Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook: 2/22/09

Friday, February 27, 2009

What PC Makers Really Think About Windows 7 [Windows 7]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/ls08ftgq5zY/what-pc-makers-really-think-about-windows-7

You love Windows 7, we love Windows 7, everybody loves Windows 7. Or do they? The top PC makers, Dell and HP, actually have very different opinions about Windows 7.

In yesterday's earnings call (which was pretty miserable for Dell), Michael Dell said, "We're starting to get pretty excited about Windows 7 and believe it's going to be an important catalyst for growth." And Dell could definitely use some of that.

HP's CFO, on the other hand, just doesn't just sound like a sourpuss, but downright bitter—though for good reason, given how badly Microsoft burned them with Vista:

We didn't think there was going to be a Vista moment. We don't think there's going to be a Windows 7 moment either… We are not expecting that there's going to be this huge hockey stick effect when Windows 7 comes out. The good news is we're hearing positive things about Windows 7.

Ouch.

So who do you think's going to be right? Dell, who's clearly hoping for nice Windows 7 wave to surf, or HP, who says—with disdain you can almost feel—that Windows 7 isn't going to do any better than Vista? [Reuters via Silicon Alley Insider]

High Performance, Small Size [Advertisement]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/5yGGPqWYQr4/high-performance-small-size

Even though it's the world's lightest 8" notebook, the Sony^® VAIO^® Lifestyle PC packs a mean punch. With an available 60 GB or 128 GB SSD hard drive, the Sony^® VAIO^® Lifestyle PC will go toe to toe with traditional notebooks more than twice it's size. Learn more here.

LG Versa First Impressions [Lg Versa]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/DiDNPxUB-3g/lg-versa-first-impressions

The most surprising thing about the LG Versa so far isn't that the detachable keyboard isn't the flimsy craptacular dongle I thought it'd be. It's the OS. It's really, really fast.

It's markedly faster than the OS that was on the Dare, LG's last major touch phone for Verizon. The 3D UI, which lets you rotate between four home screens, though gratuitous, is quick and smooth, with no stuttering. Menus pop up instantly, as do most apps (except the browser). The speed feels nice. I also really like the "Smart Menu" version of the main menu—it's a flickable list that's sorta Zune-y and gives you quick access to everything, even though it's not quite as pretty as the standard main menu.

What screws everything up is the hardware. It's got the worst LG touchscreen I've used. It's really imprecise, even after calibration, and sometimes you have to click stuff a few times before it works. In the browser (which is surprisingly decent and full-featured, with tabs and Flash), it's pretty maddening, since the cluttered UI with lots of tiny elements requires laser accuracy. I think this partially because the screen is small—it makes the keyboard cramped and crappy, even though typically I like LG's touch keyboards.

The keyboard attachment is surprisingly sturdy, but it's still plenty awkard, which the weight of the phone resting up when you grip it by the relatively thin keyboard flap. It's also fantastically ugly—cheap, faux brown plastic with an awkward bulge caused by the hinge. It replaces the entire backplate, so you can't just pull it every time you change your mind unless you've got the backplate as well. The keyboard itself is good, with a solid! layout and just enough roundness to the keys to make it easy to touch type.

In other words, so far it's a mixed bag, but not for the reasons I thought.

Toradex's Robin stuffs Atom-based computer on credit card-sized module

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/toradexs-robin-stuffs-atom-based-computer-on-credit-card-sized/

You may scoff at netbooks for their perceived lack of horsepower, but what if that not-quite phenomenal cosmic power was itty-bitty enough to fit in your (necessarily oversized) wallet? Toradex has unveiled the credit card-sized Robin Z510 and Z530 computer modules, which manages to fit quite a bit in fairly small space. The two mainboards feature a 1.1GHz Intel Atom Z510 and 1.6GHz Atom Z530 (the same processor found in the Vaio P), respectively, as well as integrated GMA500 graphics card with HD capabilities, support for up to seven USB 2.0 ports, and on board microSD slot (pictured, bottom left), 512MB DDR2 RAM, and 2GB solid state flash disk. Enthusiasts can order it now for 129 € / 179€ ($164 / $227), but there's about a $20 discount if you're willing to buy in bulks of 10,000 or more.

[Via Slash Gear]

Filed under: Laptops

Toradex's Robin stuffs Atom-based computer on credit card-sized module originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Neolux's NUUT2 trumps the Kindle 2 with PDF support, loses in most other regards

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/neoluxs-nuut2-trumps-the-kindle-2-with-pdf-support-loses-in-mo/

Back in 2007 the NUUT beat the Kindle to retail by a few months, but its plain styling and lack of features meant it couldn't compete -- especially for the same $300 price point. Now the successors must battle for supremacy and this time it's Neolux running a bit late, just now announcing the NUUT2. It's a complete redesign that, oddly enough, makes it look more like the original Kindle, complete with an odd little auxiliary strip display. The NUUT2 has a 6-inch, 600 x 800 display offering eight shades of gray (twice that of the original but half that of the Kindle 2), 1GB of storage, SD card expansion, and WiFi as well. The biggest news is native support for PDF along with a bevy of other file types, but given this isn't likely to appear outside of South Korea it, like its predecessor, probably won't make much of a splash.

