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Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Android App Inventor Will Live On At MIT [Android]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5831566/android-app-inventor-will-live-on-at-mit

Last week, we shared the news that Google's Android App Inventor was being shelved, despite its popularity as an educational tool. Last week's bad news is this week's good news as App Inventor has found a new home at MIT.

Using a gift from Google, MIT will be opening a new Center for Mobile Learning and its first project will be App Inventor. After a short stint in the hands of Google, the WYSIWYG development platform is now returning to its roots. The original App Inventor was created by Google with the help of MIT Professor Hal Abelson who designed it to be an easy-to-learn development platform.

Now that App Inventor is back in the hands of its creators, hopefully, the development platform will receive the attention it needs to develop into an even more valuable learning tool for budding programmers. [Hack Education]

How Researchers Fit a Blu-Ray of Data Onto a Millimeter of Glass [Memory]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5831590/how-researchers-fit-a-blu+ray-of-data-onto-a-millimeter-of-glass

Researchers at Southampton University have devised a way to bend light passing through a glass wafer so it can store and read 50GB of data in the same way that fiber optic cable does.

The process uses minuscule dots called voxels etched in the molecular structure of pure silica glass that bend light to store information (the light itself changes direction as it passes through one depending on the light's polarization orientation.) The data can then be wiped and rewritten by re-etching the voxels.

Glass has a lot of advantages over other non-volatile memory. In particular, it can withstand temperatures up to 1800F and, since the etchings are located within the structure of the glass itself, the information lasts quite literally forever with no noticeable data degradation.

As research team member, Martynas Beresna, said:

We have developed this memory which means data can be stored on the glass and last forever. It could become a very stable and safe form of portable memory. It could be very useful for organizations with big archives. At the moment companies have to back up their archives every five to ten years because hard-drive memory has a relatively short lifespan.

Other uses include cheaper and more compact medical imaging, precise manipulation of atom-sized objects, and even high-resolution imaging far beyond what we see today. Great, now I have to copy my CD's—yet again—to a new format. But hey, should be the last time, right?

[The Engineer via Daily Mail]

You can keep up with Andrew Tarantola, the author of this post, on Twitter, Facebook, or Google+.

Enable Google Maps' Awesome "Bubble Buttons" Lab for Quicker Calling and Navigation [Updates]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5831665/enable-google-maps-awesome-bubble-buttons-lab-for-quicker-calling-and-navigation

Google Maps for Android just updated with an awesome "Bubble Buttons" feature that adds phone call and navigation buttons to map results. Here's how to enable it.

Make sure you're running the latest version of Google Maps for Android, then go to Menu > More > Labs. Scroll down to "Bubble Buttons" and tap it to turn it on. Now, whenever you search for a location in Maps, you'll have the option to call them or navigate there right on the main map page, severely reducing the number of taps it takes to perform either action. Head to the Android Market to update your version of Maps and try it out for yourself.

Google Maps | Android Market

You can contact Whitson Gordon, the author of this post, at whitson@lifehacker.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.

Why Do We Judge Some Areas as Being Safer Than Others? [StreetView]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5831668/why-do-we-judge-some-areas-as-being-safer-than-others

This interesting project, borne from MIT's Media Labs, juxtaposes two images from Google Streetview, and asks subjective questions such as "which place looks safer?" and "which place looks more upper-class?" But why does MIT want to know?

In their own words, "Place Pulse is a website that allows anybody to quickly run a perception study and visualize the results in powerful ways." They hope to gather over a million votes, which could help them gather geotagged images into powerful groups, such as which area in New York City is deemed to look the safest.

Inspired by Kevin Lynch's book The Image of the City, which published in 1960 and focuses on urban planning and how people perceive their surroundings, MIT hopes to make more sense of why we think the way we think. Once all of the information has been collated, the team of researchers will organize the data into graphs and present it in their report, but until then you can see a small taste of their results here. [Place Pulse]

Samsung Promising Twice The Speed in New SSDs [Hard Drives]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5831622/samsung-promising-twice-the-speed-in-new-ssds

Sammy just took the lid off of a set of new solid state drives that promise a significant speed boost from their already peppy previous line of SSDs. They look good enough to eat.

The new 830 series will utilize SATA Revision 3.0 technology, which will give it potential speeds a face-melting 6 gigabits per second. This effectively doubles the speed of Samsung's previous drives, the SSD 470 series. Other than the speed boost and some gussied up looks there's not much different, but who cares? To quote the movie Jerry Maguire, "You had me at 'twice as fast.'"

The drives will be available this October in capacities of 64, 128, 256 and 512GB. They can fit in 2.5 inch or 3.5 inch drive bays, and you can get an adaptor kit so it can be used via USB. No word on pricing yet.

