Microsoft is on a roll. Onkyo is the latest company to trade Android tablet royalties for access to Microsoft's patent licensing program. The details of the agreement wasn't released. This makes Onkyo the third company this week that has signed such an agreement. Velocity Micro and General Dynamic's Itronix brand joined the club just days ago.
?We are pleased that Onkyo has taken advantage of our patent licensing program for Android devices and has signed this agreement,? said Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel of Intellectual Property and Licensing at Microsoft. ?This agreement and similar agreements recently announced evidence the momentum and success of our licensing program.?
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Little Rubber Brick Turns Anything Into Kitchen Tongs
Konstantin Slawinski’s little silicone widget could soon become one of the most useful gadgets in your kitchen (or in the back yard, if you have a grill). It’s a rubber hinge with two holes into which you slot any utensils you might have to hand, instantly turning them into a pair of one-handed tongs.
A fork [...]
A fork [...]
Roku 2 HD struts its stuff in the wild along with a new remote (Update: new comparison pics)
Sure it already posed for the FCC's unflattering cameras, but now we can observe the Roku 2 HD -- with packed in MicroSD card and lightly refreshed remote -- in its natural habitat. Our tipster didn't indicate the provenance of this particular package but we'd previously heard they would start shipping to beta testers last week with an updated UI and this likely represents one of the lucky few delivered so far. The polished state of the hardware and packaging suggests the testing period is to work out any software kinks and (more likely) get in a few rounds of Angry Birds; until we hear something about more specific you can check out a few more of shots in the gallery.
Update: Another anonymous tipster has just sent over this picture of one of the new units next to a Roku XD that gives a good impression of how tiny the new units really are, and another showing the surround sound option. They also noted the new hardware shows improved picture quality, however at this stage the UI isn't different and there aren't any new games available yet.
[Thanks, Geraldine]
Gallery: Roku 2 HDRoku 2 HD struts its stuff in the wild along with a new remote (Update: new comparison pics) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 07:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Update: Another anonymous tipster has just sent over this picture of one of the new units next to a Roku XD that gives a good impression of how tiny the new units really are, and another showing the surround sound option. They also noted the new hardware shows improved picture quality, however at this stage the UI isn't different and there aren't any new games available yet.
[Thanks, Geraldine]
Gallery: Roku 2 HDRoku 2 HD struts its stuff in the wild along with a new remote (Update: new comparison pics) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 07:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Flickr adds to sharing options, now easier to share photos across the Web
It sure is nice to see some new developer action over at Flickr. The relatively slow-moving photo-sharing service has just announced a new sharing update, which consists of several new and easy ways to embed or link to your photos:
Share from Photo page: There's a new sharing option on each and every photo page. When logged off, the button shows only Facebook and Twitter options. But once you log on, you get Tumblr and Blogger too, and can configure other sharing venues as well.
Share non-public content on Facebook: This doesn't sound like a great idea, but you now can share private photos on Facebook if you're so inclined (and if you trust your privacy settings).
That's the gist of the update; it makes it easier to show off your pretty pictures in a plethora of places.Flickr adds to sharing options, now easier to share photos across the Web originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 03:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Share from Photo page: There's a new sharing option on each and every photo page. When logged off, the button shows only Facebook and Twitter options. But once you log on, you get Tumblr and Blogger too, and can configure other sharing venues as well.
Share non-public content on Facebook: This doesn't sound like a great idea, but you now can share private photos on Facebook if you're so inclined (and if you trust your privacy settings).
That's the gist of the update; it makes it easier to show off your pretty pictures in a plethora of places.Flickr adds to sharing options, now easier to share photos across the Web originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 03:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
HTC Eternity leaked: 1.5GHz processor, 4.7-inch display, front-facing camera
As the world runs short on snarky phone titles (and in fact, starts using a couple of the gems on more than one occasion), we're left to overlook the moniker here while focusing on what's important: that display. In fact, the 4.7-inch WVGA Super LCD shown here actually does seem to extend on for Eternity, and if HTC Inside's leak pans out, we could be looking at the world's next WP7 superphone. It's bruited that this fellow will be shipping with a single-core 1.5GHz processor, 8 megapixel camera (autofocus, dual LED flash), a 720p movie mode, front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera, 16GB of storage, DLNA support, Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS and a 1,650mAh battery. That's a pretty startling list of features, and savvy Windows Phone followers will recognize that the Mango update will indeed be necessary before that front-facing shooter becomes useful. Needless to say, we'll be keeping an ear to the ground for more, as essentials like price and release have thus far eluded us.HTC Eternity leaked: 1.5GHz processor, 4.7-inch display, front-facing camera originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink everythingWM | HTC Inside | Email this | Comments
The New Google Calendar Sure Is Purty [Desired]
It may be too soon to tell quite how you feel about Google+, but let me tell you right now: the new Google Calendar look is love at first sight. Clean, smooth, sparse—it's everything we've ever loved about Google's UI, coming out just at a time when the rest of its properties get more cluttered by the day. More »
Finally Learn How To Use the Manual Settings On Your Camera [Photography]
There have been a million-and-one cheat sheets to photography published, but if you've been looking for something stylish that you can eat up in five minutes, look no further. It's also available as a poster, for $50. More »
Chocomize personalized chocolate: giveaway and discount code
Okay, I know what you're thinking: chocolate on Download Squad? That's right! That's because Chocomize is one of the nerdiest ways to get chocolate online: it's a website where you customize your own bar using a multi-step process.
We've covered Chocomize before in our holiday gift guide, so when they reached out to us offering to do a giveaway, we really couldn't resist.
Chocomize is giving away ten gift certificates, each worth $50, for you to create your own customized chocolate. They sent us some pictures of their recent creations, which you can find in the gallery below.
Regardless of the giveaway, you can use the discount code switched to get 10% off any Chocomize order. The code is valid through April 20th - just in time for Easter!
To participate, simply leave a comment. Fine print is after the jump.Gallery: Chocomize personalized chocolateContinue reading Chocomize personalized chocolate: giveaway and discount codeChocomize personalized chocolate: giveaway and discount code originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
We've covered Chocomize before in our holiday gift guide, so when they reached out to us offering to do a giveaway, we really couldn't resist.
Chocomize is giving away ten gift certificates, each worth $50, for you to create your own customized chocolate. They sent us some pictures of their recent creations, which you can find in the gallery below.
Regardless of the giveaway, you can use the discount code switched to get 10% off any Chocomize order. The code is valid through April 20th - just in time for Easter!
To participate, simply leave a comment. Fine print is after the jump.Gallery: Chocomize personalized chocolateContinue reading Chocomize personalized chocolate: giveaway and discount codeChocomize personalized chocolate: giveaway and discount code originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Google Cloud Print comes to HP ePrint printers
HP has become the first major OEM to deliver support for Google Cloud Print in retail-boxed printers. In an official release, HP announced that its ePrint-enabled printers are now fully Cloud Print compatible. Just sign in to your Google account, pick your HP ePrint device, and you're ready to fire off a print job from anywhere you've got Internet access. Well, as long as your app supports Cloud Print as well -- like Gmail and Google Docs, for example.
We're curious, though -- how many of you are still printing? Like our pals at Engadget, our printers have been mostly gathering dust for the last few years.
Google Cloud Print comes to HP ePrint printers originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
We're curious, though -- how many of you are still printing? Like our pals at Engadget, our printers have been mostly gathering dust for the last few years.
Google Cloud Print comes to HP ePrint printers originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
March 31 is World Backup Day 2011
Those benevolent armchair philanthropist Redditors are at it again! Four days ago a 'self' post extolling the potential virtues of a Backup Day exploded with 2500 upvotes and 1000 comments -- and now World Backup Day 2011 is actually happening.
On March 31, as part of the global data-saving initiative, you are encouraged to back up all of your cherished photos and videos, and important documents. If you've ever had a hard disk fail, and not had a backup to fall back on, you'll know that it's a bit like losing a sizable fragment of your soul. If you've never backed up your important files -- or if you only back up sporadically -- do it on World Backup Day!
It's not hard to back up your data, either. A 2TB drive costs only a fistful of dollars, and it takes just a few minutes to set SyncToy for Windows, or Time Machine for Mac, to mirror your data every night. If you prefer a cloud-based solution, there's always SugarSync and Dropbox. Finally, don't forget that Bundlelytic has a charity giveaway for three excellent data-backup-and-recovery tools -- $160 of software for only $25, and 100% of the proceeds to go the Japanese Red Cross.
For even more backup options, for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux, check our list of 13 great backup programs.March 31 is World Backup Day 2011 originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
On March 31, as part of the global data-saving initiative, you are encouraged to back up all of your cherished photos and videos, and important documents. If you've ever had a hard disk fail, and not had a backup to fall back on, you'll know that it's a bit like losing a sizable fragment of your soul. If you've never backed up your important files -- or if you only back up sporadically -- do it on World Backup Day!
It's not hard to back up your data, either. A 2TB drive costs only a fistful of dollars, and it takes just a few minutes to set SyncToy for Windows, or Time Machine for Mac, to mirror your data every night. If you prefer a cloud-based solution, there's always SugarSync and Dropbox. Finally, don't forget that Bundlelytic has a charity giveaway for three excellent data-backup-and-recovery tools -- $160 of software for only $25, and 100% of the proceeds to go the Japanese Red Cross.
