Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Wednesday, May 02, 2012

T-Mobile officially adds Prism to its budget lineup on May 6th for $20

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/t-mobile-prism-budget/

No surprise here, but T-Mobile has been prepping a low-end Android phone called the Prism for quite some time now, and it's finally time for the little guy to make its official debut. With a 3.5-inch HVGA display, 3.2MP fixed-focus camera and Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), it won't be the stuff dreams are made of. The CPU is also unspecified, which leads us to believe that T-Mo is leaving it out of the talking points for a reason -- yesterday's leak indicated that we can expect it to be 600MHz. That said, plenty of potential buyers wanting an inexpensive smartphone may be easily persuaded by its $20 price on contract (with a $50 mail-in rebate) or $150 without any sort of commitment. The Huawei-made Prism will make its first appearance at Best Buy on May 6th, followed by Walmart on the 9th and official retail channels on the 23rd. We have a press release awaiting you after the break, so take a peek if it interests you.

Continue reading T-Mobile officially adds Prism to its budget lineup on May 6th for $20

T-Mobile officially adds Prism to its budget lineup on May 6th for $20 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 May 2012 12:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RunCore's Mini DOM packs single-chip, SATA-based SSD into tiny places

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/runcore-mini-dom-single-chip-sata-ssd/

Fitting a truly quick solid-state drive into a small space isn't easy, and for that reason RunCore's new Mini DOM (Disk On Module) stands out from the crowd. It's billed as the first single-chip SSD to use a SATA interface (SATA II, to be exact), giving it that much more bandwidth than the pokey IDE and PATA DOMs of old while remaining under half the size of a regular mSATA drive. RunCore's own tests show it hitting about 113MB/s sequential reads and 47MB/s writes. Neither figure will knock the socks off even a mainstream budget SSD like Intel's SSD 330, but they're more than brisk enough for embedded gear. The drives can survive brutal conditions, too: an Industrial Grade trim level can survive temperatures as chilly as -40F and as scorching as 185F. So, the next time you pry open some military equipment and see one of these sitting inside, in three different formats and capacities from 8GB to 64GB, you'll know exactly what you're looking at.

Continue reading RunCore's Mini DOM packs single-chip, SATA-based SSD into tiny places

RunCore's Mini DOM packs single-chip, SATA-based SSD into tiny places originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 May 2012 14:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Docs adds 450 fonts and 60 templates, sadly includes Comic Sans

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/google-docs-adds-450-fonts-and-60-templates/

Google Docs has lagged behind offline apps in the number of fonts and pre-made layouts to choose from, but that's just changed with a much larger catalog for both. More than 60 new templates and 450 fonts are now on tap to use in your presentations and reports. This comes on top of a handful of other recent improvements, such as Google Drive support, searching the Life Photo archive and boosts to accessibility and spreadsheet layouts. Apps Script gets both a Google Drive tie-in and new publishing control, too. Be forewarned: Comic Sans is one of the new font options, and it's clearly not an April Fools' gag.

Google Docs adds 450 fonts and 60 templates, sadly includes Comic Sans originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 May 2012 19:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This Is What Happens When You Cross a Kinect With a DSLR [Video]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5906904/this-is-what-happens-when-you-cross-a-kinect-with-a-dslr

If you've ever wondered what a Kinect with DSLR image resolution might be like... well, you'll have to wait. But for now, this is the next best thing: called RGBDToolkit, it's a project designed to layer HD video over Kinect's depth maps. And it's pretty neat.

OK, so it's definitely not perfect yet, but what do you expect from a team of people strapping DSLRs to Kinects and waving them around?

The software—which you can get right here—allows a calibrated pair of Kinect and DSLR to capture HD video with 3D depth. Kind of. The results are trippy in places, ragged in others, and still require a heap of post-processing to come to life. But we all have to start somewhere—and right now, this is pretty cool. [RGBDToolkit]

Kanex unveils ATV Pro, gives VGA projectors the power of AirPlay mirroring

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/kanex-atv-pro/

If you wish you could use your legacy projector with your iPad for educational or business purposes, then crack a smile. Kanex has released the ATV Pro, a HDMI-to-VGA adapter that will allow older gear to get access to AirPlay mirroring. It's designed to get iPads into the classroom and even offers a 3.5mm audio-out port for stereo sound. Its available from today and will set you back $60.

