Friday, December 09, 2011

drag2share: Qualcomm's two new 1GHz dual-core chipsets make S1-to-S4 migration easier for manufacturers (updated)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/08/qualcomms-two-new-1ghz-dual-core-chipsets-make-s1-to-s4-migrati/

If the most recent batch of S4 chips from Qualcomm wasn't enough to completely satiate your thirst for new SoC's, the folks from San Diego are adding two more options to the already heapin' pile. At the 2011 Uplinq China Conference in Shenzhen, Qualcomm announced the MSM8625 and MSM8225 S4-class dual-core chipsets, both of which can clock up to 1GHz and pack an Adreno 203 GPU plus a 3G modem. While these numbers aren't relatively exciting at this day and age, the real selling point here is that these chips are actually software and hardware-compatible with the entry-level MSM7x27A and MSM7x25A S1 chips, meaning some of the existing S1-based designs can be quickly and easily adapted to these new S4 chips. Interested manufacturers can nab some of this new silicon from the third-generation Qualcomm Reference Design program -- which was also announced today featuring the new industrial designing service -- or standalone in the first half of 2012, but let's just hope we won't end up seeing too many familiar-looking phones. Press release attached after the break.

Zach Lutz contributed to this report.

Update: We just did a hands-on with one of Qualcomm's new 1.5GHz reference designs -- the one we played with had Dianxin OS installed, but we also came across one powered by Aliyun OS. Neither were running smoothly but we've been told they had to rush them, so we'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Anyhow, enjoy the photos.

Continue reading Qualcomm's two new 1GHz dual-core chipsets make S1-to-S4 migration easier for manufacturers (updated)

Qualcomm's two new 1GHz dual-core chipsets make S1-to-S4 migration easier for manufacturers (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Panasonic reveals 4.3-inch OLED smartphone with global ambitions, no name

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/09/panasonic-outs-smartphone-with-4-3-inch-oled-display-global-amb/

We knew that Panasonic's mobile division was summoning its strength for a return to the Old World, and finally we have some detail: it's aiming to bring an "ultra-slim D-shaped" Android smartphone with a slim bezel, 4.3-inch qHD OLED screen, NFC and some rugged credentials to Europe in March next year. The manufacturer hopes to use Europe as a stepping stone to the US, China and the rest of Asia, aiming to broaden its range of Android devices and sell at a total of nine million of them outside of Japan by the end of March 2016. Read on for the full PR.

Continue reading Panasonic reveals 4.3-inch OLED smartphone with global ambitions, no name

Panasonic reveals 4.3-inch OLED smartphone with global ambitions, no name originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 02:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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drag2share: Actually, Google Currents Is Almost Nothing Like Flipboard (It's Better) (GOOG)

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/google-currents-screenshots-2011-12


google currents

Today Google finally released Currents, it's (delayed) reader app that it decided to make after it failed to acquire Flipboard.

Until now, no one really knew what Currents would look like, so everyone (including us) assumed it was just another Flipboard clone.

Need proof? Click here for screenshots >

That's not the case. The two apps are similar in appearance, but actually function quite differently. Currents is all about curated the best content on the web and bringing it to you in a stylish, easy to read format. Flipboard mostly relies on links shared via your social networks to pull in content.

The result with Currents is a cleaner product that always guarantees you're keeping up with the latest news you're interested in. Not what you're friends are interested in.

We've been using both the Android version (on the Galaxy Nexus) and the iOS version (on the iPad) since the app launched. 

First of all, this is probably the best design to come out of Google in a long time. It's pretty obvious they borrowed a lot from Flipboard, but the app is still gorgeous. Even the iOS version looks good. 

When you launch the app, you're asked to sign in with your Google account before you can start pulling in stories to read. (Android users won't have to do that.) Currents comes pre-loaded with a few publications like Fast Company and Forbes, but there are dozens of other publishing partners you can subscribe to. 

google currentsAfter you select the publications to add to your library, Currents downloads the top articles from each one and stores them on your device so you can read them offline if you want. You also get a beautiful slideshow at the top of the app with photos from stories in your library. Swipe through them to see more.

