Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Monoprice MHD Action Cam Review: Not Bad for $100

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5988435/monoprice-mhd-action-cam-review-not-bad-for-100

Test Notes

We dropped and kicked around the cam a bunch to test durability. It occasionally decided to not respond to the record button afterwords, but it always recovered and seemed fine overall.
The MHD's photos are of better quality than the video, but are only 5 megapixels.
Battery life is better than other higher-end action cams, at around 3 hours of use.
The lens is dual-axis, meaning if you mount the MHD upside down, the image will flip itself so it is right side up when you look at it later.
The rear cap can be an utter pain in the ass to put back on.
Audio is never great on action-cams, but the MHD's audio is just bad. You can hear it compared to the GoPro's audio in our test video.

Should You Buy It?

If you have a desperate need to throw down right now for a basic, no frills camera, we have no qualms with recommending the Monoprice MHD. Go for it. But tread lightly. If you take longevity and versatility into account, it might be worth saving up for a GoPro Hero3—the White edition is only $199.

Monoprice MHD Action Cam
• Lens Field of View: 120 degrees
• Water Proof: up to 10 meters
• Video: 1920 x 1080 / 1280 x 720 @ 30p
• Photo: 5 megapixels
• Price: $99

Gizmodoscope! Move your mouse around the top photo to move the One. Magic!

Wacom Cintiq 13HD graphics display hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/19/wacom-cintiq-13hd-hands-on/

Here's the thing with Wacom's latest Cintiqs: the bigger the display, the more straightforward the buying decision tends to be. The Cintiq 22HD and 24HD dominate at the professional high-end, but, as you get smaller and cheaper, more options come into play -- whether they're non-display tablets like the Intuos5 or complete PCs like Microsoft's Surface Pro (software issues aside). However, if you're looking for full-fledged Cintiq qualities in a smaller package, then this morning's announcement of the $1,000 Cintiq 13HD probably caught your interest. No, it's not the rumored standalone tablet, but our first impression is that it's a lightweight and handy option for serious work. Read on for more.

Gallery: Wacom Cintiq 13HD hands-on

Filed under: Displays

Dragon Mobile Assistant Offers Completely Hands-Free Texting, Shares Your Location with Loved Ones

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5991258/dragon-mobile-assistant-offers-completely-hands+free-texting-shares-your-location-with-loved-ones

Android: We've discussed how useful Dragon Mobile Assistant, (the spiritual successor to Vlingo, our favorite virtual assistant for Android), is as a hands-free mobile assistant. Now the app has updated to include truly hands-free SMS, and location sharing that will tell someone you're waiting for or traveling to exactly where you are and when you'll likely arrive.

Dragon Mobile Assistant is already a great tool for managing your calendar, placing calls, sending text messages, and staying organized on the go with little fuss. The latest update adds on many of those features. For example, the new hands-free SMS features let you start, dictate, and send SMS messages without touching the phone once, even to send the message out. Plus, when a response comes in, Dragon will read it aloud, giving you the option to reply right then, completely by voice.

The location sharing feature is the other major feature in the new version of the app. You can say aloud, "Tell [X person] where I am," and that person will get a text message with a link to your current position on a Google Map. If the other person is also using Dragon, you can ask your phone "Where's [X person]?" and Dragon will query their device, and if the other person approves, show you exactly where they are so you can meet up with them.

The app has a few other new bells and whistles as well, like the option to automatically dial in to any conference call or scheduled phone call on your Google Calendar, and even more supported voice commands. Check it out at Google Play below.

Dragon Mobile Assistant (Free) | Google Play via Android Police

Report: Google to Unify Chat as a New Service Called Babble

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5991263/report-google-to-unify-chat-as-a-new-service-called-babble

Report: Google to Unify Chat as a New Service Called Babble Google Talk is great: lightweight and fast. But then, Google's also got G+ messenger, Hangout, and even Drive Chat. There are currently so many options across its different platforms that it can get confusing—but Google Babble is apparently set to end that, with one unified, cross-platform chat solution, which will span Android, iOS, BlackBerry, and the cloud.

According to multiple sources talking to Geek, Google's building a whole new service, fresh from the ground up, to unify messaging across Google's various platforms, as well as the likes of iOS and BlackBerry too.

Babble will apparently work in a similar, melded fashion to the best of Google's current chat implementations. You'll be able to dump images in there, fire-up video chat Hangout-style, and chat in a threaded, conversation-organised style.

There's no timescale attached to the report, although Geek says that we'll see more come Google I/O this year. We just hope that it'll blend the best of both worlds when it comes to apps on the mobile side. [Geek]

Our newest offspring Gizmodo UK is gobbling up the news in a different timezone, so check them out if you need another Giz fix.

