Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook: 5/29/11 - 6/5/11

Friday, June 03, 2011

Microdrones' flying robot films African wildlife, finds peace with nature

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/03/microdrones-flying-robot-films-african-wildlife-finds-peace-wi/

Sit back, relax and grab a cold one, because you're about to take an aerial tour of the Serengeti, courtesy of that flying drone you're staring at. Developed by Microdrones, this MD4-100 quadrotor was recently sent off to Kenya, where it gathered footage for a TV nature documentary produced by TBS Japan. By hovering over the terrain, the craft was able to get relatively up close and personal with zebras, elephants and other wildlife, without creating the same kind of disturbance that heavy duty, camera-laden trucks can wreak. Presumably, that's because the animals have no idea what to make of a flying robot, though part of us wants to believe there's some sort of full-circle, techno-evolutionary dynamic at work here, momentously bringing bot and beast together in some sort of pre-apocalyptic symbiosis. But that's just us. Hover past the break to see the video for yourself.

Continue reading Microdrones' flying robot films African wildlife, finds peace with nature

Microdrones' flying robot films African wildlife, finds peace with nature originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 08:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

IEEE Spectrum | Email this | Comments

EnerJ power-saving system prioritizes CPU voltage, may reduce energy consumption by 90 percent

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/03/enerj-power-saving-system-prioritizes-cpu-voltage-may-reduce-en/

It takes a lot of energy for computing systems or data centers to patch up critical errors, but what if we devoted less power to fixing less urgent issues? That's the basic idea behind EnerJ -- a new power-saving system that could cut a chip's energy consumption by 90 percent, simply by prioritizing critical problems over those that are less threatening. Unlike, say, liquid cooling techniques, the University of Washington's framework focuses exclusively on the programming side of the equation and revolves around two interlocking pieces of code: one that handles crucial, precision-based tasks (e.g., password encryption), and another designed to deal with processes that can continue to function, even when facing small errors. The system's software would separate the two codes, meaning that energy from one section of the chip would never be used to fix a major problem that the other should address, while allowing engineers to more efficiently allocate voltage to each region. The system has already cut energy usage by up to 50 percent in lab simulations, but researchers think the 90 percent threshold is well within their reach, with computer engineering professor Luis Ceze (pictured above) predicting that the system may even be able to increase battery life by a factor of ten. The team is hoping to release EnerJ as an open-source tool this summer, but for now, you can find more information in the PR after the break.

Continue reading EnerJ power-saving system prioritizes CPU voltage, may reduce energy consumption by 90 percent

EnerJ power-saving system prioritizes CPU voltage, may reduce energy consumption by 90 percent originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gizmag | | Email this | Comments

Researchers hack Kinect for glasses-free 3D teleconferencing (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/02/researchers-hack-kinect-for-glasses-free-3d-teleconferencing-vi/

Since the dawn of Kinect hacking, we've seen cameras strung together (or rotated) to create 3D, video game-like environments, while others have tweaked it for headtracking. Others, still, have used it for teleconferencing (albeit, the flat, two-dimensional variety). Now, a team of researchers have gone and thrown it all together to achieve 3D video chats, and if we do say so, the result is greater than a sum of its parts. The group, based out of UNC-Chapel Hill, uses 3D mapping (and at least four Kinects) to render the video, and then employs headtracking on the receiving end so that people tuning in will actually see the live video in 3D, even without wearing 3D glasses. The result: a tableau that follows you as you move your head and spin around restlessly in your desk chair waiting for the meeting to end. That's mighty impressive, but we can't help but wonder: do you really want to see your colleagues in such lifelike detail? Have a gander at the video and decide for yourself.

Researchers hack Kinect for glasses-free 3D teleconferencing (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 19:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Micron RealSSD P320h can read 3GBps, write 2GBps, impress millions of geeks per second

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/03/micron-realssd-p320h-can-read-3gbps-write-2gbps-impress-millio/

Speed may be a relative thing, but whatever you choose to compare Micron's new RealSSD P320h series to, you'll probably find them pretty competitive. Coming in 350GB and 700GB capacities, these PCI Express solid state drives can process data at a rate of 3GB per second and write it at a no less impressive 2GBps. If you're more interested in input / output operations per second, the P320h clocks in at 750,000 IOPS when running Linux or 650,000 with Windows Server as the OS. You don't need us to tell you that both numbers represent screaming-fast performance. Such mighty feats are achieved with the use of 34nm SLC NAND flash memory and Micron's own controller chip. Samples of the P320h are trickling out now and mass production is coming in the third quarter of 2011, and while no pricing info has been offered yet, it's safe to say you'll be needing your company CFO's blessing before making any P320h purchases. Video and full PR after the break.

