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Thursday, October 06, 2011

drag2share: Rdio launches free, non-ad-supported streaming for US users, meter to keep you in check

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/06/rdio-launches-free-non-ad-supported-streaming-for-us-users-met/

Ad-free, on-demand streaming is coming your way, folks -- and it won't cost you a dime. Rdio has announced the launch of its free service that will give you access to a library of over 12 million songs without being interrupted by pesky Spotify-esque advertisements. The no cost subscription won't require you to give up your credit card info either, but, you will get a "customized meter" that will let you know how much music you can access monthly. No word yet on how much time you'll have, but any amount of time with the Radiohead discography is sure to be of use. You'll be able to listen via the web or desktop app without grabbing a paid membership, but if you want Rdio's tunes on your phone, it'll cost you $9.99 per month. Also, from what we've heard, this is only available in the US -- for now. If you're looking for the full rundown then hit the PR below for all the details.

Continue reading Rdio launches free, non-ad-supported streaming for US users, meter to keep you in check

Rdio launches free, non-ad-supported streaming for US users, meter to keep you in check originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Mergely Compares and Merges Text in Your Browser [Text Editor]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5846802/mergely-compares-and-merges-text-in-your-browser

Mergely is a simple text differentiation webapp that lets you compare and edit two pieces of text in your web browser.

When you get started, you'll be able to either paste two pieces of text into the boxes, or type up something new on the fly. If you paste in two, Mergely will highlight all the lines with differences so you can edit or change them if need be. It's an easy, quick way to compare files and edits online, with no need for a username or password. You can save the files and get a direct link to send to others for further comparison, or never save it and the contents are immediately removed.

Mergely | via Addictive Tips

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drag2share: Google Docs Updates to Bring an Enhanced Experience to Android Tablets [Updates]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5846939/google-docs-updates-to-bring-an-enhanced-experience-to-android-tablets

Google Docs on your Honeycomb-based Android tablet just got a little better. Google added a three-pane view (much like the Gmail app) for better browsing and autocomplete of names/email address when sharing documents with others. Although a fairly minor update, the changes should make using Google Docs on your tablet quite a bit easier as you'll have quicker access to pretty much everything. For all the details, hit up the full post on the Google Mobile Blog.

An enhanced Google Docs experience on Android tablets | Google Mobile Blog

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

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drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

drag2share: Channel.me Is an Easy Way to Share Web Sites with Friends [Collaboration]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5847235/channelme-is-an-easy-way-to-share-web-sites-with-friends

If you're looking for a way to share a web site or collaborate over a web page with a friend but you don't want to install anything to do it, Channel.me can help. The service offers simultaneous browser sharing, real-time chat, and the ability to add notes and comments right on the page.

Channel.me works much like Google Docs: you can highlight text on a page, add comments and notes to different sections of a web page, and then chat with the other people in your shared browser session. You can both search the page in real-time, and when one of you clicks a link or navigates forward or back, the other people in the session are notified before the action goes through. There are even Chrome and Firefox extensions you can install to start a sharing session from any web site without visiting Channel.me first.

The service is ideal for people who need to look at a web site at the same time, but have never worked together or are on systems where they can't install new software. Channel.me only works for browser sessions, which makes it less feature-rich than previously mentioned QuickScreenShare, and much less effective than other, more robust remote support and control tools. However, it's completely free and doesn't require special software to work.

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

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drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

drag2share: Image Sharing Service Minus Updates its Browser Extensions for Quick Uploading and Editing [Extensions]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5847239/image-sharing-service-minus-updates-its-browser-extensions-for-quick-uploading-and-editing

Chrome/Firefox: If you're a fan of previously mentioned photo and file upload service Minus, its new browser extensions just made uploading images, taking screenshots, and editing the images you upload much easier.

The new Minus extensions can take screenshots of your entire browser window and instantly upload it to your Minus account and set hotkeys to make it easy to do it quickly. Once installed, you can also right-click any image on the web and upload it, edit it in Aviary, see your previous uploads, and manage your account.

Minus is still free to all users, and new users get 10GB of space to store and share images and files. The new extensions are available now at Mozilla Add-Ons and in the Chrome Web Store.

