Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Monday, October 19, 2009

Google Voice voicemails appearing in public search results

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/google-voice-voicemails-appearing-in-public-search-results/

We're not exactly sure what's going on here, but it certainly seems like at least some Google Voice voicemails are being indexed and made publicly available somehow. If you punch in "site:https://www.google.com/voice/fm/*" as a search string you get a few pages of what appear to be test messages, with a couple eye-opening obvious non-tests scattered in there as well. Dates on these messages range from a couple months ago all the way until yesterday, so this is clearly an ongoing issue -- hopefully Google patches this up awful fast.

P.S. - Google Voice transcription accuracy really falls off a cliff when it's listening to muffled audio, doesn't it?

Update: Google says it's changed how shared messages are indexed and made available to public searches, so we're hoping this was just a one-time thing.

[Via Boy Genius Report]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Google Voice voicemails appearing in public search results originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gateway intros 15.6 and 11.6-inch EC Series laptops: EC58, EC54 and EC14

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/gateway-intros-15-6-and-11-6-inch-ec-series-laptops-ec58-ec54/

It's quite possible that you've missed the memo, but Microsoft's next major operating system launches this week. Along with pretty much every other PC maker on the planet, Gateway is also announcing new laptops that hum along on Windows 7. Starting things off is the 11.6-inch EC14, which gets going at $549.99 and includes a 1.3GHz Pentium Dual Core SU1400 CPU, 1,366 x 768 resolution LED-backlit panel, Intel's GMA 4500MHD graphics, 4GB of DDR2 RAM, a built-in webcam and multicard reader, 320GB HDD, WiFi, gigabit Ethernet, a trio of USB 2.0 sockets, HDMI output, multi-gesture trackpad and a battery good for around "six to eight hours" of life. The EC58 and EC54 models are 15.6-inchers, with a base model starting at $649.99 and featuring most of the same specs in a larger enclosure. Naturally, the gang will ship on October 22nd, complete with bundles of "Wow!" in tow. Er, wait.

Filed under: Laptops

Gateway intros 15.6 and 11.6-inch EC Series laptops: EC58, EC54 and EC14 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS working up BR-HD3 wireless HDMI streamer

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/asus-working-up-br-hd3-wireless-hdmi-streamer/

ASUS has been toying around with wireless transmissions to displays for a hot minute now, and it sure looks as if the outfit is fixing to pick up where the Belkin FlyWire left off by introducing the BR-HD3. Currently in testing, the wireless HDMI streamer is said to pass along 1080p content "with no lag," though there's currently no official range to speak of. The real kicker, however, is the price. The aforesaid FlyWire -- which worked amazingly in the trade show demos that we saw -- was priced at $1,499, which is obviously far too much for most consumers. This box? £399 ($654), and it could be out as early as next month. Unfortunately, the device only supports a single HDMI input (so you can forget about connecting your Blu-ray player and Xbox 360 at the same time), but ASUS is planning to introduce a three-port version in June 2010 as well as a niche spinoff in Q1 that'll wirelessly stream one source to three HDTVs.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Wireless

ASUS working up BR-HD3 wireless HDMI streamer originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bang & Olufsen's BeoVision 10: something awesome in the state of Denmark (update: video!)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/bang-and-olufsens-beovision-10-something-awesome-in-the-state-of/

If you're an HDTV buff with style, taste, and money to burn (and if you're reading Engadget we have our doubts about at least two of the three) then you've probably been waiting impatiently for Bang & Olufsen to make this one official. The BeoVision 10 is a wall-mounted LCD flat screen that boasts 40-inches of real estate, a brushed aluminum frame, and bottom mounted speakers that are available in a variety of colors. As the company boasts, "every aspect of the design is thought through." It also said something about "vægplacering," the definition of which we will leave to your imagination. On sale now at the B & O store on Kongens Nytorv in central Copenhagen for 43,495 Danish Kroner (roughly $8,700) -- not shockingly expensive, as far as this company is concerned, but still far too dear for you. No word on stateside pricing or release date.

Update: As several astute readers pointed out, the translated source for this one listed the price in British Pounds when it should have been listed in Danish Kroner (DKK). The thing is far less expensive now -- so feel free to send us one for an early Christmas present! You have the address. Oh, and a vid is after the break!

Read - Here is the new B & O television
Read - B & O's new flat panel

Continue reading Bang & Olufsen's BeoVision 10: something awesome in the state of Denmark (update: video!)

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Bang & Olufsen's BeoVision 10: something awesome in the state of Denmark (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Roku XR adds 802.11n, USB port and a longing for something more

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/roku-xr-adds-802-11n-usb-port-and-a-longing-for-something-more/

Hard though it may be to believe, the Roku has been rockin' the lives of Netflix fanatics for nearly 1.5 years, and if you were thinking an updated version was in order, you'd be on the right train of thought. Images delivered to us today prove that a refreshed iteration is on the horizon, with the Roku XR (model number N1101) retaining the same overall look and feel as the original but adding in niceties like 802.11n wireless support, a USB socket (presumably for loading up media locally) and a 2.5A power input (as opposed to 1.5A). You can also see that the dedicated reset button has been yanked and the bundled remote is exactly the same; in fact, we're told that the old remote controls the Roku XR sans issue. There's no word yet on a price or release date, but we're guessing we'll know significantly more prior to Christmas. Oh, and yeah -- you're not the only one thinking this is quite the underwhelming update, but hey, maybe it'll street for $9.99.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

Gallery: Roku XR adds 802.11n, USB port and a longing for something more