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Saturday, December 05, 2009

Create Abstract Light Art by Snapping a Camera-Toss Photo [Photography]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/QozZIOhtNr4/

Making abstract wallpaper and gorgeous slow-exposure shots doesn't require a bunch of design apps or photography lessons. Learn how to literally toss your camera to make abstract light art.

Wired's How-To wiki recently added a guide to taking a camera-toss photo. As you can guess, the technique involves throwing your camera in the air. When you combine a long exposure with interesting lighting—like holiday lights, candle light, or dimmer night-time lighting—and the rotation of the camera in the air, you get some pretty nifty camera effects.

We've gathered up some interesting camera-toss shots here for you. You can find more by searching Flickr for camera-toss shots.

Not about to toss your D200 in the air for some fancy picture? We don't blame you. You can still use the technique without heaving your camera in the air—but you won't get quite lines and arcs quite as smooth. That's a small trade-off for not dropping your DSLR in a snow drift.

Read more about camera-toss techniques in the Wired wiki at the link below. If you've snapped a few of your own don't hesitate to share them in the comments below or upload them to the Lifehacker Tips Tester Pool.

Not too fond of the gallery layout? See all the images on one page here.

Snap a Camera-Toss Picture [Wired]

Photo by wcupmartin6.

Photo by quinet.

Photo by wcupmartin6.

Photo by NUCO.

Photo by quintet.

Photo by Brittany G.

Photo by Robert Couse-Baker.

Photo by swruler9284.

Photo by superfem.

Photo by wcupmartin6.

Photo by Stuart H Marshall.

Photo by Robert Couse-Baker.

Intel's Larrabee graphics processor delayed, downsized to mere software development platform

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/05/intels-larrabee-graphics-processor-delayed-downsized-to-mere-s/

Well. NVIDIA has to be loving this. Intel has announced today that not only is its Larrabee graphics chip delayed, that chip which promised to usher in a new era of post-GPU computing, but that it's been downgraded to a "software development platform." Intel isn't even saying what that "software development" will be aimed at, though we have to assume it would be some future version of the hybrid GPU / CPU chip. As to when the kit itself might arrive is anybody's guess, Intel is merely saying "next year." Meanwhile we can look forward to Intel's first example of a GPU / CPU hybrid in the upcoming Pineview Atom processor, which kicks those lackluster integrated graphics to the curb and moves everything onto the CPU. Who knows if that will be enough to quell the NVIDIA's quiet takeover of the higher-end netbook space with its ION graphics, but with Intel's current track record in the graphics space, we doubt it.

Intel's Larrabee graphics processor delayed, downsized to mere software development platform originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 Dec 2009 03:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Direct Insight debuts SODIMM-sized, ARM-based computer-on-a-module

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/05/direct-insight-debuts-sodimm-sized-arm-based-computer-on-a-modu/

Well, it may not exactly be the computer everyone's been pining for, but those that have dreamed of an ARM Cortex-A8-based computer on a SODIMM module now finally one to call their own. That comes in the form of Direct Insight's new TRITON-TX51, which outdoes the Nokia N900 with an 800MHz Cortex-A8 processor, along with Freescale's i.MX515 system-on-a-chip, 128MB DDR400 RAM, 128MB of NAND flash, and a touchscreen controller that can drive screens at resolutions up to 1,280 x 768. You'll also get some other things nice to have on a computer like a 10/100 ethernet controller and a USB 2.0 interface, and even a reasonably capable PowerVR graphics engine that can do OpenGL ES 2.0 and hardware 720p decoding for MPEG-4/H264 video. Look for this one to land sometime next month for €150 (or just over $220).

Direct Insight debuts SODIMM-sized, ARM-based computer-on-a-module originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael Arrington says CrunchPad litigation is "imminent," provides more details -- but where's the contract?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/05/michael-arrington-says-crunchpad-litigation-is-imminent-provi/

The strange saga of the CrunchPad is getting even stranger: although Fusion Garage has a press conference scheduled for Monday, the company's apparently been hinting to some members of the press that the split with Michael Arrington was no surprise, and that TechCrunch didn't actually contribute anything of value to the CrunchPad. As you'd expect, that's got Arrington on the warpath. In a post titled "CrunchPad Litigation Imminent," he offers up an email from Fusion Garage CEO Chandra Rathakrishnan and two letters dispatched from his lawyers to both Fusion Garage and would-be CrunchPad ODM Pegatron that paint a much different picture: Chandra calls the split "out of the blue," Pegatron won't produce anything without TechCrunch's "explicit approval," and there was apparently even talk of merger between Fusion Garage and Arrington's CrunchPad, Inc. That certainly puts the timeline into dispute, but Mike's various CrunchPad intellectual property claims are far less solid, and unexpectedly weak -- even if you completely accept Arrington's side of the story, his CrunchPad dealings simply don't reflect his reputation as a bulldog Silicon Valley attorney. Let's break 'em down:

Arrington claims he's the "outright owner of the CrunchPad trademark," but that's simply not true: the CrunchPad trademark was only applied for on November 17, the same day Arrington says Fusion Garage notified him of the split. Oops -- and even stranger because Arrington's said the CrunchPad was due to be launched on November 20. Why wasn't this sewn up months ago?
Assuming there isn't some secret CrunchPad patent application we don't know about, the only major rights we can see TechCrunch asserting to the CrunchPad device have to do with the copyright to the code , and that's a total mess. Since Arrington apparently didn't draw up a contract giving him sole copyright to the CrunchPad's code, he and his lawyers are arguing that TechCrunch and Fusion Garage are "joint owners" to any rights, and that's just about the weakest position Arrington can be in. Joint copyright owners are legally considered to have equal rights to the entire product, and unless there's a written agreement (see how that keeps coming up?) saying they both have to sign off, each joint owner is allowed to non-exclusively sell the entire thing without the other's approval. In our experience it's pretty rare for joint copyright ownership to be an ideal business arrangement, and we can't imagine how Arrington got to within three days of launching the CrunchPad without hammering out the details of who owned what.
In fact, the most notable thing about the letter from Arrington's lawyers to Fusion Garage is that it doesn't contain any contractual language whatsoever -- it only references emails and conversations between the two companies. That's particularly odd because the letter to Pegatron says TechCrunch will be suing for breach of contract, so you'd think Arrington's attorneys would be laser-focused on his contractual rights if he could assert them. Then again, you'd think Arrington would have known better than to start this project without doing the appropriate paperwork first, so really anything's possible.

Now, we could be totally wrong about all of this: we haven't heard anything directly from Fusion Garage, and there very well could be contracts we haven't seen. But for right now, we're absolutely mystified as to how Michael Arrington -- who, again, is an attorney -- found himself in this position, and we're still mildly convinced this is all some kind of stunt. We're sure there's more drama to come, stay tuned.

Gallery: Letter to Jason Cheng (Pegatron Corp)

Gallery: Letter to Chandrasekar Rathakrishnan (Fusion Garage)

Michael Arrington says CrunchPad litigation is "imminent," provides more details -- but where's the contract? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How do you calculate ROI when the cost of advertising was zero? http://bit.ly/Lan2y

StylePix Image Editor Packs a Big Punch In a Little Package [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/Ip5ZdXjZqFE/stylepix-image-editor-packs-a-big-punch-in-a-little-package

Windows: Labor-intensive image editing jobs need heavy-hitting applications to get the job done. If you're just looking for a lightweight tool to slap on a netbook or thumb drive for quick photo editing, StylePix might be just what you need.

StylePix image editor has plenty of bells and whistles to help you easily manage and edit your photos, no matter what your level of experience. It supports all major image formats, including .png, .tif, .gif, .bmp, and more. Zoom in and out, adjust colors and hues, batch process, and, transform your pictures in loads of different ways.

Use the included drawing tools to erase, spray, brush, and add shapes to your pictures, or use one of the image filters to morph, sharpen, or blur it. StylePix can lighten or darken your image, and even remove red-eye and dust.

StylePix a terrific little app that offers a lot of editing options but doesn't take a degree in computer science to work with. Weighing in at only 20 MB, its small footprint makes it an ideal portable tool to take with you on the go.

StylePix is a free app that works on Windows XP or higher. If you're looking for a similar tool, don't forget to check out one of our favorite Photoshop alternatives, Paint.NET.

StylePix

Google Does Its Own Dictionary Definitions [Search]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/8i8A4H6AoOw/google-does-its-own-dictionary-definitions

Google used to offer up an automatic definition from sources like Dictionary.com or Answers.com. Now there's a little blue "definition" link on the right side of any word or phrase search, offering Google's own homebrew definition answers.

You'll still see answers from Answers.com and other sources high up in the search results, of course, but Google's own definition link lays out a word's definition in traditional dictionary style, with usages, phonetic breakdowns, and multiple snippets from other web definitions. There's also a link for "Starred words," but I couldn't find a way to actually star the word you're currently looking at.

Is Google your good-enough dictionary these days, or do you find yourself liking the service of sites like Dictionary.com?

Google Replaces Answers.com with Google Dictionary [Google Operating System]

NatGeo Downloader Grabs National Geographic Wallpapers Without Command-Line Hassle [Downloads]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/rzIgxEgHltc/natgeo-downloader-grabs-national-geographic-wallpapers-without-command+line-hassle

Windows: Earlier this week we highlighted how to download National Geographic's stunning desktop wallpapers in one fell swoop. That method required some command-line work and didn't grab 2007 images; NatGeo Wallpaper Downloader snags every 2007, 2008, and 2009 wallpaper with point-and-click ease.

Just download the app, point it toward the folder you want to download those wallpapers to, and let 'er rip. NatGeo Wallpaper Downloader is entirely portable, so you don't need to install anything to use it and you can easily pop it on your thumb drive to give the gift of awesome wallpapers everywhere you go this holiday season.