For even more backup options, for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux, check our list of 13 great backup programs.March 31 is World Backup Day 2011 originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Daily Crunch: Suit Up Edition
Nintendo Announces The Wii U, A Unique Controller/Console Combo The Nintendo Wii U Won E3 2011 Actually, Sony Won E3 With The Vita The Gresso iPhone Case Has Six Stupid Little Watches Embedded Into It E3: Super Mario 3DS Trailer
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Are MacBook Airs Getting Updated This July? [Blip]
According to a report by 9to5Mac, Apple may be prepping to launch an update to the MBA line by mid-July, later than previously expected. More »
Cisco Cius Android tablet hands-on (video)
In the market for a $750 Android tablet with an IT-controlled closed ecosystem, Atom processor, and a requisite middle man to place your order? Then you probably work for a corporation. Cisco's Cius Android tablet was designed with a Cisco infrastructure in mind, focusing heavily on security and integration with other products. Sure, you can watch HD video or play Angry Birds (if IT is willing to flip the switch on game downloads), but you'll mostly be using the Cius to join WebEx presentations, TelePresence conferences, and access custom enterprise apps -- this is not the tablet to give your kids, for someone just looking to browse the web, or really for anyone not working at a company that already depends heavily on Cisco services. Basically, if a Cius magically appears on your desk one day, you'll know it's right for you.Gallery: Cisco Cius Hands-On
Today Cisco launched AppHQ, a custom app store created to give IT departments complete control over device app loading, allowing them to limit access only to enterprise apps, or the entire Android Market. We went hands-on with the tablet and AppHQ at the company's offices in NYC, and were impressed with the tablet's ability to integrate seamlessly with Cisco services. Even though Cius isn't intended to be used for entertainment, it's designed to be both your primary portable device and desktop workstation -- so that ability to play HD video will definitely come in handy. You can access all of Cisco's popular communications tools, making private calls as you walk, joining a video conference from the train over AT&T or Verizon LTE, and then slipping the device into its dock once you reach the office, which adds speakerphone functionality, three USB ports, video out, and even Ethernet connectivity. You can use Cius to access an offsite virtual Windows desktop, using a mouse, keyboard, and monitor to control your primary machine. The tablet has begun rolling out to some clients and will be available worldwide on July 31st. You'll need to reach out to your Cisco sales rep to make a purchase, but jump past the break for a quick look in our hands-on video.Continue reading Cisco Cius Android tablet hands-on (video)Cisco Cius Android tablet hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Cisco | Email this | Comments
Today Cisco launched AppHQ, a custom app store created to give IT departments complete control over device app loading, allowing them to limit access only to enterprise apps, or the entire Android Market. We went hands-on with the tablet and AppHQ at the company's offices in NYC, and were impressed with the tablet's ability to integrate seamlessly with Cisco services. Even though Cius isn't intended to be used for entertainment, it's designed to be both your primary portable device and desktop workstation -- so that ability to play HD video will definitely come in handy. You can access all of Cisco's popular communications tools, making private calls as you walk, joining a video conference from the train over AT&T or Verizon LTE, and then slipping the device into its dock once you reach the office, which adds speakerphone functionality, three USB ports, video out, and even Ethernet connectivity. You can use Cius to access an offsite virtual Windows desktop, using a mouse, keyboard, and monitor to control your primary machine. The tablet has begun rolling out to some clients and will be available worldwide on July 31st. You'll need to reach out to your Cisco sales rep to make a purchase, but jump past the break for a quick look in our hands-on video.Continue reading Cisco Cius Android tablet hands-on (video)Cisco Cius Android tablet hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Cisco | Email this | Comments
You Can Now Use Bitcoins in the Real World [Bitcoin]
Ah, BitCoin. The crazy-cool online currency that set out to change global finance. And is, naturally, being used increasingly for illicit drugs when it's not being hacked. All I want is to buy a meal with my internet money! Wait. I can? In midtown?? More »
Visualized: a zettabyte
Remember the good old days when a gigabyte was considered a lot of space? Improvements in hard disk technology have allowed the humble magnetic drive to reach the dizzying heights of multiple terabytes of storage, but Cisco foresees a future that's a few orders of magnitude more impressive. Pinpointing 2015 as the commencement of what it calls the zettabyte era, the company has put together a handy infographic to show us just how much data can be fit into one: you can alternatively think of it as the equivalent of 250 billion DVDs, 36 million years of HD video, or the volume of the Great Wall of China if you allow an 11oz cup of coffee to represent a gigabyte of data. So "zetta" must be Greek for one hell of a lot, but what Cisco expects is that we'll be pushing that much information around the web each year by 2015. Any bets on how many exabytes of it will be to stream videos of cats diving into cardboard boxes?Visualized: a zettabyte originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Trusted Reviews | Cisco Blog | Email this | Comments
Yahoo! Messenger now censors the links you share
We've all thought it, but never dared think it could be true: what if Microsoft, Yahoo, and AOL actively monitor our instant messenger chats? What if mentions of 'bomb' and 'underage' are tracked and sent to law enforcement agencies? What if chat providers don't agree with the things we say, or the links we share, and filter or censor the content of our transmitted messages?
Well, it looks like our fears may actually have some basis in reality: Yahoo Messenger strips FilesTube links from instant messages. It doesn't tell either party that a URL has been removed from chat -- it just deletes it. Poof. FilesTube, in case you were wondering, is one of the largest file hosting meta search engines on the Web -- it indexes RapidShare, Megaupload, Mediafire, and many other 'cyberlocker' services.
It's fairly obvious why FilesTube links are being removed -- the Censor General at Yahoo is probably one of those perplexed primates who think all uses of BitTorrent are illegal -- but this situation poses a far more important question: is Yahoo censoring messages on the client side, or the server side. Does the messenger client itself maintain a list of 'blacklisted' words -- and if so, why are we not told that FilesTube links are banned? What other words and terms does Yahoo protect us from?Continue reading Yahoo! Messenger now censors the links you shareYahoo! Messenger now censors the links you share originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Well, it looks like our fears may actually have some basis in reality: Yahoo Messenger strips FilesTube links from instant messages. It doesn't tell either party that a URL has been removed from chat -- it just deletes it. Poof. FilesTube, in case you were wondering, is one of the largest file hosting meta search engines on the Web -- it indexes RapidShare, Megaupload, Mediafire, and many other 'cyberlocker' services.
It's fairly obvious why FilesTube links are being removed -- the Censor General at Yahoo is probably one of those perplexed primates who think all uses of BitTorrent are illegal -- but this situation poses a far more important question: is Yahoo censoring messages on the client side, or the server side. Does the messenger client itself maintain a list of 'blacklisted' words -- and if so, why are we not told that FilesTube links are banned? What other words and terms does Yahoo protect us from?Continue reading Yahoo! Messenger now censors the links you shareYahoo! Messenger now censors the links you share originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
HP Thinks About Putting WebOS on Samsung Phones [Unconfirmed]
Looking to expand the reach of the WebOS platform, HP CEO Leo Apotheker says the company is in talks with multiple companies to put the smartphone OS smartphone platform on third-party handsets. More »
How Not to Demolish a Building [Video]
WARNING: This video contains strong graphic content. If you have to demolish a building, you really need to use experts. Destroying pillars with a pneumatic hammer is never going to end well, as this video demonstrates. More »
3M reader concept looks familiar, begs you not to judge an ebook by its cover
This image purporting to be the current concept design for 3M's upcoming ereader looks awfully familiar. In fact, the similarities to the txtr reader we saw a couple of years back are pretty uncanny -- and they're likely more than skin deep, seeing as how 3M has been investing in the company. There's a decent chance, however, that the device will hit the market looking a bit different -- and hopefully with a few other changes on-board, since the txtr reader is now a bit ancient. One thing does seem fairly likely: the device will probably play nicely with 3M's recently announced Cloud Library lending service. You didn't expect 3M to let other companies have all the fun, did you?3M reader concept looks familiar, begs you not to judge an ebook by its cover originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | The Digital Reader | Email this | Comments
Why is European broadband faster and cheaper? Blame the government
Rick Karr is a journalist and frequent contributor to The Engadget Show.
If you've stayed with friends who live in European cities, you've probably had an experience like this: You hop onto their WiFi or wired internet connection and realize it's really fast. Way faster than the one that you have at home. It might even make your own DSL or cable connection feel as sluggish as dialup.
You ask them how much they pay for broadband.
"Oh, forty Euros." That's about $56.
"A week?" you ask.
"No," they might say. "Per month. And that includes phone and TV."
It's really that bad. The nation that invented the internet ranks 16th in the world when it comes to the speed and cost of our broadband connections. That's according to a study released last year by Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet & Society on behalf of the Federal Communications Commission.Continue reading Why is European broadband faster and cheaper? Blame the governmentWhy is European broadband faster and cheaper? Blame the government originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
If you've stayed with friends who live in European cities, you've probably had an experience like this: You hop onto their WiFi or wired internet connection and realize it's really fast. Way faster than the one that you have at home. It might even make your own DSL or cable connection feel as sluggish as dialup.
You ask them how much they pay for broadband.
"Oh, forty Euros." That's about $56.
"A week?" you ask.
"No," they might say. "Per month. And that includes phone and TV."
It's really that bad. The nation that invented the internet ranks 16th in the world when it comes to the speed and cost of our broadband connections. That's according to a study released last year by Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet & Society on behalf of the Federal Communications Commission.Continue reading Why is European broadband faster and cheaper? Blame the governmentWhy is European broadband faster and cheaper? Blame the government originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Danish Trolls Are Playing All Sorts of Twinkly Music On This Pan Pipes Bridge [Architecture]
"Who's that tripping over my bridge?!" roared the troll. "It is I, the creator of elevator and massage room muzak, and I've come to have a tinkle on your bridge's underbelly-pipes!" More »
TapNav GPS for iPhone: It Shows You Exactly Which Way to Go [App Of The Day]
You're alone, driving your car down a windy road and dark doesn't even begin to describe what it looks like out there. You slow down and make guesstimate turns with a 67% confidence that you're going the right direction and not gonna die. Heart pounding, heavy breathing, goddamn it's scary. More »
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Words With Friends for Android updated, promises "smoother game experience"
As several of you noted in the comments to our post asking for cross-platform iOS/Android games, Words With Friends for Android does not provide the smoothest gaming experience... and that's being rather charitable.
You might be happy to hear that a couple of days ago Zynga released an update which promises to solve many of the Android-specific issues, such as notifications not popping up.
Sadly, installing the update is not a smooth experience; you have to manually uninstall the previous version, and then go to the Android Market and install it. What's nice is that it doesn't lose your saved games - this screenshot shows a game I've started before the update and continued after updating.
How's the new update working out for you? Let us know in the comments!Words With Friends for Android updated, promises "smoother game experience" originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
You might be happy to hear that a couple of days ago Zynga released an update which promises to solve many of the Android-specific issues, such as notifications not popping up.
Sadly, installing the update is not a smooth experience; you have to manually uninstall the previous version, and then go to the Android Market and install it. What's nice is that it doesn't lose your saved games - this screenshot shows a game I've started before the update and continued after updating.
How's the new update working out for you? Let us know in the comments!Words With Friends for Android updated, promises "smoother game experience" originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Disney brings its comic collection to the iPad and iPhone with the launch of Disney Comics
Disney has launched another gem into the App Store, the Disney Comics app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. The Disney Comics app is your portal for all your favorite Disney comics. Download the app and search for your preferred character to enjoy a new adventure every time. Different reading modes let you Read the [...]
Google's Blogger platform adds five new HTML5 Dynamic Views
Google, as part of its ongoing and much-needed overhaul of its popular Blogger platform, has just enabled five dynamic, HTML5ish, AJAXy 'Dynamic Views'. There's a video introducing the new layouts after the break.
The five new views provide fresh and interesting ways to explore your favorite Blogger blogs. The Mosaic view, for example, creates a wall of thumbnails -- click one, and it zooms to fill the screen; click it again and it minimizes. Flipcard is similar to Mosaic, but not quite as eclectic. Sidebar, Timeslide and Snapshot round off the new views, with each one obviously targeted at different types of content, from photo blogs, to text-only philosophy blogs, and everything in between.
For now, you have to visit a Blogger blog and add /view to the URL to enable the new Dynamic Views. If you own a Blogger blog, you can disable the new views -- and really, why weren't they disabled by default?
