buzzer

Samsung NX20

2012-07-03T13:59:00.001-07:00

Among Samsung's latest launched a trio of interchangeable lens cameras, the NX20 stands out with its 3-inch AMOLED swivel display along with an inbuilt electronic viewfinder. This Wi-Fi-enabled shooter boasts a 20.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, captures full-HD videos at 1080p at 30fps and capture images in both RAW and JPEG formats, too.

Upside

The NX20 features wireless connectivity, allowing users to transfer and share images as well as videos online over a Wi-Fi network. The 20.3-megapixel snapper also uses a APS-C CMOS image sensor similar to a dSLR's, which gathers more light and can provide better noise performance in low-light conditions.

Located at the camera's rear is a 3-inch AMOLED swivel display which is handy for shooting at very high or low vantage points to get images with unique perspectives. Users also have the option of an inbuilt electronic viewfinder (with proximity sensor) for more accurate framing. This also provides you with shooting information such as camera exposure and settings used.

The new camera comes with an i-Function 2 system which is a dedicated button located at the lens barrel, allowing users to access frequently used settings without having to take your eye off the viewfinder--this comes in handy for making spilt-second adjustments when capturing candid moments.

Compared with some competing ILCs in the market, the NX20 has one of the fastest maximum shutter speed of 1/8000 (as fast as a dSLR) which provides shutterbugs with the ability to freeze fast moving action such as sporting events or running kids under good lighting conditions.

Downside

With more cameras such as Canon EOS 650D and Olympus OM-D E-M5 featuring touch-sensitive screens, we would have preferred if the NX20 came with touchscreen, which could be better for those switching from a compact and are used to touch interfaces.

Outlook

The Samsung NX20 comes across as a capable shooter, rivaling dSLRs with a large APS-C sensor, fast maximum shutter speed and AMOLED swivel LCD. Compact upgraders who want a camera with dSLR capabilities without the bulk can consider this snapper. If the NX20's image sensor is anything like the NX11 we've reviewed, users can expect pretty good image quality and noise performance. Stay tuned for our full evaluation when we review the commercial unit

Samsung NX20 video test

Source:http://asia.cnet.com

Tropical lakes of methane spotted near Titan's equator

2012-06-14T06:48:00.003-07:00

In the dark, chilly tropics of Saturn's moon Titan, the Cassini probe has spotted what appears to be a lake of liquid methane, fuelling speculation that caverns below might harbour life.

Titan has a rocky, icy surface coated by a thick atmosphere of nitrogen and methane. It's a geologically-young moon, but below its dense atmosphere the surface is dotted by mountains and several possible cryovolcanoes, which are thought to erupt methane rather than magma.

It's the only extraterrestrial object to have even shown clear evidence of stable bodies of surface liquid -- in Titan's case, methane -- but these lakes of hydrocarbon have previously only been spotted in the planet's polar regions. In 2009, exometeorologists saw evidence of weather on Titan, and since then the moon has been found to have a methane cycle rather like the water cycle on Earth -- where methane evaporates and then rains down as a liquid elsewhere.

However, the discovery of the liquid methane lake in the desert-like tropical regions of the planet might throw a spanner into the works -- any surface liquid there should evaporate and be transported to the cooler poles. "Lakes at the poles are easy to explain, but lakes in the tropics are not," Caitlin Griffith, a planetary scientist at the University of Arizona in Tucson, told Nature.

The lake that Griffith and her colleagues found is 60 kilometres long, 40 kilometres wide and at least a metre deep. It was persistent through observations between 2004 and 2008, and appears as a black mark on near-infrared wavelengths (which can penetrate Titan's thick atmosphere). The team also found several smaller, brighter marks, which they believe may be "shallower ponds similar to marshes on Earth, with knee-to-ankle-level depths".

So where is that methane coming from? One potential source could be below the surface. The researchers believe that subsurface oases of liquid methane could be replenishing these lakes as they evaporate from above. If that's the case, it adds to the number of places where life could be found on Titan.

Of course it's entirely plausible that it might not be a lake at all. A solid organic compound on the surface could also show up dark at these wavelengths. So far, only 17 percent of the moon's equatorial regions have been analysed at a resolution capable of spotting features of this size, but lower-resolution scans don't indicate that tropical lakes are widespread.

A Nasa mission to Titan to look at its complex chemistry in more detail, named the Titan Mare Explorer, has been proposed. It would spend three months in a sea of methane on the moon's north polar region, measuring its composition with a mass spectrometer. Nasa will decide soon on its fate.

wired.co.uk

Time’s up: Sony presents the Facebook-friendly Xperia Miro

2012-06-13T05:53:00.002-07:00

The Xperia Miro has been launched on Sony's Facebook page, following its clever Fast Forward marketing campaign.

Sony’s Fast Forward Facebook campaign has come to its conclusion, and it has announced the Xperia Miro. The campaign started on Monday, when Sony put a countdown clock up on its official Facebook page, along with a fast forward button. When clicked, it shaved a few seconds off the time remaining, promising that when it reached zero a new Xperia phone would be revealed.

The Xperia Miro appeared after 25,941 people sped up time with the fast forward button, and it certainly lives up to the “fun, social and colorful” tagline. But as with everything that’s not a quad-core, $800 device these days, it has prompted an angry response from those who expected something else.

What a shame that after an innovative prelude to the Miro’s unveiling, the Facebook comments are all bemoaning the fact it’s not a top-of-the-range handset, despite it having an interesting connection with Facebook itself.

