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Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Microsoft Office 15 revealed, simpler UI with touch-friendly features

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/microsoft-office-15-revealed-simpler-ui-with-touch-friendly-fea/

Microsoft Office 15 revealed, simpler UI with touch-friendly features

Microsoft started seeding its Office 15 technical preview to a select few partners earlier this year to get it ready for public consumption, and The Verge managed to get a sneak peek at some of the software's new features. As you would expect, the newest Office version got a dose of Metro style, and now has a cleaner interface and touch mode to make browsing documents and presentations as easy on a tablet as it is on a desktop PC. Word also received improvements, like double-click to zoom, smoother scrolling, video embeds and the ability to share documents online through a browser. Excel received some formatting controls and chart animations, among other improvements, while PowerPoint has made it easier to drop Excel charts into presentations without futzing with formatting. Outlook now has weather forecasts built in, in-line replies, and greater multiple email account support, and OneNote received improved tables support. So, it looks like the gang in Redmond is trying to stay a step ahead of its open-source competition, but we won't know for sure until Office 15 gets in the hands of the people this summer.

Microsoft Office 15 revealed, simpler UI with touch-friendly features originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adobe Lightroom 4 is a 'substantial upgrade' with a 50-percent price drop

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/adobe-lightroom-4/

Adobe Lightroom 4

Still content with Lightroom 3.5? Check out Version 4, which has just emerged from public beta, and you may decide it's time for an upgrade. The revision brings a long list of new features, including improved highlight and shadow processing, better video support, geo-tagging and a Book Module for self-publishing photo books via the Blurb online service. Then there's the clement pricing: $79 as an upgrade or $149 new. Still not sure? DPReview has a detailed assessment at the link below, so don't be jumping to conclusions til you've read it.

Continue reading Adobe Lightroom 4 is a 'substantial upgrade' with a 50-percent price drop

Adobe Lightroom 4 is a 'substantial upgrade' with a 50-percent price drop originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 03:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Develop Android apps from within Android using AIDE (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/07/develop-android-using-aide-video/

Develop Android apps from within Android with AIDE

Replication is a necessary survival technique in nature, and now Android apps have joined the self-preservation fray with a new piece of software known as the Android Java IDE (AIDE). An integrated development environment for -- don't you know it -- Android, the package provides would-be coders with a complete set of development tools that include code completion, formatting, refactoring, real-time error checking and more. It's said to be fully compatible with Eclipse projects, and best of all, it's entirely free. So, if you can appreciate this bit of Zen and the Art of Android Development, be sure to check out AIDE today -- and get yourself a keyboard for your tablet while you're at it. Those who'd like a visual introduction will find a video after the break.

[Thanks, Matt]

Continue reading Develop Android apps from within Android using AIDE (video)

Develop Android apps from within Android using AIDE (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Mar 2012 06:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Coffee Shop Buzz Is Good For Your Creativity [Working]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5890924/coffee-shop-buzz-is-good-for-your-creativity

Coffee Shop Buzz Is Good For Your Creativity Head over to your neighborhood coffee shop if you want to get that novel finished or make major headway on your project. A new study suggest the ambient background noise or buzz of conversation in public places can fuel creativity.

Many of us are more productive and focused at coffee shops because we're working in public. This new study published in the Journal of Consumer Research included several experiments and involved more than 300 people. It showed that those who had ambient noise in the background (70 decibels, the level that you'd hear in a bustling cafe) scored higher in objective word-association tests and their answers were rated more creative by other participants.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the study:

Adds to research suggesting that small doses of distraction - including hard-to-read fonts - prompt the mind to work at a more abstract level, which is also a more creative level. [...]There's a sweet spot between silence and din.

Do you feel more creative at the coffee shop or with conversations buzzing in the background?

A Creative Buzz | The Wall Street Journal via GigaOM

Photo by Kevin Harber

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

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