QR codes have fallen out of fashion and sunk to an all-time low. But Wikipedia and its QRpedia service may change all that. More »
Friday, September 30, 2011
Windows Home Server 2011 released to manufacturers
Just a little under two months after its release candidate went live, Windows Home Server (WHS) 2011 has been finalized and released into the wild. The new version of Microsoft's slick, do-it-all server OS is a big step forward from its predecessor.
Built on the Windows Server 2008 R2 base, Home Server 2011 features a simpler dashboard, a better backup solution, dead simple remote access to your home computers, and Silverlight-powered remote media streaming. For a more detailed look at what's new in Windows Home Server 2011, you check out Microsoft's official breakdown.
Drive Extender, of course, didn't resurface for the final release of WHS 2011 and that's something a lot of power users are still pretty irked about. Even without Extender, Windows Home Server offers a boatload of useful functionality and might be a good fit for your home network. Manufacturers have already begun building hardware, so you should be able to pick up a device in the very near future.
An evaluation download for Windows Home Server 2011 will be made available in April -- we'll let you know when the links are ready.Windows Home Server 2011 released to manufacturers originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Built on the Windows Server 2008 R2 base, Home Server 2011 features a simpler dashboard, a better backup solution, dead simple remote access to your home computers, and Silverlight-powered remote media streaming. For a more detailed look at what's new in Windows Home Server 2011, you check out Microsoft's official breakdown.
Drive Extender, of course, didn't resurface for the final release of WHS 2011 and that's something a lot of power users are still pretty irked about. Even without Extender, Windows Home Server offers a boatload of useful functionality and might be a good fit for your home network. Manufacturers have already begun building hardware, so you should be able to pick up a device in the very near future.
An evaluation download for Windows Home Server 2011 will be made available in April -- we'll let you know when the links are ready.Windows Home Server 2011 released to manufacturers originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Create your own bedtime stories with Picturebook for iPhone and iPad [Kids Corner]
Picturebook is a new iPhone and iPad app for kids to create their own stories. It’s designed so that even young children who do not know how to read or write can use Picturebook as a digital sticker book.
Picturebook is very easy to use and most...
Picturebook is very easy to use and most...
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
T-Mobile Expands 4G Portfolio With HTC Amaze 4G, Samsung Galaxy S II
While other carriers gear up for the upcoming iPhone 5, T-Mobile today introduced a trifecta of 4G products poised to take advantage of the carrier's 20 Mbps-plus network speeds. Two smartphones, the Android Gingerbread-running HTC Amaze 4G and the Samsung Galaxy S II, along with a hotspot, the Sonic 4G Mobile HotSpot, were introduced at the Mobilize 2011 conference.
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
Deal of the Day ? Samsung Exhibit 4G Android Smartphone with Free Activation
Today?s LogicBUY Deal is the T-Mobile Samsung Exhibit 4G Android smartphone, free with a 2-year contract.� Features:� 1GHz Hummingbird processor, 3.5? touch display, dual-facing cameras (3MP with flash on rear), Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS, up to 32MB storage via microSD, Bluetooth, GPS, 6.5 hours of talk time, and more. List price is $499.99; normal contract [...]
Samsung's Galaxy S II for T-Mobile proves that unicorns do exist (hands-on video)
After eluding our grubby little paws at its launch in New York and again this morning at Mobilize 2011, we're happy to report that we've finally caught up with T-Mobile's Galaxy S II. To recap, the carrier's permutation rocks the same WVGA 4.52-inch Super AMOLED Plus display as Sprint's Epic 4G Touch, but replaces Samsung's in-house 1.2GHz Exynos CPU with Qualcomm's dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S3 processor. T-Mobile tells us the brain swap was necessary as it wanted its variant to support 42Mbps HSPA+ on the network's AWS band (just like its cousin the Amaze 4G). Oh, and like AT&T's variant it comes with a little NFC glitter sprinkled on top. So is it the same delectable Galaxy S II as its European and Sprint counterparts? From our brief time with the handset, the transplant doesn't appear to have impacted performance at all -- it's just as snappy as ever. In terms of appearance, the phone sports a soft-touch matte black finish in back and its bezel is a lighter shade of chrome than used on its siblings. Check out our gallery below, and peek after the break for our hands-on video.
Myriam Joire contributed to this report.
Gallery: T-Mobile Galaxy S II hands-onContinue reading Samsung's Galaxy S II for T-Mobile proves that unicorns do exist (hands-on video)Samsung's Galaxy S II for T-Mobile proves that unicorns do exist (hands-on video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 01:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Myriam Joire contributed to this report.
Gallery: T-Mobile Galaxy S II hands-onContinue reading Samsung's Galaxy S II for T-Mobile proves that unicorns do exist (hands-on video)Samsung's Galaxy S II for T-Mobile proves that unicorns do exist (hands-on video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 01:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Monday, September 26, 2011
23? Android Megapad ? it?s HUGE!
Martin Drashkov��has taken it on�himself�to hack himself a 23″ Android Tablet �Costing him around $600 with off the shelf components “devices like this will make�simultaneous�use by two users a practicality and will let users more fully immerse themselves in apps and games ” Won’t fit in your pocket or gadget bag though and Swypes gonna [...]
Firefox 4 Mobile officially released for Android and Maemo devices
Moments ago, Mozilla stripped the release candidate moniker from Firefox 4 Mobile and pronounced it fit for public release. If you have a Nokia N900 phone, or a fairly-modern Android 2.0-or-later device, go ahead and install it from the Market, by using scanning the QR code after the break, or by visiting Firefox.com/m.
Accompanying the release is the launch of Spark, a cute social game that's designed to fuel the adoption of Firefox 4 Mobile, much like last week's use of Glow and Twitter Party during Firefox 4 PC's release.
While the browser still feels a little rough around the edges, it's definitely worth trying out if you're still using Android's stock browser. Its JavaScript performance is significantly better than any other Android browser, and if you use Firefox on your PC, its built-in Sync functionality is awesome.
Over the next few days we'll have plenty of tips and tricks for Firefox 4 Mobile, and a list of the best add-ons available for the new browser.Continue reading Firefox 4 Mobile officially released for Android and Maemo devicesFirefox 4 Mobile officially released for Android and Maemo devices originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Accompanying the release is the launch of Spark, a cute social game that's designed to fuel the adoption of Firefox 4 Mobile, much like last week's use of Glow and Twitter Party during Firefox 4 PC's release.
While the browser still feels a little rough around the edges, it's definitely worth trying out if you're still using Android's stock browser. Its JavaScript performance is significantly better than any other Android browser, and if you use Firefox on your PC, its built-in Sync functionality is awesome.
Over the next few days we'll have plenty of tips and tricks for Firefox 4 Mobile, and a list of the best add-ons available for the new browser.Continue reading Firefox 4 Mobile officially released for Android and Maemo devicesFirefox 4 Mobile officially released for Android and Maemo devices originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Firefox 4 Friday: 25 million downloads, anti-aliasing, and how to make it look like Firefox 3
If you've had your head under a rock for the last few days, here's this week's Firefox news in brief: Firefox 4 was finally released.
Yes, 13 months after the initial release of Firefox 3.7 alpha 1 and four more alpha builds, a renumbering to 4.0 and 12 beta releases, and finally a release candidate (or two), Firefox 4 has been released into the wild.
Just like every other Firefox release, initial reception for the new browser has been nothing short of insane. 7.1 million downloads were registered in the first 24 hours and the download rate continued to accelerate, clocking in more than 15 million downloads after two days. At the time of writing, three days in, Firefox 4 has been downloaded over 25 million times. In case you're wondering, the United States accounts for 7 million of those downloads, just beating out Germany's Firefox-downloads-per-capita.
But now that you've installed Firefox 4 (you have, right?), what do you do now? Well, obviously, in true Download Squad fashion, it's time to tweak Firefox 4 using add-ons and about:config hacks!
First up is an add-on called Stratiform that lets you change every aspect of the Firefox 4 browser chrome -- including the color of that orange button!Continue reading Firefox 4 Friday: 25 million downloads, anti-aliasing, and how to make it look like Firefox 3Firefox 4 Friday: 25 million downloads, anti-aliasing, and how to make it look like Firefox 3 originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Yes, 13 months after the initial release of Firefox 3.7 alpha 1 and four more alpha builds, a renumbering to 4.0 and 12 beta releases, and finally a release candidate (or two), Firefox 4 has been released into the wild.
Just like every other Firefox release, initial reception for the new browser has been nothing short of insane. 7.1 million downloads were registered in the first 24 hours and the download rate continued to accelerate, clocking in more than 15 million downloads after two days. At the time of writing, three days in, Firefox 4 has been downloaded over 25 million times. In case you're wondering, the United States accounts for 7 million of those downloads, just beating out Germany's Firefox-downloads-per-capita.
But now that you've installed Firefox 4 (you have, right?), what do you do now? Well, obviously, in true Download Squad fashion, it's time to tweak Firefox 4 using add-ons and about:config hacks!
First up is an add-on called Stratiform that lets you change every aspect of the Firefox 4 browser chrome -- including the color of that orange button!Continue reading Firefox 4 Friday: 25 million downloads, anti-aliasing, and how to make it look like Firefox 3Firefox 4 Friday: 25 million downloads, anti-aliasing, and how to make it look like Firefox 3 originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Balance is a challenging mouse-based physics game
Years of computer use have taught us that the mouse cursor is "above" the windows. It doesn't push anything around; at least not without you clicking anything.
Balance takes that ingrained bit of knowledge and cancels it out. Suddenly your cursor (a blue dot) is solid - and if it touches the blue block, it pushes it around.
Your job is to use your cursor to nudge the blue block over to the orange block. You will have to push it, lift it and even flip it on its side, and then balance it. It's a very tricky game - one I wouldn't recommend tackling with a laptop trackpad.
Still, if you have a mouse and a hankering for a little physics gameplay, this is a cute little game. I like how the blue block never stops smiling, it makes me feel better about the world.Balance is a challenging mouse-based physics game originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Balance takes that ingrained bit of knowledge and cancels it out. Suddenly your cursor (a blue dot) is solid - and if it touches the blue block, it pushes it around.
Your job is to use your cursor to nudge the blue block over to the orange block. You will have to push it, lift it and even flip it on its side, and then balance it. It's a very tricky game - one I wouldn't recommend tackling with a laptop trackpad.