It’s not all that dissimilar to the Xperia Sola, but does fall beneath it in the range, although Sony has yet to reveal the entire spec sheet. What it has said is the Xperia Miro has a 3.5-inch touchscreen, a 5-megapixel camera that can shoot video at 30fps (but at an unknown resolution) and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
Also featured is a forward-facing video call camera, DLNA connectivity, Sony’s xLoud audio technology and a battery that Sony promises is large and primed for “longer usage.” The phone will be available in several colors: Black, black and pink, white, and white with gold.

So why did Sony chose Facebook to launch the Miro? It’s because the social network has been integrated into Sony’s version of Android, right down to being able to customize the notification light to change color for certain Facebook updates. Sony’s blurb calls the Miro an “Xperia with Facebook” phone, and says it’s “easier and faster to like, comment and share” using the device.

More details should be announced about how this will work, along with the complete Miro spec list during the day, as the timer expired very early in the morning in the UK, the time zone in which the campaign was launched

http://www.digitaltrends.com

Lamborghini to launch luxury phones in Russia this summer

2012-06-11T01:27:00.001-07:00

As if the Porsche Design BlackBerry weren't enough to satiate the desires of those seeking exorbitant smartphones with an automotive twist, Lamborghini is here to help out those of a more Italian persuasion. Russian site Mail has the first details on the new Lamborghini lineup, which includes two gold-plated feature phones, a tablet, and an Android smartphone. The devices are expected to be released in Russia this August.

The TL700 smartphone has a body made of metal and crocodile skin with sapphire glass protecting the display, which might go some way to explaining why Lamborghini is asking 90,000 rubles ($2,758) for an Android 2.3 device with a 3.7-inch 800 x 480 display and a 5-megapixel camera. Meanwhile, the L2800 tablet has the same tempting blend of high price and middling specs, with a 9.7-inch 1024 x 768 display, a 1.2GHz processor, and 512MB RAM.

The design isn't quite as ostentatious as the phones, without a hint of gold in sight, but the price of 75,000 rubles ($2,298) should at least give you something to mention at dinner parties. There's also the promise of an Android 4.0 update. No word on whether any of these products are set to ever leave Russia, but we'll let you know if so — with Vertu's future in doubt, there may well be a gap in the market.

theverge.com

HTC One X used as a hammer

2012-06-07T09:54:00.000-07:00

The hammer test should be one that every smartphone goes through before arriving in our hands. If it isn’t tough enough to hammer a nail into a piece of wood, why would I want it? A recent video has surfaced showing an HTC engineer using the HTC One X as a hammer and I approve. Can your phone handle this?

The video was originally uploaded on YouTube, but was quickly taken down. Luckliy a Chinese video hosting website managed to get a copy. I’m not sure how true this next part is, but it seems that HTC wasn’t happy about this video and the engineer in the video was fired

Hopefully that is not the case. They should be promoting this guy. The phone survived and the video demonstrates how tough it is. This guy got them all kinds of free press.

.geeky-gadgets

After A Year In The Pacific Ocean, A Canon EOS Camera & Photographs Are Reunited With Its Owners

2012-06-07T09:35:00.002-07:00

After spending more than a year being washed around the Pacific Ocean, a Canon EOS 1000D camera and the photographs contained on its SD card have been reunited with its owner.

As you would expect the Canon EOS camera, pictured below, is no longer working. But the SanDisk Extreme III SD card inside of it was able to be washed, and more than 50 images were recovered. With a date stamp suggesting the camera had been in the salty depths for over a year.

The camera was found during a scuba trip by Markus Thompson, who was diving in Deep Bay just outside Vancouver. After publishing some of the images on Google+, Markus was able to track down the Canon EOS 1000D camera’s original owner. A firefighter and his family from British Columbia and reunite them with their photographs and Canon EOS 1000D paperweight.

http://www.geeky-gadgets.com

Toshiba Portege Z930 is world's lightest 13in laptop

2012-06-06T20:24:00.002-07:00

Toshiba continues to refresh its laptop line-up with the Portege Z930, a super-light ultrabook. So slight, in fact, that at 1.12kg, it's the lightest 13.3-inch laptop around.

It's not the most lithe ultrabook full stop though. That title goes to the Gigabyte X11, which weighs just 975g, though its screen is 11.6-inches across, so it's not a fair comparison with the Toshiba.

The Portege Z930 weighs less than the same size Apple MacBook Air (1.35kg). Impressive indeed. At its thinnest point, it's just 8.3mm. But because it's slim and light doesn't mean Toshiba has scrimped on the specs. Built for business, it boasts an 8-hour battery life that will last you the whole working day. Provided you're not too busy to power down for lunch, that is.

If you do choose to eat at your desk, the keyboard features a spill-resistant membrane, protecting your documents should you tip over your sparkling San Pellegrino (or whatever it is important business types drink).

You can choose up to 512GB SSD storage and up to 12GB RAM. It's powered by a third-generation Intel Core processor. And thanks to Intel's Rapid Start Technology, it'll boot up in seconds.

Other specs include one USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI and VGA sockets and an SD card reader. Bluetooth 4.0 comes as standard and the stereo speakers feature SRS Premium Sound 3D, for fully immersive noises.

