Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Austrian city builds public library with nothing but QR codes, NFC and stickers

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/10/austrian-city-builds-public-library-with-qr-codes-nfc-stickers/

Strangely, the Austrian city of Klagenfurt doesn't have a public library, even though it hosts the Festival of German-Language Literature. However, an initiative dubbed Project Ingeborg is turning the municipality into a book repository of sorts with 70 QR code and NFC chip-equipped stickers. Plastered throughout town, they direct users to web pages where they can download public domain works, largely from Project Gutenberg. Oftentimes, e-books will be located in relevant locations -- so you'll be sure to find Arthur Schnitzler's The Killer near the police station, for example. Come August, the team behind the effort will partner with local talent to distribute books, music and other digital content too. In an effort to build a stronger bond to the location, the organizers have prevented search engines from indexing the links, so you'll have to visit Klagenfurt to access the curated goods. If you'd like to turn your city into a library, the group hopes to release instructions for replicating their system soon.

[Thanks, Michael]

Filed under: Cellphones

Austrian city builds public library with nothing but QR codes, NFC and stickers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jul ! 2012 06: 20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday, July 09, 2012

Fujitsu unveils the Stylistic Q702 hybrid tablet and the LifeBook T902 convertible laptop

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/09/fujitsu-stylistic-q702-lifebook-T902/

Back at Computex last month we saw dozens of Windows 8-ready Ultrabooks on display: sliding-ones, touchscreen ones, foldable ones. Curiously, though, there were virtually none aimed at businesses -- you know, one of Microsoft's key customer groups. Today, though, Fujitsu is unveiling not one, but two devices aimed at the corporate crowd: the Stylistic Q702 laptop/tablet hybrid and the LifeBook T902, a convertible laptop.

Starting with the Q702, it's an 11.6-inch tablet that works with an optional keyboard dock and also supports pen input. Yes, that's a form factor we know all too well at this point, but this one at least manages to differentiate itself with business-friendly features like TPM, Intel Anti-Theft technology, Computrace support and built-in WWAN and LTE connectivity (so far, we know AT&T, Verizon and Sprint will be on board). Under the hood, it runs Ivy Bridge processors (Core i3 or i5) with 4GB of RAM and an SSD with up to 128GB of storage space. As you'd expect of an 11.6-inch Windows tablet, the resolution is 1,366 x 768, though Fujitsu also added Gorilla Glass coating and ratcheted the brightness up to 400 nits. On its own, the 1.88-pound tablet is rated for 4.5 hours of runtime (the dock adds an extra 5.5). Speaking of which, in addition to a built-in battery, the dock adds two USB 2.0 / 3.0 ports, Ethernet jack and VGA.

Moving on, the LifeBook T902 replaces this guy with a higher-res 13-inch Gorilla Glass display (1,600 x 900 this time) and is powered by Ivy Bridge processors (i5 and i7 chips, to be precise). Inside th! at 4.1-p ound body you can cram up to 16GB of RAM, along with optional WWAN or LTE radios. It's also home to a modular bay, which you can use to add a spare battery or hard drive, or maybe even an optical drive. Fujitsu rates the battery life at up to 11 hours, but that's assuming you go ahead and buy that second battery. Here, too, you'll find security features like TPM and Computrace support, but unlike the Q702 tablet it adds a fingerprint sensor and IT-friendly vPro chips.

The Q702 and T902 will both ship with Windows 7, but are naturally upgradeable to Win8. Look for both to arrive sometime in the third quarter, with the Q702 hybrid starting at $1,099 and the T902 going for $1,899 and up. Full PR after the break, along with a press shot of the convertible.