Still, if you have a mouse and a hankering for a little physics gameplay, this is a cute little game. I like how the blue block never stops smiling, it makes me feel better about the world.Balance is a challenging mouse-based physics game originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Windows 8 to feature adaptive Aero colorization, get it now on Windows 7
While we've still yet to see anything truly Earth-shattering, the tandem of Rafael Rivera and Paul Thurrott continues to churn out insight about interesting new features they've discovered in Windows 8 milestone 3. The latest discovery is that Aero in Windows 8 will be able to automatically adapt itself to match your current wallpaper image. It's a bit like what Windows 7 already does with your taskbar icons: if a program alert needs your attention, the icon will glow using the predominant color (e.g. Firefox should glow orange).
And yes, you can already make Windows 7 behave this way if you like. Over at CodePlex, there's a little program called Aura that parks itself in your system tray and automatically adjusts your window borders to compliment your wallpaper images. The effect is quite nice, and you can try it out by minimizing your windows and cycling through your theme's wallpapers (right click on your desktop and choose next desktop background).Windows 8 to feature adaptive Aero colorization, get it now on Windows 7 originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 07:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
And yes, you can already make Windows 7 behave this way if you like. Over at CodePlex, there's a little program called Aura that parks itself in your system tray and automatically adjusts your window borders to compliment your wallpaper images. The effect is quite nice, and you can try it out by minimizing your windows and cycling through your theme's wallpapers (right click on your desktop and choose next desktop background).Windows 8 to feature adaptive Aero colorization, get it now on Windows 7 originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 07:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Ask Engadget: most compatible motherboard / components for Ubuntu desktop?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Everest, who ain't skeered to dip his toes in the Linux sea. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
"Hey guys! I'm building a new computer with Ubuntu Linux in mind, and was wondering what motherboards (preferably from Intel or ASUS, but any reputable brand will do) you folks would recommend with great compatibility for stuff like WiFi straight out of the box? Compatibility with the first- or second-gen Intel Core i processors would be great, too. Thanks!"
Anyone who has dabbled in Linux knows the pains of incompatibility -- it's the price we pay for being exactly who we want to be -- but if you've got any trouble-free recommendations, comments are open!Ask Engadget: most compatible motherboard / components for Ubuntu desktop? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Sep 2011 22:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
"Hey guys! I'm building a new computer with Ubuntu Linux in mind, and was wondering what motherboards (preferably from Intel or ASUS, but any reputable brand will do) you folks would recommend with great compatibility for stuff like WiFi straight out of the box? Compatibility with the first- or second-gen Intel Core i processors would be great, too. Thanks!"
Anyone who has dabbled in Linux knows the pains of incompatibility -- it's the price we pay for being exactly who we want to be -- but if you've got any trouble-free recommendations, comments are open!Ask Engadget: most compatible motherboard / components for Ubuntu desktop? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Sep 2011 22:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
"Stay Away" Says the 50,000-Strong Anti-Terrorism Wonder Protecting New York City [Terrorism]
The 60 Minutes profile of New York City's massive anti-terrorism network this evening was nothing short of amazing. 35,000 police. 15,000 civilians. Unattended bag-tracking artificial intelligence. Cameras, oh the cameras! One message for potential terrorists: "Stay away." More »
Samsung concession store using Apple?s icons on its display wall
Samsung, who is currently embroiled in a patent war with Apple, looks to have scored a particular nasty own goal — using icons which clearly belong to Apple in its advertising. The wall in the picture was taken in a concession store in Italy?s Centro Sicilia....
"Stay Away" Says the 50,000-Strong Anti-Terrorism Wonder Protecting New York City [Terrorism]
The 60 Minutes profile of New York City's massive anti-terrorism network this evening was nothing short of amazing. 35,000 police. 15,000 civilians. Unattended bag-tracking artificial intelligence. Cameras, oh the cameras! One message for potential terrorists: "Stay away." More »
Language Isn?t a Barrier with Vocre
Star Trek’s Universal Translator is here! �The Vocre iPhone app from myLanguage “listens” to your sentence, translates it into the selected language, then speaks it. �It’s not instantaneous like the Universal Translator, but it’s close. �You can choose a male or female voice to speak the translation. �The speaking voice sounds like a human, not [...]
Sunday, September 25, 2011
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
This Vegas-Style Water Gun Ballet Makes Me Really Miss Summer [Video]
As much as I love autumn... I'm just not ready yet! I wanna be able to do this. Throw in some alcohol and you have yourself a grand old time. [Neatorama] More »
Friday, September 23, 2011
Toyota pulls Cydia theme and ads to appease Apple
In news that will no doubt shake the very bedrock of your belief system, Apple has asked Toyota to remove its Scion theme and its advertising from ModMyi, a Cydia repository. The Scion theme has been available for weeks, but after it received a ton of press in the last couple of days, Apple finally lashed out.
It's not like we should be surprised, considering Apple has claimed in the past that jailbreaking is illegal -- but at the same time, did the Cupertino cronies hear about the ruling that made circumventing DRM, and thus jailbreaking, legal? Anyway, whether Toyota was supporting illegal, legal, or deliciously gray and ambiguous, activity, it doesn't matter: Apple asked Toyota to remove the theme, and Toyota graciously bent over and capitulated.
This story raises a much more interesting topic, though: this is the first time a multinational company has publicly acknowledged and embraced the jailbreak community. Considering jailbreaking is technically legal, and Cydia's creator, Jay Freeman, estimates that up to 9% of OS devices are jailbroken, it simply makes good, commercial sense to target jailbreakers with ads. Toyota was simply trying to make some money, for shame!
As long as Apple continues to throw around its increasingly-expansive mass, the legality of jailbreaking will continue to be inconsequential. It will be interesting to see if another big company dares embrace the jailbreak community after this, too.Toyota pulls Cydia theme and ads to appease Apple originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 05:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
It's not like we should be surprised, considering Apple has claimed in the past that jailbreaking is illegal -- but at the same time, did the Cupertino cronies hear about the ruling that made circumventing DRM, and thus jailbreaking, legal? Anyway, whether Toyota was supporting illegal, legal, or deliciously gray and ambiguous, activity, it doesn't matter: Apple asked Toyota to remove the theme, and Toyota graciously bent over and capitulated.
This story raises a much more interesting topic, though: this is the first time a multinational company has publicly acknowledged and embraced the jailbreak community. Considering jailbreaking is technically legal, and Cydia's creator, Jay Freeman, estimates that up to 9% of OS devices are jailbroken, it simply makes good, commercial sense to target jailbreakers with ads. Toyota was simply trying to make some money, for shame!
As long as Apple continues to throw around its increasingly-expansive mass, the legality of jailbreaking will continue to be inconsequential. It will be interesting to see if another big company dares embrace the jailbreak community after this, too.Toyota pulls Cydia theme and ads to appease Apple originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 05:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Engadget Podcast 257 - 09.23.2011
We kind of don't even know where to start these days! We've all heard about how technology expands exponentially, and this week feels like we are really getting cubed...or something. From the meta to the macro to the micro it was a silly-crazy week, and as hard as it was we did end up starting the podcast and tried to round it all up for you as best we could. It's the Engadget Podcast, the only way we can do it.
Host: Tim Stevens, Brian Heater
Guest: Dana Wollman
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Funky Town
01:20 - Introducing Engadget Distro!
03:50 - Review score review
06:44 - The Engadget Show is live, here at 6:00PM ET! (update: we're done!)
09:15 - HP names Meg Whitman new President and CEO, gives Leo Apotheker the boot
17:42 - Facebook partners up to bring music, news and videos to your profile through Open Graph (video)
18:40 - Facebook outs Timeline, gives your profile page a new outfit (video)
25:15 - Color abandons app independence for Facebook, hopes you'll pay someone a 'visit'
29:48 - HTC Rhyme official: 3G, 3.7-inch display, single-core CPU, headed to Verizon for $199 on contract
38:48 - HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio, we go ears-on (video)
40:10 - HP's unreleased white TouchPad and Pre 3 for AT&T (hands-on video)
42:37 - A week with Google Wallet (video)
45:00 - Amazon lets you check out Kindle books from library websites, asks you to shush yourself at home
50:43 - Report: Apple to hold media event on October 4th, Tim Cook to unveil iPhone 5
53:47 - Listener questions
Hear the podcast
Subscribe to the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC).
[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.
[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator.
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
Download the podcast
LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
Contact the podcast
Send your questions to @tim_stevens.
Leave us a voicemail: (423) 438-3005 (GADGET-3005)
E-mail us: podcast at engadget dot com
Twitter: @bheater, @timstevens, @danawollmanFiled under: PodcastsEngadget Podcast 257 - 09.23.2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Host: Tim Stevens, Brian Heater
Guest: Dana Wollman
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Funky Town
01:20 - Introducing Engadget Distro!
03:50 - Review score review
06:44 - The Engadget Show is live, here at 6:00PM ET! (update: we're done!)
09:15 - HP names Meg Whitman new President and CEO, gives Leo Apotheker the boot
17:42 - Facebook partners up to bring music, news and videos to your profile through Open Graph (video)
18:40 - Facebook outs Timeline, gives your profile page a new outfit (video)
25:15 - Color abandons app independence for Facebook, hopes you'll pay someone a 'visit'
29:48 - HTC Rhyme official: 3G, 3.7-inch display, single-core CPU, headed to Verizon for $199 on contract
38:48 - HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio, we go ears-on (video)
40:10 - HP's unreleased white TouchPad and Pre 3 for AT&T (hands-on video)
42:37 - A week with Google Wallet (video)
45:00 - Amazon lets you check out Kindle books from library websites, asks you to shush yourself at home
50:43 - Report: Apple to hold media event on October 4th, Tim Cook to unveil iPhone 5
53:47 - Listener questions
Hear the podcast
Subscribe to the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC).
[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.
[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator.
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
Download the podcast
LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
Contact the podcast
Send your questions to @tim_stevens.
Leave us a voicemail: (423) 438-3005 (GADGET-3005)
E-mail us: podcast at engadget dot com
Twitter: @bheater, @timstevens, @danawollmanFiled under: PodcastsEngadget Podcast 257 - 09.23.2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
New Firefox Nightly and Aurora logos unearthed, and how to enable channel switching
Later today, Firefox will undergo its biggest developmental upheaval ever. Mozilla-central, the source of nightly builds, will be renumbered to version 5 -- and at long last, after years of wallowing around version 1, Mozilla's rendering and layout engine, Gecko, will also have its version number updated to match Firefox.
