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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

SanDisk makes 128-gigabit flash chip, crams three bits per cell, takes afternoon off

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/22/sandisk-makes-128-gigabit-flash-chip-crams-three-bits-per-cell/

SanDisk has developed a chip that earns it membership in the exclusive 128-gigabit club. Not content with simply matching the Micron / Intel effort, SanDisk and its partner Toshiba claim their new memory uses 19- rather than 20-nanometer cells in the production process. Shrinking the size is one thing, but SanDisk's new chips also use its X3 / three-bit technology. Most memory stores just two bits per cell; cramming in another means fewer cells, less silicon, more savings, cheaper memory, happier geeks. Analyst Jim Handy estimates that the price per gigabyte for the tri-bit breed of flash could be as low as 28 cents, compared to 35 for the Micron / Intel equivalent. Full details in the not-so-compact press release after the break.

Continue reading SanDisk makes 128-gigabit flash chip, crams three bits per cell, takes afternoon off

SanDisk makes 128-gigabit flash chip, crams three bits per cell, takes afternoon off originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Insanely Strong Molecular Glue, Inspired by Flesh-Eating Bacteria [Science]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5887250/insanely-strong-molecular-glue-inspired-by-flesh+eating-bacteria

Insanely Strong Molecular Glue, Inspired by Flesh-Eating Bacteria If you've ever stuck your fingers together with super glue, you know pain. But imagine sticking them together with glue that bonds materials at the molecular level: that's real pain. It's also what scientists are doing, with the help of flesh-eating bacteria.

A team of researchers from the University of Oxford has created a molecular glue inspired by Streptococcus pyogenes, which can cause flesh-eating diseases, reports PhysOrg. In fact, the team was interested in a single protein: one which the bacterium uses to bind and invade human cells. "The protein is special because it naturally reacts with itself and forms a lock," explains Dr Mark Howarth, one of the researchers.

Taking that single protein as a design cue, they've developed a molecular glue which uses the same concepts. Their new protein forms covenant bonds when it comes into contact with a partner protein. The bonds it forms are so strong that, when they tested a sample, the equipment used to measure the strength broke before the glue.

As well as being incredibly strong, the technology can be used to make highly selective adhesives: the binding proteins adhere to themselves, but not to other entities. All that remains is to develop ways of incorporating the proteins into other molecular structures in order to create insanely strong, selective glues. [PhysOrg; Image: Will Fuller]

Find the Equivalent Wattage of CFL, LED, and Halogen Bulbs with This Cheat Sheet [Household]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5887073/find-the-equivalent-wattage-of-cfl-light-bulbs-with-this-cheat-sheet

Find the Equivalent Wattage of CFL, LED, and Halogen Bulbs with This Cheat Sheet CFL bulbs can help you cut quite a bit of energy usage in your home, but you can't measure brightness by looking at wattage levels, like you can with incandescent bulbs. This chart will help you figure out the brightness of those newfangled bulbs.

Find the Equivalent Wattage of CFL, LED, and Halogen Bulbs with This Cheat Sheet Home-centric weblog Apartment Therapy put this chart together to measure wattage equivalents in lumens, which are a measurement of light output (unlike watts, which is actually a unit of power). Some CFL and LED bulbs will put their wattage equivalents on the box, while many don't—so this chart should help give you a good idea of how bright your new bulb is going to be. You can also check out EnergyStar's official chart, which includes the actual wattage of equivalent CFL bulbs (if you're curious). Remember, though—not all light fixtures are suitable for CFL bulbs, so make sure you're using them in safe housings before you buy. Hit the link to read more.

How to Buy the Right CFL: A Cheat Sheet | Apartment Therapy

Make a Super Thin, Portable, and Cheap Boombox for Your Smartphone or Music Player [DIY]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5887082/make-a-super-thin-portable-and-cheap-boombox-for-your-smartphone-or-music-player

Make a Super Thin, Portable, and Cheap Boombox for Your Smartphone or Music Player Need a portable boombox for your smartphone or music player? Industrial design student and Instructables user MTriest has a great, minimalist design that's easy to carry around. It was designed for the iPhone, but you should be able to adapt it to accommodate any similarly-shaped device with a headphone jack. If you want to give it a try, here's what you'll need:

1/2 and 1/4 inch medium-density fibreboard (both boards should be at least 14 x12)
1/4 inch clear acrylic
5/8 inch dowels
A mini rocker switch
A 5mm LED
One AAA battery pack
An Altec Lansing IMT227 OrbitM Speaker
1/2" cloth elastic band
Electrical wire
1/4w 62 OHM resister

