Skype for Mac updates to 5.3, adds Lion and HD video call support

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/08/skype-for-mac-updates-to-5-3-adds-lion-and-hd-video-call-suppor/

The good folks over at Skype have been mighty busy recently. In the last month (give or take a day) the company has announced integration with Facebook, launched a new version of its Windows client to support the social network, released an iPad-optimized version, and expanded Android support to an additional 17 handsets. Now the video-chat stalwart has update its Mac app with support for Lion and HD video calls -- something Microsoft fans have been enjoying since 2010. You can check out the full announcement and download Skype 5.3 for Max OS X at the source link.

Skype for Mac updates to 5.3, adds Lion and HD video call support originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BlackBerry Colt may be RIM's first QNX smartphone, will lack BES support out-of-box?

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/08/blackberry-colt-may-be-rims-first-qnx-smartphone-will-lack-bes/

To many, a colt is a representation of rebirth and a symbol for youthfulness. Research in Motion appears to be in desperate need for exactly that -- a regeneration. It seems appropriate, then, that RIM may be launching the BlackBerry Colt, its first QNX-based "superphone," in the first quarter of 2012. This timeline will ensure the device launches at the expected time, according to rumors by BGR, but there's likely to be a few compromises to ensure it gets pushed out to market faster. The Colt is said to be undergoing internal testing with a single-core chip, contrary to promises of including dual-core CPUs. Additionally, the maiden voyage of the smartphone platform may be completely devoid of BES at the device's launch; it's taken longer than expected to rewrite the proper code to support QNX, and more time's necessary to bring it up to par with RIM's standards. What would the Enterprise customers do in the meantime? The alternative to BES is almost unthinkable: Exchange emails would be accessed by a preloaded version of Microsoft ActiveSync. Will the gamble yield greater returns in the long run, or will it remove the glue that still holds the company together?

BlackBerry Colt may be RIM's first QNX smartphone, will lack BES support out-of-box? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Smart Modular's 1.6TB Optimus SSD reads up to 1GB/s, claims to be the largest and fastest

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/06/smart-modulars-1-6tb-optimus-ssd-reads-up-to-1gb-s-claims-to-b/

We love us a good speed record and today's comes paired with another superlative: biggest and baddest. Smart Modular Technologies just announced the Optimus SSD, a drive with up to a record 1.6TB in storage that can also read up to a gigabyte of data per second. The 2.5-inch drive also promises write speeds of 500MB/s and will be available in smaller 200GB, 400GB, and 800GB capacities, in addition to that 1.6TB monster. No word on pricing except that Smart Modular insists they'll be "cost-effective." Then again, the company expects IT departments will snap these up for corporate use, so your guess is as good as ours as to how accessible these will be for run-of-the-mill hobbyists.

Continue reading Smart Modular's 1.6TB Optimus SSD reads up to 1GB/s, claims to be the largest and fastest

Smart Modular's 1.6TB Optimus SSD reads up to 1GB/s, claims to be the largest and fastest originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Aug 2011 00:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android app tethers handsets to Canon cams, live view fanboys rejoice (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/06/android-app-tethers-handsets-to-canon-cams-live-view-fanboys-re/

We're living in a post-pc world, folks. High time you got with the program and junked that heavy and outmoded relic called the computer. But how does one take tethered snaps from a Canon, sans EOS Utility? Meet DSLR Controller, an Android app from Chainfire that turns your little green robot into an external live view monitor, and gives you complete control over your shooter's finer sensibilities. It lets you tweak exposure, aperture, shutter, white balance and focus with sensuous swipes of your fingertip. To make the whole shindig work, you'll need an Android device packing a USB host port and an "on-the-go" USB cable -- which lets your handset wear the pants in the phone / DSLR relationship. We should also warn you that the $8.51 application is currently still in beta and thus streams video in live view mode at a less than optimal 15fps. Those and other foibles may be remedied by the final release, but if you're looking to practice your tethering voodoo immediately, hit the source below, and watch a vid of your photographic future after the break.

Continue reading Android app tethers handsets to Canon cams, live view fanboys rejoice (video)

Android app tethers handsets to Canon cams, live view fanboys rejoice (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 06 Aug 2011 04:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cheap, Scaled-Down iMac Being Readied For Students? [Unconfirmed]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5828596/cheap-scaled+down-imac-being-readied-for-students

Apple failed to introduce a new educational discount for iPads, but that doesn't mean they've forgotten about students altogether. 9to5Mac has heard that a new, more affordable iMac aimed at students will be released this month, maybe on August 16th.

According to their sources, it'll be a basic machine with a 3.1GHz dual-core processor and AMD Radeon HD 6750M graphics card, 2GB of DDR3 RAM, and a 250GB hard drive. While full details aren't obviously known yet (and indeed, this rumor could be nothing but hopeful speculation), it's very likely this iMac would cost under $1,000 when it's released.

So what say you, students? Apple's cheapest iMac is currently $1,199. Would you be willing to sacrifice specs for a sub-$1,000 price-tag, or is the extra few hundred dollars a worthwhile investment in your future? [9to5Mac]

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