Shortly thereafter, Firefox's new channel system will be implemented. Firefox 5a2 will be introduced as the first Aurora build, and we should also see a Firefox 6 Nightly build. While we we're not sure where they came from, one Sören Hentzschel seems to have unearthed the new Nightly and Aurora logos (see above), along with new About Firefox dialogs (after the break).
In other news, if you want to take a sneak peek at the new 'channel changing' technology that will be introduced in upcoming Firefox builds, head to about:config and create a new string called app.update.desiredChannel -- the value doesn't matter. Then open Help > About Firefox and you'll be able to switch channel, but it doesn't do anything just yet (image after the break). Here's hoping that Firefox channel switching is smoother than Chrome.Continue reading New Firefox Nightly and Aurora logos unearthed, and how to enable channel switchingNew Firefox Nightly and Aurora logos unearthed, and how to enable channel switching originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 07:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Shortly thereafter, Firefox's new channel system will be implemented. Firefox 5a2 will be introduced as the first Aurora build, and we should also see a Firefox 6 Nightly build. While we we're not sure where they came from, one Sören Hentzschel seems to have unearthed the new Nightly and Aurora logos (see above), along with new About Firefox dialogs (after the break).
In other news, if you want to take a sneak peek at the new 'channel changing' technology that will be introduced in upcoming Firefox builds, head to about:config and create a new string called app.update.desiredChannel -- the value doesn't matter. Then open Help > About Firefox and you'll be able to switch channel, but it doesn't do anything just yet (image after the break). Here's hoping that Firefox channel switching is smoother than Chrome.Continue reading New Firefox Nightly and Aurora logos unearthed, and how to enable channel switchingNew Firefox Nightly and Aurora logos unearthed, and how to enable channel switching originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 07:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Line Grapefruit is a tricky Flash "path" game
Okay, see that snaking line coming in from the right on the screenshot? That's you. And see those large round circles? Those are supposedly grapefruits, only they won't sit still - they keep moving up and down and cutting across your path. And if you touch one, you die!
That's what you have to deal with in Line Grapefruit. But that's not all - you're also on a time limit. In fact, you have a very limited amount of time to make it through the "path" (for lack of a better word). You need to snake your way through the winding trail without touching anything. The good news is that a grapefruit only kills you if it touches the end of the line - once you've made it past the grapefruit, nothing happens if it crosses the path you've made.
This is not an easy game, but it's quite unique - I can't recall seeing another game quite like it.Line Grapefruit is a tricky Flash "path" game originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
That's what you have to deal with in Line Grapefruit. But that's not all - you're also on a time limit. In fact, you have a very limited amount of time to make it through the "path" (for lack of a better word). You need to snake your way through the winding trail without touching anything. The good news is that a grapefruit only kills you if it touches the end of the line - once you've made it past the grapefruit, nothing happens if it crosses the path you've made.
This is not an easy game, but it's quite unique - I can't recall seeing another game quite like it.Line Grapefruit is a tricky Flash "path" game originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Learn How to Pick Locks from a Competitive Lockpicker Who Truly Loves Locks [Video]
Schuyler Towne, a man who loves locks more than you'll love anything, is hosting a 24-part video course on how to pick locks. With any luck, you can become the next great lock picker after watching it (or at least, get yourself in your apartment when you lock yourself out). More »
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Jetbus is a retro-tastic physics game, with a bus
Once upon a time, there used to be a DOS game with a caveman and a human powered helicopter. The caveman would shuttle around the screen, madly trying to get customers to where they wanted to go.
Jetbus is not that game, but it's obviously inspired by it. You're driving a yellow school bus which has jets. I guess the jet engine takes quite a bit of space inside the bus, because you can only pick up one person at a time.
There are several doors on the screen, each with its own number. As you pick up a person, the status bar at the bottom of the screen shows you which number door you have to take them to.
You must fly your bus carefully, because if it gets bumped around too much, you lose. You earn money on each level, and can visit the garage to buy better jets and damping, power-ups, or even a whole new vehicle.
So while this game isn't made as well as the original that inspired it, it does provide a few minutes of fun. And now, which one of you guys remembers the original and feels like pointing to it in the comments?Jetbus is a retro-tastic physics game, with a bus originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Jetbus is not that game, but it's obviously inspired by it. You're driving a yellow school bus which has jets. I guess the jet engine takes quite a bit of space inside the bus, because you can only pick up one person at a time.
There are several doors on the screen, each with its own number. As you pick up a person, the status bar at the bottom of the screen shows you which number door you have to take them to.
You must fly your bus carefully, because if it gets bumped around too much, you lose. You earn money on each level, and can visit the garage to buy better jets and damping, power-ups, or even a whole new vehicle.
So while this game isn't made as well as the original that inspired it, it does provide a few minutes of fun. And now, which one of you guys remembers the original and feels like pointing to it in the comments?Jetbus is a retro-tastic physics game, with a bus originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Froyo-based ViewSonic V430 smartphone appears in Russia, anonymity almost guaranteed
ViewSonic has revealed its latest Android phone, the V430 -- though you'd be hard pressed to tell who made it from looks alone. Putting the incognito design aside, vital statistics include a meaty WVGA 4.3-inch screen, and a 5 megapixel primary camera paired with a VGA front-facing camera, all chugging along on a 1GHz Snapdragon processor. ViewSonic has cut down to only three buttons below the screen, a change from the four-button setup we've seen on its previous Android tablets and phones. Sadly, the Android version number has been similarly reduced -- the V430 is apparently running Android 2.2, not the Android 2.3 Gingerbread deliciousness we've come to expect from Google-powered smartphones in 2011. The V430 looks set on launching first in Russia, but no word yet on whether it'll board the Trans-Siberian across to Europe and beyond. Price is also Russian secret.Froyo-based ViewSonic V430 smartphone appears in Russia, anonymity almost guaranteed originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Unwired View | | Email this | Comments
dockBoss+ adapter brings iOS speaker dock compatibility to Android, BlackBerry and WP7 handsets*
A while back, you probably splurged for that insert-iPod-sound-system-here thinking you'd get some pretty good mileage out of it. If you also jumped ship at some point along the way (read: switched to Android), CableJive can help keep your bookshelf system cranking for a little while longer. The dockBoss+ adapter features micro-USB and audio plugs opposite a 30-pin connector, the latter of which fits nicely in one of the eight quadrillion iOS-compatible sound systems currently on the market. Now, you can port that valuable charging action to your existing handset -- plus, the accessory also features a built-in charge converter for FireWire-enabled cables and docking stations, if needed. Not only that, but the dockBoss+ will also work in tandem with your iOS-centric car or home stereo -- unless you're still clinging to the factory head unit in your VW Beetle... bummer. Those looking to pick one up can do so starting September 28th for $30; a handful of Lincolns is much easier on the ol' wallet than a brand new one of these, that's for sure.
*Assuming, of course, that you're cool with a few cables hanging out, and that your handset actually uses micro-USB.
[Thanks, Gregor]dockBoss+ adapter brings iOS speaker dock compatibility to Android, BlackBerry and WP7 handsets* originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 03:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | CableJive (Product Page) | Email this | Comments
*Assuming, of course, that you're cool with a few cables hanging out, and that your handset actually uses micro-USB.
[Thanks, Gregor]dockBoss+ adapter brings iOS speaker dock compatibility to Android, BlackBerry and WP7 handsets* originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 03:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | CableJive (Product Page) | Email this | Comments
Samsung Galaxy S II makes its AT&T debut October 2nd for $199 on contract
You've endured almost a year's worth of Galaxy S II teasing, so what's a few more weeks? AT&T's swiftly sped past its "coming soon" announcement for Sammy's heralded handset, now giving us a firm release date of October 2nd for its NFC-enabled variant. You can snag the 4.3-incher when it hits the carrier for $199.99 on a two-year contract, and choose from the usual array of data packages -- with $15/mo being the minimum required. Make sure to enter your deets at the source link below so you'll be first in line for this sure-fire, sell-out device.Samsung Galaxy S II makes its AT&T debut October 2nd for $199 on contract originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | @AT&T (Twitter), AT&T | Email this | Comments
Evernote Web gets a new interface, Facebook sharing, and more
Evernote, the popular multi-platform 'digital memory' app, has done some serious re-tooling of its Web interface. In addition to a more polished UI that more closely mirrors the look of Evernote on the desktop, the update brings features like notebook stacks and snippet view to the Web.
Auto-saving is now enabled as well, and you can select multiple items by holding down the Cmd or Ctrl key on your Mac or Windows keyboard. If you've got items stored in your notebooks that you want to share with friends or co-workers, Evernote has improved that process, too. You can quickly post an item to Facebook, share it via email, or generate a Web sharing link to paste into an IM conversation or status update.
Head over to the Evernote Web login page to try out the new interface.Evernote Web gets a new interface, Facebook sharing, and more originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Auto-saving is now enabled as well, and you can select multiple items by holding down the Cmd or Ctrl key on your Mac or Windows keyboard. If you've got items stored in your notebooks that you want to share with friends or co-workers, Evernote has improved that process, too. You can quickly post an item to Facebook, share it via email, or generate a Web sharing link to paste into an IM conversation or status update.
Head over to the Evernote Web login page to try out the new interface.Evernote Web gets a new interface, Facebook sharing, and more originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Motorola XOOM Android 3.2.1 OTA update slowly rolling out
We've recieved a few more tips about the Motorola XOOM WiFi and now, a 3G version receiving a mysterious 1.5MB OTA update that bumps the device up to software version HTK55D.
I've personally been checking for updates on my XOOM since early this morning with no love coming to my device. However, if you have a Motorola XOOM -- you might want to check for updates and see if you have one available while we poke around for some sort of change log. Also worth noting, MS -- who sent us the update image is running a 3G rooted with Tiamat's Moray ROM
Thanks, MS!
I've personally been checking for updates on my XOOM since early this morning with no love coming to my device. However, if you have a Motorola XOOM -- you might want to check for updates and see if you have one available while we poke around for some sort of change log. Also worth noting, MS -- who sent us the update image is running a 3G rooted with Tiamat's Moray ROM
Thanks, MS!
Google+ Hangouts now available for Android 2.3+, opens registration to all [update]
Google+ Hangouts have become one of the most popular uses of the rapidly growing social network. Until now, they were relegated to the desktop, making users pine for mobile support. Today, Google announced that they have made Hangouts available for phones running 2.3+. This is amazing news and will certainly make the feature more widely used now that they can be done anywhere and on-the-go.
