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Monday, December 12, 2011

drag2share: Google's Native Client focuses on apps and games, brings Bastion to the browser (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/googles-native-client-focuses-on-apps-and-games-brings-bastion/

In case you missed it, Google's Native Client launched at the end of the summer, promising to ease cross-OS deployment by letting developers run x86 code natively in Chrome. Early adopters have had a few months to tinker with Google's new trick, and now the outfit is eager to show off their best work. Supergiant Games, for instance, has ported Bastion to the Native Client, opening up the Xbox Live hit to Mac, Linux and Chrome OS users. Google's Christian Stefansen says Native Client makes porting existing code bases written C, C++ or C# easy, citing Spacetime Studio's Star Legends -- an MMO with over half a million lines of code -- as an example of a large project that was ported in as little as two weeks. Google touts application middleware ports (such as Unity, Moai, Mono, fmod and more) and easy distribution to the Chrome Web Store as a major boon to developers, and encourages interested studios to check out its new Native Client site to help them get started. Interested? Hit up the links below, or simply skip past the break to hear Mr. Stefansen's spiel for yourself.

Continue reading Google's Native Client focuses on apps and games, brings Bastion to the browser (video)

Google's Native Client focuses on apps and games, brings Bastion to the browser (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chromium Blog, Native Client | Email this | Comments

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drag2share: Galaxy Player 4.0 review

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/galaxy-player-4-0-review/

Galaxy Player 4.0

Apple users have the iPod touch, but what about Android fans? Where do they turn when looking for an app-running, connected media player -- basically a smartphone without the phone? Well, believe it or not, there are a few options out there (like the Philips GoGear and Cowon's D3) And one of the premier lines is certainly Samsung's Galaxy Player offerings which, as the name implies, borrow a few things from their beloved cellphone siblings. There's both a 4.0 ($230) and a 5.0 ($270) model which have four- and five-inch screens, respectively, but, besides the size, the two are practically identical in the specs department. We toyed with the smaller Galaxy Player 4.0 for a couple of weeks and our thoughts on Sammy's (somewhat pricier) answer to the iPod touch are right after the break.

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy Player 4.0 review

Continue reading Galaxy Player 4.0 review

Galaxy Player 4.0 review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Verizon-branded LG Spectrum steps out in leaked press shot

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/verizon-branded-lg-spectrum-steps-out-in-leaked-press-shot/

LG aren't letting up on the LTE hardware. While we've only just shaken hands with AT&T's Nitro HD, this Verizon-branded 4G handset packs several design cues (and specifications) from its rival network cousin. The LG Spectrum has already appeared -- albeit fleetingly -- in a database listing and is likely to be the successor to Big Red's Revolution. Pocketnow reckons that the phone will rock a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, a high-definition display running at 720p and an eight megapixel shooter, although it's hard to make out much for from these shots -- aside from that protruding camera module. Regardless, life's most certainly looking good for LG fans.

Verizon-branded LG Spectrum steps out in leaked press shot originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Use Airplay to Watch Your iPhone's Camera Live on Apple TV [IPhone]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5867058/use-airplay-to-watch-your-iphone-4s-camera-on-apple-tv

Use Airplay to Watch Your iPhone's Camera Live on Apple TV Want to check out the hair at the nape of your neck, see what the back of your throat looks like, or look behind places you can't fit your head? If you have an iPhone 4S and Apple TV you can setup Airplay mirroring so whatever your camera is recording is displayed on your TV in real time.

Mac enthusiast weblog TUAW shares this clever use of the new-to-iOS 5 feature. You can enable Airplay mirroring by double-clicking your iDevice's home button, swiping to the right twice, and selecting your Apple TV as your Airplay destination. Make sure that mirroring is turned on, then click on the home button and load your camera app.

Clever iPhone 4S Tricks: Look at your own ear | TUAW

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drag2share: SkyDrive and Windows Phone cozy up, apps can now directly integrate with the cloud

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/skydrive-and-windows-phone-cozy-up-apps-can-now-directly-integr/

Microsoft, in an effort to continue integrating SkyDrive into Windows Phone, made a few changes to the cloud service's API this week. The new adjustments now give third-party Windows Phone apps full access to SkyDrive, complete with the ability to upload and share pictures, videos and docs. These changes were apparently the result of a lot of feedback from developers, and HandyScan just became the first company to show interest by incorporating the new API features into its Windows Phone app. The program, which offers the ability to scan a document or object, now offers the option of uploading these scanned images directly to SkyDrive. Of course, we imagine we'll soon be seeing a flood of developers proclaim their intent to journey "to the cloud." For more about HandyScan or the API, head to the links below.

