Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook: 8/15/10

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Dealzmodo: T-Mobile's Samsung Vibrant For 1 Cent [Dealzmodo]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5617051/dealzmodo-t+mobiles-samsung-vibrant-for-1-cent

Dealzmodo: T-Mobile's Samsung Vibrant For 1 Cent I'm sorry. If you jumped on the $100 T-Mobile Samsung Vibrant deal yesterday, you might want to look into canceling. Amazon is offering the same phone today for a penny. [Amazon via TechDealDigger]

Nikon Coolpix S1100pj and S5100 hands-on

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/19/nikon-coolpix-s1100pj-and-s5100-hands-on/

Nikon's new projector-equipped camera has broken cover today and we've naturally had a little play around with it. Regrettably, the Japanese DSLR dominator had pretty early firmware on board and refused to let us take any sample pictures or video, but we were able to compile a few impressions anyhow. Firstly, as to the S1100pj's body, it's your typical compact affair -- feeling sturdy and light, it's basically fit for its intended purpose, but no more or less than that. We found accessing the compartment for the battery and memory card a pain, as it doesn't auto-lock when you close it, requiring an unnecessary bit of finger adroitness, and removing and replacing batteries can also be a fiddly affair. There's not much good to say about the built-in "tilt stand" at the bottom, either -- it only alters the angle of projection slightly and feels too plasticky -- but at least it gives you an extra option.

On the plus side of things, the battery is a generous 1,050 mAh unit, and there's a pleasingly instant access scheme for the camera's most regularly used functions. Video recording has a dedicated button, as does switching to projector mode. Both seem to work quite well too, with the 720p video looking smooth and buttery, but then on-camera playback can be deceiving. We got to check out those 14 lumens of projection power in a dimly lit room, and came away with a pair of impressions. Firstly, you should be able to squeeze out a decent-ish 40-inch image out of this shooter if you set the right mood with your lighting, and secondly, focusing is a relative cinch with the included controls on top. All in all, given that it's intended as a quickie display station at parties, we think the S1100pj does what it promises. We rarely praise compact camera software here, but we'd be remiss not to note the saturation adjustment tool on this touchscreen shooter. It was a particular highlight for us and something we could definitely see ourselves getting creative with.

We also spent some time with the S5100, which surprised us with its quick autofocus and generally snappy execution of instructions. Its 720p movie mode also looked competent, but bear in mind that it doesn't allow you to zoom while recording video. Ah well, such is the fate of budget shooters, we suppose. Hit up the galleries for the hands-on imagery.

Gallery: Nikon Coolpix S1100pj hands-on

Gallery: Nikon Coolpix S5100 hands-on

Nikon Coolpix S1100pj and S5100 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Exclusive: Droid Pro is the global version of the Droid 2, LG enV Touch 2 will be Android-powered

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/19/exclusive-droid-pro-is-the-global-version-of-the-droid-2-lg-en/

We've learned from a source close to the situation that the rumored global version of the Droid 2 with GSM and CDMA radios is actually the same phone as the also-rumored Droid Pro -- although Verizon apparently has a tendency to fiddle with branding right up until the last minute, so the retail name could still change. It's identical to the current Droid 2 in every way except for the fact that it houses a GSM / HSPA radio for global roaming, though we're not able to confirm previous rumors that it'll be available in a white version; presumably, you'll pay a bit more than the Droid 2's $200 on contract for the privilege of being able to take your buddy overseas. Barring any last-minute delays, we should see it launch within weeks.

If you're sick and tired of Motorolas, let's switch gears a bit and talk about the follow-up to LG's enV Touch. Interestingly, LG will be switching from a proprietary featurephone platform to Android for this one -- called the enV Touch 2 -- and will give it dual touchscreens: one on the outside, and another on the inside for when you flip open the clamshell. As you might expect for an enV-branded device, there's also a full QWERTY keyboard. It's currently running Android 2.1, though it's not clear whether that'll be upgraded to 2.2 by the time we see a release toward the holidays. It's said to be pretty big and heavy, which could be a disadvantage for some -- but on the flipside, it's apparently a global device, so that's a plus. enVs historically haven't been the most exciting things in Verizon's stable, but we'll admit, we're curious to see this one get fleshed out.

