Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Mark Cuban to Newspapers: Kill the Vampires http://bit.ly/caqbSt -- ah, I c what's happening here; reverse psychology to kill papers faster

Google Nexus One Gets Multitouch, Google Goggles and 3G Fix via OTA Update Now [Google]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/SEkhE3rWP30/google-nexus-one-gets-multitouch-google-goggles-and-3g-fix-via-ota-update-now

Nexus One owners can stop being jealous that the iPhone got an update today because an over-the-air update for the Google device is being pushed out starting now. It finally brings multitouch along with some 3G fixes and Google Goggles.

According to Google, the following changes come with the software update:

Google Goggles:
This mobile application will now be available directly on your device by launching it from your All Apps menu. Just use your Nexus One camera to start searching the web

Google Maps:
The Maps application with be updated to a new version, Google Maps 3.4, which will include:
Starred items synchronized with maps.google.com - access your favorite places from your phone or computer
Search suggestions from your personal maps.google.com history - makes it easy to search for places you've searched for before
Night mode in Google Maps Navigation - automatically changes your screen at night for easier viewing and driving
Pinch-to-zoom functionality: devices will now include a new pinch-to-zoom mechanism in the phone's Browser, Gallery and Maps applications

3G connectivity: we will provide a general fix to help improve 3G connectivity on some Nexus One phones

All you need to do to get the update is wait until you "receive a message on your phone's notification bar. Just download the update, wait for it to install, and you should be all set. This update will be rolled out gradually to phones - and most users might not receive the notification until the end of the week." Easy. [Nexus One Board]

No-glasses 3D display with 64 viewing angles to debut at CeBIT

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/02/no-glasses-3d-display-with-64-viewing-angles-to-debut-at-cebit/

Singaporean outfit Sunny Ocean Studios is pledging to put all of the autostereoscopic 3D we've seen so far to shame with a new 27-inch display offering 64 viewing angles it will show at CeBIT. A serious upgrade from the 8 or 9 viewing angle lenticular displays we saw at CES this year, the company claims it's ready to refit regular displays for 3D and also assist in 2D-to-3D image conversion. We've got all of the usual questions lined up like how will this affect resolution, what's necessary to render the necessary 64 different frames for each viewing angle and of course, how much does it cost, but founder Armin Grasnick says his company can handle screens of up to 100-inches quickly and inexpensively, likely by not wasting precious R&D funds on website design. The current state of 3D is glasses all the way, but we could get a peek at the next step March 2 in Germany.

No-glasses 3D display with 64 viewing angles to debut at CeBIT originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Next iPhone codename, new iPod touch revealed in latest SDK and firmware

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/02/next-iphone-codename-new-ipod-touch-revealed-in-latest-sdk-and/

If somehow you've become concerned that another iPhone might not be on the way to market, you can now rest easy. Our ingenious tipsters have discovered yet another fascinating factoid deep within the Frameworks of the iPhone OS 3.2 SDK, namely: the codename of the next iPhone. Buried way inside the platform simulator lies a set of folders dedicated to specific models of iPhone OS-ready devices, including the iPhone 3GS, second generation iPod touch, something called the "K48" (yep, the codename we were told was the internal name for the iPad), and... the "N89." Sure, it sounds like a Nokia phone just waiting to happen, but this is -- according to our extremely knowledgeable and trusted sources -- likely the codename of the next iPhone (previous versions were called the M68, N82, and N88). We can't take too much away from this beyond the fact that the model exists, though we're certain that with a little more digging, some detail is sure to rear its head (attention hive-mind). Interestingly, Apple's just released firmware (3.1.3) also includes another new model, the "N80," which we're told will most likely be the next version of the iPod touch. We're going to keep researching here, so stay tuned for more.

Next iPhone codename, new iPod touch revealed in latest SDK and firmware originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A First Taste Of What The Google Tabletâs Interface Will Look Like (Pics)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/xoAdFohBkNU/

Last week, the world saw Apple’s long anticipated tablet device, the iPad, for the first time. In the aftermath since that announcement, a few things have become clear: it will be great for some people, but its apparent lack of flexibility (at least in its first iteration) may leave something to be desired. It’s increasingly looking like the best alternative will be Google’s Chrome OS, which is clearly on a collision course with the iPad. And tonight, we’ve come across some very impressive mockups of what Chrome OS may look like on a tablet form factor.

The photos have been posted to the official Chromium site (Chromium is the open source project behind Chrome and ChromeOS). And while Chromium is not actually part of Google, it appears that these mockups were put together by Glen Murphy, Google Chrome’s designer. In other words, there’s a good chance that the final version of Chrome OS will resemble this.

Update: Be sure to watch this video to see a mockup of the tablet in action.

It’s worth pointing out that there almost certainly will be multiple “Google Tablets”, given that Chrome OS won’t be tied to a single device. That said, Google is working with select hardware partners to ensure that it runs on devices that are up to its specifications, and there may be one tablet device that is designated as the “Google Tablet”, much like the Nexus One is the “Google Phone”.

Via TheChromeSource.