XYDO.COM: Gadgets

Nano vacuum tubes could give a second life to the guitarist's best friend

Pretty much the only place you see vacuum tubes any more is inside a quality audio amp. But, once upon a time, they were the primary ingredient in any piece of electronic equipment, including computers. The glass tubes have since been replaced with the smaller, less fragile and cheaper to manufacture silicon transistor. There are, however, disadvantages, to transistors. For one, electrons tend to move more slowly though the semiconductors, and two, they're highly susceptible to radiation. The second of those problems doesn't affect us much here on Earth, but for NASA it poses a major obstacle. Engineers have finally managed to combine the advantages of both vacuum tubes and silicon transistors, though, in what has been dubbed "nano vacuum tubes." They're created by etching tiny cavities in phosphorous-doped silicon, bordered on three sides by electrodes that form the gate, source and drain. The term "vacuum tube" is slightly misleading however, since there is no true vacuum in play. Instead, the source and drain are separated by just 150 nanometers, making it highly unlikely that flowing electrons would run into stray atoms. In addition to their space-worthy hardiness, they can also potentially operate at frequencies ten-times as higher than silicon transistors, making them a candidate to push terahertz tech from experimental to mainstream. For more, check out the source link. [Image credit: Shane Gorski]Nano vacuum tubes could give a second life to the guitarist's best friend originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 May 2012 17:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink DVICE | ScienceNOW | Email this | Comments

Facebook reportedly back to building phones, recruiting former iPhone engineers

If the HTC Status' dedicated Facebook button fell shy of satisfying your obsessive social networking needs, sit tight: the house of Zukerberg may be building a slab of tech just for you. According to the New York Times Bits blog, those old Facebook phone rumors are making a comeback. A handful of Facebook employees and engineers familiar with the matter reportedly say that the firm is collecting former Apple engineers, specifically, ones that worked on the iPhone and iPad. Like Zuckerberg said, mobile is the company's top focus, and one employee says the man at the top is afraid of getting overlooked in a sea of apps. "Mark is worried that if he doesn't create a mobile phone in the near future that Facebook will simply become an app on other mobile platforms." Facebook has focused on deep integration with other devices for some time, but a dedicated handset could take the freshly public company in new directions. Reports suggest that the rumored device is still in its infancy, and there's no word on form factor or OS, of course. Up for some speculation? Check out the source link below for Bits' full take.Facebook reportedly back to building phones, recruiting former iPhone engineers originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 May 2012 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Next Web | New York Times (Bits) | Email this | Comments

Inside Kanye's Insane Seven-Screen Movie Pyramid [Kanye West]

When Yeezy premiers a film, it's safe to assume he's not going to gather some people inside an auditorium and hit the lights. Why do that when you could commission a massive pyramid to house a seven-screen cinematic palace? More »

This Is What It Looks Like When Fighters Fly Directly At You in Anger [Image Cache]

For much of the world, the Falklands War seems like a historical blip—but not if you were part of this insanely daring (or insane) attack against the HMS Broadsword, where two A-4 Skyhawks made a shockingly low run. The bombing raid was ultimately unsuccessful—one of the jets missed its target, and the other dropped a dud that bounced off the ship. But it's absolutely nuts that one of the Brits onboard had the guts to stand and snap this photograph of the two planes that could have easily killed him and his crewmates. The photo was taken 30 years ago this weekend, but I'm sure it's never seemed any less vivid to the photographer. [Aviationist] Photo: UK Ministry of Defense / Royal Navy

One more place to play Farmville or one more reason to quit Facebook?

Perhaps there aren't enough places for you to play Words With Friends or FrontierVille, who are we to judge? Maybe what the world needs right now is playable Angry Birds in your Facebook news feed. Instead of just an invitation to join Cow Clicker, maybe you need to be able to play it straight from the homepage. Well, now you can. And that's all we have to say about that.One more place to play Farmville or one more reason to quit Facebook? originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 May 2012 10:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Facebook | Email this | Comments

Pure updates Evoke Mio radio with six new colors, thinks you need a new shade for summer

Do you really think a black FM radio -- or even worse, one in an off-season shade of grape --- can get you through the summer? Radio maker Pure wants to correct your errant ways. The company is... Trendy Gadgets feed assembled by lesslimits.de

1Mpad is Malaysia's first branded tablet, delivers 7 inches of Gingerbread for $315

So you've decided that it's time to make a tablet part of your life, but a lack of star-spangled slabs has prompted you to defer the purchase. Malaysians now face no such dilemma, due in no small part to the 1Malasyia Pad -- the country's first branded tab. The 1Mpad will reportedly soon be marketed to students (1.4 million of them, in fact), but 5,000 of the 7-inch Gingerbread devices are now being offered up to deep-pocketed locals, priced online at a rather-ambitious 999 Malaysian ringgits (about $315). Manufactured by MalTechPro Sdn Bhd, the 1Mpad will be offered to students at a to-be-determined discounted rate, making it the first such device to be available using a student discount card. At its current high list price, the tablet doesn't appear to be a fantastic deal, shipping with 3G broadband and the 1Malaysia Messenger application, which will serve as an IM service of sorts for sending text, pictures, video and voice recording to other 1Mpad owners. Still, if you have the cash to spare for an early taste of what Malaysian students may some day be using to surf the web, you can hit up the source link after the break for a bit more info. [Thanks, Joe]1Mpad is Malaysia's first branded tablet, delivers 7 inches of Gingerbread for $315 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 May 2012 05:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | BorneoPost | Email this | Comments

Solar-powered Son-X Octavia now bringing 'interactive sound' to school playgrounds