[Via MobileRead, thanks Emil]

Filed under: Handhelds

Neolux's NUUT2 trumps the Kindle 2 with PDF support, loses in most other regards originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is RIM's BlackBerry 9630 Niagra headed to Verizon as World Edition?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/is-rims-blackberry-9630-niagra-headed-to-verizon-as-world-editi/

Sure, the pic's getting old at this point, but according to the Boy Genius Report, we may not have too much longer to wait to catch the 9630 Niagara in the wild. The radio department in the 9630 is filled to busting -- or slowly warming your face -- with CDMA, EV-DO Rev.A, GSM, GPRS, EDGE, and UMTS, with the GSM flavors getting the quad-band treatment. The rumored OS at launch is 4.7.1, though if delayed enough, it could pull through with OS 5.0. The last tidbits in the list are a 3.2 megapixel shooter -- and maybe a version without -- and the depressing news of no specific release date. Though, If we were Verizon and were sitting on this, you'd like to think that our timeline to launch would be as soon as frickin' possible.

Filed under: Cellphones

Is RIM's BlackBerry 9630 Niagra headed to Verizon as World Edition? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia irks UK carriers with decision to include Skype on N97

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/nokia-irks-uk-carriers-with-decision-to-include-skype-on-n97/

Nokia made plenty of folks happy with its decision to include Skype on its new N97 handset, and future N-series devices, but it looks like the usual cadre of UK carriers aren't among them, and they're now making their displeasure quite clear. That includes O2 and Orange, who are apparently threatening to refuse stock of the N97 unless Nokia strips out the Skype client, a point they have reportedly made directly to Nokia in "high-level discussions." Another unnamed "operator source" was apparently even more blunt, saying that this is "another example of them trying to build an ecosystem that is all about Nokia and reduces the operator to a dumb pipe," adding that, "some people like 3 may be in a position where it could make sense to accept that. But if you spend upwards of £40m per year building your brand, you don't want to be just a dumb pipe do you?" For its part, Nokia seems to be staying mum on the matter for the time being, though it's tough to see a handset like the N97 just sitting on the shelf, so it seems like one party or the other will have to give sooner or later.

[Via mocoNews.net]

Filed under: Cellphones

Nokia irks UK carriers with decision to include Skype on N97 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The 17-Inch MacBook Pro Review [Review]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/26WqTbBikV0/the-17+inch-macbook-pro-review

While Apple grandly updated their notebook line to the new unibody design, the 17-inch MacBook Pro, Apple's granddaddy of mobile computing, was left behind. Now, the 17-inch model joins its siblings—with promising bonus features.

Design

With nothing to scale this image, it's nearly impossible to tell the new 17-inch MBP from the 13- or 15-inch unibody macs. From the outside, it's the same thing, only bigger. At first it's a little intimidating to see such a large, unadorned block of metal. But at 6.6 lbs, it's actually not as heavy in your hands as you'd expect. And at .98-inches in stature, it's only ever so slightly thicker (.03 inches) than the other two MacBooks.

Apple will tell you that the MBP17 is the thinnest, lightest 17-inch notebook in the world. We'll tell you that for a monster of a laptop, it manages to not be too monstrous. The 17-inch (1920x1200) screen is a sharp, contrasty and colorful panorama, but it's the little touches that make the MBP17 manageable: The system's near-silent operation (using a 256GB SSD instead of a hard drive) is almost unnerving. Its underside gets warm, but never hot. And the unibody design makes particularly good sense in this larger size, as the wide chassis does not flex to your grip as you might expect.

The battery is one of the only components that's significantly different than that of the smaller machines. St! riving f or 8-hours of battery life the newly designed power pack screws right into the chassis. (Lots more on that topic below.)

What's missing, however, is the underside hatch that made for easy hard drive and battery replacement. This smart design feature, recently introduced in Apple's 13- and 15-inch unibody laptops, has been replaced by a series of screws to remove the bottom panel, and another series of screws to remove the battery. Removing a few screws is by no means a horrendous exercise, but we can't help but feel that it's a step in the wrong direction. The most spend-happy pro users will be the most likely to crack the lid of their laptops—so this design choice will likely annoy a key part of the MBP17's target audience.

What's Different About It?

Compared to the MBP15

• Supports 8GB of RAM; the MBP15 only supports 4GB

• Includes a 256GB SSD option; the MBP15 only a 128GB

• The MBP17 includes five speakers with a wider frequency response

• There's one extra USB port (3 total)

• Slightly faster processor options

(note: shot comparison of 13-inch model)

Compared to the old 17-inch MBP

• 40% larger battery (95WH vs. 68WH)

• Glossy and matte screen options are now available

• The screen has equal resolution, but a 60% wider color gamut

• Unibody structure, of course

Performance

The MBP17 features a 2.66 or 2.93GHz processor, up to 8GB of RAM and dual Nvidia 9400M (integrated) and 9600 (discrete) graphics cards. A! 320GB 5 400RPM hard drive comes standard, but that can be upgraded to a 320GB 7200RPM drive or a 128GB/256GB solid-state drive. (Note: There's no option for a 500GB hard drive, though they are readily available if you want to swap one in.)

The model we tested was fully loaded, with a 2.93GHz processor, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD.

Still, because the MBP17 is so similar to the 15 internally, we're going to point you in the direction of our last review for benchmarks on the dual Nvidia 9400M and 9600 graphics cards. We also ran Xbench and uploaded the predictably impressive results to their database. However, one feature we wanted to be sure to check out was the new 256GB SSD option, a drive made by Toshiba. It's a $750 upgrade that we were able to test in our review model.

SSD Speed Benchmarks:

Against the stock drive that comes with MBPs, the speed gains are obvious. However, the SSD market is still very young. There are only a handful of drives out there, so how do you know if Apple's $750 offering is price competitive?

