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Saturday, November 05, 2011

drag2share: Sony's new 0.7-inch OLED microdisplay packs 720p resolution, has EVFs in its sights

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/05/sonys-new-0-7-inch-oled-microdisplay-packs-720p-resolution-has/

Say howdy to Sony's ECX332A! Excited? We'll, if you're into shooting DSLR video using electronic viewfinders, you might be. This new OLED microdisplay measures in it a mere 0.7-inches, managing an HD resolution of 1280 x 720. As understood by OLED-Info, it features "the same white OLED and color-filters architecture" as the ECX331A (far left), which is the 0.5-inch, 1024 × 768 XGA variant Sony's implemented inside of the EVFs found on its NEX-5N and A77 cameras, among others. Notably, it'll likely be a pleasure to look through with a brightness level rated at 200 cd/m2 and a peppy response time of 0.01ms. There's no word on what future Sony shooters we can expect to find the ECX332A in, but if you're curious for more details -- and well-versed in kana -- hit that source link below.

Sony's new 0.7-inch OLED microdisplay packs 720p resolution, has EVFs in its sights originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 Nov 2011 01:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friday, November 04, 2011

drag2share: Surprise: Android Smartphones Can Stream to Appleâs AirPlay Speakers [Android Apps]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5856415/surprise-android-smartphones-can-stream-to-apples-airplay-speakers

Surprise: Android Smartphones Can Stream to Appleâs AirPlay Speakers The Eye-C Taglists app for Google Android can stream to Apple's AirPlay devices.

Apple's Airplay, a proprietary method for zapping music all through your house without running wires everywhere, is expanding beyond the realm of iOS devices. Could it be on its way to becoming an industry standard - one that would allow Apple to charge the same sort of licensing fees for wireless music connections that it does today for speaker docks and other devices that connect to its proprietary iPhone/iPod/iPad slots?

We first spotted this trend in MOG's Mac app, which can send tunes to AirPlay-capable speakers and stereo systems as well as Apple's own AirPort Express and Apple TV, without requiring a workaround like Rogue Amoeba AirFoil.

Now, Eyecon Resources has taken things to the next level with an Android media player app that can send music to Apple's AirPlay devices, as well as anything that supports DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance).

Eye-C for Android and iPhone, released on Tuesday, let users create shareable "Taglists" out of music, photos, and videos on SoundCloud, YouTube, Picasa, Facebook, or their own music libraries. But for now, what interests us is the Android version's magical ability to send music to AirPlay devices. After all, Android and iOS are bitter enemies.

Evolver.fm asked Eye-C vice president of marketing Alec Marshall, who holds the patent for the app and used to work on Apple's iTunes team, how the Eye-C team managed to send music from Google-powered phones to Apple-powered devices.

"Our team has about two years experience developing for connected home systems, including local media server systems and DLNA and Airplay networks," explained Marshall. "I'd imagine building the Android feature would be extremely difficult for an organization that didn't come from a background similar to ours."

Difficult, but not impossible.

"What Android users can expect is a very clean way to play music and video from their phone to both DLNA and Airplay devices," he added. "Apple is putting a lot of work into expanding AirPlay support, and I'd expect to see growth in this space – we're already noticing a significant increase in home theater receivers, iPod docks, and other devices that aren't manufactured by Apple but that do connect to AirPlay networks. This new feature allows Android users an opportunity to get in on this easy-to-use connected home system, playing music and video to systems that sound great."

We agree that the future is rosy for AirPlay. If you thought the iPod speaker dock market was huge over the past ten years, just wait until the idea of zapping music wirelessly from smartphones and tablets to televisions, speakers, and sound systems all over the house becomes similarly mainstream.

The big question: With Apple poised to dominate yet another area of digital music, why is Google sleeping on Fling?

Evolver.fm observes, tracks and analyzes the music apps scene, with the belief that it's crucial to how humans experience music, and how that experience is evolving.

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drag2share: Transformer Prime gets mysteriously and imperiously benchmarked

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/04/transformer-prime-gets-mysteriously-and-imperiously-benchmarked/

We're getting restless waiting for the Transformer Prime, which is why we'll cling to the meagerest gossip about its performance. Speaking of which, a couple of Asus Eee Pad TF201 devices have cropped up on the AnTuTu benchmarking app, parading scores that apparently crown them lords of the Android mountain. The graph shows a standard 1.4GHz tablet, but the highest result actually purports to come from a Transformer Prime clocked at 1.6GHz, which achieved 12872. By comparison, the top Transformer TF101 score is just 7596. Benchmarks are hard to verify and even harder to translate into real-world talent, but at least our Kal-El hunger has been sated for a while. Nope, there it is again.