On Android, you can share stories just about anywhere: Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, Dropbox, Box, etc. As long as you have the app and are logged in, it syncs perfectly with Currents. You're a bit more limited on iOS and the app makes you sign into each sharing service individually, with the exception of Twitter if you're using iOS 5.

The other major component to Currents is the Trending section. Here you can choose topics you want to read about and Currents pulls in the top five stories in each category. Whereas Flipboard is all about what you're friends are sharing on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., Currents is about what everyone is reading and sharing. 

Currents also does a great job at adapting to the size of your screen. Whether you're using a tablet or a 4-inch smartphone, Currents always looks incredible and lays out content in an easily digestible form. Even better, it syncs with all your devices. Just sign in with your Google account and you're good to go.

So the philosophy between Currents and Flipboard is slightly different. Currents is all about curated content and finding you the best stuff on the web to read. Flipboard is mostly about pulling in links and articles your friends are sharing on various social networks or from your RSS. Yes, there is a major curation element to Flipboard too, but the focus is still on social. 

At the end of the day you have to ask yourself what you want from a reader app: Do I want great curated content delivered to me? (Currents) Or do I want to rely on my friends to share stuff I'd like to read. (Flipboard)

Here's the main home screen for Currents. There's a slideshow that you can swipe through at the top. The bottom has your library of publications.



Here's a sample of the topics you can choose from



Just tap "Add" next to a publication and its content begins to download



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Thursday, December 08, 2011

drag2share: Add Your Contacts to Google+ Directly from the Gmail Sidebar [Gmail]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5866422/add-your-contacts-to-google%252B-directly-from-the-gmail-sidebar

Add Your Contacts to Google+ Directly from the Gmail SidebarGmail received a minor update today that allows you to manage your Google+ contacts directly from the sidebar. While this is convenient if you're you're a fan of the social network, it's particularly helpful if you want additional context about your Gmail contacts. When you add one to a circle in Google+, a little label will show up with the name of that circle. This can help you get a better idea of who this person if they're not someone you interact with regularly. Circles can also help inform you of the content of the email, if, for example, the person contacting you is a member of your hiking club.

Additionally, the new Google+ integration will keep contact information up-to-date automatically. If you're tired of adding or changing phone numbers, addresses, and other details of your contacts, you can let Gmail take care of that by pulling information directly from Google+.

Check out Google's official post for more details and screenshots, or just log into your Gmail account to check out these new features. (Note: The rollout is still underway so it may take a few days before you start to see them.)

Gmail and Contacts get better with Google+ | Official Gmail Blog

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drag2share: Can Watson's Mega-Brain Help Rid the World of Patent Trolls? [Science]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5866391/can-watsons-mega+brain-help-rid-the-world-of-patent-trolls

Can Watson's Mega-Brain Help Rid the World of Patent Trolls?IBM's Watson is most famous for handing Ken Jennings his ass on Jeopardy, but since then the supercomputer's talents have been used to help doctors diagnose and treat disease. But Watson's greatest trick might still be ahead of it: beating back the scourge of patent trolls.

A key part of Watson's medical mission is the scanning and cataloging of millions of drug discoveries buried in medical journals and patents. Through IBM's Strategic IP Insight Platform, Watson has cataloged some 2.5 million chemical compounds. IBM has donated the database to NIH, which is a boon to scientists all over the world because it includes troves of otherwise hard to find information about expired patents.

But as ExtremeTech suggests, there's no reason the technology should be limited to medical patents when it could be used to go through all patents. It would not only make sifting through them easier, it could help battle patent trolls, too:

Then there's battling the patent trolls. SIIP is almost entirely about analyzing the state of play and producing actionable analytics. If a malevolent patent troll targets your company, SIIP could help you find prior art, or perhaps secure a protective licensing deal with an IP behemoth like IBM.

Of course, as ExtremeTech points out, it could also backfire; trolls could use SIIP to suss out weak companies with weak patent portfolios and sick their legal beagles on them at will.

So it's a double-edged sword. SIIP could be used to both help or hinder our current patent calamity. For now at least, IBM doesn't have plans to apply SIIP outside of medicine. But in time, hopefully Watson will rise to a higher calling: vanquishing of trolls like it did so many Daily Doubles. [ExtremeTech via HackerNews; Image via IBM]

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