Searching through the XBench results forums, we found a user who tested out a G. Skill Titan 256GB SSD on a unibody mac. It's not rated to be as fast as Samsung's $1000 SSD gold standard, but according to these benchmarks, it's still considerably faster than the drive Apple will sell you. The catch? The Titan runs $500, or $250 less than Apple's bundled Toshiba. In other words, as with mo! st upgra des, you're still better off going through a third party for your SSD.

The other bonus to SSDs is how quickly they boot. From the picture, you can see that our MBP17 booted in 31 seconds, despite me having a few hundred icons on the desktop. The MBP15 (normal hard drive, 4GB RAM) took about 90 seconds to load a similar configuration, or "three times longer" in marketing speak.

Battery Life

Everything so far about the new MBP17 is all well and good, but we think there's one claim in particular that's going to interest consumers the most: A 7-8 hour battery life*.

*Assuming screen at half brightness, Wi-Fi on, light browsing, light word processing (so no Bluetooth but otherwise a standard configuration). 8 hours on integrated graphics, 7 hours with more beefy discrete GPU.

Indeed, the MBP17's battery is huge. It takes up roughly the whole bottom half of the computer's underside. To make the battery as big as possible, Apple removed even the battery's removal mechanism. Apple's lithium polymer pack screws in and promises a shelf life of 1000 complete charges—which also means 2000 half recharges or 4000 quarter recharges—before the battery depletes to 80% capacity.

And while we didn't have the time to test Apple's 1000 recharge claim, we were able to run some battery tests.

First we put the system up against a day of blogging. This test was admittedly harder than Apple's cushy benchmarking, but I wanted to see how it would stand up to true pro use. So with the screen just a hair above half brightness, Wi-Fi on, Bluetooth off, backlit keyboard on, discrete graphics on, heavy web browsing and occasional Photoshop work, we achieved 3! hours 5 7 minutes of run time.

Should we be pissed? After all, Apple offers 7-8 hours in their ads! That's your call. In truth, we've found that most laptops hit about half their rated battery life under real world conditions (cough, netbooks, cough). If we can only cover our ears and hum through Apple's latest marketing campaign, we're actually fairly pleased with about 4 hours of heavy use from a fully loaded 17-inch laptop—especially since that metric includes no real compromises to our workflow.

We also wanted to simulate watching a movie on the plane. So we played back an MPEG4 with the screen at half brightness, discrete graphics off, backlit keyboard off, Wi-Fi off, Bluetooth off and headphones in. We received 4 hours 39 minutes of run time. That's nearly two hours longer* than we received from the MBP15, and 2 hours 30 minutes longer than we received from the MB13. That's basically the difference between watching one movie and watching two.

*The previous MBP tests had Wi-Fi on, the backlit keyboard on and speakers on. These alterations should account for a small amount of the increase, but my no means a majority. The 17-inch unit also has an SSD, but these non-spinning drives don't necessarily mean power savings.

For the Lazy Readers Needing a Summary

A 17-inch notebook has never been designed for the mainstream consumer. But then again, nothing about this MacBook Pro is aiming for the mainstream. It's a laptop that starts at $2800, and our fully loaded test model runs a hair over $5,000. Its screen is as big as most CRT monitors from just a few years back.

The thing should feel! like a beast on the couch, but it actually doesn't. It's almost frightening how quickly you adjust, appreciating the extra screen space while disregarding that this system is supposed to be a "laptop" in name only.

If you can get over the purported 8 hours of battery life and settle for longevity around half that number, you'll be welcomed with a laptop that feels like a desktop but is actually a laptop. It's a Cadillac that you can just about park, a triple cheeseburger in the bun of a double, a stocky man in a well-tailored suit. And we're liking it. We just can't help but ask, why can't Apple fit a 256GB SSD or 8GB of RAM—or even a 4+ hour battery—into a 15-inch MBP?

It's a big honking computer in a smallish package

As with the other unibody systems, the MBP17 runs cooler and quieter than past MacBooks

Battery life is reasonable, but will fall short for pro users looking for a true day of use

Apple's Toshiba SSD upgrade is pricey for its performance

There's no easy pop-off bottom panel like in other unibody models

External Sources [ifixit, Xbench]

Researchers use nano-origami to build tiny 3D devices

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/researchers-use-nano-origami-to-build-tiny-3d-devices/

MIT researchers are developing a new technique to create simple 3D structures out of nanoscale materials. Called "nano-origami," the kids are essentially using traditional micro- and nano-fabrication techniques to make 2D objects, at which point they are folded into pre-determined shapes. The folds can be induced by a number of means, including metal deposits (usually chromium), helium ions, and by running electricity through gold wires embedded in the material. While the process is still in its infancy (and all these options only work to a point) a simple 3D nanoscale capacitor has already been built. The current model has only one fold, but the researchers are hoping to increase the number of folds -- the more folds, they point out, the better the storage potential. Video after the break.

Continue reading Researchers use nano-origami to build tiny 3D devices

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Researchers use nano-origami to build tiny 3D devices originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NVIDIA Ion to begrudgingly support Core 2 Duo by Q4?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/nvidia-ion-to-begrudgingly-support-core-2-duo-by-q4/

It's easy to overlook amidst all PowerPoint-fueled fisticuffs but, in addition to slinging rebuttals at Intel and muttering insults under its breath, NVIDIA also appears to have dropped a bit of news about its next-generation Ion platform. While we had already heard that Ion 2 would be supporting VIA's Nano processor in addition to Intel's Atom, it looks like it'll also support Core 2 Duo processors, and even Pentiums and Celerons for good measure. That, of course, is not all that surprising given Ion's roots in NVIDIA's current MCP79M/MCP7A chipset platform, and there's certainly plenty of time for things to shake out further before that promised Q4 rollout date -- and, knowing these two companies, things probably will.

