Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Don't call it a GIF: Lightt is an app that lets you upload silent, looping clips for your friends to comment on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/17/lightt-ios-app-announced/

Don't call it a GIF: Lightt is an app that lets you upload silent, looping clips for your friends to comment on

Technically speaking, it would be incorrect to call Lightt the Instagram for GIFs, but really, it's tough to explain it any other way. In short, it's a new app for iOS which captures short, soundless clips that play back in an endless loop. (See? Looks like a GIF and is mesmerizing like a GIF, except it's actually a proprietary file format.) Once you record a clip, or "Highlight," you can upload as many as you want, and then share them to either Twitter or Facebook. (Careful: the default privacy setting is public.) Then, once you offload those segments onto the company's servers, people can like them or leave comments. Similarly, too, anyone with a browser can see your feed, though you also have the option of viewing people's images from within the app itself. The Insta-comparisons end there, though: with Lightt, you can't run your clips through any sort of artsy filters.

As with other social networks, you can follow users you find intriguing. There's also a "Featured" list, curated by Lightt, but you can't currently search for things based on tags, which is how you might discover cool stuff on other sites, like Tumblr or Pinterest. There's an element of randomness, then, when it comes to unearthing new things, though you can at least find friends on the site by importing your contacts from other services. Interestingly, too, all your images live online: even when you view your feed on your phone, the app is simply pulling it in from the web. Still, if you really like something, you can save a still frame to your device. The app is available now for free in the App Store (no word on if it'll ever come to other platforms), and we've also got a gallery of screenshots at the ready below.

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Don't call it a GIF: Lightt is an app that lets you upload silent, looping clips for your friends to comment on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 2:29 PM

Facebook Just Launched Its Next Billion-Dollar Business (FB)

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-paid-app-installs-2012-10

mark zuckerberg

For months, Facebook has been testing a new kind of ad on mobile devices—ads for other apps.

Now it's officially launched the app-ad program to all developers.

Here's how it works: Developers place ads on Facebook's website and its mobile apps. When users install their apps, developers pay a fee.

Because Facebook has a huge audience, and because its fast-growing base of mobile users have already shown they're willing to download Facebook's own app, it's a natural audience for these ads. TinyCo, a mobile games maker, reported having 50 percent higher click-through rates. Companies like Zoosk, the online-dating service, and Fab, the e-commerce site, have also been running ads in tests.

Facebook has been swiftly laying the groundwork for this business, first launching its App Center, a centralized place for promoting apps, in May and rolling it out internationally.

Having proven it can drive traffic to apps through the App Center and through ads placed in Facebook users' News Feeds, Facebook's now seeking to make money off of that traffic.

Here's a bonus: It keeps iPhone and Android developers, who might otherwise favor tools built into Apple and Google's mobile platforms, loyal to Facebook, s! ince add ing Facebook's social features to their apps is pretty much a requirement to get distribution—paid or unpaid—on Facebook.

Please follow SAI on Twitter and Facebook.

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Posted by Augustine at 2:14 PM

GoPro's new Hero3 is lighter, faster, higher res and has WiFi, comes in three flavors starting at $199

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/16/gopro-hd-hero3/

GoPro's new Hero3 Black Edition is lighter, faster, higher res and has builtn WiFi

At a San Francisco launch event GoPro has just revealed the next addition to its line of action cameras, the Hero3. The Hero3 claims specs that are 30 percent smaller and 25 percent lighter than its predecessor, with a resolution that's up to 4x higher and it has WiFi included. The top of the line Black Edition (pictured above) is capable of capturing video at up to 4K res -- if you're willing to drop the framerate down to 15fps -- however thanks to a processor it says is 2x faster, it has also doubled frame rates at lower resolutions. That means 1080p60, 1440p48 and 720p120 modes are supported for your super slow and still-HD capture needs. The Silver Edition maxes out at 11MP stills and 1080p30 video, while the White Edition drops down to 5MP stills. All three versions include WiFi (no BacPac necessary for remote control via the just-released-on-iOS app) however the Black edition includes a remote that can control up to 50 cameras at once with a 600ft range and is waterproof to 10 feet deep. It will also be available as a $79 accessory for the lesser versions.

As far as pricing, the Black Edition is $399, the Silver is $299 and the White $199. Pre-orders are scheduled to start at 12:01AM PT (3:01AM ET), and there's a handy counter on the GoPro site if you otherwise might forget. The variety of models and ubiquitous WiFi may help fight off competition at the pricing low end like the new ContourROAM2, a! mong oth ers. Naturally we were in the house and will have hands-on pics and impressions soon, check the gallery for pics of the box and detailed specs.

Update: Our hands-on is live! Check out how tiny the Hero3 really is right here.

Gallery: GoPro Hero3



[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading GoPro's new Hero3 is lighter, faster, higher res and has WiFi, comes in three flavors starting at $199

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GoPro's new Hero3 is lighter, faster, higher res and has WiFi, comes in three flavors starting at $199 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Oct 2012 23:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceGoPro (Twitter), GoPro (Facebook), GoPro.com  | Email this | Comments

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Posted by Augustine at 5:49 AM

Sharp's 7-inch AQUOS Pad SHT21 brings low-power IGZO LCD tech to tablets in Japan

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/17/sharp-aquos-pad-sht21-igzo-lcd/

Sharp's 7inch AQUOS Pad SHT21 brings IGZO LCD to tablets, ships midDecember in Japan

The AQUOS Phone Zeta SH-02E was first with Sharp's new IGZO LCD technology a few days ago and it's been followed quickly by another device, the AQUOS Pad SHT21. Scheduled to debut on Japanese carrier KDDI in mid-December, this 7-inch slate claims battery life of up to two and a half times greater than the previous model thanks to the low-power characteristics of its display, and weighs just 280g. It's powered by a 1.5GHz dual-core MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 CPU, and features a 1280x800 screen resolution, pen input, 1GB RAM, 16GB built-in storage, microSDXC slot, Bluetooth 4.0, MHL, NFC, 3,460mAh battery and 4G LTE capability. Hit the source link for more details courtesy of Engadget Japanese.

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Sharp's 7-inch AQUOS Pad SHT21 brings low-power IGZO LCD tech to tablets in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 01:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceEngadget Japanese, KDDI, Sharp Japan  | Email this | Comments

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Posted by Augustine at 5:48 AM

GoPro Hero3 action camera hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/17/gopro-hero3-action-camera-hands-on/

GoPro Hero3 action camera handson

GoPro just revealed its new flagship action camcorder, the Hero3, and we managed to get our mitts on one this evening. First things first, the Hero3 is tiny, particularly when considering that it shoots 4K video (albeit at a paltry 12fps), a resolution usually reserved for much larger, cinematic cameras. Having handled its competition recently -- the Action Cam from Sony and the Contour+2 -- we can say that the Hero3 feels smaller and lighter than both of them. It's about the size of a couple of matchboxes stacked together and is quite lightweight, yet still feels sturdy. The textured plastic exterior is finger friendly, and the big round power / mode and record buttons give a reassuring snick with every press. The WiFi remote that comes with the Hero3 Black Edition is similarly solid in its construction, though we wish it had the same textured skin as the camera instead of its smooth exterior. We didn't get to use the Hero3 for its stated purpose just yet, but we'll be filming with the thing tomorrow, so stay tuned for all the POV footage. In the meantime, feel free to enjoy a tour of GoPro's new diminutive hardware and check out its first sample video after the break.

Continue reading GoPro Hero3 action camera hands-on

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GoPro Hero3 action camera hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 02:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 5:48 AM

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