Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Insert Coin semifinalist: Smart Power Strip helps you do home automation yourself

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/17/smart-power-strip/

Seems like everyone's trying to get a piece of the home automation action these days. Question is, however, if pricey catchall systems are really the answer. Smart Power Strip offers a simple, affordable solution, letting you control and monitor appliances in real-time using your smartphone. The power strip has outlets that can be managed individual via your handset both at home and remotely. The strip also features two USB ports for charging -- because it's 2013, after all.

You can see all of the Insert Coin semifinalists here.

Filed under: Peripherals

Motorola Is Just Burning Cash For Google (GOOG)

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/motorola-is-just-burning-cash-for-google-2013-10

Google's smartphone company Motorola is just burning cash.

According to Google's earnings report, Motorola lost $248 million last quarter, which is up from $49 million loss when Google first took over the smartphone maker.

In total, Motorola has lost $1 billion since Google officially acquired it. That's in addition to the $12.5 billion Google spent to get Motorola in the first place.

These loses remind us a little bit of Microsoft's online division, which just burns cash.

It's unclear how Motorola is going to fix this problem. The Moto X is a very good phone, but sales seem to be light. To crank up sales, Google will have to invest in marketing, which means more loses. And there's no guarantee that more marketing means more sales.

chart of the day motorola losses

Join the conversation about this story »

You'll Barely Notice the World's Smallest USB 3.0 Flash Drive

Source: http://gizmodo.com/youll-barely-notice-the-worlds-smallest-usb-3-0-flash-1446986913

You'll Barely Notice the World's Smallest USB 3.0 Flash Drive

When it comes to prolonging the life of your laptop, there's no easier upgrade than adding an ultra-compact USB flash drive to expand its storage capacity—particularly if it's got a small SSD on board. And a company called PKparis is now laying claim to the title of 'world's smallest USB 3.0 flash drive' with its new K’1 that more than looks the part.

A stable version of Ubuntu's mobile OS is available now... if you own a Nexus 4

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/17/a-stable-version-of-ubuntus-mobile-os-is-available-now/

After a long period of developer (and enthusiast) previews, Ubuntu 13.10 for smartphones, as well as desktops, is finally available as a stable release. The gesture-heavy, Linux-based mobile OS still doesn't have an official hardware home -- if you'll remember, Canoncial's Indiegogo bid for the Ubuntu Edge failed to meet its lofty goals -- but there are a couple of devices that can run the OS. Google's Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 4 are both officially supported, so owners of those handsets with the right know-how can head to the company's site now for instructions to flash the OS. That doesn't mean we won't someday see a dedicated Ubuntu device -- the company's still in talks with OEMs. For now, though, you can at least enjoy the fruits of Canonical's mobile labors while holding fast to the Edge of hope.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Google

Source: Ubuntu (G+), (2)

Sharp converts TV plant to make more low-power IGZO smartphone displays

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/17/sharp-converts-tv-plant-to-make-smartphone-displays-igzo/

Sharp's IGZO displays make regular appearances at global trade shows, but have been less easy to spot in western devices, hardly ever leaving domestic Japanese market. That could soon change, as the company is ramping up production of smartphone-sized screens, at the cost of TV output. The Wall Street Journal reports that Sharp is expanding production at its Kameyama plant, with the aim of becoming a top player in the not-so-exotic world of handheld screen production, making the sheets that will make its way into multiple phone makers' devices. It might be able to lower manufacturing costs by making hundreds of displays from a single sheet, which would certainly be good news for the company's balance sheet. This increase in output might also mean that devices with Sharp's impressively bright IGZO displays will finally appear outside of Nippon, creating the necessary extra demand and giving us something else to square off against AMOLED and Super LCD 3.

Filed under: Cellphones, Displays, Mobile

Source: WSJ

Acer intros the Iconia W4, its second 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablet: brings a sharper screen for $330 (hands-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/17/acer-iconia-w4-hands-on/

Once Intel shows off an unannounced tablet at one of its press events, the jig is up: the product may as well be official at that point. That's what happened with Acer's Iconia W4 Windows 8.1 tablet, which recently surfaced in public, but wasn't officially announced until today. As the successor to the W3, this is Acer's second 8-inch tablet, and it corrects many of the shortcomings that doomed the original. Chiefly, it steps up to a higher-res 1,280 x 800 display; believe us when we say the difference in pixel density is immediately obvious. What's more, though, Acer also improved the quality of the panel: not only is this an IPS screen, but it's optically bonded, so you should notice less glare, even in harsh conditions. (Take a look at our outdoor hands-on shots if you're skeptical.)

