Thursday, February 02, 2012

TypeWay iPad Keyboard Adapts To Fit Your Hands Perfectly [Keyboards]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5881381/typeway-ipad-keyboard-adapts-to-fit-your-hands-perfectly

TypeWay iPad Keyboard Adapts To Fit Your Hands PerfectlyThe limitations of typing on a touchscreen hinder how effective tablets can be as productivity tools. There is hope, though, at least for iPad users. This TypeWay keyboard supposedly makes things easier, by adapting the key layout for each user.

Like the velociraptors in Jurassic Park, the TypeWay replacement keyboard learns and remembers, automatically adjusting the layout and placement of keys depending on your typing style, skill level, or habits. It's basically the first ergonomic on-screen keyboard that can still lead to repetitive stress injuries.

If you happen to find a layout that works particularly well for you, you can freeze the keys' positions at any time, or save a specific layout for later use if you still want to experiment. At $6 it isn't the cheapest iPad app in the App Store, but if it succeeds in making the iPad's keyboard useful for long-form typing, consider it a cheaper alternative to an external wireless keyboard. [TypeWay via Chip Chick]

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Vizio's 21:9 CinemaWide LED HDTV Arrives in March [HDTV]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5881514/vizios-219-cinemawide-led-hdtv-arrives-in-march

Vizio's 21:9 CinemaWide LED HDTV Arrives in MarchVizio's new line of 21:9 aspect ratio televisions that we told you about in January will be hitting store shelves next month and will retail for $3500.

Why 21:9? That happens to be the same ratio as Cinemascope, the dominant feature film format of today. It will allow viewers to watch 21:9 widescreen movies without the ubiquitous black bars. 16:9 video can either be up-scaled to fit or the extra space can be filled with embedded apps. [The Verge]

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Supposed next-gen iPod Nano with camera leaks again, clip back in tow

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/01/supposed-next-gen-ipod-nano-with-camera-leaks-again-clip-back-i/

If you'll recall, it was April of last year when we reported on pictures from Apple.pro, which claimed to show a seventh-generation iPod Nano chassis with room for a camera. Not long after, the site posted a second leak of the device, hinting at the omission of the Nano's famous clip in favor of optics. Fast forward to the present, and we're now looking another supposed shot of the unit, however, this time the clip is back and it's made room for the shooter. Like prior Nano-camera efforts, this prototype's loaded with a less-than-whopping 1.3-megapixels of resolution, which M.I.C Gadget claims in its non-final form, took overexposed photos. Apple's apparently also been toying with 2-megapixel prototypes, but those too were apparently deemed unsatisfactory. M.I.C. Gadget also muses the two month old prototype is nearing release, and that it could be released before the traditional fall schedule. Seeing as the Nano's long overdue for a hardware refresh, we'd file that under definitively maybe, but before believing, take copious amounts of salt as you hit the source link below for a bevy of pics.

Supposed next-gen iPod Nano with camera leaks again, clip back in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TechnoBuffalo, MacRumors  |  sourceApple.pro  | Email this | Comments

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Vizio reveals $3,499 price for its 58-inch ultrawidescreen HDTV

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/01/vizio-ultrawidescreen-58-inch-3499/

We were told at CES last month to expect Vizio's ultrawidescreen LCDs would hit the market sooner rather than later, now we know how it will fit into our budgets, even if we're not sure how the aspect ratio will fit in our living rooms. Similar to the way its first Theater 3D TVs popped up last year, the XVT 3D CinemaWide product page reveals a 58-inch model (50- and 71-inchers are also planned) sporting its trademark 21:9 aspect ratio (compared to a traditional HDTV's 16:9) and 2560x1080 resolution will start at $3,499. It also has an array of specs, measuring the 120Hz Edge LED lit screen at 56.7-inches wide by 29-inches high and 1.8-inches deep. Just as we saw when they were first announced at CES 2011, Vizio upscales Blu-ray and other wider-than-widescreen sources to fill the screen without those black bars we've become accustomed to. If you're watching standard HD programming, the extra space alongside can accommodate tiles for Yahoo! Widgets pulling information from the internet without blocking the picture at all. Check our gallery below for a better look and a demo video after the break, we'll keep an ear to the ground to find out when and where these displays might hit the market first.

[Thanks, chilipalm]

Conti nue reading Vizio reveals $3,499 price for its 58-inch ultrawidescreen HDTV

Vizio reveals $3,499 price for its 58-inch ultrawidescreen HDTV originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pentax K-01 leaks, wants to be your retro-looking mirrorless friend

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/01/pentax-k-01-leaks-wants-to-be-your-retro-looking-mirrorless-fri/

Pentax K-01 leaks, wants to be your retro-looking mirrorless friend
Above is a purported leak of Pentax's upcoming K-01 -- a retro-inspired mirrorless camera which is apparently set for reveal soon. Divulged in a bevy of official-looking shots on Pentax Forums, the diminutive shooter will apparently be available in several colors alongside its incredibly-thin 40mm f/2.8 pancake lens. Also shown are closeups of a dedicated HDR mode up-top, alongside dedicated red and green buttons, and a curious signature by designer Marc Newson adjacent to its battery cover. Perplexed by the sum of its parts like we are? Well, until Pentax reveals all, get a acquainted with it in the source links below.

