A stable version of Ubuntu's mobile OS is available now... if you own a Nexus 4

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/17/a-stable-version-of-ubuntus-mobile-os-is-available-now/

After a long period of developer (and enthusiast) previews, Ubuntu 13.10 for smartphones, as well as desktops, is finally available as a stable release. The gesture-heavy, Linux-based mobile OS still doesn't have an official hardware home -- if you'll remember, Canoncial's Indiegogo bid for the Ubuntu Edge failed to meet its lofty goals -- but there are a couple of devices that can run the OS. Google's Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 4 are both officially supported, so owners of those handsets with the right know-how can head to the company's site now for instructions to flash the OS. That doesn't mean we won't someday see a dedicated Ubuntu device -- the company's still in talks with OEMs. For now, though, you can at least enjoy the fruits of Canonical's mobile labors while holding fast to the Edge of hope.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Google

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Source: Ubuntu (G+), (2)

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Sharp converts TV plant to make more low-power IGZO smartphone displays

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/17/sharp-converts-tv-plant-to-make-smartphone-displays-igzo/

Sharp's IGZO displays make regular appearances at global trade shows, but have been less easy to spot in western devices, hardly ever leaving domestic Japanese market. That could soon change, as the company is ramping up production of smartphone-sized screens, at the cost of TV output. The Wall Street Journal reports that Sharp is expanding production at its Kameyama plant, with the aim of becoming a top player in the not-so-exotic world of handheld screen production, making the sheets that will make its way into multiple phone makers' devices. It might be able to lower manufacturing costs by making hundreds of displays from a single sheet, which would certainly be good news for the company's balance sheet. This increase in output might also mean that devices with Sharp's impressively bright IGZO displays will finally appear outside of Nippon, creating the necessary extra demand and giving us something else to square off against AMOLED and Super LCD 3.

Filed under: Cellphones, Displays, Mobile

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Source: WSJ

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Acer intros the Iconia W4, its second 8-inch Windows 8.1 tablet: brings a sharper screen for $330 (hands-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/17/acer-iconia-w4-hands-on/

Once Intel shows off an unannounced tablet at one of its press events, the jig is up: the product may as well be official at that point. That's what happened with Acer's Iconia W4 Windows 8.1 tablet, which recently surfaced in public, but wasn't officially announced until today. As the successor to the W3, this is Acer's second 8-inch tablet, and it corrects many of the shortcomings that doomed the original. Chiefly, it steps up to a higher-res 1,280 x 800 display; believe us when we say the difference in pixel density is immediately obvious. What's more, though, Acer also improved the quality of the panel: not only is this an IPS screen, but it's optically bonded, so you should notice less glare, even in harsh conditions. (Take a look at our outdoor hands-on shots if you're skeptical.)

Additionally, as rumored, the W4 packs a faster Atom processor -- specifically, one of the chips from Intel's new Bay Trail series. Though we only had a few moments of hands-on time, we noticed some brisk transitions between menus and apps, and programs were quick to launch as well. If ever we pressed the Start button, for instance, the tablet wasted no time in switching back to the Start Menu, or to the desktop. In terms of the exterior hardware, the tablet is slightly lighter (0.91 pounds instead of 1.1) and thinner, too (0.42 inch versus 0.45). Also, whereas the W3 had 2-megapixel cameras on both the front and the rear, the W4 rocks a 5MP main shooter (the front webcam is still 2MP). Rounding out the list, the W4 keeps the same basic ports as the W3 -- namely, micro-USB, micro-HDMI and a microSD slot. And, as before, you can use it with an optional keyboard. Look for it this month, starting at $330 with 32GB of built-in storage and $380 for the 64GB model.%Gallery-slideshow100637%%Gallery-slideshow101241%

Filed under: Tablets, Acer

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A Salad Spinner For Cocktails Makes Martinis Stirred, Not Shaken

Source: http://gizmodo.com/a-salad-spinner-for-cocktails-makes-martinis-stirred-n-1446559162

Concocting the perfect cocktail can take years of practice, but everything in life has a shortcut, and for amateur mixologists it's called the Cocktail Spinner. Imagine smashing a Magic Bullet into a salad spinner at the speed of light. This is what the resulting supernova would leave behind.

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This Camp Stove Collapses Thinner Than the Bark Used as Kindling

Source: http://gizmodo.com/this-camp-stove-collapses-thinner-than-the-bark-used-as-1445820415

When you're heading out into nature with nothing but a backpack, the long hike ahead of you is going to be far more enjoyable if you pack as light and minimally as possible. But that doesn't mean you have to completely rough it. A hot meal at the end of the day can keep a camping trip tolerable, and you'll be hard pressed to feel this collapsible camp stove weighing you down.

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