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Thursday, October 04, 2012

Bang & Olufsen's Huge AirPlay Dish Does Not Receive Satellite Transmissions [Audio]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5949044/bang--olufsens-huge-airplay-dish-does-not-receive-satellite-transmissions

Bang & Olufsen, venerable purveyor of luxury AV products from Denmark, just fired this handsome 27-inch diameter speaker disk into the world. It kind of looks like it could be used to communicate with similar dishes across down. It can't, but it can play music from your DLNA device wirelessly.

Behind the BeoPlay A9's fabric covering is a 320-watt, five-speaker array: an eight-inch woofer, two three-inch mid-ranges, and two 3/4-inch tweeters. It also has a proprietary signal processing inside that optimizes the sound depending on weather it's hanging in corner, hanging against a wall, or standing on its wooden peg legs.

We heard the BeoPlay A9 in a large party room at the NYC launch event, and it was loud enough to hear over the rumble of drunk people. We didn't get an intensive listening session, but the sound was very impressive. We heard a nice tonal blend even when playing at top volume.

Like the BeoLit 12 released earlier this year, the BeoPlay A9 is primarily intended as an AirPlay device. Simply download B&O's configuration app, and it walks you through the process of setting the system up with your home wireless network. You can also connect directly to the speaker via DLNA, and there's a 3.5mm jack in case you're using a non-Wi-Fi device.

Oh, and this is a Bang & Olufsen system, so don't expat a lot of bang for your buck. It'll be available next month for the not-so-modest price of $2700. [Bang & Olufsen]

Google May Launch Several Android Phones Soon To Take On The iPhone 5 Over The Holidays (GOOG)

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/google-nexus-phones-2012-10

google nexus q on galaxy nexus

As has been rumored before, Google will reportedly release multiple Nexus-branded phones this fall in time for the Holiday shopping season, according to DigiTimes.

Nexus phones run a clean version of Android, meaning there aren't any software modifications from the manufacturers. DigiTimes says Sony, Samsung, LG, and HTC will each have a Nexus phone this year.

It's a very different strategy from years past. Google typically chooses one manufacturer to make a Nexus phone, and that device becomes the "hero" Android phone for a year.

Now it seems Google will try out multiple Nexus phones and sell them all through its online Google Play store.

We're expecting Google to announce its new Nexus lineup in a month or so.

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Contour+2 Review: Sweet Images, Sloppy Mounts [Video]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5948640/contour%252B2-review-sweet-images-sloppy-mounts

Think of an action cam, and the name GoPro probably comes to mind. But there are a lot of alternates to consider, as a recent action cam Battlemodo proved. One brand, Contour, has always been just a step away from gaining GoPro-style notoriety. The recently announced Contour+2 might change that.

What Is It?

A miniature HD video camera that you mount to a helmet, bike, surfboard, or car.

Who's It For?

Those who engage in activities during which "cowabunga" might be heard.

Design

Ravishing. Sleek brushed metal. Definitely better looking than the homely GoPro line. Then again, you don't buy these for looks.

Using It

Contour makes a big deal about a single switch handling power and record. On the rear, a status button shows battery strength and storage space. You can control almost all aspects of the camera via bluetooth-enabled iOS or Android smartphone. Being able to start recording and change settings without fiddling with the camera is a really great feature.

The Best Part

Great image quality. There are minor issues such as a yellow color-cast in certain lighting conditions, and the occassional "jello effect" if the camera is vibrating havily. But compared to the GoPro Hero2, the images are noticeably sharper when viewed full-screen.

Tragic Flaw

Not rugged enough. Stuck to the underside of a skateboard, the plastic rotating surface mount actually broke apart while skating down the street. The rear-control hatch was knocked open. Luckily, we had some backup duct tape holding the camera in place. Not good—and all from skateboarding down the street!