NatGeo Wallpaper Downloader is a free Windows download. If you're on Linux or OS X, the previously mentioned method should get you there (minus the 2007 images) with a little more legwork.

NatGeo Wallpaper Downloader (Download page) [via Life Rocks 2.0]

Keep Flash Videos in Full Screen on Dual Monitors [Annoyances]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/I9_0UfCz0QQ/keep-flash-videos-in-full-screen-on-dual-monitors

Flash videos, like those on Hulu or YouTube, don't stay full screen if you click outside the video—say, if you're doing work on a second monitor. Kind of annoying, right? A quick system file swap, however, fixes this problem easily.

Photo by Steve Lacey.

Many dual monitor enthusiasts love to watch movies or television shows on their second monitor, but if those are web-based videos, Flash has to rain on our parade. Sure you can make the Hulu video go full screen on your second monitor, but as soon as you try to work on your other monitor, Flash will lose its full-screen view. Thankfully, blogger/browser patcher d.i.z. has made a one byte change to the Flash plug-in that will keep videos running full screen, even if you click outside them—and he's made it available for download (sadly, this tweak only works on Windows machines).

All you need to do is grab d.i.z.'s modified npswf32.dll file and replace the one located in C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\ or C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash\ folder on Windows 7 64-bit (though we recommend you backup the original file just in case). After a restart of your browser, all your Flash videos should exhibit the new behavior (i.e., you should be able to multi-task without losing full-screen playback). You can still exit full screen mode by hitting the escape key or using the Flash player's full screen button, of course.

Watch fullscreen flash while working on another screen [via MakeUseOf]

Your Next Google Search Is Going to Freak You Out [Google]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/rahgCvW6AXM/your-next-google-search-is-going-to-freak-you-out

The next time you Google something, if the search results seem a little too good, a little too personal, it's because they are.

While Google's always delivered customized search results to people logged into their Google account—that is, search results tailored to you, based on your web history (yes, even outside of Google, like Gizmodo), past searches and previous results you've clicked on—it's now going to be doing that for everybody. Even if you're not logged in, you're going to get personalized results and yes, more targeted ads, based on past searches, tracked by an anonymous cookie that stays on your computer for 180 days. (BTW, it's not like Google's just started keeping track of your searches, it's just now Google's using that info more directly, that's all.)

You can turn it off here, though I'm guessing that won't turn off the dirty feeling you've got right now.

[Google via Bits]

Friday, December 04, 2009

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/jmVqqQDG8t0/im-so-passe-that-i-dont-know-95-of-these-social-networking-sites

I met my first serious girlfriend after my first divorce—yes, there are more of both—through a proto-Facebook created at Google. It was 2004, and it's name was Orkut. But social networks go back to 1995.

Click to zoom in

It all started with Classmates.com, which apparently has 50,000,000 users now. On the top of the pyramid is Facebook and its 300 million users, followed by MySpace's 263 million. In the middle you have a huge constellation of sites, most of which I just can't recognize. Trombi? Vampirefreaks? Bigadda? Cafemom? Geni? Itsmy? Qzone? Xanga?

Please, stop saying words. [Focus—Thanks David Keyes]

Intel's High-End Larrabee Graphics Card Won't Be Released Anytime Soon [Intel]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/UgeMxEk0P4Y/intels-high+end-larrabee-graphics-card-wont-be-released-anytime-soon

Intel just told us that its first Larrabee graphics card isn't ever coming out "as standalone discrete product," because they're behind where they'd hoped to be in development, meaning you won't be shoving one inside of your PC anytime soon.

And you have to figure that's pretty far behind, since the Larrabee launch timeframe was 2009/2010. The only way you'll be able to touch Larrabee now is as a development platform for graphics engines or high-performance computing, in order to develop for future Intel products.

Intel says they're going to announce new plans for discrete cards some time in 2010—mayyybe CES, where we talked to former Intel Chairman Craig Barrett about Larrabee last year? But, more likely at the Intel Developer Forum later in the year. [Intel]

Android 2.1-equipped Motorola Sholes tablet spied in China as XT701?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/03/android-2-1-equiped-motorola-sholes-tablet-spied-in-china-as-xt7/

No sooner do we get brief corner glimpses of the supposed Motorola Sholes tablet do we get tipped off to this writeup from Androidin.net which has a number of pictures of an eerily similar keyboard-less handset with a 3.7-inch screen, Android 2.1, FM radio, and interestingly enough, only a 5 megapixel camera -- last we heard it was going to be 8. Also debatable is a HDMI port, since the image that would show it is a tad too blurry. Otherwise, it seems to be about in line with what we expected, and it also seems destined for China Unicom as the XT701 (analogous to China Mobile's Motorola Android device). Now how about a few dashes of hope we'll see this stateside, eh Moto? Two more shots after the break.

[Thanks, yee]

Continue reading Android 2.1-equipped Motorola Sholes tablet spied in China as XT701?

Android 2.1-equipped Motorola Sholes tablet spied in China as XT701? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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