Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Monday, September 30, 2013

This could be Sony's Xperia Z1 'mini': a 20.7-megapixel camera and Snapdragon 800 in a 4.3-inch package

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/30/this-could-be-sony-xperia-z1-mini-z1f/

Now this is what we'd call bucking the trend: a leaked document obtained by Xperia Blog, allegedly pertaining to Japanese operator NTT DoCoMo, outs a new Sony device that looks to be a mini Xperia Z1. That Sony would be quick to jump on the mobile industry's popular 'mini' craze is unsurprising, but what does seem peculiar is how the company's approaching the specifications of this 4.3-inch Xperia Z1 f. Instead of just retaining the name and shrinking the Triluminos display down (here, it's 720p) while lessening the spec load, it appears Sony's porting over both the 2.2GHz Snapdragon 800 processor and the 20.7-megapixel camera of the Z1. If true, that would explain the Z1 f's increased thickness, making this Honami mini a near-equal to its flagship namesake.

Its more pocketable screen size could also help attract customers (especially those with smaller hands) that would otherwise shun a 5-inch device. What's more, the Z1 f looks to be taking a page out of the industry's prized color book (see: Apple, Nokia) and could be available in bright pink and neon yellow, in addition to the traditional black and white. Of course, colorful phones are nothing out of the ordinary for Sony's home market and it's possible this variant could be Japan-only. Only time will tell if the Z1 f is more than a clever work of digital smoke and mirrors, but based on what we're seeing, we sure hope it isn't.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Sony

Source: Xperia Blog

Article: Sharp's first Windows 8 tablet has a 10.1-inch, 2,560 x 1,600 IGZO display, water-resistance, but probably won't leave Japan

Kicking off this week's CEATEC show in Japan, Sharp has played to its strengths with its new Windows 8 tablet, the Mebius Pad, factoring in a 2,560 x 1,600 resolution display. That puts it pretty far ahead of the current crowd of 1080p Windows 8 tablets, including Microsoft's incoming Surface 2, ...

http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/30/sharp-first-windows-8-tablet-10-1-inch-water-resistant/

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Article: A Shrinking List of Blockbusters Dominates Video Games

Big video game makers, like their cousins in books and music, have scrambled in recent years to adapt to the digital technologies buffeting their business. Tens of millions of people now play games on smartphones and tablets, usually for a sliver of the cost of playing on a game console.

But on...

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/30/technology/a-shrinking-list-of-blockbusters-dominates-video-games.html

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Article: Email surveillance could reveal journalists' sources, expert claims

Phil Zimmermann, inventor of PGP encryption, urges shift away from consumer email

Phil Zimmermann, the creator of the email encryption software PGP, has warned that anyone who uses consumer email services needs to be aware of the threats of exposing their metadata to eavesdroppers.

Zimmermann...

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/sep/30/email-surveillance-could-reveal-journalists-sources-expert-claims

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Article: Varentec Raises $8M From Bill Gates And Khosla To Reinvent Industrial And Utility Power Grid Management

San Jose-based Varentec, a company that builds power management and monitoring solutions for the electric grid, today announced the close of an $8 million Series B round of funding from Bill Gates and Khosla Ventures. The new funding follows its $7.7 million Series A, which was led by Khosla, and...

http://techcrunch.com /2013/09/30/varentec -raises-8m-from-bill-gates-and-khosla -to-reinvent-industrial-and-utility-power-grid-management/

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Sharp's first Windows 8 tablet has 10.1-inch, 2,560 x 1,600 IGZO display and water resistance (hands-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/30/sharp-first-windows-8-tablet-10-1-inch-water-resistant/

Kicking off this week's CEATEC show in Japan, Sharp has played to its strengths with its new Windows 8 tablet, the Mebius Pad, factoring in a 2,560 x 1,600 resolution display. That puts it pretty far ahead of the current crowd of 1080p Windows 8 tablets, including Microsoft's incoming Surface 2, although we admit, we'd have loved to have seen another incredible 4K tablet. Regardless, that's the highest resolution Windows 8 tablet we've seen yet. Alongside the company's 10.1-inch IGZO panel (known for their low-power credentials), the Mebius Pad runs on a slightly less-exciting Intel quad-core Atom processor (the Z3370), which we've had mixed feelings on when it comes to the Windows tablets its powered in the past. The basic Windows 8.1 model will arrive with Office for free, although you'll have to pay extra if you want it for the Pro edition. Also, following Japanese trends for practically any device, the slab is both water and dust-proof (it's in the midst of being certified for IPX5, IPX7, IP5X), while you'll be able to buy it with LTE radios on board, at least for Nippon, as the device is unlikely to leave Japanese shores once it launches in early 2014.

