Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook: 3/1/09 - 3/8/09

Thursday, March 05, 2009

Sigma's Flagship SD15 DSLR Feels Like a Rock (in a Good Way) [Tomorrow's Cameras]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/PcaxeHSkzPQ/sigmas-flagship-sd15-dslr-feels-like-a-rock-in-a-good-way

Sigma's upcoming 14-megapixel SD15 DSLR promises to improve on its SD14 predecessor with an improved True II image processor. On display at PMA, the camera feels damn near indestructable when you hold it in your hand.

This camera is clearly for those more professionally minded, and isn't smaller or lighter than some of its competitors. The dual dials up top seem a bit excessive considering there are still plenty of buttons on the back, but all in all, it feels good in your hand. And knowing the Foveon X3 sensor it's powered by, the images will more or less be decent as well.

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

MSI Winki eyes-on: it's an instant-on OS, but for desktops

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/04/msi-winki-hands-on-its-an-instant-on-os-but-for-desktops/

MSI did a laudatory job this morning baffling us with its Winki release, but we managed to find an exceptionally kind, English-speaking representative at its CeBIT booth today who broke it down for us. In short, Winki is MSI's new instant-on operating system. It's Linux-based, and looks a heck of a lot more elaborate than the HyperSpace instant-on OS that we toyed with in January. The kicker is that at least for now, this thing is only for desktops, as it's actually built into a small module (shown above) that plugs directly into an MSI motherboard. At first, only select mainboards will come bundled with Winki, but it just might roll out across MSI's entire mobo line. The dame we spoke with wouldn't divulge any details on whether this OS would ever come to its wide-ranging laptop line, but we suspect it will in due time. Winki provides easy access to IM services, Skype and the internet, which is a shortcut to Doom away from being all the true gamer needs in life, anyway.

Gallery: MSI Winki hands-on: it's an instant-on OS, but for desktops

Filed under: Desktops

MSI Winki eyes-on: it's an instant-on OS, but for desktops originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MSI Wind U123 netbook hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/04/msi-wind-u123-netbook-hands-on/

While MSI's X-Slim line no doubt garnered the most attention at its massive CeBIT booth, we found a few other gems that our camera just couldn't ignore. Take the Wind U123 for instance -- which was camped out with a Intel N280 processor, the incredibly aged GMA 950 graphics set, the old 945GSE chipset (as opposed to the GN40, which we were carelessly hoping for) and a SIM card slot for 3G WWAN. It didn't look all that different from U120, but then again, we never expected it to. Dive in below to see for yourself.

Gallery: MSI Wind U123 netbook hands-on

Filed under: Laptops

MSI Wind U123 netbook hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kindle 2 hacked for tethered web browsing, but not the way you think

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/04/kindle-2-hacked-for-tethered-web-browsing-but-not-the-way-you-t/

Looking to hook your laptop up to your Kindle 2 and do a bit of free-riding on its built-in 3G modem? Then this is not the hack for you. If, on the other hand, you've been pining to browse the web on your Kindle and eschew the convenience of wireless connectivity, then you're in luck! Apparently, the Kindle 2 has a few surprises in its debug mode that the original Kindle didn't have, one of which is a USB networking facility that will let you bypass the usual 3G option and instead take advantage of the internet connection on a connected computer. Not the most practical option, to be sure, but it also probably won't cause Amazon to start breathing down your neck (as the other, as yet not possible option, likely would). Hit up the link below for the complete how-to.

[Via SlashGear]

Filed under: Handhelds

Kindle 2 hacked for tethered web browsing, but not the way you think originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer K10 pocket projector hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/04/acer-k10-pocket-projector-hands-on/

Acer's K10 pocket projector was propped up aimlessly amongst a flurry of Aspire netbooks, and being that we're the caring individuals that we are, we had to stop over and show it some love. The 800 x 600 resolution actually looked great, though the image was decidedly faint in the well-lit hall. Size wise, it's a real winner, but we still don't see this being all that useful in areas that are even mildly splashed with daylight. Have a look below to see what we mean.