If feedback is positive -- which we're sure it will be -- these Dynamic Views will soon be enabled by default. You'll also be able to edit the views in much the same way as current Blogger templates.Continue reading Google's Blogger platform adds five new HTML5 Dynamic ViewsGoogle's Blogger platform adds five new HTML5 Dynamic Views originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
The five new views provide fresh and interesting ways to explore your favorite Blogger blogs. The Mosaic view, for example, creates a wall of thumbnails -- click one, and it zooms to fill the screen; click it again and it minimizes. Flipcard is similar to Mosaic, but not quite as eclectic. Sidebar, Timeslide and Snapshot round off the new views, with each one obviously targeted at different types of content, from photo blogs, to text-only philosophy blogs, and everything in between.
For now, you have to visit a Blogger blog and add /view to the URL to enable the new Dynamic Views. If you own a Blogger blog, you can disable the new views -- and really, why weren't they disabled by default?
If feedback is positive -- which we're sure it will be -- these Dynamic Views will soon be enabled by default. You'll also be able to edit the views in much the same way as current Blogger templates.Continue reading Google's Blogger platform adds five new HTML5 Dynamic ViewsGoogle's Blogger platform adds five new HTML5 Dynamic Views originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
SureFire's UB3T Invictus flashlight is super-bright, not quite incendiary
SureFire first announced its blindingly UB3T Invictus torch back in 2010, but it took until now for the company to get its 800-lumen flashlight out the door. As a point of comparison, the massive (almost as good a weapon as light) six D battery MagLite only spits out about 160 lumens -- so, yeah, the Invictus is pretty dang bright. Of course, pumping out that much illumination takes quite a toll on the three 123A cells inside its military-grade aluminum body. At maximum brightness the UB3T lasts just 1.7 hours, though, at the lowest 2-lumen setting it can keep (dimly) lighting your path for up to 150 hours. Unfortunately, you'll need to shell out $695 for the privilege of owning one, which seems a bit pricey when compared to the $150, 4,100 lumen Torch -- after all, you can't cook breakfast with the Invictus.SureFire's UB3T Invictus flashlight is super-bright, not quite incendiary originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink OhGizmo! | SureFire | Email this | Comments
AOL Consolidates 53 Brands Down To 20 ?Power Brands;? The Huffington Post Gets Bigger
AOL CEO Tim Armstrong likes to streamline things. And he is about to streamline AOL even more. Somewhat reversing the anti-portal strategy he inherited, he will start to consolidate 53 different content brands into 20 "power brands." (Don't worry, TechCrunch is still one of them).
"More and more stuff is moving towards well-known brands," says Armstrong. "Unless human nature is going to totally change, the Internet is going to end up in a branded environment."
"More and more stuff is moving towards well-known brands," says Armstrong. "Unless human nature is going to totally change, the Internet is going to end up in a branded environment."
Who invented the world's very first car? [Video]
Who invented the first car? If we're talking about the first modern automobile, then it's Karl Benz in 1886. But long before him, there were strange forerunners to the today's cars, including toys for emperors, steam-powered artillery carriers, and clanking, creaking British buses. More »
Deal of the Day ? HTC Evo 3D Dual-core Android Smartphone for Sprint with Free Activation
Today?s LogicBUY deal is for the HTC Evo 3D Android Smartphone for Sprint for $161.99.� Features:� Dual-core 1.2GHz Snapdragon cpu, 4.3? 540X960 qHD Super LCD 3D display that offers a glasses-free 3D experience, dual 5MP rear cameras to capture in 3D, 1.3MP front camera, 3G/4G connectivity, hotspot capability, 1GB built-in memory that?s expandable via microSD [...]
Slim ASUS Eee PC X101 to hit shelves next month
That super thin Eee PC X101 that we manhandled back at Computex is just about ready to make its retail debut. Starting in July you'll be able to pick up one of these MeeGo-running crimson clamshells for $199 or, if you're a fan of desktop apps, Windows 7 versions (X101H) starting at $310. Inside the base model you'll find a 1.33GHz, single-core Atom N435, a six-cell battery, and a small SSD (probably of the 16GB variety). Unfortunately, the two most important details -- can it cut a cake and will it blend -- remain unanswered.Slim ASUS Eee PC X101 to hit shelves next month originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 09:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Notebook Italia, DigiTimes | Email this | Comments
Meet The Sexiest Mobile Drive I?ve Ever Seen: Lacie?s Porsche Design P?9220
I got a chance to play around with Lacie?s newly announced Porsche Design P?9220 mobile hard drive and one thing is certain: this little 5-inch hard drive is one sexy beast. If we?re judging this book by it?s cover, I?d give the Porsche P?9220 a ten, hands-down. It has this nice brushed metal aluminum finish, sharp lines, and even sharper corners (seriously, be careful), and is light/small enough to fit in a back pocket.
Sprint wants enterprise customers to consider WiMAX, ditch the T-1
Sprint seems to think its 4G tech would make an excellent replacement for the old-school T-1 lines many businesses have been relying on to keep them connected to the web since the 1970s. You may remember that WiMAX was originally pitched as a "last mile" solution as well as the next generation of mobile broadband. Well, the wireless carrier rocking black and yellow is taking the plunge on fixed-access 802.16 and targeting enterprise customers. The speeds are the same that everyone toting an Evo is already accustomed to (3 to 6Mbps down and 2.5Mbps up), but with a guaranteed 99.95 percent availability. When compared to traditional wired business connections, WiMAX is both both quicker to deploy and cheaper to operate, but Sprint will certainly face an uphill battle in trying to convince businesses to ditch the tried-and-true T-1. Check out the full PR after the break.Continue reading Sprint wants enterprise customers to consider WiMAX, ditch the T-1Sprint wants enterprise customers to consider WiMAX, ditch the T-1 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Congolese VMK Gingerbread tablet eager to show its face, shipping in September
This is the upcoming tablet from Congolese company VMK -- or, rather, this is the back of the upcoming tablet. We received a note from the company's CEO explaining that, while the Gingerbread slate is making its internet debut, the front isn't quite ready for public consumption, seeing as how the company is a bit worried about getting poached by copycats as it attempts to register a few trademarks. The Android 2.3.3 tablet is apparently ramping up for a September release in its native Africa, though the company is still looking for more funding, seeing as how difficult it can be to launch a CE product in that part of the world. The device is targeted toward developing nations, and will likely have a price to match, for now, feel free to get acquainted with its rear in the gallery below.
Gallery: Congolese VMK Gingerbread tablet eager to show its face, shipping in SeptemberCongolese VMK Gingerbread tablet eager to show its face, shipping in September originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | VMK | Email this | Comments
Gallery: Congolese VMK Gingerbread tablet eager to show its face, shipping in SeptemberCongolese VMK Gingerbread tablet eager to show its face, shipping in September originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | VMK | Email this | Comments
Monday, June 27, 2011
More Mango features uncovered: in-browser audio streams, Xbox Live voice chats, and more (video)
While we wait (rather impatiently, we might add) for Mango to make its official debut others are still playing with test builds, pouring over code, and digging up interesting tidbits about Microsoft's mobile OS update. That WP7 will be getting improved HTML5 support is nothing new but, that it will specifically support in-browser audio and continue to stream even if you navigate away from the browser or lock the screen, is music (literally) to our ears. Snippets discovered in a recent Mango dump have also turned up mentions of Xbox Live Voice chat, parties, multiplayer gaming, and tighter integration with the 360 for pushing Live content to your big screen. If you hit the WPSauce source link you'll find a whole host of other fascinating things in the WP7 code, and some details about just how deeply Facebook will be tied to the OS. But, before you go, check out the video of the HTML5 audio support in action after the break.
[Thanks, Charlie]Continue reading More Mango features uncovered: in-browser audio streams, Xbox Live voice chats, and more (video)More Mango features uncovered: in-browser audio streams, Xbox Live voice chats, and more (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 08:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink EntertainmentConnected, WMPU | WPSauce, WinMobile.se | Email this | Comments
[Thanks, Charlie]Continue reading More Mango features uncovered: in-browser audio streams, Xbox Live voice chats, and more (video)More Mango features uncovered: in-browser audio streams, Xbox Live voice chats, and more (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 08:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink EntertainmentConnected, WMPU | WPSauce, WinMobile.se | Email this | Comments
Gizmodo Internships in New York and San Francisco [Jobs]
Hi there, we're looking for some interns, in New York and San Francisco. More »
Apple Introduces iCloud
Apple today introduced iCloud, a set of free new cloud services that work seamlessly with applications on your iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Mac, or PC to automatically and wirelessly store your content and push it to all your devices. iCloud services include new versions of Contact, Calendar, and Mail; iCloud Backup and Storage; Photo Stream; [...]
Julie?s Surgery ? Update
Julie’s surgery was today. �The surgery is over, and the report is that things went well. �She’s waking up in recovery now. �She’ll be home soon, and she’ll have more information for us then. Join me in wishing Julie the best as she kicks cancer’s butt! 6/24/11 Update from me (Julie) Thanks to everyone for [...]
Scribbly: A Fat Marker-Pen Stylus for Tablets
There seem to be two distinct kinds of capacitive tablet stylus: fat and chunky, or slim and, well, less chunky. The Scribbly falls into the former category, and it is modeled on a regular white-board dry-erase marker, complete with chiseled tip.
It comes down to taste and also hand size, but of all the styluses I [...]
It comes down to taste and also hand size, but of all the styluses I [...]
New and updated iPhone and iPad apps for Monday, June 27
Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you! Army of Darkness Defense (Sale): In this tug-of-war, casual defense game based [...]
Revolutions On The Road
I almost miss the bad old days. When I first started wandering around some of the more obscure nooks and crannies of this planet, lo these many years ago, Internet connections were rare and wonderful discoveries; now I just get annoyed when I can't get online. The last decade-and-a-half of innovation has completely transformed the experience of travel. Right now I'm in the middle of a four-continents-in-six-weeks jaunt, from Canada to East Africa to Europe to India, and thanks to all my tech gear, life on the road is almost unrecognizably different from that of fifteen years ago.
The biggest change this trip has been my ebook reader. I have a Kobo. There is much about my Kobo that I really don't like: its interface is clumsy and confusing; anything other than straight front-to-back reading is intensely frustrating; it can only use completely open wireless connections, so any wi-fi network with a login or click-to-agree-terms button is completely useless to me; and when I do connect, attempts to download new books fail approximately 50% of the time. But they do succeed the other 50%, meaning I've read nine books in the last month, and was able to buy and download books via ambient wi-fi in Kenya and Djibouti, which did feel like living in the future.
There are also subtler and more negative repercussions.
The biggest change this trip has been my ebook reader. I have a Kobo. There is much about my Kobo that I really don't like: its interface is clumsy and confusing; anything other than straight front-to-back reading is intensely frustrating; it can only use completely open wireless connections, so any wi-fi network with a login or click-to-agree-terms button is completely useless to me; and when I do connect, attempts to download new books fail approximately 50% of the time. But they do succeed the other 50%, meaning I've read nine books in the last month, and was able to buy and download books via ambient wi-fi in Kenya and Djibouti, which did feel like living in the future.
There are also subtler and more negative repercussions.