Unsurprisingly, in the flesh the screen looked good -- Sharp even provided a magnifying glass so we could get up close to those pixels. The 10.1-inch display is also satisfyingly bright -- if we're honest, it's unusual to see such a capable screen powered by an Atom processor. The tablet is headed towards business use (which explains the optional stylus) and the extra resolution found on Sharp's first Windows 8 tablet means there's more space for your spreadsheets and documents. The hardware itself is suitably thin and light, with the rear of the device bearing a passing resemblance to recent Sony hardware -- possibly due to the understated camera lens in the corner. We'll let you know if Sharp has plans to offer the tablet to global business types. %Gallery-slideshow99502%

Filed under: Tablets

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Article: Swiftype closes $7.5M in less time than it takes to break a habit

Usually startups take a little break between raising their seed rounds and their Series A, but not Swiftype.

This "search-as-a-service" company has closed $7.5 million, just 6 weeks after announcing a $1.7 million seed round.

Y Combinator-backed Swiftype provides solutions that help companies...

http://venturebeat.com /2013/09/27/swiftype -closes-7-5m-in-less-time-than-it-takes-to-break-a-habit/

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Article: Advancing the state of the art for in-ear headphones, at a lower price

The 1964 Ears V6-Stage is a tour de force of in-ear headphone design, and they're hand-crafted in Portland, Ore.

When I first reviewed the 1964 Ears V6 custom in-ear headphones earlier this year I not only loved the sound, I got the distinct feeling the company tries harder to please its custom...

http://news.cnet.com /8301-13645_3-57604982-47/advancing-the-state-of-the-art-for-in-ear-headphones-at-a-lower-price/

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Article: NSA’s Targeting Prowess Doesn’t Extend To Ads

If the NSA only invited TechCrunch to its birthday party, it'd have to eat its cake alone. While we aren't big fans of the NSA, it appears to fancy our readers, as it consistently advertises on our site.

This makes me slightly uncomfortable, as I have spent a good portion of my time these past ...

http://techcrunch.com /2013/09/28/nsas -targeting-prowess-doesnt -extend-to-ads/

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Article: The Great Suspender Automagically Kills Off Memory-Hungry Chrome Tabs

Just a quick heads up to a fantastic Chrome extension I've been using of late: The Great Suspender.

I'm sure there are others out there, but this is the one that has worked for me and it has dramatically improved my Chrome and overall computer experience.

The Great Suspender effectively allow...

http://thenextweb.com /apps/2013/09/29/this-chrome-extension-has-dramatically-reduced-its-cpu -usage-for-me/

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Article: A.I smartwatch is also a standalone Android smartphone (video)

Smartwatches sure are multiplying faster than rabbits. One of the newest devices hoping to make it to market is the A.I Watch: a companion gadget that's also a standalone Android phone, similar to a Chinese creation we saw in August. According to its developers, you can use the A.I Watch to make ...

http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/29/ai -android-smartwatch -indiegogo /

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Friday, September 27, 2013

13 Exotic Hotels For The Trip Of A Lifetime

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/fodors-hotel-awards-exotic-hideaways-2013-9

Ladera St. Lucia

Fodor's just released its 2013 Hotel Awards, which honor hotels in a variety of categories.

The travel guide's senior editorial team selects winning hotels from more than 4,000 nominations sent by contributors around the world.

The 13 resorts recognized as top Exotic Hideaways — defined as "destination hotels for a trip of a lifetime" — provide unparalleled service in incredible settings, giving their guests an unforgettable experience.

From Caribbean cliff-top dwellings to a lodge that puts a spin on the safari experience, this year's list offers a huge variety of options for travelers willing to splurge on their next luxurious getaway.

Aman Sveti Stefan

Location: Budva, Montenegro

This island complex is essentially its own medieval village. Nestled within defensive walls from the 15th century, its 50 rooms, suites, and cottages — some of which served as a summer residence for Montenegrins in the 1930s — are perfect for those looking for an escape back in time.