Test Notes

To fit the camera on an object, there is a strappy "Profile Mount," meant for a helmet, and a "Flat Surface Mount," an adhesive square that sticks to most smooth surfaces. This mount, which rotates so you can align the camera properly, was the one that came loose from the skateboard.
The camera's rotating sensor is really cool. You can rotate it a full 360 degrees so that your horizon is straight no matter what crazy way you have the thing mounted. You will never have annoyingly off-axis video to watch.
The Contour software can overlay a data box on your video that displays GPS location, elevation, and even speed.
The kit comes with waterproof housing. This used to be an add-on accessory, but with the Contour+2 it is included, all for $100 cheaper than the previous kit.
The laser beam on the front, meant to help level your camera is damn near useless in daylight. It shines in your eyes when you least expect it. If I go blind, it's on Contour.
There are decent options for adjusting picture settings—contrast, sharpness, and white balance.
Battery life is decent at 2-2.5 hours, but it takes forever to recharge.
The camera seemed a bit heavy for the helmet strap. It held in place, but wobbled around a lot.
Field of view is fixed at 170°, whereas as GoPro Hero2 has variable field of view going up to 180°.
Sound is not great. There is a mic jack (that uses a proprietary adapter cable) if you want to record anything besides muffled wind and vibration.
For those not interested in complex video editing, the Contour Storyteller software is easy to use and designed fairly well.
The price for the kit is $399, which is $100 cheaper than the previous version, and that was without the waterproof housing. (The GoPro Hero 2 Outdoor kit is $299, but doesn't have GPS capability or smartphone control.)

Should You Buy It?

The Contour+2 is not a bad product. Yes, we had a couple of problems, but it still offers great image quality in a versatile device.

The real question is whether to buy a Contour+2 or a GoPro. It comes down to what you care about. If you like tracking GPS data, want excellent footage of your exploits, and you love the idea of controlling the camera with your iPhone, then the Contour+2 is a great choice. If you just want a decent image mounted as securely as possible, you might want a GoPro—as we learned recently, GoPro mounts are freaking strong.

Another factor to consider: The Sony Action-Cam is on the horizon, and it could potentially offer a better product for less money. Wait to see how the Sony tests, and then make a decision based on what you need. The Contour+2 could be the one. Just don't forget your duct tape.

Contour+2
• Field of View: 170°
• Storage: up to 32 GB microSD (comes with 4 GB)
• Frame Rates: 1920 x 1080 @ 30/25fps, 1280 x 720 @ 60/50 or 30/25fps, 1280 x 960 @ 30/25fps, 854 x 480 @ 120/100
• Dimensions: 98mm x 60mm x 34mm
• Price: $399
• Gizrank: 3.5

BlackBerry Has a Mystery Quad Core 2GB RAM Superphone in the Works [Rim]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5948989/blackberry-has-a-mystery-quad-core-2gb-ram-superphone-in-the-works

BlackBerry Has a Mystery Quad Core 2GB RAM Superphone in the Works Well this could be (but sadly probably won't be) interesting. A spec sheet of a supposed new phone from RIM has turned up on RapidBerry, and its specs actually seem, for once, pretty modern.

Here's the spec rundown: a Qualcomm APQ8064 Krait Quad Core 1.5GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, LTE, an OLED 4.65-inch 1280x720 screen, 16GB of storage with a microSD card slot, and a 2800mAh battery. Its dimensions, 68 x 136 x 8.85mm, put it basically right at the same size as the Galaxy S III, which is 71 x 137 x 8.6mm.

So it looks like this should be, on paper, a solid, competitive phone. But RIM has fallen flat with competitive hardware before. The success or failure of any new BlackBerries, if their fate isn't already sealed, rests with software. And it's still not clear if BB10 has anything people actually want. Still, for the RIM faithful, this should be at least mildly exciting. [RapidBerry via Slashgear via GSMArena]

This Machine Can Sequence a Genome in Just Two Days [Science]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5948891/this-machine-can-sequence-a-genome-in-just-two-days

Researchers at a hospital in Kansas have been using this machine to crank out entire genome sequences of just-born babies in two days—which could be fast enough to change treatment regimes and save their wonderful little lives.

Usually, gene testing in neonatal intensive care units takes over a month, which means babies expect aggressive or guessed-at treatment at best. Thanks to this piece of kit, the Illumina's HiSeq 2500, doctors are now able to do it in 50 hours, Technology Review reports. It might cost $13,500 a pop, but when you're dealing with a baby's life, that's worth it. Stephen Kingsmore, one of the researchers from Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics in Kansas City, explains:

"For those of us who have been decoding genomes, it's been phenomenally frustrating that, up until now, practical medicine has not benefited from whole-genome sequencing... We can now consider whole-genome sequencing to be relevant for hospital medicine."

What's desperately sad is that, so far, all the babies who have had their genomes sequenced at these high speeds—six in total—have been so ill they've all died. But there's hope that in the future, the fast turnaround time will allow doctors to perform life-saving treatments.

