Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Thursday, August 23, 2012

JBL's newest Jembe desktop speakers are Bluetooth-enabled, now on sale for $99

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/23/jbl-jembe-wireless-bluetooth-speakers/

The Jembe wired speakers have been out on the market since late last year, but now JBL's finally introducing a cordless variant of these sleek desktop noisemakers. Aside from being Bluetooth-friendly at last, the pair's retaining its "stylish weave design" and adding a Harman TrueStream sound technology that wasn't found on the lesser-priced, cabled Jembe set -- this, naturally, while still utilizing a 3.5mm headphone jack as the main input source. JBL's pricing the new Jembe speakers at $99 in the US and £70 (about $110) for UK folks, with the company set to be taking orders as we speak. For that, however, you'll have to virtually land on either of the links below -- otherwise you can always go with those eccentric (and rather intimidating) Edifier Spinnakers.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Peripherals, Wireless

JBL's newest Jembe desktop speakers are Bluetooth-enabled, now on sale for $99 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 02:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VMware intros Fusion 5 virtualization software with support for Win 8, integration with Mountain Lion

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/23/vmware-announces-fusion-5-virtualization-software/

With Mountain Lion newly available and Windows 8 on the verge of shipping, now was a pretty good time for VMware to update its Fusion virtualization software, dont'cha think? The company just announced Fusion 5 with 70-plus new features, including support for Win 8 and tight integration with OS X 10.8. For instance, you can now view Windows programs in Mountain Lion's Launchpad, while VMware software updates pop up in the Notification Center. Fusion also supports AirPlay for the first time, and you can also run either Mountain Lion or Mountain Lion Server as a virtual machine. The company also added support for Retina Display MacBook Pros, so that everything looks crisp on that 2,880 x 1,800 screen. Also of note: Fusion now supports USB 3.0, and Linux users get some love in the form of Open GL 2.1 graphics support.

The standard version of Fusion 5 is available now for $49.99, but people who bought Fusion 4 since the release of Mountain Lion can upgrade for free. There's also a professional version ($100 for one license), which includes all the above features, and also lets IT departments lock down settings for employees' virtual machines.

Gallery: VMware Fusion 5 screenshots

Continue reading VMware intros Fusion 5 virtualization software with support for Win 8, integration with Mountain Lion

Filed under: Software

VMware intros Fusion 5 virtualization software with support for Win 8, integration with Mountain Lion originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Red posts high frame-rate video demonstration to smooth out misconceptions

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/23/red-high-frame-rate-demonstration/

If you're still unsure about what you'll be getting into if you see the 48fps version of "Hobbit," Red has jumped into the fray with an article on its website and, most importantly, high quality HFR (high frame-rate) videos. It delves into all the aspects of the tech, starting with a primer on the minimum frame rate required to perceive motion, illustrated by a pair of clips to show the threshold. From there it details "judder" when panning at 24 fps versus 60 fps, motion blur, the possibility of brighter projection with HFR in 3D and of course, action at slower versus faster frame speeds. Finally, it demonstrates the hated "TruMotion" soap opera-esque interpolation method on modern TVs, and why that's different from true fast-frames. Sure, Red has a vested interest in seeing upcoming HFR films from its Epic camera succeed, but a little education might be what's needed to break old habits.

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Home Entertainment

Red posts high frame-rate video demonstration to smooth out misconceptions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 08:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Acer Aspire V5 review: an 11-inch Ivy Bridge laptop for $550

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/23/acer-aspire-v5-review/

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Acer first took the wraps off its Aspire V5 series at CeBIT in March, teasing the line of notebooks with designs that are 30 percent thinner than other laptops in their category. A few months later, in June, the company officially unveiled the 14- and 15-inch Aspire V5s, with Ivy Bridge processors and prices starting at $630. Rounding out that family is the 11-inch the Aspire V5 171. We have a bit of an identity crisis on our hands with this guy: though it looks like a netbook and weighs a light three pounds, it packs a Core i5 Ivy Bridge processor befitting a full-fledged machine, but it costs a budget-minded $550 ($500 with Acer's current promotion). Many products in this price range are clunky 15-inchers, so where exactly does this Aspire V5 fit in? Join us past the break as we sort that out.

Gallery: Acer Aspire V5 review

Continue reading Acer Aspire V5 review: an 11-inch Ivy Bridge laptop for $550

Filed under: Laptops

Acer Aspire V5 review: an 11-inch Ivy Bridge laptop for $550 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wednesday, August 22, 2012

PayPal expands presence in US retail stores with new Discover partnership

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/22/paypal-expands-presence-in-us-retail-stores-with-new-discover-pa/

PayPal already has a partnership with MasterCard in place that lets you use its debit cards in stores, but the company has now expanded that retail presence even further with a new deal it's struck with Discover. Starting sometime next year, that arrangement will let PayPal customers use their charge cards at any of the 7 million retail locations that accept Discover cards, with funds drawn directly from their PayPal account. What's more, PayPal says that retailers won't have to make any hardware or software upgrades to accept the PayPal payments, noting that they'll simply have to let customers know of the new option with in-store signage. Of course, the deal also likely has implications beyond traditional plastic cards, as PayPal is now also pushing its mobile payments more than ever, not to mention its own triangular Square competitor. You can find the official announcement below.

Continue reading PayPal expands presence in US retail stores with new Discover partnership

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

PayPal expands presence in US retail stores with new Discover partnership originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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