While initially announced in the summer of 2011, the Son-X Octavia has been working its way into reality ever since. As of this month, though, the solar-powered "interactive sound device" is now shipping to schools in Europe. For those unfamiliar, the coconut-esque device straps onto a conventional swing set in order to keep kids outside -- using technology to prevent kids from becoming supersaturated with technology, if you will. The company has designed it with tight school budgets in mind, making it completely wireless, self-contained and easy to install. Once in place, swingers can activate three aural games, each of which act to "awaken the natural curiosity in children to explore the possibilities through activity." Not surprisingly, it's designed to be upgraded over time, with new titles to be made available on USB drives. The outfit's still not offering 'em direct to consumers, but those with B2B connections can grab one for €499 ($624).Solar-powered Son-X Octavia now bringing 'interactive sound' to school playgrounds originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 May 2012 04:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Son-X Play, Hags | Email this | Comments

Microsoft posts Windows 8 app porting guide roundup, forgets to include BASIC

Let's say you're a developer eager to convert your apps for Windows 8 as soon as possible. Where do you start? Microsoft Developer Evangelist Jennifer Marsman is very much aware that you might be at a loss, so she has done the rather large favor of rounding up every porting guide the company has to offer in one handy place. Some of these are pure design guides, like a previously spotted iPad-to-Metro layout article, but others dig deep into converting code for the land of home tiles and charms. The focus is on porting from the web and Windows Phone 7, so we wouldn't work up hopes of bringing your high school computer class project to Metro. Still, Marsman is looking for more guides from readers; if you've developed just the technique to convert 10 PRINT "HELLO WORLD" 20 GOTO 10 into a tablet-native Windows 8 app, return the generosity and leave pointers at the source link.Microsoft posts Windows 8 app porting guide roundup, forgets to include BASIC originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 May 2012 02:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

LG celebrates three million LTE phones sold worldwide, shockingly finds high speed data is awesome

LG has hitched its (as of late, on the rise) star to the future of LTE high speed data equipped phones basically since the technology was introduced and today it has announced the fruits of its labor: three million LTE phones sold to date worldwide. While some will quibble over shipped / sold to end user counting methods, or how this compares to figures recently touted by competition like Samsung and Apple, we need only look at LG's most recent earnings report to see the positive impact its LTE-infused lineup has had. According to LG, most of the gains have been in South Korea and North America so far, although it plans to have LTE phones in 20 countries by the end of the year. After kicking off the LTE frenzy with the Revolution last year on Verizon, it's talking up the combination of LTE and HD LCD screen features in its Optimus LTE phone, already a million seller in Korea just as its success, the Optimus LTE II arrives on shelves.LG celebrates three million LTE phones sold worldwide, shockingly finds high speed data is awesome originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 May 2012 23:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | LG Korea | Email this | Comments

Motorola shows off Ice Cream Sandwich on a Droid RAZR, sprinkles in Webtop 3.0

Although Motorola outed its Android Ice Cream Sandwich rollout plans back in February, we've only seen leaked glimpses of what its skinned version the OS would be like for its handsets. That's changed recently thanks to Motorola's Japanese website, where a new ICS landing page features nine demo videos showcasing the software on a Droid RAZR. Among the clips, which highlight features from updated icons to a revamped lockscreen, there's also a detailed look at the LapDock-friendly Webtop 3.0 UI. Sadly however, there isn't any new word on the rollout schedule past the update Moto detailed on the 18th. You can treat yourself to some of the eye candy by clicking past the break, and you'll find all the vids by hitting the source link below -- but do keep in mind that most of clips aren't voiced in English.Continue reading Motorola shows off Ice Cream Sandwich on a Droid RAZR, sprinkles in Webtop 3.0Motorola shows off Ice Cream Sandwich on a Droid RAZR, sprinkles in Webtop 3.0 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 May 2012 20:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Verge, Droid Life | Motorola Japan (translated) | Email this | Comments

Oppo's super-skinny Finder smartphone gets many more details, should reach pre-orders June 6th (video)

The last time we saw Oppo's 6.65mm-thick smartphone, it was playing hard to get: we didn't see much more than its svelte profile. Oppo is now being a little more forthcoming, both officially and... Trendy Gadgets feed assembled by lesslimits.de

Google Wallet: one year later

The rumors and leaks go back a bit further, but it was a year ago today that Google officially revealed its Google Wallet mobile payment service -- a platform that the company is still betting big... Trendy Gadgets feed assembled by lesslimits.de

Devon Steampunk Tread 1 Watch Looks Like Something An Extraordinary Gentleman Would Wear

California-based watch maker Devon made a name for themselves a few years ago when they released the Tread 1. The modern looking electro-mechanical timepiece dazzled people with its tread-based system to indicate the time. It was large, highly unorthodox for a high-end timepieces, and a little crazy. A full review of the Devon Tread 1 is here. Now Devon has released images of an upcoming Steampunk version of the Tread 1. It started as a concept but due to customer demand they will build them. The Steampunk Tread 1 is the retro-futuristic rethink of the standard Tread 1. The case will likely be made with pieces of bronze and oxidized steel. Rivets and lots of exposed screws complete the steampunk look. No word on price but expect to pay over $20,000 for this bauble.

Specially Sculpted Pot Creates a Whirlpool When Cooking So You Never Have to Stir [Wish You Were Here]

A Japanese dentist, of all people, has invented a sculpted pot that will automatically stir its contents as they heat up. It promises to completely revolutionize cooking, at least for the world's laziest chefs. More »

Gizmodo's Memorial Day Beach Party: Everything You Need to Celebrate in Style [Memorial Day]

13 Ways to Smuggle Your Booze More »

The Best BBQ Grill [Bestmodo]

A summer isn't a summer without a good grill to fire up. But you don't have to settle for good. The Wirecutter's Seamus Bellamy pinned down the cream of the charcoal crop. More »

Report: FBI forming new cyber intelligence research unit, focus on digital surveillance

