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Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Zeiss Cinemizer OLED with head-tracking hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/zeiss-cinemizer-oled-head-tracking-hands-on/

The Carl Zeiss Cinemizer OLED has been a long time in the making -- we first heard about the video glasses at Macworld in 2008 -- but the company has yet to push the head-mounted display past the prototype phase. We stumbled upon Zeiss' booth here at CeBIT, where we found a version of the glasses that look mighty similar to the mock-up we saw in marketing materials from 2010, but are now equipped with a pair of head-tracking modules to expand the yet-to-be released marvel's practicality. With head-tracking now on board, the Cinemizer can theoretically appeal to gamers, architects, even educators, who can use the glasses in the classroom.

We took a look at an Inreal CAD app demo that lets the wearer navigate a yet-unbuilt house, walking through virtual rooms (a joystick is used for forward motion, so you won't be accidentally walking into physical walls) as you judge paint colors, furniture placement and try to convince your significant other that there really is room for a 65-inch HDTV. The tracking modules are located behind the ear rests on each side of the OLED glasses, which have seen a slight boost in resolution since we last heard about them, jumping from VGA to 870 x 500 pixels in each OLED panel. Tracking was responsive and accurate -- the experience of walking around a room felt almost lifelike. What's even more exciting than the device's performance is that we may finally see these hit stores in 2012, with a tentative summer ship date. And, while still a pricey addition to your display collection, the Cinemizer la! nds on t he inexpensive end of the Zeiss product scale, ringing up at €649 (about $850), plus another €100 for the tracking hardware. Jump past the break to see it in action.

Gallery: Zeiss Cinemizer OLED with head-tracking hands-on

Continue reading Zeiss Cinemizer OLED with head-tracking hands-on (video)

Zeiss Cinemizer OLED with head-tracking hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FTC: Western Digital and Hitachi must give assets and IP rights to Toshiba

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/ftc-orders-western-digital-share-assets-with-toshiba/

Thought everything was looking rosy for the hard drive hitch of the year? Well, it looks like Federal Trade Commission reckons the union of Hitachi and Western Digital isn't quite there just yet, ordering that the new company would have to shed some of its assets to Toshiba. The FTC wants to ensure a competitive climate in the 3.5-inch hard drive market and avoid Western Digital and Seagate -- the two largest HDD manufacturers -- carving up the whole sector between them. According to the FTC's proposals, Toshiba has to receive the production assets needed to equal Hitachi's current HDD market share, alongside access to Western Digital's research and development resources and licenses to its intellectual property. Regulators had previously stated that WD could expect to sell on some of its production assets in order to get the tie-up okayed. Western Digital now has 15 days to hand over these assets to Toshiba -- who, presumably, aren't complaining -- once the deal with Hitachi is finally inked.

FTC: Western Digital and Hitachi must give assets and IP rights to Toshiba originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Play replaces Android Market, new source for apps, books, movies and music (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/google-play-replaces-android-market/

Google Play replaces Android Market, your new source for apps, books, movies and music

The Android Market has morphed significantly since its inception, which now allows users to purchase books, music and rent movies, all from within a hub that was originally designed for just apps. To recognize this fundamental shift -- and emphasize the availability of content for sale -- Google is launching a new platform known as Google Play. The move hints at a strategy shift from just Android to the cloud as a whole, and establishes an umbrella brand for the diverse content sold by Google. For example, its Books, Music and Videos apps will now become Play Books, Play Music and Play Movies, while the Android Market itself will take on the moniker of Play Store. Users of Android 2.2 (and above) should notice the software update within the next few days, although other than the new name, initial changes should be minimal. We're also to be on the lookout for a new "Play" tab within the top toolbar of Google's website. To mark the occasion, the company has announced a promotional "Seven Days to Play" sale, which will tease would-be shoppers with discounted apps, books, movies and music throughout the week. For an additional peek at what's in store, you'll find the gallery below and a video after the break.