SkyDrive and Windows Phone cozy up, apps can now directly integrate with the cloud originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 02:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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< a href="http://t.co/x7Ep0MwM">Windows Phone Marketplace, Twitter | Email this | Comments

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drag2share: More EXOdesk details spill: at least two models in the works, ViewSonic wants in

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/more-exodesk-details-spill-at-least-two-models-in-the-works-vi/

EXOdesk

Sadly, we'll still have to wait for CES to leave fingerprints allover the EXOdesk, but at least we've got a few more details to hold us over till then. For one, we now know that ExoPC has two models in the works -- one that's simply an external display and another that integrates a complete Core i7 computer running Windows 7. Apps specifically designed for the EXOdesk, coded in HTML5, will be available from the EXOstore. The company has already announced a number of planned programs, including a news reader, virtual keyboards, board games and musical instruments. It also looks like ViewSonic will be demoing its own 32-inch flavor of EXOdesk at CES, though whether or not the company actually plans to sell such a device remains a mystery. Check out the source link for a few more images.

More EXOdesk details spill: at least two models in the works, ViewSonic wants in originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 04:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ExoPC lab | Email this | Comments

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drag2share: Samsung outs two new Series 5 laptops in Korea, claims they're Ultrabooks

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/samsung-outs-two-new-series-5-laptops-in-korea-claims-theyre-u/

Is there room on the Ultrabook wagon for two new models from Samsung? There's a 13-incher and a 14-incher, which both reportedly come under its Series 5 branding (previously used for Chromebooks), but at first glance only the smaller model might deserve its seat: it has the requisite Sandy Bridge processor and a perfectly compliant 0.59-inch thickness, but it adds 500GB of HDD storage on top of a 16GB SSD, which brings its weight right up to the 1.4kg (3.1 pound) limit. Meanwhile, the 14-inch variant scrapes through the 0.83-inch thickness criterion, but its 1TB HDD and discrete AMD graphics lead to a 1.8kg weight that seems well overboard. The pricing looks acceptable, with both models starting at the equivalent of around $1150, but we can't wait to see what happens when Intel inspects their tickets.

Samsung outs two new Series 5 laptops in Korea, claims they're Ultrabooks originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sammyhub | Email this | Comments

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Sunday, December 11, 2011

drag2share: CHART OF THE DAY: These Are The Companies That Spend The Most On Google Search Ads In The U.S. (GOOG, IACI, MSFT, EBAY, AMZN, S)

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/google-search-ads-2011-12

Here's a look at the companies that spend the most on Google search ads in the U.S. from Michael Learmonth at AdAge, who got the data from Kantar Media, which tracks ad spending in media.

One of the things that jumps out at us about this chart is how relatively small these ad dollars are. Google is on pace to do ~$37 billion in ad revenue for the year. These big advertisers only account for $1.4 billion in revenue.

The other fun fact from this chart: Microsoft spends $70 million annually advertising on Google.

sai chart

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drag2share: Polyphasic Sleep Cycles Trick Your Body into Needing Less Sleep [Sleep]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5866905/polyphasic-sleep-cycles-trick-your-body-into-needing-less-sleep

Polyphasic Sleep Cycles Trick Your Body into Needing Less Sleep Most people go to sleep in a monophasic sleep cycle for 6-8 hours each night. Polyphasic sleep cycles consist of sleeping several times in a 24 hour period that total between 2-4 hours. Some cycles are more challenging than others, but all of them will give you additional time once your body takes around a week to adjust.

Brain hack weblog High Existence reports that the shorter more frequent periods of sleep experienced with polyphasic cycles trick the body into entering Stage 5 REM sleep immediately instead of the 45-75 minutes it normally takes. This is why you can sleep less overall and function without problem.

There are many polyphasic sleep cycles; two of which are illustrated in the image above. The source link below goes into detail of four of them—out of the four I think the Everyman Cycle would be the easiest to adapt as you'd get a 3-hour nap at night and three 20-minute naps spaced throughout the day. That way I could go to bed with my wife and get up a few hours later to get some work done.

Have you ever tried polyphasic sleep? Share your experiences in the comments below.

Alternate Sleep Cycles: You Don't Really Need 6-8 Hours! | High Existence via Reddit

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drag2share: High Capacity Backup Battery Will Keep You Powered For a Week [Batteries]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5866876/high-capacity-backup-battery-will-keep-you-powered-for-a-week

High Capacity Backup Battery Will Keep You Powered For a Week Until all of our electronic devices are powered by tiny Mr. Fusions, backup batteries are a harsh reality. But with a massive 9900mAh battery, the hard drive-sized iGeek should power all of your gear for up to a week.

A lot of back batteries don't have enough kick to charge power-hungry devices like the iPad, but with one and two amp USB ports, the iGeek will happily top off your tablet and your iPhone at the same time. In fact, you'll be hard pressed to find a mobile device it can't recharge, short of laptops, Segways and electric cars.