Gallery: Acer K10 pocket projector hands-on

Filed under: Displays

Acer K10 pocket projector hands-on originally appeared on Enga! dget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NVIDIA gets further up Intel's chuff with pledge to develop an x86 CPU

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/04/nvidia-gets-further-up-intels-chuff-with-pledge-to-develop-an-x/

NVIDIA gets further up Intel's chuff with pledge to develop an x86 CPU

Hoo boy, we haven't seen a corporate case of Hatfield vs. McCoy like NVIDIA vs. Intel since, well, last month's little Apple vs. Palm tiff. While these two makers of all things silicon have rarely been on the best of terms, things have been rather testy lately with Intel slamming NVIDIA's Ion platform, complaints to which the company summarily dismissed. But, the GPU maker with big aspirations apparently wasn't done there, continuing the rebuttal by pledging to attack the core of Intel's business: the x86 processor. This verbal salvo was fired by Michael Hara, NVIDIA's VP in charge of investor and public relations, who indicated the company would start making CPUs for integrated devices like MIDs and netbooks sometime in the next two to three years. We can't say as we blame NVIDIA for wanting a piece of Intel's delectable Atom pie, but given how long we've been hearing rumors of an NVIDIA x86 CPU, we'll believe it when we see it. Maybe these two should just go ahead and set up the PR cage match already?

[Thanks,! Alex]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Laptops

NVIDIA gets further up Intel's chuff with pledge to develop an x86 CPU originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG X110 finally reaching US soil before July

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/04/lg-x110-finally-reaching-us-soil-before-july/

Ever get the feeling LG's netbook sector has something against the US? The X110 has been out in Europe since September, and the X120 is scheduled to be joining it later this month. But across the pond? Zilch -- until now, at any rate. President of Mobile Communications Skott Ahn told Forbes that the X110 will be landing here with Uncle Sam's approval sometime before July for a cool $400 unsubsidized. With so much competition, however, isn't that a bit pricey? Since the company's yet to go through the official channels with this information, it could be subject to change. Either way, it looks like we'll find out soon enough.

Filed under: Laptops

LG X110 finally reaching US soil before July originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Custom Wire Management for Multi-Monitor Bliss [Featured Workspace]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/4zUs-LzVQis/custom-wire-management-for-multi+monitor-bliss

Brian Connolly was tired of cramped desks and messy wiring, so he built his own desk and wire management system to have the spacious and tidy spread he desired. Pics, and full-view video, below.

Connolly put a good deal of planning into his setup before he dropped the hardware on it. The desk is constructed of a piece of wood custom-cut to size, floated above the tops of the two file cabinets with rubber spacers to keep the desk surface from sliding and scratching up the cabinets. Brian attached pieces of pine to the backs of the file cabinets to act as sliding tracks for two sheets of peg board. Taking a cue from our pegboard-as-cable-management-solution playbook, Brian mounted all of his loose cables and adapters on the boards to keep them off the ground and out of site. The peg board combined with a wire baker's rack next to his desk ensure that all his wiring and peripherals stay neatly stashed off his floor and desktop.

To get the full picture of how Brian's desk works, check out the video he shot and cut to show it off:

The second monitor to the left is hooked up to an HDMI switch box, which can quickly trade his computer view to his Xbox 360 for taking a well-deserved break now and then. His favorite use of the Griffin Powermate, the large silver knob on his desk, is scrolling quickly through his RSS feeds in Google Reader and for video editing when he's not catching up on his feeds. For more pictures of his build process, check out the links below.

If you have a workspace of your own to show off, throw the pictures on your Flickr account and add it to the Lifehacker Workspace Show and Tell pool. Include some details abou! t your s etup and why it works for you, and you just might see it featured on the front page of Lifehacker.

Brian's Desk Build Process [Flickr]

JVC's new Everio X GZ-X900 does 1080p video, 9 megapixel stills, 600 fps slow motion

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/jvcs-new-everio-x-gz-x900-does-1080p-video-9-megapixel-stills/

JVC's new "Everio X" GZ-X900 camcorder is just what we like in a flagship device: incredible style, crazy specs, and awesome slow motion video of us slapping people. The GZ-X900 reworks the Everio line into a new brick-like form factor that's bordering on the shape of camcorders of yore, but JVC puts a nice twist to it, and the camera is obviously very compact. JVC used some "premium materials" in the construction and it really shows, but what's more exciting is the high-end 1080p resolution, with 1000 "TV lines" to sample from (it's not upscaling from a completely bum source like many compact camcorders). The unit also works as a fast-action still camera, for 9 megapixel shots at 15 fps, and 5.3 megapixel shots at 60 fps. What we're really wild about is the 600 fps slow motion, which operates at a 640 x 72 resolution -- you can get more pixels at slower frame rates. Unfortunately, none of this good stuff comes cheap: the camera hits retail in June for an even $1000.

