tech bionic eye, you may as well aim high, right? Personally, I'd love to be able to take geotagged photo simply by blinking my eye, or to capture 720p video on the fly.

Hoping to raise $15,000 for her new eye, Vlach has already received over $5,000 worth of funding from supportive fans. And if you happen to stump up five grand, you'll be awarded with your very own souvenir bionic eyeball. You know...just in case. [Kickstarter via LA Times]

MIT researchers revolutionize solar cell printing, fold the power of the sun into your everyday home (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/12/mit-researchers-revolutionize-solar-cell-printing-fold-the-powe/

Wouldn't it be neat if you could power a few gadgets around the house with some tastefully chosen, solar cell-embedded curtains? Alright, so this MIT-pioneered tech's not quite that advanced yet, but it's destined to have a Martha Stewart Living future. By eschewing liquids and high temperatures for gentler vapors kept below 120 degrees Celsius, researchers were able to cheaply print an array of photovoltaic cells on "ordinary untreated paper, cloth or plastic." And here's some additional food for thought -- the vapor-deposition process used to create these cells is the same as the one that puts that "silvery lining in your bag of potato chips" -- science, it's everywhere. Despite the tech's home furnishing friendly approach, this breakthrough printing technique can't be done with your everyday inkjet, but it will make the cost of solar energy installations a bit cozier. Its flexible durability aside, the cells currently operate at only one percent efficiency -- so you might want to buy those drapes in bulk to see a real bottom line kickback. Foldable paper video demonstration after the break.

Continue reading MIT researchers revolutionize solar cell printing, fold the power of the sun into your everyday home (video)

MIT researchers revolutionize solar cell printing, fold the power of the sun into your everyday home (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 23:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for! use of feeds.

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Report: Touchscreen demand to grow by 90-percent, led by mobile, tablet markets

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/13/report-touchscreen-demand-to-grow-by-90-percent-led-by-mobile/

This just in: people really like touchscreens, and their tastes aren't going to change anytime soon. That's the takeaway from a new report from market research firm DisplaySearch, which predicts that revenue from touch panel sales will hit the $13.4 billion mark by the end of this year, before soaring to nearly $24 billion by 2017. Shipments of capacitive touch displays, in particular, are expected to increase by 100-percent over last year, accounting for a full 70-percent of all tactile revenues. The mobile market still accounts for most of this industry-wide growth, but demand for touch-based tablets is accelerating considerably, with more than 72 million panels expected to ship this year, and 100 million projected in 2012. Jonesing for more numbers? Better gallop past the break to get your hands on the full PR.

Continue reading Report: Touchscreen demand to grow by 90-percent, led by mobile, tablet markets

Report: Touchscreen demand to grow by 90-percent, led by mobile, tablet markets originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 06:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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T-Mobile brings 42Mbps HSPA+ to 56 new markets, now tops 150 locales

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/13/t-mobile-brings-42mbps-hspa-to-56-new-markets-now-tops-150-loc/

True to its promise of bringing 42Mbps service to 150 million Americans by mid-year, T-Mobile will double its 4G speed in 56 additional markets today -- thereby surpassing its self-imposed goal (and leaving the door open for greater ambitions). Of course, the Category 20 Rocket 3.0 USB modem is currently the only way to experience this brisk performance, but the magenta-clad carrier seems intent to bring a 42Mbps HSDPA smartphone to market by year's end, or much sooner. Cities such as Ann Arbor, Baltimore, Boise, Boston, Charlotte, Hartford, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, and Washington D.C., may count themselves among the fortunate, where T-Mo-packing citizens should benefit from the network's newly increased capacity and reliability, whether or not they're wielding ZTE's stick. A complete list of cities is included in the PR just beyond the break.

Continue reading T-Mobile brings 42Mbps HSPA+ to 56 new markets, now tops 150 locales

T-Mobile brings 42Mbps HSPA+ to 56 new markets, now tops 150 locales originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 06:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lenovo IdeaPad K1 begins shipment odyssey, courtesy of Office Depot

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/13/lenovo-ideapad-k1-begins-shipment-odyssey-courtesy-of-office-de/

The IdeaPad K1's long, crazy journey of near-availability looks to finally be at an end. Lenovo's ethereal Honeycomb tablet has been popping up in online retail sites since May, teasing us with availability in June, and finally offering the promise of pre-order earlier this month. It seems that the plucky 10.1 inch Tegra 2 slate has taken the final step separating itself from the hands of consumers: getting sent out for shipment. One tipster passed along shipping confirmation from Office Depot that has the device lined up for delivery today -- assuming, of course that the recipient is there to answer the door in the eight and a half hour delivery window provided.

[Thanks, Dan]

Lenovo IdeaPad K1 begins shipment odyssey, courtesy of Office Depot originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 09:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nioncom's pico projector-equipped mini-tablet gets demoed on video

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/13/nioncoms-pico-projector-equipped-mini-tablet-gets-demoed-on-vid/

Niocom's mini-tablet

So, Nioncom still hasn't gotten its MemoryKick Vision out the door yet (the company has pushed availability in the the second half of 2011), but the pico projector-equipped "mini-tablet" is still alive... even if it's not so well. The folks at Picopros got their hands on a prototype unit from the company, though, what they manhandled wasn't exactly the Vision. Instead, they fooled around with reference design that sported a smaller screen (3.5-inches versus 4.3) and 4GB of flash storage in place of the 500GB hard drive -- otherwise the two are identical from a hardware perspective. So, while this is certainly a step in the right direction from the renders, you'll forgive us for not remaining a tad skeptical about about its supposed, upcoming release. Check out the slew of videos after the break, and hit up the source link for the complete impressions.

Continue reading Nioncom's pico projector-equipped mini-tablet gets demoed on video

Nioncom's pico projector-equipped mini-tablet gets demoed on video originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 10:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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