Additionally, as rumored, the W4 packs a faster Atom processor -- specifically, one of the chips from Intel's new Bay Trail series. Though we only had a few moments of hands-on time, we noticed some brisk transitions between menus and apps, and programs were quick to launch as well. If ever we pressed the Start button, for instance, the tablet wasted no time in switching back to the Start Menu, or to the desktop. In terms of the exterior hardware, the tablet is slightly lighter (0.91 pounds instead of 1.1) and thinner, too (0.42 inch versus 0.45). Also, whereas the W3 had 2-megapixel cameras on both the front and the rear, the W4 rocks a 5MP main shooter (the front webcam is still 2MP). Rounding out the list, the W4 keeps the same basic ports as the W3 -- namely, micro-USB, micro-HDMI and a microSD slot. And, as before, you can use it with an optional keyboard. Look for it this month, starting at $330 with 32GB of built-in storage and $380 for the 64GB model.%Gallery-slideshow100637%%Gallery-slideshow101241%

Filed under: Tablets, Acer

A Salad Spinner For Cocktails Makes Martinis Stirred, Not Shaken

Source: http://gizmodo.com/a-salad-spinner-for-cocktails-makes-martinis-stirred-n-1446559162

A Salad Spinner For Cocktails Makes Martinis Stirred, Not Shaken

Concocting the perfect cocktail can take years of practice, but everything in life has a shortcut, and for amateur mixologists it's called the Cocktail Spinner. Imagine smashing a Magic Bullet into a salad spinner at the speed of light. This is what the resulting supernova would leave behind.

This Camp Stove Collapses Thinner Than the Bark Used as Kindling

Source: http://gizmodo.com/this-camp-stove-collapses-thinner-than-the-bark-used-as-1445820415

This Camp Stove Collapses Thinner Than the Bark Used as Kindling

When you're heading out into nature with nothing but a backpack, the long hike ahead of you is going to be far more enjoyable if you pack as light and minimally as possible. But that doesn't mean you have to completely rough it. A hot meal at the end of the day can keep a camping trip tolerable, and you'll be hard pressed to feel this collapsible camp stove weighing you down.

Skully P-1 helmet packs a heads-up display, rear-facing camera and Android to keep motorcyclists safe

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/16/skully-p-1-helmet-packs-a-heads-up-display-rear-facing-camera-a/

Motorcycle helmets are a simple safety measure -- they keep your noggin safe from objects and falls that would otherwise do it harm. But what if your helmet could help prevent you from getting into an accident in the first place? Marcus Weller, founder of Skully, asked just that question, and the answer he came up with is the P-1 helmet. It's a brain bucket that packs a 180-degree FOV rear-facing camera and a micro-controller running a customized version of Android to deliver navigation and video information to a custom-constructed HUD (similar to Google Glass). And, it takes voice commands so that riders can see where they're going or what's behind them, all in hands-free fashion. To provide such functionality, the P-1 has a fin mounted atop the DOT-approved helmet that houses the aforementioned hardware, plus GPS, Bluetooth, an accelerometer, gyro, compass and a rechargeable battery. The plan is for the P-1 to become available for purchase next spring in matte black or gloss white, and it'll be marketed as an ultra-premium helmet (translation: expect it to cost over $1,000).

Skully is currently still in the process of developing apps for the thing, but there will be a handful of finely tuned software available at launch. We can say for sure that means the P-1 will provide wearers with navigation and the ability to view the camera feed, with perhaps an SOS function (should the helmet sense an accident) and other apps to come. The company will be opening up the platform so that third parties can code for it as well. We got to speak with Weller about the process of producing the P-1, so join us after the break for more.%Gallery-slideshow101230%

Filed under: Wearables

Oregon Scientific's MEEP! X2 kid-friendly tablet can be yours today for $150

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/16/oregon-scientific-meep-x2-kids-tablet/