To use the feature, once you see a Hangout in your Stream, just click Join and you should be all set.
The new version of the Google+ app will be rolling out today, so if you don't have it yet, sit tight. For those who don't have the app yet, see the links after the break. For those with friends and family on iOS, they promised Hangouts will arrive soon. Until then, you can tease them about Hanging out right from your Android phone.
Also of note: Google+ has opened registration to everyone -- no more invites needed. Hangouts also can be broadcast for all to see, plus Hangout APIs have been released, and Google's added better search functionality. Check it all out at the link below!
[update] Google announced a bunch new features for the Google+ Android app in addition to Hangouts:
US and India users can post, respond and receive notifications via SMS (you need to verify your phone number in settings)
Improved + mention support
Edit your Profile photo
Customize notifications
Support to move to SD card
Huddle is now Messenger
You can share photos via Messenger now (killing Pool Party makes sense now)
Source: Official Google Blog
Google Mobile Blog
To use the feature, once you see a Hangout in your Stream, just click Join and you should be all set.
The new version of the Google+ app will be rolling out today, so if you don't have it yet, sit tight. For those who don't have the app yet, see the links after the break. For those with friends and family on iOS, they promised Hangouts will arrive soon. Until then, you can tease them about Hanging out right from your Android phone.
Also of note: Google+ has opened registration to everyone -- no more invites needed. Hangouts also can be broadcast for all to see, plus Hangout APIs have been released, and Google's added better search functionality. Check it all out at the link below!
[update] Google announced a bunch new features for the Google+ Android app in addition to Hangouts:
US and India users can post, respond and receive notifications via SMS (you need to verify your phone number in settings)
Improved + mention support
Edit your Profile photo
Customize notifications
Support to move to SD card
Huddle is now Messenger
You can share photos via Messenger now (killing Pool Party makes sense now)
Source: Official Google Blog
Google Mobile Blog
O'Reilly helps Japan, offers entire e-book catalog for 50% off, today only
O'reilly make some of the best computer books in the world. They also sell them as DRM-free e-books in a bunch of formats, including PDFs and Mobi for Kindle.
They usually offer one "Deal of the Day", which is a 50% discount code for a book chosen for that one day. But just for for today, they've created a discount code -- DDJPN -- that gives you a 50% discount on their entire catalog, and they give a part of the proceeds to aid Japan relief efforts.
So far they've raised over $60,000, and the day is still young. So if you've been recently hankering after some nerdy book (or three), now would be a great time to grab one.O'Reilly helps Japan, offers entire e-book catalog for 50% off, today only originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
They usually offer one "Deal of the Day", which is a 50% discount code for a book chosen for that one day. But just for for today, they've created a discount code -- DDJPN -- that gives you a 50% discount on their entire catalog, and they give a part of the proceeds to aid Japan relief efforts.
So far they've raised over $60,000, and the day is still young. So if you've been recently hankering after some nerdy book (or three), now would be a great time to grab one.O'Reilly helps Japan, offers entire e-book catalog for 50% off, today only originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Light-Controlled Cells: The Sub-Dermal Dance Party That Keeps Your Dead Heart Beating [Science]
Heart cells created by Stanford researchers could lead to a better pacemaker: The beat of the cells is paced by light rather than electricity. More »
INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES (IBM)
Toyota pulls Cydia theme and ads to appease Apple
In news that will no doubt shake the very bedrock of your belief system, Apple has asked Toyota to remove its Scion theme and its advertising from ModMyi, a Cydia repository. The Scion theme has been available for weeks, but after it received a ton of press in the last couple of days, Apple finally lashed out.
It's not like we should be surprised, considering Apple has claimed in the past that jailbreaking is illegal -- but at the same time, did the Cupertino cronies hear about the ruling that made circumventing DRM, and thus jailbreaking, legal? Anyway, whether Toyota was supporting illegal, legal, or deliciously gray and ambiguous, activity, it doesn't matter: Apple asked Toyota to remove the theme, and Toyota graciously bent over and capitulated.
This story raises a much more interesting topic, though: this is the first time a multinational company has publicly acknowledged and embraced the jailbreak community. Considering jailbreaking is technically legal, and Cydia's creator, Jay Freeman, estimates that up to 9% of OS devices are jailbroken, it simply makes good, commercial sense to target jailbreakers with ads. Toyota was simply trying to make some money, for shame!
As long as Apple continues to throw around its increasingly-expansive mass, the legality of jailbreaking will continue to be inconsequential. It will be interesting to see if another big company dares embrace the jailbreak community after this, too.Toyota pulls Cydia theme and ads to appease Apple originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 05:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
It's not like we should be surprised, considering Apple has claimed in the past that jailbreaking is illegal -- but at the same time, did the Cupertino cronies hear about the ruling that made circumventing DRM, and thus jailbreaking, legal? Anyway, whether Toyota was supporting illegal, legal, or deliciously gray and ambiguous, activity, it doesn't matter: Apple asked Toyota to remove the theme, and Toyota graciously bent over and capitulated.
This story raises a much more interesting topic, though: this is the first time a multinational company has publicly acknowledged and embraced the jailbreak community. Considering jailbreaking is technically legal, and Cydia's creator, Jay Freeman, estimates that up to 9% of OS devices are jailbroken, it simply makes good, commercial sense to target jailbreakers with ads. Toyota was simply trying to make some money, for shame!
As long as Apple continues to throw around its increasingly-expansive mass, the legality of jailbreaking will continue to be inconsequential. It will be interesting to see if another big company dares embrace the jailbreak community after this, too.Toyota pulls Cydia theme and ads to appease Apple originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 05:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Amazon Appstore goes global: available now in Europe, Australia and India
Amazon's Appstore hasn't set the world on fire just yet -- perhaps due to the fact that it was a US-only store since launch. That could soon change, with a number of Amazon customers reporting that the curated Android marketplace is now open for business across western Europe, also working in India and Australia. We've tested it for ourselves, and can confirm it's functioning with our Amazon UK account, though its dedicated webpage is still based at Amazon.com. Register with the site, and you'll be able to rush the free daily app downloads, which has previously offered the likes of Angry Birds Rio and SwitftKey -- worth a regular visit, regardless of what time zone you're in.
[Thanks Nate]Amazon Appstore goes global: available now in Europe, Australia and India originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 21:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Digital Reader, Androidos.in, Ereaders.nl | Amazon | Email this | Comments
[Thanks Nate]Amazon Appstore goes global: available now in Europe, Australia and India originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 21:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Digital Reader, Androidos.in, Ereaders.nl | Amazon | Email this | Comments
This DIY Daft Punk helmet is way cooler than your DIY Daft Punk helmet (video)
Harrison Krix may never actually be invited to join Daft Punk, but at the very least, he'll likely have the coolest Halloween costume in the room for pretty much the rest of his life. It's true, we've seen plenty of folks have a go at the French electronic duo's signature headware in the past -- including one from Krix himself -- but few if any have shown quite the attention to detail as this project from the Atlanta-based graphic designer. At the center of the project is an Arduino-controlled LED with text that can be changed over WiFi with an iOS device. Relive the four month project in the three and a half minute video after the jump. And if you've ever wondered what Back to the Future might have looked like with Thomas Bangalter as Marty McFly, check out the source link below.Continue reading This DIY Daft Punk helmet is way cooler than your DIY Daft Punk helmet (video)This DIY Daft Punk helmet is way cooler than your DIY Daft Punk helmet (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink DVICE | Volpin Props | Email this | Comments
Finally! A Solar Tree That Can Charge Your iPhone [Now Available]
It only took few years and a few fascinating if controversial breakthroughs in solar power. Now, thanks to designer Vivien Muller, you can finally have a decorative-houseplant-cum-solar charger for your iPhone right on your desk. Just give it plenty of light. More »
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
Monday, September 19, 2011
Descend into New York's Hellmouth Elevator [Design]
It's kind of hard to startle a New Yorker. That's not arrogance speaking so much as being numb to all the public masturbators by this point. Still, an elevator in a nondescript office building in Queens opening to a hellish mix of Carniv�le and a Tim Burton flick is something to see. More »
MSI demo's X79 motherboards with PCI Express 3.0 and UEFI BIOS at IDF 2011 (video)
While MSI wasn't quite ready to publicly divulge all the details of its forthcoming X79-based motherboards, it was more than happy to give us a teaser. We were shown three upcoming models from the company at IDF, all toting PCI Express 3.0 slots, overclocking buttons and that snazzy UEFI BIOS. The latter makes changing settings a snap, and is carried over from the company's existing Sandy Bridge boards -- it even comes with a button that launches a browser, but unfortunately the machines in the booth weren't configured to support it. We'll know more in Q4, but in the meantime a gallery awaits you below, along with a video after the break.
Myriam Joire contributed to this report.
Gallery: MSI demo's X79 motherboards with PCI Express 3.0 and UEFI BIOS at IDF 2011Continue reading MSI demo's X79 motherboards with PCI Express 3.0 and UEFI BIOS at IDF 2011 (video)MSI demo's X79 motherboards with PCI Express 3.0 and UEFI BIOS at IDF 2011 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 21:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Myriam Joire contributed to this report.
Gallery: MSI demo's X79 motherboards with PCI Express 3.0 and UEFI BIOS at IDF 2011Continue reading MSI demo's X79 motherboards with PCI Express 3.0 and UEFI BIOS at IDF 2011 (video)MSI demo's X79 motherboards with PCI Express 3.0 and UEFI BIOS at IDF 2011 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 21:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES (IBM) INTERDIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS
$1,200 PowerWheel?s Sole Function Is to Slow Down Your Bike
This might be one of the worst ideas, like, ever. It’s called the PowerWheel, and its purpose is to slow your bike down. The wheel is a straight swap-in for the perfectly good front wheel already on your bike and, once fitted, will make it much harder to ride.
The idea of the PowerWheel to slow [...]
The idea of the PowerWheel to slow [...]
XStylus Touch ? Best Capacitive Stylus Design Yet?
The stylus is making a comeback in a big way this year. We’ve reviewed quite a few here on The Gadgeteer (see the list of related posts below for just a few of them…). I’m still trying to find the BEST stylus out there and I’m thinking that the XStylus Touch might be it. I [...]