According to a report filed by technology site CNET, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is forming a new cyber intelligence and research unit dubbed the Domestic Communications Assistance Center (DCAC). The briefing states that the DCAC's purpose will be "to invent technology that will let police more readily eavesdrop on Internet and wireless communications" (initially focusing on VoIP services, social networks, and wireless communication mediums) . Via a prepared statement, the FBI explained that the unit's modus operandi will be to "assist federal, state and local law enforcement with electronic surveillance capabilities." Congress has appropriated over $54 million for "lawful electronic surveillance" in fiscal year 2012; the DCAC has been earmarked just north of $8 million from that pie. The Bureau's full statement is after the break.Continue reading Report: FBI forming new cyber intelligence research unit, focus on digital surveillanceReport: FBI forming new cyber intelligence research unit, focus on digital surveillance originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 May 2012 05:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | CNET | Email this | Comments

DRS unveils trio of ruggedized tablets in Windows and Android flavors

Drops, shocks, heavy vibrations, dust, water and temperatures in the extremes -- just the kind of punishment you'd expect a DRS Armor slab to put up with, and the firm's latest do so without the briefcase-like look. With MIL-STD 810G certification and an IP65 rating, the 7-inch multi-touch slates can withstand some rough and tumble -- though there's no word if they can pass the tesla coil benchmark. At 1.3 pounds, the Android 3.2-loaded X7ad squeezes out eight hours of battery life with a 1GHz dual core Tegra 2 processor. Its Windows-minded doppelganger, the X7et, holds a six-hour charge, sports an Atom Z670 processor and tips the scales at just under 1.5 pounds. If the chunkier look strikes your fancy, the 12.1 inch X12kb has you covered -- though at 5.5 pounds, it's the lightest MIL-STD-810G certified convertible tablet currently available. The swivel screened slate has up to eight hours of battery life, a Core i5 560UMCPU processor, a polarized LCD glass display, a spillproof keyboard and touchpad in addition to a one-click stealth mode that disables light and sound for "covert operations." With GPS, WiFi and Gobi Wireless Broadband options, all three of these are ready for missions at home and abroad, however you might need that stealth function to find out the (currently unspecified) pricing.Continue reading DRS unveils trio of ruggedized tablets in Windows and Android flavorsDRS unveils trio of ruggedized tablets in Windows and Android flavors originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 May 2012 03:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

A Video Game Designed to Help Doctors to Recognize Drug Abuse [Drugs]

At Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the doctors are training themselves with technology to better recognize the signs of addiction. A video game has been designed based on the research of Dr. Michael M. Fleming of Northwestern University Feingberg School of Medicine that utilizes the same technology used by to train FBI agents in interrogation tactics: a combination of self-disclosure (a family history of drug-abuse, say) and non-verbal cues (fidgeting, nervous finger drumming, broken eye-contact, etc.). Still in its final stage of testing, the game uses an actors voice to simulate a hypothetical conversation with a patient seeking, for example, pain relievers. The program generates responses based on the doctor's questions, and the doctor must identify indicators of possible addiction or abuse, based on the simulated patient appearing on the screen before them. The dialog used in this simulated dialogs comes directly from Dr. Fleming's research, for which he spoke with about 1,000 opioid users. Primary care and family doctors, who often feel ill-prepared to make judgment calls of this nature, are the intended market for the Web-based interactive video game. The game's software was developed by Dale E. Olsen, a former professor of engineering at Johns Hopkins University. He is the founder and president of Simmersion, a company that has created simulation training programs for the F.B.I. The game's development was financed by a $1 million grant from the Small Business Administration and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Dr. Olsen, who has a Ph.D. in statistics, said the game would cost users about $50 an hour. It is designed to be used for 10 sessions of 15 to 20 minutes each. He said customers would most likely include medical schools, as well as private and government health care providers. The game is soon to be made available online for free to medical schools and health care providers, reports the New York Times. Not only will this new technology help patients receive the best need-based care from their doctors, but it will help doctors to better interact and engage with their patients, an oft over-looked side of the relationship. [NYT - Image via Trif/Shutterstock]

Sweating The Small Stuff: Sotheby’s Selling Original Steve Jobs Note About Atari Circuit Improvements

The auction house Sotheby’s is selling an official memo from Steve Jobs to Atari about improving the World Cup Football game. The pages – stamped and signed by Jobs himself – describe circuit diagrams and paddle layouts. Delightfully, the stamp says “All-One Farm Design” and features a Buddhist mantra, “gate gate paragate parasangate bodhi svahdl.” As you do. If you’re thinking of picking this up you’d best have about $10,000 to $15,000 handy – although bidding could get fierce. Quoth MacWorld: The June 15th, 2012 auction features a 5 page memo sent to Atari employee Steve Bristow by Steve Jobs. This memo describes changes that could be made to Atari’s World Cup Soccer arcade game. These changes were designed to add play variety to the game and to extend the ‘shelf life’ for arcade operators. While the memo is typed on Atari letterhead, it also features a stamp imprinted with the name of Steve Job’s company at the time “All-One Farm Design” and the address of the Jobs family garage( and the birthplace of Apple Computer). The memo features a circuit diagram and a hand written addendum. This is the earliest know documentation produced by Steve Jobs and predates the founding of Apple computer by almost two years. No other documents from Steve Jobs time at Atari are known to exist. Sotheby’s sold another Steve Jobs document in December, 2011 for $1.6 million. If you’re really feeling spendy, you can plop down $180,000 on an original Apple I circuit board, presumably in mint condition. Get cracking and don’t forget: Sabbe satta sukhi hontu. Click to view slideshow.

