Saturday, May 16, 2009

Samsung's MEMS shutter could massively improve high megapixel cameraphones

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/15/samsungs-mems-shutter-could-massively-improve-high-megapixel-ca/


We won't go so far as to say that SE and LG are waiting for this here technology to go commercial -- after all, we're still years (at best) away from that -- but considering that the ninth iteration of your favorite smartphone is likely destined to boast a 453 megapixel camera, we're thrilled to see someone working to make those captures worth looking at. Over in Japan, Sammy is teasing a new MEMS shutter that measures just 2.2 millimeters in diameter and would essentially allow cameraphones to grab blur-free images even with ultra-high megapixel sensors. Feel free to dive into the read link if you're into technobabble; otherwise, just be sure to pay attention in around a decade when this stuff actually has a bearing on your life.

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Samsung's MEMS shutter could massively improve high megapixel cameraphones originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 May 2009 19:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 9:08 AM

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Intel shows Larrabee die shot in Germany, speculators go berserk

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/14/intel-shows-larrabee-die-shot-in-germany-speculators-go-berserk/


It's been right around a century since Intel has provided any sort of hard evidence that Larrabee (a next-gen hybrid CPU / GPU) was more than a figment of anyone's imagination, but thanks to a die shot throw up Will Ferrell-style at the Visual Computing Institute of the Saarland University, we'd say the speculation is definitely back on. Intel's Chief Technology Officer, Justin Rattner, was responsible for the demo, but when PC Perspective pinged the company to inquire further, it suggested that the image we see above may not necessarily be indicative of the final shipping product, but that Larrabee was "healthy and in [its] labs right now." Sweet, so how's about a date in which that statement changes to "in shipping machines right now?" Hmm?

[Via PC Perspective]

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Intel shows Larrabee die shot in Germany, speculators go berserk originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 May 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 9:09 PM

iUnika Gyy netbook weighs 1.5 pounds, will cost $176

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/14/iunika-gyy-netbook-weighs-1-5-pounds-will-cost-176/

Hey, remember the $199 Impulse TNX-9500, the "world's cheapest laptop?" Yeah, it was just the beginning. Say hello to the iUnika Gyy, which manages to shave its price down to €130 ($176) by using a slower 400MHz MIPS processor and ditching that costly XP license for Linux. Yeah, it'll run like a dog. On the other hand, just like the Impulse there's something delightfully appealing about a el-cheapo laptop that weigh just 1.5 pounds, and if the company manages to produce its promised €160 ($220) solar-powered version, we could totally find ourselves picking one up on a whim. We'll see -- it's due in July. One more pic after the break.

[Via Engadget Spanish; images courtesy of hoyTecnología]

Continue reading iUnika Gyy netbook weighs 1.5 pounds, will cost $176

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iUnika Gyy netbook weighs 1.5 pounds, will cost $176 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 May 2009 15:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 3:41 PM

ASUS Eee PC 1008HA 'Seashell' review roundup

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/14/asus-eee-pc-1008ha-seashell-review-roundup/


For those near and dear to ASUS' Eee PC netbook line, the 1008HA 'Seashell' is definitely a breath of fresh air. It doesn't look like an Eee, it doesn't feel like an Eee and it doesn't boast a replaceable battery like an Eee; needless to say, only two of those three facts were lauded by reviewers across the web. Much like Apple's MacBook Air, the battery in this here machine is not user-serviceable, and while tests proved that it could last well over three hours with "normal" use, ASUS has yet to make clear what plans it has for offering replacements. In any case, most everything else about the machine was found to be on par or above, with performance being satisfactory for basic tasks and the keyboard / trackpad being exceptionally yummy. Still, it feels as if ASUS is charging a bit much for a familiar lineup of internals, but those willing to pay for style should definitely take a closer look.

Read - Trusted Reviews ("a very refined and classy netbook")
Read - T3 ("a good all-round package")
Read - CNET UK ("great styling and a relatively light chassis")
Read - Bit-Tech ("definitely worth considering, but looks come at a cost")
Read - WhatLaptop ("a compelling proposition")
Read - PCPro ("If you don't mind paying a premium for fine design, then the Seashell is a tantalizing prospect")

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ASUS Eee PC 1008HA 'Seashell' review roundup originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 May 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Augustine at 1:55 PM

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Task.fm Turns Natural Language Commands into Future Reminders [Task Management]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/sTQclCaJZmM/taskfm-turns-natural-language-commands-into-future-reminders

Task.fm is a simple web application that turns your natural language commands into email and SMS reminders.

Task.fm takes commands like "meet with Jim tomorrow" or "Replace fish tank filter in 21 days," and converts those commands into future reminders. The reminders will be emailed or sent to you via SMS. The email reminders are free but the SMS reminders require credits with the service—100 messages cost $8. The fee structure isn't outrageous, but we're in agreement that nothing sounds as good as free.

The language engine does have some shortcomings, as well. It doesn't parse commands like "every other" or "next Monday," which makes it less convenient for creating repeating reminders. Regardless of those language hiccups, Task.fm accepted the majority of our test reminders without a problem. If you have a favored service for generating email or SMS-based reminders, sound off in the comments below.



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Posted by Augustine at 9:52 PM

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