Continue reading Fujitsu unveils the Stylistic Q702 hybrid tablet and the LifeBook T902 convertible laptop

Fujitsu unveils the Stylistic Q702 hybrid tablet and the LifeBook T902 convertible laptop originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LG Optimus 4X HD review: runner-up to the quad-core throne

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/09/lg-optimus-4x-hd-review-runner-up-to-the-quad-core-throne/

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LG has an ongoing smartphone problem: despite a few valiant efforts (the G2x comes to mind) the company continues to live in the shadow of rival Samsung. Most of this malaise can be attributed to hit-and-miss hardware combined with lackluster software (we're looking at you, Spectrum). Last February, at Mobile World Congress, LG spiced things up with an attractive collection of devices including the Optimus L7, Optimus Vu and Optimus 4X HD -- the latter being one of the first quad-core handsets announced. Now, six months later, we live in a world where the global versions of HTC's One X and Samsung's Galaxy S III dominate the superphone market and share the quad-core crown. With me-too features like a Tegra 3 processor, 4.7-inch HD display, 8-megapixel camera and Ice Cream Sandwich on board, the Optimus 4X HD appears ready to play in the big leagues. Does it succeed or is it just a flash in the pan? Is it all style over substance or does it bring something unique and meaningful to the table? Hit the break for our full review.

Gallery: LG Optimus 4X HD review

Continue reading LG Optimus 4X HD review: runner-up to the quad-core throne

Filed under: Cellphones

LG Optimus 4X HD review: runner-up to the quad-core throne origi! nally ap peared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nikon WU-1a wireless mobile adapter for D3200 review: using Android as a remote trigger / wireless display

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/09/nikon-wu-1a-wireless-mobile-adapter-d3200-review-android/

In the world of DSLR shooting, you can certainly catch one's attention by mentioning one of two things: a wireless display, or a remote trigger setup. Neither of these are exactly fresh concepts, but Nikon has chosen a curious beast to highlight one of its most promising accessories to date. The $60 WU-1a Wireless Mobile Adapter primarily allows two things to happen. First, it enables your Android phone or tablet (and soon, iOS device) to act as a wireless display. You shoot an image, and within seconds, that image is ready for your ogling on a far larger display than the 3-incher found on the D3200's backside. For those looking for a far better way to review each shot without pulling out the laptop, this is it.

Nikon D3200 hands-on

Triggertrap: nine ways to activate your DSLR with an iOS device

Engadget Primed: Cameras

The other function -- the one we at Engadget were most intrigued by -- is the ability to use a mobile device to wirelessly trigger a shot. The adapter relies on WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) in order to converse with one's Android device, enabling a connection even when you're away from a cellular data signal or WiFi network. Frankly, we were overly bummed! to see the entry-level D3200 gain compatibility before full-frame shooters like the D800, D3S and D4 -- after all, it sure seems that professionals would be seeking these features more than novices. In the end, however, it's probably best that more spendy clients be kept far, far away from the disappointment. Join us after the break as we explain.

Gallery: Nikon WU-1a mobile wireless adapter hands-on

Continue reading Nikon WU-1a wireless mobile adapter for D3200 review: using Android as a remote trigger / wireless display

Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras, Software

Nikon WU-1a wireless mobile adapter for D3200 review: using Android as a remote trigger / wireless display originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 13:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MIT researchers develop chip that can harvest energy from multiple sources

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/09/mit-researchers-develop-chip-that-can-harvest-energy-from-multip/

We've seen a number of different devices that can harvest energy from various sources, but none quite like this new chip developed by a team of MIT researchers. It's able to harvest energy from three different sources simultaneously: light, heat and vibrations. The key to that is a sophisticated control system that's able to rapidly switch between the three sources at all times to prevent any of that energy from going to waste (and not draw too much power itself), with energy from the secondary sources stored in capacitors to be picked up later -- as opposed to existing systems that simply switch between sources based on what's most plentiful. As doctoral student Saurav Bandyopadhyay explains, efficiently managing those disparate sources could be a "big advantage since many of these sources are intermittent and unpredictable," and it could in turn lead to the chip being used in a range of different applications where batteries or existing energy harvesting methods just aren't enough: everything from environmental sensors in remote locations to biomedical devices.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Science

MIT researchers develop chip that can harvest energy from multiple sources originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 15:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of fee! ds.< /p>

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