Exclusive: Droid Pro is the global version of the Droid 2, LG enV Touch 2 will be Android-powered originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

When NOT to use Groupon (as an advertiser) - http://bit.ly/98xbKV

31-Inch OLED TV Will Be Shown Off by LG [Oled]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5616825/31-oled-tv-will-be-shown-off-by-lg

31-Inch OLED TV Will Be Shown Off by LG Not content with having the largest production OLED model on the market today (pictured), LG is doubling its size in time for the IFA electronics show next month, where it'll show off a 31-inch panel.

A couple of years ago, Samsung showed off a 31-inch OLED at CES, which was just 4.3mm thick and could output 1080p. However, it never made it to the sale yards—so their South Korean rival is certainly in with a chance. [Electronista]

I Want To Teach in a School of the Future With Sharp's 60-inch LCD Blackboard [Blackboards]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5616868/sharps-60-lcd-blackboard-makes-me-want-to-teach-in-a-school-of-the-future

I Want To Teach in a School of the Future With Sharp's 60-inch LCD Blackboard Sharp's 60" PN-L601B Blackboard, announced today in Japan, ditches the SMART Board's projector in lieu of a 1,920×1,080, LED-backlit LCD display. It's almost awesome enough to make me want to draw sentence diagrams for Catcher In the Rye.

Teaching once seemed like a potentially-noble, probably-miserable future profession, before the allure of high tech blog world drew me in. But Sharp's new LCD Blackboard, a step beyond the SMART Boards of yesteryear, soups up the classroom enough to make me feel a faint yearning to instruct.

The PN-L601B, which will go on sale in Japan at the end of the month for $11,700, lets educators or businesspeople or whoever else write on top of scanned images with highly accurate handwriting recognition. All of the work done on the display, which can be erased at any time, is recorded on a PC via USB, so your classroom's painstaking diagramming and doodling will be preserved for posterity. [Crunchgear]

LG talks up Optimus smartphone line: 10 devices by year end, NVIDIA's Tegra for high-end model, tablet will be 'productive'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/19/lg-talks-up-optimus-smartphone-line-10-devices-by-year-end-nvi/

LG's Ally might be scratching at the boring end of the Android landscape right now, but LG certainly isn't stopping with one smartphone on the market in 2010. LG stated on Wednesday that it's pouring some mega cash on R&D and marketing to play catch up, and it plans to release a whopping 10 smartphones by the end of the year, projecting sales of 5 million units in that time. The low-end Optimus One kicks things off in September with a whopping 120 carriers globally, but LG also said it has a dual-core Tegra based handset in the works for the performance minded. It's unclear if this is a replacement chip for the supposedly Snapdragon LU2300 Optimus Q (pictured) or the innards for another handset entirely, but 10 phones is a big quota to fill (at least for anyone who isn't LG or Samsung), so hopefully it's the latter. Finally, LG reiterated that it's working on a tablet for Q4. "It's going to be surprisingly productive," said LG's Chang Ma, attempting to set it apart from the iPad in that regard. So, LG's for-serious about Android, but is it too late? According to Mr. Ma, who may or may not have slowly donning a pair of really hip sunglasses at the moment, "The race hasn't started yet."

LG talks up Optimus smartphone line: 10 devices by year end, NVIDIA's Tegra for high-end model, tablet will be 'productive' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 08:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source

WSJ (Tegra), WSJ (interview) | Email this | Comments

BlackPad to have its own OS, built by QNX?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/19/blackpad-to-have-its-own-os-built-by-qnx/

We did wonder why RIM was acquiring infotainment specialist QNX Software Systems back in April, and today, according to Bloomberg, much of that mystery has been dispelled. Three separate sources are cited in a report claiming that RIM intends to run software built by QNX on its virginal tablet effort, the BlackPad. It's curious that the company is opting against upscaling its BlackBerry 6 operating system into the tablet space, though one of the sources suggested that's due to legacy code hanging around in the still new OS, making it easier to just start afresh when building the slate's software package. It shall be very interesting indeed to see how well this $200 million investment works out for RIM; it'll certainly be the biggest departure from the BlackBerry maker's conservative norm.