Minus Firefox and Chrome Extension | Minus Blog

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

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drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

drag2share: Back in Time for iPad: See the History of the Universe in 24 Hours [IPad Apps]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5847074/back-in-time-for-ipad-see-the-history-of-the-universe-in-24-hours

I've said many time before that the best iPad apps are those that combine coffee-table styled books with the fluid nature of the iPad's interface. Back in Time is just that, it's the story of the entire history of our universe made interactive on the iPad.

What's it do?

The app takes you back in time, from the moment of the Big Bang to now, 13.7 billion years later. There's 300 stunning images, more than a 100 animations, videos and timelines and countless fun little facts that you probably didn't know about our universe. You basically twirl a clock's hands around to see the defining moments of our history, jumping million of years at a time to see what type of life, if any, existed back then. There's articles explaining more about the phenomenons that happened and it's all packaged in an uber-slick interface that kids and adults will enjoy using.

Why do we like it?

I'm not a big science person but I'm in awe of how tiny we are in the larger scope of space. Back in Time shows us just how small we are by showing you how long the history of the universe is. 13.7 billion years! It's a learning experience wrapped up in a very visual experience. I can't help but keep fast forwarding the pseudo-clock to find out more about different periods of time in our universe. The imagery is especially stunning too, my jaw drops at the detail of the videos. One thing that's both good and bad though: it's a 600MB+ app so it's freaking huge but it doesn't need the Internet to work so it's decently fast.

Back in Time

Download this app for:

iPad, $8

The Best

Stunning imagery

The Worst

HUGE app

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drag2share: Dell announces Inspiron One 2320 touchscreen all-in-one

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/05/dell-announces-inspiron-one-2320-touchscreen-all-in-one/

Over the past few weeks, we've seen HP and Toshiba freshen up their all-in-ones, while Samsung made a belated jump into the market just last week. Today, it's Dell's turn -- the company just announced an addition to its all-in-one lineup, the 23-inch Inspiron One 2320. Funnily enough, the new design reminds us somewhat of the PCs HP trotted out last month in that it has an easel-like display with enough space underneath to stow the keyboard, although this one doesn't have a tilting screen. Spec-wise, it's well-matched against the competition, with a 1080p touchscreen, Intel Wireless Display capability, optional NVIDIA GeForce GT525M graphics, six USB 2.0 ports, HDMI-in, a Blu-ray option and up to 2TB in storage. (For whatever reason, USB 3.0 didn't make the cut.) That starting price of $950 will get you a Core i5-2400S CPU and 6GB of RAM, but if you have an extra $450 lying around you can step up to a Core i7-2600S processor with 8GB of memory. Wrapping it all up, the 2320 runs Dell's touch-friendly Stage UI, the latest version of which lets you sync photos and other media across different devices. We've rounded up a few glossy press shots below, but hit the source link if you're curious enough for the full spill.

Gallery: Dell Inspiron One 2320

Continue reading Dell announces Inspiron One 2320 touchscreen all-in-one

Dell announces Inspiron One 2320 touchscreen all-in-one originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: India's $35 tablet is here, for real. Called Aakash, costs $60

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/05/indias-35-tablet-is-here-for-real-called-aakash-costs-60/

India's much-hyped $35 tablet for students is a reality. But, like every other super-cheap education project, the price has jumped -- though in this case only to Rs 2,999 ($60). It turns out that the Aakash is actually an Ubislate 7 from Datawind (makers of the Pocketsurfer). Beneath the 7-inch 800 x 480 resistive touchscreen is a 366MHz Connexant CPU, 256MB of RAM and 2GB of storage (expandable via microSD) running Froyo and the Getjar market on top. The battery life is rated for a rather short three hours, and much less if you want to play HD video. In addition to the 802.11 a/b/g WiFi chip, you also get a GPRS modem to stay connected in rural areas. We wish India's HRD Minster Kapil Sibal's pet project all the best and if you want to see the device held snugly inside a Rs 300 ($7) keyboard folio, check out the picture after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading India's $35 tablet is here, for real. Called Aakash, costs $60

India's $35 tablet is here, for real. Called Aakash, costs $60 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ubisurfer, IBN Live | source

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drag2share: NEC LaVie Touch hands-on (updated)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/05/nec-lavie-touch-hands-on/

Originally scheduled for a September launch under the VersaPro type VT moniker, NEC's LaVie Touch Windows 7 tablet is finally hitting the Japanese market next week. Alas, there are still no plans on an international release for this 10.1-inch Atom Z670-powered device, but at CEATEC we were lucky enough to stumble upon it along with its DVD dock and wireless input peripherals -- all included for ¥99,960 ($1,300), which is a huge drop from the original ¥144,000 ($1,873) customizable bundle.