[Via Electronista]

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

NVIDIA Ion to begrudgingly support Core 2 Duo by Q4? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The BlackBerry Storm ad that might have been

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/the-blackberry-storm-ad-that-might-have-been/

This, shall we say, confrontational BlackBerry Storm ad by NY ad agency Guava has been making the rounds today, depicting a blackberry "bullet" taking a violent path through a familiar-seeming piece of fruit. An anonymous source told us that RIM considered it but eventually got cold feet -- and we can understand why. Nonetheless, it's an awesome bit of smack, so hit up the break and check it out for yourself.

[Thanks, Michael]

Continue reading The BlackBerry Storm ad that might have been

Filed under: Cellphones

The BlackBerry Storm ad that might have been originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MSI X-Slim X320 and X340 coming in April

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/msi-x-slim-x320-and-x340-coming-in-april/

Hint of déjà vu notwithstanding, we're pretty stoked to hear MSI''s ultra-thin X-Slim laptops, the 13.4-inch X320 and X340, are making their way to the retail channels this April. The X320 is sporting a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530 processor, while the Intel CULV-equipped X340 will be available in two configurations: a 1.2GHz Celeron M 723 and a 1.4GHz Core 2 Solo SU3500. MSI's Director of U.S. Sales Andy Tung says he expects the trio to run for around $700, $750, and $999, respectively. If that's not enough, two more X340 models are coming in May, in 1.3GHz Core 2 Solo SU2700 and a Core 2 Solo SU9600 options. No word on the 15.6-inch widescreen X600 model, but we're hoping to see it sooner rather than later.

Filed under: Laptops

MSI X-Slim X320 and X340 coming in April originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OE-A shows off nonvolatile RAM, RFID tag formed by printing

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/oe-a-shows-off-nonvolatile-ram-rfid-tag-formed-by-printing/

While it's far from being noteworthy to the mainstream public, printable electronics hold a lot of promise. Over at Printable Electronics 2009 in Tokyo, the Organic Electronics Association (OE-A) demonstrated some of the most extreme, useful printings that we've seen to date. By utilizing an eclectic array of printing methods, the agency was able to produce nonvolatile RAM with a capacity of 1,024 bits (for use in ID and game cards) along with a printed RFID tag that could be launched today in logistics operations. We doubt very seriously that mere consumers will soon have access to printers of this nature, but if we can now print memory and wireless identification tags, one must wonder: what on Earth is next?

Filed under: Displays, Storage

OE-A shows off nonvolatile RAM, RFID tag formed by printing originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 03:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Musiblocks rock the house

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/video-musiblocks-rock-the-house/

Here's something that managed to slip beneath our radar but is definitely worth the double-back: Musiblocks. The design project consists of a central control block at the base of the tower with an embedded force sensor and 6 circular connectors. Add more (or heavier) blocks to increase the volume or twist the block atop the base to switch tracks. The only block with any electronics is the core, control block at the base -- the other blocks are just hardwood slabs with tin conductors. Remember, if Sony can mass produce the Rolly, don't be surprised to see Musicblocks go retail sometime soon. Video after the break.

[Via Yanko Design]

Continue reading Video: Musiblocks rock the house

Filed under: Portable Audio

Video: Musiblocks rock the house originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 04:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMD's triple-core Phenom II X3 goes quad-core via BIOS hack

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/amds-triple-core-phenom-ii-x3-goes-quad-core-via-bios-hack/

Here's a little known secret for you to chew on: that triple-core AMD Phenom II X3 you purchased actually has four cores. The last one's just locked down for pricing purposes. A Korean site has disclosed information that enables owners of select motherboards to unlock that fourth core, and apparently, all you need is a Biostar mobo and / or a BIOS that has an option labeled Advanced Clock Calibration. When said selection is flipped to "Auto," the fourth core is loosed from its shackles and able to ever-so-slightly up your frame rates and overall level of excitement. Of course, you're taking a big risk by running a chip in a fashion it was never intended, but what fun is life without a little edge-side living?

[Via Slashgear]

Filed under: Desktops

AMD's triple-core Phenom II X3 goes quad-core via BIOS hack originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 06:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS Eee PC 'Shell' ultra-thin netbook launching in April?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/asus-eee-pc-shell-ultra-thin-netbook-launching-april/

Between the Commercial Times and DigiTimes, no secret is safe within ASUS. The former is reporting (via the latter) that ASUS will launch its second generation ultra-thin Eee PC in April as followup to the Eee PC S101. The Eee PC Shell, as it's supposedly called would mark a welcome departure from ASUS' staid alphanumeric naming convention and is said to be easier to carry than the S101 while bringing higher specs and a longer battery life for just NT$17,000 - 20,000 ($486 - $571) -- that's well below the S101's $699 suggested retail price. The name Shell, of course, would seem to imply a curved, clamshell design. Now, with one of ASUS' favorite events, CeBIT, starting next week, we'd expect an announcement to be days away if the rumor is true -- a high probability what with the launch of yesterday's Eee PC firesale and Intel's new CULV processors for ultra-slim laptops prepped for a March launch.

