Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Wednesday, October 03, 2012

Chrome Beta adds video engagement APIs, promises higher-quality video chats sans plugin

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/03/chrome-beta-adds-video-engagement/

After concentrating on gaming and visual improvements in previous releases of Chrome, the browser's latest focus appears to be in video engagement. The latest beta includes a PeerConnection API that lets developers create real-time video chat applications without a plug-in. This builds upon existing WebRTC integration with a new getUserMedia API that should result in higher-quality video, audio, and data communications. The Beta also bundles in track support for HTML5 video, letting developers add in subtitles, captions, and other metadata -- the above photo, for example, is a screencap of a bike ride video enhanced with Google Map and Street View data. Another nice addition is a MediaSource API which adjusts video quality based on computer and network environments, which should put an end to those agonizing waits while the dancing inmate version of Gangnam Style buffers. Those interested can get their mitts on the new Chrome Beta today.

Filed under: Internet, Software

Chrome Beta adds video engagement APIs, promises higher-quality video chats sans plugin originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 02! :24:00 E DT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AOC outs 'borderless' 27-inch IPS monitor, available now for $349

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/03/aoc-borderless-i2757fh-ips-monitor/

Not to be outdone by ViewSonic's recent introduction of the 27-inch VX2770Smh-LED display, AOC's coming out with a large IPS monitor of its own. The i2757fh is being touted as a "borderless" panel, and the reason behind that claim is its slim 2mm bezel. Aside from those narrow characteristics, AOC's new 27-inch monitor also boasts a decent 1920 x 1080 resolution with 50,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio, 5ms response time, two HDMI ports and, naturally, the great viewing angles you get with an IPS unit. As far as pricing goes, AOC's slapping a not-too-shabby $349 tag on the i2757fh, but there is a Best Buy-only deal which knocks 50 bucks off of the original MSRP. Hit the break for an additional angled shot as well as official PR.

Continue reading AOC outs 'borderless' 27-inch IPS monitor, available now for $349

Filed under: Displays, Misc

AOC outs 'borderless' 27-inch IPS monitor, available now for $349 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 06:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuesday, October 02, 2012

Nokia launches Belle Feature Pack 2 firmware OTA, Pureview 808 gets extra imaging goodies

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/02/nokia-belle-feature-pack-2-OTA/

Like the proverbial groundhog, Nokia's Feature Pack 2 for Symbian Belle peeked out a bit too early last month and had to withdraw back into its burrow. Now the new firmware upgrade for the Nokia 701, 700, 602 and Pureview 808 is out for realsies, with the latter star of the lineup getting the lion's share of new trinkets. Specifically, the big-sensored phone will now have a Gallery Grid view option, which will enable faster and easier zooming, editing and sharing of images; more picture info like ISO value, white balance and location; and a reset button to get back to the default image setting in one touch. All the above Symbian Belle phones will get an updated browser with better HTML5 support, a (much) faster keyboard, the Video Pro editing application and Car Mode -- which gives "easy access to your phone's key features when you're driving," according to Nokia. If that makes you feel better about your legacy Nokia OS investment after all the company's Windows Phone 8 hoopla, check the source to see how to get it.

[Thanks, Fakhre]

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Nokia!

< a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/02/nokia-belle-feature-pack-2-OTA/">Nokia launches Belle Feature Pack 2 firmware OTA, Pureview 808 gets extra imaging goodies originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Oct 2012 10:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sharp's New 5-Inch HD Display Is Crystal Clear [Sharp]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5948127/sharps-new-hd-5+inch-display-is-crystal-clear

Sharp's launching a new 5-inch 1920 x 1080 pixel display this week in Japan—and it's one of the most pixel-dense screens to date.

According to the Verge, the new display uses TFTs produced with continuous grain (CG) silicon rather than the recently lauded IGZO transistor technology. Despite the fact it's an older technology, it still lets Sharp cram in a full 1920 x 1080 HD display into the 5-inch form factor.

That means the display offers up a pixel density of 442 pixels per inch. Compare that to the Retina display of the iPhone, which manages 326 ppi, and it sounds really rather promising. The new display is pictured above on the right, next to an iPhone. It's worth pointing out that Sharp has hit a high of 498 ppi with a 6.1-inch IGZO prototype in the past, but that's not seen commercial release yet.

If you're wondering why the company is using CG silicon over IGZO—good question!—then a Sharp rep told the Verge that it allows faster response times and, in turn, higher resolutions. Perhaps more importantly, because it's better-established technology, it's easier to set into mass production, too. And that, of course, means that it might not be long before full HD phones are the norm. [Engadget, Verge]

Razer CEO wants annual Blade laptop refreshes, isn't worried about price complaints

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/01/razer-ceo-interview-blade-2/

Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan is charismatic, clearly very smart and passionate -- not a bad combination considering he's the face and voice of a major international hardware manufacturer. Razer's latest, the second-generation Blade gaming laptop, launches this week for the whopping price of $2,500, and we spoke with Min-Liang about just that. "This," he said, referencing the second-generation Blade's slim power brick, "costs seven times this," he added, pointing to a competitor's power supply. "Do we have to do this? Probably not." And that's emblematic of Razer's whole approach to the Razer Blade, as a line of gaming computers. Expensive? Yes, very. But significantly nicer and more detailed that its less expensive competition? Also yes. Also very.

As our own Sean Buckley put it in our review of their latest gaming laptop, "the Blade is a gorgeous machine." It's true -- at just 0.88 inches tall and 6.6 pounds, the new Blade is remarkably thin and light for a 17-inch laptop with enough juice under the hood to sate even the most spec-obsessed of PC gamers. But are enough gamers out there willing to trade a lower price tag for a better-looking machine? Razer and its CEO certainly think so, and they've got numbers from the first, more expensive Blade to prove it. "The original Blade was at $2,799. Back then, it was pricey, but we've been surprised at the amount of demand for that. We thought we were gonna sell out in 30 days -- we had 30 days' stock. But we sold out in 30 minutes for the first batch," he said. And, as far as pre-order numbers go for the second version, Min-Liang's confident they mean good things for the future of the Blade! .

"We're getting hammered with the pre-orders for the new Razer Blade. Right now, we'll be able to ship most of the orders by September 30, fingers crossed. But we're trying to bring in as many units as possible," he excitedly explained. Min-Liang isn't too worried about offending first-gen buyers, either -- the first Razer Blade launched in early 2012 for just shy of $2,800. Less than 10 months later, the second-gen Blade is launching for $300 less with a significantly upgraded graphics card. Sure, first-gen adopters get a $500 discount on the new Blade, but the sting of early adoption is especially rough in such an instance.

Gallery: Razer Blade 2 hands-on