FCC clears Sprint to run CDMA, 4G LTE on 800MHz iDEN airwaves

Sprint might not have its 4G LTE network up and running to power your EVO 4G LTE, but it's already getting more headroom. The FCC has just tweaked the rules around the ESMR (Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio) spectrum to let Sprint, and the considerably more regional SouthernLINC Wireless, run their CDMA voice calls and LTE data on the 800MHz band they're currently using for their soon-to-end iDEN networks. In practice, the extra frequency access should be a tremendous help to at least Sprint, which hasn't had the low-level, indoors-friendly airspace that AT&T and Verizon enjoy with their 700MHz networks. Just don't expect your EVO or the rest of the initial Sprint LTE devices to take advantage any time soon, as you'll need to both get an 800MHz-ready phone as well as endure the long, long wait until Sprint switches on the extra LTE band in 2014.FCC clears Sprint to run CDMA, 4G LTE on 800MHz iDEN airwaves originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 May 2012 20:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink ExtremeTech | FCC | Email this | Comments

FCC clears Sprint to run CDMA, 4G LTE on 800MHz iDEN airwaves

This Terrible Thief Used a Stolen iPhone to Take Pictures That Synced Back to the Owner's Computer [Crime]

That's Nelson above. That's Nelson partying. That's Nelson with his girlfriend. All those pictures were taken with an iPhone he stole. Pictures that were automatically sent to the phone's original owner, Katy McCaffrey, through Photostream. McCaffrey posted a hilarious Facebook photo album detailing Nelson's various adventures with her stolen phone. More »

Google's Project Glass Takes to a Trampoline for Its First Video

The first Project Glass-shot video features a trampoline and backflip raising the bar for all product videos to the production quality of your dad's Super-8 videos.

Gadget Of The Week: The Parrot AR.Drone 2.0

There are plenty of ways to get your flight school kicks with your smartphone or tablet — this missile shooting Griffin chopper comes to mind — but few manage to ooze as much style (or cost as much money) as Parrot’s AR.Drone 2.0. Getting the thing ready to fly is surprisingly simple. Once you’ve popped the battery into place, and turned the thing on, the Drone creates its own Wi-Fi network that the control device connects to. From there, just fire up the FreeFlight app on your iOS or Android device and you’re off to the races. The big draw for some will be the ability to record the Drone’s aerial journeys. In addition to providing the pilot with an idea of where the drone is going, the small camera pod mounted on the drone’s nose is capable of capturing photos as well as 720p video. The camera’s small sensor means that quality tends to take a hit in low light, but the bigger issue for some is the tendency to see a wiggling effect in recorded video because of the four rotors whirring away. Let’s be honest here — it’s not the most useful thing to have in your gadget closet (doesn’t everyone have one of those?) unless you’ve got a thing for aerial photography or not-so-covertly spying on people. What it lacks in pure utilitarian functionality it makes up for in sheer fun. There’s something terribly fun about tilting your smartphone around and watching this little quad-rotor aircraft dart around in response to it. It’s even surprisingly easy to fly, provided you start out slow and put in a few minutes of fiddling first. Sadly, our Mobile Editor Matt Burns didn’t take that rule to heart, as he quickly crashed our own Drone at Disrupt. C’est la vie, but be prepared to do your due diligence if you don’t want to screw up a pricy piece of machinery. That said, Parrot has made it terribly easy to wow your friends with some neat aerial tricks — just double tap a button from within the app to make the Drone flip, and take in the applause. The Drone is a hell of a lot of fun to play with, but there’s always that price tag to consider — it’ll run you a considerable $299. The responsible thing may be to take that money and use it to buy a rock-solid juicer instead, but I think your mental well-being is better served by the ability to explore the skies (or annoy your neighbors).

Microsoft To Offer 80-Inch Windows 8 Tablets for Offices

Nate Lanxon / Wired.co.uk:Microsoft to offer 80-inch Windows 8 tablets for offices — “Steve Ballmer has an 80-inch Windows 8 tablet in his office. He's got rid of his phone, he's got rid of his note paper. It's touch-enabled and it's hung on his wall.” — This description of the Microsoft CEO's workspace …

Up Close With The Xetum Stinson

You no doubt are familiar with the Xetum brand, based out of California. If not, just have a look over at to the side of the page. In the past, we’ve reviewed their Tyndall model; today, we’ll be taking a look at the Stinson. The Stinson presents as a very minimalistic three-hander, and it does it with style. I say that for two reasons – first, it’s an extremely clean dial. Second, the lugless design (well, to be honest, they’re hidden in the case) helps for a cleaner appearance. But let’s get back to the dial. The numerals and indicators are varied and easy to ready, especially with the slightly longer-than-usual hands (maybe they’re not, but it seemed that way to me) and super-luminova usage. While some might prefer the white dial as summer approaches, I think the black dial works great as a year-round option. I’d be remiss if I didn’t complement them on having the date wheel color match the dial – such a small detail, but just great when they complement. As you can see from the pictures, our review model was on a steel bracelet, which is a $100 option. I can’t say how it compares to the leather strap, but as a bracelet itself, it’s a nice one. I especially like how the latching mechanism kind of tucked away, giving a clean, smooth surface under your wrist. What’s ticking away inside that 40mm case (11mm thick)? Glad you asked! It’s an ETA 2824-2 automatic movement, which is a well known quantity. You’ve also got a sapphire crystal up front (mineral glass for the exhibition caseback), and a screw-down crown, all resulting in a package that’s water tight to 100 meters. Should you want to pick one up for yourself be ready to bring $995 for the model on the leather strap, or $1095 for the steel bracelet. Product Page

RealNetworks to refund $2 million, 'guilt' box stays un-ticked

Paid for subscriptions from RealNetworks you didn't ask for a few years ago? You may be eligible for a refund. Washington State's Attorney General sued the company over a free trial of its Rhapsody music service, which had a pre-ticked box for additional content that went unnoticed by many who signed up. When clients stopped the trial without also canceling the extra options, charges often accumulated in the hundreds of dollars before being seen. While admitting no wrongdoing, RealNetworks agreed to discontinue the boxes, comply with federal laws and give refunds to any customers who signed up that way between January 2007 and December 2009. If that might be you, expect a postcard from RealNetworks or check their website to apply for a refund. Hopefully you'll be less, um, ticked.RealNetworks to refund $2 million, 'guilt' box stays un-ticked originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 May 2012 08:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Techmeme, The Next Web | RealNetworks | Email this | Comments

This Is the First Video From Google's Glasses [Video]

We've seen pictures taken using Google's new glasses and, while some were ropey, others were fairly impressive. Now, Google has released the first video footage recorded using the device. More »