LG unveils Optimus Q2 QWERTY slider, slated for Korean launch next week
LG's fleet of Optimus handsets got slightly larger yesterday, with the announcement of the Optimus Q2 -- a follow-up to that LU2300 QWERTY slider we saw last year. Powered by a 1.2GHz Tegra 2 processor, this forthcoming device runs on Android 2.3, boasts a spacious, four-inch, IPS-based LCD with 700 nits of brightness and features a five-megapixel rear camera, along with a VGA front-facing shooter. The Korean manufacturer added that the Q2 will be about a tenth of an inch thinner and 0.35 ounces lighter than its 3.5-inch predecessor, and that it will ship with a wider keyboard. LG is expected to launch the handset in South Korea next week, though pricing and plans for a wider release remain a mystery. Head past the break for the full, translated PR.Continue reading LG unveils Optimus Q2 QWERTY slider, slated for Korean launch next weekLG unveils Optimus Q2 QWERTY slider, slated for Korean launch next week originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 03:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Electronista, The Korea Herald | | Email this | Comments
Tiny infrared LEDs could find a home in ultra-thin multitouch screens
A company called Osram Opto Semiconductors has created a new infrared LED that can be used in conjunction with detectors to create ultra-thin touchscreens. We've seen infrared used in touchscreens before, most notably in Microsoft's Surface and recent e-readers from Barnes & Noble and Kobo. But, Osram's solution is complex enough to work in a multitouch tablet, while being as space-saving zForce. At only 0.45mm tall the diodes and sensors can easily be crammed into a bezel around a screen and sip just 35mW during regular use. Now the company just has to convince someone to put the tiny IREDs in their products.Tiny infrared LEDs could find a home in ultra-thin multitouch screens originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 18 Sep 2011 17:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
This Igloo Resort Lets You Watch the Northern Lights in Pure Luxury [Architecture]
These glowing, glorious igloos are the centerpiece of Kakslauttanen, Finland's Igloo Village. They do everything to keep you warm and pampered while offering a breathtaking view of the Northern sky. More »
Apple Could Deliver a September Surprise With New MBPs
Apple's MacBook Pro laptop was upgraded with new Intel processors a little more than six months ago, but another refresh may be in the works that will bring revamped models to the shelves within the next two weeks. The move is believed to be necessary to keep Apple's laptop up to date with Intel's latest "Sandy Bridge" quad-core processors.
Reading Rainbow roaring back with RRKidz iPad app, 'disruptive' ebook technology in tow
LeVar Burton may best be known 'round these parts for his role in Star Trek, but he'll soon be known as the guy who made childhood reading relevant again. It wasn't that long ago that today's up-and-coming adults were soaking up all sorts of useful knowledge during their summers, glued to a PBS station and doing their darndest to climb inside of mum's CRT television. And now, their kids will be doing likewise -- but with an iPad. Burton has plans to produce an educational RRKidz iOS app that enables readers to "explore topics of interest in a multimedia-rich environment, with voice-over-enhanced children's books, familiar videos of Burton at real-life places, and games." In order to do so, he's planning a "disruptive" technology that'll bolster a conventional PDF book with basic animations, voice-overs and games "in a matter of hours." There's no specific time table on a release, but we're guessing Burton's moving along as usual pace: Mach 5.Reading Rainbow roaring back with RRKidz iPad app, 'disruptive' ebook technology in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 18 Sep 2011 23:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink TUAW, MobileBurn | Fast Company | Email this | Comments
Windows 8 Re-Imagines the Windows Experience
Microsoft unveiled Windows 8 during the keynote at its Build developer conference Tuesday morning. Executives showed off the operating system's versatility on a variety of mobile and desktop platforms, pointing out features like cloud-based photo sharing, streamlined contact management and the Metro UI overhaul.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Daily Crunch: Check-In Edition
MConcierge rolls out Guest Relationship Management solution for hospitality sector Art Lebedev Studio? Optimus Mini Six Hits Production, Will Land On Desks Later This Year Whiteboard Wall Clock Is Minimal And Practical The Nissan Leaf Review: A Fun And Practical Electric Car For The Masses Review: The HP Palm TouchPad
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Apple Could Deliver a September Surprise With New MBPs
Apple's MacBook Pro laptop was upgraded with new Intel processors a little more than six months ago, but another refresh may be in the works that will bring revamped models to the shelves within the next two weeks. The move is believed to be necessary to keep Apple's laptop up to date with Intel's latest "Sandy Bridge" quad-core processors.
This Crazy Water Fountain for Aliens Knows When You're Thirsty [Video]
It looks a little far out, but the Tropism Well is welcome in my neighborhood park. Designed by Poietic Studio, it senses the approach of an individual and bows to grant them the gift of hydration. More »
Perhaps Windows 8 Would Not Be That Good After All [Humor]
We are all extremely excited about the new user interface in Windows 8. I love Metro so very much. But looking at Microsoft's past history, perhaps we should keep the fireworks in the box until it gets released. [Thanks Karl!] More »
Evolta robot to take on the Ironman Triathlon, conquer the course in a week
Panasonic's little battery-powered bot that could, the Evolta, has garnered our attention several times over the years. It's already climbed out of the Grand Canyon and walked 500km from Tokyo to Kyoto, but apparently neither was enough to prove it and its namesake batteries' true mettle. This time, Panasonic's putting three of the robots through the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii, and they've got a week to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112, and run a 26.2 mile marathon. Unlike the meatbags running the race who have a day to finish, the robots get a week -- though they'll be doing their thing 24 hours a day while only taking breaks to recharge their three AA batteries. Intrigued? The race starts on October 23rd, so there's plenty of time to watch the appropriately dramatic video explaining the challenge facing the triumvirate of tiny triathletes after the break.Continue reading Evolta robot to take on the Ironman Triathlon, conquer the course in a weekEvolta robot to take on the Ironman Triathlon, conquer the course in a week originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Sep 2011 14:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Huffington Post | Panasonic | Email this | Comments
Opera 11.10 gets HTML5 File API support, IMAP improvements
The crew in Oslo keeps plugging away at Opera 11.10, and the latest snapshot build includes a number of improvements to Opera's built-in email client -- as well as HTML5-related additions.
On the IMAP front, Opera now supports special folders like sent items, spam, and trash. It also better handles duplicate items in Gmail -- such as those which appear in all mail and under your custom labels.
Opera 11.10 now partially supports the HTML5 File API as well, which means your favorite Web apps (like Gmail) may soon begin adding Opera to the list of supported browsers.
You can download the latest Opera 11.10 snapshot for Windows, Mac, or Linux from the official release post.
Update: The Opera 11.10 RC is now available, as pointed out by SlashZaku in the comments. Thanks!Opera 11.10 gets HTML5 File API support, IMAP improvements originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
On the IMAP front, Opera now supports special folders like sent items, spam, and trash. It also better handles duplicate items in Gmail -- such as those which appear in all mail and under your custom labels.
Opera 11.10 now partially supports the HTML5 File API as well, which means your favorite Web apps (like Gmail) may soon begin adding Opera to the list of supported browsers.
You can download the latest Opera 11.10 snapshot for Windows, Mac, or Linux from the official release post.
Update: The Opera 11.10 RC is now available, as pointed out by SlashZaku in the comments. Thanks!Opera 11.10 gets HTML5 File API support, IMAP improvements originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
World's Largest Sperm Bank Says They Don't Want Your Ginger Sperm [Wtf]
Cryos, a Danish network of international sperm banks and the largest one of its kind, has officially stopped taking sperm from redheaded guys. Despite an overall increase in donations, the demand for ginger sperm just isn't that high. Sorry, Matt. More »
Daily Desired: Today I Am Thankful for a New Pair of Grados [Desired]
Grado Labs' Professional Series headphones are the standard bearer of aural excellence. They're the harmonic gold standard for legions of audiophiles. Only problem: they're too damn expensive. No longer. Enter the Grado PS500. Rejoice. More »
A Camera Lens Fell Out of the Sky and Crashed Through This Woman's Roof [Cameras]
Having an inanimate object blow a hole in your roof after careening through the sky is a real bitch no matter what. But at least if it's a meteor or cruise missile, you understand how. But a Canon lens? What? More »
OmmWriter brings its clean, calm writing interface to Windows
I have a thing for full-screen text editing. I use WriteMonkey for my creative writing needs, and VIM in a full-screen PuTTY session for my Web development work. That being the case, I'm all over the monospace, dark-background, focused editing scene.
OmmWriter attempts to take that aesthetic and make it somehow more spiritual, with three picturesque backgrounds and ambient background audio tracks (there are seven of each in the paid version).
I'm of two minds about this app. On the one hand, yes, it's beautiful. But if you want music as a background to your writing, why not pick your own soundtrack with Winamp or Foobar2000 running in the background?
OmmWriter also offers three keyboard-clicking sounds, which are kind of nice. None of these features are groundbreaking, really. OmmWriter could be seen as a way to gently ease into the world of distraction-free writing -- in case something like WriteMonkey's dark background is just too oppressive for you.
After the fold you can see a video showcasing several of OmmWriter's features and creative soundscapes.Continue reading OmmWriter brings its clean, calm writing interface to WindowsOmmWriter brings its clean, calm writing interface to Windows originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
OmmWriter attempts to take that aesthetic and make it somehow more spiritual, with three picturesque backgrounds and ambient background audio tracks (there are seven of each in the paid version).
I'm of two minds about this app. On the one hand, yes, it's beautiful. But if you want music as a background to your writing, why not pick your own soundtrack with Winamp or Foobar2000 running in the background?
OmmWriter also offers three keyboard-clicking sounds, which are kind of nice. None of these features are groundbreaking, really. OmmWriter could be seen as a way to gently ease into the world of distraction-free writing -- in case something like WriteMonkey's dark background is just too oppressive for you.
After the fold you can see a video showcasing several of OmmWriter's features and creative soundscapes.Continue reading OmmWriter brings its clean, calm writing interface to WindowsOmmWriter brings its clean, calm writing interface to Windows originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Sprint Epic Touch 4G Lightning Review: Yeah, It's the Best Android Phone You Can Buy [Video]
The Galaxy S II we've fawned over has finally arrived on Sprint as the Epic Touch 4G with a bigger, 4.52-inch screen. Long story short: It's the best Android phone you can buy. More »
Windows 8 Re-Imagines the Windows Experience
Microsoft unveiled Windows 8 during the keynote at its Build developer conference Tuesday morning. Executives showed off the operating system's versatility on a variety of mobile and desktop platforms, pointing out features like cloud-based photo sharing, streamlined contact management and the Metro UI overhaul.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Sprint Epic Touch 4G Lightning Review: Yeah, It's the Best Android Phone You Can Buy [Video]
The Galaxy S II we've fawned over has finally arrived on Sprint as the Epic Touch 4G with a bigger, 4.52-inch screen. Long story short: It's the best Android phone you can buy. More »
Y Combinator-Backed SellStage Wants To Help You Better Showcase Your Products ? With Video
If you're advertising a product, would you rather simply have an image of that product, or have your consumers be able to watch a video of that product in action? Unless you're sarcastic like myself, you probably answered with the latter, because the truth is that videos help products sell online. This is true even for those vendors that sell products that one wouldn't necessarily assume would be made more attractive with video. Consider Zappos, for example, which currently offers over 50,000 product videos. Zappos also happens to do a pretty good business.