The $62 battery promises up to fifty additional hours of movie time with your iPhone, iPod Touch or media player of choice, and up to seventeen additional hours with the iPad 2. Next to a comfy pair of shoes and a steady supply of Red Bulls, it's the perfect accessory for tackling conventions, trade shows and exhibitions. [ThinkGeek via 7Gadgets]

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drag2share: AMD Radeon HD 6000 cards receive VESA DisplayPort 1.2 certification, merit badges

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/09/amd-radeon-hd-6000-cards-receive-vesa-displayport-1-2-certificat/

When the certifications come in, you wipe a tear from your eye and ponder how proud you are. On Thursday, the Video Electronics Standards Association announced that AMD's Radeon HD 6000 series graphics cards, including the high-end Radeon HD 6990, are the first to receive DisplayPort Version 1.2 certification. That means the cards are rated to support DisplayPort's 5.4Gbps HBR2 data link speed and also feature increased display resolution, color depths and refresh rates, plus improved support for Full HD 3D stereoscopic displays. For the multiple monitor die-hards, there's also better support for multiple monitors connected to a single DisplayPort receptacle to make your lives easier. Full technical details are in the PR below, but it's good to see a capable card series grow up a bit / become a man.

Continue reading AMD Radeon HD 6000 cards receive VESA DisplayPort 1.2 certification, merit badges

AMD Radeon HD 6000 cards receive VESA DisplayPort 1.2 certification, merit badges originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: AMD updates A-Series APUs, gives laptop Llanos modest spec bumps

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/09/amd-updates-a-series-apus-gives-laptop-llanos-modest-spec-bumps/

AMD released its A-Series APUs almost six months ago, and since then it's seen Intel update the A-Series' Sandy Bridge counterparts. So, it's about time for the Llano laptop lineup to do the same, and the refresh has come in the form of seven spiffy new APUs. At the high end, there's the quad-core A8-3550MX clocked at 2.0 GHz with Radeon HD 6620G graphics to supplant the older A8-3530MX chip. On the low end, the 1.9GHz dual core A4-3305M with Radeon HD 6480G graphics joins AMD's A4-3300M. It's a minor update all around, with most models seeing a 100MHz boost in turbo frequency over existing A-Series APUs. If you're itching to dig a little deeper into all the fresh Fusion silicon, you'll find what you're looking for at the links below.

AMD updates A-Series APUs, gives laptop Llanos modest spec bumps originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AM! D | Email this | Comments

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drag2share: App review: Infinity Blade 2 (iOS)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/10/app-review-infinity-blade-2-ios/

The 3D duel-fest is back, and attempting to answer some of the questions left over from its first installment (and a few major updates). Infinity Blade has had a huge effect on promoting the iPad and iPhone as valid gaming options, with high quality visuals and intuitive touchscreen controls. Well, Epic hasn't tampered with the formula too much, but has tried to instill some considered expansions and pour even more eye-honey all over it. Will it stretch gamers beyond the original? We've now spent a fair bit of time slashing away at those pesky immortals and their underlings -- see what we thought of this little big adventure after the break.

Gallery: Infinity Blade 2 screen shots

Co! ntinue r eading App review: Infinity Blade 2 (iOS)

App review: Infinity Blade 2 (iOS) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Dec 2011 11:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Zalman reportedly entering the graphics card market, merging GPUs with cooling solutions

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/11/zalman-reportedly-entering-the-graphics-card-market-merging-gpu/

Recently leaked slides suggest Korean computer outfit Zalman will soon jump into the ever-expanding graphics card market, initially partnering with AMD on its Radeon series. Known best for its quiet computing technologies, the company's move to infuse GPUs with cooling solutions could enhance the performance of the cards, making overclocking a lesson in simplicity. The slides only show the AMD 6870, 6850, and 6770, but it's feasible more models will appear when official news is released. Given AMD's many board partners, differentiation is important to remain competitive and on their payroll -- graphics cards and their overheating habits is Zalman's cup of tea. Hopefully this brings more innovative products in the coming future (heck, we've already got GPU / NIC hybrids), perhaps as early as CES. Check past the break to view the specifications breakdown for the aforementioned cards.

Continue reading Zalman reportedly entering the graphics card market, merging GPUs with cooling solutions

Zalman reportedly entering the graphics card market, merging GPUs with cooling solutions originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Indonesian government threatens to ban BlackBerry services if it can't spy on users

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/11/indonesian-government-threatens-to-ban-blackberry-services-if-it/

It's not the first time that RIM's security measures have caused a bit of an inferiority complex, but the Indonesian government now is threatening to ban BIS and BBM services within the nation if it doesn't get its way. Partially, it seems that Indonesian officials are upset that Research in Motion will be building its new data centers in Singapore, rather than in the homeland. Additionally, as is, the government is unable to monitor these communications, which it sees as a security risk. As you likely know, all data is currently processed in RIM's Canadian facilities. Heru Sutadi, a member of the Indonesian Telecommunication Regulation Body, had the following to say: "With the condition as it is now, we warn that the country's users to be cautious about using BlackBerry because the data exchanged is not safe or cannot be guaranteed of its safety." Sounds creepy, right? We always feel safer when knowing the government is monitoring our messages, too.

Indonesian government threatens to ban BlackBerry services if it can't spy on users originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 11 Dec 2011 03:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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