Save your tabs and Panorama tab groups in Firefox 4
When Firefox 4's tab grouping tool, Panorama, had its keyboard shortcut changed to the finger-breaking combo of Ctrl+Shift+E, we thought Panorama would get dropped before FF4's final release -- but, thankfully, it made the cut!
If you've used Firefox 4 and Panorama, you might have noticed that Mozilla's new browser doesn't always save your tab groupings when you close the browser -- a bit of a pain, if you spend a long time setting up the perfect groups! This is tied into the removal of the 'Save and Quit' dialog box -- and enabling Panorama tab group saving is just a matter of re-enabling the Save and Quit dialog.
Open a new tab and head to about:config. Click through the warning and type 'quit' into the filter box. Double click browser.showQuitWarning to change its value to true (see image after the break). That's it -- now you'll have the option of saving your tabs, and thus tab groups, when you close Firefox.
For more tech tips, visit our tips index.Continue reading Save your tabs and Panorama tab groups in Firefox 4Save your tabs and Panorama tab groups in Firefox 4 originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
If you've used Firefox 4 and Panorama, you might have noticed that Mozilla's new browser doesn't always save your tab groupings when you close the browser -- a bit of a pain, if you spend a long time setting up the perfect groups! This is tied into the removal of the 'Save and Quit' dialog box -- and enabling Panorama tab group saving is just a matter of re-enabling the Save and Quit dialog.
Open a new tab and head to about:config. Click through the warning and type 'quit' into the filter box. Double click browser.showQuitWarning to change its value to true (see image after the break). That's it -- now you'll have the option of saving your tabs, and thus tab groups, when you close Firefox.
For more tech tips, visit our tips index.Continue reading Save your tabs and Panorama tab groups in Firefox 4Save your tabs and Panorama tab groups in Firefox 4 originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
War Grimoire HD for iPad now available
War Grimoire HD is a tower defense game that invites players to immerse themselves into the world of mystery and unlimited adventure and takes them through an epic adventure unfolding in remote Medieval times. Beautifully animated cartoon intro and step by step in-game guide 60 kinds of upgradeable weapons to equip your soldiers 30 visually [...]
Solar Sinter solar-powered 3D printer turns sand into glass, renews our faith in higher education (video)
Where would we be without the world's graduate art projects? In the case of Markus Kayser's Solar Sinter, we might never have seen the day when a solar-powered 3D printer would turn Saharan sand into a perfectly suitable glass bowl. Well, lucky for us (we suppose) we live in a world overflowing with MA students, and awash in their often confusing, sometimes inspiring projects. Solar Sinter, now on display at the Royal College of Art, falls into the latter category, taking the Earth's natural elements, and turning them into functioning pieces of a burgeoning technology. Solar Sinter uses the sun's rays in place of a laser and sand in place of resin, in a process that is perhaps more visually stunning than the results. See for yourself in the video after the break.Continue reading Solar Sinter solar-powered 3D printer turns sand into glass, renews our faith in higher education (video)Solar Sinter solar-powered 3D printer turns sand into glass, renews our faith in higher education (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 00:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Creative Applications | Markus Kayser | Email this | Comments
AVG launches LiveKive cloud sync and backup tool
A while back, we told you about AVG's new LiveKive service, a new cloud synchronization and backup tool which appears to have been named after a vat in which mash is made during the brewing process. But enough about AVG's odd choice of monikers -- LiveKive has launched and is now ready to accept your files into the AVG cloud.
LiveKive takes aim at services like Dropbox and SugarSync, though at the moment it's lagging behind in terms of features. As it stands, LiveKive is only compatible with Windows and OS X. There are no mobile clients yet, though with AVG's strong presence on Android we wouldn't be surprised to see an app arrive in the near future.
The company is offering a heck of a deal right now, however. If you sign up for a paid account during the launch phase, you can score unlimited storage for $80 for a whole year. You can't even score 50GB per year at that price from Dropbox, so if cost and space are more important to you than cross-platform availability, LiveKive might be worth checking out.
If you're not interested in ponying up any cash at the moment, you can still get a 5GB account free of charge. Just head on over, and create a LiveKive account.AVG launches LiveKive cloud sync and backup tool originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 10:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
LiveKive takes aim at services like Dropbox and SugarSync, though at the moment it's lagging behind in terms of features. As it stands, LiveKive is only compatible with Windows and OS X. There are no mobile clients yet, though with AVG's strong presence on Android we wouldn't be surprised to see an app arrive in the near future.
The company is offering a heck of a deal right now, however. If you sign up for a paid account during the launch phase, you can score unlimited storage for $80 for a whole year. You can't even score 50GB per year at that price from Dropbox, so if cost and space are more important to you than cross-platform availability, LiveKive might be worth checking out.
If you're not interested in ponying up any cash at the moment, you can still get a 5GB account free of charge. Just head on over, and create a LiveKive account.AVG launches LiveKive cloud sync and backup tool originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 10:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Who Wants To Eat Darth Vader's Head Anyway? [Wtf]
With the summer heat upon us, you're gonna have to stay cool somehow. Try importing these eerily-realistic ice cream popsicles from Stoyn in Russia. You might object, but we've already been eating creepy popsicle heads for decades. More »
Relax. Just Let the PossessedHand Electromagically Take Over Your Limbs and Create a Masterpiece [The Future]
Having trouble learning the violin? Finges not moving as they should? All thumbs? Just be patient. In the future there will exist devices that take control of your limbs and use electricity to make them move on their own. More »
Sand Trap is a fun and difficult physics maze game
Sand Trap is one of those games that at first seem too hard to bother with, but when you try to stop playing it you discover you're hooked.
The goal is to get as much sand as you possibly can out of the maze and into the bucket at the bottom of the screen. You need to rotate your maze every which way to get the sand rolling around it. You then try to direct the sand to one of the exits of the maze, and hopefully into the bucket. It took me several tries to actually get sand into the bucket, but that might be due to the fact that I didn't even realize the bucket was there at first. Things improved significantly after that.
As you level up, the mazes get more complicated, with moving parts and other things making your life more difficult. Once you manage to get through all these obstacles and get enough sand into your bucket, you can move on.
As I mentioned, this is not an easy game, but it's highly addictive. The graphics remind me of some long lost game from the 80s, but this just proves that you don't need super graphics and crazy sound to make a game work. There's a soothing guitar track playing in the background and that's it, as far as I could hear, and you can enjoy it just as much with no sound at all.
If you like a fun physics challenge, don't miss out on this one!Sand Trap is a fun and difficult physics maze game originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
The goal is to get as much sand as you possibly can out of the maze and into the bucket at the bottom of the screen. You need to rotate your maze every which way to get the sand rolling around it. You then try to direct the sand to one of the exits of the maze, and hopefully into the bucket. It took me several tries to actually get sand into the bucket, but that might be due to the fact that I didn't even realize the bucket was there at first. Things improved significantly after that.
As you level up, the mazes get more complicated, with moving parts and other things making your life more difficult. Once you manage to get through all these obstacles and get enough sand into your bucket, you can move on.
As I mentioned, this is not an easy game, but it's highly addictive. The graphics remind me of some long lost game from the 80s, but this just proves that you don't need super graphics and crazy sound to make a game work. There's a soothing guitar track playing in the background and that's it, as far as I could hear, and you can enjoy it just as much with no sound at all.
If you like a fun physics challenge, don't miss out on this one!Sand Trap is a fun and difficult physics maze game originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
webOS 3.0 beta now available to developers
With the webOS 3.0 SDK available for almost two months, HP has now given developers access to a beta download of webOS 3.0 -- which powers the upcoming TouchPad and will likely ride along on HP desktops and laptops in the form of an emulator.
Right now, the webOS 3.0 beta is only available to Early Access developers. The crew at PreCentral states that HP appears to have eased up on access restrictions, however, so hopefully more devs will get on board and those of you who are planning to buy a TouchPad in the next couple months will have plenty of slick webOS 3.0 apps to install on your new tablet.webOS 3.0 beta now available to developers originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Right now, the webOS 3.0 beta is only available to Early Access developers. The crew at PreCentral states that HP appears to have eased up on access restrictions, however, so hopefully more devs will get on board and those of you who are planning to buy a TouchPad in the next couple months will have plenty of slick webOS 3.0 apps to install on your new tablet.webOS 3.0 beta now available to developers originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Yahoo! Messenger now censors the links you share
We've all thought it, but never dared think it could be true: what if Microsoft, Yahoo, and AOL actively monitor our instant messenger chats? What if mentions of 'bomb' and 'underage' are tracked and sent to law enforcement agencies? What if chat providers don't agree with the things we say, or the links we share, and filter or censor the content of our transmitted messages?
Well, it looks like our fears may actually have some basis in reality: Yahoo Messenger strips FilesTube links from instant messages. It doesn't tell either party that a URL has been removed from chat -- it just deletes it. Poof. FilesTube, in case you were wondering, is one of the largest file hosting meta search engines on the Web -- it indexes RapidShare, Megaupload, Mediafire, and many other 'cyberlocker' services.
It's fairly obvious why FilesTube links are being removed -- the Censor General at Yahoo is probably one of those perplexed primates who think all uses of BitTorrent are illegal -- but this situation poses a far more important question: is Yahoo censoring messages on the client side, or the server side. Does the messenger client itself maintain a list of 'blacklisted' words -- and if so, why are we not told that FilesTube links are banned? What other words and terms does Yahoo protect us from?Continue reading Yahoo! Messenger now censors the links you shareYahoo! Messenger now censors the links you share originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Well, it looks like our fears may actually have some basis in reality: Yahoo Messenger strips FilesTube links from instant messages. It doesn't tell either party that a URL has been removed from chat -- it just deletes it. Poof. FilesTube, in case you were wondering, is one of the largest file hosting meta search engines on the Web -- it indexes RapidShare, Megaupload, Mediafire, and many other 'cyberlocker' services.
It's fairly obvious why FilesTube links are being removed -- the Censor General at Yahoo is probably one of those perplexed primates who think all uses of BitTorrent are illegal -- but this situation poses a far more important question: is Yahoo censoring messages on the client side, or the server side. Does the messenger client itself maintain a list of 'blacklisted' words -- and if so, why are we not told that FilesTube links are banned? What other words and terms does Yahoo protect us from?Continue reading Yahoo! Messenger now censors the links you shareYahoo! Messenger now censors the links you share originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Camera-equipped hexacopter turns summer vacation videos into aerial masterworks (video)
Wakeboarding is so 2005. Wakeboarding with a camera-packing six-rotor MikroKopter tracking your every jump and belly flop? Now that sounds like something we can get behind. The folks over at MikroKopter have renewed our interest in the sport by mounting a FollowMe transmitter (which lets the drone track your every move), along with a GoPro camera to one watersportsman's helmet. They then sent a hexacopter drone, equipped with a Canon T2i, into the air to follow the boarder as he rode across the water. The resulting video definitely puts any and all of our family vacation videos to shame. High-flying video evidence awaits you after the break.Continue reading Camera-equipped hexacopter turns summer vacation videos into aerial masterworks (video)Camera-equipped hexacopter turns summer vacation videos into aerial masterworks (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 23:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Hack a Day | MikroKopter | Email this | Comments
TiPb Picks of the Week
Every week a few of us from team TiPb will bring you our current favorite, most fun and useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they?re iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch related, they?re fair game. To see what [...]