Aside from the speaker (which you can buy here), all the materials are pretty common and easy to come by. Although putting this project together requires a bit of time and some tools (mainly to cut the fibreboard and acryllic), the result is pretty cool. If you don't want to cut the materials yourself, you can always seek out someone on Etsy who regularly cuts these materials and ask for a custom job. Either way, to get the instructions for this project, hit up the full post on Instructables.

iPhone Boombox | Instructables

New Snapdragon Chip With Integrated LTE Will Save Your Battery [Guts]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5887205/new-snapdragon-chip-with-integrated-lte-will-save-your-battery

New Snapdragon Chip With Integrated LTE Will Save Your Battery Qualcomm's next-generation system-on-a-chip is set to turn up inside consumer devices at the Mobile World Congress—and judging by its rumored speed and integrated LTE technology, it could cause quite a stir.

Qualcomm has announced that the new chip—MSM8960, or Snapdragon S4 to its friends—will debut in several handsets next week in Barcelona. Whilst only dual-core, the exciting news is that Qualcomm has been able to roll LTE connectivity into the chip.

Currently, phones have a separate LTE processor that both adds bulk and kills battery performance. An integrated system should help alleviate those issues by sharing resources.

AnandTech has also had an opportunity to benchmark the new processor, and the results look promising, with the chip trumping the highest results from any currently shipping devices by a factor of two. In real-world tests, they found that compared to a Galaxy Nexus, the Snapdragon S4 helped reduce web page loading times by 0.3 seconds with the cache disabled or 1.4 seconds with it turned on. That is massive.

Qualcomm is planning to launch a quad-core version of the processor too, which should be interesting. [GigaOm and Anandtech via The Verge]

Another Way to Get a Headache: The LG Optimus 3D Max [Phones]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5887209/lg-takes-optimus-3d-to-the-max-even-if-you-dont-want-it

Another Way to Get a Headache: The LG Optimus 3D Max LG's shown that it still thinks 3D phones are the future by unveiling yet another new phone pre-MWC. The beefed up Optimus 3D Max is the successor to the world's first 3D phone and aims to continue the headache-inducing pocket 3D experience we all know and love.

The Optimus 3D Max apparently packs "true performance muscle" - I'll leave you to make your own mind up about that one. It comes equipped with a 1.2GHz dual-core OMAP chip backed up by 1GB of RAM; 8GB of storage; a 1,520mAh battery; a dual lens five-megapixel 3D cam, and a 4.3-inch 3D WVGA display covered in the new Gorilla Glass 2.

Unfortunately the Max is saddled with Gingerbread, but it's got NFC, GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to keep you connected, while being only 9.6mm thick. LG's also touting 3D up-conversion for apps like Google Maps, Google Earth and "other road views" using an enhanced 3D converter.

The phone will be officially shown off at MWC next week, and will apparently see an upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich "shortly after launch". It'll launch in Korea in March and the rest of the world soon after. I'm not convinced 3D on phones is the answer, but if you are you'll have another option to pick from soon. [LG]

Our newest offspring Gizmodo UK is gobbling up the news in a different timezone, so check them out if you need another Giz fix.

Asus Transformer Bootloader Unlock Available for Download [Android]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5887218/asus-transformer-bootloader-unlock-available-for-download

Asus Transformer Bootloader Unlock Available for Download When the Asus Transformer Prime launched, there was outcry from developers over the fact that its bootloader was locked. Asus eventually crumbled, and announced that they would remove the restrictions. Now, almost two months later, you can download the fix.

The news means that those who wish to do so can now install customs ROMs on their Transformer. Asus is, however, keen to point out just how bad an idea it thinks that is, saying:

"It is strongly advised that you avoid activating this App unless you fully understand and accept the risks that may arise."

Yeah, yeah. Shut up, Asus. [Asus]

NYT: Google to sell Android-based heads-up display glasses this year

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/21/nyt-google-to-sell-android-based-heads-up-display-glasses-this/

It's not the first time that rumors have surfaced of Google working on some heads-up display glasses (9 to 5 Google first raised the possibility late last year), but The New York Times is now reporting that the company is not only working on them, but that it's set to release them by the end of this year. Citing "several Google employees familiar with the project," the paper's Nick Bilton reports that the glasses will be based on Android, pack 3G or 4G connectivity, plus GPS and a range of sensors, and cost "around the price of current smartphones," or somewhere between $250 and $600. They're also said to include a low-resolution camera that can monitor your surroundings in real time and overlay relevant information, although Google is said to be paying attention to potential privacy concerns, and "wants to ensure that people know if they are being recorded by someone wearing a pair of glasses with a built-in camera."