Gallery: Introducing Google Play

Continue reading Google Play replaces Android Market, new source for apps, books, movies and music (video)

Google Play replaces Android Market, new source for apps, books, movies and music (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dell XPS 13 review

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/dell-xps-13-review/

Dell XPS 13 review

Dell's XPS 13 Ultrabook

Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook shipping now, starts at $999

HP Folio 13 review

You don't have to be a marketing skeptic to agree that "Ultrabook" is a somewhat hyperbolic term for a class of devices designed a little thinner, a little lighter and maybe a little quicker than those notebooks that have come before. From a pure hardware standpoint there's nothing particularly "ultra" about them when compared to a standard Wintel lappytop, but manufacturers are, thankfully, using this as an opportunity to raise their game on another front that's becoming increasingly important in the world ! of porta ble computing: aesthetics.

Compared to clunky laptops of yore, many Ultrabooks mark a truly massive step forward when it comes to purity of design and Dell is showing some impressive chops with the new XPS 13. But, when you're buckled in to coach class and it's time to get to work, looks are less important than having a solid laptop that performs. Does the new XPS have the brawn to match its beauty? Let's find out.

Gallery: Dell XPS 13 review

Continue reading Dell XPS 13 review

Dell XPS 13 review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Full List of Verizon Phones Getting Ice Cream Sandwich [Android]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5890956/the-full-list-of-verizon-phones-getting-ice-cream-sandwich

The Full List of Verizon Phones Getting Ice Cream Sandwich Verizon has finally let a bunch of smartphone and tablet owners exhale, giving up the full list of current devices that will be getting the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update. There's 14 devices in all. See if yours made the cut.

Currently the Galaxy Nexus is the only Verzion phone with Ice Creamy goodness, but that's about to change. The full list is as follows:

HTC:
HTC ThunderBolt™
DROID Incredible 2 by HTC
HTC Rhyme™
HTC Rezound™

Motorola:
Motorola XOOM
DROID BIONIC™
DROID RAZR™
DROID RAZR™ MAXX™
DROID 4 DROID
DROID XYBOARD 8.2
DROID XYBOARD 10.1

Samsung:
Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1
Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 7.7

LG:
Spectrum™ by LG

Probably not as long as list a some would have hoped for, but that does take care of the majority of the headline devices from the last year or so. No word on timelines yet (cue angry fist-shaking), but "sometime" is better than "never." [Verizon]

Now You Can Install a Second Hard Drive in Your Mid-2011 iMac [IMac]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5890851/now-you-can-install-a-second-hard-drive-in-your-mid+2011-imac

Did you know iFixit was good for something other than posting galleries of new gadgets they've torn apart? Well they are, and their latest good deed involves devising a kit so that you can install a second hard drive in your mid-2011 iMac.

When iFixit tore down the iMac after the last refresh, they found mounting points which were completely unused. So they built a kit that lets you place an additional hard drive in that spot. For $70, each kit comes with the necessary SATA cables, mounting tape, suction cups (for removing the screen), a driver kit, and a spudger.

iFixit recommends adding a smaller, cheaper SSD and using that as your boot drive while using your HDD for media files and things of the like. Hard to go against that advice. [iFixit]

IBM's Watson Supercomputer Is Cashing in on Wall Street [Watson]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5890855/ibms-watson-supercomputer-is-cashing-in-on-wall-street

IBM's Watson Supercomputer Is Cashing in on Wall Street A year ago, IBM's Watson supercomputer bludgeoned human supernerds Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter in Jeopardy. Since then, Watson's been putting its natural language interpretation skills to work for health care organizations, but now it's coming for the money: As of yesterday, Watson works for Citigroup, one of the biggest financial corporations in the world.

Apparently, Watson will "help analyze customer needs and process financial, economic and client data to advance and personalize digital banking." What that means, probably, is that Watson will be digging through millions of pages' worth of information for its new masters, much like it did with its closed database during Jeopardy. To help, Citigroup's already at work teaching Watson about regulatory practices and Wall Street jargon, like golden parachutes and BSDs.

Watson's analysis will be delivered as a cloud-based service, so there won't be whole floor dedicated to its servers at the Citigroup headquarters. And before the doomsday scenarios set in, it's mainly going to be doing risk management—IBM doesn't plan to have Watson pick stocks (yet, I guess).