Kanex unveils ATV Pro, gives VGA projectors the power of AirPlay mirroring originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 May 2012 01:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ivy Bridge-packing Inspiron 15R hiding in plain sight on Dell's Singapore site

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/dell-inspiron-15r-with-ivy-bridge/

It may not be as wavy as the alloyed 15R from a couple of years back, but this new "special edition" Inspiron is packing a few goodies that are far more interesting than a set of sinuous patterns. Thanks to a product page on Dell's Singapore website, we were able to spot one of the company's first Ivy Bridge machines, the Inspiron 15R. Per the listing, Dell's 15.6-inch laptop is sporting a hot-off-the-press Core i7-3612QM CPU, 6GB or 8GB of RAM (depending on configuration), AMD Radeon HD 7730M graphics and a 1TB, 5400RPM hard drive. Additionally, you'll be able to choose between two different displays: an HD WLED, 1366 x 768 or a 1920 x 1080, FHD True-Life. As of right now, the better-specced of the two models is carrying a hefty $1,749 price tag, while the lower-end 15R is $1,599. Those living in Singapore can hit up the source link below if you'd like to grab a piece of that fresh Ivy Bridge pie.

[Thanks, Jason]

Ivy Bridge-packing Inspiron 15R hiding in plain sight on Dell's Singapore site originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 May 2012 04:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vision Research Miro 120 footage hits the internet, looks amazing (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/miro-120-footage-wow/

Filmmaker Jim Geduldick got hold of a Phantom Miro M120 super-slo-mo camera and decided to put it to the test. The small-bodied camera can record a staggering 730fps at a full resolution of 1920 x 1200, but can go as 200,000fps if you aren't too fussed about image quality. After the break we've got the video that'll make you rush excitedly to the Vision Research website, only to find that prices start from $25,000 -- keeping it strictly for music video directors (and Engadget Show segments).

Continue reading Vision Research Miro 120 footage hits the internet, looks amazing (video)

Vision Research Miro 120 footage hits the internet, looks amazing (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 May 2012 05:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Olympus TG-1 iHS Tough leaks out at Best Buy, brings OLED to the rugged camera party

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/olympus-tg-1-ihs-tough-leaks-out-at-best-buy/

Looks like Olympus won't be waiting long to follow up on its 2012 Tough camera updates: Best Buy accidentally posted details of the TG-1 iHS Tough. Although it's since been taken down, the store listing showed that Olympus will be bringing a 3-inch, 610,000-pixel OLED display to the mix, making a preview of your scuba diving photos that much prettier. It shares the 12.3-megapixel CMOS sensor and 1080p movie making of the TG-820 iHS, with waterproofing now good for up to 40 feet. Olympus is, however, making a trade-off, where photogs get a shorter 4X optical zoom in return for a much wider f/2.0 aperture that will get those fish in focus. There's no word on when the TG-1 will ship, but Best Buy was showing a $400 price tag before the store took down its inadvertent sneak peek.

Olympus TG-1 iHS Tough leaks out at Best Buy, brings OLED to the rugged camera party originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 May 2012 05:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, May 01, 2012

Intel enters mini-computer fray with Core i5-powered NUC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/intel-mini-computer-core-i5-powered-nuc/

The mini-computer game has so far been dominated by upstarts such as FXI and Raspberry Pi, but a big name is getting ready to join the party, too. Intel first demoed its NUC (Next Unit of Computing) at PAX East in April, but details are just hitting the web now. One standout spec is the NUC's 10 x 10-cm (4 x 4-in) form factor, which places it between the Raspberry Pi and Mini-ITX boards in terms of size. Moreover, the NUC packs a Core i3 / Core i5 Sandy Bridge chip with last-gen Intel HD 3000 graphics, and sports Thunderbolt, HDMI and USB 3.0 sockets on the back. There's a heatsink and fan assembly on board, too, and the mini PCIe connectors leave the door open for added functionality. Because it runs an Intel Core i5 CPU instead of the ARM processors found in options such as the Cotton Candy and Raspberry Pi, the NUC promises to be a more powerful mini-desktop. But don't get too excited: Intel envisions it as a component in digital signage instead. Look for Intel's mini-PC at a kiosk near you in the second half of 2012, when it's expected to drop.

Intel enters mini-computer fray with Core i5-powered NUC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 12:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rimac Concept_One EV now a reality: cash in those stock options (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/rimac-concept_one-ev-reality-980K/

If you don't have a sonorous v-something under the hood guzzling gas, do you still have a supercar? Judging by the nearly one million large needed to buy its Concept_One high performance EV, Rimac clearly thinks so. Since our last dalliance with the sinuous eco-powerhouse, the Croatian maker has announced that it's producing 88 units priced at $980K each -- with its carbon fibre body, 1088 HP, 190 mph top speed, and 2.8 second 0-62 mph time all still intact. Sure, there's no Lamborghini rumble, but at those speeds you'll be gone so quickly no one would appreciate it anyway. Watch it cruise sedately in the video after the break.