Nokia Alpha, Phi, PurePhi and PureLambda pop up in tests, bring Windows Phone 8 along for the ride

Not long after the Lumia 900 surfaced, Nokia's Windows Phone roadmap appeared to have come screeching to a halt -- official and otherwise. However, the first signs of Nokia's second wave may have just surfaced in WP Bench's testing leaderboards. The Nokia Alpha, Phi, PurePhi and PureLambda have all shown up at varying points in the chart; we've seen them for ourselves, although you'll need WP Bench on a Windows Phone to see them first-hand. Not much is visible without seeing the devices themselves, but the PureLambda appears to be running a build of OS 8.0 -- better known to most as Apollo, or possibly Windows Phone 8. As long as these aren't elaborate pranks, they could represent entry, mid-tier and high-end phones; we're wondering if the Pure tag isn't a reference to the PureView-equipped Lumias Nokia said were inevitable in the long run. No matter what the four phones turn out to be, any real devices will show us what Nokia can do with Microsoft's OS now that it's had time to strategize.Nokia Alpha, Phi, PurePhi and PureLambda pop up in tests, bring Windows Phone 8 along for the ride originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 May 2012 03:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink My Nokia Blog | WP Bench | Email this | Comments

Sony ST26i benchmarks reveal Android 4.0, 4-inch FWVGA display and lackluster performance

Rumors of the Sony ST26i smartphone have been swirling for a while now, but up until recently, we've had nothing to sink our teeth into. Thankfully, we've now come across an OpenGL benchmark test and system profile for the yet-to-be-announced handset, and while this one seems destined for emerging markets and budget-minded consumers, the ST26i will come with just enough niceties to hold its head high. First and foremost, the system profile reveals Ice Cream Sandwich on the handset, and even better, it'll include a 4-inch, 854 x 480 display -- none of that HVGA crap here. To keep costs low, sacrifices had to be made: the phone will include a Qualcomm MSM7627A SoC, which includes a pedestrian 800MHz CPU and an Adreno 200 GPU. Curiously, the ST26i was previously rumored to contain an ST-Ericsson U8500 chip with a dual-core 1GHz CPU, which leaves open the possibility that we may see different configurations based on markets. Still, if Sony is able to exercise some restraint with its custom skin, the ST26i could shape up to be a very nice handset.Sony ST26i benchmarks reveal Android 4.0, 4-inch FWVGA display and lackluster performance originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 May 2012 01:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Ubergizmo | GLBenchmark, IT168 | Email this | Comments

Intel funnels $40 million into global network of research laboratories

Like any tech company worth its weight in silicon, Intel puts plenty of cash into research, often partnering with outside labs and schools that are less concerned with turning every project into a multi-billion dollar product. After throwing $30 million at Carnegie Mellon last year to open two new labs, Chipzilla is investing $40 million more in a global network of university research centers. Over the next five years that money will be rolled out to what the company is calling, Intel Collaborative Research Institutes (ICRI). The ICRI are based on the same premise as Intel's Science and Technology Centers, like those opened at Mellon, except with a global reach. Two existing labs, the Intel Visual Computing Institute at Saarland University and the Intel-NTU Connected Context Computing Center at National Taiwan University are being rolled into the program. In addition, three new centers are being opened up, including ICRIs for Sustainable Connected Cities in the United Kingdom, Secure Computing at the Technische Universität Darmstadt and Computational Intelligence at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. For more info on what sort or work they'll be doing at the various labs check out the PR after the break.Continue reading Intel funnels $40 million into global network of research laboratoriesIntel funnels $40 million into global network of research laboratories originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 May 2012 23:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Samsung's GSM-only dual-SIM Galaxy Ace Duos kicks off its world tour in Russia next month

While Samsung's Galaxy Ace Duos has already burst onto the scene in India pulling double duty on GSM and CDMA networks, the company today announced its dual-SIM GSM-only cousin will begin shipping in June in Russia, before rolling out to Europe and other regions later. Running Android 2.3 on an 832MHz processor and flashing a 3.5-inch HVGA screen, that dual-SIM capability is the highlight, with Samsung's "Dual SIM always on" feature that forwards calls from the phone number on SIM 2, even if the user is on a call through SIM 1. Bill Bellamy and all others in need of such features can check the press release after the break for a few more details, or the gallery below to get a look from a few more angles of this son of the original Galaxy Ace.Gallery: Samsung Galaxy Ace DuosContinue reading Samsung's GSM-only dual-SIM Galaxy Ace Duos kicks off its world tour in Russia next monthSamsung's GSM-only dual-SIM Galaxy Ace Duos kicks off its world tour in Russia next month originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 May 2012 21:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Hands On: Facebook’s New iOS Camera App That Isn’t Instagram