Spas, private pools, and a fine pebble beach sweeten the deal.

Aman Sveti Stefan

Photo: Amani Sveti Stefan

Ayana Resort and Spa

Location: Jimbaran, Bali

This cliff-top resort in the island's upscale Jimbaran Bay offers unforgettable views and a traditional Balinese experience. Rooms are decorated with local textiles and handicrafts, and the indoor/outdoor accommodations mirror those found in traditional homes.

With an award-winning spa, private beach, Kids Club, several swimming pools, and seven restaurants to choose from, you may never have to leave the property.

Ayana Resort and Spa Bali

Photo: Ayana Resort and Spa

Casa San Agustin

Location: Cartagena, Colombia

Situated smack-dab in the middle of Cartagena's UNESCO-protected Old Town, this hotel is an ideal home base for exploring the white-washed, flower-filled streets for which the town is known.

Each of the 31 rooms has its own layout and view, some with private gardens or pools and others with exposed wooden beams, frescoes, and other original architectural details.

Casa San Agustin

Photo: Josh Gibson

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This Camera Array Lets You Tweak the Shot Angle In Post-Production

Source: http://gizmodo.com/this-camera-array-lets-you-tweak-the-shot-angle-in-post-1410528487

This Camera Array Lets You Tweak the Shot Angle In Post-Production

In the same way the Lytro camera allows photographers to tweak the focus of their shots in post-production, this multi-camera array, developed by researchers at the Fraunhofer institute, allows directors to adjust the depth of field, the aperture, and even the camera angle of a given shot after it's been captured. The phrase 'fix it in post' now has a whole new dimension.

drag2share: Mozilla working on Chromecast-like mirroring for Firefox Android browser

source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/27/mozilla-tests-tab-mirroring-on-firefox/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget&ncid=rss_semi

Maybe this is Mozilla's retort to Google's Chromecast, maybe it isn't. Either way, the end result certainly looks similar. Details are scarce, but an enigmatic Google+ photo shared by insider Mark Finkle clearly reveals some sort of wireless tab mirroring between a Nexus 4 and a Roku box. We're going to hazard a guess that it's being orchestrated through the web, rather than merely being based on WiFi Direct or a similar device-to-device protocol. In the same manner as Chromecast or Apple's AirPlay, this could allow the Firefox-running smartphone to be used independently from what's shown in the display -- so, for example, it could work as a keyboard or a remote control at the same ti! me as fe eding content. Anyway, there's a limit to how much we can glean from a single pic (could that be a DVD-VHS combo player on the shelf?), so we've asked Mozilla for a bit more detail and will update this post if we hear back.

Update: Mozilla has confirmed that it is indeed at working on a second-screen solution for Firefox on a range of devices:

"We are conducting some experiments around second-screen support with a number of devices. But this is at investigation stage and we have nothing to announce at this time."

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drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email contacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

Stanford's latest particle accelerator is smaller than a grain of rice (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/27/stanford-particle-accelerator-on-chip/

Particle accelerators range in size from massive to compact, but researchers from Stanford University and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have created one that's downright miniscule. What you see above is a specially patterned glass chip that's smaller than a grain of rice, but unlike a broken Coke bottle, it's capable of accelerating electrons at a rate that's roughly 10 times greater than the SLAC linear accelerator. Taken to its full potential, researchers envision the ability to match the accelerating power of the 2-mile long SLAC linear accelerator with a system that spans just 100 feet.

For a rough understanding of how this chip works, imagine electrons that are brought up to near-light speed and then concentrated into a tiny channel within the glass chip that measures just a half-micron tall. From there, infrared laser light interacts with patterned, nanoscale ridges within the channel to create an electrical field that boosts the energy of the electrons.

In the initial demonstration, researchers were able to create an energy increase of 300 million electronvolts per meter, but their ultimate goal is to more than triple that. Curiously enough, these numbers aren't even that crazy. For example, researchers at the University of Texas at Austin were able to accelerate electrons to 2 billion electronvolts over an inch with a technique known as laser-plasma acceleration, which involves firing a laser into a puff of gas. Even if Stanford's chip-based approach doesn't carry the same shock and awe, it seems the researchers are banking on its ability to scale over greater distances. Now if we can just talk them into strapping those lasers onto a few sharks, we'll really be in business.

Filed under: Science

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