You can keep up with Brent Rose, the author of this post, on Google+ or Twitter.

Fusion Garage Grid 10 tablet and Grid 4 smartphone hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/16/hands-on-with-fusion-garages-grid-10-tablet-and-grid-4-smartpho/

Yesterday we gave you the lowdown on Fusion Garage's second foray into tablet computing, the Grid 10. While its tablet world topping pixel density, Tegra 2 silicon, and fresh to death OS certainly sound awesome, we had to get our grubby mitts on one to see if it's as good as its spec sheet would have us believe. So, is the JooJoo's successor a superior slate, or is it destined to disappoint like its elder sibling? Read on past the break to find out.

Gallery: Fusion Garage Grid 10 and Grid 4 hands on

Continue reading Fusion Garage Grid 10 tablet and Grid 4 smartphone hands-on

Fusion Garage Grid 10 tablet and Grid 4 smartphone hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Catalogs iPad app digitizes catalogs, no more coasters

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/16/google-catalogs-ipad-app-digitizes-catalogs-no-more-coasters/

We all know what catalogs are good for: starting fires in the fireplace, light reading in waiting rooms and makeshift placemats. Oddly, Google has decided to take these perfectly useful glossy dead trees away from us with the introduction of Google Catalogs, a free iPad app. Like most shopping apps, users can zoom in, learn more and purchase products through a company's website, but this one adds a slick little twist: collages. Put together a particularly sweet L.L. Bean ensemble and want to share it with Mom? No glue stick or scissors required. Check out the video after the break.

Continue reading Google Catalogs iPad app digitizes catalogs, no more coasters

Google Catalogs iPad app digitizes catalogs, no more coasters originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Official Google Blog | source

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Tesla Model S and Roadster play nice on video

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/16/tesla-model-s-and-roadster-play-nice-on-video/

Tesla Family Portrait

Vroooooom.... well, more accurately, shhhhhhh. That's a Tesla Model S and its sibling the Roadster (looking rather dashing in red, we might add) above, carving corners together as a family. What actual news do we have about these "premium electric vehicles?" None, we just thought this clip (after the break) of the two sleek EVs working their way around a closed desert track was pretty darned cool. The Model S and Roadster have posed for family portraits before, but this is the first time we've seen them play nice on video. You know the deal, head on after the break for all the battery-powered, four-wheel madness your little geek heart can handle.

[Thanks, nunomaia]

Continue reading Tesla Model S and Roadster play nice on video

Tesla Model S and Roadster play nice on video originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ADATA's SH14 hard drive packs a stylish yet rugged punch

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/16/adatas-sh14-hard-drive-packs-a-stylish-yet-rugged-punch/

Always thought ruggedized storage had to look tough and utilitarian? Think again, because ADATA's latest looks more like a fashionable disco-futon than the outwardly brawny externals we're used to. Buried somewhere under all that style is a 2.5-inch, 5400RPM drive that's IPX4 water-resistant and "military grade shockproof." It'll come in red or black and in 500GB, 750GB or 1TB capacities, which'll set you back €59.90, €71.90 or €92.90, respectively. The chic but virile drives also tote USB 3.0, equating to a relatively speedy 90MB/s transfer rate. No word on pricing for yanks yet, but they'll probably show up before long at the "select agents and distributors" at the source below.

Continue reading ADATA's SH14 hard drive packs a stylish yet rugged punch

ADATA's SH14 hard drive packs a stylish yet rugged punch originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorola's new Droid HD makes cameo alongside Droid Bionic

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/17/motorolas-new-droid-hd-makes-cameo-alongside-droid-bionic/

We've just received a fascinating set of photos from a sharp-eyed tipster, who sent along images of what appear to be Motorola's Droid Bionic and, most alluringly, that rumored handset known as the Droid HD (pictured above). This isn't the first time we've seen leaked images of the Bionic in the wild, but these shots are certainly a lot clearer than any others we've come across. Still, there aren't too many surprises here, with the global-capable handset boasting a TI OMAP 4430 1GHz dual-core CPU, 1GB of RAM, 4.5-inch display, an 8 megapixel rear camera, and microUSB / HDMI ports.

The real intrigue, however, lies with the Droid HD. Judging from the photos, this device seems to be running Gingerbread, and rocks a 4.5-inch display (presumably with qHD or even 1280x720 resolution, considering the device's name), an 8 megapixel 1080p rear-facing camera, a front-facing shooter and the usual set of microUSB / HDMI ports. There's also a pair of side loading SIM and microSD slots on the left side of the device, a volume rocker and what looks like a power button on the right, a slight bump for the camera pod around back (which sports an LED flash and speaker, as well), along with a large, thin battery that appears to be removable. Perhaps most notable about the HD is its seemingly super thin design -- we're estimating it's between 8.5 and 9mm, which would put it in the same league as Samsung's Galaxy S II, which measures 8.49mm. We'll have to wait for more detailed information on this mystery phone, but you can get a closer look right now in the gallery, below.