For SellStage, a startup from this summer's batch of Y Combinator companies that is launching today, Zappos is the standard. But most big eTailers are far behind the shoe seller in terms of video content. So SellStage is launching a platform that is designed to make it easy for both big and small businesses to add video content to their websites to showcase their products.
For SellStage, a startup from this summer's batch of Y Combinator companies that is launching today, Zappos is the standard. But most big eTailers are far behind the shoe seller in terms of video content. So SellStage is launching a platform that is designed to make it easy for both big and small businesses to add video content to their websites to showcase their products.
How Windows 8 and iOS 5 Stack Up: A Video Comparison
Running side by side, function by function, we're really seeing how Windows has created a new way of interacting with a tablet.
Superfunctional 11: Mental and emotional factors
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Geoff and Rene answer your questions on the best kinds of pillows to sleep on, then dive into the topic of mental and emotional factors and how the lack of it can not...
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Geoff and Rene answer your questions on the best kinds of pillows to sleep on, then dive into the topic of mental and emotional factors and how the lack of it can not...
Interlocked is a three-dimensional brain teaser
Back when I was a kid, I used to love crafting ornate puzzle boxes out of Lego. There would be just one way to open the box, by carefully shifting and rotating a bunch of pieces. Well, either that, or breaking the box in frustration.
Interlocked takes that spirit and turns it into a beautiful Flash game. It's a good thing the soundtrack is soothing, because the game itself can get pretty frustrating.
At the start of each level, you're presented with a box built out of blocks in different colors. You can click and drag the mouse to rotate the box any which way. Once you decide you want to shift a part of the box, hit SPACE to switch into "move" mode. You can then click any part of the box and drag it. Of course, you can only move a part as long as nothing is in its way. So it becomes a matter of understanding how the box is built, and what parts you need to move around so you could eventually take the box apart.
It's a tricky, difficult game, but it's a great brain teaser -- and definitely a keeper.Interlocked is a three-dimensional brain teaser originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Interlocked takes that spirit and turns it into a beautiful Flash game. It's a good thing the soundtrack is soothing, because the game itself can get pretty frustrating.
At the start of each level, you're presented with a box built out of blocks in different colors. You can click and drag the mouse to rotate the box any which way. Once you decide you want to shift a part of the box, hit SPACE to switch into "move" mode. You can then click any part of the box and drag it. Of course, you can only move a part as long as nothing is in its way. So it becomes a matter of understanding how the box is built, and what parts you need to move around so you could eventually take the box apart.
It's a tricky, difficult game, but it's a great brain teaser -- and definitely a keeper.Interlocked is a three-dimensional brain teaser originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Daily Crunch: VR Drone Edition
Giant VR Helmet Is Very 90s, Yet Way Cooler Europe Launching Gigapixel Probe To Map Milky Way Effectology: Paranormal Spooooky Sounds Do A Barrel Roll: AR.Drone Challenges You To Become A Great Drone Pilot Kid-Tested, Grant Imahara Approved: Hexbrite Open Source Flashlight
The Original Homepages of Facebook, Twitter and Google Were Fugly [Design]
The old web was like the wild west, you just chopped some wood, threw it together and hoped it stood up. Kind of like what Google, Twitter and Facebook did, they just slapped a logo and some text together and called it a day. More »
LEGO Star Wars Hoth Wampa Set Is the Ice Cold Deal of the Day [Dealzmodo]
It's going to get cold soon. I know you don't think that now. I know you beautiful people in California don't ever have to think about that. I know you don't want 70 degree weather to end. I know you don't want to remember the scarves, the gloves, the layers, the runny nose, the red cheeks, the glass ears, the chapped skin, the numb fingers, the club feet. I know you don't want to get fat over winter. I know you don't want to sleep with clothes on. But it's going to get cold soon. Not SOON soon but soon there will be no more shorts, no more t-shirts, no more skin freedom. No more bikinis, no more tank tops, no more beaches. It's going to be a tough life. So better prepare yourself now by building the LEGO Star Wars Hoth Wampa Set for $30. It'll keep you ready for the chill until the cold really hits. -CC More »
Report: GameStop Developing Android Tablet
Android fans who like to get their game on will be pleased to know GameStop is getting into the tablet scene with its own Android tablet. GameStop president Tony Bartel told GamesIndustry.biz the company will launch a GameStop-branded tablet with several games pre-installed and game updates offered over the air.
MSDN previews Windows 8 touch on Windows 7 hardware
The latest blog from Windows president Steven Sinofsky, ably assisted by Grant George and Jeff Piira, talks about Redmond's testing of Windows 8 touch on current hardware and how touch has changed the way it develops software. Using kit like the Thinkpad X201, HP Elitebook 2740 and ASUS EP121, Microsoft is realizing that the "feel" of touch to the user is more important than simple hardware performance. It's also testing manufacturers' bezel designs, graphics setups and screen cover glass in an attempt to make Windows 8 "feel right" across the wide variety of systems it will run on -- a challenge in every sense of the word. Anyone interested in playing a quick game of "spot the device" should see the pic from inside the Windows testing lab that's after the break.Continue reading MSDN previews Windows 8 touch on Windows 7 hardwareMSDN previews Windows 8 touch on Windows 7 hardware originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | MSDN | Email this | Comments
Libra for Android helps you track your weight using The Hacker's Diet system
I'm getting fat; that's what you see on the screenshot to the right -- my gradual move from chubby to portly. But never mind the numbers, look at the pretty graph!
If you've ever read The Hacker's Diet, this graph should be instantly recognizable. Each point shows the weight for a given day, while the trend line lets you see if you're gaining or losing weight.
When I use my "main" PC, I have a homebrew solution for creating and maintaining this graph. But I've had to find a temporary solution for Android, and Libra is it.
It's a beautifully simple app, very true to the spirit of The Hacker's Diet. You can create a shortcut on your homescreen that brings you right into the data entry screen, so you just tap the shortcut every morning, feed in your weight for the day and hit OK, and then you get to see your progress (or lack thereof) on the graph.
The app remembers the previous day's weigh-in, which makes it easy to enter today's weight (as they're usually not too different). The graph is zoomable and scrollable, and most importantly, you can export the data to CSV so you're not locked into the app.
If you ever need to track your weight using an Android device for any period of time, Libra is one excellent solution.Libra for Android helps you track your weight using The Hacker's Diet system originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
If you've ever read The Hacker's Diet, this graph should be instantly recognizable. Each point shows the weight for a given day, while the trend line lets you see if you're gaining or losing weight.
When I use my "main" PC, I have a homebrew solution for creating and maintaining this graph. But I've had to find a temporary solution for Android, and Libra is it.
It's a beautifully simple app, very true to the spirit of The Hacker's Diet. You can create a shortcut on your homescreen that brings you right into the data entry screen, so you just tap the shortcut every morning, feed in your weight for the day and hit OK, and then you get to see your progress (or lack thereof) on the graph.
The app remembers the previous day's weigh-in, which makes it easy to enter today's weight (as they're usually not too different). The graph is zoomable and scrollable, and most importantly, you can export the data to CSV so you're not locked into the app.
If you ever need to track your weight using an Android device for any period of time, Libra is one excellent solution.Libra for Android helps you track your weight using The Hacker's Diet system originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Purdue University grad students give NASA lander tech a boost, do it for the experience
We just learned of NASA's end-of-decade plans to rocket astronauts into deep space for exploratory missions to Mars and beyond. Now, we're getting a peek at the Purdue University-designed lander tech that'll plant our space fleet's feet firmly on terra incognita. What originally started as a senior research project for grad students Thomas Feldman and Andrew Rettenmaier, has now blossomed into a joint research endeavor for the federal space agency's Project Morpheus -- a think tank for trips to heretofore unexplored celestial bodies. The in-development propulsion tech, now undergoing testing at the university's Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories, is required to "meet stringent design and performance" standards, but most importantly, needs to lift the fuel-depleted lander post-descent. You'd think scientific work of this magnitude would come with a hefty paycheck, but the student team behind it all's just doing it for the hands-on knowledge. Sure beats your summer internship at that magazine, huh?Purdue University grad students give NASA lander tech a boost, do it for the experience originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 23:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink PhysOrg | Purdue University | Email this | Comments
Microsoft shows off Xbox Live on Windows 8 (video)
Yeah, we knew it was possible, but knowing and seeing are two very, very different animals. Just before closing the doors at Build 2011, Microsoft's Avi Ben-Menahem took the time to briefly showcase what would be possible with Xbox Live and Windows 8. It's obviously in a very early state, but already we're seeing signs of cross-platform multiplayer game support, and an (unsurprisingly) Metro-style universe supplanting the existing Games for Windows Live. We get the feeling that Microsoft's thinking this one through; rather than just shoehorning a gaming element in, things like "cloud saves" and dedicated Music / Video panes will be around to enjoy. Moreover, participation in the Xbox Live development program will purportedly be free, and if Ben-Menahem has his way, this will bring "everything you know and love on Xbox 360 and Xbox Live to Windows." Bold. Peek the pair of videos just after the break.Continue reading Microsoft shows off Xbox Live on Windows 8 (video)Microsoft shows off Xbox Live on Windows 8 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink This is my next | GeekWire, WinRumors | Email this | Comments
Microsoft files antitrust complaint against Google in Europe, showdown imminent
Microsoft, citing Google's tyrannical 95% share of the European search market, has lodged a formal complaint with the European Commission. It's not like Microsoft is breaking any ground here -- the European Commission has been investigating Google's alleged violation of European competition law since November 2010 -- but there's no doubt that the addition of Microsoft's gravitas will affect the proceedings.