Continue reading Micron RealSSD P320h can read 3GBps, write 2GBps, impress millions of geeks per second

Micron RealSSD P320h can read 3GBps, write 2GBps, impress millions of geeks per second originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 03:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source

source

Micron | Email this | Comments

OCZ RevoDrive 3 X2 and RevoDrive Hybrid hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/03/ocz-revodrive-3-x2-and-revodrive-hybrid-hands-on-video/

We got a chance to spend some time with the lovely folks from OCZ here at Computex for a tour of their latest and greatest SSD products, the RevoDrive 3 X2 and RevoDrive Hybrid. Both are PCIe x4 cards featuring up to 4 SandForce SF-2200 controllers and RAID 0 (striping) for blazing performance. The RevoDrive 3 X2 is available in capacities from 240GB ($699) to 960GB and improves upon the RevoDrive X2 with TRIM support and double the performance. We were treated to a demo that achieved truly ludicrous speeds -- 1.5GBps reads and 1.2GBps writes -- the kind of numbers that'll perk up even the most jaded PC enthusiast. The RevoDrive Hybrid builds upon the same SSD technology as the RevoDrive 3 X2 to cache the contents of a 2.5-inch hard drive, with capacities starting at 500GB with a 60GB cache ($350). OCZ's demo showed a 20 times performance improvement going from a regular hard drive to the RevoDrive Hybrid. Both products are expected to ship in July, but we suggest you ogle them right now in the gallery below and in our hands-on video after the break.

Gallery: OCZ RevoDrive 3 X2 and RevoDrive Hybrid hands-on

Continue reading OCZ RevoDrive 3 X2 and RevoDrive Hybrid hands-on (video)

OCZ RevoDrive 3 X2 and RevoDrive Hybrid hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Micron RealSSD P320h can read 3GBps, write 2GBps, impress millions of geeks per second

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/03/micron-realssd-p320h-can-read-3gbps-write-2gbps-impress-millio/

Speed may be a relative thing, but whatever you choose to compare Micron's new RealSSD P320h series to, you'll probably find them pretty competitive. Coming in 350GB and 700GB capacities, these PCI Express solid state drives can process data at a rate of 3GB per second and write it at a no less impressive 2GBps. If you're more interested in input / output operations per second, the P320h clocks in at 750,000 IOPS when running Linux or 650,000 with Windows Server as the OS. You don't need us to tell you that both numbers represent screaming-fast performance. Such mighty feats are achieved with the use of 34nm SLC NAND flash memory and Micron's own controller chip. Samples of the P320h are trickling out now and mass production is coming in the third quarter of 2011, and while no pricing info has been offered yet, it's safe to say you'll be needing your company CFO's blessing before making any P320h purchases. Video and full PR after the break.

Continue reading Micron RealSSD P320h can read 3GBps, write 2GBps, impress millions of geeks per second

Micron RealSSD P320h can read 3GBps, write 2GBps, impress millions of geeks per second originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 03:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source

source

Micron | Email this | Comments

Ubuntu to hit Eee PCs, take on Microsoft

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/03/ubuntu-to-hit-eee-pcs-take-on-microsoft/

Think ASUS netbooks threw Linux out the window? Think again: the Eee PC 1001PXD, 1011PX and 1015PX are about to get Ubuntu configurations. Harking back to when the famous netbook line launched running Xandros, these Ubuntu loaded machines could help Linux reach a larger audience. Canonical representatives are pitting the new netbooks against Windows-powered machines, telling The Inquirer that Ubuntu is competing with Microsoft, not other Linux distributions. That's quite a goliath you picked there, Ubuntu. Are a trio of Atom notebooks enough to win the war on Windows? Considering Dell abandoned their love of Linux over a year ago, we're guessing no.