[Thanks, Ben]

Pentax K-01 leaks, wants to be your retro-looking mirrorless friend originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Pentax Forums, Club Snap Forums  | Email this | Comments

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NASA debuts two new educational games for iOS, Facebook

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/02/nasa-debuts-two-new-educational-games-for-ios-facebook/

NASA is no stranger to apps, but the space agency is branching out further into some new territory with its two latest offerings: a pair of educational games. The first is Sector 33, an air traffic control simulator for iOS devices that certainly won't be confused with Flight Control, but which NASA hopes will help teach math and possibly get folks interested in aviation. Those who prefer their games a bit more casual can also now try out NASA's very first multiplayer Facebook game, Space Race Blast Off, which tests folks' knowledge of various space-related topics (and is considerably more challenging than it first appears). Additional details and the games themselves can be found at the source links below.

[Thanks, Mo]

NASA debuts two new educational games for iOS, Facebook originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Mashable, PhoneRPT  |  sourceNASA, iTunes, Space Race Blast Off (Facebook)  | Email this | Comments

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Wednesday, February 01, 2012

How-To: Set up a home file server using FreeNAS

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/01/how-to-set-up-a-home-file-server-using-freenas/

In today's digital world we've all got data, and lots of it. Our libraries are also growing rapidly: where you used to get by setting aside a few bookshelves for your books, CDs, DVDs and VHS tapes, we now require untold server space to preserve our beloved media in digitized form. We also want our data to be itinerant, or at least seem that way. That is, if you want to take a book or disc to another room of your abode, you pull it from the bookshelf and take it with you. Similarly, if you're working on a document upstairs on your desktop and you want to move to the den with your laptop, you'll need the proper infrastructure working in the background to enable that kind of wizardry. So, how can we create this "digital bookshelf?" Can you go out and buy it now? Can you build it in your garage? As it turns out, the answer is "yes" on all counts. You could go out and buy a Drobo device but in this case, we're going to assemble our own. And we're going to do that with the help of an open source storage platform called FreeNAS. So how involved a process is that? Meet us after the break to find out.

Continue reading How-To: Set up a home file server using FreeNAS

How-To: Set up a home file server using FreeNAS originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Docs for Android updates: adds offline support, better tablet experience

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/01/google-docs-for-android-updates-adds-offline-support/

Google Docs
Google clearly didn't want to blow everyone's mind right away with its Google Docs app for Android. That's why it's been slowly rolling out the updates, incrementally adding features and turning what began life (more or less) as a glorified web browser into a useful app. The latest upgrades deliver possibly the most requested feature -- offline access. Now there's an option to pin individual files for local storage and the app will automatically sync the latest version anytime you're on WiFi. If that's not often enough, you can manually update whenever you have a data connection. There's also a new layout for viewing docs on tablets that allows you to swipe left and right to flip between pages and a scrubber at the bottom for quickly jumping from one part of the doc to another. Hit up the Android Market now to score the update for yourself.

Google Docs for Android updates: adds offline support, better tablet experience originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceGoogle Mobile Blog  | Email this | Comments

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Search Google Images by Drawing What You're Looking For with This Clever Web App [Web Apps]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5881047/search-google-images-by-drawing-what-youre-looking-for-with-this-clever-web-app

Search Google Images by Drawing What You're Looking For with This Clever Web AppFinding the image you're looking for can be a little difficult at times, but Google's similar image search is often a big help. If you don't have a similar image, however, the mouthful-of-a-web-app titled "Unofficial Google Image Search by Drawing" will let you quickly sketch up what you're looking for and use it as a search query.

The quality of the results you achieve will vary based on the detail and accuracy you're able to achieve with this tool. It can be tough to draw with a mouse or trackpad, and the drawing tools aren't particularly comprehensive, so if you're looking for something complex you might find it frustrating. Nonetheless, if you're trying to find an icon, a simple shape, a logo, or anything you can easily draw with a simple resizable brush and a few colors you'll get some decent results. While it would be nice to be able to draw a stick figure and get a picture of an actual person, Google's search is pretty accurate and it'll pull the most similar images it can. So long as you understand these limitations, you can use the Unofficial Google Image Search by Drawing to find what you're looking for in a fun and unique way.

Unofficial Google Image Search by Drawing | via Addictive Tips

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Add Hyperlinks to Gmail Messages with a Keyboard Shortcut [Gmail]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5881208/add-hyperlinks-to-gmail-messages-with-a-keyboard-shortcut

Add Hyperlinks to Gmail Messages with a Keyboard ShortcutMost word processors use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+K (or Cmd+K on Mac) to insert a hyperlink into a text, but even though the shortcut exists in Google Docs, it never worked in Gmail. Now it does.