BlackPad to have its own OS, built by QNX? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 08:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source

Bloomberg | Email this | Comments

Acer and Motorola getting spicy Gingerbread for Android 3.0 tablets?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/19/acer-and-motorola-getting-spicy-gingerbread-for-android-3-0-tabl/

Acer and Motorola getting hip with Gingerbread for Android 3.0 tablets?

Remember those Acer Android tablets the company has been teasing since May? Rumor has it they're getting put on ice -- for a little while, at least. They were initially planned to launch this year with a heaping helping of Froyo, but now the company apparently wants something sweeter: Android 3.0. The Gingerbread build is supposed to, among other things, support higher-resolution screens that one might want in a tablet, something that has apparently also caught the eye of Motorola, also said yet again to be working on a tablet. This would be developed in close partnership with Google and fits right in with the earlier rumors and roadmaps we've heard and seen. Gingerbread is said to come out of the oven sometime before the end of this year, which would likely mean a 2011 launch for these slabs. Is that too late for impatient tableteers?

Acer and Motorola getting spicy Gingerbread for Android 3.0 tablets? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 10:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source

Digitimes (1), (2) | Email this | Comments

iPhone 4 cuddles up against telescope, snaps impressive moon closeups

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/19/iphone-4-cuddles-up-against-telescope-snaps-impressive-moon-clo/

What's a boy to do when he desperately needs a portfolio full of galactic imagery of his own doing? In most cases, we'd suggest he grab up a telescope (or one of these), the biggest DSLR he can find and a planetary expert who knows a thing or two about exposure. But thanks to a mod that's becoming more and more common these days, it seems that you can replace the latter recommendations with an iPhone 4. Yep -- Apple's latest smartphone, when paired up with a miniature tripod mount and a telescope, can apparently take lovely shots of our dear moon, and if you're struggling to actually spot it, we hear that Planisphere app is pretty handy. Hit the source links if you're scouting some inspiration.

iPhone 4 cuddles up against telescope, snaps impressive moon closeups originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source

Tomytec, Jurilog | source

DChome ! (1), (2) | Email this | Comments

Motorola Charm hitting T-Mobile on August 25 for $75 (update: Telus version caught on video!)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/18/motorola-charm-hitting-t-mobile-on-august-25-at-an-affordable/

T-Mobile USA just dropped the knowledge on Twitter that it'll be carrying the Motorola Charm starting next Wednesday, August 25 -- but what it failed to mention is pricing. For what it's worth, the company does specifically say that it'll be "affordable" -- and although a marketing department's definition of "affordable" can be very different from ours, we're encouraged by a handful of previous rumors that there would be ways to get it for free on contract. If you need us to jog your memory, the Charm is a cute little portrait QWERTY Android device with a Kodak-branded 3 megapixel cam and landscape display, giving it a rare form factor that could very well appeal to a whole new audience (read: BlackBerry folks). So, how much would you pay for it?

Update: Turns out Moto's posted on its official Facebook page that it'll run $74.99 on contract -- not free, unfortunately, and in the age of free Pixi Pluses, that might be a tough pill to swallow. We've also been handed a video of Telus demonstrating its version of the Charm, which should look and work exactly the same -- check it out after the break. Thanks, Matt and DeadMan!

Continue reading Motorola Charm hitting T-Mobile on August 25 for $75 (update: Telus version caught on video!)

Motorola Charm hitting T-Mobile on August 25 for $75 (update: Telus version caught on video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink

@TMobile_USA (Twitter) | source

T-Mobile, Facebook! | Email this | Comments

Verizon FiOS set-top boxes getting a new HD guide, external storage and more in Q4

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/18/verizon-fios-set-top-boxes-getting-a-new-hd-guide-external-stor/

Streaming and downloading TV content to mobiles is nice, but we enjoy watching TV... on the TV, and Verizon had plenty of that to talk about today as well. Due in Q4 along with its FlexView app for mobile VOD access, version 1.9 of its FiOS TV guide software will finally add a 16x9 HDTV-filling guide to those Motorola boxes and it looks like many of our suggestions (and yours, according to Director of Product Management Joe Ambeault) made it in. Beyond a fresh coat of paint (although, with animated transitions, highly customizable viewing and browsing options and 3D-ish elements it's shaping up to be a very nice fresh coat of paint), the real meat is in the enhanced DVR features.