Daily Crunch: Mystery Driver Edition
Softstep Keyworx Lets You Assign Macros To Your Feet Day 1: My Week In The Nissan Leaf ?Magi-Cam? Uses Mirrors As Camouflage To Spy On Vigilant Animals Hit Video Game Professor Layton To Go Social On Mobage This Year Ejacket: Bandai?s E-Money Case Plays Kamen Rider Sounds Every Time You Make a Purchase (Video)
The Final Word: Yes, You Will Be Able To Access iCloud Apps On The Web
Apple has just published a MobileMe to iCloud transition FAQ. Of note, there has been a lot of confusion as to whether or not iCloud apps would be accessible on the web. We had previously heard that yes, they would for sure be available via�web apps on icloud.com (similar to the ones currently found on me.com)�set to launch at an undisclosed date in the future. But plenty still refused to believe that. So today, Apple has answered the question once and for all. Sure enough:
Dear Gene: A Self-Branding Reply To Gene Weingarten?s Self-Branding Column About Self-Branding
Dear Gene,
I was just reading your most recent Washington Post column: an open letter to a j-school student who wrote to you, at her professor's behest, asking how you built your "personal brand" in journalism. You sure showed her!
Of course, you're absolutely right that the desire to build a "personal brand" has encouraged some journalists to eschew good reporting in favor of self-aggrandizing positioning statements calculated to increase their own popularity. Similarly, I share your frustration at how user generated content is taking over from real journalism. No-one hates "users" more than me, Gene.
Still, a couple of points you might have considered before filing your column...
I was just reading your most recent Washington Post column: an open letter to a j-school student who wrote to you, at her professor's behest, asking how you built your "personal brand" in journalism. You sure showed her!
Of course, you're absolutely right that the desire to build a "personal brand" has encouraged some journalists to eschew good reporting in favor of self-aggrandizing positioning statements calculated to increase their own popularity. Similarly, I share your frustration at how user generated content is taking over from real journalism. No-one hates "users" more than me, Gene.
Still, a couple of points you might have considered before filing your column...
BioBolt brain implant could help the paralyzed walk again
Controlling a cursor with your brain? Yawn. Restoring movement to paralyzed mice? Color us unimpressed. Help a wheelchair-bound man walk again using only his thoughts? Now we're talking. That's the goal of researchers at the University of Michigan who have developed BioBolt, a (comparatively) noninvasive implant that rests on top of the cortex rather than penetrate it. The device is inserted through an easily-covered, dime-sized hole in the skull and feeds patterns from firing neurons to a computer using your epidermis (which is showing, by the way) as a conductor. The ultimate goal of helping the paralyzed walk again is still years away but, in the meantime, it could be used to suppress seizures or diagnose diseases like Parkinson's. Everyday this mind over matter thing sounds a little less like a load of bullpuckey.BioBolt brain implant could help the paralyzed walk again originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Technology Review | Email this | Comments
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Nokia's Stephen Elop is still over MeeGo, even if the N9 is a hit
An awful lot has been happening in Nokialand over the past week. A few days ago, we spent our first real quality moments with the much discussed N9, and we were pretty blown away by the MeeGo smartphone. Fast forward a mere two days, and we catch wind of a pretty suspicious looking leak of "Sea Ray," the company's first Windows Phone handset where else but sitting firmly in the hand of CEO Stephen Elop. Just in case that brand of corporate subtlety didn't quite drive the point home, the executive gave an interview with Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat this week, confirming the nearly universal suspicion that it will abandon the Linux-based OS. Elop told the paper that, even if the N9 proves a massive hit, Nokia is going to turn its attention to other, more Windows Mobiley things.
[Thanks, Vezance]Nokia's Stephen Elop is still over MeeGo, even if the N9 is a hit originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 12:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Maemo | Helsingin Sanomat | Email this | Comments
[Thanks, Vezance]Nokia's Stephen Elop is still over MeeGo, even if the N9 is a hit originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 12:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Maemo | Helsingin Sanomat | Email this | Comments
Tony Blair Gets Hacked, Address Book Published [Hackers]
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's address book—including the names, phone numbers, and addresses of members of government, plus Blair's own National Insurance Number—was apparently leaked to the public by a group of hackers on Friday. More »
TiPb Picks of the Week
Every week a few of us from team TiPb will bring you our current favorite, most fun and useful App Store apps, WebApps, jailbreak apps, even the occasional accessory, web site, or desktop app if the mood strikes us. As long as they?re iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch related, they?re fair game. To see what [...]
MongoHQ Raises $417K From Y Combinator, Lerer And SV Angel
Data hosting platform MongoHQ has raised $417K in financing in order to expand their hosting configuration service for developers who use MongoDB for data storage. Paul Graham's Y Combinator, Start Fund, SV Angel and Lerer Ventures took part in the funding.
First on the MongoDB database hosting scene, MongoHQ is in the same space as MongoLab�and differentiates itself by adding enterprise level functionalities, aiming to provide users with the maximum amount of uptime with its new replica set feature, which gives developers the option to create databases across three EC2 boxes in three different availability zones.
First on the MongoDB database hosting scene, MongoHQ is in the same space as MongoLab�and differentiates itself by adding enterprise level functionalities, aiming to provide users with the maximum amount of uptime with its new replica set feature, which gives developers the option to create databases across three EC2 boxes in three different availability zones.
Spectral Layers promises to let you edit audio Photoshop-style (video)
Visually editing audio files isn't exactly a new idea, of course, but Divide Frame's new Spectral Layers application looks to take things to an even more Photoshop-style extreme than other tools. While still in the alpha stage and not available to the public just yet (though both Windows and Mac versions are promised), the software does appear to be fairly complete, including the ability to use multiple layers, work with multi-channel audio, and extract individual voices, instruments, or any other noises. Perhaps just as notably, the actual process of editing seems to be a kind of weird mish-mash of otherworldly visuals and disjointed sounds-- something that we could easily see leading to some unexpected and interesting results. See for yourself in the video after the break.Continue reading Spectral Layers promises to let you edit audio Photoshop-style (video)Spectral Layers promises to let you edit audio Photoshop-style (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 02:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Divide Frame | Email this | Comments
iProp iPad Stand Review
We’ve reviewed our share of iPad stands here on The Gadgeteer. Today I want to show you another iPad stand, but this one isn’t for your desktop, it’s an iPad floor stand called the iProp. The iProp is an adjustable stand that will allow you to use your iPad hands-free for watching movies, reading, or [...]
Why Nokia?s N9 Smartphone Is Set Up for Failure
By Ryan Paul, Ars Technica
Nokia has finally announced the long-anticipated N9 handset, the culmination of Nokia’s five-step plan to deliver a mainstream Linux-based smartphone. The N9 is an impressively engineered device that is matched with a sophisticated touch-oriented interface and a powerful software stack with open source underpinnings. It’s a worthy successor of the developer-centric [...]
Nokia has finally announced the long-anticipated N9 handset, the culmination of Nokia’s five-step plan to deliver a mainstream Linux-based smartphone. The N9 is an impressively engineered device that is matched with a sophisticated touch-oriented interface and a powerful software stack with open source underpinnings. It’s a worthy successor of the developer-centric [...]
Telstra will scrap Sense UI to make room for Gingerbread on the HTC Desire
What's this we spy in the dusty depths of a Telstra software update page? A little sentence that displays some crowd-pleasing logic in bringing Android 2.3 to the hoary old Desire. HTC originally told us the handset had insufficient memory to run Gingerbread, and so would be excluded from the update. Then it did a 180-flip and said the Desire would be getting Gingerbread after all, but with the sacrifice of some memory-hogging apps. But now Aussie Telstra has opted for arguably the smartest alternative: prepare a special update that kicks HTC's Sense UI out of the pub instead, freeing up plenty of room for Gingerbread while also pleasing punters who like to drink their Android neat. If it can work Down Under in August, other operators around the world ought to be able to make it work too. And if they don't, there's always the option of a spicy home-brewed beverage instead.
[Thanks, Alejandro]Telstra will scrap Sense UI to make room for Gingerbread on the HTC Desire originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 07:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Telstra | Email this | Comments
[Thanks, Alejandro]Telstra will scrap Sense UI to make room for Gingerbread on the HTC Desire originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 07:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Telstra | Email this | Comments
iPad 2 Display Dock, Just Like the Ones in the Apple Store
If you have ever wandered into your local Apple Store, taken a look at the cool perspex blocks which house the new display iPads and thought “I want one of those,” then we have good news. For just $75 you can have one, turning any blond wooden table in your home into a sleek, Cupertino-compatible [...]
Lytro's New Camera: Shoot First, Focus Later
Startup company Lytro has announced what it calls the first light field camera for everyone. This will let users take photographs, then select the focal point later. The camera uses light field sensors to capture the color, intensity and vector direction of all the light rays in a scene, then uses algorithms to process them and let users change the focus as desired after taking the shot.
OpenSky Reboots As A Social Network For Shopping
When OpenSky launched a year ago, it was a commerce platform for influential bloggers. Bloggers with a following would curate their own merchandise, OpenSky would source the goods from manufacturers, and split the profits with the bloggers. It sounded a hell of a lot better than the miniscule affiliate fees most bloggers were used to, but it didn't work out. It never got past 5,000 bloggers with a reach of 100,000 unique visitors. "Mixing content and commerce was confusing to people," says CEO John Caplan.
By November of last year, Caplan decided to start over with a slightly different concept, which OpenSky has been testing since January, and opened up in April. Instead of being distributed across 5,000 blogs, OpenSky is now "a social network for commerce." With no marketing, in the space of a few weeks, OpenSky is now up to 200,000 members and one million unique visitors. And with only 50 curators instead of 5,000, it is selling hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of goods every week. Caplan refers to it as "Twitter meets HSN."
By November of last year, Caplan decided to start over with a slightly different concept, which OpenSky has been testing since January, and opened up in April. Instead of being distributed across 5,000 blogs, OpenSky is now "a social network for commerce." With no marketing, in the space of a few weeks, OpenSky is now up to 200,000 members and one million unique visitors. And with only 50 curators instead of 5,000, it is selling hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of goods every week. Caplan refers to it as "Twitter meets HSN."
Friday, June 24, 2011
ChromeLite: experience the ASCII Web of yesteryear
Have you ever wondered what the Web was like before the Mosaic Web browser? If you were born in the last 20-odd years, or you only discovered your inner geek recently, did you miss out on monochrome monitors and the dial-up BBS era? Well, here's your chance to get a sneak peek at history: grab the ChromeLite extension and marvel as the entire Web is transformed into ASCII characters.