It's the exact same keyboard shortcut you use in Word, Outlook, Apple Mail, Google Docs, and nearly every other word processing and email platform. To make the best use of it, select the text you want to turn into a link, hit Ctrl+K, and then paste the URL you want to link to. Now you have a handy hyperlink in your email without scaring off your recipient with a garbled URL. If you're looking for a breakdown of a few more handy Gmail shortcuts and tricks, check out our guide to mastering Gmail.

Gmail's Shortcut for Inserting Hyperlinks | Google Operating System

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Nikon 1 future plans revealed: 4K video, brighter lenses, picture effects

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/01/nikon-1-future-plans-revealed-4k-video-brighter-lenses-pictur/

Tetsuya Yamamoto, Nikon's head of development was at CES talking up the future plans of the company's 1 system cameras after strong holiday sales. The 10.1 megapixel sensor inside the 1 body is sufficiently capable of shooting 2 and 4K video and bringing that functionality into the unit is planned for a future edition. There's a need for a set of brighter lenses with faster auto-focusing, although we're not sure how much bigger you can get on that petite body. It's also kicking around the option of letting V1 (i.e. more professional) users get at manual AF control and in-camera RAW editing -- while J1 users can expect plenty of features they won't use much, like in-camera effects. It's exciting stuff, but let's hope these new features don't cause the price to climb any higher, eh?

Nikon 1 future plans revealed: 4K video, brighter lenses, picture effects originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Nikon Rumors &nb! sp;|&nbs p; sourcedpreview  | Email this | Comments

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Acrobatic quadrocopters hunt in packs, seduce you into submission (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/01/acrobatic-quadrocopters-fly-in-hypnotic-formation/

We've kept a pretty stern eye on the development of GRASP Lab's quadrocopters, and with good reason it seems, now that the four-bladed aerial ninjas have even more alarming abilities at their disposal. In the video after the break, watch them hold a variety of complex formations like it's no thing -- even while on the move. The 'copters can also take flight, or resume position, after being thrown into the air, navigating real world obstacles with deft fluidity. It's part of Pennsylvania University's Scalable sWarms of Autonomous Robots and Mobile Sensors project (conveniently SWARMS for short), which is responsible for developing the air-born acrobats' new grouping skills. They say it's an attempt to replicate swarming habits in nature, though we're not convinced.

Continue reading Acrobatic quadrocopters hunt in packs, seduce you into submission (video)

Acrobatic quadrocopters hunt in packs, seduce you into submission (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink SlashGear  |  sourceTheDmel (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments

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Every Camera Should Be as Beautiful as Nikon's Newest [Design]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5881262/every-camera-should-be-as-beautiful-as-nikons-newest

Every Camera Should Be as Beautiful as Nikon's NewestThe Nikon Coolpix P310 is another point and shoot—except it's completely gorgeous. The boxy design is a matte slate of black perfection. Everyone line is clean, every centimeter accounted for, every button well-placed. Make more things like this.

Inside, the P310 is no dinky shooter: 16 megapixel stills, 1080p video recording, an assignable front function button, full manual controls, image stabilization, and a swank f/1.8 zoom NIKKOR lens. By my god—it's so small! What you're looking at is only 4.1 x 2.3 x 1.3 inches—easily pocketable. But I don't want to keep it in any pocket. I want to look at it. Boxy is beautiful. More angles. Cameras shouldn't resemble spaceships. Check for it next month at $330. [Nikon]

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Sharp struggles with TV competition, Q3 2011 results reveal 86 percent drop in profit

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/01/sharp-struggles-with-tv-competition-q3-2011-results-reveal-86-p/

It's pretty tough out there for TV manufacturers. Sharp's reporting its financial results for April-December last year, announcing a profit of 9.14 billion yen ($120 million), a drop of 57.37 billion yen since the same period in 2010. Despite announcing a whole gang of new displays for the year, Sharp has cut its profit forecast correspondingly, down to zero for March 2012. According to Reuters, the company was expected to post healthier results, having recently finished a new manufacturing plant and apparently strong demand for its high-end AQUOS TVs, although it's perhaps not strong enough.

Sharp struggles with TV competition, Q3 2011 results reveal 86 percent drop in profit originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 07:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Reuters  |  sourceSharp (Japanese, PDF)  | Email this | Comments

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Nikon Coolpix P310 hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/01/nikon-coolpix-p310-hands-on-video/

Of all the new Nikons announced today, the P310 is likely to be one of the most popular. Its 4.2x (24-100mm) focal length may not deliver the big bad zoom of the P510, and it can't do RAW like the P7100, but it compensates with some serious optical features instead. Among them is improved image stabilization, which Nikon says will let you take blur-free handheld shots at four stops below what would otherwise be possible. There's also a "market leading" f/1.8 maximum aperture, which further aid low-light shooting as well shallow depth-of-field shots. Finally, the form factor is really important. This camera is a lot smaller than either the P510 or the P7100 and it feels great in the hand: not quite pocketable, perhaps, but certainly portable, discreet and sturdy. We only had access to a very early pre-production sample, so we couldn't check out the menu system or take shots, but we gave the camera a good looking over in the hands-on video after the break, where you'll find some more initial impressions too.

Continue reading Nikon Coolpix P310 hands-on (video)

Nikon Coolpix P310 hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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