It's due sometime between July and September and will cost £899. That means it's cheaper than the same size MacBook Air. Apple is expected to refresh its laptop line-up very soon though, with the new MacBook Pro set to resemble the Air in looks and dimensions. It might also feature a retina display, which would be a serious offering.
(cnet)

Could this concept Facebook phone be reality?

2012-06-05T20:13:00.001-07:00

The world may not be ready for another Facebook-flavored smartphone, but that hasn't stopped designer Michal Bonikowski from dreaming one up. Ubergizmo reports that Mr. Bonikowski has imagined his own take on a handset targeted at Facebook addicts. Judging from the pictures posted by the tech Web site, unlike HTC's ill-fated Status phone, this fantastic device sports a big 4.2-inch display.

It's also painted Facebook blue and has a distinctively HTC-esque aesthetic complete with a flat slab of a body with softly blunted edges. The handset even flaunts a unibody metal chassis like the HTC One S and HTC One V.

Made to be an ultra-communicator,Mr. Bonikowski envisions the phone to have an 8-megapixel main camera plus a high-resolution 5-megapixel front-facing camera for sharp video chats too. It's certainly a far cry from the HTC Status (aka Cha Cha), which was tiny, plastic, and had both a painfully tiny screen and physical keyboard.

But is there any demand for a Facebook-centered gadget like this? If Facebook's weak stock performance is any judge, perhaps not. I feel that if a Zuckerberg sanctioned mobile gadget is to succeed, it better take a page from the Nokia Lumia 900's playbook and be very aggressively priced.

In any case I think that this is the wrong direction for smartphones to go. I'd rather pay a little more for a higher degree of functionality. Image a phone that you could effortlessly flip from pure stock Android over to a manufacturer's best software interface (Sense, Touchwiz, what have you) at will without any data loss or warranty headaches. Now that's a smartphone worth dreaming about.

(cnet)

Asus Transformer AiO runs Android and Windows 8

2012-06-04T20:29:00.001-07:00

The Transformer AiO boots up in Windows 8, but you can switch it to Android at the touch of a button. Handy if you want a greater selection of apps, or want to play a game only available on Android. It's a touchscreen desktop, but take it out of its base and you can walk around with an 18.4-inch tablet.

It'll be interesting to see what kind of battery life you get out of it when detached from its base.

The screen is a 10-point multi-touch LED-backlit display. It can still switch between Windows 8 and Android when out and about, effectively giving you two desktops and two (massive) tablets in one package. Which has got to be worth a look.

There's no word on price or availability yet, or which version of Android it'll ship with. But rest assured we'll be keeping a close eye on this one.

The Transformer AiO continues Asus' range of computers that turn into other devices. First there was the Transformer Prime that shed its keyboard to turn from a laptop into an Android tablet. Then Asus outed a laptop with a screen on the lid -- close it, and you can use it as a tablet. Known as the Asus Taichi, it runs Windows 8 in both guises.

This is the latest Windows 8 PC to be announced at Computex in Taipei. Windows 8 isn't due until October, but if this little lot is anything to go by, it looks set to reinvent the PC.

ICS is now on 7.1% of Android devices

2012-06-02T04:38:00.003-07:00

We've long bemoaned the Android rollout process, but now comes good news, of sorts. Ice Cream Sandwich -- the latest version of Android -- is now used on 7.1 per cent of devices, according to Google's stats.

This is up from the 5 per cent a month ago. But it still pales in comparison to Gingerbread, which accounts for 65 per cent of all Android devices. So ICS still has a long way to go. The figures become all the more unimpressive when you consider Android Jelly Bean is due for release in the next couple of months.

There is a caveat. These figures record Android devices which access the Google Play online store for apps and games, so they're not 100 per cent accurate. But they're about as close as we're going to get.

More bad news if you were hoping Ice Cream Sandwich would become standard anytime soon -- Gingerbread actually increased its market share slightly since last month. So it looks like ICS is a long way off topping the charts.

This is a little disappointing considering ICS is about six months old now, and as we say, about to be surpassed by Jelly Bean. Still, it is an improvement on how the year started for ICS, with it appearing on less than 1 per cent of devices. The whole palaver over the rollout for the Samsung Galaxy S2 turned off a lot of customers. One engineer thinks waiting five months for the update is perfectly reasonable. And the real kicker? Ice Cream Sandwich could even make some Android devices worse.

(cnet)

Sony Xperia acro S Features, Specs, Release Date & Price

2012-06-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

Sony Xperia acro S, the new flagship droid from Sony is a scratch resistant, dust proof and water proof phone that comes with a combination of Android 4.0 ICS and 1.5 GHz dual core Scorpion Qualcomm MSM8260 Snapdragon chipset processor. Basically, the phone resembles Xperia S and features similar hardware specifications but the additional protection features in the phone are newly added. Design and looks of Xperia acro S are also similar to Xperia S. The droid features 4.3 inches HD LED-backlit LCD Capacitive touch screen display powered by Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine. It has 16 GB on-board storage and micro SD card slot expandable up to 32 GB. Other features like high speed data network connectivity, 12 MP camera we already have seen in Xperia S. 1910 mAh battery is impressive. Overall, features of the phone are quite impressive but lack freshness. Take a look at the specification and features

Specification & Features of Sony Xperia acro S

Operating system & Processor

Operating System:Android 4.0 ICS
Processor:1.5 GHz dual core Snapdragon S2
GPU:Aderno 220