Facebook released its own photography-focused app on Thursday. Image: Alexandra Chang/Wired Facebook’s first camera app for iOS, aptly and simply dubbed Facebook Camera, highlights the company’s commitment to its mobile business. But considering Facebook’s recent purchase of the photo-sharing app Instagram, it’s hard not to compare the two. But Facebook wants to make clear that Facebook Camera, which it released Tuesday, and Instagram are two separate entities. Facebook Camera functions more like the Facebook Messages app — it’s a standalone offering that is closely tied to the social network, making it easier to use one of the site’s most popular features. Since Facebook is the largest photo sharing site, it makes sense that the company would release an app for that sole purpose. If our initial hands-on with Facebook Camera is any indication, the app will be a hit with Facebook fans. Image: Alexandra Chang/Wired “We’ve been working on [Facebook Camera] for a while,” said Dirk Scoop, Facebook Photos product manager. “The big problem that we were trying to solve was that if you are in the middle of an experience and you want to share your photos, it’s often too much of a hassle to go through the whole process.” To that end, the Facebook Photos team opted for a design that leads with your iPhone’s Camera Roll photos. When you launch the Camera app, you’ll see three thumbnails of your phone’s photos. Tap them and you’ll see all of your Camera Roll photos. You can select multiple images and share them all as a single status update post — a feature unique to the Facebook Camera app. This could be handy at a concert, where you could take photos and select a few to share. Photos will upload to your “Mobile Uploads” album, but appear on your Timeline as a multi-photo status update. (The only way to share multiple photos as a status update on Facebook.com is to create an entirely new album.) “The most exciting thing is the value [the app] will create for users further down the line,” Spook said. “When you take photos they tend to get lost and dusty in your Camera Roll. If you share things and make an effort to wrap it up into a nice little story, sometimes an unexpected thing will be important to you later.” Still, Facebook has learned — or borrowed — a lot from Instagram. First, unlike the main Facebook app, Facebook Camera is fast. And it has plenty filters you can use, giving your pics that oh-so-popular lo-fi look. Facebook Camera’s home page also features a feed of photos your friends have uploaded or been tagged in. The overall layout is not unlike Instagram’s. Photos are presented in square format, and you can scroll endlessly through the feed. One nice feature that is missing from Instagram: You can tap on a photo to enlarge and zoom. Naturally, the Facebook Camera app focuses on the site’s sharing and feedback experience. Each photo features a ‘Like’ icon and a commenting feature. You also can see all of the ‘Likes’ and comments already posted to each photo. “It all sounds really obvious in hindsight,” Spook admitted. But why did Facebook release a Facebook Camera app so soon after buying Instagram for a cool $1 billion? And where exactly does Instagram fit in Facebook’s growing portfolio of mobile apps? “The Instagram deal hasn’t closed yet,” Spook said. “I can’t say much, but we’re committed to building Instagram independently. There’s overlap in the functionality, but [Facebook Camera and Instagram] have very different personalities. I see these products as separate and serving slightly different purposes and audiences.” While Instagram has a huge user base, at 40 million users, Facebook is vastly larger at 900 million. Facebook Camera caters to this audience and feeds directly to the social network’s website. According to Facebook spokesman Derick Mains, Facebook Camera is as much an extension of Facebook.com’s photo experience as it is a mobile experience. “This is really about making the Facebook experience better on mobile,” Mains said. “All that work that we’ve done on Facebook.com, you see us really working on improving that experience here.” And what Facebook Camera offers over Facebook.com is a fast, on-the-go photo-sharing experience. “We really hope that we can help people share stuff more in the moment and create better stories for their friends and themselves. And a year letter they just have this treasure trove of memories and we can help them relive it,” Spook said. “”Photos become a lot more relevant when you’re able to share them in real time.” Sharing photos on Facebook Camera. Image: Facebook

The Best Lightweight Portable Headphones [Battlemodo]

We, the smartphone-and-MP3-addicted people, wear headphones from dusk till dawn. That means they've got to be comfortable for hours on end. Forget the bulk of fashion-forward full-sized cans and the irritation of earbuds—for headphones that go the distance, three qualities trump everything else: comfort, durability, practicality. More »

Meth Labs and Dead Dogs: How the Founder of McAfee Antivirus Went on the Run in Belize [Video]

It's been a while since I've posted anything. "I've been busy" is everyone's excuse for laziness, but I can't come up with a better one. For those of you who follow the news in Central America, you... Trendy Gadgets feed assembled by lesslimits.de

Samsung submits patent application for speech-recognizing robot

Samsung will soon launch its Siri-style S Voice software on the Galaxy S III, but in the more distant future it could bring speech recognition technology to standalone robots. A patent application from the company details an automaton that can adjust its voice detection capabilities to account for ambient noise, letting it recognize when people are talking even in loud locations. It remains unclear just what the robot will do for you once it hears your commands -- maybe it will be on call for cooking you dinner and the like. Judging by that pic, at least, the concept looks like a good time for all involved.Samsung submits patent application for speech-recognizing robot originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 May 2012 12:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | United States Patent Office | Email this | Comments

Being Deaf: How Different the World Is Without Hearing [Inspiration]

Technology makes life so easy, and advances at such a breakneck clip, that sometimes we forget that all the tech in the world still can't change the way some people experience the world. David Peter explains how the world works for the deaf. More »

ITU meets to define 4K and 8K UHDTV parameters

This month NHK has been previewing a slew of Super Hi-Vision equipment, but there's still much work to be done to make high res broadcasts a reality worldwide. There's where the ITU steps in, and as it did for HDTV back in the 90s it's been meeting to decide just what 4K and 8K Ultra High Definition TV (UHDTV) broadcasts are and how they will work. There's no word on minimum pixel counts for the standards -- we expect that quad-HD vs. 4K battle to rage on, remember these are the people who "defined" 4G -- but they're establishing color range, frame rate, and whether the broadcasts will go over unused satellite bandwidth or regular antenna frequencies. If you're somehow confused by the 33MP video streams that are coming our way some day, check out a video featuring European Broadcast Union Deputy Director of Technology and Development David Wood.Continue reading ITU meets to define 4K and 8K UHDTV parametersITU meets to define 4K and 8K UHDTV parameters originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 May 2012 08:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | EBU (1), (2) | Email this | Comments

Gigabit Squared strikes deal to bring ultra high-speed broadband to six communities

It's still way too early for anyone to start ditching their existing broadband connections, but it looks like a few more communities in the US will be getting some ultra high-speed broadband networks to call their own. Ohio-based Gigabit Squared announced today that it's secured $200 million in funding to bring gigabit-speed networks to up to six different communities -- communities that have unfortunately not yet been named. What we do know is that the communities will all be ones centered around research universities, which themselves will be partners in the Gig.U initiative (an effort that has already enlisted more than 30 institutions). As The New York Times reports, Gigabit Squared is currently in talks with the first university in line for the rollout, and it apparently plans to make more announcements about timing and participation "later this year."Continue reading Gigabit Squared strikes deal to bring ultra high-speed broadband to six communitiesGigabit Squared strikes deal to bring ultra high-speed broadband to six communities originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 May 2012 06:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The New York Times | Gigabit Squared | Email this | Comments

