Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Sensor-Size Compares and Converts Digital Camera Measurements [Cameras]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5805067/sensor+size-compares-and-converts-digital-camera-measurements

Sensor-Size Compares and Converts Digital Camera MeasurementsWe've noted before that more megapixels don't mean a better camera; a better indicator of photo quality from a camera is its sensor size. The Sensor-Size app helps you compare popular cameras' sensor sizes and also convert unfriendly ratios often given.

Many point-and-click cameras often report their sensor size as a ratio, e.g., 1/1.8", or in millimeters, making it hard to compare different cameras. Sensor-Size's calculator will get you the simpler diagonal measurement—the larger the measurement, the higher photo quality you can expect from that camera.

The site also offers a table that compares sensor size and other features of best-selling digital cameras. As you'd expect, digital SLR cameras like the Nikon D300 DX and the Canon EOS 40D have very high sensor sizes. There are also a few compact cameras with above average sensor sizes, like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 or the Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR.

If you're in the market for a new camera, check out the site before buying.

Sensor-Size Compares and Converts Digital Camera MeasurementsSensor-Size | via the New York Times


You can contact or follow Melanie Pinola, the author of this post, on Twitter.

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Cray's XK6 Uses x86 Processors and GPU Power to Form a Hybrid Supercomputer [Supercomputer]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5805168/crays-xk6-uses-x86-processors-and-gpu-power-to-form-a-hybrid-supercomputer

Cray's XK6 Uses x86 Processors and GPU Power to Form a Hybrid SupercomputerCray's latest supercomputer uses AMD x86 processors with NVIDIA Tesla 20-Series GPU to create a supercomputer capable of more than 50 petaflops in computing power. A petaflop is a quadrillion (or a million billion) operations a second. MORE POWAHH.

The Cray XK6 is supposed to be the first 'general purpose' supercomputer that uses GPU technology and the first buyer is the Swiss National Supercomputing Center. The XK6 will range from $500,000 to $1 million and serve as further proof of the larger role GPUs are playing in computers. [Seattle Times]

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WolframAlpha Is My New Doctor [Medicine]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5805228/wolframalpha-is-my-new-doctor

WolframAlpha Is My New DoctorFeeling ill? Whatever you do, don't look at WebMD, unless you enjoy convincing yourself you're having an aneurism. But WolframAlpha just made self-internet diagnosis useful. [Jump}

WolframAlpha launched a medical tools feature today so you can stay at home and play doctor. It aggregates survey data from the CDC to give you a search tool that lets you see how various symptoms (and combinations of them) correlate with various diseases. It also breaks down that data to show distribution actoss a variability of patients' attributes, like age, weight, height, and body mass. It's oddly kind of fun. And I found out I'm probably not having an aneurism! Which was a relief.

Photo by Allan Foster

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Google and Sprint team up to take your digital dollars with new NFC payment system? (updated)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/24/google-and-sprint-team-up-to-take-your-digital-dollars-with-new/

There's been rumors of a Google-fied mobile payment system for some time, and now it looks like the Mountain View crew is teaming up with Sprint to finally make it happen. Last month, we heard that the Now Network would bring NFC payments to its customers this year, and Bloomberg reports that the partnership and payment system will make its debut on May 26th. Apparently, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington D.C. are the first cities getting the service, which is a much broader initial footprint than its Isis mobile payment competition. The anonymous sources also say that Verifone and Vivotech are providing the hardware and software that will let you replace your credit card with a Nexus S -- because you always wanted to replace your credit card with your Nexus S.

Update: According to All things D, the payment system will be put through its paces by none other than El Goog's Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt at the D9: All Things Digital conference next week -- where we'll be on hand to peep the contactless payment presentation in person.

Google and Sprint team up to take your digital dollars with new NFC payment system? (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 May 2011 15:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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T-Mobile flips on 42Mbps HSPA+ across 55 markets, launching Rocket 3.0 modem stick tomorrow

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/24/t-mobile-flips-on-42mbps-hspa-across-55-markets-to-launch-rock/

Fellow road warriors, we bring you good news: starting today, T-Mobile customers across 55 markets -- including Chicago, Detroit, Honolulu, Pittsburgh, Miami, and many more -- will have immediate access to a faster HSPA+ "4G" network. This means anyone with compatible devices can achieve theoretical download speeds of up to a whopping 42Mbps, as opposed to just 21Mbps from the good ol' days. But of course, only time will tell whether this upgrade will deliver its promise -- you may recall that even AT&T's LTE demo last week delivered "realistic" download speeds of up to just 28.9Mbps, when in theory it should be capable of hitting up to 100Mbps.

Anyhow, if you want to soldier on and be a guinea pig an early adopter, then help yourself to ZTE's Rocket 3.0 USB modem stick starting tomorrow -- the entry price is $99.99 after a $50 mail in rebate, but tied to a two-year broadband plan of 2GB or higher; or you can opt for the contract-free price of $199.99. Hit the press release after the break for the full list of activated markets.

Continue reading T-Mobile flips on 42Mbps HSPA+ across 55 markets, launching Rocket 3.0 modem stick tomorrow

T-Mobile flips on 42Mbps HSPA+ across 55 markets, launching Rocket 3.0 modem stick tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 May 2011 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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