Despite the slightly more sensible pricing, is the LaVie Touch still worth the money? Probably a stretch given the much cheaper offerings from the likes of Acer and Samsung, but regardless, kudos to NEC for keeping its tablet's weight just under 730g (1.6 pounds) while promising 10.6 hours of battery life. For comparison's sake, the Acer Iconia W500 weighs 970g (2.14 pounds) and only packs up to six hours worth of battery juice. The NEC tablet felt firm in our hands and its IPS LCD didn't disappoint, though Windows 7 on this particular unit was slightly laggy during our hands-on, so be sure to check it out in the stores first before you hand over your hard-earned yen.

Update: We just found out that Yodobashi Camera has just started selling the LaVie Touch, so we went along to Akihabara to check out the final product. Alas, Windows 7 was still sluggish, whereas the AMD C-50-powered Iconia W500 in the next aisle handled pinch-to-zoom rather well, despite the less impressive LCD.

NEC LaVie Touch hands-on (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Android on HP TouchPad: yes, there's an app for that (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/05/android-on-hp-touchpad-yes-theres-an-app-for-that-video/

TouchPad firesale hysteria may have finally died down, but those of you with newly acquired HP slates should pay attention. A poster by the name of Chomper has uploaded a walkthrough of Android running atop webOS. Yes, you may have seen that particular feat before, but this time 'round the appropriated Google OS gets the emulated treatment. The mobile platform, installed via an .ipk, is accessible as an app and appears to run somewhat smoothly, although certain tics become noticeable when switching between homescreens or attempting to playback YouTube video. Audio and multi-touch have both yet to be successfully implemented in this rogue use of Android, and there's also a pesky power off issue that requires a hard reset of the system. Still, it's good to see the dev community doing what it does best, and inching us ever closer to a Rubin afterlife on HP's deceased tab. Skip past the break for a silent video tour.

Continue reading Android on HP TouchPad: yes, there's an app for that (video)

Android on HP TouchPad: yes, there's an app for that (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AndroidCentral | source

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drag2share: Google Earth hits one billion downloads, those with fear of flying still getting virtual kicks

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/05/google-earth-hits-one-billion-downloads-those-with-fear-of-flyi/

In a feat that outdoes even Dr. Evil's vision of worldwide domination, the folks in Mountain View have reported a staggering one billion downloads of Google Earth. Over the years, the service has taken us around the world, giving us a peak into amazing and sometimes obscure places ranging from the bottom of the ocean to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. It's also evolved from its humble beginnings as a desktop app back in 2005 to include a mobile app and a plug-in, not to mention a 3D flight simulation used with Google Maps -- all features that helped it reach the astronomical milestone. For that, we salute you Google Earth. Check out the celebratory video after the break.

Continue reading Google Earth hits one billion downloads, those with fear of flying still getting virtual kicks

Google Earth hits one billion downloads, those with fear of flying still getting virtual kicks originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official Google Blog, Google Earth | Email this | Comments

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drag2share: CHART OF THE DAY: Citi's 'Panic-Euphoria Model' Screams BUY, And There's A 97% Chance Of A Double-Digit Return

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/citi-panic-euphoria-model-says-buy-2011-10

The S&P 500 is down 17% since its April 29 high. Yesterday, the markets briefly dipped into bear market territory. Fears of a global recession have kept stock market volatility elevated.