New updates include support for external storage (up to 1TB eSATA per DVR), automatic DVD-style chaptering on recordings, and an undelete button to bring back mistakenly removed recordings. Also freshened is its MoCA-powered multiroom setup that now shows all recordings from any box or external storage all in one list. About the only thing we can find missing from the new software is any sort of support for conflict resolution across DVRs or using all tuners as a pool, but it's otherwise robust, with each box handling up to 4 streams (2 in, 2 out) at once, and 7 connected devices (6 boxes plus one router) per home. Check out a couple more screens after the break, though skipping directly to house shopping in FiOS-connected neighborhoods may make for more efficient use of your time.

Continue reading Verizon FiOS set-top boxes getting a new HD guide, external storage and more in Q4

Verizon FiOS set-top boxes getting a new HD guide, external storage and more in Q4 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Canon PowerShot S95, the SD4500 IS, and SX130 IS play the low-light, HD video cards

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/19/canon-powershot-s95-the-sd4500-is-and-sx130-is-play-the-low-li/

As camera makers shift from touting megapixels to low-light and HD video recording performance, in steps a trio of point-and-shoot cameras from Canon -- the PowerShot S95 pictured above and the SD4500 IS and SX130 IS both pictured after the break. The S95 update ($399.99 in late August) to last year's S90 combines Canon's DIGIC 4 image processing, a 10-megapixel high-sensitivity CCD sensor, and wide f/2.0 lens to enhance image quality and reduce noise at high ISO levels without resorting to a flash. It features a new high dynamic range (HDR) mode, 720p video recording, and mini HDMI for throwing that video up to the living room flat screen. the S95 is also the first PowerShot to feature Hybrid IS image stabilization to help with macro shots. The SX130 IS ($249.99 in August), meanwhile, offers a 12.1 megapixel CMOS and 12x optical zoom lens that relies on optical image stabilization to keep things stable. A 3-inch LCD, 720p video mode, and Miniature, Fisheye, Poster, and Super Vivid creative modes. Rounding things out is the Power SD4500 IS with 10x optical zoom, optical image stabilization, and a 1080p video mode with Dynamic IS that helps further stabilize the video while the shooter is in motion -- a first for a digital ELPH. Canon's slapped in a 240fps super slow motion mode (at an unspecified resolution) from Casio's bag of tricks. Expect it to hit retail in September for $349.99.

Gallery: Canon PowerShot S95, SD4500 IS, and SX130 IS press shots

Continue reading Canon PowerShot S95, the SD4500 IS, and SX130 IS play the low-light, HD video cards

Canon PowerShot S95, the SD4500 IS, and SX130 IS play the low-light, HD video cards originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 01:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Samsung S2 Portable hard disk does the 7,200RPM bump with USB 3.0

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/19/samsung-s2-portable-hard-disk-does-the-7-200rpm-bump-with-usb-3/

If you picked up Samsung's 640GB S2 portable USB hard drive earlier this year then you might want to look away. Sammy just update the drive with a USB 3.0 interface and 7,200RPM spindle speed that should easily best its predecessor when it comes to pushing the bits around. Then again, maybe you bought the Michael Jackson edition in which case, a USB 2.0 interface and 5,400RPM speed are the least of your problems.