It's not all bad news: one family has learned of their underlying epilepsy thanks to the tests, another has worked out why they've been struggling to have children in the past. Of course, looking to the future, the technology's strengths could change the way children—and adults—are treated. For once, speed certainly does not kill. [Technology Review via Geekosystem]

Motorola RAZR i review: Intel's 2GHz processor in a small, Android ICS package

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/04/motorola-razr-i-review/

More Info

If you're getting a serious dose of déjà vu, we're right there with you. The RAZR i is a version of Motorola's Droid RAZR M that's headed to Europe and South America with a few differences. For the most part, though, it's cut from the same Kevlar cloth: you get a 4.3-inch AMOLED screen with qHD (960 x 540) resolution, an 8-megapixel rear camera, a 2,000mAh battery and 5GB of built-in storage -- with a microSD slot for expansion.

So what's different? On the outside, the RAZR i gets a physical, two-stage camera button. It's a welcome addition, but Intel reckons that its 2GHz processor is what you should be concerned with. It's the highest-clocked Medfield processor we've seen yet -- and perhaps more importantly, it's been placed in a core phone-maker's device. We've already come a long way from the Orange-branded San Diego. So how does this compare to the Qualcomm-powered (and ! LTE-capa ble) RAZR M? Will this Intel iteration charm us the same way? Join us after the break to find out.

Gallery: Motorola RAZR i review

Continue reading Motorola RAZR i review: Intel's 2GHz processor in a small, Android ICS package

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google, Intel

Motorola RAZR i review: Intel's 2GHz processor in a small, Android ICS package originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atooma Automates Almost Anything In a Few Taps, Is Like IFTTT for Your Android Phone [Android Downloads]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5948760/atooma-is-like-ifttt-for-your-android-phone

Atooma Automates Almost Anything In a Few Taps, Is Like IFTTT for Your Android Phone Android: Atooma offers complete control over your Android phone's sensors and components, and gives you a remarkably easy to master interface to program activities that you may be doing manually, like switching to Wi-Fi when you get home, silencing notifications when you get to the office, or even read incoming SMS messages aloud when you're driving, for starters.

We've covered a few apps that let you build triggered events for your Android device, most notably Tasker and Llama, but the learning curve for both of those tools can be a little steep. Atooma aims to give you the same level of control over your device without the struggle to learn and master dozens of operations and triggers, and it really comes through. When we say it's like IFTTT, we mean it: creating activities is as simple as filling out "IF [X], DO [Y]," where X and Y correspond to triggers and activities you choose, whether they're system activities, or involve external apps like your music players and social networks.

Filling in those triggers and activities is as simple as selecting from a icon-based menu of options, each of which asks you for more information if it's required. For example, if you select "location" and "GPS," you'll be prompted to select the map area you want to trigger the event. The UI is simple to master, and if you've been intimidated by or just don't need the extreme detail that apps like Tasker offer, it's worth checking out. Best of all, it's completely free and available to download now at Google Play.

Atooma | via GigaOM

Googlerola buys Viewdle, ups Android's augmented reality and face recognition game

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/03/googlerola-buys-viewdle-ups-androids-augmented-reality-and-fac/

From existing tech like Face Unlock and Google Goggles to patent filings and Project Glass, it's clear that Google sees augmented reality and image recognition playing a big part in our computing future. It makes sense, then, that Big G subsidiary Motorola has bought Viewdle -- a Silicon Valley company that builds face, object, and gesture recognition technology for mobile devices. We don't know how much MMI paid for Viewdle, but we do know, thanks to a statement obtained by the good folks at TechCrunch, that the two firms "have been collaborating for some time." So, hopefully Android will reap the benefits (and fix those Face Unlock flaws) in the not-so-distant future.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Googlerola buys Viewdle, ups Android's augmented reality and face recognition game originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 21:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG Optimus L9 for T-Mobile emerges from the magenta mist

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/03/lg-optimus-l9-for-t-mobile/

Looks like the Optimus G isn't the only smartphone from LG that'll soon hit US carriers, as its similarly sized (yet slower) sibling has just been outed for T-Mobile. True to form, the price and release date of the Optimus L9 are wholly absent from the equation, but outside of any substantial tweaks, shoppers may rightfully expect an Android 4.0.4 smartphone with a 4.7-inch qHD display that's powered by a dual-core 1GHz CPU. In its global iteration, the device also sports a 5-megapixel camera, 4GB of built-in storage and a 2,150mAh battery, which provides a rough guideline of what's on the horizon at T-Mobile. Naturally, there are more powerful smartphones to be found, but if the price is right, the Optimus L9 may hit a sweet spot for many.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG, T-Mobile