Gallery: JVC's new Everio X GZ-X900 does 1080p video, 9 megapixel stills, 600 fps slow motion

Filed under: Digital Cameras, HDTV

JVC's new Everio X GZ-X900 does 1080p video, 9 megapixel stills, 600 fps slow motion originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS Eee Top now available for pre-order at Amazon

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/asus-eee-top-now-available-for-pre-order-at-amazon/

ASUS Eee Top now available for pre-order at Amazon

Been looking for an inexpensive all-in-one to unify your life, something that your zombie slave Fido could use in the kitchen to look up recipes yet would also look equally good perched on a minimalist desk? ASUS's first Eee Top could fit the bill, and it looks to be very close to US availability with the appearance of a pre-order page on Amazon.com. The 15.6-inch touchscreen model has the standard 1.6GHz Atom processor, 1GB of memory, and XP installed on a 160GB drive. Right now it's available in either black or white, and whether you're choosing the presence or absence of all colors you'll be asked to pay $599.99 -- naturally with free shipping available if you're not in too much of a hurry.

[Via Eee PC - Blog]

Filed under: Desktops

ASUS Eee Top now available for pre-order at Amazon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS debuts the Eee PC 1008HA "Shell" 10-inch ultraportable

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/asus-debuts-the-eee-pc-1008ha-shell-10-inch-ultraportable/

ASUS has taken the wraps off its latest Eee PC, the 1008HA we heard was on the way to follow up on the S101. As far as anyone can tell -- ASUS is a little coy on specs so far -- the laptop harbors fairly traditional netbook specs and a netbook pricepoint, but the exterior is all new and rather attractive. The computer is 1-inch thick and weighs 2.4 pounds, with a curved, shiny plastic "shell" (ASUS calls it "pearlescent") to give a bit more luster than the average Eee PC. ASUS is including 802.11n, Bluetooth, 3G and WiMAX options, and packing in it Eee Sharing and Eee Arena software. We'll be looking to dig up more specs and some hands-on time with this unit this week at CeBIT.

[Via UMPCPortal]

Gallery: ASUS Eee PC 1008HA press shots

Filed u nder: Laptops

ASUS debuts the Eee PC 1008HA "Shell" 10-inch ultraportable originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS announces stylish U/UX series ultra-thin laptops

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/asus-announces-stylish-u-ux-series-ultra-thin-laptops/

Looking to add some allure to its portable lineup -- as if a model named Lamborghini wasn't enough -- ASUS has announced the U and UX series of ultra-thin laptops, expected to launch sometime in Q2. Both feature an illuminated chiclet keyboard and auto-adjusting LED backlit display. The U series also features a 15.6-inch glossy LCD and a touchpad that uses progressively fading lights to follow your fingertips. Under the hood, there's an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, NVIDIA GeForce G105M, up to 500GB HDD, and Altec Lansing speakers with SRS true surround sound. We don't have nearly as much information on the UX, unfortunately, but we do know it's sporting a slot-in optical disc drive. Full press release after the break.

Continue reading ASUS announces stylish U/UX series ultra-thin laptops

Filed under: Laptops

ASUS announces stylish U/UX series ultra-thin laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WD shoves four 2TB Caviar Green HDDs into ShareSpace NAS

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/wd-shoves-four-2tb-caviar-green-hdds-into-sharespace-nas/

Remember those absurdly capacious 2TB Caviar Green hard drives that Western Digital pumped out earlier this year? If not, WD's hoping to jar your memory by cramming no fewer than four of 'em into its newest, most spacious ShareSpace NAS ever. The four-bay device is now being offered in an 8TB flavor, and it promises to deliver up to 30 percent faster transfer speeds than prior models and to support DLNA media streaming. As with before, this one also doubles as an iTunes music server and comes bundled with the company's own Anywhere Backup software. Other specs include gigabit Ethernet, RAID 0/1/5 capabilities, an email alert system in case failure is imminent, a trio of USB 2.0 sockets and a built-in FTP server. It should be ready to house all of your, um, old tax documents later this week for $1,699.99.

