ClamCase Pro makes your iPad look like a thick MacBook Air

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/14/clamcase-pro-makes-your-ipad-look-like-a-thick-macbook-air/

When we reviewed the original ClamCase, we found a few flaws that kept it from being a homerun: a cramped keyboard, a mediocre plastic build and a cumbersome power switch. It was decent, but it could have been better. The peripheral's makers seemed to agree -- the ClamCase Pro addresses every single one of our original complaints. Although the Pro is still a double-jointed iPad Bluetooth Keyboard at heart, it now features a more widly spaced chicklet keyboard, aluminium and polycarbonate construction and automatic wake / sleep functions, to keep its battery life in check. Drop in your tablet, and the whole package looks a lot like something that might come straight from Cupertino. Groundbreaking? No, but it's always nice to see follow up product directly answer its predecessor's flaws. The ClamCase Pro is compatible with the iPad 2 and up, too -- so you won't have to worry about buying different versions for multiple generations. The asking price sits at $170 -- but the company will toss you a $20 discount if you "like" them on Zuckerberg's social network.

Filed under: Peripherals, Tablets

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Source: ClamCase

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Eliminate Touchscreen Lag From the Surface With This Tiny Hack

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5975689/eliminate-touchscreen-lag-from-the-surface-with-this-tiny-hack

Now that hackers have sunk their teeth well and truly into the Microsoft Surface RT, loads of things are being probed, including lag. Apparently, with a tiny registry edit, you can speed up the Surface RT no end and eliminate touch lag. Here's how.

Simply put, for some reason Microsoft's built in some lag or latency into the touch experience of the Surface RT, and you can nuke it with two simple registry edits.

As with all things registry and Windows, back up your shit first, OK? Then bust out the Registry Editor (hit the start screen and type "regedit"), find the key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\TouchPredict ion

Change "latency" from 8 to 2, and "sample time" from 8 to 2. Voila, your Surface should be faster. If all that was a bit much for you (why the hell are you messing with the registry, then?) you can download the required changes to inject into the registry automatically with a double click.

If you're a heavy user, you might notice some battery life decrease after the change, as the device is polling the screen a lot more, but considering the Surface RT has pretty decent battery life to start with, it's probably not an issue. Check out the full details of the hack over at the XDA forums. [XDA via TechRadar]

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Our newest offspring Gizmodo UK is gobbling up the news in a different timezone, so check them out if you need another Giz fix.

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DIY Altoids Make âCuriously Strongâ Mints in Unique Flavor Combinations

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5975442/diy-altoids-make-curiously-strong-mints-in-unique-flavor-combinations

If you don't just buy Altoids for the tin you may want to consider making your own to experiment with flavors we'll probably never see in a mass produced product. If you already have flavoring or essentials oils and food coloring on hand the only specialty ingredient you need is gum paste, which is found in the cake decorating section of hobby shops or you can purchase it online for less than ten bucks.

Household DIY weblog One Good Thing By Jillee shares a simple recipe for curiously strong mints. Remove a piece of gum paste the size of an egg and knead it with your hand for a minute or two until it becomes pliable and then add any flavoring and/or food coloring you'd like (see the source link below for combinations and ideas) such as wild orange, raspberry, or pineapple. Continue kneading until the additions have been worked into the gum paste and then roll out the paste on a work surface covered in powdered sugar. You'll want it to be around one-eighth of an inch thick. To cut out the mints use a drinking straw to cut out little circles, toss the mints with a bit more powdered sugar to keep them from sticking together, and let them dry for 48 hours before putting them into a tin or other container.

I don't know about you but I'm now thinking about all kinds of crazy mint flavoring ideas such as root beer, wasabi, and mango.

Make Your Own "Curiously Strong Mints" | One Good Thing By Jillee

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Mini-Aquaponics Setup Made from Ikea Parts

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5975473/mini+aquaponics-setup-made-from-ikea-parts

If you've ever wanted to try Aquaponics, growing fish, plants, and bacteria in a nearly-closed loop ecological system, you can get your feet wet by building a basic system using Ikea Antonius frame and wire baskets, two plastic bins, PVC pipe, and a submersible water pump.

You'll also need to create a bell siphon, which you can build from PVC components in the full instructions list from aquaponics store Japan Aquaponics's weblog. The structure of the system comes from assembling the Ikea frame as per the instructions and using the wire baskets to hold a 25-liter liter bin for the grow tray and the bottom 50-liter bin to house the fish. You'll then create a bell siphon from PVC parts or buy one from Amazon for $45, and assemble the plumping from PVC pipes. You can then add water to the tank and test out the operation of the system. If all is go you then add a growing medium such as perlite, lava rock, or river stones to the growbed and add fish and plant seeds.

For further instructions on making the system and on aquaponics in general check out the source link below. This seems like a great starter kit if you're interested in the subject and it's much more productive than most pet aquariums.

Indoor Aquaponics System Plans | Japan Aquaponics via Instructables

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Samsung's 85-inch Ultra HD TV up for pre-order in Korea, priced at just $38k

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/13/samsung-s9-uhdtv-pre-order-korea/

At CES last week Samsung set a new benchmark in size with its 85-inch S9 that edged past the Ultra HD competition by one inch, and now it's setting a new high mark for price as well, at least in Korea. While we still don't have any US pricing or release details, the first 77 models encased in that "Timeless Gallery" frame are going up for pre-order, priced at 40,000,000 won ($37,877 US). Other than the obligatory 214cm of 4K goodness, it has built-in 2.2 channels speakers, quad-core CPU and Precision Black Pro LCD panel. We've heard that sales of Sony and LG's models have been surprisingly brisk despite their high prices so you may want to run, not walk to your local Korean high-end electronics retailer to get one first. Of course, if you wait, you can always snag the 95- or 110-inch model that are promised to ship later this year, albeit at similar prices. While you're deciding, check out our hands-on pictures and video to get an idea of what awaits.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Samsung

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Source: Samsung Tomorrow (Flickr), Korean Newswire

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