Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Wednesday, September 04, 2013

Hisense picks up Hillcrest Labs' gesture and motion control tech for TVs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/04/hisense-hillcrest-labs-freespace-gesture-and-motion-control/

Following LG and TCL, Hisense is now the latest TV manufacturer to adopt Hillcrest Labs' Freespace technology. According to the agreement, Hisense, the world's fifth largest smart TV brand (as of Q1 2013, according to NPD DisplaySearch), will be able to add in-air pointing, gesture control and motion control -- all via a remote control -- to its future smart TVs and set-top boxes. This also means TCL now faces a fellow Chinese competitor with the same set of Freespace features. While there's no time frame just yet, we've been told that Hisense will eventually sell these next-gen devices in the US and China later this year, so stay tuned.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

Panasonic leaks 65-inch 4K LCD, HDMI 2.0 prior to IFA announcement

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/04/panasonic-ifa-4k-hdmi-2.0-wt600-leak/

Panasonic is one of the few electronics companies that's not pushing a 4K TV right now, but that is apparently about to change. An AV Forums reader spotted a few webpages cached prior to the company's launch event that show off not only its upcoming 4K res WT600 television, but also details of the HDMI 2.0 spec. The current HDMI 1.4 connectors can only handle 4K content at 30fps, and the page mentions HDMI 2.0 will support at least 60fps, but any further capabilities are unknown. The Panasonic WT600 details shown include that it will support DisplayPort 1.2 as well as 4K specific features like a web browser, media player, rendering engine and THX certification. The only disappointing part, as the post points out, is that there's no sign yet of Panasonic's sweet 4K OLED prototype which combines both of this year's high-priced HDTV buzzwords in one lovely display. The HDMI licensing group has a press conference scheduled for IFA on Friday while Panasonic's is Wednesday, so it shouldn't be long before we hear more about both pieces of this puzzle, and how other manufacturers plan to react.

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, HD

Source: AV Forums

Alcatel shows off One Touch Idol Alpha's 4.7-inch display and light-up edges

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/04/alcatel-alpha/

Okay, so we wouldn't go so far as suggesting that Alcatel One Touch's Idol Alpha handset "takes creativity to a new level," but hey, the company's allowed to employ a little hyperbole in its press releases. That particular statement refers to the 4.7-inch handset's translucent edges, which give off light to signify things like charging and notifications. The company's also pretty psyched about the curves on the thing. "You will be attracted from the first glance of the device with its unique and sleek design which stands out from the market," according to Alcatel.

The above image likely doesn't do the curvy 7.5 millimeter thick aluminum-framed body justice (nor does it speak to the quad-core 1.2GHz processor inside), so we're holding off such attraction until we actually see one in person. Thankfully, we're already here in Berlin for IFA, so we should be doing just that in the not too distant future.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

HDMI 2.0 officially announced: 18Gbps bandwidth, 60fps 4K, 32 channel audio

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/04/hdmi-2-0-official-4k-60fps-32-channel-audio/

Only just after it leaked out, the folks at HDMI Licensing are announcing HDMI 2.0 officially. Arriving just in time for the wide rollout of a new generation of Ultra HDTVs, it adds a few key capabilities to the connection standard. With a bandwidth capacity of up to 18Gbps, it has enough room to carry 3,840 x 2,160 resolution video at up to 60fps. It also has support for up to 32 audio channels, "dynamic auto lipsync" and additional CEC extensions. The connector itself is unchanged, which is good for backwards compatibility but may disappoint anyone hoping for something sturdier to support all of those suddenly-popular dongles. The cables won't change either, as the group claims current high-speed Category 2 wires can handle the increased bandwidth. Some companies have suggested upgrade paths for their UHDTVs already on the market -- hopefully we'll find out more about those plans this week at IFA 2013.