Filed under: Laptops

ASUS Eee PC 'Shell' ultra-thin netbook launching in April? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thursday, February 26, 2009

Acer's easyStore H340 says hello Atom, hello Windows Home Server

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/acers-easystore-h340-says-hello-atom-hello-windows-home-server/

Discounting CyberPower's misnomer, we haven't seen a proper Windows Home Server to compete with HP's MediaSmart in quite some time. Thankfully Acer is up to the challenge, at least in Japan, announcing its new easyStore H340 series, initially available in two flavors: S1 for those who need just 1TB of storage and the S2 for those who want three times that. (Yes, S3 seems like a more appropriate name to us, too.) Other than the number of drives internally (one for the S1, three for the S2) the machines are the same, sporting a 1.6GHz Atom 230, 1GB of memory, and four internal drive bays. Naturally both offer all the WHS tricks, like remote backup of networked computers and plenty of media streaming, tricks they'll start turning in Japan on March 6th at the cost of about $600 for the S1 and $900 for the S2.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Storage

Acer's easyStore H340 says hello Atom, hello Windows Home Server originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 10:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LCD Bluetooth Vibrating Bracelet is a watch short of awesome

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/lcd-bluetooth-vibrating-bracelet-is-a-watch-short-of-awesome/

Brando tried here, it really did, but the crucial omission of a watch just kills the deal for us. Still, for those nowhere near ready to give up their Sea-Dweller, the LCD Bluetooth Vibrating Bracelet makes for a perfect complement. Essentially, this here piece of jewelry pairs up with your BT-enabled cellphone in order to display caller ID information and vibrate whenever someone rings in. If you're tied up at the moment, you can simply hit a button on the bracelet that will reject the call and potentially kill friendships. At $49.90, though, we'd hope the whole "stainless steel" claim is true -- wouldn't want any yellowing going on at this price point, now would we?

[Thanks, Louie]

Continue reading LCD Bluetooth Vibrating Bracelet is a watch short of awesome

Filed under: Wearables

LCD Bluetooth Vibrating Bracelet is a watch short of awesome originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NVIDIA responds to Intel's Ion dismissal, all eyes on recess for confrontation

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/nvidia-responds-to-intels-ion-dismissal-all-eyes-on-recess-for/

It wasn't too hard to see this one coming, but NVIDIA has now shot back at Intel and responded point by point to each accusation Intel made recently about its Ion platform. For starters, while NVIDIA doesn't exactly dispute that Ion is just a repurposed MCP79M/MCP7A chipset, it does say that Ion is a "modern 2 chip solution," while Intel is relying on a "4-year-old 3 chip design." NVIDIA also points out that Ion is certified by Microsoft to deliver the "premium Windows experience," and not just Windows XP, and that, contrary to Intel's claim, Ion does in fact offer similar battery life to an Intel-based system while also delivering ten times the performance. In related news, Intel CEO Paul Otellini himself hit NVIDIA with a few jabs yesterday at a Goldman Sachs conference in San Francisco, saying that NVIDIA is simply not in a strong competitive position, and that, "if you don't have a microprocessor, what else do you have to sell?" Meanwhile, AMD was said to be wandering around the cafeteria, looking for a seat at the lunch table.

Read - Tom's Hardware, "Nvidia Fires Back at Intel's Anti-Ion Sentiments"
Read - CNET, "Intel CEO comments on Nvidia, economy, flash"

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

NVIDIA responds to Intel's Ion dismissal, all eyes on recess for confrontation originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ATI Radeon RV740 prototype 40nm video card gets reviewed, loved on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/ati-radeon-rv740-prototype-40nm-video-card-gets-reviewed-loved/

The Guru of 3D (not an actual guru, by the way) got its hands on a prototype ATI Radeon RV740 video card, and has been kind enough to put the thing through its paces. This is the company's first 40nm video card and while the review should all be taken with a grain of salt -- being "done with beta drivers and an early engineering sample board" -- preliminary results are quite positive. The card performs "fairly close to a Radeon HD 4850," something you don't often hear about in cards retailing for less than a hundred bucks. In fact, the reviewer was so taken by the card's performance at this price point that he predicts that this thing will be responsible for nothing less than "another shift in current mid-range pricing." But don't wait until the April release date to see this thing in action -- hit the read link for the big review.

[Thanks, Weston]

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming

ATI Radeon RV740 prototype 40nm video card gets reviewed, loved on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A bit of surgery gives the HP Mini 1000 new sight

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/a-bit-of-surgery-gives-the-hp-mini-1000-new-sight/

HP's Mini 1000 might get all the ladies, but the netbook is not without its flaws. Apparently in the manufacturing process somebody forgot to remove the protective film from the webcam lens, giving thousands of netbooks incredibly impaired vision of their handsome owners. HP hasn't fessed up to the problem in any grand manner, but an HP employee was kind enough to do some on-the-spot surgery of Gear Diary's Vivienne Tam-edition Mini 1000. It's not super-involved, so check out the video after the break and then go scare the life out of your girlfriend when you suddenly attack her flowery netbook with a pair of knives. Tell her Engadget sent you.

Update: At the time this post is going live, the video has been pulled from YouTube. We're not sure what's up with that, but the procedure is pretty simple: wedge open the top of the screen, push down the two connecting tabs to separate it more, pull off the film with tweezers. This might void your warrant (in fact, probably does) so proceed at your own risk!

[Via GottaBeMobile]

Continue reading A bit of surgery gives the HP Mini 1000 new sight

Filed under: Laptops

A bit of surgery gives the HP Mini 1000 new sight originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer's Ion-based Hornet nettop leaked in presentation slides?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/acers-ion-based-hornet-nettop-leaked-in-presentation-slides/

Despite NVIDIA's claims that we'd have an Ion desktop sometime this Spring, we still haven't really seen it in consumer-bound hardware -- until now, that is. Although unconfirmed, slides have purportedly leaked out of what is said to be the Acer Hornet Ion-based nettop. Aside from the platform and a HDMI output, we don't have any specs for the machine. What we do know is that it's sporting a Wii-inspired wireless game controller / air mouse, and can apparently hang from the back of LCD TVs. The leaked images also tout its eco-friendly design, small form factor, "silent operation," and a price tag of only a couple hundred dollars. Elaborate Photoshop or impending PC? While we sit here and impatiently wait for some official word, hit up the read link for more pics.