Ubuntu to hit Eee PCs, take on Microsoft originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 05:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source

source

The Inquirer | Email this | Comments

Thursday, June 02, 2011

Flare for iPhone [Video]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5808005/flare-for-iphone

HDR photos can make mundane still pictures look bold and exciting. HDR videos can transform the world around you into a psychedelic, acid-laced trip. Flare for iPhone record videos in HDR. Bring on the acid.

What is it?

Flare, $1, iPhone. It's a video recorder app that records in High Dynamic Range. Which means it allows for a greater range of luminance between the lightest and darkest areas of an image to bring a more detailed look at the world. I've always thought HDR photos, when done stunningly, exposed a living and breathing unreality that laid quietly underneath what we see. HDR videos take that to a whole 'nother level.

It's as simple to use as any other video recording app. Hit record and go, basically. There's also a slider to adjust how much HDR action you want to go on, pinch to zoom, tap to focus and simple sharing to Facebook, Twitter and other social networks. The videos itself look a little bit crazy but it's very impressive. At the very least, it's uber fun to play around with. HDR, in most situations, is admittedly hokey but to have the option to shoot in HDR on your phone is just so damn awesome that I don't even care. And hey, maybe you can bring out life in lower light situations without pesky 'ol flash.

Who's it good for?

People who like to shoot videos. People who like to dabble in HDR. People who likes to show off interesting looks at the world.

Why's it better than alternatives?

Well, there are no HDR video apps for the iPhone. Flare is the best because it was the only one bold enough—technology be damned—to introduce it to your phone. The interface is super easy to figure out too as it's just click and fire away with an HDR level to adjust how crazy you want your videos to look. It's basically as simple to use as any other video camera app but does something no else does. It even works with iPhone 3GS!

Flare for iPhone

How could it be even better?

It's not exactly amazing HDR, which obviously is due to the limitations of the iPhone 4's camera. For some reason, the app doesn't rotate when your iPhone is on rotation lock (the regular iPhone camera does). I wish the HDR video was autosaved to my camera roll instead of having to send it there manually. Pinch to zoom is nice in idea but in practice, it makes video recording a little shaky. Some basic editing tools would be nice (think text and cutting). And maybe the option to take HDR stills would be cool (though probably unnecessary since your iPhone has that built in).

Flare for iPhone | iTunes

We're always looking for cool apps—for iOS, Android, Windows Phone or whatever else—to feature as App of the Day. If you come across one you think we should take a look at, please let us know.

For more apps, check out our weekly app roundups for iPhone, iPad, and Android

Texas Instruments announces multi-core, 1.8GHz OMAP4470 ARM processor for Windows 8

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/02/texas-instruments-announces-multi-core-1-8ghz-omap4470-arm-proc/

When Qualcomm announced a pair of Windows 8-compatible ARM processors yesterday, we knew Texas Instruments wouldn't be far behind. Sure enough, the company has just announced a new addition to its OMAP 4 family of ARM SoCs, with the 1.8GHz OMAP4470. TI's new chip is powered by a pair of 1.0GHz ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore engines, as well as two, 266MHz ARM Cortex-M3 cores that handle multimedia duties. According to the company, this multi-core structure will enable faster web browsing and more frugal power usage, while putting the OMAP4470 in square competition with quad-core chips like NVIDIA's Kal-El and Intel's latest Sandy Bridge line. The SoC was designed for tablets, netbooks and smartphones running Android, Linux, or the next version of Windows, and can support a max QXGA resolution of 2048 x 1536, and up to three HD displays. There's also a single-core PowerVR SGX544 GPU capable of running Direct X 9, OpenGL ES 2.0, OpenVG 1.1, and OpenCL 1.1. The OMAP4470 is expected to hit the OEM and OED markets in the first half of 2012, but you can find more information in the specs sheet and press release, after the break.