Design & Looks

Form Factor:Bar
Dimension:126 x 66 x 11.9 mm
Weight:147 gm

Display

Display Type:LED backlit LCD Capacitive touch screen
Display Size:4.3 inches
Resolution:720 x 1280 pixels
Protection: Scratch, dust resistant and water proof
Additional Display Technology:Sony Mobile BRAVIA Engine
Sensors: Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, digital compass

Memory

RAM:1 GB
Internal Memory:16 GB
Micro SD card:Yes, up to 32 GB

Camera

Primary:12 MP
Features:LED flash,auto focus,face detection,smile detection
Secondary:1.3 MP
Video:HD 1080p

Network & Connectivity

GSM Network:GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Ntework:HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
GPRS/EDGE:Yes
3G Speed:HSDPA up to 14.4 Mbps and HSUPA up to 5.76 Mbps
Bluetooth:Yes, v2.1 with A2DP and EDR
Wi-Fi:Yes, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot
NFC:Yes
GPS:Yes, A-GPS support and GLONASS
Browser:HTML5

Battery

Size:1910 mAh
Type:Li-Ion
Standby Time:290 hrs in 2G and 310 hrs in 3G
Talk Time:6 hrs 40 min in 2G and 7 hrs 10 min in 3G
Music Play:23 hrs

Media & Entertainment

Audio Player:Yes
Format Support:MP3/eAAC+/WMA/WAV
Video Player:Yes
Format Support: MP4/H.263/H.264/WMV
FM Radio:Yes, stereo FM radio
Pre-Installed Apps:Yes
SNS Integration:Yes
Adobe Flash Support:Yes
Loudspeaker:Yes
3.5 mm Audio jack:Yes
HDMI port: Yes

Additional Features

Document Viewer:Yes
Predictive Text Input:Yes
Colors:White, Black, Pink

Price & Availability

Price:N/A
Availability:coming soon by third quarter

crazyupdates

1942-Battle of Los Angeles

2012-06-01T01:55:00.000-07:00

Summary:

It is very rare that among the annals of Ufology there should appear a UFO case which involved military, yet is accompanied with actual photographic proof. Such is the case of an event which took place over the Los Angeles area on February 25, 1942. A giant UFO would actually hover over the city, and be witnessed by hundreds of observers.

Pearl Harbor Scare:

As America was gathering its senses after the shocking attack on Pearl Harbor in December, 1941, there was a heightened feeling of insecurity and anxiousness. The skies were being watched as never before as a giant UFO moved through California, alerting the military and civilian watchers as well. This case is known as the "Battle of Los Angeles," and is one of the most important cases in Ufology.

Surreal Sight:

It would be early morning on February 2, 1942 when the incoming craft sirens were first heard in the Los Angeles area. Many Americans were expecting another wave of Japanese fighter planes, and thought this is what they would see as they left their homes, and ventured outside. How wrong they were! The first sightings of a large UFO would be made in Culver City, and Santa Monica.

A Total Blackout:

Air Raid Wardens were ready to go at the first hint of an invasion. But, this invasion would be something other than Japanese planes. The giant hovering object was soon lit up by the gigantic spotlights of the Army's 37th Coast Artillery Brigade. Everyone who looked up was shocked by the sight of the giant UFO sitting above their city. Military aircraft were sent to confront the object.

UFO Takes Direct Hits:

Because of a well-organized alert system, the whole California southern section was searching the night skies in a matter of minutes. What they saw were beaming searchlights illuminating the night sky, all of them converging on one thing-a UFO. A similar scene would be repeated later during the The Norwood Searchlight Incident albeit, on a smaller scale. The beams of light would soon be accompanied by tracer fire from anti-aircraft artillery, all of the rounds aiming at the invading craft. The giant UFO would take direct hit after hit, yet without damage.

Hanging Magic Lantern:

The 37th Brigade was relentless in its attempt to bring down the large object, but found no success. The barrage of spent shells would fall over the entire area-no place was safe this night. Many were injured, and there were even reports of death from the falling shells. According to newspaper reports, eyewitnesses described the sight of the UFO like a "surreal, hanging, magic lantern."

Classic Photograph Taken:

As the large UFO moved into more lighted areas, view of the object became better. It moved directly over the MGM studios in Culver City. Fortunately, an extremely good quality photograph was taken of the object-beams attached, tracer fire visible. This photograph has become a classic UFO photograph. The UFO would soon move over Long Beach before disappearing altogether.
Woman Air Raid Warden Gives Testimony:

Woman Air Raid Warden Gives Testimony: "It was huge! It was just enormous! And it was practically right over my house. I had never seen anything like it in my life!" she said.
"It was just hovering there in the sky and hardly moving at all. It was a lovely pale orange and about the most beautiful thing you've ever seen. I could see it perfectly because it was very close. It was big!"

More Eyewitness Testimony:

"They sent fighter planes up and I watched them in groups approach it and then turn away. There were shooting at it but it didn't seem to matter."
"It was like the Fourth of July but much louder. They were firing like crazy but they couldn't touch it."

"I'll never forget what a magnificent sight it was. Just marvelous. And what a gorgeous color!" she said

The Guns Fall Silent:

The giant invading airship was now gone, and the citizenry of the southern California area began to resume normal activities. This was an extremely important event-one that will not be forgotten.
Only the news of the war kept this from becoming a major news event. This case must have been in the mind of President Ronald Reagan when he warned us of an "alien threat, from outside of our world.