LG Optimus L9 for T-Mobile emerges from the magenta mist originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 22:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic's 75mm-thick, 100-lumen laser projector module claims world's thinnest title

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/04/panasonics-75mm-laser-projector/

While scanning through Panasonic's booth at CEATEC 2012, we couldn't help but notice a prototype of its world's slimmest 100-lumen laser projector module (or OIU aka optical imaging unit, as the company prefers), which can beam out an 800 x 480 picture. It's not clear when exactly we'll see this 75mm-thick device getting into consumers' hands, but there's certainly room for improvement for the image quality. Likewise, the scan-type OIU (resolution at about 400 x 300) next to the slim projector is far from ready for mass consumption, as the company is hoping to actually shrink it down and integrate it into mobile phones. That said, the fact that this technology doesn't require focusing makes it worth the wait -- the light doesn't go through an LCD filter like ordinary projectors do, and instead, it's a single laser beam scanning out the picture, hence the name.

Also shown along side were the optical bay drive pico projector that's already being offered by Fujitsu, as well as the PJ-SJ25U 854 × 480 DLP pico projector which was released in August this year. While the latter's image quality was rather impressive even under the strong ambient lighting, we struggle to appreciate the ¥56,800 or $730 price tag. Anyhow, pricing is just a matter time, as always.

Gallery: Panasonic's range of pico projectors at CEATEC 2012

Filed under: Displays

Panasonic's 75mm-thick, 100-lumen laser projector module claims world's thinnest title originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 02:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wednesday, October 03, 2012

Researchers Discover Bacteria That Produces Pure Gold [Science]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5948739/researchers-discover-bacteria-that-can-produce-pure-gold

The gold you see in the photo above was not found in a river or a mine. It was produced by a bacteria that, according to researchers at Michigan State University, can survive in extreme toxic environments and create 24-karat gold nuggets. Pure gold.

Maybe this critter can save us all from the global economic crisis.

Or at least make Kazem Kashefi—assistant professor of microbiology and molecular genetics—and Adam Brown—associate professor of electronic art and intermedia—rich. They are the ones who have created a compact laboratory that uses the bacteria Cupriavidus metallidurans to turn gold chlroride—a toxic chemical liquid you can find in nature—into 99.9% pure gold.

Accoding to Kashefi, they are doing "microbial alchemy" by "something that has no value into a solid, precious metal that's valuable."

The bacteria is incredibly resistant to this toxic element. In fact, it's 25 times stronger than previously thought. The researchers' compact factory—which they named The Great Work of the Metal Lover—holds the bacteria as they feed it the gold chloride. In about a week, the bacteria does its job, processing all that junk into the precious metal—a process they believe happens regularly in nature.

So yes, basically, Cupriavidus metallidurans can eat toxins and poop out gold nuggets.

It seems that medieval alchemists were looking for the Philosopher's Stone—the magic element that could turn lead to gold—in the wrong place. It's not a mineral. It's a bug. [Michigan State University]

The gold laboratory created by Kashefi and Brown. It contains the bacteria and the toxic crap they feed it.

This is Cupriavidus metallidurans in action, eating away the toxins and producing the gold.

Canon EOS M review: was Canon's first mirrorless ILC worth the four-year wait?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/03/canon-eos-m-review/

More Info

It's here. Finally. Well, that is, if you happen to live in Japan. Canon's very first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera should be hitting shops the world over just as you begin to make room for that decked-out evergreen conifer, but the EOS M is already making the rounds in Canon's home country. It's available at select Japanese retailers for ¥109,900 (about $1,410, including sales tax). That lofty price will net you the EOS M in black, white or silver (the glossy red model remains elusive), complete with 55mm f/2 and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 EF-M optics, a Speedlite 90EX external flash and the EF-M Lens Adapter, enabling full compatibility with any and all of your EF and EF-S lenses. The US variant, which comes bundled with only the black 22mm "pancake" STM lens, should run you $799 when it appears stateside beginning October 15th, though neither country's model carries a particularly competitive price tag, especially considering how diverse (and well-equipped) the mirrorless ILC market has become.