Continue reading Texas Instruments announces multi-core, 1.8GHz OMAP4470 ARM processor for Windows 8

Texas Instruments announces multi-core, 1.8GHz OMAP4470 ARM processor for Windows 8 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 04:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Intel's Museum of Me finally gives your Facebook ego the attention it deserves

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/02/intels-museum-of-me-finally-gives-your-facebook-ego-the-attenti/

You've mastered the art of the high-cheekboned self-shot. Your acute taste in Iranian New Wave cinema is on full display. That leggy blonde who just so happens to appear in all 200 of your Spring break photos? Why yes, you two do have a thing going on, but honestly, it's no big deal. You didn't even tag her. Yes sir, your Facebook profile is in top form -- a veritable shrine to your unparalleled wit, your ferocious intellectual prowess and your unearthly solipsism. But is it enough? Is your life really getting the Stalinesque digital commemoration it so sorely deserves? These are the questions you have to ask yourself before walking into Intel's Museum of Me -- an interactive ad campaign for the Core i5 processor that takes online ego-stroking to an entirely new level of dystopia. All you have to do is allow Intel's app to harvest your Facebook information, and the program will begin curating an "art" exhibition devoted to your "life." The result is a brief video tour of your very own museum, replete with heartstring-tugging music and the requisite profile picture collages. It's just like walking through the MoMA, but instead of staring at a Lichtenstein or Pollock, you're reminded of, say, those three years you spent with the girl who broke your heart and smashed it to pieces -- or, you know, something like that. If you're into that sort of self-torture, hit the source link to build your own.

Intel's Museum of Me finally gives your Facebook ego the attention it deserves originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 07:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gizmodo | source

source

Intel | Email this | Comments

Does this Xperia Play have HDMI output?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/02/does-this-xperia-play-have-hdmi-output/

Does this Xperia Play have HDMI output?

Here's a little intrigue to go along with your morning cuppa. The Xperia Play is a lovely bit of hardware lacking in a few crucial areas -- one being an inability to play games over HDMI. That's a definite problem for those who aren't quite ready to devote themselves wholesale to gaming on the (very) small screen. We had hoped Sony might release a micro-USB to HDMI adapter at some point, and indeed when we first saw the image above of a Play pumping graphics to an HDTV that's what we thought we had. But, on closer examination, we realized that the cable is coming out of the left side of the handset. On the current retail Play there's nothing there but shiny chrome, which you can see for yourself after the break. We also took a look at the exposed motherboard, and and there are no obvious contacts. This could be a developer edition with additional ports, but none of the dev whitepapers we've pored over this morning mention any such things, so maybe a revised version of the hardware is coming that adds a hole where once there was none. We'll keep working to find out what's up, but weigh in for yourself in the comments below.

[Thanks, Sam]

Continue reading Does this Xperia Play have HDMI output?

Does this Xperia Play have HDMI output? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 07:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source

source

SE Xperia | Email this | Comments

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

GrooVe IP Makes Free Calls from Google Voice Over Wi-Fi or 3G/4G, Uses No Minutes [App Of The Day]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5807075/groove-ip-makes-free-voip-calls-from-google-voice-over-wi+fi-or-3g4g

Android: GrooVe IP is a a simple app that lets you use your Android phone's Wi-Fi or 3G/4G connection with Google Voice to make unlimited calls in the US or Canada (or cheap international calls) without using voice minutes.

The official Google Voice app for Android hooks into your Google Voice account but isn't really a VoIP service on the smartphone. We've previously mentioned a method to make free VoIP calls with Gizmo5, which is no longer available since Google bought the service, as well as a method that uses the Sipgate service, now only free for Sipgate to Sipgate calls and toll-free numbers. GrooVe IP is much easier to set up and likely worth the $3.99 price if you have only so many voice minutes.

GrooVe IP supports making and receiving Google Voice calls over Wi-Fi and/or 3G or 4G, so it doesn't eat up your voice minutes. The app may come in particularly handy if:

You want a second virtual phone line (a la Line2, but without the monthly fee)
You're in a location with Wi-Fi access and a poor cellular connection
You have Wi-Fi access but no mobile plan
You're traveling overseas and don't want to have to rent a phone. You can make and receive calls using your Google Voice number anywhere you have Wi-Fi connectivity instead.

The app integrates with your phone's contacts database and has a separate dialer that can be used to make calls, or you can use the default dialer and choose whether to use GrooVe IP or your cellular service to make calls on an individual call basis.

GrooVe IP worked great in making and receiving calls from Google Voice over a Wi-Fi connection during my tests, though there were a few hurdles setting up the service. Upon initial install, I kept getting errors about the app not being registered, which, according to the app's help section, suggested an error in the login details. Restarting my phone resolved the error, though occasionally the app would again briefly display that registration error before quickly connecting again.

