Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Thursday, September 06, 2012

STMicroelectronics details pressure sensor in your Galaxy S III, can tell when you're mountaineering

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/06/stmicroelectronics-details-pressure-sensor-in-your-galaxy-s-iii/

If you're the sort to tear down your Galaxy S III, you might have noticed a mysterious STMicroelectronics LSP331AP chip lurking on the motherboard. While we've known that it's a pressure sensor, we now know that it's a new generation -- new enough that ST is just getting to explaining the technology to a mainstream audience. The piezoresistor-equipped MEMS chip tracks altitude through atmospheric pressure with an uncanny knack for precision; it can tell when you've crossing between floors, which could be more than handy for future iterations of indoor navigation. Don't worry if you're an extreme sports junkie that might push the limits, either. The sensor can do its job at the kinds of pressure you'd normally see when 32,800 feet high or 5,900 feet below sea level, which should keep it working even if you're checking your phone during a climb up K2 or a HALO skydive. We don't know if anyone beyond Samsung is lined up to use ST's pressure sensor in their devices, but we wouldn't be surprised if it becomes a mainstay for smartphones and outdoor gear in the near fut! ure.

Continue reading STMicroelectronics details pressure sensor in your Galaxy S III, can tell when you're mountaineering

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

STMicroelectronics details pressure sensor in your Galaxy S III, can tell when you're mountaineering originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 03:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Synology launches DiskStation DS413j NAS server for your own private cloud

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/06/synology-launches-diskstation-ds413/

If you like your data local, but crave remote access, you've now got options like Synology's new DiskStation DS413j -- a network-attached storage (NAS) server for your own private cloud. The feature-packed box has four drive bays for a total of 16TB storage, and you can mix and match HDDs of different sizes without losing the comfort of RAID. Along with what you'd expect from NAS, its media server will stream content to your console or TV via DLNA or UPnP and push tunes to your stereo, with iOS and Android apps for couch DJing. The server will sync your files across computers if you wish, and give you access to all that data on the move via the internet or mobile apps. And, if you need more files, you can download directly using your favorite protocols -- it'll even automate them if you trust RSS feeds to make recommendations. All this can be yours for around $380, depending on the retailer, but don't forget to budget for drives to fill those empty bays.

Gallery: Synology DiskStation DS413j

Continue reading Synology launches DiskStation DS413j NAS server for your own private cloud

Filed under: Storage, Networking

Synology launches DiskStation DS413j NAS server for your own private cloud originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 04:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony NEX-VG30 camcorder images leak alongside rumor of $1,800 November arrival

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/06/sony-nex-vg30-camcorder-images-rumor/

The streetwise kids at SonyAlphaRumors say they're in possession of legit, leaked images of a forthcoming Sony NEX-VG30 camcorder, which they received from an unnamed tipster. The images themselves reveal very little about what's new in this model, and even the tipster seems to mainly confirm specs that are already present in the VG20 -- such as the big, 16-megapixel Exmor APS-C sensor (although it may have been upgraded), plus 24p and 60p recording at 1080. However, the top-down picture after break does reveal a new, healthy-sized zoom control on the grip, plus there's the happy possibility of an OLED XGA viewfinder. The official announcement may well reveal other changes under the hood, but in the meantime the tipster reports a November release with a $1,800 price tag -- which could either be a price drop or a hike depending on whether it's body-only.

Continue reading Sony NEX-VG30 camcorder images leak alongside rumor of $1,800 November arrival

Filed under: Cameras

Sony NEX-VG30 camcorder images leak alongside rumor of $1,800 November arrival originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 06:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ICS now on one in five Android devices, Jelly Bean grows to 1.2 percent

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/06/jelly-bean-ics-android-distribution-stat/

Last month was the first time Jelly Bean poked it's head up in the Android distribution charts, debuting at 0.8 percent. It's bumped that stat by a significant proportion, if not a crazy absolute amount, to 1.2 percent of smartphones and tablets using Google's OS. But ICS 4.0 was the biggest gainer, moving up sharply from 15.9 percent to 20.8 of devices at the expense of Gingerbread 2.3, which dropped about 3.5 percent from July. Still, at 57.2 percent saturation, that version is still the richest Android confection by a wide margin. Our aging Galaxy S contributed a bit to its demise this month, thanks to CyanogenMod, so where does your own device sit? Check the source for a further breakdown of the stats.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software