[Via Slash Gear]

Filed under: Desktops

Acer's Ion-based Hornet nettop leaked in presentation slides? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Comparison Chart Breaks Down 15 Web-Based Photo Editors [Comparisons]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/bMuGwCAcc-U/comparison-chart-breaks-down-15-web+based-photo-editors

CNET's Webware puts 15 web-based photo editors in a spreadsheet comparison battle, including well-knowns and previously reviewed Picnik and Photoshop.com/Express, but also some good-but-obscure picks. The author likes Picnik and Fotoflexer, but says the "best" depends (of course!) on what you're trying to do.

Multi-Monitor Mouse Snaps Your Cursor Around Multiple Screens [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/P6tFlum24Qo/multi+monitor-mouse-snaps-your-cursor-around-multiple-screens

Windows only: Moving your mouse cursor across multiple monitors them all can be a long haul, especially in triple- and quad-monitor setups. Snap your mouse from screen to screen instead with keyboard shortcuts.

Multi-Monitor Mouse is a small application which, when triggered by a keyboard combination, snaps your mouse cursor to the next monitor in your multi-monitor setup. You can specify whether the mouse jump should be relative—having the cursor placed in the same relative position on the new monitor—or in the center of the screen. You can also specify the order of monitors the mouse will leap to, if sequential's not your thing. It takes a few minutes to get used to, but once you get the hang of this app, it's hard to imagine dragging your mouse across 3,000+ pixels again. Multi-Monitor Mouse is freeware, Windows only.

Multi-Monitor Mouse

E.ggTimer Counts Down via URL Variable [Web Applications]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/bZlQ-TnFYiM/eggtimer-counts-down-via-url-variable

Timers are useful for all manner of things, but you may not always have a handy portable timer with you. E.ggTimer is a dead simple web-based count down timer that you'll (almost) never be without.

You use plain English to tell E.ggTimer what window of time you need counted down. The time variable is plugged right into the URL—if you need a 20 minute countdown you use the URL http://e.ggtimer.com/20minutes. You can use combinations of years, months, days, hours, minutes, and seconds with the same plain style, just by entering the variables in logical order: 01days before 00hours, then 20minutes, etc. The timer starts when you load the URL in your browser and counts down in large block letters in the browser window center, with an animated black and white border that slowly fills in as the time passes. While it might not be a practical count down tool for retirement, it's extremely handy for a quick monitor on your brewing tea, or your next break to stretch and get some fresh air.

E.ggTimer

Gazup Uploads to Multiple File Sharing Hosts [Web Applications]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/8SyxMyqARCs/gazup-uploads-to-multiple-file-sharing-hosts

If you need to upload a file to multiple sharing sites, Gazup can mirror your file across many of the popular free file hosts.

You can upload the file from your computer or feed Gazup up to 5 URL or FTP addressesto grab from. The upload dialog box automatically updates to tell you how big the files can be, based on the file hosts you have selected. Those supported free hosts include (deep breath): RapidShare, MegaUpload, FileFactory, HideMyAss, Badongo, Mediafire, Uploadbox, zShare, and NetLoad.in. The maximum file sizes for those hosts range from 100-400MB.

Uploading a file is free and requires no registration, but if you sign up for an account, you can manage your uploaded files.

Gazup [via Download Squad]

DoubleTwist May Be the Coolest Universal Media Manager Ever [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/NhRrfD2GvR4/doubletwist-may-be-the-coolest-universal-media-manager-ever

Mac OS X only: doubleTwist simplifies media management, whether you want to sync to your mobile device, share it with friends, or upload it to YouTube, Flickr, or Facebook. It's so easy your grandparents could use it.

The idea behind doubleTwist is simple, and is probably summed up best by the narrator of the demo video:

doubleTwist automatically converts the video (and other media) so it can play on my phone so I don't have to worry about geeky formats and settings.... doubleTwist takes care of all that boring work for me.

Fair enough. So the point is, doubleTwist handles all the background work to make any media gel with wherever you want to put it, and you don't need to worry about whether or not it's in the right format. Just drag and drop the media to wherever you want it to go, and doubleTwist takes care of any necessary conversion in the background.

So yes, doubleTwist may be the coolest media manager in the world. But there are some problems with it.

For one, I couldn't even test the thing properly because you need to create an account before you can use it, and no matter how many addresses I used to register, I can't seem to get the confirmation email—so I'm basically reviewing the idea rather than the program. One would assume this little bug should be worked out quickly enough (at least if they want users).

Second, if you actually care about those "geeky" formats and settings, you may not be keen on relinquishing control. We've heard complaints about doubleTwist from two different users in the past regarding its transcoding, but things could have changed in the past year. I could talk more about! this if I could actually try it out, but alas. If you give it a try and have more luck than I did, let's hear how it's working for you in the comments. If doubleTwist sounds familiar, that's because we covered the Windows version about a year ago. Strangely, though, that version has been pushed into a closed beta while the new Mac version is ready for public consumption. doubleTwist is a free download, Mac OS X only.

doubleTwist [via TUAW]

Multi-Select, Upload Progress Added to Gmail Attachments [Gmail]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/a8e7-QqTFgo/multi+select-upload-progress-added-to-gmail-attachments

No more triple-clicking for every file you want to send over Gmail. Clicking "Browse" now lets you select multiple files at once to attach to a message, and tiny progress bars are displayed while each file uploads sequentially. Nice improvement over all that clicking, and fewer guesses as to whether "Still working ..." means progress or eminent browser crash. [Official Gmail Blog]

Extensoft Screen Capturer Grabs Desktop Images, Video, and Audio [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/6fzdTPDEmJ0/extensoft-screen-capturer-grabs-desktop-images-video-and-audio

Windows only: If you need to grab both video and still screen captures, but don't have the need or budget for professional software, Extensoft Screen Capturer can do both with ease.