Sony SmartWatch review

2012-05-31T22:03:00.000-07:00

Mobile phones are marvellous little compact slabs of technology, but for some it seems, a phone is just isn't handy enough. Enter Sony's SmartWatch, designed to connect to your Android phone via Bluetooth and deliver a wealth of functionality from your wrist including music controls, messaging and social networking updates.

Design

It's a neat little 36mm square with a flip clip at the back that attaches it to the supplied silicone strap which is available in a variety of colours. It makes for a secure fit and slots in and out neatly without any hassle or you can do without the strap altogether and clip it to your lapel. You connect it to your PC via the supplied USB cable which features a proprietary connection to the watch.

The default display is a digital clock but when you press the single button at the side you're presented with four programmable shortcut options: music, Twitter/Facebook, messaging and weather, all of which you can access while your phone is safely tucked away in pocket or bag. Incidentally, there's a growing number of apps available for it as well, including the ability to see the view from your phone's camera -- terrific for Mission Impossible-style remote spying. So long as you don't break the Bluetooth connection by moving more than 10m from your phone, that is.

Features and performance

It's small, but the pin-sharp 1.3-inch OLED display is startlingly clear, and the screen supports multitouch. It connects using Bluetooth 3.0 and vibrates when you receive a call -- it will also show you who's calling so you can decide whether or not you want to take it. It's intended for use with Sony (Ericsson's) Xperia phones, but it should also be compatible with other Bluetooth-enabled Android handsets from Samsung, HTC and Motorola -- best to road test it with your phone before you buy though.

It's certainly a lot easier to control your music playback while you're on the move than fiddling with your phone. The obvious audience for the SmartWatch is the sporty type who wants to keep up on their social networking while (literally) on the run. But the whole concept has a bit of an issue, in that when you're jogging, say, you tend to be moving around, and hitting the right button on such a small surface isn't always easy peasy, even with a touch screen as responsive as this. Likewise reading messages -- you can see them, but they're much easier to read when you stop moving, which rather seems to be missing the point.

Battery-wise it kept going for a good few days of occasional use, so it should be perfectly fine if you charging it between workouts, even long ones.

(http://www.wired.co.uk)

Vodafone Smart 2 out today, cheap Android for just £70

2012-05-31T11:25:00.001-07:00

Vodafone's new own-brand blower, the Smart 2, is out today, costing just £70 on pay as you go.

Those looking for a high-falutin' quad-core smart phone should move swiftly along, as the wallet-friendly Smart 2 caters for those looking for more affordable Android kicks.

Powered by Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the Smart 2 has a snug 3.2-inch display, and is 12.35mm thick, meaning it's rather chunky. This pebble-shaped smart phone comes in grey or white options, and has a modest 150MB of internal memory, so you'll need to use a microSD card to bump up the capacity. The good news is there's one included in the box.

Around the back of the Smart 2 there's a 3.2-megapixel camera, which is unlikely to capture award-winning snaps, but should prove capable when it comes to snapping your buddies' boozy antics.

If anything's likely to betray the Smart 2's budget chops it's the low resolution 320x480-pixel display, which means web browsing will feel a bit cramped. The 800MHz processor probably won't be up to powering brand-new apps, either.

The Smart 2 follows on (as you may have guessed) from last year's Vodafone Smart, which had a less powerful processor, 2.8-inch screen and ran an older version of Android.

Thanks to the merry march of progress, the Smart 2 is shaping up to be much more capable. If you've got a little extra moolah (and don't mind your networks citrus-hued instead of scarlet), you might want to examine the recently renamed Orange San Diego, which will be going on sale on 6 June for £200 on pay as you go.

(cnet)

Sony Xperia Go rugged smart phone battles water and dust

2012-05-30T20:36:00.001-07:00

Sony's crafted a brand-new Android smart phone capable of surviving an accidental dive into your pint. The Xperia Go is a 3.5-inch, dust-fighting rugged phone that Sony reckons is ideal for outdoorsy types.

Whether you're scaling Everest or drunkenly stumbling into a lamppost while texting, the Xperia Go has been built to resist life's untoward elements. You get a scratch-resistant screen, and what Sony calls the "highest water and dust resistance of any smart phone".

That means that like the Motorola Defy, the 9.8mm-thick Xperia Go should avoid shattering into a million pieces if you so much as look at it the wrong way. Its resistance rating is IP67, which means it offers total dust ingress protection, and is okay with water immersion between 15cm and 1m depth.

The rough-and-ready build is the selling point here, as apart from doubling as a dog's chew-toy, the specifications on offer are rather modest. The 3.5-inch display has a resolution of just 320x480 pixels, meaning it won't be the best phone out there for web browsing, while the camera boasts a strictly ordinary 5-megapixel resolution.

The Xperia Go is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor, which isn't particularly snappy in these quad-core times, while the Go will launch running Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Sony swears it's 'upgradeable' to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but that's no guarantee that an update will be incoming any time soon.

There's no word yet on when the Xperia Go will actually be released, but it's confirmed to be flaunting a range of colours, coming in black, white or yellow. As far as pricing goes, nothing has been confirmed, but with modest specs, I wouldn't expect this mid-range mobile to break the bank.

Sony has also unveiled a higher-spec water-fighting smart phone, the Sony Xperia Acro S. But Sony tells me that particular phone won't be coming out in the UK.

Would you like a sturdier smart phone? Let me know in the comments or on our Facebook wall, then relax with this daft promo video for the Xperia Go, which sees young professional types being clumsy with the phone while cooking a healthy meal.