Now, ChromeLite isn't really all that functional. For the most part, it simply strips images and converts text into a monospaced terminal font. There are a few Easter eggs inserted -- such as a fun message at the bottom of YouTube (image after the break) -- and some fun ASCII art, but that's about it. Rather oddly, most JavaScript continues to work -- so you can still enjoy Google Instant Search!
ChromeLite was actually made by Google as an April Fools' joke -- and indeed, an annoying 'you can uninstall this!' message appears at the top of every page -- but we're kind of hoping that Google, or another developer, takes ChromeLite and turns it into a real ASCII browsing extension with configurable settings. If anything, it will provide an easy way to save bandwidth and CPU time.Continue reading ChromeLite: experience the ASCII Web of yesteryearChromeLite: experience the ASCII Web of yesteryear originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 07:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Now, ChromeLite isn't really all that functional. For the most part, it simply strips images and converts text into a monospaced terminal font. There are a few Easter eggs inserted -- such as a fun message at the bottom of YouTube (image after the break) -- and some fun ASCII art, but that's about it. Rather oddly, most JavaScript continues to work -- so you can still enjoy Google Instant Search!
ChromeLite was actually made by Google as an April Fools' joke -- and indeed, an annoying 'you can uninstall this!' message appears at the top of every page -- but we're kind of hoping that Google, or another developer, takes ChromeLite and turns it into a real ASCII browsing extension with configurable settings. If anything, it will provide an easy way to save bandwidth and CPU time.Continue reading ChromeLite: experience the ASCII Web of yesteryearChromeLite: experience the ASCII Web of yesteryear originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 07:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
LaCie's CloudBox 'hybrid HDD' doubles your backups in the cloud (video)
Tempted by the allure of the cloud? Still not quite ready to give up that local backup at home? Fret not, as LaCie's new CloudBox gives you a pinch of both. The gizmo pictured above may look similar to the company's Wireless Space NAS, but it's actually a 100GB "hybrid HDD." The device connects to a router exclusively via its single Ethernet port, enabling it to handle local backups while also automatically mirroring an AES encrypted copy to a cloud server daily -- even if your computer is off. Using LaCie's Online Restore software, the offsite copy is accessible by up to ten previous volumes should the box ever become inoperable. The CloudBox comes with a one year subscription for online backups (mum's the word on future fees), and will be available in July priced at $200. You'll find more details in the PR past the break, as well as a video showcasing a variety of unfortunate -- mostly baby induced -- situations it's intended for. Gallery: LaCie CloudBox hybrid HDDContinue reading LaCie's CloudBox 'hybrid HDD' doubles your backups in the cloud (video)LaCie's CloudBox 'hybrid HDD' doubles your backups in the cloud (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | LaCie | Email this | Comments
Can Lulz Be Lassoed?
A hacker believed to be involved in high-profile cyberattacks on major websites including those of the CIA, the U.S. Senate, PBS, the UK's Serious Organized Crime Agency and Sony was arrested outside London Tuesday. After the arrest, 19-year-old Ryan Cleary was identified by authorities as a major player in the attacks, acting as a top-level member of the hacking organization LulzSec.
Hacker vs. Hacker: New Rival Claims to Out LulzSec Leader [Hackers]
The weekend is almost here, so it's time for yet another episode of Hacker vs. Hacker. In today's hacker spat, we've got a website down and an identity up. But is it for real? Nobody can know! It's deeply confusing! More »
How Do You Run a 100-Mile Ultramarathon When You Can't See a Thing? [Running]
Simon Wheatcroft, a legally blind runner from the UK, is attempting to finish a 100 mile ultramarathon today, and you can follow him live online. More »
Hyper Ping Pong is like real table tennis, only without the ball, table or opponent (video)
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Microsoft and Nintendo might already have the motion-based table tennis simulation market locked down, but there's one thing their consoles need that the new Hyper Ping Pong paddle doesn't: a TV. That's right, this motion sensor-equipped bat lets you play without the superfluous need for something to look at -- it comes with a speaker that plays back the sound of a rally and all you need to do is "go with the rhythm." A button integrated into the handle lets you put a little extra sauce on your volleys and accurate timing will win you points, awesome sound effects, and the admiration of all your friends. The Hyper Ping Pong kit will start selling in Japan this October for ¥2,000 ($25).Hyper Ping Pong is like real table tennis, only without the ball, table or opponent (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 06:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | DigInfo.tv | Email this | Comments
Microsoft and Nintendo might already have the motion-based table tennis simulation market locked down, but there's one thing their consoles need that the new Hyper Ping Pong paddle doesn't: a TV. That's right, this motion sensor-equipped bat lets you play without the superfluous need for something to look at -- it comes with a speaker that plays back the sound of a rally and all you need to do is "go with the rhythm." A button integrated into the handle lets you put a little extra sauce on your volleys and accurate timing will win you points, awesome sound effects, and the admiration of all your friends. The Hyper Ping Pong kit will start selling in Japan this October for ¥2,000 ($25).Hyper Ping Pong is like real table tennis, only without the ball, table or opponent (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 06:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | DigInfo.tv | Email this | Comments
SketchBook Pro for iPad Gets a Huge Update and a Big Price Drop
SketchBook Pro for iPad ? Autodesk?s popular, award winning painting and drawing application for iPad ? has had a huge update this week, to Version 2.0. This already feature-rich app has added a slew of powerful new features including UI customization capabilities, additional brushes, additional brush properties, special new features for the iPad 2, Dropbox [...]
Deal of the Day ? 10% Coupon for Lenovo ThinkPad X1 13.3? Ultra-Think Laptops with Core i3 and Core i5
Today?s LogicBUY deal is 10% off the ultra-thin 13.3? Lenovo ThinkPad X1 laptop starting at $1079.10 for the Core i3.� Features:� backlit and spill-resistant keyboard, Gorilla Glass screen, RapidCharge battery, weighs 3.7 pounds, 0.65-0.84? thick, Mini DisplayPort, HDMI, Ethernet, 1 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0, 1 eSATA/USB 2.0, 4-in-1 card reader. Cheapest Core i3:� $1585 [...]
SimpleGeo Outsources Its Places Database To Factual
In the quest for a unified database of places, geo-location startup Factual is making big strides. Today it is announcing a major partnership with SimpleGeo to maintain and power its places database, which up until now has offered a competing database of places in the eyes of developers.
The merged database will have 30 million places, and be maintained and updated by Factual. Developers will be able to access the database either through SimpleGeo or Factual. "It?s Factual?s dataset, our interface," says SimpleGoo CEO Jay Adelson.
The merged database will have 30 million places, and be maintained and updated by Factual. Developers will be able to access the database either through SimpleGeo or Factual. "It?s Factual?s dataset, our interface," says SimpleGoo CEO Jay Adelson.
Help Teach Your Young Child Good Sleeping Habits with ZAZOO
Parents have their sleep schedules disturbed by the necessity of taking care of their newborn baby, and they look forward to that mythical time when their little darling will sleep through the night. �Many find their dreams of a full night’s sleep dashed when their kid turns out to be an early riser – say [...]
Archos intros 80 G9 and 101 G9 Android 3.1 tablets: 1.5GHz CPU, 250GB HDD, 3G-ready (hands-on)
Angling for a new Android 3.1 tablet, are ya? If so, Archos has a new pair emerging from Paris today, the 80 G9 and 101 G9. Predictably, the biggest differentiator between the two is the screen size, with the former offering an 8-inch panel with a 1024 x 768 screen resolution and the latter stepping up to a 10.1-incher (1280 x 800). Both of 'em are proudly using Seagate's 7mm Momentus Thin in order to scale to 250GB, but of course, only time will tell how a power-hungry HDD will do in tablet form factor.
Under the hood, you'll find a dual-core OMAP 4 processor (1.5GHz ARM Cortex A9), support for Flash, access to the Android Market and a full-size USB port -- one that's good for accepting the outfit's new G9 3G WWAN stick ($49). You'll also get an HDMI output, support for 1080p playback and a pay-as-you-go option with the aforesaid 3G dongle. The duo is scheduled to go on sale at the end of September (you know, just a month or two before Ice Cream Sandwich makes Honeycomb look like old hat), with the 80 G9 going for $279 and the 101 G9 for $349. Don't ever say Archos' accountants didn't look out for you.
Update: We snagged a gallery's worth of hands-on shots from Archos' reveal today in Paris. We're running back for more as we type, so hang tight!
Update 2: A reader over at Engadget Spanish noticed that the ES specifications link for the new G9 tablets mentions a 16GB + microSD arrangement for those who aren't feeling a 250GB HDD. Interesting!
Gallery: Archos 80 G9 and Archos 101 G9 press images
Gallery: Archos G9 series tablet hands-on gallery!Continue reading Archos intros 80 G9 and 101 G9 Android 3.1 tablets: 1.5GHz CPU, 250GB HDD, 3G-ready (hands-on)Archos intros 80 G9 and 101 G9 Android 3.1 tablets: 1.5GHz CPU, 250GB HDD, 3G-ready (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Under the hood, you'll find a dual-core OMAP 4 processor (1.5GHz ARM Cortex A9), support for Flash, access to the Android Market and a full-size USB port -- one that's good for accepting the outfit's new G9 3G WWAN stick ($49). You'll also get an HDMI output, support for 1080p playback and a pay-as-you-go option with the aforesaid 3G dongle. The duo is scheduled to go on sale at the end of September (you know, just a month or two before Ice Cream Sandwich makes Honeycomb look like old hat), with the 80 G9 going for $279 and the 101 G9 for $349. Don't ever say Archos' accountants didn't look out for you.
Update: We snagged a gallery's worth of hands-on shots from Archos' reveal today in Paris. We're running back for more as we type, so hang tight!
Update 2: A reader over at Engadget Spanish noticed that the ES specifications link for the new G9 tablets mentions a 16GB + microSD arrangement for those who aren't feeling a 250GB HDD. Interesting!
Gallery: Archos 80 G9 and Archos 101 G9 press images
Gallery: Archos G9 series tablet hands-on gallery!Continue reading Archos intros 80 G9 and 101 G9 Android 3.1 tablets: 1.5GHz CPU, 250GB HDD, 3G-ready (hands-on)Archos intros 80 G9 and 101 G9 Android 3.1 tablets: 1.5GHz CPU, 250GB HDD, 3G-ready (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Apple Previews iOS 5
Apple today previewed iOS 5, the latest version of the world?s most advanced mobile operating system, with over 200 new features that will be available as a free software update to iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch users this fall. New iOS 5 features include: Notification Center, an innovative way to easily view and manage notifications [...]