With Extensoft's app, you can capture the entire screen or specified areas of it. Captured images can be saved as BMP, JPG, PNG, and TIFF formats. Video captures can be saved in either WMV or AVI format—there are codecs for DiVX, ffdshow, and XviD, among others, for post-processing, and audio can be grabbed during video sessions as well. Almost all of the menu commands for controlling Extensoft Screen Capturer have corresponding keyboard shortcuts, making it easy to use mouse-free.

Screen Capturer is free but does require a basic name/email registration. The registration is sent instantly and requires no validation, so if you'd like to avoid using your primary email, a disposable one would work just as well. Extensoft Screen Capturer is freeware, Windows only.

Extensoft Screen Capturer [via Confessions of a Freeware Junkie]

Hello Slightly Cheaper Blu-ray [Blu-Ray]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/u1H1tSrKS_Y/hello-slightly-cheaper-blu+ray

Panasonic, Sony and Philips are spinning off Blu-ray licensing into a single company, which for us, the real people, means we should be seeing Blu-ray prices take another tumble downward.

That's because the costs of licenses for people to make Blu-ray stuff will drop as much as 40 percent, since manufacturers won't have to talk to all three companies to get the rights. So a license under the cheaper regime would be about $9.50 for a read-only Blu-ray device and $14 for a burner, while discs will run 11-15, from read-only to re-writeables.

It won't result in incredible price drops—probably not enough to spur a sudden rush on Blu-ray right now—but it should help push Blu-ray players even further past the $199 mark that became the bar over the holiday season, and every little bit cheaper with content helps, given how much pricier discs are typically then movies on DVD.

How cheap do you need movies to be before you go Blu-ray? [Electronista]

Sony X1000 OLED Walkman to Hit UK Next Month for ~$300 [Sony Walkman]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/BRfTl3JeoQo/sony-x1000-oled-walkman-to-hit-uk-next-month-for-300

Sony's slick-looking X1000 Walkman line popped up for preorder on Amazon UK with a release window of 2-5 weeks. That means we should be seeing the touchscreen, OLED player before the end of March.

The 16-gigabyte NWZ-X1050B will cost £214 (~$300) and 32-gigabyte NWZ-X1060B will cost £283 (~$400). Looking forward to the X1000 making a stateside appearance sometime soon. [Amazon UK via OLED-Display via Engadget]

Google Me Business Cards: Best or Worst Idea Ever? [Design]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/jZyMnrtiAIU/google-me-business-cards-best-or-worst-idea-ever

This business card idea is undoubtedly clever, visually suggesting to people that they just Google your name for contact info. But do you want to encourage people to do so?

If you happen to be John Mahoney, people will think you're some old guy that appeared on Frasier. If you're Adam Frucci, your dance moves will immediately stand out. And if you're me, well, people will occasionally blame you for a certain CES prank that Techmeme is convinced I wrote. So I ask again, do you want to be Googled? [Ji Lee via Geek Sugar]

Verizon's LG Versa Officially Go-Go Gadget Modular Phone [Lg Versa]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/O7aTGKz93nY/verizons-lg-versa-officially-go+go-gadget-modular-phone

You know how running a three-legged race doesn't make you or the guy you're strapped to run any faster?

LG's Versa snaps together two things LG does reasonably well—texting and touchscreen phones—into a single, modular freak of nature that you can swap out the parts on, like Robocop in Robocop 3. Meaning it'll be like those two hobbling dudes who trip over themselves a lot (i.e., Robocop 3) or at best, approximately equal the sum of its parts.

LG's non-smartphone OS has gotten better from phone to phone (the Vu on AT&T to Dare on Verizon), so this updated version should be fairly usable, even if the 3D UI is completely gratuitous. It's got visual voicemail! At the very least, they're promising a better browser with Flash. (We'll see though).

No word on the ridiculous line of accessories that'll be coming, like the gaming d-pad we saw in leaks, or the BJ attachment some of us were hoping for. But they're obviously coming. The question is how many and when and if they're good—then the Versa could be something way more interesting than a gimmick or just a good hybrid. The Versa itself'll be out March 1 for $199 after the usual rebates and contract.

VERIZON WIRELESS LG VERSA GIVES NEW MEANING TO VERSATILITY

Attachable QWERTY Keypad, Animated Touch Screen Interface, and Advanced Web Browsing Offer Latest in Wireless Phone Style and Function

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., and SAN DIEGO – Verizon Wireless and LG Electronics M! obileCom m U.S.A., Inc. (LG Mobile Phones) announced today that the LG Versa™ will be available on the nation's largest and most reliable wireless voice and data network beginning March 1. The LG Versa will be an MVP (Most Versatile Phone) for customers, sporting an elegant bar design with a chrome border, animated 3-inch touch screen interface with tactile feedback and an attachable QWERTY keypad.

