Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Friday, August 31, 2012

Android 4.0 now available for LG Optimus 2X... in South Korea, anyway

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/31/android-4-now-available-for-lg-optimus-2x/

Once upon a time, the LG Optimus 2X was a big deal. After all, it introduced the masses to the NVIDIA Tegra 2. Following nearly a year of neglect, this handset -- supposedly built for enthusiasts -- is now eligible for an update to Android 4.0. Unfortunately, the software isn't yet available globally, and only those in South Korea can get in on the action. If that weren't discouraging enough, LG Canada remains insistent that it won't ever distribute Ice Cream Sandwich for the Optimus 2X. Whoever still owns this handset, ever get the feeling that you deserve better?

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile

Android 4.0 now available for LG Optimus 2X... in South Korea, anyway originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 06:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Huawei Ascend G600 announced: 4.5-inch qHD screen, dual-core processor, mid-range price (hands-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/31/huawei-ascend-g600-hands-on/

Alongside its new Emotion UI, Huawei debuted a handful of new devices in Berlin this week, including this; the 4.5-inch Ascend G600. Slotting in below the existing Ascend P1, but above the rest of Huawei's phone range, the qHD screen is accompanied by a dual-core 1.2GHz processor and Android 4.0.4. There's 4GB of built-in storage, while the micro-SD slot can add up 32GB of extra space. The phone's shell is coated in a glossy finish similar to the Ascend P1, while the screen is protected by a layer of Gorilla Glass. Beneath that, Huawei has plumped for a 2,000 mAh battery inside the 300 euro (around $375) device, while removing the cover reveals an NFC chip embedded behind it. We got our hands on the phone here at IFA -- skip after the break for our hands-on video and first impressions.

Gallery: Huawei Ascend G600 hands-on

Continue reading Huawei Ascend G600 announced: 4.5-inch qHD screen, dual-core processor, mid-range price (hands-on)

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Huawei Ascend G600 announced: 4.5-inch qHD screen, dual-core processor, mid-range price (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 06:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD switches processors, hits shops starting September

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/31/huawei-mediapad-10-fhd-arriving-september/

The Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD has made a somewhat circuitous journey across our eyes, through our hands and past the FCC's screwguns. Finally we know when you can get one, as they go on sale starting in September. The devices are already available in China, and will be rolled out to Europe next month with the rest of the world "to follow," according to Huawei. Its specs have changed since we last saw it, as it'll now feature a quad-core 1.4GHz Cortex-A9 processor instead of the K3 Balong CPU we saw earlier. Everything else stays the same: Android 4.0, a 10.1-inch, 1,920 x 1,200 IPS display, an 8-megapixel rear camera that captures 1080P video, and 150Mbps LTE compatibility. We've already expressed our ardor about its gorgeous screen, great aluminum body and decent performance -- if you feel the same, check the PR to see when it's coming to your neck of the woods.

Continue reading Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD switches processors, hits shops starting September

Filed under: Laptops, Tablets

Huawei MediaPad 10 FHD switches processors, hits shops starting September originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 06:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thursday, August 30, 2012

FindTheData Compares Tons of Data Side-By-Side, Is a Research Gold Mine [Search]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5939276/findthedata-compares-tons-of-data-side+by+side-is-a-research-gold-mine

FindTheData Compares Tons of Data Side-By-Side, Is a Research Gold Mine FindTheData is an incredibly cool tool for comparing all kinds of information—from job salaries to auto fuel economy to celebrities' heights and weights. The webapp parses data from all kinds of public databases and other sources to deliver all these facts.

FindTheData is part of the FindTheBest family of comparison sites. While FindTheBest compares dozens of categories to help you make better decisions (e.g., pick the best college), FindTheData is more of a research/reference tool.

Once you browse to or find the datapoint you want to compare (e.g., libraries, hurricanes, or serial killers), you can filter the search results, select individual items to compare side-by-side, and see more in-depth details.

Fair warning: It might be hard to stop browsing the databases, especially if you're a trivia buff.

FindTheData

AMD bares all with Southern Islands GPU shots

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/30/amd-southern-islands-chip-shots/

AMD's been showing off its forthcoming wares at Hot Chips, and has taken the rare step of releasing detailed die shots for its Southern Islands GPUs. According to AnandTech, the company's shy about releasing such details, since it's aiming to beat rival NVIDIA to the punch by several months. Still, it's letting us humble members of the public peer inside the gallery we've got for you below, just as long as you pinkie-swear that you won't be selling the secrets to the boys in Santa Clara, okay?