Microsoft's complaint reads like a sincere and plaintive cry for help against the Google Overlord. Microsoft lists no less than six damning reasons why Google's behavior is anti-competitive -- from Windows Phone 7's incompatibility with YouTube, to its nefarious handling of Google Books -- and finishes with a wide-eyed plea to the European Commission to please find Google guilty.
For those of you that have been following Microsoft's own antitrust troubles over the last decade, don't worry: MS is quick to point out the irony in the situation. "There of course will be some who will point out the irony in today's filing. Having spent more than a decade wearing the shoe on the other foot with the European Commission, the filing of a formal antitrust complaint is not something we take lightly. This is the first time Microsoft Corporation has ever taken this step. More so than most, we recognize the importance of ensuring that competition laws remain balanced and that technology innovation moves forward."
It sounds like Microsoft, having well and truly gone through the wringer, wants Google to be held similarly accountable. That's fair enough, right?Microsoft files antitrust complaint against Google in Europe, showdown imminent originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Microsoft's complaint reads like a sincere and plaintive cry for help against the Google Overlord. Microsoft lists no less than six damning reasons why Google's behavior is anti-competitive -- from Windows Phone 7's incompatibility with YouTube, to its nefarious handling of Google Books -- and finishes with a wide-eyed plea to the European Commission to please find Google guilty.
For those of you that have been following Microsoft's own antitrust troubles over the last decade, don't worry: MS is quick to point out the irony in the situation. "There of course will be some who will point out the irony in today's filing. Having spent more than a decade wearing the shoe on the other foot with the European Commission, the filing of a formal antitrust complaint is not something we take lightly. This is the first time Microsoft Corporation has ever taken this step. More so than most, we recognize the importance of ensuring that competition laws remain balanced and that technology innovation moves forward."
It sounds like Microsoft, having well and truly gone through the wringer, wants Google to be held similarly accountable. That's fair enough, right?Microsoft files antitrust complaint against Google in Europe, showdown imminent originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
The Splitfish FragFX Shark Is a Mouse Controller for the Xbox 360 [Xbox 360]
When I look at the Splitfish FragFX Shark controller, I don't even know what to think. There's a mouse with Xbox buttons on the side, a nunchuk-esque 'thingy' that looks like a controller chopped in half and it's all supposed to come together to give a PC feel to games on the 360. More »
Daily Crunch: Power Supply Edition
Behind The Scenes At The Impossible Project?s Resurrected Polaroid Facility ?The Best Chance To Beat Gasoline:? An Excerpt From Seth Fletcher?s Bottled Lightning The ZEHST Is The 3,000 MPH, Zero Emissions Airplane Of 2050 Japan Takes Top Spot From China: Fujitsu?s ?K? Is The World?s Most Powerful Supercomputer Finally, A Solar Powered Netbook Comes To [...]
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
Motorola Admiral outed as mystery Sprint Direct Connect device, strikes a pose for the camera
That unnamed Motorola smartphone coming this fall to help usher in Sprint's new CDMA-based Direct Connect service? It appears to be the Admiral. If the name sounds familiar, its trademarked logo actually appeared simultaneously with the Samsung Epic 4G Touch. But it's so much more than a name now, thanks to a tipster who sent in an image of the device next to some well-detailed specs. The Admiral will likely be a portrait QWERTY Android 2.3 device powered by a 1.2GHz single-core Qualcomm MSM8655 CPU, and will feature a 3.1-inch VGA display, 5 megapixel camera with 720p HD video recording and a stellar 1,860mAh battery. Oh, and it's a rugged phone that's built according to 810G military specifications. If this truly is the mystery Motorola Direct Connect smartphone we've been waiting for, it's bound to turn a few hard-hat-donning heads.
[Thanks, Anonymous]Motorola Admiral outed as mystery Sprint Direct Connect device, strikes a pose for the camera originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 01:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
[Thanks, Anonymous]Motorola Admiral outed as mystery Sprint Direct Connect device, strikes a pose for the camera originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 01:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Miso Media Raises Another $2.4 Million To Help You Learn Guitar
One of the companies taking the stage this afternoon at TechCrunch Disrupt is Miso Media, a startup that's looking to help you learn how to play guitar with the help of your smartphone or tablet. In addition to a product update, the company had some significant news: it's about to raise $2.4 million in a round led by Mind Fund (based in Hong Kong), with participation from Aria Ventures, Detroit Ventures Partners. This is the company's second round of funding, after a $600K seed round in December.
For those that haven't used it, Miso Media makes an iPad application called Plectrum that can display guitar tabs and 'listen' to you as you play, scrolling the tablature forward as you progress through the song.
For those that haven't used it, Miso Media makes an iPad application called Plectrum that can display guitar tabs and 'listen' to you as you play, scrolling the tablature forward as you progress through the song.
O'Reilly helps Japan, offers entire e-book catalog for 50% off, today only
O'reilly make some of the best computer books in the world. They also sell them as DRM-free e-books in a bunch of formats, including PDFs and Mobi for Kindle.
They usually offer one "Deal of the Day", which is a 50% discount code for a book chosen for that one day. But just for for today, they've created a discount code -- DDJPN -- that gives you a 50% discount on their entire catalog, and they give a part of the proceeds to aid Japan relief efforts.
So far they've raised over $60,000, and the day is still young. So if you've been recently hankering after some nerdy book (or three), now would be a great time to grab one.O'Reilly helps Japan, offers entire e-book catalog for 50% off, today only originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
They usually offer one "Deal of the Day", which is a 50% discount code for a book chosen for that one day. But just for for today, they've created a discount code -- DDJPN -- that gives you a 50% discount on their entire catalog, and they give a part of the proceeds to aid Japan relief efforts.
So far they've raised over $60,000, and the day is still young. So if you've been recently hankering after some nerdy book (or three), now would be a great time to grab one.O'Reilly helps Japan, offers entire e-book catalog for 50% off, today only originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Ever-Popular iPhone Named Top Smartphone. Again
The iPhone undoubtedly is among the most popular phones ever, and yet another survey shows it continues resonating with consumers. In J.D. Powers' semi-annual customer satisfaction survey, Apple's iPhone takes the top spot yet again, making it the top smartphone brand five years running.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
We're live from the Tokyo Game Show 2011!
That's right! We're back in Japan for this year's Tokyo Game Show, and obviously we'll be getting intimate with the closer-to-final PlayStation Vita along with, hopefully, some of its just announced launch titles. While Nintendo's absent as usual (though it did throw its own party on Tuesday), we're still expecting some fresh goodies from the Xbox and PlayStation folks that should keep us entertained for awhile, plus we'll be scanning the show floor for the eccentric peripherals and other odd pieces, so wish us luck. Oh, and be sure to also check out our sister site Joystiq to get your extra dosage of TGS -- you know you want it.
To follow all the action from TGS, use the tag TGS 2011.We're live from the Tokyo Game Show 2011! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
To follow all the action from TGS, use the tag TGS 2011.We're live from the Tokyo Game Show 2011! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
If There Were a Cake Version of the F-22, This Would be It [Food]
I call it the Stealth Cake. Massively caloric, 8-layer chocolate fondant firepower disguised in a low-profile fake asparagus fuselage. If you're into cakes as much as we are, you can learn how to make one here. [Sweetpolita—Thanks Karl!] More »
Windows Home Server 2011 released to manufacturers
Just a little under two months after its release candidate went live, Windows Home Server (WHS) 2011 has been finalized and released into the wild. The new version of Microsoft's slick, do-it-all server OS is a big step forward from its predecessor.
Built on the Windows Server 2008 R2 base, Home Server 2011 features a simpler dashboard, a better backup solution, dead simple remote access to your home computers, and Silverlight-powered remote media streaming. For a more detailed look at what's new in Windows Home Server 2011, you check out Microsoft's official breakdown.
Drive Extender, of course, didn't resurface for the final release of WHS 2011 and that's something a lot of power users are still pretty irked about. Even without Extender, Windows Home Server offers a boatload of useful functionality and might be a good fit for your home network. Manufacturers have already begun building hardware, so you should be able to pick up a device in the very near future.
An evaluation download for Windows Home Server 2011 will be made available in April -- we'll let you know when the links are ready.Windows Home Server 2011 released to manufacturers originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Built on the Windows Server 2008 R2 base, Home Server 2011 features a simpler dashboard, a better backup solution, dead simple remote access to your home computers, and Silverlight-powered remote media streaming. For a more detailed look at what's new in Windows Home Server 2011, you check out Microsoft's official breakdown.
Drive Extender, of course, didn't resurface for the final release of WHS 2011 and that's something a lot of power users are still pretty irked about. Even without Extender, Windows Home Server offers a boatload of useful functionality and might be a good fit for your home network. Manufacturers have already begun building hardware, so you should be able to pick up a device in the very near future.
An evaluation download for Windows Home Server 2011 will be made available in April -- we'll let you know when the links are ready.Windows Home Server 2011 released to manufacturers originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Ooma intros Telo Air wireless adapter, liberates Bluetooth solution to the masses
Heads up, Ooma fans: the equipment that you know and love for free local and long distance calls is now more flexible than ever, thanks to the Telo Air wireless adapter, which adds WiFi capabilities to the Ooma Telo. While the system previously relied on an Ethernet connection for quality calls, the adaptive redundancy of this $50 add-on is said to overcome any performance degradation that you might otherwise experience. Additionally, the Bluetooth adapter -- once available only to Premiere subscribers -- is now available for $30 to anyone who wishes to integrate their mobile phone or wireless headset with Ooma. Of course, you'll need to remain within 30 feet of the Telo (due to Bluetooth's technical limitation), but if you're undeterred by the short leash, it could be a fine alternative to the company's handset. The Bluetooth adapter is available today, and the Telo Air is expected to ship on October 1st. If you're looking to ditch the local telco and save some coin, you'll find the full PR after the break.Continue reading Ooma intros Telo Air wireless adapter, liberates Bluetooth solution to the massesOoma intros Telo Air wireless adapter, liberates Bluetooth solution to the masses originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Snazzy iPhone Mod Illuminates Apple Logo
An iPhone 4 mod sets the Apple logo on your phone aglow whenever the screen lights up, much as the logo on a MacBook lights up when opened. From the pictures, it looks pretty slick.
Microsoft previews Windows 8 as desktop/tablet iPad rival
Yesterday Microsoft gave us a brief look at its next operating system, code named Windows 8. The operating system will be aimed at not only desktop and laptop PC systems but also the tablet market. Will Windows 8 deliver enough for a Windows Tablet to become a...