Continue reading Rimac Concept_One EV now a reality: cash in those stock options (video)

Rimac Concept_One EV now a reality: cash in those stock options (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 22:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel enters mini-computer fray with Core i5-powered NUC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/intel-mini-computer-core-i5-powered-nuc/

The mini-computer game has so far been dominated by upstarts such as FXI and Raspberry Pi, but a big name is getting ready to join the party, too. Intel first demoed its NUC (Next Unit of Computing) at PAX East in April, but details are just hitting the web now. One standout spec is the NUC's 10 x 10-cm (4 x 4-in) form factor, which places it between the Raspberry Pi and Mini-ITX boards in terms of size. Moreover, the NUC packs a Core i3 / Core i5 Sandy Bridge chip with last-gen Intel HD 3000 graphics, and sports Thunderbolt, HDMI and USB 3.0 sockets on the back. There's a heatsink and fan assembly on board, too, and the mini PCIe connectors leave the door open for added functionality. Because it runs an Intel Core i5 CPU instead of the ARM processors found in options such as the Cotton Candy and Raspberry Pi, the NUC promises to be a more powerful mini-desktop. But don't get too excited: Intel envisions it as a component in digital signage instead. Look for Intel's mini-PC at a kiosk near you in the second half of 2012, when it's expected to drop.

Intel enters mini-computer fray with Core i5-powered NUC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 12:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Register | source

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BlackBerry 10 dev alpha unit unveiled: 4.2-inch screen, 1280 x 768 resolution

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/blackberry-10-dev-unit-unveiled-4-2-inch-screen-1280-x-7/

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. In this instance, it just leaves us wanting more. The image you see above is RIM's official dev unit for its just launched BlackBerry 10 platform. If it looks familiar, that's because you've seen it not too long ago when leaks of the much anticipated device began to hit the world wide rumor-mongering web. Waterloo's still keeping us in the dark as to the glorified guts this austere fella's packing, but it did confirm these alpha units will feature a jaw-dropping 4.2-inch, 1280 x 768 display that bests the 720p panels found on other similarly-sized handsets -- there's no word yet on if it's PenTile, though it likely doesn't matter much at that resolution. We've also learned the device sports 16GB internal storage and 1GB of RAM. No, this isn't your mother's BlackBerry and for good reason too, as the beleaguered mobile titan's got quite a bit of its continued prosperity riding on this QNX-based slab. Wondering where its QWERTY cousin is? We are too, but without any official announcements, you'll just have to stay tuned to see what fruits this week's BlackBerry World will bear.

BlackBerry 10 dev alpha unit unveiled: 4.2-inch screen, 1280 x 768 resolution originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 09:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Researchers make an RGB laser with a regular laser and quantum dots

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/researchers-make-an-rgb-laser-with-a-regular-laser-and-quantum-d/

The problem with lasers is, they tend to generate just a single color or light.To get more than one hue requires actually combining more than one type of laser to produce red, green and blue. But researchers at Brown University have figured out a solution to creating small RGB lasers by using colloidal quantum dots, or CQDs. The idea of leveraging the properties of the thin film isn't new, but past attempts to use CQDs in semiconductor lasers have failed because the necessary energy tends to wind up as heat instead of light. The work around scientists found was to excite the various dot sizes with a laser then filter out original light source. Unfortuneately, the solution is far from practical for use in commercial products, but it does represent a milestone in the march towards a single-material multi-wavelength laser. For more details check out the source link.

Researchers make an RGB laser with a regular laser and quantum dots originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 06:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ars Technica | source

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Monday, April 30, 2012

15-inch Samsung Series 7 laptops follow big brother across Intel's Ivy Bridge

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/30/15-inch-samsung-series-7-ivy-bridge/

Intel's bridge is a popular one and, while we don't know just what the toll to cross is, today the gatekeeper has a little extra change jingling in his pocket. Samsung is announcing that its 15-inch Series 7 Chronos laptops now offer Ivy Bridge processors, joining the 17-inch models that have already have made their way across. Thanks to a Samsung Canada leak last week, we knew the slightly more portable flavor wouldn't be far behind. NVIDIA graphics are onboard, joining the Core i7 processors and 1TB hard drives plus other pleasantries like backlit keyboards. No word on when these machines and their "uncompromised performance" will arrive at retail, but we hear getting over that bridge is the tricky part, so it shouldn't be long now.

15-inch Samsung Series 7 laptops follow big brother across Intel's Ivy Bridge originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 07:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sunday, April 29, 2012

Google Drive now offers a bumpy ride for Chrome OS dev-channel users

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/27/google-drive-now-available-for-chrome-os-dev-channel/

You knew it was gonna happen, but Google's cloud-based storage service has now been married to its cloud-based operating system, as Chrome OS users who receive updates via the dev-channel may now benefit from integration with Google Drive. Most notably, Drive will now appear as an additional folder within the file manager, although the implementation isn't without its quirks. For example, our peers at TechCrunch described the inability to make these files available for offline access. It goes without saying that dev-channel releases aren't for everyone, but if you enjoy living on the edge, then be sure to take a peep at what Google has in store for the inevitable mainstream release.

Google Drive now offers a bumpy ride for Chrome OS dev-channel users originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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