[Thanks, Timlot]

Transformer Prime gets mysteriously and imperiously benchmarked originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Kinect for Windows SDK beta 2 out now, celebratory celebrations cleared to commence

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/04/kinect-for-windows-sdk-beta-2-out-now-celebratory-celebrations/

It's only been a few months, but already the Kinect for Windows SDK beta is moving from stage uno to stage dos. (That's one and two, vaqueros.) Microsoft's outing it in commemoration of the Kinect's one-year anniversary, and it's also launching a Kinect for Windows site and blog, too. We're told that the Kinect for Windows commercial program is still on track for an early 2012 launch, and to date, some 200 companies have agreed to take part in the pilot program. Ask for the beta 2 piece, the refreshed build includes "faster skeletal tracking, a better accuracy rate when it comes to skeletal tracking and joint recognition, and the ability to plug and unplug your Kinect without losing work / productivity." Hit the source links to get your download on, but be warned -- we've seen it off and on throughout the day.

Kinect for Windows SDK beta 2 out now, celebratory celebrations cleared to commence originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Fujitsu's 10.51 petaflop K supercomputer is fastest in the world

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/04/fujitsus-10-51-petaflop-k-supercomputer-is-fastest-in-the-world/

Fujitsu, sweaty palmed from the construction of the K supercomputer, swore the colossal machine would manage a speed of ten petaflops by the year 2012. The effort has paid off handsomely: the hangar-sized machine has a top speed of 10.51. If you wanted to duplicate that setup at home, you'd only need 864 racks, 88,128 processors and enough cash in your back pocket to front an annual electricity bill of $10 million a year. The company will be spilling all at November's SC11 conference in Seattle, where the K will cement its position as the fastest computer in the world. One last thing -- we have a hunch that this machine can just about play Crysis.

Fujitsu's 10.51 petaflop K supercomputer is fastest in the world originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: OCZ expects to ship cheap TLC solid state drives in early 2012

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/04/ocz-expects-to-ship-cheap-tlc-solid-state-drives-in-early-2012/

It's about time triple-level-cell NAND came to life in consumer products and it looks like OCZ is blazing that trail. The company expects to release its first TLC drive early next year, with a vaunted 30 percent price reduction compared to current MLC drives, which are themselves much cheaper than SLC. The downside is shorter life expectancy, which will be as low as four years, but more durable forms of the technology are due to arrive later in 2012.

OCZ expects to ship cheap TLC solid state drives in early 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Storage Review | Email this | Comments

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drag2share: RED makes the Scarlet official, 5K stills and 4K video for $9,750

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/03/red-makes-the-scarlet-dsmc-official-5k-stills-and-4k-video-for/

It's been quite a day for all you cinephiles out there. First Canon outed its pair of Cinema EOS cameras, and now RED has finally released the Epic's baby sister Scarlet. Scarlet packs a similar punch as her older brother, so she takes 5K (5120 x 2700) resolution stills at 12fps, or can shoot your next cinematic masterpiece in 4K (4096 x 2160) at 25fps. The Scarlet also can use all of the Epic's accessories and comes with a Canon mount so there's plenty of glass to choose from, too. Best of all, Scarlet can be all yours for the low price of $9,750. That's right, for the price of a used Honda Civic, you can shoot video that essentially looks as good as those made by pros like Peter Jackson and John Shwartzman (assuming you've got their moviemaking skills). We're about to get our hands on one, so stay tuned for our first impressions.

When she's all by herself, Scarlet cuts a rather petite figure. She weighs the same as an Epic, but trades her elder brother's ebony exterior for one that is, according to RED founder Jim Jannard, "battleship gray." Not the most feminine color, but we must admit we like the two-tone appearance when you start adding on extras like a RED remote or an external view screen. Unfortunately, we didn't get to shoot any video with Scarlet, but we did get to hold her for a bit and found the build quality to be top notch. The camera has a solid feel, and while we wouldn't want to lug it around all day by hand, it's easy enough to maneuver for several minutes at a time. We're hoping we can do some serious shooting with Scarlet with sometime soon for a fuller impression -- RED aims to start shipping them on December first -- but given her low price point and copious cinematic capabilities, we imagine her dance card will be filled for quite some time.