ICS now on one in five Android devices, Jelly Bean grows to 1.2 percent originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 06:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Samsung asks for South Korean injunction against LG for allegedly stealing OLED tech

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/05/samsung-asks-for-south-korean-injunction-against-lg/

LG and Samsung have had to live with each other as cornerstones of the South Korean economy, but that uncomfortable balance might just have been knocked off-kilter through an escalating legal battle. Samsung has filed for an injunction against LG for supposedly coercing 11 Samsung researchers (already indicted in July) into leaking the secrets behind its OLED screens, including 18 pieces of technology and 21 related documents. The accuser wants 1 billion won (about $879,771) in compensation for every piece of technology that might have slipped out. Suffice it to say that LG isn't happy with being labeled as a thief -- it notes that LG screens use white OLEDs instead of Samsung's RGB technique, reducing its incentive to swipe anything Samsung makes. LG even contends that Samsung is just trying to hide its embarrassment at losing OLED TV demo units that were headed to IFA 2012. Without a clear resolution in sight, there's every indication the legal dispute could become very ugly.

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment

Samsung asks for South Korean injunction against LG for allegedly stealing OLED tech originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 13:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remains of the Day: You Can Now Automate Google Drive with IFTTT [For What It's Worth]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5940428/remains-of-the-day-you-can-now-automate-google-drive-with-ifttt

Remains of the Day: You Can Now Automate Google Drive with IFTTT IFTTT adds a Google Drive Channel, Wal-Mart is testing a new mobile payment system, Amazon adds more movies to its Prime Instant Video library, and CyanogenMod 10 will get new Quick Message feature.

IFTTT Introduces Google Drive Channel The popular web automation service If Then Then That has launched their Google Drive Channel, which will now allow users to automate certain tasks using Google's storage solution and office suite. Some new Google Drive recipes include saving your tweets to a spreadsheet, backing up your Instagram photos, and copying tagged Facebook photos to your Google Drive. [Twitter]
Exclusive: Walmart Tests iPhone App Checkout Feature Wal-Mart is testing a new payment system that would allow shoppers to scan items using their iPhones, put them in bags while they continue to shop, and then quickly pay at a self-checkout counter. The system would also include features such as allowing shoppers to create lists and seeing which items are in stock. [Reuters]
Amazon and EPIX Announce New Prime Instant Video Agreement – Prime Instant Video Selection Has More Than Doubled Since the Launch of Kindle Fire Last Year Amazon has added more than 3,000 movies to its Prime Instant Video collection, including popular titles like The Avengers, Iron Man 2, Thor, The Hunger Games, and Pananormal Activity 2. [Amazon]
You Spoke, We Listened The CyanogenMod team is launching a new feature in their Jelly Beanified CM10 build called Quick Message. It will display a pop-up notification whenever you receive a text message, and will allow you to reply from within the pop-up. Quick Message will appear soon on an upcoming nightly build. [Google+]

Haiku Deck Is The Easiest Way to Create Gorgeous Presentations with an iPad [Video]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5940617/haiku-deck-is-the-easiest-way-to-create-gorgeous-presentations-with-an-ipad

iPad: Haiku Deck makes creating beautiful presentations a cinch and a joy, whether you have design skills or not. You can quickly apply new layouts, photo backdrops, and font styles to get the perfect look for your pitch or story.

The free iPad app comes with a handful of themes to quickly stylize your deck, and additional themes are available for purchase at about $2 a pop.

In addition to the themes, Haiku Deck lets you dress up your slides with background images from millions of Creative Commons licensed photos (easy to search through using keywords) or you can import your own.

To add text, change the layout, reorder slides, or do anything else, it's just a matter of tapping and swiping. The app is designed for simplicity and the navigation is intuitive and fluid.

Most importantly, the presentations Haiku Deck creates are simply stunning. Audiences will be grateful you use this app; rather than slides stuffed with too many ideas, ugly clipart, and other hallmarks of terrible business presentations, the Haiku Deck slides are elegant and emphasize your points.