Genesi's hard float ARM optimizations can hasten Linux floating point operations by 300 percent
You may know Genesi for its ARM-based Smartbook, but a recent software initiative it's undertaken has much broader implications for the Linux ecosystem. Traditionally, the Penguin-powered OS is compiled under the assumption that all ARM designs contain floating point silicon. Unfortunately, this is only true of recent architectures, creating a problem for older chipsets who stumble when executing floating point code. It's the realization of the fault that stalls progress as the chip is forced to rely on software emulation to make the appropriate stars align. Heavy stuff, but the firm's work in recompiling 90 percent of the existing Debian repository have caused a 300 percent increase in the speed of applications that are heavily reliant on floating point. Purportedly, they managed this without changing a single line of source code, but we'll leave it to them to explain -- there's a 15 minute barrage of technobabble waiting just after the break.Continue reading Genesi's hard float ARM optimizations can hasten Linux floating point operations by 300 percentGenesi's hard float ARM optimizations can hasten Linux floating point operations by 300 percent originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 08:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | ARM Devices | Email this | Comments
Time to Start Writing That iPhone 5 Wish List
I had pretty much written off the idea that Apple would release a new form-factor for its upcoming iPhone 5, believing that Apple would let the phone's present form ride for another year, much like the company did when it introduced the iPhone 3GS. Because Apple released an iPhone 4 for Verizon late in the yearly refresh cycle, well, that was just another nail in the new-design coffin.
The Echo Nest Hatches Echoprint, A Free Open Source Music Fingerprinting Service
The Echo Nest, a music intelligence startup whose technology that powers many music apps from media companies or independent developers, this morning announced the release of an open-source music identification service dubbed Echoprint.
The Echo Nest teamed up with 7digital, a London-based digital media delivery company, and MusizBrainz, to launch with a catalog of 13 million songs, an amount it expects to grow fast.
The Echo Nest teamed up with 7digital, a London-based digital media delivery company, and MusizBrainz, to launch with a catalog of 13 million songs, an amount it expects to grow fast.
How Bad Could It Be? The $100 Arnova 7 Tablet
You know how the only non-iPod MP3 players that people buy are those $10 pieces of junk in dime stores, or by the checkout in cheap supermarkets? I have a feeling that the tablet market is going the same way.
With all the major players struggling to match the iPad’s aggressively low price, it may be [...]
With all the major players struggling to match the iPad’s aggressively low price, it may be [...]
Microsoft's NUAds interactive advertising to harness powers of Kinect, 'change television as we know it'
The folks over at Microsoft Advertising are quite fond of their latest brainchild, so much so that they're calling the Kinect-enabled advertising platform "irresistibly interactive." NUAds -- which snaked the NU in NUI -- feeds off our need for interactivity, allowing advertisers to lure us in by enabling points of gesture and voice control. Think the latest Snuggie spot is super cool? Just say "Xbox, Tweet," and all your friends will know it. Want to know more about Mariah Carey's latest fragrance? Say "Xbox, More," and the info is all yours. Wondering where you can pick up a box of Nad's edible hair remover? Say "Xbox, Near Me," and you'll get a text with the location of the closest Nad's retailer. Want to vote on the hottest new Bratz doll? Give your girl a thumbs up. So Microsoft may have engaged a host of more respectable partners, namely Adidas, NBC, and Coca Cola, for its demo of the voice and gesture-enabled advertising platform yesterday, and NUAds does indeed serve up promotions in an entirely new way, but will it really change how we view the boob tube for good? Check out the video demo after the break, and weigh in the comments below.Continue reading Microsoft's NUAds interactive advertising to harness powers of Kinect, 'change television as we know it'Microsoft's NUAds interactive advertising to harness powers of Kinect, 'change television as we know it' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 16:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Hollywood Reporter | Microsoft Advertising | Email this | Comments
Classic Shell now makes Internet Explorer 9 look like IE8
If you used Windows XP for a long time (who didn't?), one of the biggest changes when moving to Windows 7 or Vista was the massively-altered Explorer. While the new Explorer introduces some useful new features, it also removed just as many -- which is where Classic Shell comes in!
We've covered Classic Shell before, but here's the crib note: Classic Shell restores almost every Windows XP-era Explorer feature. The best change, in our opinion, is the reemergence of the 'up' arrow, meaning you now navigate without using the Windows Vista/7 'breadcrumbs' address bar. The status bar yet again shows the total size of your selection, and -- praise be! -- the diabolical Windows 7 Copy File 'copy and replace?' dialog has been replaced with a Windows XP lookalike (image after the break).
New to the most recent version of Classic Shell is the ability to make IE9 look like IE8. With Classic Shell the title bar yet again has a caption, so you can see the full title of Web pages. The current security zone and loading progress indicator have been put back into the status bar, too. If you enable 'Show tabs on a separate row,' it's almost like using IE8.
Finally, Classic Shell replaces the omnipotent Windows 7 Start Menu with the age-old 'classic' Windows 2000/XP-style Start Menu. Classic Shell makes the Start Menu skinable, too, if you're into the kind of thing.
As awesome as it sounds, we've only touched on a small section of Classic Shell's feature set. Check the Classic Shell site for a complete list. There's a few more images of Classic Shell in action after the break.
Download Classic Shell for WindowsContinue reading Classic Shell now makes Internet Explorer 9 look like IE8Classic Shell now makes Internet Explorer 9 look like IE8 originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
We've covered Classic Shell before, but here's the crib note: Classic Shell restores almost every Windows XP-era Explorer feature. The best change, in our opinion, is the reemergence of the 'up' arrow, meaning you now navigate without using the Windows Vista/7 'breadcrumbs' address bar. The status bar yet again shows the total size of your selection, and -- praise be! -- the diabolical Windows 7 Copy File 'copy and replace?' dialog has been replaced with a Windows XP lookalike (image after the break).
New to the most recent version of Classic Shell is the ability to make IE9 look like IE8. With Classic Shell the title bar yet again has a caption, so you can see the full title of Web pages. The current security zone and loading progress indicator have been put back into the status bar, too. If you enable 'Show tabs on a separate row,' it's almost like using IE8.
Finally, Classic Shell replaces the omnipotent Windows 7 Start Menu with the age-old 'classic' Windows 2000/XP-style Start Menu. Classic Shell makes the Start Menu skinable, too, if you're into the kind of thing.
As awesome as it sounds, we've only touched on a small section of Classic Shell's feature set. Check the Classic Shell site for a complete list. There's a few more images of Classic Shell in action after the break.
Download Classic Shell for WindowsContinue reading Classic Shell now makes Internet Explorer 9 look like IE8Classic Shell now makes Internet Explorer 9 look like IE8 originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Saliva Test Can Tell if You Are Lying About Your Age [Science]
Just when I thought I could get away with saying I was 25 and holding, scientists from UCLA had to design a test that can accurately predict my age from trace amounts of saliva. Just great. More »
myTouch 4G Slide Sighting?
Yes, yet another Android Phone that is soon to hit the streets. However, I like the design of this one. And word is the keyboard is quite good, but it is heavier than the G2 (which is quite weighty). It seems that it will be running Sense UI, with some myTouch tweaks here and there. [...]
iPhone Live podcast tonight at 9pm EDT, come chat!
In brightest day, in blackest night, no iPhone news shall escape our sight. Let those who worship iOS might attend this podcast, iPhone Live! Follow along with our show notes! Time: 6pm PT, 9pm ET, 2am BST! Place: http://live.tipb.com/live/ (You can watch from iPhone via Ustream Viewer app (here’s how) and iPad (we recommend Duet [...]
Save your tabs and Panorama tab groups in Firefox 4
When Firefox 4's tab grouping tool, Panorama, had its keyboard shortcut changed to the finger-breaking combo of Ctrl+Shift+E, we thought Panorama would get dropped before FF4's final release -- but, thankfully, it made the cut!
If you've used Firefox 4 and Panorama, you might have noticed that Mozilla's new browser doesn't always save your tab groupings when you close the browser -- a bit of a pain, if you spend a long time setting up the perfect groups! This is tied into the removal of the 'Save and Quit' dialog box -- and enabling Panorama tab group saving is just a matter of re-enabling the Save and Quit dialog.
Open a new tab and head to about:config. Click through the warning and type 'quit' into the filter box. Double click browser.showQuitWarning to change its value to true (see image after the break). That's it -- now you'll have the option of saving your tabs, and thus tab groups, when you close Firefox.
For more tech tips, visit our tips index.Continue reading Save your tabs and Panorama tab groups in Firefox 4Save your tabs and Panorama tab groups in Firefox 4 originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
If you've used Firefox 4 and Panorama, you might have noticed that Mozilla's new browser doesn't always save your tab groupings when you close the browser -- a bit of a pain, if you spend a long time setting up the perfect groups! This is tied into the removal of the 'Save and Quit' dialog box -- and enabling Panorama tab group saving is just a matter of re-enabling the Save and Quit dialog.
Open a new tab and head to about:config. Click through the warning and type 'quit' into the filter box. Double click browser.showQuitWarning to change its value to true (see image after the break). That's it -- now you'll have the option of saving your tabs, and thus tab groups, when you close Firefox.
For more tech tips, visit our tips index.Continue reading Save your tabs and Panorama tab groups in Firefox 4Save your tabs and Panorama tab groups in Firefox 4 originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Two-Headed Hacker Monster Declares Open Season on Governments
Two ad hoc hacker communities often in the headlines of late -- LulzSec and Anonymous -- announced on Monday they intend to team up to attack government websites worldwide. In its "Operation Anti-Security" manifesto, LulzSec said the top priority of this operation is "to steal and leak any classified government information, including email spools and documentation." Anonymous had on Friday tweeted its solidarity with LulzSec.
Setgo Transport: Chewbacca?s gadget hauler?
I consider myself a personal electronic device transportation solution enthusiast.�� OK, I have a gadget bag fetish, alright?� Like many of us, I’m constantly on the lookout for a better way to haul my must-have gear.� When I stumbled upon the Transport “urban bag” by Setgo, my interest was piqued.� With its low-profile, over-the-shoulder design, [...]
AnaPad, A Wooden iPad for Kids
I let other people’s babies play with my iPad, usually to shut the whining brats up when they start to cry (again). The soothing tones and gently flashing pulses of SoundPrism usually do the trick, but inevitably these impatient monsters start to stab at the screen, harder and harder until I’m worried about them smashing [...]
Microsoft releases sexy Bing app for iPad
It's still a bit odd seeing Microsoft deliver apps for Apple's mobile platform. And it's even stranger still to see one as sexy as the new Bing app for iPad, which brings a slick, immersive search experience to Apple's tablet.
Just as a regular search on bing.com will, the Bing app for iPad tailors the results it displays based on what you're searching for. There are loads of custom views, covering everything from movies and maps to weather and shopping. The app also offers a heads-up display of currently trending searches, complete with related images, which is an iPad-exclusive feature.
Navigation is a breeze thanks to multitouch controls, allowing users to flick or swipe through results. And while the development team refers to the app as "touch and decide," Bing Voice Search is also built in -- making it easy to start a query without using the iPad's on-screen keyboard.
The Bing app for iPad is available for download now from the App Store.Microsoft releases sexy Bing app for iPad originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Just as a regular search on bing.com will, the Bing app for iPad tailors the results it displays based on what you're searching for. There are loads of custom views, covering everything from movies and maps to weather and shopping. The app also offers a heads-up display of currently trending searches, complete with related images, which is an iPad-exclusive feature.