Gallery: RED Scarlet hands-on

RED makes the Scarlet official, 5K stills and 4K video for $9,750 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 22:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Canon C300 cinema camera hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/03/canon-c300-cinema-camera-hands-on-video/

Man, is this thing ugly. But when it comes to cinema cameras, looks are the last thing on a cinematographer's mind -- performance is where it counts, and with the Canon C300, its compact size is an asset as well. We haven't had a chance to shoot with Canon's new flagship cinema cam, but we've heard from plenty of folks who have, including director Vincent Laforet. The C300's incredibly compact size allows cinematographers to work in environments that aren't typically accessible to big rigs -- you can shoot with this camera just as easily as you can with a DSLR, hand-holding it for quick shots, with a waist-mounted Steadicam system for walk-around shoots or even mounting it on a small remote-controlled helicopter, as Laforet did during his three-day Mobius shoot.

The C300 will be more familiar to cinematographers -- photojournalists may have access to the cam, thanks to its $20,000 price tag (that's a relative bargain, believe it or not), but you can't pick this up and fire away without taking some time to learn the interface. It has quite the solid feel, as you'd expect from a camera in this price range, though it's not as heavy as it looks -- you won't want to hold it in your hand for a full day of filming, but quick shots probably won't be an issue. The system is modular, so you can add and remove components as you wish -- industry standard connectors let you hook up cinema gear, which is something you could never do with the 5D Mark II. The small form factor and price tag to match should help Canon gain some ground in Hollywood, but we'll wait for a chance to shoot some footage before drawing any firm conclusions. In the meantime, we'll have to take Laforet at his word -- which you'll find just past the break.

Gallery: Canon C300 hands-on

Continue reading Canon C300 cinema camera hands-on (video)

Canon C300 cinema camera hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: College students unveil the Kiira EV, Uganda's first electric car (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/04/college-students-unveil-the-kiira-ev-ugandas-first-electric-ca/

Take a good look at that lime green hornet pictured above, because it may just herald the dawn of a new era in Ugandan transportation. Known as the Kiira EV, this plug-in was designed by students at Makerere University in Uganda, where electric cars, as you might imagine, are something of a rare commodity. In fact, local media outlets are heralding the Kiira as the first EV ever produced within the central African country, and it's not too shabby, either. On Tuesday, after nearly three years of development, the two-seater successfully completed its first test run, reaching a top speed of 65 kilometers per hour and nimbly making its way up a 55-degree incline. According to Paul Isaac Musasizi, who oversaw the project, the Kiira is capable of maxing out at a speed of 150 kilometers per hour, and can run for up to 80 kilometers on a single charge. Aside from its steering wheel and other accessories, every other component was designed and constructed domestically.

Perhaps more important than the Kiira EV's specs, however, is what it symbolizes for Uganda. "When we started the project, we wanted to demonstrate that Uganda has as good talent as that in the US or Germany," Musasizi told Uganda's Daily Monitor. "Now that this is over, we expect and want it to be taken up." It remains to be seen whether the Kiira actually enters production anytime soon, but Musasizi says his team is already working on a 28-seat EV for public transportation, underscoring their commitment to bringing green technology to their country. Hum past the break to see video of the momentous occasion, along with coverage from Uganda's NTV.

[Thanks, Roger]

Continue reading College students unveil the Kiira EV, Uganda's first electric car (video)

College students unveil the Kiira EV, Uganda's first electric car (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Microsoft releases Bing app for Android, iOS, not Windows Phone 7

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/04/microsoft-releases-bing-app-for-android-ios-not-windows-phone/

In a move that can be simultaneously described as puzzling and pragmatic, Microsoft has decided to bring its Bing for Mobile app to Android and iOS before launching it on its very own Windows Phone platform. The company announced the release in a blog post this week, highlighting the app's most noteworthy features, including a revamped maps module, a new deals service and real-time transit feeds. Interestingly enough, Redmond also based its app on HTML5, rather than Silverlight, in the hopes of providing greater continuity across mobile browser and app interfaces. Only at the very end of the post did Microsoft mention Windows Phone 7: "We're working to release the same consistent experience for RIM and Windows Phone 7 devices in the future, and will share more details as they become available." At first glance, this decision may seem somewhat counterintuitive, but it also makes a lot of sense, considering the fact that Android and iOS comprise the bulk of the consumer market (and, of course, the fact that Bing is already integrated within Windows Phone 7). It appears, then, that Microsoft is simply trying to get Bing out to the widest initial audience, which seems pretty logical. Android and iOS users can grab the app now, at the coverage links below.