A guy as smart as Watson, you're not really surprised when he ends up on Wall Street. I just want to see what his cover letter looked like. [Business Week]

Verizon launches 'faster than wired' broadband for the home

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/verizon-homefusion-broadband/

Verizon Wireless is making good on that name, aiming to rid your home of those ugly, ugly wires. The carrier wants to substitute them with the not-exactly-subtle, bucket-sized antenna you can see on the left. Its HomeFusion service aims to replace DSL-connected domiciles, with Verizon reckoning its own wireless broadband can offer up better upload and download speeds. According to the Washington Post, the hardware will set potential customers back around $200, but installation costs will be included in the service. The entry-level $60 per month package will net you 10GB of data, with HomeFusion currently readied for launch in Dallas and Birmingham later this month. Users will be able to connect up to 50 different devices and Verizon intends to roll out the wireless internet package as far as its LTE network tendrils can reach. Plans go up to 30GB for $120 per month, with additional gigabytes charged at $10 a pop. For anyone in broadband-unfriendly homes looking for a step up in internet speed, you may want to start looking for somewhere to ~~hide~~ hang that antenna...

Continue reading Verizon launches 'faster than wired' broadband for the home

Verizon launches 'faster than wired' broadband for the home originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 06:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer launches Ultrabook-like Aspire V5 series, we go hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/acer-ultrabook-v5-series-hands-on/

After trotting out some mobile fare at MWC, Acer hasn't pulled in the reigns on its new product horse, announcing its new V5 notebook this morning at CeBIT. Yes, notebook. At 30 percent slimmer than the class it replaces, these are still trim machines. The 11.6-inch model is only 15mm thick, which is way into Ultrabook territory, while the 14- and 15-inch models land at 21 and sub-23mm respectively. It's Intel on the inside, including Core i3 and Core i5 processors, with NVIDIA GeForce GT series on-board to handle graphics. Release is penciled in for Q2, and pricing is expected to range from €499 to €699 (about $650 to $920). If you're in the market for something a bit less expensive but you're into the V5's design, you might take notice of the Aspire One netbook, which is set to use the same chassis but will ship with Intel Pentium and Celeron processors instead, with pricing estimated between €399 and €449 (about $525 to $590).

We went hands-on with a dummy model of the V5 at CeBIT, though the prototype we saw today may not be the exact design you'll find in stores later this month. The 15.6-inch sample was very thin and relatively light, with a full-size chiclet keyboard and numberpad on the side. There's a USB 3.0 port on the left-hand side, along with two standard USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI connector and proprietary Ethernet port. There's also a pop-out optical drive on the right, though there's no SD slot in! sight. Overall, it's a very nice design, but we'll need to wait for the company to demo functional versions before we can pass judgement on performance. As always, you'll find our video overview just past the break.

Gallery: Acer Aspire V5 hands-on

Continue reading Acer launches Ultrabook-like Aspire V5 series, we go hands-on (video)

Acer launches Ultrabook-like Aspire V5 series, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 06:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Extension Automation Enables Extensions Based on Specific Web Sites [Chrome Extensions]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5890518/extension-automation-enables-extensions-based-on-specific-websites

Extension Automation Enables Extensions Based on Specific Web Sites Chrome: If you have a few browser extensions you love to use, but they cause problems on specific web sites or you don't need them enabled all the time, Extension Automation is a simple tool that automates extensions based on the site you're visiting.

With the extension installed, you can set up extensions to only run on specific sites by adding them to a list. This keeps the extensions from slowing down Chrome and clogging up your toolbar. It's also handy if you have a couple extensions you love to use but they cause problems on certain sites.

Extension Automation | Chrome Web Store via Addictive Tips

Sync Your Desktop Between Computers with Dropbox [Dropbox]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5890690/sync-your-desktop-between-computers-with-dropbox

Sync Your Desktop Between Computers with Dropbox If you use multiple machines, you may be frustrated by the fact that your desktop—where many of us keep our current projects—doesn't stay in sync between computers. While you could drag the files to your Dropbox manually, reader tpflanz has a simpler solution: just move your Desktop to your Dropbox.