Myriam Joire contributed to this report.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Gallery: Droid Bionic and Droid HD leaked pictures

Motorola's new Droid HD makes cameo alongside Droid Bionic originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Aug 2011 04:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, August 16, 2011

How Big Is Apple's Spaceship Campus? Bigger Than the Empire State Building [Apple]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5831445/how-big-is-apples-spaceship-campus-bigger-than-the-empire-state-building

We already know that Apple's upcoming spaceship campus is going to be out of this world gorgeous. We also know it's going to be gigantically big. But how big? Well, the Empire State Building ain't got nothin' on Apple.

MacObserver compared it to other well known, larger than life buildings and objects and found that the upcoming Apple Spaceship HQ will be bigger than the Empire State Building, the Pentagon, a U.S. Navy Blimp, a WWII battleship and a supertanker. Surprised? You shouldn't be, as the diameter of the alien circle is estimated to be 1615 feet. See their measurements here. [MacObserver]

Jay-Z and Kanye Sample the Apollo 11 Launch [Video]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5831112/jay+z-and-kanye-sample-the-apollo-11-launch

Watch the Throne has been knocking around Twitter, headphones, and radio stations since it dropped last week. The production is great—Yeezy, can you do no wrong? But one beat stands out. Probably because it samples NASA's moon launch.

But! Kanye's not the first to dip into the Apollo program to bring heat to a song. Gang Starr's 1998 Moment of Truth featured Above the Clouds, another aeronautically-inspired track that took fragments of JFK's famous "We choose to go to the moon" speech for its introduction.

I don't think an entirely NASA-themed concept album would be a bad idea. And it's really only the next place for Kanye to head at this point, anyway. International Space Station status. [The Atlantic]

Samsung Celox gets its moment in the blurrycam spotlight

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/15/samsung-celox-gets-its-moment-in-the-blurrycam-spotlight/

Hey, what have we here? If it isn't the GT-I9210, a version of the Samsung Celox that we saw the other week. The Samsung Galaxy II-esque LTE handset got the blurrycam treatment on its way to Korean carrier SK Telecom. The rear of the device looks the same as what we saw earlier in the month, only with the carrier's logo tacked on for good measure. The front, on the other hand, has been redesigned and is now sporting four capacitive keys -- not an unusual move for a carrier branded version of one of the company's smartphones. In light of SK Telecom and Verizon's use of both LTE and CDMA, perhaps the Celox will join T-Mobile's rumored Hercules as the other 4.5-inch screened Galaxy S II variant for the US? Fingers crossed.

Samsung Celox gets its moment in the blurrycam spotlight originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Electronista | source

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Dell Vostro 360 inadvertently revealed, shows off all-in-one specs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/15/dell-vostro-360-inadvertently-revealed-shows-off-all-in-one-spe/

Are you a fan of grayscale technical drawings? Or perhaps you're in the market for an all-in-one desktop, but don't own an educational institution? Dell's satisfying those key constituencies -- and more! -- with support documents for its upcoming Vostro 360. Ahead of any official announcement of pricing or availability, the PDF lets us glean a few specs: we're looking at an Intel h61 Express chipset with Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 processors - or, if you're feeling especially nostalgic, you can opt for a Pentium Dual Core. The system will max out at 8GB of memory, with integrated Intel graphics or a discrete NVIDIA GeForce GT 525M, and a touchscreen option, if you'd rather let your fingers do the computing. Oh, and there's a built-in camera privacy cover you can glue shut the next time you disgustedly swear off Chatroulette.

[Thanks, Emperor John Hancox]

Filed under: Desktops

Dell Vostro 360 inadvertently revealed, shows off all-in-one specs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint's BlackBerry Bold 9930 and Torch 9850 land on August 21st for $250 and $150

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/15/sprints-blackberry-bold-9930-and-torch-9850-land-on-august-21st/

Sprint BlackBerries

Hav you been waiting for some more details about those BlackBerry 7-sporting handsets coming to Sprint? Well, wait no more friend -- August 21st will be the day of days for WiMAX fans and BBM addicts. The Bold 9930 and Torch 9850 will arrive together for the carrier in the bumblebee suit, at $250 and $150 respectively -- though the Torch price is after a $50 mail-in rebate. You'll find a few more details in the PR after the break and, if you need a refresher on what to expect from the latest RIM devices, check out our hands on coverage.

Continue reading Sprint's BlackBerry Bold 9930 and Torch 9850 land on August 21st for $250 and $150

Sprint's BlackBerry Bold 9930 and Torch 9850 land on August 21st for $250 and $150 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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