But, Citigroup strategist Tobias Levkovich argues that the all out panic actually presents a great buying opportunity for investors. He notes:

The proprietary Panic/Euphoria Model has been in panic territory since August 19th and the level generates a near 90% chance of higher equity prices in six months and a 97% probability of teen-like gains in the next 12 months (see Figure 3). Back in 2000 and 2008, there were indications of euphoria; not dour sentiment. Furthermore, the significant disavowal of equities as an investment asset class by the general public is obvious given the large US stock mutual fund withdrawals. Such a trend sends a fairly clear contrarian message of opportunity.

chart of the day, panic euphoria model, october 2011

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Wednesday, October 05, 2011

drag2share: Android Gingerbread has growth spurt, grabs 38.2 percent device share

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/05/android-gingerbread-has-growth-spurt-grabs-38-2-percent-device/

Gingerbread has apparently made a substantial mark on Android users, with new figures showing it holds a 38.2 percent share of all Google OS-powered devices. That's some kind of growth from the one percent sliver it held earlier this year. Froyo still remains dominant at 45.3 percent, but fragmentation continues to shrink, with 95.7 percent of all Google-coated devices now running Android 2.1 or above. These figures, taken from Android Market statistics over the last two weeks, give a pretty good illustration of the gulf between Android smartphone and tablets, as well, with Honeycomb versions accounting for a meager 1.8 percent. But the tablet version will likely get a boost from Ice Cream Sandwich -- which, as we all know, is just around the corner.

Android Gingerbread has growth spurt, grabs 38.2 percent device share originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 08:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Mobile Syrup | Android Developers | Email this | Comments

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drag2share: T-Mobile's fall roadmap leaks, cornucopia of mobile goods on the horizon

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/04/t-mobiles-fall-roadmap-leaks-cornucopia-of-mobile-goods-on-the/

It's no back to school roadmap because, hey, you're already there. Still, this leaked sales sheet from TmoNews shows Magenta stacking its shelves for an abundant fall mobile harvest. So, let's dive right in as there's a lot of two-year contracted bounty to cover. Starting things off on October 19th are a trio of high-end, 42Mbps-capable 4G handsets: the HTC "Ruby" or Amaze 4G at $259, Samsung Hercules (that would be this) at $229 and the Huawei Wayne at $99 (which comes pre-loaded with Spaghetti Westerns, we presume). Following just a week later, is Samsung's Arnold tablet -- a.k.a the Galaxy Tab 10.1 -- which'll run along the carrier's faux-G and retail for $399. But the real wireless bonanza takes place on the 2nd of November, when six new phones will bow. LG's Maxx QWERTY and Maxx Touch at $129 apiece are the sole 3G-only units in the bunch, leaving the HTC Omega (better known as the Sensation XE overseas) at $199, LG Flip II at $149, Huawei Tallsome slate at $199 and the low-end Samsung "Ancora" to surf along at 4G speeds. Making a late appearance to this Autumn party are the last two of the bunch: Samsung's Robin (which looks to be the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus) at $299 and RIM's Dumoine QWERTY slider. That enough options for you? We thought so.

T-Mobile's fall roadmap leaks, cornucopia of mobile goods on the horizon! origina lly appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 22:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: LG Smart TV goes on the charm offensive, appeals to Adobe developers

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/04/lg-smart-tv-goes-on-the-charm-offensive-appeals-to-adobe-de/

LG wants to bring the world of Adobe Flash to your living room. Yes, 2012's lineup of Smart TVs, theater systems and Blu-ray players are all set to arrive with support for both Flash Player and AIR 3, and the Korean manufacturer is keen to get developers signed up for its next-generation Smart TV SDK. The new software development kit will include a simplified dashboard, the ability to render 2D apps in 3D and even "console-quality gaming." Throw in Adobe's new Game Input API, and we could see tablets, joysticks and even LG-made smartphones used to control on-screen action. LG has informed us that these upgrades will be limited to next year's catalogue -- your 2011 purchases won't support the new software, and will have to make do with the slightly weedier Adobe Flash Lite. New Smart TVs will also be compatible with the Wiimote-esque Magic Motion Remote, bringing gesture-based awkwardness to menu selection.

Continue reading LG Smart TV goes on the charm offensive, appeals to Adobe developers

LG Smart TV goes on the charm offensive, appeals to Adobe developers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 23:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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