Customers can personalize their LG Versa phones based on their messaging needs on any given day – either attach the QWERTY keypad to their phones or leave the keypad at home. The LG Versa's home screen is transformed into a sizzling, animated 3D interface and customers can quickly customize up to three different home screens with their favorite shortcuts. The built-in accelerometer rotates screens automatically from portrait to landscape, and customers can use rotation movements to steer games. The HTML Web browser includes Flash and RSS feed support, and customers can keep up to three windows open and switch from one window to the other to view pages.

Additionally, the phone comes packed with Verizon Wireless' V CAST Music with Rhapsody and V CAST Video services. V CAST Music with Rhapsody allows customers to purchase more than 5 million full songs over-the-air, download the master copy of their songs to their PCs free of digital rights management (DRM) software and sync their favorite tracks, albums and playlists from their PCs to their LG Versa phones using the included USB cable.

V CAST Video allows customers to download or stream video from the best names in news, sports, entertainment and more.

The LG Versa supports productivity tools – such as Visual Voice Mail to keep people more productive and prioritize their messages – while Verizon Wireless' VZ NavigatorSM service transforms the phone into a navigation device at a fraction of the cost of most GPS systems. In addition, the LG Versa is compatible with Mobile Broadband Connect to allow customers to use their phones as a mode! m by lin king their laptops to their phones to establish a broadband connection anywhere within Verizon Wireless' Mobile Broadband rate and coverage area.

Additional features and capabilities of the LG Versa include:
• Virtual QWERTY keypad
• 2.0 megapixel camera and camcorder with autofocus, flash and image editor
o SmartPic technology for improved image quality
o Camera resolutions: 1600 x 1200 (default), 1280 x 960, 800 x 400, 640 x 480, 320 x 240 pixels
o Face detection – automatically detect a face when taking a picture
o Zoom: up to 2x
o Image editor: zoom, rotate, crop, add frames and icons, and write over images
o Video resolutions: 640 x 480, 320 x 240, 176 x 144 pixels (default)
o Video recording time: 30 seconds for sending or up to one hour for saving
o Video player for WMV, MP4, 3GP, 3G2 formats
o Customizable brightness, white balance, shutter sound, color effects, photometry, and self-timer
• Music Player –
o Music player for .mp3, .wma, unprotected .aac and unprotected .aac+ formats
o Multitask while playing music – hide player to send messages, edit contacts, and browse the Web
o Create and manage playlists
o Music Library – organized by artist, genre and album
o Music Only Mode (RF off except Bluetooth®)
• microSD™ memory port with up to 16 GB support coming soon
• USB Mass Storage – transfer files between microSD card and PC
• Bluetooth Version 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) –
o Supported profiles: headset, hands-free (car kits), dial-up networking, stereo phonebook access, basic printing, object push (for vCard and vCal), file transfer, basic imaging, and human interface device
• Animated three-dimensional interface for home screens – customize up to three home screens with favorite features and applications
• Module home screen when QWERTY keypad is attached
• VZ Navigator-capable – get visual and audible directions to thousands of destinations, locate bu! sinesses and other points of interest, get maps of a location and share directions with others
• Chaperone® Child-capable – allows the LG Versa to have its location shared with family members via the Chaperone Web site, the Chaperone® Parent application or Child Zone® SMS alerts
• Chaperone® Parent-capable – with the Chaperone Parent application, customers can view location information or be notified of the whereabouts of the Chaperone Child phone
• Visual Voice Mail – delete, reply and forward voice mail messages without having to listen to prior messages or voice instructions
• Mobile Web-capable – customizable, enhanced wireless access to the latest in news, sports, weather and more
• Mobile Email – access MSN® Hotmail®, America Online® and Yahoo! ® accounts to exchange e-mail
• Media Center-capable – downloadable games, ringtones, wallpapers, location-based services and more
• Mobile IM using AIM®, MSN, Yahoo!
• Auto Screen and Key Lock – prevents unwanted key actions
• 2.5 mm headset jack
• Text, picture and video messaging
• Supports threaded messaging
• Personal organizer with calculator, EZ Tip Calculator, calendar, alarm clock, stopwatch, world clock, notepad, and drawing pad with character recognition
• Speakerphone and voice commands
• Bilingual interface – English and Spanish
• Phonebook with up to 1,000 entries with multiple contacts
• TTY/TDD-capable
• In Case of Emergency contacts
• Frequency: 1.9 GHz CDMA PCS, 800 MHz CDMA
• Data transmission: EV-DO Revision A (Rev. A)
• Dimensions: 4.16" (h) x 2.07" (w) x 0.54" (d)
• Weight: 3.81 ounces
• Hearing Aid Compatibility = M4/T4
• SAR: head 1.38 W/kg, body 0.764 W/kg
• LCD: 262K color TFT, 480 x 240 pixels, 3.0"
• Ambient light sensor controls the brightness on the LCD according to surrounding light
• Proximity sensor turns LCD off when a customer is placing a call on the LG! Versa • External LCD: monochrome OLED, 56 x 120 pixels, 0.94" (only available on the QWERTY keypad attachment)
• Standard battery: 1,100 mAh
• Usage time: up to 290 minutes or
• Standby time: up to 430 hours

Pricing
The LG Versa will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com and in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores beginning March 1 for $199.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.

Customers can get the most out of their LG Versa with Verizon Wireless' Nationwide Premium calling plan. Starting at $79.99 monthly access, the Nationwide Premium calling plan includes unlimited messaging, VZ Navigator, Mobile Email and V CAST VPak, plus unlimited megabytes for Mobile Web and Media Center. Mobile Broadband Connect can be added to their plans for $59.99 monthly access for 5 GB, and Visual Voice Mail is available for $2.99 monthly access, per line, plus airtime or megabyte charges and messaging fees, depending on a customer's plan.

For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

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