France's Toulouse-Blagnac airport to conduct NFC field trials for BlackBerry smartphones

Navigating through airport security is hardly the most fanciful way of kicking off a vacation, but this summer, a handful of frequent fliers in France will take part in a field trial that aims to streamline the process and make it a bit more enjoyable. Fifty lucky travelers armed with BlackBerry smartphones will take part in a pilot study that tests the authentication technology recently developed by Orange and SITA. Upon their arrival at the Toulouse-Blagnac airport, the handset's NFC-capable SIM card will serve as an access pass to the car park, the premium access zone for departures and even the private lounge area. Smartphone integration will provide travelers with real-time flight information, and it's said that the handset will even remember the location of one's vehicle in the car park. As the system is hardware-based, the identity verification technology will even work when the smartphone is turned off. The Toulouse-Blagnac airport aims to have a broader NFC implementation available by 2013-2014, which may allow users to board flights and pay for goods with their mobile device. To learn more about the vision, you'll find the PR after the break.Continue reading France's Toulouse-Blagnac airport to conduct NFC field trials for BlackBerry smartphonesFrance's Toulouse-Blagnac airport to conduct NFC field trials for BlackBerry smartphones originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 May 2012 02:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink N4BB | | Email this | Comments

Yahoo Axis Shines on iPad, an Afterthought on Desktop [REVIEW]

It’s been a while, but Yahoo just made some noise again in the search business. With the release of Axis, a new search app and add-on for both iOS and desktop browsers, Yahoo aims to make browsing the Web a more visual and convenient experience. And it succeeds — at least on the iPad. This is surprising, since on iOS Axis is essentially running a skin over top of Safari — similar to what the Atomic browser does. In Yahoo’s case, though, it’s a powerful skin, filled with features you won’t find on Apple’s browser, such as easy toggling between regular and image searches, and instant syncing of bookmarks and tabs between desktop, iPhone and iPad. At the same time, the app isn’t cluttered. It’s nice and minimalist, combining the search and address bar into a single field similar to how Chrome works (seriously, why don’t all browsers do this?). And your bookmarks conveniently appear in every new tab you open, letting you instantly tap to go somewhere familiar. However, it doesn’t put your most recent bookmarks first, which is a bit annoying. Searching With Gas One of the major thrusts of Axis is that it makes search more visual. It delivers pretty well on this promise, displaying a strip of site preview thumbnail images whenever you input a search term. This is quite handy even if the sites themselves aren’t particularly visual. For example, for most subjects, a Wikipedia entry is one of the first to appear. While Wikipedia pages tend to be mostly text, they’re instantly recognizable, even as a thumbnail. The thumbnails tap out after you swipe through the first 20 or so, though, getting replaced with basic text summaries. The most powerful feature of Axis, though, could be its near-flawless device syncing. Open a page on your iPad, and you can pick up right from there on your iPad or any major desktop browser (via an add-on or extension). All your bookmarks are synced, too — Yahoo even conveniently names one of your folders “Read Later.” SEE ALSO: Google Search Just Got 1,000 Times Smarter As I said, though, it’s only near-flawless. You can only see the last tab you had open on whatever device you’re picking up from. It also doesn’t sync your search history (though it will pass along the last search you performed on the other device). Social networkers will appreciate that Axis integrates Pinterest. Whatever page you’re on, you can tap a virtual button to instantly switch over to the Pinterest iOS app and pin the page, although you’ll need to switch back to Axis manually. It’s a convenient addition that Safari doesn’t have — although Axis has no “Print” or “Add to Home Screen” options. Desktop Blues In all, though, the Axis experience on iOS is compelling, which is in contrast to the underwhelming desktop integration. To be fair, it would be expecting too much of Yahoo — who doesn’t make any kind of desktop browser — to come up with something groundbreaking here, and Axis ends up being not much more than an impressive syncing tool. There seemed to be technical difficulties with the pre-release Chrome extension, and I never got it to work. It did better on Firefox, though, but I was disappointed that I had to wait for pages to finish loading completely before I could use Axis. Regaled to a small search box on the bottom of your browser, Axis is more of an unwanted intruder on the desktop, and its abilities didn’t provide much in functionality that I couldn’t get from any of the many add-ons in my browser. It’s also more limited than the iOS version — your Axis search history, for example, is nowhere to be found. Axis is a worthy experiment, though, and I hope Yahoo quickly iterates its iOS app. It’s quite simply one of the best browsers you can get for your iPad, and if it keeps improving and adding new abilities, it could help define how we consume the web on tablets. Just as long as Apple doesn’t kill it. What do you think of Axis? Check it out for yourself at the Axis site, and let us know in the comments. Yahoo Axis, Splash Screen The screen that greets you when you launch Axis on iPad.Click here to view this gallery. More About: Axis, Browsers, search engine, Yahoo

Fujifilm M-Mount Adapter brings Leica lenses to the X-Pro1

It's not the cheapest, and it's not the first, but if you've been holding out on picking up an M-Mount adapter for your X-Pro1 with the hope that Fujifilm with launch a Leica-friendly accessory of its own, your patience does appear to have paid off. The camera maker just announced its very own M-Mount Adapter, featuring a 27.8mm distance between the lens mount and the sensor, an aluminum and stainless steel construction, and three levels of distortion correction. After you upgrade your camera firmware to version 1.10 (or later), you'll have access to an advanced M-Mount Adapter Settings menu, which utilizes pre-registered lens profiles and corrections. The software includes presets for 21mm, 24mm, 28mm and 35mm Leica lenses, leaving two additional slots for adding your own settings. You'll need to hang in there for a few more weeks -- the M-Mount Adapter is expected to ship for $200 in June. There's full specs in the PR after the break.Continue reading Fujifilm M-Mount Adapter brings Leica lenses to the X-Pro1Fujifilm M-Mount Adapter brings Leica lenses to the X-Pro1 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 May 2012 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Samsung Galaxy S III tops UK pre-order records, shows that British love their quad-core