Presentations can be shared via email, Twitter, or Facebook, and shared decks can be viewed in any browser (at Haikudeck.com). Decks can also be exported to PowerPoint or PDF.

You can download the app now on iTunes and have a beautiful presentation in less than half an hour.

NVIDIA working on Linux support for Optimus automatic graphics switching

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/05/nvidia-linux-optimus-driver/

Linux godfather Linus Torvalds may have a frosty relationship with NVIDIA, but that hasn't stopped the company from improving its hardware's support for the open-source operating system. In fact, the chipset-maker is working on the OS' compatibility with its Optimus graphics switching tech, which would enable laptops to conserve power by swapping between discrete and integrated graphics on the fly. In an email sent to a developer listserv, NVIDIA software engineer Aaron Plattner revealed that he's created a working proof of concept with a driver. There's no word on when the Tux-loving masses may see Optimus support, but we imagine that day can't come soon enough for those who want better battery life while gaming on their mobile machines.

Filed under: Laptops, Software

NVIDIA working on Linux support for Optimus automatic graphics switching originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 06:29:00 ! EDT. Pl ease see our terms for use of feeds.

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Contour+2 review: the best consumer helmet camera on the market

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/05/contour-plus-2-review/

More Info

It's been a little while since the two major players in the helmet cam industry, Contour and GoPro, refreshed their wares. Contour launched its Contour+ and Roam models last summer, while GoPro delivered the HD Hero2 late last year. As our extensive testing can attest, both companies put out great cameras, but with Sony about to get in the game with its $199 Action Cam, the pair need to raise their games -- and that's exactly what Contour is doing with the Contour+2.

This logically named fol! low-up t o the Contour+ is a big step forward on many levels, still delivering 1080p recording while offering many design and software improvements, including the ability to use your smartphone not just as a viewfinder, but to start and stop recording, too. Plus, at $400, it's $100 cheaper than last year's offering -- and that's despite coming with a fully waterproof case. Join us as we put it through its paces.

Gallery: Contour+2 review

Continue reading Contour+2 review: the best consumer helmet camera on the market

Contour+2 review: the best consumer helmet camera on the market originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 09:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watching 49 Quadrocopters Fly and Swarm Across the Night Sky Is Pretty Freaky [Video]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5940510/watching-49-quadrocopters-fly-and-swarm-across-the-night-sky-is-pretty-freaky

There's something unnerving about watching quadrocopters fly and dart around. It gets even creepier when the quadrocopters team up and become a giant swarm, morphing into different shapes like a living organism. So you can imagine what watching 49 quadrocopters littering the sky feels like. It's like seeing aliens on Earth.

The awesome show was blasted on the sky of Linz, Austria. According to DVICE, The AscTec Hummingbird quadrocopters teamed up for a show called, "The Cloud in the Web" and was programmed by Ars Electronica Futurelab and Ascending Technologies GmbH. I would probably pee my pants if I saw these flying killers in the sky. [AEC.at via DVICE]

$49 Cubieboard for developers is heavy on specs, light on the wallet

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/05/cubieboard-for-developers/

You've already got plenty of options if you're in the market for a developer board, but it might be worth taking a look at the new $49 Cubieboard, which packs quite the specs given its price point. The board hosts a 1GHz AllWinner A10 Cortex A8 CPU with Mali-400 GPU, 1GB of RAM and 4 gigs of onboard storage. For ins and outs, you're looking at 1080p HDMI, Ethernet, one MultiMediaCard (MMC) slot, a SATA port, two USB hosts, an IR sensor and 96 extender pins for solder junkies. Cubieboard's Wiki page lists an additional MMC slot and USB OTG, but as this doesn't check out in the pictures, we assume they've either been scrapped, or they'll be added on for later production runs. As you would expect, several versions of Linux and Android are supported by the Raspberry Pi bully, which is expected to start shipping to select developers sometime this week. There's no word on when it may be available for general consumption, but by then you'll hopefully have a better product anyway -- if the pros have done their job, that is.

Filed under: Misc

$49 Cubieboard for developers is heavy on specs, light on the wallet originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Sep 2012 02:59:0! 0 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, September 04, 2012

Salt Water-Powered Lamp Could Run on Your Tears [Lights]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5940208/salt-water+powered-lamp-could-run-on-your-tears

The next time you go camping, instead of bringing batteries to keep your lantern running, you might only need to bring a salt shaker or a really sad book. Because Green House Co. Ltd., a Japanese company, has developed an LED light that runs on just salt water.