(cnet)

The Best UFO Crash Cases part 1

2012-05-30T20:04:00.000-07:00

1897-The Aurora, Texas UFO Crash

Occurring during the "Great Airship" wave of the late 1800s, the legend of a UFO crash and a dead alien have survived over a century of debate. Allegedly, the dead alien pilot is buried in the local cemetery. The story of the crash was related by local newspapers, the UPI, and AP. The city received "historical site" status because of the incident
.
1941-The Missouri UFO Crash Retrieval

Brought to public knowledge by UFO investigator Leo Stringfield, from an account by Charlette Mann. Mann related the story of her grandfather Reverend William Huffman, who claimed to have been called to the scene of a crashed UFO with dead aliens outside of town.

1947-The Roswell, New Mexico UFO Crash

The most famous UFO case of all occurred near Corona, Mexico. Rancher Mac Brazel found strange crash debris on his morning rounds, and reported his find to local radio station. Soon, the military from Roswell AFB was involved, and issued a press statement that the Air Force had captured a UFO.

1967-UFO Crash at Shag Harbor, Nova Scotia

Eyewitnesses see several unknown objects in the sky, and soon they crash into the seas of Shag Harbor. Rescue workers, fearing a plane crash, rush to the area, only to find bright, yellow foam on the ocean. Several days of search find nothing. Investigators believe the object, still intact has left the area.

1948-UFO Crash at Aztec, New Mexico

Author Frank Scully described the Aztec crash as that of a craft which was measured at exactly 99.99 feet in diameter, covered by a material which resembled a light weight, shiny metal that possessed incredible strength and durability. It seems that nothing on this earth could penetrate or damage the hull of this craft from another world.

1953-UFO Crash in Arizona

The eyewitness was working for a company that had a government contract at a nuclear site in Nevada. He was summoned by his boss on 5-21-53, and sent on a "secret" assignment. Arriving at their secret destination, two military light-alls illuminated a surreal scene in the late night, pre-dawn skies of the desert. The engineer was amazed to see a disc-shaped craft embedded in the sand.

1965-The Kecksburg, Pennsylvania Crash

On December 5, 1965, something came from the skies of Canada, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, finally crashing into the woods near the town of Kecksburg. Frances Kalp was the closest to the crash, and reported it to the local radio station. Soon, Pennsylvania state police and U.S. military took over the investigation.

(about.com)

5 Common Sunscreen Mistakes

2012-05-29T23:47:00.002-07:00

We all know that regularly using sunscreen is one of the best ways to prevent skin cancer. Unfortunately, many people make mistakes when it comes to wearing sunscreen. Properly applying sunscreen and following manufacturer instructions are key to maximum protection.

Common Sunscreen Mistakes
1 .Applying sunscreen AFTER going outdoors.
Sunscreen needs to be applied 15 to 30 minutes BEFORE going outside to give it time to be absorbed into the skin. Follow manufacturer's instructions for absorption time, which is typically up to 30 minutes before heading outside.

2. Not applying enough sunscreen.
Experts recommend that an adult should use about 1 ounce of sunscreen for adequate coverage. Remember that all body parts that will be exposed to the sun need to be protected. Most people forget to apply sunscreen to their face, ears, neck and feet.

3. Not reapplying after swimming or sweating.
Sunscreen that is not labeled "waterproof" or "water resistant" does come off while you're in the water or sweating. Even waterproof and water-resistant sunscreen provide a limited window of protection. Check the product label to learn how often to reapply iat. Most provide between 45 minutes to 2 hours of coverage.

4. Not reapplying sunscreen at all.
Many people have the misconception that one application of sunscreen will provide all-day protection. Not true. Sunscreen generally needs to be reapplied every two hours or after exercise or water activity. Check the label for specific instructions

5.Using sunscreen only when it is sunny.
Sunscreen needs to be used on both sunny and cloudy days. Harmful UV rays can still affect people when it's cloudy. It's important to keep in mind that all people are at risk of skin damage caused by the sun's harmful UV rays, so it is crucial to wear sunscreen regardless of your skin tone or ethnicity

Source:

Skin Cancer Prevention". What You Need to Know About Skin Cancer. National Cancer Institute. 01 Aug 2005. Accessed 25 June 2008.

Leaked photos of iPhone 5 reveal new design

2012-05-29T23:26:00.000-07:00

As we anticipate the eventual unveiling of Apple's next iPhone, the rumor mill is churning out reports at a rapid clip. This time around, two Apple-tracking blogs have published pictures that they claim might be showing off the new iPhone.

The fun started recently when 9to5Mac, along with repair company iFixYourI, published photos of a new part from a Chinese supplier. The part appears to be the back plate for an iPhone featuring an aluminum piece. In addition, the back plate features a smaller dock connector than the one found in Apple's other products.

9to5Mac's findings follow several reports that have cropped up over the last several months suggesting Apple might bring back aluminum to its iPhone. Back in December, Boy Genius Report said, citing "a close source," that the next iPhone would come with a mix of aluminum and a "rubber or plastic material" flanking it. The images from 9to5Mac seem to show the same.

The smaller dock connector follows a host of reports saying Apple is reducing the size of the port on its mobile products.

Not to be outdone, Apple rumors site MacRumors published its own set of photos of what the blog suggests might be the next iPhone. Those images, which come from another repair firm, uBreakiFix, show the same aluminum part surrounded by a white casing. The blog also published a picture from another site, Sw-Box, showing a new iPhone part with the headphone jack at the bottom of the device, rather than the top.

