Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Video: Meizu M8 mini One

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/245429220/

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio, Portable Video

It's just three screens on a very early prototype, but for those of you who doubt Meizu's ability to bring the M8 to market, we give you -- the video. Sure, Meizu's just rendering three image files as opposed to any real processing. Nevertheless, there's plenty of catchy dialog to hold you over until these pups go live in China sometime around August. Who knew English as a second language could be so fun.

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Express Gate Adds "Instant Internet Access"

The single new feature not found on previous P5E3 models is the Express Gate flash drive. Soldered directly to the PCB in place of a USB port found on previous models, it's preprogrammed with a Linux-based operating system that can be booted in less than five seconds.

Express Gate Adds "Instant Internet Access"

The SplashTop operating system powers up before POST, offering "instant access" to an Internet browser and Skype. A timer gives the user ten seconds to make an alternative selection before the system moves to the POST screen. Three buttons near the bottom of the initiation screen allow users to bypass the timer for instant POST, jump directly to BIOS, or power the system off instantly.

Express Gate Adds "Instant Internet Access"

Inside, users will find a GUI based on the Smart Common Input Method (SCIM) platform. It features various configuration options for the WiFi and dual Gigabit Ethernet controllers, plus the ability to set graphics resolutions of 800x600 through 1440x1050.

Express Gate Adds "Instant Internet Access"

There's just enough flash memory to store configuration settings, but not downloads, so the Splashtop desktop should be well secured against most forms of malware.

Users not interested in Express Gate capabilities can disable the flash module from within the BIOS to further reduce boot times. Because the module isn't removable, there's no method for a builder to restore the functionality of the two-port USB 2.0 header beneath it.

Monday, March 03, 2008

Greenhouse's 22-inch GH-JEF223SH-LB LCD monitor picks HDMI over DVI

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/245220255/

Filed under: Displays

Nothing too spectacular here, but Greenhouse has introduced an all new 22-inch LCD monitor over in Japan. Aside from the perfectly average WSXGA+ (1,680 x 1,050) resolution, 300 cd/m2 brightness, 1,000: contrast ratio and two-millisecond response time, the GH-JEF223SH-LB actually does away with DVI in favor of HDMI. Granted, there's still a VGA port in case you're in a pinch, but we would've preferred all three considering the somewhat steep ¥45,799 ($438) price tag.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

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Sony Increases Hard Drive Storage Fivefold [Upgrades]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/244927708/sony-increases-hard-drive-storage-fivefold

Sony has announced that they've increased hard drive storage capacity by five times through developing a new method of writing information that's viable even for notebooks. Instead of writing via magnetics, the new system resembles current optical technologies, using a hybrid magnet/laser to write information to a disk at densities of 125GB/square inch. As we understand it, most elements of the traditional hard drive stay intact, but your current 320GB hard drive setup would see data storage reaching 1.6TB. Of course, there are no immediate plans for mass production. [itplus via electronista]

Macbook Air Selling Like Extremely Expensive Hotcakes? [Apple]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/244965428/macbook-air-selling-like-extremely-expensive-hotcakes

Apparently, the Macbook Air is selling well enough to be unavailable in many stores and require a 5-7 day wait for online orders. Despite the high price, the super-thin laptop is often selling out the day a shipment arrives at an Apple Store according to research done by Ars Technica. Of course, without knowing just how many Macbook Airs Apple is manufacturing, this could just as easily be a case of Apple not making all too many in the first place, making demand seem higher than it really is. What do you guys think, have you seen lots of them out in the wild or is this just a case of distorted perceptions? [Ars Technica]