Oregon Scientific's MEEP! X2 kidfriendly tablet can be yours today for $150

After seeing it make an appearance at the FCC offices back in August, we knew it was only a matter of time before Oregon Scientific would begin loading shelves with the MEEP! X2. Today, the company made it official, announcing that its second-gen tablet for kids is now available for purchase. All things considered, the X2 appears to be pretty solid on paper: it features a 7-inch display, front and rear cameras, Android 4.2 (with a custom skin, of course), Bluetooth 4.0, 4GB of internal storage and an undisclosed 1.2GHz, dual-core CPU alongside 1GB of RAM. This spec sheet isn't where the X2 hopes to shine, however; Oregon Scientific is betting on pre-loaded software (such as apps, e-books, games and music), customizable parental controls and its own MEEP! store to lure parents into buying one for their little ones. The X2 is a Toys R Us exclusive, where it's up for grabs now for $150, both online and at brick-and-mortar stores.

Filed under: Tablets

Source: Oregon Scientific

Lenovo's convertible Yoga 2 Pro Ultrabook now available in the US, starts at $1,049

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/16/lenovo-yoga-2-pro-now-available/

Many Ultrabook fans have pined for Lenovo's Yoga 2 Pro given its blend of a 3,200 x 1,800 display, long battery life and a slim profile. Those people can finally act on their impulses, as Lenovo has quietly started selling the 13-inch folding convertible. For the $1,049 base price, buyers get a silver gray variant with a Haswell-based 1.7GHz Core i3 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB solid-state drive. An orange model normally costs $1,399 (currently $1,149), although that also includes a 1.6GHz Core i5, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. Be sure to shop around before you pick up the new system, however. Best Buy is currently selling an entry-level Yoga 2 Pro for $1,000, and there's a chance you'll find similar bargains elsewhere.

Filed under: Laptops, Lenovo

Via: Liliputing

Source: Lenovo, Best Buy

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Switch-Hitting Flash Drive Works on Laptops and MicroUSB Phones Alike

Source: http://gizmodo.com/switch-hitting-flash-drive-works-on-laptops-and-microus-1446514882

Switch-Hitting Flash Drive Works on Laptops and MicroUSB Phones Alike

As ubiquitous as Wi-Fi and mobile data have become, there are still times when you'll find yourself completely cut off from any and all wireless networks. And inevitably those will be the times when you need to transfer files between a tablet or a smartphone and your laptop. Bluetooth can work in a pinch, but when time is of the essence, ADATA's new DashDrive flash drive plays nice with both USB and microUSB ports.

Brilliant shopping assistant app Slice updated today with a revamped look and recall alerts, which a

Source: http://lifehacker.com/http-www-youtube-com-watch-v-cts1on_uziq-feature-yout-1446268899

Brilliant shopping assistant appSlice updated today with a revamped look and recall alerts, which automatically warn you when something you've purchased has been recalled by the manufacturer. This is in addition to the web, Android, and iPhone apps' price drop alerts, shipping tracking, and receipts organization. Learn more here.

Lenovo intros the Miix2, its first 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablet; coming soon for $299

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/16/lenovo-miix2/

Remember when we reviewed Acer's (sorta crappy) W3 tablet, and assured you it wouldn't be long before we saw more 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablets? Well, with that latest Windows update due out tomorrow, you'd better believe the smaller Windows tablets are about to start pouring in. Now that we've heard from Dell, Lenovo is also getting in the game: it just debuted the Miix2, its first 8-inch Windows 8.1 tab. Like pretty much every other 8-incher that's about to be announced, it runs on one of Intel's new quad-core Bay Trail processors, rocks a 1,200 x 800 display, and comes with Microsoft Office installed. Even the camera specs are on par with other models: you get a 2-megapixel webcam in the front, and a 5MP shooter around back. If you're feeling fancy, you can also buy a cover case and a capacitive stylus. Expect to see it on shelves later this month, with a starting price of $299 -- though if money is no object, there's also going to be a tricked-out version with a full 128 gigs of storage inside.%Gallery-slideshow101191%

Filed under: Tablets, Lenovo

Adidas announces new smartwatch for runners, available on November 1st for $399

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/16/adidas-smartwatch/

Adidas's head of interactive, Paul Gaudio, has just announced a new Adidas smartwatch at GigaOm's Mobilized conference in San Francisco. He said that it'll have GPS and will not only measure speed and distance but also provide personal training coaching based on your heart rate. This won't only show up on the screen, but if you connect it to Bluetooth headphones, there'll be audio coaching as well. It'll launch on November 1st for $399.

Developing...

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)