Gmail composer goes to a simple pop-up, gives multitaskers freedom to fly

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/30/gmail-composer-goes-to-a-simple-pop-up/

As much as Gmail shines when it's on the web, some of its most avid users stay in native apps for the multitasking; having to check a past message in the web client has usually meant putting the current draft on hold, or at least maintaining a near-photographic memory. Google wants to translate some of that desktop experience to the web through a new composition interface it's testing as of today. New messages start off in a shrinkable pop-up that lets us find old threads without having to put the new conversation on ice, even we're indecisive enough to leave multiple unfinished e-mail messages open. Other upgrades lurk in the background for the more focused among us, such as a pared-back composition interface, in-line photos and a reply box that dynamically adapts to the space it needs. Only those in the preview will see the Gmail update for now; Google is promising a wider launch in the months ahead that could save us all a few precious minutes each day.

Filed under: Internet, Google

Gmail composer goes to a simple pop-up, gives multitaskers freedom to fly originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 12:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Take that linear algebra to go: Intel's 48-core chip targeting smartphones and tablets

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/30/intel-48-core-chip-smartphones-tablets/

Intel's taking its 48-core processor and applying it to a field beyond academia: the world of mobile electronics. The company this morning announced intentions to slip the 48-core bad boy into future tablets and smartphones (emphasis on future), with CTO Justin Rattner saying the mobile implementation could arrive "much sooner" than the 10-year window predicted by researchers.

Aside from the thrilling world of linear algebra and fluid dynamics that the chipset is currently used for, Intel says it could offload processor-intensive functions across several cores, effectively speeding up various functions (say, video streaming). The availability of so many cores also means faster multitasking possibilities than the current dual- or quad-core offerings in modern smartphones and tablets -- just imagine a world where two Angry Birds games can run simultaneously in the background without affecting the paradoxical game of Tiny Wings you decided to play instead. Hey, we understand -- it's just a better bird game. No big. Sadly, few software developers are crafting their wares (warez?) to take advantage of multi-core processing as is, so it's gonna take more than just the existence of Intel's 48-core chip to make its vision a reality.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds, Tablets, Mobile, Intel

Take that linear algebra to go: Intel's 48-core chip targeting smartphones and tablets originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 14:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google Search app for iOS updated with new voice search functionality, iPhone 5 compatibility (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/30/google-search-app-for-ios-updated-with-new-voice-search-function/

Google just released an updated version of its Search app for Android devices yesterday, and it's now (as promised) also delivered a fairly big update to iOS users. That brings with it iPhone 5 compatibility, but the bigger news is the expanded voice search functionality, which promises "faster and significantly improved voice recognition," with spoken responses à la Google Now provided alongside the search results. Those additions also extend to iPad users in addition to the iPhone and iPod touch -- hit the App Store or the link below to take it for a spin yourself.

Continue reading Google Search app for iOS updated with new voice search functionality, iPhone 5 compatibility (video)

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Mobile, Google

Google Search app for iOS updated with new! voice s earch functionality, iPhone 5 compatibility (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 13:37:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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University of Tokyo turns real paper and ink into a display, could share doodles from a distance (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/30/university-of-tokyo-turns-real-paper-and-ink-into-a-display/

Forget e-paper: if the University of Tokyo's Naemura Lab has its way, we'll interact with the real thing. The division's new research has budding artists draw on photochromic paper with Frixion's heat-sensitive ink, turning the results into something a computer can manipulate. A laser 'erases' the ink to fix mistakes or add effects, and an ultraviolet projector overhead can copy any handiwork, fill in the gaps or print a new creation. The prototype is neither high resolution nor quick -- you won't be living out fantasies of a real-world A-Ha music video -- but the laser's accuracy (down to 0.0001 inches) has already led researchers to dream of paper-based, Google Docs-style collaboration where edits in one place affect a tangible document somewhere else. It's hard to see truly widespread adoption in an era where we're often trying to save trees instead of print to them, but there's an undeniable appeal to having a hard copy that isn't fixed in time.

Continue reading University of Tokyo turns real paper and ink into a display, could share doodles from a distance (video)

Filed under: Displays, Alt

University of Tokyo turns real paper and ink into a display, could share doodles from a distance (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 14:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nexus 4 boasts SlimPort support for tethered display sharing

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/30/nexus-4-boasts-slimport-support/

A lot of the hubbub yesterday was around the Nexus 4's support of Miracast, courtesy of Android 4.2. If you don't want to spring for a dedicated TV box or invest in a whole new set of gadgets to supersize your mobile experience, then you may be excited to hear that the handset also supports SlimPort. We haven't heard much from the DisplayPort-based standard since January, but we're happy to report it finally appears to be ready for primetime. Analogix, the company behind the tech, already has its first adapter up for sale on Amazon (at the more coverage link), which takes the Nexus 4's micro-USB port and allows you to connect an HDMI cable to it -- so long as that proposition is worth $30 to you. Eventually DVI, VGA and DisplayPort will also be added to list of output options, potentially making the this handset's charging port the most versatile micro-USB jack in the smartphone market. For more, check out the PR after the break.

Continue reading Nexus 4 boasts SlimPort support for tethered display sharing

Filed under: Cellphones, Displays, Mobile, Google, LG

Nexus 4 boasts SlimPort support for tethered display sharing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 18:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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