Those glitches aside, if you're on a calling plan with a very limited number of voice minutes or want to be able to call the US/Canada for free from abroad, GrooVe IP is likely worth the $3.99 investment. Thanks bokscutter!

GrooVe IP | Android Market

You can follow or contact Melanie Pinola, the author of this post, on Twitter

Qualcomm Pits Snapdragon 2 Against Tegra 2 But Only Looks Foolish In the Process [Video]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5807313/qualcomm-pits-snapdragon-2-against-tegra-2

A fairer test would involve comparing a chocolate bar with a granola bar, but Qualcomm doesn't care. Not when their video "shows" a second-gen single-core Snapdragon (in Verizon's Thunderbolt) speeding against a dual-core Tegra 2 (in AT&T's Motorola Atrix.)

It's a cheap ploy on Qualcomm's behalf, as of course the LTE 4G network beat the faux 4G one. But Qualcomm believes it's all down to how fast the processors connect to the networks. Tell me what you guys think in the comments below, while I get back to comparing a chocolate bar with a granola bar. [Phandroid]

Acer Iconia M500 runs MeeGo on an Atom CPU, coming at the end of this year (hands-on video!)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/01/acer-unveils-meego-tablet-running-on-intel-atom-cpu/

Acer's David Lee just hijacked Intel's netbooks and tablets Computex keynote to unveil a brand new 10-inch tablet: the Iconia M500. It's the first in the company's new M Series and runs MeeGo atop an Atom (Moorestown) processor. Its appearance and dimensions are strikingly similar to the company's Android tablet, the A500, and that similarity extends to the resolution of the screen as well: 1280 x 800. The MeeGo interface is a custom Acer skin offering what was described as a "snackable UI." The point seems to be to offer instant access to the things you care about, and the brief demo we saw featured a set of live widgets organized around an "Acer circle." Mr. Lee, the company's Assistant VP for the Information Technology Business Group, tells us this 10-incher's coming at (not by, sadly) the end of this year.

Update: We've just added a gallery of hands-on shots below and you'll find video of the M500 after the break.

Gallery: Acer Iconia M500 hands-on

Continue reading Acer Iconia M500 runs MeeGo on an Atom CPU, coming at the end of this year (hands-on video!)

Acer Iconia M500 runs MeeGo on an Atom CPU, coming at the end of this year (hands-on video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 04:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

ICE Computer shows off Trinity modular tablet concept, aims for Q1 2012 release (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/01/ice-computer-shows-off-trinity-modular-tablet-concept-aims-for/

First the ASUS Padfone, then the CMIT TransPhone, and now a third phone-docking tablet but with a little extra spice. Our latest contender comes from a Taiwan-based startup dubbed ICE Computer, who has just announced its partnership with ECS over its Trinity concept, a mobile display that lets you dock either a PC module or a smartphone (not necessarily an iPhone, let alone an iPhone 5 as reported by some sites; the dummy's just for show and convenience). From our quick chat with ICE product manager Jaryson Wu, we learned that the company's been working on this project for quite some time, though ike ASUS and CMIT, ICE also lacked a working prototype to show us.

So the idea is simple: slide in a PC module or phone of your choice, and you have yourself a fully functioning touchscreen tablet that has an upgradable core -- that's one tick for environmental friendliness, and another tick for potentially more powerful upgrades. But that's not it, as ICE may also throw in USB 3.0 ports, additional internal storage, and even a fan inside the Trinity tablet, but that will depend on the clients' needs. Jaryson indicated that there are no plans to launch products under the startup's own brand, nor is it going to develop its own phone to go with the add-on any time soon -- we'll just have to wait and see what it'll deliver in the first quarter of 2012. Video interview after the break.

[Thanks, @Stagueve]

Gallery: ICE Computer shows off Trinity modular tablet concept, aims for Q1 2012 release (video)

Continue reading ICE Computer shows off Trinity modular tablet concept, aims for Q1 2012 release (video)

ICE Computer shows off Trinity modular tablet concept, aims for Q1 2012 release (video) originally ap! peared o n Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 05:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Microsoft turns to crowdsourcing service to swat away patent trolls

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/01/microsoft-turns-to-crowdsourcing-service-to-swat-away-patent-tro/

We've seen the havoc that patent trolls can wreak on tech companies and Microsoft clearly wants no part of it. That's why Ballmer & Co. have joined forces with Article One Partners -- a New York-based research firm that crowdsources scientific expertise to figure out whether or not patented ideas or inventions are as innovative as they claim, based on prior art. By subscribing to Article One's new Litigation Avoidance service, Redmond hopes "to reduce risk and reduce potential litigation cost" brought by nonpracticing entities (NPEs) -- companies that collect thousands of patents, in the hopes that one may lay a golden egg. No word on how much the service will actually cost, but we're guessing it'll be worth at least a few legal headaches. Full presser after the break.