Continue reading Samsung S2 Portable hard disk does the 7,200RPM bump with USB 3.0

Samsung S2 Portable hard disk does the 7,200RPM bump with USB 3.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Shuttle's excessively thin XS35 nettop now shipping, 1080p Ion 2 graphics and all

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/19/shuttles-excessively-thin-xs35-nettop-now-shipping-1080p-ion-222/

It's been a long wait (nearly half a year, in fact), but Shuttle has finally transitioned the XS35 from a luscious HTPC promise into a retail reality. The 1.5-inch thick nettop is today rolling out to online retailers in the US and Canada, offering three preconfigured options to suit a variety of budgets. All come with built-in 802.11n WiFi, a dual-core 1.66GHz Atom D510 CPU, 5 USB ports, and a 4-in-1 media card reader, while the pricier two also include DVD-RW drives for good measure. The top XS35 spec gives you 500GB of storage, 2GB of RAM, a HDMI output, and the crowning glory of NVIDIA's scrumptious Ion 2 powering 1080p video playback. Newegg doesn't seem to yet have that SKU available, but it's priced the other two at $240 and $290, suggesting a price somewhere north of $300 for the complete package. Full press release after the break.

Update: And sure enough, the Ion 2-equipped SX35 has also made its Newegg debut, yours for $380. Thanks, RatioTitle!

Continue reading Shuttle's excessively thin XS35 nettop now shipping, 1080p Ion 2 graphics and all

Shuttle's excessively thin XS35 nettop now shipping, 1080p Ion 2 graphics and all originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 04:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Nokia's QWERTY-slidin' N9 shows up in the wilds of China?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/19/nokias-qwerty-slidin-n9-shows-up-in-the-wilds-of-china/

Remember this scandalous little leak from back in June? It looks to have been validated today, as imagery of Nokia's MeeGo (or is it Symbian^4?)-powered N9 QWERTY slider has emerged over in China. As usual with these things, we can't be certain that this device is in fact part of Nokia's roadmap and not just another creative hardware emulation, but it sure seems to have our old buddy Eldar Murtazin convinced. Seeing it with clear N9 branding, we can now say that the previously unknown Nokia slider was more likely the N8-01, a keyboard-equipped version of the (still) upcoming N8. The source of this N9 leak reports that it's not in its final retail shape, as it doesn't match up to "the latest drawings," but is apparently planned for a release in the 48th week (i.e. beginning of December) of this year. The prototype, built in Finland, is said to have an entirely metallic construction (more aluminum would be our guess), with only the keyboard buttons, USB cover, and a few decorative parts being plastic. See more of it, including a thorough teardown, in the gallery below.

Gallery: Nokia's QWERTY-slidin' N9 shows up in the wilds of China?

Continue reading Nokia's QWERTY-slidin' N9 shows up in the wilds of China?

Nokia's QWERTY-slidin' N9 shows up in the wilds of China? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 06:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink

Eldar Murtazin | source

Baidu | Email this | Comments

Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Dealzmodo: T-Mobile's Samsung Vibrant For 1 Cent [Dealzmodo]

Nikon Coolpix S1100pj and S5100 hands-on

Exclusive: Droid Pro is the global version of the Droid 2, LG enV Touch 2 will be Android-powered

31-Inch OLED TV Will Be Shown Off by LG [Oled]

I Want To Teach in a School of the Future With Sharp's 60-inch LCD Blackboard [Blackboards]

LG talks up Optimus smartphone line: 10 devices by year end, NVIDIA's Tegra for high-end model, tablet will be 'productive'

BlackPad to have its own OS, built by QNX?

Acer and Motorola getting spicy Gingerbread for Android 3.0 tablets?

iPhone 4 cuddles up against telescope, snaps impressive moon closeups

Motorola Charm hitting T-Mobile on August 25 for $75 (update: Telus version caught on video!)

Verizon FiOS set-top boxes getting a new HD guide, external storage and more in Q4

Canon PowerShot S95, the SD4500 IS, and SX130 IS play the low-light, HD video cards

Samsung S2 Portable hard disk does the 7,200RPM bump with USB 3.0

Shuttle's excessively thin XS35 nettop now shipping, 1080p Ion 2 graphics and all

Nokia's QWERTY-slidin' N9 shows up in the wilds of China?

Recent Articles

Favorite Blogs

Blog Archive

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Subscribe To

Recent Articles

Favorite Blogs

Blog Archive