Gallery: AMD Southern Islands Die Shots

Filed under: Desktops

AMD bares all with Southern Islands GPU shots originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 19:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZTE Grand X IN: early benchmarks for the latest Intel-powered smartphone

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/30/zte-grand-x-in-benchmarks/

It's a shame when phones feel outdated even as they hit the market, but that's sadly what happened with the original Grand X. However, as you may have heard a few hours ago, the handset's just had a healthy revamp. The spec-bumped version is called the Grand X IN -- it's due out next month and we've just had a chance to run some early benchmarks to test the performance of its vanilla Android 4 OS and new Intel engine. Among a range of improvements, including an 8-megapixel camera with burst mode (instead of the Grand X's dowdy five with no burst) and 1GB of RAM (instead of 512MB), the biggest change is that processor: out goes the old NVIDIA Tegra 2 and in comes a Medfield Z2460. Yep, that's the exact same chip we've seen put to good effect in the Orange San Diego, but how does it fare in this device? Click past the break for a head-to-head comparison with the San Diego, which is cheaper but slightly less well-built (and still running Gingerbread), and the Galaxy Nexus, which costs more but comes with a far better display.

Continue reading ZTE Grand X IN: early benchmarks for the latest Intel-powered smartphone

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

ZTE Grand X IN: early benchmarks for the latest Intel-powered smartphone originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 12:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CyberPowerPC intros Zeus-M Ultrabook series, prices start at $679

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/30/cyberpowerpc-zeus-m-ultrabook-series/

There's something going on in Berlin that's left us with an array of upcoming laptops to look forward to, but believe it or not, there are still others looking for the spotlight in the portable department. And, well, such is the case with CyberPowerPC and its recently unveiled Zeus-M Ultrabook series. For starters, the 14.1-inch (1366 x 768) M unit alone starts off at a mere $679, which will get you a third-gen Core i5-3317U CPU paired with decent HD 4000 graphics, USB 3.0, a 60GB SSD and 4GB of RAM -- or, there's an option to make it 8GB for only 20 more bucks. Meanwhile, the pricier, better-specced M2 is $799 and boasts the same Intel processor as its M brethren, but does come standard with 16GB of RAM and a 120GB solid-state drive. Both M Ultrabooks are available now, with CyberPowerPC saying they'll be ready to ship within 5 to 10 business days.

Filed under: Laptops

CyberPowerPC intros Zeus-M Ultrabook series, prices start at $679 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 15:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba 84-inch 4K Quad Full HD TV hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/30/toshiba-84-inch-4k-tv-hands-on/

84 seems to be the magic number at IFA. 84 inches, that is, when it comes to 4K TVs. Sony announced its jumbo 4K set at yesterday's press conference, and now Toshiba has returned with a matching high-res model of its own. The Toshiba set has a slightly sleeker housing, aided by the fact that it didn't have side-mounted speakers as with Sony's flavor -- though, if you're able to afford a (yet-unpriced) TV of this caliber, a premium surround-sound rig better be on the agenda as well. The picture quality, as you might expect, was fantastic. You'll see individual pixels once you're within a few feet of the display, but given its 84-inch footprint, you're going to want to position yourself quite a distance from the panel in order to take it all in.

Toshiba had three sets on display, running through loops of game play, cityscapes and some decked-out human models. The ambient setting was favorably configured, and with ideal content colors were vibrant and the picture was incredibly bright and sharp during our demo, even when viewed from a slight angle. There was a hint of reflection, but only when a dark image popped into frame, despite a multitude of visual noise in the area. You'll need to see Toshiba's 84-inch, 3,840 x 2,160-pixel TV in person to get the full effect (perhaps after it launches early next year), though you can take a (low-res) peek in our gallery below and the video after the break. You can als! o get a feel for the size -- keep an eye out for the Galaxy Note in the bottom left corner in the shot above.

Gallery: Toshiba 84-inch 4K TV eyes-on

Continue reading Toshiba 84-inch 4K Quad Full HD TV hands-on (video)

Filed under: Displays, HD

Toshiba 84-inch 4K Quad Full HD TV hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 07:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung 22-inch Transparent Showcase Panel eyes-on at IFA 2012

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/30/samsung-22-inch-transparent-showcase-panel-eyes-on/

What's the future of advertising? If Samsung has any say so, it's going to be transparent showcase displays. Here at IFA 2012, the company demoed one such 22-inch, fishbowl-like case outfitted with a see-through front panel capable of transmitting video imagery, in addition to hosting a physical product within. The glass enclosure's no mere dummy unit, as it's also outfitted with speakers, a built-in PC, LED strip and offers the option to include a touch screen. To highlight just what this kit's capable of, a looped Gucci ad played on its front screen, transitioning from near solid to completely transparent. It's really something that needs to be seen IRL, but take a tour of the gallery below to get a glimpse of what's to come.