What's more, the Times says that none other than Sergey Brin is a "key leader" on the project, with another being Google engineer Steve Lee, the creator of Latitude. Notably, Bilton also says that Google sees the project as an "experiment that anyone will be able to join," and that the company is not currently thinking about potential business models for the glasses, which could suggest that they may be more of a small-scale hobby than part of a major push into consumer hardware.

NYT: Google to sell Android-based heads-up displa! y glasse s this year originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG Optimus 3D Max is a slimmer sequel, world's first phone with 3D video editing

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/21/lg-optimus-3d-cube/

We're not sure if the world was anxiously awaiting a follow-up to LG's Optimus 3D (the AT&T Thrill 4G here in the states), but here it is: the LG Optimus 3D Max -- or Optimus 3D Cube, depending on your country. The latter's been announced for Korean carrier SK Telecom, with the former rolling out to Europe later. The Optimus 3D Max is slightly thinner than its predecessor at 9.6mm vs. the Thrill 4G's 11.9mm, with a faster 1.2GHz dual-core CPU and 16GB of storage built-in, confirming most of the rumors we'd heard previously. According to LG, it will also be the world's first that can handle 3D photo and video editing right on its glasses-free 4.3-inch screen, all shot by the dual 5MP cameras mounted on the back. It also has NFC baked in to support the new LG Tag+ stickers that change the phone's settings when swiped, just like the Optimus LTE Tag. It's scheduled for release in early March with Android 2.3, but we're promised an Ice Cream Sandwich makeover soon after launch, just like its cousin, the Optimus Vu. Check out the full list of specs after the break and expect to us to get a firsthand look when Mobile World Congress kicks off on the 27th.

Update: It looks like it'll also arrive in Europe with a new name; the Optimus 3D Max. Check the full English PR release below.

Gallery: LG Optimus 3D Cube

Continue reading LG Optimus 3D Max is a slimmer sequel, world's first phone with 3D video editing

LG Optimus 3D Max is a slimmer sequel, world's first phone with 3D video editing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Select' PS Vita apps hit the US PlayStation Store: Netflix, LiveTweet and Flickr (Update: video hands-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/22/select-ps-vita-apps-hit-the-us-playstation-store-netflix-liv/

Did you just brave the lines of a midnight launch party and snag yourself a PS Vita in the US? Good news ye early adopters, Sony's PlayStation.Blog.US has just announced that select free apps will be available as part of today's PlayStation Store update. Currently, you'll find Netflix, LiveTweet and Flickr, but there's still nary of trace of Facebook or Foursquare among the bunch (nor any official word on release dates for that matter). We gave each app a download and quick spin prior to them being officially listed without much in the way of hiccups -- however, Netflix does take its sweet time to start-up. Disappointingly, Vita's 20MB cap on 3G data is totally in effect on Netflix, as switching to our cellular connection denied us any access to the service. We're giving the apps some extended use to bring you our initial impressions shortly, but for now, you'll find more info at the source link below.

Update: We've added a brief video hands-on just past the break to let you grab a taste of each app before downloading them for yourself.

Continue reading 'Select' PS Vita apps hit the US PlayStation Store: Netflix, LiveTweet and Flickr (Update: video hands-on)

'Select' PS Vita apps hit the US PlayStation Store: Netflix, LiveTweet and Flickr (Update: video hands-on) or! iginally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell XPS 13 manuals leak, spill the Ultrabook's guts all over the internet

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/22/dell-xps-13-manuals-leak-spill-the-ultrabooks-guts-all-over-th/

Perhaps you've had your eye on Dell's XPS 13 since we showed you a pre-production model last month, but were looking to learn a bit more about it before buying one? Well, you're in luck, because a spate of manuals for the thing has shown up online, giving you plenty of info on the Ultrabook before its official debut. The owner's manual is of particular interest, as it shows you how to do your very own iFixit teardown -- with pictures and instructions on how to remove many of the Dell's parts, including the keyboard, battery, and even the I/O board, too. Naturally, there's also a quick start guide and a full spec sheet available for download as well, so what are you waiting for? Head on down to the source link for a heavy dose of all the newest, slimmest Dell has to offer.