I sync my documents through Dropbox, but my desktop contains a different mishmash of icons on each computer. The problem is, my desktop actually serves a purpose in my workflow—whether as a mini to-do list or a dump for works in progress, and forgetting to drag files over when I switch workspaces is a constant problem. Tpflanz' handy trick works on Windows, Mac, and Linux:

I don't always work from one physical location, so it is a bit of a chore to make sure I have transferred files to a location (such as USB drive or FTP site) so I can access them later. As well, should I really need to pull out my laptop to grab a single .php file or .psd? I don't think so.

Using Dropbox as my desktop allows everything I am working on to be available everywhere I work, without even thinking about it.

Sync Your Desktop Between Computers with Dropbox You can either symlink your Desktop as described in our Documents-organizing feature, or (if you're using Windows) literally move the Desktop's location. Just head to your User folder in Windows Explorer, right click on the Desktop folder, choose Properties, head to the Location tab, and then enter the path to your Dropbox folder. After doing the same on your other machines, everything will stay in perfect sync.

This trick should have been obvious to me, but I never thought about it. If you actually use your desktop to house items you'll need later, this is a really great way to make sure you don't forget about any of it. Do note, however, that if you have application shortcuts on your desktop, you'll want to make sure they're stored in the same place on each machine, or they won't work. Hit the link to read more.

My Favorite Use for Dropbox: Synced Windows Desktop | Travis Pflanz via #tips

AppGarden for Android Rolls Together Dozens Of Useful Tools into One App [Android Downloads]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5890811/appgarden-for-android-rolls-together-dozens-of-useful-tools-into-one-app

AppGarden for Android Rolls Together Dozens Of Useful Tools into One App Android: If you have a stand-alone dictionary app, calculator app, tipping app, unit conversion app, and a dozen other apps designed for very specific purposes, AppGarden is a new super-app that wants to replace them all without sacrificing their features. The app is a collection of mini-apps that can do everything from bandwidth monitoring to unit conversion to stock quotes and URL shortening, all under the umbrella of one installation.

AppGarden needs a lot of permissions, but that's not unexpected when you look at the list of mini-apps built into it. One tap gets you access to features that you may have needed dozens of other apps to do, including a three-source dictionary, thesaurus, urban dictionary lookup, local weather and local time-zone information, Wikipedia lookup, random number and password generators, a stopwatch, and much more. The best part of the tool is that because it does so much, you can clean up the other apps you may have installed that do the same things.

XDA-Developers forum member plbelanger built AppGarden. The app is completely free (but ad-supported) and available now in the Android App Market. You can get the "pro" version to remove the in-app ads for $1.99. Would you try a single app to replace the half-dozen apps you may have installed, or do you prefer individual apps for discrete purposes? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

AppGarden | Android App Market via XDA-Developers

Violin Strings Made by Spiders Sound Smooth as Silk [Science]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5890563/violin-strings-made-by-spiders-sound-smooth-as-silk

The world's best violins come with strings made from catgut—which isn't typically from cats, but does definitely come from the inside of an animal. If you want a more vegetarian alternative, though, how about a set made from spider silk?

In a world first, Japanese researcher Dr Shigeyoshi Osaki has used thousands of strands of spider silk to produce a set of violin strings, and he claims they have a "soft and profound timbre" compared to gut, reports the BBC.

But how do you make a violin string from spider silk? Firstly, you need a lot of spiders; Osaki used 300. Next, you need to collect 3,000 or so lengths of their dragline silk—that's the type of silk they dangle from—and twist them together to make make a bundle. Once you have three bundles, twist them together, in the opposite direction, to make a single string. You'll have to do that four times to string an entire violin. The process is to be outlined in a forthcoming issue of Physical Review Letters.

Speaking to the BBC, Osaki said:

"Several professional violinists reported that spider strings... generated a preferable timbre, being able to create a new music," he wrote... The violin strings are a novel practical use for spider silk as a kind of high value-added product, and offer a distinctive type of timbre for both violin players and music lovers worldwide."

Sadly, the silk isn't quite as strong as catgut, and tends to snap a little more easily, but maybe the tone's worth it. If you can find enough spiders. [Physical Review Letters via BBC; Image: land_camera_land_camer]

Your Doctor's Chicken Scratch Handwriting Could Kill You [Drugs]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5890623/your-doctors-chicken-scratch-handwriting-could-kill-you

Your Doctor's Chicken Scratch Handwriting Could Kill You Fifty families with unsuspecting kids in Chatham, New Jersey recently received a breast cancer drug from their local CVS instead of the fluoride pills they asked for. The kids took tamoxifen for months before anyone noticed. Outrageous, right?