Spy Gear TRAKR RC Car Is Your Pervy, Creeping Deal of the Day [Dealzmodo]
If I'm to be honest with myself, I spent the majority of my youth preoccupied by two concepts. A) Girls, and B) How I could somehow see girls naked. There were iconic cinematic moments from movies like Revenge of the Nerds and Porky's. There were legends of a mythical "place in France" and accompanying "holes in walls". If, when asked whether you'd rather have the power of invisibility or flight, one of your friends said invisibility, you know he had some mischief on his mind involved a women's lockerroom. I don't want to sound like a total pervo, but this the stuff of the young pubescent lad. This is precisely why it's a good thing that this Spy Gear Spy Video TRAKR RC Car with Camera didn't exist when I was a kid. Though for only sixty bucks, I fear for the youth of today, and suggest young ladies put obstacles in the way of their lockerrooms. -BR
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Intel shows off Medfield-based Android tablet at IDF 2011, we (briefly) go eyes-on (updated)
Much in the same vein as the smartphone showed off this morning, Intel also teased a Medfield-based Android tablet. But unlike the prototype Andy Rubin whisked with him off stage, we were able to at least get up close and personal with its Intel inside sibling. Unfortunately we weren't able to actually touch it, but here's to hoping we can track one down and do a proper hands-on at some point today.
Update: Our eagle-eyed friends at CarryPad have spotted an NFC marking on the tablet's back.
Gallery: Intel's Medfield based Android tablet eyes-onIntel shows off Medfield-based Android tablet at IDF 2011, we (briefly) go eyes-on (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Update: Our eagle-eyed friends at CarryPad have spotted an NFC marking on the tablet's back.
Gallery: Intel's Medfield based Android tablet eyes-onIntel shows off Medfield-based Android tablet at IDF 2011, we (briefly) go eyes-on (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
SanDisk working to push SSD power consumption lower, squeeze more juice out of your battery
First things first: we really need to sit down with the tech industry and have a conversation about effectively naming things. Which brings us to our next order of business: SATA DEVSLP. SanDisk is working with other companies, like Intel, Microsoft and Samsung, to develop this new standard which will drive SSD power consumption much lower than current levels. Some drives already support the cornerstone of the standard -- a new super low-power mode that draws only 50mW of juice. SATA DEVSLP would keep the storage in that energy-sipping state the majority of the time, extending battery life for Ultabooks, tablets, or whatever other gadgets may come along. Guess we know one trick Intel plans to use to reach that promised 10-days of connected standby time. Check out the PR after the break.Continue reading SanDisk working to push SSD power consumption lower, squeeze more juice out of your batterySanDisk working to push SSD power consumption lower, squeeze more juice out of your battery originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Walmart Acquires Mobile And Social Ad Targeting Startup OneRiot
Walmart has acquired OneRiot, a mobile and social ad targeting startup. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, and OneRiot will be joining Walmart Labs.
As we've written in the past, OneRiot recently switched its business model; shutting down its realtime search portal and focusing exclusively on monetizing via its realtime advertising network. The startup then moved into providing a social targeting service for mobile ads within apps.
As we've written in the past, OneRiot recently switched its business model; shutting down its realtime search portal and focusing exclusively on monetizing via its realtime advertising network. The startup then moved into providing a social targeting service for mobile ads within apps.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
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
You can now rent Adobe Photoshop for $35 per month, CS 5.5 available soon
Rejoice! No longer will you have to fork over $700 for a Photoshop CS5 license! Adobe has unveiled a new subscription scheme where you can rent the entire Creative Suite, or individual packages, by the month, or for an entire year.
Adobe Photoshop can be yours for $35 per month if you agree to rent it for 12 months, or $49 per month if you require its services for a shorter period. Dreamweaver can be had for even cheaper, at just $19 per month. The entire Master Collection is still rather expensive, though, at $125 per month.
Today, Adobe also ushered in the release of Creative Suite 5.5, and simultaneously upped its release cycle from 18 months to 24 months. This means, if you rent Photoshop for two years, it's actually the same cost as buying it outright. There's no rent-to-own option, though -- so you wouldn't have access to the cheaper upgrade price once Creative Suite 6 rolls around next year. Still, if you need access to Photoshop, After Effects or Premiere for a one-time project, the new rental scheme could be exactly what you're looking for.
In other news, Adobe has announced that it will be launching three rather exciting iPad apps that work in conjunction with Photoshop: Eazel, Nav, and Color Lava. Eazel lets you five-finger paint on your iPad, and export the result into Photoshop; Nav acts as some kind of workspace, brush and menu extension, and the hopefully named Color Lava is a paint mixing palette. The apps are expected to appear in the App Store in the next 30 days.You can now rent Adobe Photoshop for $35 per month, CS 5.5 available soon originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Adobe Photoshop can be yours for $35 per month if you agree to rent it for 12 months, or $49 per month if you require its services for a shorter period. Dreamweaver can be had for even cheaper, at just $19 per month. The entire Master Collection is still rather expensive, though, at $125 per month.
Today, Adobe also ushered in the release of Creative Suite 5.5, and simultaneously upped its release cycle from 18 months to 24 months. This means, if you rent Photoshop for two years, it's actually the same cost as buying it outright. There's no rent-to-own option, though -- so you wouldn't have access to the cheaper upgrade price once Creative Suite 6 rolls around next year. Still, if you need access to Photoshop, After Effects or Premiere for a one-time project, the new rental scheme could be exactly what you're looking for.
In other news, Adobe has announced that it will be launching three rather exciting iPad apps that work in conjunction with Photoshop: Eazel, Nav, and Color Lava. Eazel lets you five-finger paint on your iPad, and export the result into Photoshop; Nav acts as some kind of workspace, brush and menu extension, and the hopefully named Color Lava is a paint mixing palette. The apps are expected to appear in the App Store in the next 30 days.You can now rent Adobe Photoshop for $35 per month, CS 5.5 available soon originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Game Review: Angry Birds HD
Bored to death? Get up! Play the latest craze that hit the town while grabbing an Ipad, and be energized by playing the multi-nominated and award winning video game created and maintained by Rovio Mobile Ltd., which received its 250 million downloads last June 2011. And its statistics has steadily been on the rise since its first release in December 2009. In such a short span of time, its popularity has been phenomenal! Now, who wouldn?t be drawn to it, [...]
IE9 and Firefox 4 post top marks in Web browser power use comparison
Over on the Internet Explorer Blog, Microsoft has posted results from an extensive comparison of the top five Web browsers. The goal: to determine whether Internet Explorer 9, Firefox 4, Chrome 10, Safari 5, or Opera 11 is able to squeeze the most life out of your laptop's battery.
A baseline was determined with test systems sitting idle, and then browsers were pointed at about:blank, a news site, the HTML5 Galactic demo, and the IE9 fish tank demo. Perhaps unsurprisingly, IE9 came out on top -- though Firefox 4 was a very close second on nearly every test. As you can see, the other browsers didn't necessarily fare quite as well, with Google Chrome, Safari, and Opera all posting significantly worse scores. In Opera 11's case, a laptop battery would last over one hour more with Internet Explorer 9 installed.
But what we'd really like to know is where did Microsoft find the dilithium crystals required to run a Galactic Total Power Consumption test...IE9 and Firefox 4 post top marks in Web browser power use comparison originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
A baseline was determined with test systems sitting idle, and then browsers were pointed at about:blank, a news site, the HTML5 Galactic demo, and the IE9 fish tank demo. Perhaps unsurprisingly, IE9 came out on top -- though Firefox 4 was a very close second on nearly every test. As you can see, the other browsers didn't necessarily fare quite as well, with Google Chrome, Safari, and Opera all posting significantly worse scores. In Opera 11's case, a laptop battery would last over one hour more with Internet Explorer 9 installed.
But what we'd really like to know is where did Microsoft find the dilithium crystals required to run a Galactic Total Power Consumption test...IE9 and Firefox 4 post top marks in Web browser power use comparison originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
Artists Create Amazing Building-Sized Stencil [Video]
Italian artists Sten and Lex have created a building-sized mural using a stencil method they call "hole school." The duo apply a series of stencils to their canvas—in this case a building—then slice out and paint strips to create amazingly life-like images. More »
AppScribe Premium Subscription Service for Android
Are you tired of buying an app or a game only to find you don’t like it at all or you tire of it quickly? �Wish you had a way to try it before you buy it, even for apps that don’t have a free version? �Do you have an Android device? �If you answered [...]
Libra for Android helps you track your weight using The Hacker's Diet system
I'm getting fat; that's what you see on the screenshot to the right -- my gradual move from chubby to portly. But never mind the numbers, look at the pretty graph!
If you've ever read The Hacker's Diet, this graph should be instantly recognizable. Each point shows the weight for a given day, while the trend line lets you see if you're gaining or losing weight.
When I use my "main" PC, I have a homebrew solution for creating and maintaining this graph. But I've had to find a temporary solution for Android, and Libra is it.
It's a beautifully simple app, very true to the spirit of The Hacker's Diet. You can create a shortcut on your homescreen that brings you right into the data entry screen, so you just tap the shortcut every morning, feed in your weight for the day and hit OK, and then you get to see your progress (or lack thereof) on the graph.
The app remembers the previous day's weigh-in, which makes it easy to enter today's weight (as they're usually not too different). The graph is zoomable and scrollable, and most importantly, you can export the data to CSV so you're not locked into the app.
If you ever need to track your weight using an Android device for any period of time, Libra is one excellent solution.Libra for Android helps you track your weight using The Hacker's Diet system originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
If you've ever read The Hacker's Diet, this graph should be instantly recognizable. Each point shows the weight for a given day, while the trend line lets you see if you're gaining or losing weight.
When I use my "main" PC, I have a homebrew solution for creating and maintaining this graph. But I've had to find a temporary solution for Android, and Libra is it.
It's a beautifully simple app, very true to the spirit of The Hacker's Diet. You can create a shortcut on your homescreen that brings you right into the data entry screen, so you just tap the shortcut every morning, feed in your weight for the day and hit OK, and then you get to see your progress (or lack thereof) on the graph.
The app remembers the previous day's weigh-in, which makes it easy to enter today's weight (as they're usually not too different). The graph is zoomable and scrollable, and most importantly, you can export the data to CSV so you're not locked into the app.
If you ever need to track your weight using an Android device for any period of time, Libra is one excellent solution.Libra for Android helps you track your weight using The Hacker's Diet system originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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