Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Android's Best Augmented Reality App Hits the iPhone [IPhone Apps]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/-El3KL99Dtc/androids-best-augmented-reality-app-hits-the-iphone

Layar, the first camera-based AR app to really blow us (or anyone) away, has quietly slipped into the App Store. As with the Android version, the app overlays all kinds of information onto a live view of the world around you.

Since OS 3.1 dropped, giving devs (almost) open access to the iPhone's camera we've seen a minor avalanche of augmented reality apps hit the store; some have been interesting, like Yelp's, but most feel a little bit like tech demos. Layar, for what it's worth, has grown up since we last saw it: now you can overlay all kinds of data, from geotagged Wikipedia entries to Flickr photos to local Tweets.

You don't need a 3GS to use it—UPDATE: Oh, maybe you do—but without the compass function you kind of lose the WTF LIFE HUD appeal, and the app feels more like a party trick than a useful tool. Layar is live (and free) in the App Store as we speak. [Layar via Gadget Lab]




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Posted by Augustine at 8:47 PM

Nikon D3S shows its high ISO prowess in two sample videos

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/nikon-d3s-shows-its-high-iso-prowess-in-two-sample-videos/


Well, we just got the first round of Nikon D3S previews this morning, but it looks like we now also have the first few sample videos shot with the camera -- possibly a bit ahead of Nikon's preferred schedule. While it's a bit hard to draw some firm conclusions due to their YouTube-ness (not even a "High Quality" version, unfortunately), the videos do go some way towards backing up claims that the camera truly delivers the goods when it comes to high ISO shooting -- something that's particularly evident in the stunning wildlife video shot by Vincent Munier (pictured above). Head on past the break to check it out for yourself, along with a second, also impressive short shot down under.

[Via CrunchGear]

Continue reading Nikon D3S shows its high ISO prowess in two sample videos

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Nikon D3S shows its high ISO prowess in two sample videos originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 8:44 PM

No-contract $30 / $45 Straight Talk wireless plans storm Walmart

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/no-contract-30-straight-talk-wireless-plans-storm-walmart/


Remember when TracFone horrified the world with its Straight Talk phone selection back in July? Clearly the suits in Bentonville weren't so scared, as now Walmart is latching on to that very plan and claiming it as its own. In over 3,200 of the outfit's retail stores across America, consumers will be able to snag an admittedly pathetic cellie and a rather decent calling plan for just $30 a month. Three Hamiltons gets you 1,000 voice minutes, 1,000 texts and 30MB of mobile web access, not to mention nationwide coverage and free 411 calls. If that's not quite enough, a $45 per month option provides unlimited everything (voice / SMS / mobile web). Of course, the price of using an antediluvian LG 220, LG Slider 290 or Samsung 451 can't be measured in mere dollars, but hey, humiliation's only temporary -- right?

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No-contract $30 / $45 Straight Talk wireless plans storm Walmart originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 8:44 PM

HP Pavilion dv8 gets official, complete with HP Long Life battery

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/hp-pavilion-dv8-gets-official-complete-with-hp-long-life-batter/


HP didn't exactly do the best job keeping this one under wraps, but it's now finally gotten official with its new Pavilion dv8 "entertainment laptop," which packs some fairly impressive (if not all that surprising) specs across the board. That, of course, starts with a big 18.4-inch, full 1,920 x 1,080 screen, and continues along the high-end track with a Core i7 processor, 4GB of RAM (expandable to 8GB), dual 320GB hard drives, NVIDIA GeForce GT230 graphics with 1GB of RAM, a built-in TV tuner, and a Blu-ray drive. Of particular note, the laptop also comes standard with HP's Long Life battery, which makes use of Boston Power's Sonata cells and promises a lifespan three to five times better than traditional lithium-ion batteries. Still no official pricing over here, but it looks like this one will be available in the UK starting October 22nd for £1,300 (or just over $2,000).

[Via Shiny Shiny]

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HP Pavilion dv8 gets official, complete with HP Long Life battery originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 8:44 PM

Toshiba announces touchscreen notebooks, netbooks for Windows 7 launch

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/14/toshiba-announces-touchscreen-notebooks-netbooks-for-windows-7/


Toshiba's just announced a couple new lappies -- and a whole host of refreshes -- in anticipation of the Windows 7 launch later this month. The big news here is definitely the touchscreen models: The Satellite U505 (due out November 1) is a 13.3-inch, 5 lb device with an MSRP of $1,049.99, while the Satellite M505 (street date October 22) has 14.4-inches of real estate and an MSRP of $949.99. Both come with the touch-ready LifeSpace software package that includes Bulletin Board (some sort of organizer with to-do lists, calendars and the like), and ReelTime, which apparently "helps you find files based on when they were opened using a visual history." Tosh is promising to ship Windows 7 devices with minimal software running in the background -- which is important if you want to retain performance increases that the new OS might provide over Vista.

Also included in this batch of lappies are new Satellite A500s (optional Blu-ray, Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Turion II Ultra CPU, discrete graphics options, a 16-inch HD Edge-to-Edge display on select models, starts at $589.99), Satellite L500 Series (displays ranging from 14 to 17.3-inch, Turion II and Athlon II CPU, hard drives up to 500GB, starting prices range from $504.99 to $579.99), Satellite P500 Series (18.4-inch HD TruBrite display, Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Turion II processors, Blu-ray in some models, starting at $799.99), Satellite L500 Series (up to 17.3-inch display, up to 500GB HDD, and various processor options, starting at $504.99), the Qosmio X505 with an 18.4-inch display and optional 64GB SSD / 320GB HDD dual-drive configuration priced at $1,899.99, and finally the mini NB205, a 10.1-inch netbook with a nine hour battery life, up to 250GB HDD, and five fabulous finishes including Sable Brown, Frost White, Indigo Blue, Posh Pink and Onyx Black (starting at $! 399.99). PR after the break.

[Via Hot Hardware]

Read - The new Satellite U500 Series
Read - The new Satellite M500 Series
Read - The new Satellite A500 Series
Read - The new Satellite P500 Series
Read - The new Satellite L500 Series
Read - The new Qosmio X500 Series
Read - The new mini NB200 Series

Continue reading Toshiba announces touchscreen notebooks, netbooks for Windows 7 launch

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Toshiba announces touchscreen notebooks, netbooks for Windows 7 launch originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 8:44 PM

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