Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Verismo officially launches $99 VuNow PoD with YouTube support

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/23/verismo-officially-launches-99-vunow-pod-with-youtube-support/

Just in time to snag some of that cash you're sure to have showing up right about now via greeting cards from around the world, Verismo Networks is officially launching its diminutive VuNow PoD. We've seen the device evolve quite a bit since June, but with a smorgasbord of competitors already grabbing market share left and right, we're left to wonder if this one won't be sitting on the outside looking in. The internet TV streamer hooks directly to one's TV and internet connection in order to deliver web content (YouTube, of note) to the tele. While specifics are conveniently omitted, we're told that users will have access to "a broad choice of online video content -- from movies, global Live TV channels, to user-generated content and viral videos." It's available now for $99, but can you stand yet another set-top-box beneath your flat-panel?

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Verismo officially launches $99 VuNow PoD with YouTube support originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use ! of feeds .

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Researchers achieve new efficiency record of blue OLEDs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/23/researchers-achieve-new-efficiency-record-of-blue-oleds/

Ever since Sony's XEL-1 hit the market, pundits have pointed to the (comparatively) short-lived blue OLED material as its biggest hamstring. Researchers have been toiling around the clock in order to bring the blue lifepsan in line with its green and red siblings, and now it seems like a team of Gators are that much closer to the promise land. Reportedly, a gaggle of whiz-kids from the University of Florida have "achieved a new record in efficiency of blue organic light-emitting diodes, and because blue is essential to white light, the advance helps overcome a hurdle to lighting that is much more efficient than compact fluorescents." Franky So (pictured) and his diligent crew were able to reach a peak blue OLED efficiency of 50 lumens per watt, which is halfway to his goal of at least 100 lumens per watt. Hurry it up, folks -- CES is just around the corner.

[Via Physorg]

Filed under: Displays, HDTV

Researchers achieve new efficiency record of blue OLEDs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iZ3D bringing 26-inch prototype 3D LCD to CES 2009

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/23/iz3d-bringing-26-inch-prototype-3d-lcd-to-ces-2009/

In case you haven't noticed, iZ3D is riding the suddenly swelled wave of 3D enthusiasm all the way to the bank (and Vegas). Even though its existing 22-inch 3D LCD has been around since mid-2007, the firm has recently hacked down the price and pushed it into retail outlets in order to drum up interest. At CES, it's bringing even more firepower in the form of a 26-inch prototype (pictured) that should do everything the current 22-incher does, just 4-inches better. Additionally, it'll have on display the Immersion Series, which places a trio of the iZ3D monitors together in order to better simulate flights and races. In case that's not enough, we're also told to expect a 22-inch widescreen 3D LCD that's console-friendly, meaning that the only thing standing between you and 3D Xbox 360 enjoyment is a wonky set of glasses and compatible software. We'll see how it all looks in around a fortnight.

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment

iZ3D bringing 26-inch prototype 3D LCD to CES 2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pogo Sketch stylus turns your touchpad into a tablet

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/23/pogo-sketch-stylus-turns-your-touchpad-into-a-tablet/

We never really knew anyone intrigued by Pogo's iPhone stylus, but the company's newest writin' stick puts that capacitive touch-compatible tech to a way more interesting use -- turning touchpads into large digitizer tablets. That'd be particularly useful for new MacBook owners who're rocking those gigantor buttonless trackpads, but we'll have to see this $15 accessory in action before we say Wacom's got anything to worry about.

Filed under: Peripherals

Pogo Sketch stylus turns your touchpad into a tablet originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nine-year old girl is youngest person to become Microsoft Certified Professional

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/23/nine-year-old-girl-is-youngest-person-to-become-microsoft-certif/

A nine year-old girl in India named M. Lavinashree has passed the Microsoft Certified Professional Exam, becoming the youngest person to ever pull it off (smashing the record previously held by a 10 year-old Pakistani girl). The youngster has a long history of making records in her short life -- including reciting all 1,300 couplets of a 2,000 year-old Tamil epic at the age of three -- and now she's now cramming for the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Exam. We'll be honest, this really takes the zing out of our biggest accomplishment at the age of nine: figuring out where in the world Carmen Sandiego was. Hit the read link for a video.

[Thanks, Penny]

Continue reading Nine-year old girl is youngest person to become Microsoft Certified Professional

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Nine-year old girl is youngest person to become Microsoft Certified Professional originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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