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, HD

Source: HDMI.org

ASUS Zenbook UX301 will have 2,560 x 1,440 touchscreen beneath Gorilla Glass 3 case (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/04/asus-zenbook-ux301/

The ASUS Zenbook Infinity first showed off its icy Gorilla Glass-clad curves at Computex back in June, and now it's resurfaced in a video that's making the rounds ahead of ASUS' press conference here at IFA. Incidentally, the video hints at a new name -- the Zenbook UX301 -- and also clarifies most of the main specs. According to the video, the UX301 will have a Retina-esque 13.3-inch, 2,560 x 1,440 multitouch display, a Haswell Core i7 CPU, 802.11ac WiFi and ASUS SonicMaster audio tech. The flagship Ultrabook will no doubt draw fans of thin design as well, thanks to the 15.5mm (0.64-inch) profile. We'll likely have a chance to play with it ourselves soon at ASUS's upcoming event, so stay tuned. In the meantime, there's a video after the break.

Filed under: Laptops, ASUS

Source: ASUS (YouTube)

HTC's ex-lead designer may have leaked info to China's Chengdu government

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/04/htc-ex-lead-designer-china-chengdu-government/

The latest development on the recent HTC saga reveals that Thomas Chien, the arrested ex-VP of Product Design, was possibly lured by the Chengdu municipal government to set up a phone company in China. According to Taiwan's Next Magazine (pictured above by sister publication Apple Daily), Chien flew to Chengdu several times in the first half of this year, which got HTC suspicious since it doesn't have any direct business there.

The alleged offer was that if Chien left HTC with some of the technology plus some money, then the municipal government would -- through another company it set up -- take care of the remaining costs for opening the factory, production and marketing. Previous reports say while still at HTC, the ex-exec had e-mailed some confidential Sense 6.0 files to external contacts, but there's no confirmation on whether those people are linked to the Chengdu government.

Filed under: Misc, Mobile, HTC

Via: Reuters

Source: Apple Daily (Chinese), UDN (Chinese), ET Today (Chinese)

Samsung enlists Lookout to make Knox security even more securely secure

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/04/lookout-knox/

Lookout's looking to get into the business of business mobile security, and business, we're told, is good. In fact, the company's kicking things off with a Samsung partnership that'll bring its security software to devices using Knox, a deal targeted toward the ever-growing world of bring your own device workplaces. As the company puts it on its blog, "Wherever Knox will be, Lookout will be there, too." Lookout's also promised some additional information on its push into the business world, which is set to become widely available before 2013 draws to a close. And who knows, maybe we'll get some more details during Samsung's IFA press event later today.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Samsung

Source: Lookout Blog

Tuesday, September 03, 2013

Just Delete Me Is a Massive List of Links to Close All Your Accounts

Source: http://lifehacker.com/just-delete-me-is-a-massive-list-of-links-to-close-all-1245040101

Just Delete Me Is a Massive List of Links to Close All Your Accounts

Removing yourself from the internet is not always an easy task and the biggest problem is tracking down all your online accounts so you can delete them. Just Delete Me is a site that provides you with direct links to doing just that.

Just Delete Me is a list of the most popular web apps and services with links to delete your account from those services. Each one is color coded. Green is easy, yellow is medium, red is difficult, and black is impossible. When you click on a service, you're automatically taken to the page where you can delete your account so you don't have to go searching for it. Likewise, you can snag the Chrome extension and be taken to the account deletion page right from the URL bar when you're on a site, as well as get up to date information about whether an account is easy to delete before you sign up. If you want to keep track of your accounts and delete as many as possible, this is a good place to start. For a far more comprehensive list, check out the previously mentionedAccountKiller.

Just Delete Me | via Slate

The WikiLeaks Server That Hosted Cablegate Is for Sale on eBay

Source: http://gizmodo.com/the-wikileaks-server-that-hosted-cablegate-is-for-sale-1245720862

The WikiLeaks Server That Hosted Cablegate Is for Sale on eBay

Shopping for a new server? Want a piece of whistleblower history? Want to piss off Julian Assange? You can do all three of these things at once, if you buy the server that hosted hundreds of thousands of diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks a few years ago. And it still works!

WD upgrades NAS-friendly Red drives with 2.5-inch versions and 4TB desktop model

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/03/wd-red-drive-refresh/

If you're looking for hard drives built to withstand the rigors of network-attached storage, Western Digital has a treat in store for you. The company just expanded its Red line of NAS-ready drives to include 2.5-inch models in 750GB and 1TB capacities; both disks fit into smaller enclosures while maintaining the Red series' power and speed optimizations for always-on media servers. WD is offering a few perks for desktop users, too. The existing 3.5-inch range now includes a high-capacity 4TB drive, and every new Red model ships with NASware 2.0 technology that should improve reliability. All three Red variants are shipping today; the compact 750GB and 1TB disks respectively sell for $79 and $99, while the 4TB behemoth costs $229.