The British clearly didn't waste any time once pre-orders opened up for the Galaxy S III, which just broke through pre-order records for at least one carrier and one retailer in the country. Carphone Warehouse's chief commercial officer Graham Stapleton says that the quad-core, 4.8-inch flagship is the quickest-moving pre-order of the year "so far," while Vodafone UK adds that the new Galaxy is its most pre-ordered Android device to date. Without hard numbers, though, it's difficult not to couch the successes in relative terms: both are using conditional language that makes clear neither record is absolute and that they might be eclipsed by companies with a knack for building early demand. Even so, that pride in early results suggests the third time is indeed the charm and that Samsung won't have much trouble filling its own pop-up stores with customers at the end of the month.Samsung Galaxy S III tops UK pre-order records, shows that British love their quad-core originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 May 2012 21:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | The Inquirer | Email this | Comments

Diablo III becomes fastest-selling PC game ever, deluge of broken PC mice likely to follow

Chalk one up for an at least temporary resurgence in PC gaming. Blizzard can vouch that Diablo III has set a new record for the fastest-selling PC game to date: at 3.5 million copies trading hands through Battle.net downloads or retailers in the first 24 hours, and 6.3 million after a week, that's a whole lot of people battling the biggest of Prime Evils in a very short time. Naturally, a Blizzard-obsessed South Korea is accounting for even more activity, where over 39 percent of play at local gaming houses can be pinned on the action RPG, and the tally doesn't even include the 1.2 million bonus copies coming through a World of Warcraft annual pass promo. Before console gamers start packing up their PlayStations and Xboxes in symbolic resignation, D3 isn't the record-setter for the most copies of any game sold in one day -- that distinction goes to Modern Warfare 3's 6.5 million copies spread across multiple platforms. That's still enough to spur on some furious clicking and possibly a glut of dead mouse buttons, but you'll be glad to know there are suitably-themed replacement mice waiting in the wings.Continue reading Diablo III becomes fastest-selling PC game ever, deluge of broken PC mice likely to followDiablo III becomes fastest-selling PC game ever, deluge of broken PC mice likely to follow originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 May 2012 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Hands on with Clueful, the iOS App That Rats Out Privacy Risks

When you get a new app, you expect it to use your data in a certain way based on the permissions you allow upon download. So when an app suddenly uses your personal information in an unexpected way, it can feel like a betrayal. Clueful is an app designed to prevent that from happening.

Diablo III becomes the fastest-selling PC game of all time

Blizzard Entertainment's "Diablo III" has set a record for the fastest-selling PC game of all time, selling 3.5 million copies in its first 24 hours, parent company Activision Blizzard said in a release. The news comes as a spot of good news for the company, as the "Diablo III" launch has been rife with speedbumps. Blizzard had to issue an apology for a series of server outages that impacted players. Even in a single-player game mode, the game must have a connection to the online servers. Then

Skinny Jeans Are Damaging Your Health [Clothes]

They might be a staple of the well-dressed geek's wardrobe, but skinny jeans aren't doing you any favors. In fact, they might be causing you real, physical damage. More »

New York Hardware Buffs Weigh In On China, Embracing Niches, And How To Start Making Things

Earlier this morning, our own John Biggs was joined on stage by a handful of New York-based makers who have made a name for themselves by building physical things (or in one case, building something that builds other things). Biggs kicked off the panel with a simple question: — can we bring manufacturing back? Bre Pettis, CEO of Makerbot Industries, has two shifts of workers putting together all of his Makerbots in Brooklyn, and had a bit of advice for hardware creators looking to shift production to China. He recommended that until makers need to produce runs of 50,000-100,000 units, they’re much better off keeping the production process in the United States. It helps to keep makers intimate with their tech, not to mention makes it easier for them to handle any unexpected issues faster. The process of launching a product was tackled too — interestingly enough, Amol Sarva of Peek fame revealed that if he had to take his email gadget to market now instead of a few years ago, he would’ve gone a completely different route. Instead of going big and pushing to get his devices on store shelves around the country, he instead would have gone with the grassroots approach — making a few devices and trying to build buzz around them. Another recurring theme of the panel was the notion that makers should embrace niches. “There may not be mass market ideas, and that’s OK,” said Peter Semmelhack of Bug Labs. He noted that people can put hardware and devices together that aren’t meant to reach millions and millions of people (they could even use a Makerbot if the production run size was modest enough), and these small markets were still worth going after. Plus, you can never really tell just how niche some niches are. Duncan Frazier of Bit Banger Labs knows that all too well — he and his team developed a sleep mask that aims to help its users lucid dream, and put together a Kickstarter campaign for it. They expected they would have to make a few hundred units at most, but the niche was much bigger than they thought. By the time their campaign was over, they had exceeded their $35,000 funding request by orders of magnitude. The discussion then turned to the question of whether or not we could build something akin to a sprawling Foxconn campus in somewhere like Iowa. “Here in the U.S., as a culture, we’re not really focused on [manufacturing],” Pettis noted. “Our children are the only priority lower than manufacturing.” There was little question that using Chinese facilities for manufacturing has its advantages — namely sheer output — but some were curious as to how long that would remain the case. Pettis pointed out that wages in China have doubled over the last year, a trend that (if continued) may eventually lead to a shift away from relying on China. The panel ended on a slightly more inspirational note, with each of makers chiming in with advice for young upstarts who want to start making things. On this, everyone seemed to agree — the best approach is to just go out there and start going it. Ayah Bdeir, CEO of littleBits, specifically pointed out that a young person who had $50 and an Internet connection had no shortage of places to turn for inspiration — Instructables and Hack A Day, for instance. “You learn by making,” she said. Pettis recommended that wannabe makers should just “jump in” to the process, and if they eventually decide to go the Kickstarter route, Frazier emphasized the importance of a solid video because that’s the only place the product exists as far as the users are concerned.