Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Verizon and Redbox's Streaming Service Is Really Real and Only $6

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5967801/verizon-and-redboxs-streaming-service-is-really-real-and-only-6

Verizon and Redbox are officially kicking off a streaming movie service. Sort of. Redbox Instant by Verizon goes into beta this month, and you have to have an invitation to get behind the velvet rope for now.

Later in 2013, however, will be the wider launch. For now, the details are that the Redbox Instant will give you streaming video and some mail-order DVDs, as well as the ability to buy online. It sounds like a pretty decent deal—$8/month gets you streaming plus four DVDs from Redbox kiosks and access to the online store. The same option with Blu-ray is $9/month. And if you don't give a hoot about DVDs, you'll pay just $6/month for streaming only. And now you have even more reason to never leave your apartment, ever. [Redbox Instant via AllThingsD]

Fuhu announces the $250 Nabi XD for tweens: 10.1-inch display, Jelly Bean on offer

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/12/fuhu-announces-nabi-xd/

Fuhu's latest attempt at a tablet for youngsters is the Nabi XD, this time promising to help keep your tween's hands off your shiny new slate and also eschew sibling rivalry. It's packing specs that match its grown-up approach -- a 10.1-inch, 1,366 x 768 IPS display, quad-core Tegra 3 innards, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, dual snappers, and NFC. The customizable wrapper atop the OS boasts a "gadget-based", rule-governed interface that changes depending on time and location. Concerned parents can take solace in its kid-friendly browsing, and fool themselves by springing for the optional silicone keyboard cover -- an accessory that should, in theory, assist with homework, but one that might just be relegated to the side in favor of the device's more enticing gaming capabilities. The tablet will set you back $249 for 16GB and $349 for the 32GB iterations when it lands late December, but ask yourselves first -- is this really what your kid wants?

Continue reading Fuhu announces the $250 Nabi XD for tweens: 10.1-inch display, Jelly Bean on offer

Filed under: Tablets

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Insert Coin: PIPA Touch fingerprint reader lets phone owners authenticate most anything

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/12/insert-coin-pipa-touch-fingerprint-reader/

In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.

Mobile security beyond PIN codes and passwords is usually a tentative affair. There's fingerprint readers, but they're often specific to the device or the platform, and sometimes limited to just a handful of tasks. Team PIPA wants to raise funds for a more universal solution. Its PIPA Touch scanner can add biometric authentication to phones' lock screens, websites and other tasks through a developer kit, and a modular design lets it slip into cases for the Android, iOS and Windows Phone devices that should receive support. Security goes beyond most fingerprint readers, as well: while a basic swipe-and-done scan is an option, the truly cautious can require a multi-scan sequence that fends off just about any intruder.

Continue reading Insert Coin: PIPA Touch fingerprint reader lets phone owners authenticate most anything

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Mobile

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Source: PIPA Touch (Indiegogo)

FreedomPop brings free wireless internet to the home with Hub Burst modem and router

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/12/freedompop-hub-burst-free-wireless-internet/

If you happen to live in an area that's served by Clearwire's WiMAX network, then you may be interested to learn of a new home internet service that's very aggressive on the pricing front. FreedomPop has announced a free broadband service that'll offer 1GB of data consumption per month. Not to stop there, heavier users can sign up for a $9.99 monthly subscription that provides 10GB of data usage, or take advantage of a pay-as-you-go option that costs $0.005 per megabyte ($5/GB). Also of note, free users will be able to earn additional data by engaging friends and participating in promotions.

FreedomPop's service will launch in conjunction with the Hub Burst, a 4G modem and router that costs $89, which is available for pre-order now and is set to ship next month. The Hub Burst offers two Ethernet jacks -- useful for your desktop or home entertainment setup -- along with support for 802.11b/g/n (WiFi). While WiMAX is a bit pokey by modern standards, if you're looking to lighten your monthly bills, this alternative to Clear and NetZero may be the ticket, indeed.

Continue reading FreedomPop brings free wireless internet to the home with Hub Burst modem and router

Filed under: Wireless, Internet, Mobile

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Source: FreedomPop

Flickr for iOS gets a major overhaul, we go hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/12/flickr-for-ios-hands-on/

Just like Marissa Mayer promised, Yahoo has revamped its Flickr app for iOS to bring it back in line with the oh-so-social modern era. Whereas the Android app was updated back in August, the iPhone version has had only minor improvements over the last few years and was starting to look seriously dusty compared to the competition. In terms of individual features, the new app doesn't do much that various other third-party apps can't do already, but it does bunch them all into one polished package that is happy to work across multiple networks. In addition to Flickr, for instance, you can readily share your snaps with Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr. You might also dig the camera app, which separates exposure and focus points to give you more creative control over your images -- and yes, there are the obligatory filters too. The app is live on the App Store right now, but check out our brief hands-on after the break for a preview of its strong points.

Gallery: Flickr app for iOS screenshots