Microsoft releases Bing app for Android, iOS, not Windows Phone 7 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 04:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Information Week | source

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drag2share: Yahoo launches IntoNow for iPad, recommends telling it how it is

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/04/yahoo-launches-intonow-for-ipad-recommends-telling-it-how-it-is/

TV companion app IntoNow has made its first major foray since it was snapped up by Yahoo earlier this year. Its new iPad app is now up for grabs and brings the same contextual magicks found on the iPhone version, expanded to make the most of the Apple tablet's 9.7-inch screen. The app picks up on audio cues made by whatever you're watching on TV and then displays websites, game scores, even Twitter feeds of musicians and other famous types shown on the big(ger) screen. Now you can tell those overpaid athletes and awful, awful actors exactly what they did wrong. Trolling's never been so convenient.

Yahoo launches IntoNow for iPad, recommends telling it how it is originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 08:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I am confident in the wisdom of markets (eventually) -- re: Groupon IPO Day Today

Thursday, November 03, 2011

drag2share: Sony Ericsson brings Gesture input to Xperia line, gives new meaning to 'Swiper, no swiping!'

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/03/sony-ericsson-brings-gesture-input-to-xperia-line-gives-new-mea/

Xperia-toting Scandinavians got to claim first dibs on Gingerbread 2.3.4 this past September. But now Sony Ericsson is looking to share that Android update love with owners worldwide. And when that firmware finally hits your handset, don't be surprised to find a pre-installed, Swype-like doppleganger on board. Dubbed "Gesture input," this SE-made mobile keyboard option shamelessly apes its competitor's sweep-to-type implementation for texting, tweeting and general emailing. Anyone who's spent quality time with the finger-dragging solution will know exactly what to expect. A roll call of devices set to get this feature upgrade is listed on the company's blog. So, if you're curious about your place in this upgrade line, check out the source for a little illumination.

Continue reading Sony Ericsson brings Gesture input to Xperia line, gives new meaning to 'Swiper, no swiping!'

Sony Ericsson brings Gesture input to Xperia line, gives new meaning to 'Swiper, no swiping!' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 07:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Ericsson (1), (2) | Email this | Comments

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drag2share: Asus outs 11.6-inch U24E in Japan, appeals to bargain i5 hunters everywhere

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/03/asus-outs-11-6-inch-u24e-in-japan-appeals-to-bargain-i5-hunters/

Here's the thing. You want solid CPU performance in a lightweight laptop, but you don't necessarily want to spend Zenbook-type money. We hear you, and apparently so does Asus. Its U24E is out in Japan packing an Core i5-2430M processor in a 1.5kg (3.3-pound) chasis, complemented by a 11.6-inch 1366x768 display, 4GB of RAM, a 750GB HDD, two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI out and a seven-hour battery life -- all for just shy of ¥60,000. In a direct currency flip that equates to $770, but the US price could well be lower when the device officially hits our hemisphere. We have no idea when that'll happen, but it had better be soon or the U24E might get poisoned by some ivy.

Asus outs 11.6-inch U24E in Japan, appeals to bargain i5 hunters everywhere originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 08:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Ice Cream Sandwich coming to Meizu M9, MX, Jack Wong confirms

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/03/ice-cream-sandwich-coming-to-meizu-m9-mx-jack-wong-confirms/

Ice Cream Sandwich continues to march its way across the market. Next stop? The Meizu M9 and MX. Confirmation came earlier this week by way of Meizu CEO Jack Wong, who nonchalantly mentioned the forthcoming update on his company's forum. Affirming that the MX's December "release date remains unchanged," Wong went on to say that both the MX and M9 "will upgrade to [Android] 4.0 as soon as possible." No further specifics were offered, though the exec did explain the MX's delayed release, attributing it to his company's ongoing efforts to incorporate a sharper, back-illuminated camera within the handset. Rest assured, we'll keep you up to date with the very latest.

Ice Cream Sandwich coming to Meizu M9, MX, Jack Wong confirms originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

M.I.C ! Gadget |

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Meizu BBS (1), (2) | Email this | Comments

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