Just Re-Stack and Twist This Lamp When You Get Bored of Its Design

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5991135/just-re+stack-and-twist-this-lamp-when-you-get-bored-of-its-design

Simply re-organizing a room is the easiest—and cheapest—way to give it a fresh look. And the same applies to this Babele layered wooden lamp created by a studio calling themselves Manifattura Italiana Design, or MID for short.

Like a glowing version of the Tower of Hanoi puzzle, the central support of the Babele lamp lights up and is visible through a gap on all of the stacking pieces that define the lamp's shape. When assembled 'properly' it looks like a traditional lamp complete with a shade, but you're welcome to easily re-stack the layers however you want if a more abstract look is what you're after. The only real puzzle here is how to get your hands on one since there's no indication MID is putting the lamp into production.

[MID via Design Milk]

Google Maps brings you to Everest, Kilimanjaro with all your toes intact

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/18/google-everest/

Living vicariously just got a bit more exciting. Google Maps had added some of the most famous (and highest) mountains in the world to Street View. The list includes Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro, Mount Elbrus and Everest Base Camp -- four members of the Seven Summits, letting you explore some of the of the highest points on Earth without the aide of a breathing apparatus. According to Google, the shots were captured with the help of a tripod and a fish-eye-sporting digital camera. All of the aforementioned mountains can be reached in the source link below -- or with the assistance of a good support team.

Filed under: Alt, Google

Source: Google

Wacom announces the Cintiq 13HD: a 13-inch pen display with Pro Pen in tow for $999

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/19/wacom-announces-the-cintiq-13hd/

Sure, Wacom's Cintiq 24HD is an excellent piece of kit for design pros, but the unit is quite the behemoth and the 22-inch offering still requires a lot of desk space. There's no need to worry about that anymore, though, as the graphics peripheral outfit has outed the Cintiq 13HD: a 13-inch HD pen display with an adjustable stand and a retooled Pro Pen. Much like its larger siblings, the 13HD offers customizable ExpressKeys and Rocker Ring to keep that workflow as efficient as possible. The aforementioned stand can be situated flat or positioned at angles of 22, 35, and 50 degrees for that next Illustrator session. Details are scarce on the full list of improvements for the Pro Pen, but we do know that it sports 2,048 levels of sensitivity and tilt recognition to boot. If all of that sounds too good to resist, these bad boys will start shipping in early April with a price tag of $1,000 or £749.99 (incl. VAT). The full press release and a couple more snapshots await just past the break.

Gallery: Wacom Cintiq 13HD

Filed under: Peripherals

Source: Wacom eStore

Monday, March 18, 2013

This LinkedIn Trick Will Help You Get Updates From The Professional Connections That Matter (LNKD)

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-block-linkedin-updates-2013-3

Most of us know how to stalk or ignore updates from your Facebook friends clogging your News Feed by now.

If you are an active LinkedIn user, you can use similar tactics to manage your professional connections as well. Watch and learn below.

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Produced by Robert Libetti

SEE ALSO: How To Sync Your Bluetooth Keyboard To Your iPad

SEE ALSO: How To Stalk Or Ignore Your Facebook Friends

Please follow SAI on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Explore This 3D, Neon Map of the Internet Right From Your Phone

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5990975/explore-this-3d-neon-map-of-the-internet-right-from-your-phone

Right now, as you read this, you are cruising through a mind-numbingly complex pathway of wires and cables that shoots bits of data from point-to-point around the globe. And Peer 1's Map of the Internet lets you see what it looks like...as a neon disco map.

Available for Android and iOS, tablets and phones alike, Peer 1's Map of the Internet shows all the points and nodes of the Internet in one of two ways. First, you can look at all those colored dots mapped out on a standard globe. Or, you can look at the whole thing in a big jellyfish-lookin' hierarchical map. And in addition to just swiping around and gawking, you can tap different nodes for information or even perform a traceroute from your own network to get a bearing on where you are.

The Map of the Internet is a fantastic and beautiful few minutes of fun, and it's free so you've got nothing to lose. So go grab a copy (Google Play, App Store) for your device and take a deep dive. [DVICE]

Friday, March 15, 2013

Samsung puts Exynos 5 Octa into production: guess who's the first customer

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/15/samsung-puts-exynos-5-octa-into-mass-production/

That Galaxy S 4 isn't going to compute tasks through sheer force of will, you know. Just a day after Samsung unveiled the smartphone as its inaugural Exynos 5 Octa device, the company has confirmed that the not-really-eight-core ARM processor should be in mass production during the second quarter of the year, or between April and June. There aren't many more details to share beyond what the company mentioned at CES, but that doesn't diminish what could be a best-of-all-worlds processor: the automatic switching between four Cortex-A15 and four Cortex-A7 cores should give it a performance edge over many of its peers while reducing power consumption by up to 70 percent. We also know that the Octa's graphics performance has largely caught up to peers versus earlier Exynos 4 designs, as Imagination Technologies has confirmed that its PowerVR SGX544MP is providing enough muscle to double 3D performance over the creaky Mali-400 in the Exynos 4 Quad. About the only mystery left is whether or not many companies beyond Samsung will get a chance at some Exynos 5 Octa silicon, although there's one or two