Filed under: Storage, Networking

Source: Western Digital

Acer Extend concept is a smartphone workstation, we go hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/03/acer-extend-concept-smartphone-workstation/

In addition to letting us get our hands on all its IFA announcements today, Acer pulled back the curtain on a concept device. The Acer Extend prototype works similarly to the ASUS Padfone, letting you connect your smartphone to a clamshell-style dock with a display, keyboard and a 6,000mAh battery to recharge your handset.

For the purposes of the demo, a modified version of Acer's Liquid E2 smartphone was connected to the Extend dock via an MHL cable, though company reps said a market-ready version could include a retractable cord. Even more compelling, though, would be a wireless, Bluetooth-based solution.

In addition to offering much more screen real estate than a phone, the dock solution nets you a full-size, tactile keyboard, and Acer's optimized island-style layout to work with a smartphone's operating system. To that end, there are buttons for Mail, WiFi, Bluetooth and more -- more or less the options you'll find in an Android phone's Settings menu. Though the keyboard is tailored to a smartphone interface, the Extend lets you view apps such as Gmail in tablet format, meaning you'll reap the full benefits of the larger display. There's also a full-size touchpad on board.%Gallery-slideshow77226%

Filed under: Cellphones, Laptops, Mobile, Acer

Acer Liquid S2 hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/03/acer-liquid-s2-hands-on/

Acer's known for its influence in the PC and tablet markets, but it actually has a pretty solid Android smartphone lineup too -- and the company is starting to focus more intensely on it. Take the Acer Liquid S2, for instance: it's a 6-inch Android smartphone with 4K recording capability, a Snapdragon 800 processor and a 13MP camera, and we had the opportunity to check it out here in Berlin ahead of IFA 2013.

The unit, which is hitting Europe in October for 549 euros, will come in both black and red hues. Reps indicated to that the units they had on hand are still pre-production, so both firmware and hardware are subject to change between now and the phone's launch. With that said, we didn't notice any bugs or issues with general performance, but let's face it: even when it's not fully optimized, a device packing Snapdragon 800 still feels incredibly fast. Head past the break for our first impressions.%Gallery-slideshow77217%

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Acer

Hands-on with Acer's DA241HL 24-inch all-in-one running Android

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/03/acer-all-in-one/

Granted, tablets are getting up there in size, but even after a couple of Android all-in-ones (including, in fact, one from Acer early this year), we're still not fully used to playing Angry Birds on a glossy 24-inch display. We're sure we'll get a better handle on it, but these things take time. For those who want their Android games and apps in full, giant HD, there's the DA241HL. We've got to admit, while it's still an odd space, Acer's doubling down here, with a pretty nicely designed all-in-one that looks a bit better than the current DA220HQL.

Along the bottom, you'll find one long speaker grille with four buttons: input, monitor settings, volume up and down and power. Flip the device around to find the hinged stand and a removable panel that hides three USB ports, an SD slot, a headphone jack, HDMI and micro-USB sockets. The USB, in particular, will come in handy when you want to connect up a keyboard and mouse, and you'll be using the HDMI and micro-USB should you decide to connect a phone or PC to use it as a secondary display.%Gallery-slideshow77229%

Filed under: Desktops, Acer

Leaked Images Reaffirm Sony's Smartphone Lens Camera Arrival

Source: http://gizmodo.com/leaked-images-reaffirm-sonys-smartphone-lens-camera-ar-1243764884

Leaked Images Reaffirm Sony's Smartphone Lens Camera Arrival

Sony has been as leaky as a sieve when it comes to its much-rumored new Smartphone Lens Camera. Now, a full set of leaked press images offer more clarity than ever about what we can expect.

How Nokia Employees Are Reacting to the Microsoft Takeover

Source: http://gizmodo.com/how-nokia-employees-are-reacting-to-the-microsoft-takeo-1243832372

How Nokia Employees Are Reacting to the Microsoft Takeover

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there are mixed feelings among Nokia employees—current and old—about the news that the phone manufacturer has been taken over by Microsoft.

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