Actually, it's all too common. Pharmacies across the country mix up names and prescriptions, or misread doctors famously illegible scrawl shockingly often. Just this past year, a pregnant woman with a prescription for antibiotics instead received an abortion drug. Luckily the baby wasn't aborted but now has an increased risk of health problems. A teenage boy received a leukemia drug instead of pain medication for his extracted wisdom teeth. Ouch, and also the drug could have made him sterile but luckily only shot up his blood pressure. Walgreen's paid one family $33 million for a mix up that led to a 46-year-old woman's death. Another woman was apparently psyched to accidentally receive Oxycontin and tried to keep it (she was arrested). The list goes on.

But no one knows just how long the list is because there is no list. One estimate says 7,000 people die every year due to medication errors. But no agency is specifically tasked with keeping track of these mistakes. And when pharmacies settle with victims of mix ups, they usually demand silence in exchange for cash. The FDA and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices "accept" reports about problems, but pharmacies aren't required to send reports. The U.S. Pharmacopeia also tries to keep track of mistakes but the error program is voluntary.

So since no one's looking out for you, you'd best make sure you know what kinds of pills you're swallowing. Eric Pavlack of Pavlack Law in Indianapolis writes that he's represented his fair share of mix-ups that have ended in injury and health problems. And of course personal injury lawyers are all over these cases and stand to (are) making bank. But he has some good advice for next time you pick up a prescription:

1. When your doctor gives you a prescription, be sure you can read what it says.

2. When you pick up your prescription, take the bottle out, review it, and specifically ask the pharmacist if this is the medicine and dosage that your doctor prescribed. If the pharmacist is annoyed or dismissive, it's time to find another pharmacy.

3. When you look at the bottle, verify that the medicine matches your prescription and your name is on the container. If there are any discrepancies, insist on an explanation.

4. If you experience side-effects after taking a drug that seem inconsistent with the warnings, immediately contact your doctor or pharmacist.

The FDA does try to make sure drug names aren't too similar, and they've begun rolling out bar-code systems that increase accuracy. "E-prescriptions" are also becoming more common but not nearly enough. Why on earth are doctors still writing out prescriptions by hand? Hey docs and hospitals, welcome to the 21st century, please get on board with doing it electronically.

Scientists Create 230-Percent Efficient LED Bulbs [Lighting]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5890719/scientists-create-230+percent-efficient-led-bulbs

Light bulbs have always required more electricity than they need to produce light because the energy conversion process—changing electricity to light—was inefficient. But an MIT research team has just shown that an LED can actually give off more light than what it consumes in electricity.

Incandescent bulbs are the poster child of inefficient energy conversion. The devices heated a filament with an electrical current which not only produced light, but a lot of waste heat as well. Fluorescent bulbs, CFL's, and even conventional LED's all generate the same waste heat to varying (albeit much smaller) degrees but none has ever reached 100-percent efficiency—a mark known as "unity efficiency."

The team from MIT posited that while the bulbs energy requirements decrease at an exponential rate (halving the voltage reduces the input power by a factor of four), the lumen output would decrease linearly (halve the voltage and the lumens drop by half as well). This means that at some point, the amount of lumens the bulb is emitting would be more than the amount of energy spent—essentially "free" light.

Granted, this point occurs only when using minuscule amounts of electricity to power incredibly dim bulbs. In their experiments, the team was able to generate 69 picowatts of light from just 30 picowatts of energy. They did so by harnessing waste heat, which is caused by vibrations in the bulb's atomic lattice, to compensate for the losses in electrical power. The device also reacts to ambient heat in the room to increase its efficiency and power the bulb.

This process cools the bulb slightly and could eventually be employed to manufacture "cold" bulbs that don't generate any heat, only light. And, since the same physical mechanism from these tiny bulbs can be applied to any LED, they likely will be. [Physics via Physorg]

Image: Kristina Postnikova / Shutterstock

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