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Samsung

Source: Samsung, Imagination Technologies

iRig Recorder arrives on Android, ready for your broadcasting needs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/15/irig-recorder-android-app/

Catching up to its iOS rival, IK Multimedia's iRig recorder app is now available on Google Play. Compatible with all your existing iRig mics and peripherals, the app is tailored to ensuring all your audio is suitably organized by date or location -- it even saves a backup version for those all-important recording sessions. There's also a waveform editor available as an in-app purchase ($4.99), adding the ability to select, crop and loop on your phone. You can also reduce background noise as well as speed up (or slow down) your files without affecting the timbre. Recording time is dependent on how much storage space available on your Android, so those phones with expandable memory are at a slight advantage here. If your audio needs a bit of work, you can pick up the app at the source starting today.

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Mobile

Source: iRig recorder (Google Play)

From A Hardware Perspective, Samsung's Galaxy S4 Is On Par With The Competition

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/galaxy-s4-vs-iphone-5-and-other-smartphones-2013-3

Samsung has finally unveiled its latest smartphone, the Galaxy S4.

From a hardware perspective, there's a lot of impressive specs here.

But if you compare it to other top-tier phones, it's pretty much in line as far as processor speed, memory, screen resolution, etc.

That just proves the GS4's (or any smartphone's) most important and differentiating features are in the software.

Here's the complete breakdown. Click the chart for a larger view.

samsung galaxy s4 spec sheet versus other top smartphones

SEE ALSO: Here's Your First Hands-On Look At The Samsung Galaxy S4 >

Please follow SAI on Twitter and Facebook.

Join the conversation about this story »

BLU Life Series phones include quad-core CPU, Android 4.2, start at $229 unlocked

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/15/blu-life-series-smartphones/

Coming this April, BLU Products will have three new smartphones vying for your hard-earned dollar. The trio of dual-SIM handsets, known as the Life View, Life One and Life Play, will be sold unlocked on Amazon and will range in price between $229 and $299. As a nice touch, Android 4.2 will be common among the bunch, as will backside-illuminated sensors on the cameras and the quad-core, 1.2GHz MediaTek MT6589 (Cortex A7) SoC. Likewise, each smartphone will also feature an HD IPS display.

The Life View ($299), the largest of the bunch, includes a massive 5.7-inch display, a 12-megapixel rear / 5-megapixel front camera, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage and a 2,600mAh battery. Meanwhile, the more reasonably sized Life One ($299) includes a 5-inch display, a 13-megapixel rear / 5-megapixel front camera, similar storage specs and a 2,000mAh battery. Lastly, the sleekest of the three, the Life Play ($229), includes a 4.7-inch display and measures 7.9mm thick. Here, you can expect to find an 8-megapixel rear / 2-megapixel front camera, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of expandable storage and an 1,800mAh battery. You'll find the band support for each of the three phones in the PR after the break, but needless to say, you'll be safe on AT&T (and in many areas, T-Mobile).

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Researcher breaks Pi calculation record with the help of NVIDIA

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/15/researcher-breaks-pi-record-with-nvidia/

Yesterday's self-congratulatory pat on the back to anyone reciting Pi to ten digits might feel a bit inadequate compared to Santa Clara University's Ed Karrels. The researcher has broken the record for calculating Darren Aronofsky's favorite number, taking the ratio to eight quadrillion places right of the decimal. Given the location of the University, you'll be unsurprised to learn which hardware maker's gear was used to break the record. Karrels will be showing off the new digits at the GPU technology conference in San Jose, demonstrating the CUDA-voodoo necessary to harness all of that Kepler-based computing power.

[Image Credit: Ed Karrels]

Filed under: Desktops, Alt, NVIDIA

Via: NVIDIA

Source: Ed Karrels

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Philips' New Crazy Huge TV Is Just a Giant Sheet of Glass That Leans Against the Wall

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5990562/philips-new-crazy-huge-tv-is-just-a-giant-sheet-of-glass-that-leans-against-the-wall

Philips' New Crazy Huge TV Is Just a Giant Sheet of Glass That Leans Against the Wall Forget mounting your huge television on the wall. That's so common. Philips' new DesignLine TVs just lean casually, like the Fonz waiting for a date. Ayyyyyy.

The new 46- and 55-inch televisions look totally stunning. The LCD display is mounted to a massive sheet of glass using a super strong adhesive tape. You then prop the whole thing up wherever you have room. No installation required, although, these things are heavy so you'll probably need a hand moving it around. It's an innovative new way to think about the TV—not as a consumer electronic product, but as a piece of furniture that beautifies your living room. Just don't, you know, try to sit on it. [Philips via The Verge]

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)