You might argue that Canon is borrowing a play out of Nikon's book when it comes to pricing the EOS M -- had the camera offered full DSLR functionality, including an advanced user interface, a $799 sticker might be justified. But the company has crippled its new compact shooter so as to avoid cannibalizing its still-successful full-size APS-C DSLR lineup, which includes models ranging from the Rebel T3 (about $475) to the EOS 7D (about $1,350). Appropriately, the EOS M falls right in the middle in terms of capabilities, with the added benefit of a new, nearly pocketable design that should win over more than its fair share of amateurs. That said, there's a reason larger SLRs remain on the market, and Canon very much wants to retain that solid footing. The EOS M isn't for everyone, and that's by design. But is it the right pick for you? Join us past the break as we try it on for size.

Gallery: Canon EOS M review

Continue reading Canon EOS M review: was Canon's first mirrorless ILC worth the four-year wait?

Filed under: Cameras, Canon

Canon EOS M review: was Canon's first mirrorless ILC worth the four-year wait? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 11:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG Optimus G coming to AT&T and Sprint in the near (unknown) future

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/03/lg-optimus-g-att-sprint/

The LG Optimus G has already been confirmed to be heading to US shores, but we hadn't been given any details on specific carriers. AT&T and Sprint are the first to reveal their intent to carry the quad-core smartphone. still taking advantage of the 4.7-inch 1280x768 True HD IPS PLUS display, Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, Android 4.0, a 2,100mAh battery and 32GB internal storage (with expandable memory available). Sadly, it looks like AT&T is going with an 8MP rear camera, while Sprint will opt for 13MP. As often is the case, pricing and availability weren't announced -- we didn't even get so much as a "coming months / weeks" -- so we'll keep you posted as soon as we have it. In the meantime, have a look at the press releases below the break.

Continue reading LG Optimus G coming to AT&T and Sprint in the near (unknown) future

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Sprint, AT&T

LG Optimus G coming to AT&T and Sprint in the near (unknown) future originally appeared ! on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 16:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sandia Labs' MegaDroid project simulates 300,000 Android phones to fight wireless catastrophes (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/03/sandia-labs-megadroid-project-simulates-300-000-android-phones/

We've seen some large-scale simulations, including some that couldn't get larger. Simulated cellular networks are still a rare breed, however, which makes Sandia National Laboratories' MegaDroid project all the more important. The project's cluster of off-the-shelf PCs emulates a town of 300,000 Android phones down to their cellular and GPS behavior, all with the aim of tracing the wider effects of natural disasters, hacking attempts and even simple software bugs. Researchers imagine the eventually public tool set being useful not just for app developers, but for the military and mesh network developers -- the kind who'd need to know how their on-the-field networks are running even when local authorities try to shut them down. MegaDroid is still very much an in-progress effort, although Sandia Labs isn't limiting its scope to Android and can see its work as relevant to iOS or any other platform where a ripple in the network can lead to a tidal wave of problems.

Continue reading Sandia Labs' MegaDroid project simulates 300,000 Android phones to fight wireless catastrophes (video)

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Alt, Google

Sandia Labs' MegaDroid project simulates 300,000 Android phones to fight wireless catastrophes (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 17:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMD Trinity review roundup: good bang for your entry-level buck

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/03/amd-trinity-review-roundup/

It's never easy playing second fiddle, but AMD is trying their best to keep Intel on their toes with its latest line of Trinity desktop chips. We were introduced to the Trinity last week, but now the official reviews are in from the usual specialist sites. The consensus seems to be that it provides solid performance for the price. The Trinity A10-5800K is in the same class as the Core i5 but sells at $130 on NewEgg, which is the going rate for the Core i3-3220 (Guess those price leaks were true). Hot Hardware notes that both the A10-5800K and the A8-5600K offer improved performance and decent overclockability, stating that it offers "roughly a 10 percent kicker in CPU performance" and "15 - 17 percent increase in GPU performance." As for power consumption, Anandtech claims the Trinity isn't quite as good as the Core i3, but "compared to Llano, Trinity is a bit more efficient" so it looks like there's improvement from past AMD chips. TechSpot points out the Trinity also requires a new Socket FM2 motherboard.

Like most reviews, Hot Hardware recommends the Trinity chips as a solid choice for those who want an entry-level system. However, those hungry for power are probably still going to go Intel. Legit Reviews states that the AMD Trinity will do just fine for everyday use and some light gaming, leaving the pricier Intel chips for performance-cha! sers. De finitely peruse the links below for more details before considering a purchase.

Read - Hot Hardware
Read - Tom's Hardware
Read - AnandTech
Read - Legit Reviews
Read - Benchmark Reviews

Filed under: Desktops

AMD Trinity review roundup: good bang for your entry-level buck originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 17:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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