NVIDIA and Rambus settle, sign patent deal, kiss and make up

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/nvidia-and-rambus-settle-sign-patent-deal-kiss-and-make-up/

Some of you thought it would never happen. You thought that these two mortal enemies would spend the rest of their multinational corporate lives alternately at each other throats and eyeing the other with suspicion from across the boardroom. After dropping some claims and winning others, Rambus has signed an agreement with NVIDIA that puts to rest their remaining legal disputes. The deal will allow NVIDIA to use patented Rambus tech in its products for the next five years, without fear of legal action -- though, neither side will say how much that privilege cost. Now that the battle between the two, which began way back in 2008, has finally come to a close we can all finally get back to the very important business of forgetting who or what Rambus is.

NVIDIA and Rambus settle, sign patent deal, kiss and make up originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Olympus OM-D E-M5 five-axis sensor-shift image stabilization hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/olympus-om-d-e-m5-five-axis-sensor-shift-image-stabilization-han/

Olympus's inaugural OM-D mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, the E-M5, boasts the world's fastest autofocus and a pretty fantastic design, but it's also the first camera to implement a new five-axis sensor-shift image stabilization technology, that allows the lens to compensate for camera shake. The company was on hand at CP+ 2012 to demo the new sensor, which really does shift every which way to keep your photos and video still. We'll of course need to spend some time shooting photos and video with the E-M5 before labeling the five-axis sensor a success, but from the demo we saw today, it looks pretty darn promising. Jump past the break for a video hands-on, and scroll through the photos below for an up-close view of Olympus's latest Micro Four Thirds masterpiece.

Gallery: Olympus five-axis sensor-shift image stabilization hands-on

Continue reading Olympus OM-D E-M5 five-axis sensor-shift image stabilization hands-on (video)

Olympus OM-D E-M5 five-axis sensor-shift image stabilization hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Will Trade You Money for Your Privacy [Google]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5883393/google-will-trade-you-money-for-your-privacy

Normally, focus groups only require a few hours of your time, with a free lunch and a little bit of money for your troubles. Google now has plans to start focus grouping as well, except that they'll only give you a five dollar Amazon gift card in exchange for letting them spend three months observing your browsing habits.

The focus group is called Screenwise, and it goes something like this: install an extension in Chrome and start using the internet. That extension will send info back to Google as they figure out "how everyday people use the internet."

The new project is called Screenwise. As a panelist, you'll add a browser extension that will share with Google the sites you visit and how you use them. What we learn from you, and others like you, will help us improve Google products and services and make a better online experience for everyone.

For every three months you participate in Screenwise, you'll get another $5 gift card, but only til you've siphoned $25 from them. Um, this sounds like a horrible proposition? Also, lotsa lulz for Google giving out Amazon gift cards. [Screenwise via SearchEngineLand]

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Android 4.0.4 ROM leaks for Verizon's Galaxy Nexus

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/android-404-rom-leaks-for-galaxy-nexus-lte/

A little gem known as Android 4.0.4 wriggled its way onto the interweb last week, and while it was geared specifically for Sprint's Nexus S 4G, a similar version has just cropped up for the CDMA / LTE Galaxy Nexus from Verizon. While it's only available for tenacious users who've unlocked their bootloader, it seems that a host of improvements are on deck for the official release. First and foremost, the ROM is said to be noticeably faster, with the speed gains also extending to the web browser and the device's boot time. The release also packs a new radio file that (at least from user impressions) offers more seamless transitions between the CDMA and LTE networks. All in all, the rest of the changes are rather minor, but if you'd like to join the bleeding edge, you'll find everything you need in the source link below.

Android 4.0.4 ROM leaks for Verizon's Galaxy Nexus originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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See How Much Camera ISO Has Improved Over the Years [Cameras]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5883185/see-how-much-camera-iso-has-improved-over-the-years

The picture on the left (if you can't tell by the young and spunky Britney Spears) was taken at the 2001 Super Bowl with a Nikon D1H at 2.7 megapixels and 800 ISO. That was PRIMO technology back then! The picture on the right was taken at this year's Super Bowl with a Nikon D3s at 12MP and 12,800 ISO. Yep, thing's done got better.

Click the picture to embiggen so you can see the full effect. The difference is stark: the 2001 picture looks like it came out of my iPhone! More seriously, the 2001 picture has significantly more noise, washed out colors and less depth when compared to the 2012 picture. Heck, the 2012 is so good it can make Madonna look human.

I can't wait for the next 10 years when camera ISOs are going to get even better and Steven Tyler will devolve into even more of a mangled mess. [Fstoppers via PetaPixel]

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