Filed under: Storage

WD shoves four 2TB Caviar Green HDDs into ShareSpace NAS originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Intel intros specialized Atom for cars and other devices, outsources some Atom manufacturing

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/intel-intros-specialized-atom-for-cars-and-other-devices-outsou/

We've already seen the Atom used in a few somewhat surprising places, but Intel now looks to really be making an earnest push to expand its base, with it introducing four new specialized Atom processors (and two new system controllers to go along with 'em) that it hopes will find their way into in-car devices, internet phones, and a whole host of industrial-strength applications. Relying on the same 45nm manufacturing process, the new Atom Z5xx series processors expectedly aren't too radically different from the average Atom, with them clocking in between 1.1GHz and 1.6GHz, and boasting a TDP rating of 2.0 or 2.2 watts, although they do have some "embedded lifecycle support" thrown in for good measure. In related news, Intel has also announced that it'll be outsourcing "some" Atom manufacturing to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (or TSMC), which apparently marks the first time that Intel has licensed its CPU core to a foundry.

Read - Press Release, "New Specialized Intel Atom Processor Targets Cars, Internet Phones"
Read - Physorg / AP, "Intel outsourcing some Atom manufacturing to TSMC"

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Transportation

Intel intros specialized Atom for cars and other devices, outsources some Atom manufacturing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Olympus' Micro Four Thirds camera launching this summer

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/03/olympus-micro-four-thirds-camera-launching-this-summer/

We're not gonna get excited just yet, but Olympus has shown one of its cards at PMA , and it happens to indicate at least one of its Micro Four Thirds cameras will be hitting retail channels this summer. That jibes with a rumor we heard back in late January. From what we can tell, there's still a dearth of detail / specs on this hunk of retro hotness -- a shame, too, since it'd have pretty much every camera aficionado's attention right now. With several months to go, we get the feeling the company's gonna play this one close to the chest for a little while longer.

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Olympus' Micro Four Thirds camera launching this summer originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Elecom's new TK-FCP004 ultra-slim keyboard is minimalism at its finest

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/04/elecoms-new-tk-fcp004-ultra-slim-keyboard-is-minimalism-at-its/

Pining for a numeric keypad, which Apple has so unceremoniously discarded, but can't bring yourself to pick the numeric version off a list? Do you have other personality problems, but appreciate good design? Do you live in Japan? Then Elecom's got just the thing for you, the new TK-FCP004 series ultra-slim keyboards. Rising a mere 0.57-inches off the ground, and sporting incredibly minimal aesthetics, we'd say Elecom has hit a real nerve here. The keyboard comes in silver, white or black, and hits Japan mid-October for 5040 yen after tax (about $50 US).

[Via Akihabara News]

Gallery: Elecom's new TK-FCP004 ultra-slim keyboard is minimalism at its finest

Filed under: Peripherals

Elecom's new TK-FCP004 ultra-slim keyboard is minimalism at its finest originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ZillionTV brings ad-based streaming content to the television

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/04/zilliontv-brings-ad-based-streaming-content-to-the-television/

Just in case hooking up ZeeVee's ZvBox and getting access to all available online media is too difficult, there's ZillionTV. This admittedly interesting startup is looking to pick up where Hulu, ZeeVee, Netflix Watch Instantly and all the rest have left off by bringing true on-demand content to one's television (read: not PC or mobile device) for almost nothing. For a one-time fee of "under $100," users will be given a ZBar and a ZRemote, both of which enable interaction with the VUI interface. Put as simply as possible, ZillionTV is hooking up with ISPs, content producers and advertisers in order to bring loads of popular material to the TV sans a subscription, though you will have to watch ads (which are optionally customizable to preferences) in order to play along. The company asserts that SD quality content can be achieved with a 3Mbps connection, while HD material will need upwards of 7Mbps. Currently, a beta program is ongoing, but a nationwide launch is expected by Q4. To be frank, this whole setup is rather complicated, so we'll point you past the break for a more detailed breakdown.

Continue reading ZillionTV brings ad-based streaming content to the television

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

ZillionTV brings ad-based streaming content to the television originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 04:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS K Series laptops hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/04/asus-k-series-laptops-hands-on/

Hope you're still hungry for even more new machines from the kids at ASUS, 'cause we've got let another lineup to share. The recently launched K Series is aimed at those looking for a portable PC that can handle the basics, particularly ones who won't much mind how the thing looks. Don't get us wrong, the K Series is a perfectly fine looking machine, but it is pretty far left on the drab-to-exciting scale. That said, the 15- and 17-inch variants we saw seemed ideal for multimedia duties and the occasional bout with Microsoft Office, with the keyboard being extra spacious and ripe for typing at length. Of note, the K Series is the first laptop family to get equipped with AMD's ultra-fresh ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4860 graphics set, so yeah, there's that. Click around below for looks from every angle.

Gallery: ASUS K Series laptops hands-on

Filed under: Laptops

ASUS K Series laptops hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 06:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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