Using a dedicated water bag, campers would only have to mix up a saline solution of salt and H2O to keep the lamp glowing for up to eight hours at a time. The salty mixture serves as an electrolyte between a set of magnesium and carbon rods that function as negative and positive electrodes inside the lantern, producing electricity. It's not all virtually free energy, though. The magnesium rod is only good for about 120 hours of electricity production, but replacements will be sold separately when the lantern goes on sale sometime this month. [Green House via Tech-On!]

Amazon joins up with Epix, adds thousands of flicks to Prime Instant Video roster

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/04/amazon-epix-prime-instant-streaming/

Truth be told, Amazon's Prime Instant Video selection isn't the most comprehensive library on the net, but it's well on its way, thanks to a new licensing agreement with the Epix. The entertainment network, which partners with studios that include Lionsgate, MGM and Paramount, brings access to recent blockbusters like The Avengers, The Hunger Games and Thor, along with evergreen gems like Justin Bieber Never Say Never. Amazon's streaming service, which includes thousands of movies and television shows, enables customers subscribing to Prime for $79 per year to stream content without additional monthly fees, in addition to benefits that include discounted shipping and a Kindle book loan program. The terms of the deal have not been announced, but the press release (available in full after the break) lists the partnership as a "multi-year licensing agreement," benefiting customers in the US.

Continue reading Amazon joins up with Epix, adds thousands of flicks to Prime Instant Video roster

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Wireless

Amazon joins up with Epix, adds thousands of flicks to Prime Instant Video roster originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 10:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AntiSec Leaks 1 Million Apple Device IDs Obtained During FBI Breach [Hacking]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5940183/antisec-leaks-1-million-apple-device-ids-obtained-during-fbi-breach

AntiSec Leaks 1 Million Apple Device IDs Obtained During FBI Breach Antisec has released 1 million Apple Unique Device Identifiers (UDIDs), claiming that it obtained them after breaching an FBI computer. It also claims to have over 12 million IDs in total, along with user names, device names, cell phone numbers and addresses to go with them. In a statement Antisec explains:

During the second week of March 2012, a Dell Vostro notebook, used by Supervisor Special Agent Christopher K. Stangl from FBI Regional Cyber Action Team and New York FBI Office Evidence Response Team was breached using the AtomicReferenceArray vulnerability on Java, during the shell session some files were downloaded from his Desktop folder one of them with the name of "NCFTA_iOS_devices_intel.csv" turned to be a list of 12,367,232 Apple iOS devices including Unique Device Identifiers (UDID), user names, name of device, type of device, Apple Push Notification Service tokens, zipcodes, cellphone numbers, addresses, etc. the personal details fields referring to people appears many times empty leaving the whole list incompleted on many parts. no other file on the same folder makes mention about this list or its purpose.

Antisec suggests that the FBI is using the information to track citizens. It's not clear, of course, whether any of these claims are true—but if they are, the NCFTA acronym in Antisec's file name could likely stand for National Cyber-Forensics & Training Alliance, which "functions as a conduit between private industry and law enforcement." If that's the case, it could mean Apple is feeding the FBI user data though the NCTFA, that the FBI is mining its own data... or something else entirely. [AntiSec via The Next Web]

Modder builds $150 open-source thermal imaging camera to help insulate his house (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/03/iphone-thermal-imaging/

Modder Andy Rawson thinks he's found the secret to turning smartphones into super-cheap thermal imaging hardware. Inspired by his quest to find leaks in his old home and the high cost of professional gear, he set about building his own. A 64-zone temperature sensor connects to his iPhone via the dock, overlaying the data onto his camera display. He's planning to open-source the $150 hardware, and an Android variant of the hardware is currently in the works -- although details for both are currently thin on the ground, you can see his announcement video after the break.

Continue reading Modder builds $150 open-source thermal imaging camera to help insulate his house (video)

Filed under: Cellphones, Misc, Peripherals

Modder builds $150 open-source thermal imaging camera to help insulate his house (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Sep 2012 17:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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