Navigation is a breeze thanks to multitouch controls, allowing users to flick or swipe through results. And while the development team refers to the app as "touch and decide," Bing Voice Search is also built in -- making it easy to start a query without using the iPad's on-screen keyboard.
The Bing app for iPad is available for download now from the App Store.Microsoft releases sexy Bing app for iPad originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Setgo Transport: Chewbacca?s gadget hauler?
I consider myself a personal electronic device transportation solution enthusiast.�� OK, I have a gadget bag fetish, alright?� Like many of us, I’m constantly on the lookout for a better way to haul my must-have gear.� When I stumbled upon the Transport “urban bag” by Setgo, my interest was piqued.� With its low-profile, over-the-shoulder design, [...]
Apple Now Owns the Patent On Your Smartphone's Touchscreen [Apple]
According to PC Mag, Apple was just awarded a major patent that could affect the entire smartphone market. More than three years after filing for it, Apple now has the patent on capacitive touchscreen technology. Good for them. Bad for everybody else. More »
Let it Slide is an engaging, difficult puzzle game
I have a thing for physics games, and I've been known to post the occasional platformer or action game here and there. But Let it Slide is one of the brainiest games I've posted to date.
The idea is very simple, and far from original: You get a board with pieces arranged in a particular pattern; you have to slide those around until you get the special piece into its target location.
It's not even about finding out where the target location is - you can just hover over "dim tiles" and instantly see where you're supposed to bring the special piece. But getting it there is a whole different story.
There are five tutorial levels, which I strongly recommend you do. Then there are twenty "beginner" levels, but that's really a misnomer. If those are the beginner levels, I don't want to know what the intermediate and advanced levels look like!
Every time you finish a level you get a score based on how many clicks it took you - each level has a "par" (the minimum number of clicks it could be completed in), and your performance is compared to that gold standard. Because it's such a brainy game, getting it right is quite satisfying. I was downright proud of myself when I managed to finish a few levels. All in all, quite recommended, especially if you've got a few minutes of quiet. It might actually help you focus better later on.Let it Slide is an engaging, difficult puzzle game originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
The idea is very simple, and far from original: You get a board with pieces arranged in a particular pattern; you have to slide those around until you get the special piece into its target location.
It's not even about finding out where the target location is - you can just hover over "dim tiles" and instantly see where you're supposed to bring the special piece. But getting it there is a whole different story.
There are five tutorial levels, which I strongly recommend you do. Then there are twenty "beginner" levels, but that's really a misnomer. If those are the beginner levels, I don't want to know what the intermediate and advanced levels look like!
Every time you finish a level you get a score based on how many clicks it took you - each level has a "par" (the minimum number of clicks it could be completed in), and your performance is compared to that gold standard. Because it's such a brainy game, getting it right is quite satisfying. I was downright proud of myself when I managed to finish a few levels. All in all, quite recommended, especially if you've got a few minutes of quiet. It might actually help you focus better later on.Let it Slide is an engaging, difficult puzzle game originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Mac OS X Lion Preview 2 released, introduces mega exciting leather bound iCal skin
This is one of those posts that could probably be condensed into a tweet: Apple has released the second Preview of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion. If you're running Preview 1, it looks like you'll first receive a small update via Software Update, and then you can download Preview 2 from the Mac App Store.
There has been some speculation that Apple is getting close to a release or Golden Master build, but judging by 9to5 Mac's initial findings there's definitely some way to go. The Golden Master will probably appear at, or just before, the Apple WWDC in June.
So far, it's looking like the only changes in Preview 2 are the leather bound iCal skin that you can see above, and the main iChat window now combines your AIM, Bonjour and Jabber contacts, like Adium. We're sure that more details will emerge throughout the day, though, and there's bound to be lots of invisible changes, too. We'll update this post when we find out more.Mac OS X Lion Preview 2 released, introduces mega exciting leather bound iCal skin originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
There has been some speculation that Apple is getting close to a release or Golden Master build, but judging by 9to5 Mac's initial findings there's definitely some way to go. The Golden Master will probably appear at, or just before, the Apple WWDC in June.
So far, it's looking like the only changes in Preview 2 are the leather bound iCal skin that you can see above, and the main iChat window now combines your AIM, Bonjour and Jabber contacts, like Adium. We're sure that more details will emerge throughout the day, though, and there's bound to be lots of invisible changes, too. We'll update this post when we find out more.Mac OS X Lion Preview 2 released, introduces mega exciting leather bound iCal skin originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Apple Previews iOS 5
Apple today previewed iOS 5, the latest version of the world?s most advanced mobile operating system, with over 200 new features that will be available as a free software update to iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch users this fall. New iOS 5 features include: Notification Center, an innovative way to easily view and manage notifications [...]
California's zero-emissions rebate program ironically runs out of green
Californians will have to look elsewhere to start receiving cash back for buying eco-friendly vehicles, as the California Air Resources Board has just announced that its ever popular rebate program is no more for the time being. CARB, as the board also goes by, launched its Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP) in March of 2010 with initial funding of over $11 million to go around -- but we knew it wouldn't last. According to the the CVRP website, the program has issued a little over $7 million worth of rebates thus far, with the rest pending or reserved for the already existing EV-owners.
The board hopes to bring the program back within the next fiscal year by charging it up with $17 million worth of rebates. It'll create more opportunities to get some of these rebates, while simultaneously extending the duration of the CVRP by decreasing the maximum amount to $2,500 (about half of the previous maximum). If you're doing your math correctly, that equates to more than 6,000 total rebates that'll be up for grabs -- opposed to the 1,400 first-rounders who were awarded the rebates already. With luck and some economical upturns, Californian volt-heads can cruise into 2012 with their non-petrol-deficient wallets a little bit fuller.California's zero-emissions rebate program ironically runs out of green originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 03:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Autoblog Green | Clean Vehicle Rebate Project | Email this | Comments
The board hopes to bring the program back within the next fiscal year by charging it up with $17 million worth of rebates. It'll create more opportunities to get some of these rebates, while simultaneously extending the duration of the CVRP by decreasing the maximum amount to $2,500 (about half of the previous maximum). If you're doing your math correctly, that equates to more than 6,000 total rebates that'll be up for grabs -- opposed to the 1,400 first-rounders who were awarded the rebates already. With luck and some economical upturns, Californian volt-heads can cruise into 2012 with their non-petrol-deficient wallets a little bit fuller.California's zero-emissions rebate program ironically runs out of green originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 03:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Autoblog Green | Clean Vehicle Rebate Project | Email this | Comments
Color vulnerable to simple GPS hack, lets you spy on anyone, anywhere
Color, the $41-million-in-funding location-oriented photo sharing startup, is susceptible to simple GPS spoofing. With nothing more than a jailbroken iPad or iPhone, you can use FakeLocation to trick Color into thinking you're somewhere else. Within seconds you can be browsing photos that were snapped thousands of miles away. With a little digging, you can pore through photos not intended for your eyes.
Of course, such a hack isn't illegal as such -- every photo you take with Color is public. With FakeLocation you are simply circumventing Color's very limited location-oriented security mechanism. It does undermine Color's usefulness (and uniqueness), though -- if nefarious types can sit in their bedroom or basement and eavesdrop on classy dinner parties and wild night club soirees, people might be less inclined to share personal photos with those around them.
Fortunately, both for Color and its users, this is an easy security hole to plug -- at least in the short term. The app (or server-side) code simply checks to see if the user has 'teleported' an impossibly large distance, without any intermediate steps in between. In the long term, though, Color's users must be aware that its social graph is completely public. Color's users must realize that every photo they upload is visible by anyone, from any place.
After the break, just to elucidate a little on Color's actual business model and ultimate intention, we have two amazing quotes from Bill Nguyen, Color's founder.Continue reading Color vulnerable to simple GPS hack, lets you spy on anyone, anywhereColor vulnerable to simple GPS hack, lets you spy on anyone, anywhere originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 05:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Of course, such a hack isn't illegal as such -- every photo you take with Color is public. With FakeLocation you are simply circumventing Color's very limited location-oriented security mechanism. It does undermine Color's usefulness (and uniqueness), though -- if nefarious types can sit in their bedroom or basement and eavesdrop on classy dinner parties and wild night club soirees, people might be less inclined to share personal photos with those around them.
Fortunately, both for Color and its users, this is an easy security hole to plug -- at least in the short term. The app (or server-side) code simply checks to see if the user has 'teleported' an impossibly large distance, without any intermediate steps in between. In the long term, though, Color's users must be aware that its social graph is completely public. Color's users must realize that every photo they upload is visible by anyone, from any place.
After the break, just to elucidate a little on Color's actual business model and ultimate intention, we have two amazing quotes from Bill Nguyen, Color's founder.Continue reading Color vulnerable to simple GPS hack, lets you spy on anyone, anywhereColor vulnerable to simple GPS hack, lets you spy on anyone, anywhere originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 05:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
NYC BigApps Ideas Turns Challenge On its Head, Asks For Problems To Solve
New York City likes to put out its BigApps challenge to get developers to come up with apps that make living in the city better. (Recent winners include parking finder and pick-up game organizing apps). But the city is now trying something different with its BigApps Ideas Challenge.
Instead of asking developers for apps, the challenge is asking for problems that can be solved with apps. Anyone can submit a problem they want solved, and the best ones will get voted up. The challenge is hosted on ChallengePost, and there are cash prizes of $100 for each of the top 50 ideas, and $250 for each of the top 10.
Instead of asking developers for apps, the challenge is asking for problems that can be solved with apps. Anyone can submit a problem they want solved, and the best ones will get voted up. The challenge is hosted on ChallengePost, and there are cash prizes of $100 for each of the top 50 ideas, and $250 for each of the top 10.
Apple Previews iOS 5
Apple today previewed iOS 5, the latest version of the world?s most advanced mobile operating system, with over 200 new features that will be available as a free software update to iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch users this fall. New iOS 5 features include: Notification Center, an innovative way to easily view and manage notifications [...]
DirecTV takes the germs out of your hotel remote, bed still questionable
Hotel rooms are gross. Well, some of 'em are. It doesn't take a germaphobe to know that your room's previous occupant may have had less-than-ideal hygienic priorities, so it'll probably come as a great relief to you frequent flier types that DirecTV has decided to do something about it. Bundled into its new Residential Experience for Hotels program is a proprietary germ-free remote control for every room. That's all well, clean and good, but what makes this experience even homier are the 100+ HD channels DirecTV added so you can make heavy use of that enhanced interactive program guide. Yessir, now you can watch HBO and, erm, 'adult offerings' without ever having to wash your hands; the new service is currently in testing with an intended launch for later this summer. It remains to be seen whether the EPA will swoop down to backhand DirecTV for dubious anti-microbial claims like it did IO Gear some years back. In the meantime, it's a solid sanitary high-five for the hospitality industry.Continue reading DirecTV takes the germs out of your hotel remote, bed still questionableDirecTV takes the germs out of your hotel remote, bed still questionable originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
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