Continue reading Microsoft turns to crowdsourcing service to swat away patent trolls

Microsoft turns to crowdsourcing service to swat away patent trolls originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 05:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

ComputerWorld | | Email this | Comments

Belkin's ScreenCast TV WiDi adapter hits the FCC

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/31/belkins-screencast-tv-widi-adapter-hits-the-fcc/

Looking for another way to add some WiDi to your TV? Then you can now also add Belkin's ScreenCast TV adapter to the list of options that are available or imminent. It recently turned up on Belkin's own website with a "coming soon" message, and it's now just hit the FCC, which could mean that "soon" is actually really soon. As for the device itself, it's about as straightforward as you'd expect, with just an HDMI port and some RCA inputs 'round back, plus support for full 1080p video and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound streamed from a WiDi-capable Windows 7 laptop. Look for this one to set you back $129 when it lands at retail.

Belkin's ScreenCast TV WiDi adapter hits the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 16:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source

source

FCC, Belkin | Email this | C omments

Toshiba announces Oak Trail-based WT310/C Windows tablet for Japan

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/31/toshiba-announces-oak-trail-based-wt310-c-windows-tablet-for-jap/

We'd heard some rumors that Toshiba might be ditching its Windows 7 tablet plans to focus on Honeycomb, but it looks like that's not the case -- at least, not in Japan (and not for enterprise customers). The company has just officially announced its new Oak Trail-based WT310/C tablet for the country, which packs an 11.6-inch 1,366 x 768 display and runs Windows 7 Professional. In addition to that Atom Z670 processor, you can expect to get 2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, an SD card slot for expansion, a 2 megapixel front-facing camera and a 3 megapixel 'round back, and an optional cradle that adds some extra ports. Still no word on a price, unfortunately, but this one should be available in Japan sometime next month.

Toshiba announces Oak Trail-based WT310/C Windows tablet for Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 18:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

CrunchGear | source

source

Toshiba | Email this | Comments

TDK starts mass production of transparent OLEDs, makes texting and walking safer

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/31/tdk-starts-mass-production-of-transparent-oleds-makes-texting-a/

TDK Transparent Display

TDK is taking those transparent OLED screens we saw back in October and putting them into mass production. The 2.4-inch, QVGA (240 x 320) UEL476 display has a transmittance of 40 percent, but obscures light passing through the front so others won't be able to read your text messages from behind. Obviously, these aren't going to find their way into high-end Android handsets, but they may have a home in fashion phones like Lenovo's S800. And, you know, they seem perfect for SMS addicts who can't stop their thumbs from flying even while walking. Check out the full PR after the break.

Continue reading TDK starts mass production of transparent OLEDs, makes texting and walking safer

TDK starts mass production of transparent OLEDs, makes texting and walking safer originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 20:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Zinio comes to Android tablets, gives you 24 magazine issues for free

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/31/zinio-comes-to-android-tablets-gives-you-24-magazine-issues-for/

The iPad has yet to transform the publishing world as many expected it would, but some healthy competition from Android tablets should help to keep that process in motion. Zinio's reader app is now available on select Android 2.2, 2.3, and all 3.0 tablets, bringing Esquire, National Geographic, and 20,000 other magazine titles to the Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, and a half dozen other devices. And, to kick off the launch, Zinio is picking up the tab on the most recent issues of 24 top magazines, as long as you download by June 15. Digital subscriptions are still often more expensive than their print counterparts, but at least Android tablet owners will have a safer place to hide their issues of Playboy.

Continue reading Zinio comes to Android tablets, gives you 24 magazine issues for free

Zinio comes to Android tablets, gives you 24 magazine issues for free originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 May 2011 22:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Zinio | Email this | Comments

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)