(cnet )

4 things you may not know about the Galaxy S III

2012-05-29T20:30:00.000-07:00

Announced last week in London, the Galaxy S III is Samsung's latest flagship smartphone and the much-anticipated successor to the popular Galaxy S II. The third-generation S series handset comes with a new design that's reminiscent of the Galaxy Nexus, while retaining a few tweaks such as the Home Button and physical menu keys from the Galaxy S II.

The handset also differentitates itself from other current high-end Android smartphones such as the HTC One X with a removable 2,100mAh battery as well as a microSD card slot for more storage. While some may feel that the handset design isn't exactly "new", Samsung has added a few things to refresh the appearance of the phone. Here are five things you may not know about the Galaxy S III.

Avoiding legal battles

Android Police has a very interesting article on the S III's design. Specifically, the article points out that Samsung wants to avoid getting its handset banned in countries where it is facing legal issues with Apple.

The article highlights certain features, such as the non-symmetrical top and bottom and the lack of the curved square edges present in the S III as evidence for its claims. It all sounds very believable when you think about it.

Where's my Recent Apps?

The menu button doesn't call out Ice Cream Sandwich's Recent Apps--instead, it defaults to Gingerbread's menu button. This is not something we're particularly fond of, though Samsung's not the only guilty party. LG did the same thing with its ICS handsets, and we feel it doesn't really match Google's ICS design guidelines. Samsung could have made TouchWiz more ICS-like by doing what HTC did with its Sense UI and enhanced the Recent Apps menu instead

Corning Gorilla Glass 2

Despite its plastic build, the Samsung Galaxy S III comes equipped with Corning's second-generation Gorilla Glass. The S III's slim profile is partly due to the use of Gorilla Glass 2, which is 20 percent thinner (at 0.8mm) than the original Gorilla Glass. Despite the reduction in depth, the glass is touted to retain the same strength as its predecessor, which means it will not crack or break as easily as normal glass

Face and voice unlock

ICS introduced Face Unlock, a feature where you can use your face to unlock the handset. It's not foolproof though, as we managed to unlock the device using a photo. Samsung has added another layer of security through a voice recognition feature. In theory, this should make it much harder for someone to unlock your handset, though we are guessing that this may not work too well in noisy environments.

Best Android Apps "Video, Music, & Books"

2012-05-27T05:49:00.002-07:00

Netflix (Free)

If you don’t have a Netflix account, this app won’t pertain to you much, but since that seems to be a minority of folks these days, we’ve added the movie-and-television giant to our list. Users can manage accounts, add items to a queue, or stream shows or movies that are available via Instant Watch. Streaming can be a bit much for the 3G connection we were working with, but if you have a Wi-Fi connection you shouldn’t have any problems. With a good connection and a device with a good-size screen, you’ll have a pretty solid streaming experience.

AmazonMP3 (Free)

Google Music isn’t bad for uploading your catalog, but buying music on it isn’t wise because it only allows you to download a song twice (forever). AmazonMP3 is nice because every track you purchase from Amazon is auto saved to the cloud and accessible from any device. More importantly though, you can download MP3s of any track on as many devices as you want as many times as you want. When you buy music from Amazon, you actually own it.

Spotify (Free)

The Spofity Android apps allows premium Spotify users to take their streaming experience on the road. You can stream any music from the service including your own playlists, but if you are worried about using up too much data, you can also make them available offline, allowing you to listen to them without needing an Internet connection.

Watch ESPN (Free)

Depending on your TV and/or Internet provider, this handy app will let you stream ESPN networks directly through your phone. This app won’t work for everyone, but those who can get it to work will no doubt love being able to stream ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, and ESPNU through their Android devices. For it to work, you must have cable with Brighthouse Networks, Time Warner Cable, or Verizon FiOS TV; Comcast is notably not included. If you don’t have TV with those networks but have Verizon FiOS Internet, you’ll have access to ESPN3 only. With access, users can live stream all the important sports games of the year plus watch live analysis on shows like SportsCenter, Mike & Mike, and SportsNation.

Pandora (Free)

Our favorite streaming music app for every platform delivers customizable radio complete with album art and a rating system that lets you fine tune every station to your liking. Unlike the iPhone version, the Android version also lets you multitask while you listen.

HBO Go (Free)

If you are an HBO subscriber, the HBO GO app is essential. Not only are you able to watch the latest episodes of your favorite shows, but you can also watch the entire back library of HBO content. You can catch up on your favorite show before the next season premier.

If you don’t have a Kindle, fret not. Amazon would still like to sell you books through your Android device. Download the app and you can browse and buy from over 900,000 books in the store. Perhaps the best feature, however, is that the app will automatically sync your last read page, bookmarks, notes, and highlights across devices. If you do have a Kindle, this means that you can seamlessly transition from your reader to your phone if you want to carry a lighter load that day.

Source: .digitaltrends

Official Facebook Camera iOS app launched

2012-05-26T21:24:00.002-07:00

Not so awfully long after it announced its US$1 billion plan to purchase Instagram, Facebook today released a photo-sharing app of its own, Facebook Camera.

Currently available only for iOS devices, Facebook Camera allows users to shoot, edit, filter, and share photos to Facebook without ever leaving the app.

Features include posting multiple photos at a time, adding a caption, cropping, and applying one of 14 vintage-style filters.