Dell XPS 13 manuals leak, spill the Ultrabook's guts all over the internet originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Bing's two new 'death to print, death to retail' features get detailed

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/21/bing-vision-image-matching-newspapers/

Bing's two new 'death to print, death to retail' features get detailed

Ever felt like Bing wasn't for retail stores or print journalism? The two latest Windows Phone updates won't dispel that fantasy, sadly. Bing Vision been update so it can read Barcodes, CD, DVD and Book Covers so you can find out how much cheaper the item in your hand is if ordered online. Image Matching for Newspapers won't arrive until March, but you'll be able to snap a photo of an article you've seen in a local rag and, if its in Microsoft's database, you'll be linked directly to the original version of the article online. That's brick and mortar retail and newspapers taken care of, we'll be waiting around to see what's next on Bing's hit-list -- orphanages, probably.

Bing's two new 'death to print, death to retail' features get detailed originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Origin PC launches new 3D gaming laptop: two graphics cards for three dimensions

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/21/origin-pc-launches-new-3d-gaming-laptop-two-graphics-cards-for/

Hot on the heels of its dimensionally-average predecessor, Origin's revealed a second, 3D-capable, desktop-replacing laptop; stereoscopic gamers, rejoice. This EON17-X3D utilizes a pair of overclocked GPUs, with 3D panoramas provided by a pair of NVIDIA's 3D Vision 2 wireless glasses -- although you'll have to buy them extra. Hardware-wise, it's a similar story to the EON17-X, with a back-lit keyboard and the same-size 17.3-inch display -- the 3D function is actually a customization choice for the original model. Build options for this chunky gaming beast also include up to 32GB of quad channel memory and two NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M GPUs in SLI on the priciest custom build. The basic model will set you back around $3,030, but an eye-catching paint job? That's going to cost a little extra.

Continue reading Origin PC launches new 3D gaming laptop: two graphics cards for three dimensions

Origin PC launches new 3D gaming laptop: two graphics cards for three dimensions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Moneto's $30 Android mobile payment kit goes on sale, brings contactless payments to six Samsungs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/21/monetos-30-android-mobile-payment-kit-goes-on-sale-brings-con/

Moneto's $30 Android mobile payment kit goes on sale, brings contactless payments to four Samsungs

Not everyone's smartphone has NFC, and of those that do, an even smaller subset have official Google Wallet support. It would seem Mountain View's complacency is Moneto's gain, as the outfit's recently put up for sale its $30 NFC-enabled microSD card -- enabling plebes everywhere sans contactless circuitry to sashay their way into mobile payment heaven. That card is also stuffed with 1GB of storage for your exploits and those plunking down three Hamiltons are also privy to a $10 credit thrown in. There's one caveat, however, as per its website the service currently only works on variants of the Galaxy S (including carrier permutations like the Vibrant, Fascinate and Galaxy S 4G). Support for an additional forty devices is inbound but before committing, we'd peep the latest compatibility info from the horse's mouth in the more coverage link we've included below.

Continue reading Moneto's $30 Android mobile payment kit goes on sale, brings contactless payments to six Samsungs

Moneto's $30 Android mobile payment kit goes on sale, brings contactless payments to six Samsungs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZTE Mimosa X official: ICS, Tegra 2, HSPA+ and 4.3-inch qHD display, arriving in Q2

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/20/zte-mimosa-x-announced/

And then there were three. Not 24 hours after announcing a pair of Android 4.0 handsets, ZTE is back with the Mimosa X, a 4.3-inch, HSPA+ device running Ice Cream Sandwich. Interestingly, this is the first time since NVIDIA acquired wireless chip maker Icera that we've seen a phone packing both Tegra 2 and an NVIDIA-made modem (in this case, the 21Mbps-capable Icera 450). In its press release, NVIDIA also goes so far as to say this is the first time "a premium mobile computing experience is coming to the mainstream smartphone market," as if Tegra 3 hadn't already pushed Tegra 2 down into mid-range territory. Anyhow, marketing spin aside, this is indeed a middle-of-the-road device, with a qHD (960 x 540) display, 5-megapixel camera and 4GB of internal storage. It also supports A2DP Bluetooth and DLNA, and makes room for dual mics and a gyroscope. No word yet on how much it'll cost or even what markets it'll hit, though we do know it will go on sale sometime in Q2. Until then, something tells us we might get our first look much sooner, sometime in Barcelona next week.

Continue reading ZTE Mimosa X official: ICS, Tegra 2, HSPA+ and 4.3-inch qHD display, arriving in Q2

ZTE Mimosa X official: ICS, Tegra 2, HSPA+ and 4.3-inch qHD display, arriving in Q2 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:30! :00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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