Gallery: Samsung 22-inch Transparent Display eyes-on

Filed under: Displays

Samsung 22-inch Transparent Showcase Panel eyes-on at IFA 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 07:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic's 103-inch glasses-less 3D plasma panel arrives at IFA (eyes-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/30/panasonics-103-inch-glasses-less-3d-plasma-panel-arrives-at-ifa/

While it might not be as huge as the Super Hi Vision panel lingering in the same darkened theater, Panasonic's new 103-inch demonstration display has the ability to offer up a 3D view to five different viewers -- as long as they're in the right visual sweet spot. The effect is subtle, natural, although colors felt little bit muted compared to the 145-inch prototype, with the demo videos drawing us in to its demo reel, rather than pushing out an image. The plasma display panel prototype is also glasses-free, with the 4K2K screen able to push out enough pixels to offer these multiple viewing angles. Again, there's no substitute for being there yourself.

Gallery: Panasonic 103-inch 3D PDP eyes-on

Follow all of our IFA 2012 coverage by heading to our event hub!

Filed under: Displays, HD

Panasonic's 103-inch glasses-less 3D plasma panel arrives at IFA (eyes-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 08:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sifteo Cubes go next-generation, square gaming gets more portable (update)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/30/sifteo-cubes-next-generation/

It's hard to believe, but Sifteo's interactive gaming Cubes first went on sale just over a year ago. Fast forward to the present, and the company has unveiled version two of the MIT-born blocks. If you'll recall, the 1.7-inch squares let you play interactive table-top games, each featuring a 1.5-inch LCD screen, motion sensing and wireless connectivity. With this next-gen variant, Sifteo's improved the graphics, added capacitive touch to the screen (the original acted like a physical button) and doubled the amount of Cubes that can interact at once to 12. The V2 Cubes also come packed with a dedicated, AAA-powered, wireless base station / speaker that stores your titles, sparing the need for a computer to play as was the case with the originals -- an onboard USB allows downloaded files to be transferred from your computers. Developers looking to create content for the device will also pleased to know that Sifteo's releasing its next SDK on October 1st.

Ready for some tangibly-cute Cube gameplay? Pre-orders begin today at Sifteo's website, priced at $130 for 3 Cubes with a base station and five games, and $30 for each additional cube. They're set to ship in November, so in the meantime you'll find details in the video demo and press release after the break.

Gallery: Sifteo Cubes next generation

Update: For those curious, we've learned that the original Cubes are not compatible with the new ones, but Sifteo has emailed owners with a $50 voucher that they can use toward upgrading.

Continue reading Sifteo Cubes go next-generation, square gaming gets more portable (update)

Filed under: Misc, Gaming

Sifteo Cubes go next-generation, square gaming gets more portable (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG Optimus L9 hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/30/lg-optimus-l9-hands-on/

LG Optimus L9 handson

Thought LG didn't have any more to add to the L-Style series to offer the world? Behold the L9. Announced yesterday, the device made an appearance on the IFA show room floor this week, boasting a big and bright 4.7-inch IPS display that makes its brethren look downright shrimpy by comparison. In spite of the display size, the phone feels light, with an 8.9-millimeter profile.

It's important to note here that, in spite of being the king of the L-Series, it's still part of a budget lineup, and as such, the phone's body feels a bit plasticky, and the textured rear had a bit of trouble staying snapped in place in the two models (black and white) that we played with. Specwise, we're talking a 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM inside, 4GB of storage (expandable via a microSD slot) and a 2,150mAh battery. The handset's rocking Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0.4, to be precise).

The handset's got a fairly nice bezel, with the front-facing camera on the top and a home button on the bottom, flanked by illuminating back and menu touch buttons. A larger, 5MP camera is located on the rear of the device, above the flash. Vodafone has the handset priced at €50.90 subsidized and €340 unsubsidized. Peep a video of the handset, after the break.

Continue reading LG Optimus L9 hands-on (video)

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

LG Optimus L9 hands-on (video)! ori ginally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 09:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG 27-inch Personal Smart TV hands-on (updated: video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/30/lg-27-inch-personal-smart-tv-hands-on/

LG 27inch Personal Smart TV handson updated video

Designed for more realistic living quarters, LG's unleashed its Personal Smart TV to the IFA crowds. With a 27-inch IPS display, 1920 x 1080, you'll find the typical stable of connectivity options, including two HDMI, three USB, component, LAN and SCART connections. The screen seemed well, lit with the IPS panel offering suitably reliable views from most angles. It's a pretty stylish-looking TV too, with a rough metallic finish to the bezel, which while not jaw-dropping, is still suitably narrow. The Smart TV functions were also navigable through LG's Smart Remote, offering a WiiMote-ish approach to media browsing. Our demo model was already packed with German media content -- in both 2D and 3D -- ready for when it launches here next month. It'll be appearing in shops across Europe around the same time, although there's no word on the set landing on US shores. Check out our quick hands-on video after the break.

Follow all of our IFA 2012 coverage by heading to our event hub!

Gallery: LG 27-inch Personal Smart TV