More than just a photo-publishing app, however, Facebook Camera lets you browse photos your friends are sharing to Facebook, and allows you to comment and like images within the stream. Deleting photos or friends' comments doesn't seem to be an option, though.
The app is now available in the Apple App Store, and according to the Verge, Facebook is considering the app for other platforms.
Source-cnet.com

Casio unveils new Exilim EX-ZR300

2012-05-26T21:11:00.002-07:00

The company has just launched its latest Exilim EX-ZR300 compact camera. Packing a 16.1-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor, the camera sports a 12.5x, 24 to 300mm (35mm equivalent) focal range and can record movies in full-HD 1080p resolution. Casio claims that the shooter can acquire a focus lock within 0.12 seconds, fire off in burst mode at 0.26-second intervals and starts up in less than one second.

To date, the EX-ZR300 is also the first compact camera to be compatible with Toshiba's Flash Air wireless SD card format. This allows you to transfer images wirelessly to compatible external devices and online cloud services.

Casio Exilim EX-ZR300 specifications:

16.1-megapixel backside-illuminated CMOS sensor
12.5x optical zoom, 24 to 300mm, F3-F5.9
3-inch, 460k-dot LCD screen
ISO 80 to 12,800
1080p full-HD video recording.
Source-.cnet.com

Google tablet: It really IS coming soon, new report suggests

2012-05-24T06:11:00.003-07:00

A new report backs up other recent information suggesting Google will soon be launching its own tablet device to take on Amazon's Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble's Nook Tablet.
The wait for Google’s much-anticipated tablet could be soon be over, if a new report from Taiwan-based DigiTimes is to be believed.

The tech news site said on Thursday that the 7-inch device, developed with Asustek, will go on sale in July, with shipments of up to 600,000 units expected in June. The report added that total shipments of between 2 million an 2.5 million units are targeted for this year.
The information – which DigiTimes said it had received from sources in the upstream supply chain – fits in with other reports and rumors that have been circulating in recent months.
“Google originally planned to release its entry-level 7-inch tablet PC in May, but design and costs did not reach its expectations, and the product was delayed to July for some minor adjustments,” the report said.

This corresponds with a report last month that suggested the launch of the Google tablet had been postponed while the company reworked its design in an effort to force its price down. It’s believed the Internet giant is aiming for a price tag of between $150 and $200.
Google has been keeping tight-lipped about its forthcoming tablet, a device which it hopes will perform well against Amazon’s Kindle Fire unit and Barnes & Noble’s Nook Tablet. Both the Kindle Fire and the Nook Tablet sell for $199.

Besides a 7-inch screen, it’s thought Google’s device will also sport a quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor and run on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
.
With the Mountain View company shortly to throw its own device into the mix, the low end of the tablet market is starting to fill up with some big hitters. If Google hasn’t compromised on too many key features in an effort to force down the price of its tablet, it could well have a winner on its hands.

Top 5 QWERTY phones 3 LG Optimus Pro

2012-05-24T03:02:00.000-07:00

Announced together with the LG Optimus Net, the Optimus Pro is a Gingerbread (Android 2.3) handset that caters to the QWERTY-loving Android crowd. The specs of the smartphone will not appeal to power users, but bargain hunters will probably be looking forward to the expected low pricing of the smartphone.

Upside
The Optimus Pro's keyboard features shortcut keys to your email and calendar, perfect for email junkies and for use as a work phone. It also has a 2.8-inch touchscreen for finger navigation.

The 800MHz processor should be fast enough for everyday usage, though we suspect you may encounter lag or stuttering if you're playing graphically intensive games.

Like the Optimus Net, the Pro packs a large 1500mAh battery, which should translate to a full-day battery life or more. This will depend on your usage patterns, of course.
Downside
The 2.8-inch touchscreen may be larger than the 2.6-inch display found on the HTC ChaCha and the Huawei Boulder, but the resolution remains the same at QVGA (320 x 240 pixels). This may actually be too low a resolution for comfort, but we'll find out if this is an issue when we get an actual retail set.

Based on the sole picture that LG released, the design of the smartphone seems a little drab compared with the polished looks of both the ChaCha and the Boulder. Being a budget handset doesn't mean it has to be an ugly one, and the Pro's plain looks can be a downer.

Pakistan blocks Twitter ;D

2012-05-23T07:21:00.002-07:00

Pakistan on Sunday blocked the micro-blogging social networking site Twitter for about 12 hours because it refused to stop promoting an online competition on Facebook to post images of Prophet Mohammad.

According to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Mohammed Yaseen, Facebook agreed to address Pakistan's concerns but Twitter refused to oblige.

Negotiations, he said, went on till late Saturday night and when Twitter did not comply, the Ministry of Information Technology issued instructions to block the micro-blogging website.

The ban came into effect around 11 a.m. (local time) on Sunday as the twitterati of the country were tweeting till about that time.

Maintaining that PTA just forwarded the Ministry's instructions to all Internet Service Providers, including mobile phone companies to block Twitter, Mr. Yaseen added that this restriction would be lifted once the micro-blogging site addressed Pakistan's concerns. The ban was lifted around 10.30 p.m.

The government's action evoked a mixed response with some welcoming the move while many wondering why Pakistan had to be so sensitive as there were no reports of other Islamic countries blocking either Facebook or Twitter.

Twitter and Facebook are hugely popular among the netizens of the country with many finding it the safest avenue to vent their angst over contentious issues.