bitbucket.kylewelsh.com

AOpen’s Ion-powered XC Mini GP7A-HD puts the ‘choice’ in ‘nettop’

Darren Murph — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:17:00 +0000

There's a decent chance you North Americans in attendance won't ever see the likes of AOpen's XC Mini GP7A-HD, but for those in places where having a say on what innards are shoved into their next nettop (we're lookin' at you, Japan), this mini PC is apposite to fill quite the void. Boasting only a small frame, NVIDIA's Ion graphics technology and space for a multicard reader, it's up to the buyer to slap in a Core 2 Duo processor, up to 4GB of RAM, a 2.5-inch HDD or SSD and a DVD burner or Blu-ray drive. You'll also find six USB 2.0 sockets, an HDMI port and a VGA output, and while gigabit Ethernet is included, it looks as if the WiFi module is on you. Mum's the word on pricing, but we're guessing it'll be as close to nothing as NVIDIA will allow.

AOpen's Ion-powered XC Mini GP7A-HD puts the 'choice' in 'nettop' originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Impress, Akihabara News | AOpen | Email this | Comments

Your Move, Captain Sullenberger [Airplanes]

Jack Loftus — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Hudson River water landings? That's so yesterday, man. Somewhere in the Congo today there's a pilot who, after a slight, um, miscalculation, crash landed his plane in a lava field. Now, we can make...

New Research Forecasts Global 6C Increase By End of Century

Soulskill — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:16:00 +0000

jamie writes with this snippet from the UK's Independent: "The world is now firmly on course for the worst-case scenario in terms of climate change, with average global temperatures rising by up to 6C by the end of the century, leading scientists said yesterday. ... [The study] found that there has been a 29 per cent increase in global CO2 emissions from fossil fuel between 2000 and 2008, the last year for which figures are available. On average, the researchers found, there was an annual increase in emissions of just over 3 per cent during the period, compared with an annual increase of 1 per cent between 1990 and 2000. Almost all of the increase this decade occurred after 2000 and resulted from the boom in the Chinese economy. The researchers predict a small decrease this year due to the recession, but further increases from 2010. "

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Facebook Photos Lead To Cancellation of Quebec Woman’s Insurance

timothy — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:51:00 +0000

No. 24601 writes "A Quebec woman on long-term sick leave, due to a diagnosis of depression, lost her health benefits after her insurance provider found photos of her on Facebook smiling and looking cheerful at parties and out on the beach. Besides all the obvious questions, how did the insurance company access her locked Facebook profile?"

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Olympus’ $1,100 PEN E-P2 up for pre-order, played with early

Darren Murph — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:43:00 +0000

Olympus' PEN E-P2 is destined to be a fine product, we're sure. What we aren't sure of, however, is how exactly the company came up with the nearly laughable MSRP. The second-ever Micro Four Thirds offering from the outfit is up for pre-order right now at Amazon, though the $1,099.99 asking price is just far too lofty for us to recommend snagging a place in line. That said, you're still probably interested in learning more about the device, so we'll be pointing you in Gadling's direction for that; the crew over at our favorite travel blog managed to snag one of these buggers early, and exterior color aside, we're told that it looks practically "identical to the E-P1." Hit up the links below for a closer look -- just keep your credit card far, far away until we see a full review.

[Thanks, Misael]

Olympus' $1,100 PEN E-P2 up for pre-order, played with early originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Amazon, Gadling | Email this | Comments

Share Large Files & Get Unlimited Free Web Storage Space With GoAruna

Tim Lenahan — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:00:50 +0000

It seems it’s the age old enigma as far as computers and the Internet goes: How can I send (or store) a large file? Many services have limitations set up. For instance, many email providers won’t allow file attachments larger than 10 MB. These days that’s not much, is it? Many services allow larger file sizes and capacities… for a price.

Well, here at MakeUseOf we are more interested in service that are FREE. Other MakeUseOf writers have written some articles that can help. Let me share with you a free solution that includes file sharing AND storing: GoAruna. GoAruna has several benefits, two of which are unlimited, free web storage space (the size limit for each file appears to be 100MB) and ease of use. In this post, I would like to share some of the capabilities of this site and how they may be helpful.

File Storage

As I mentioned earlier, GoAruna sports a handy UNLIMITED total file storage limit! This is cool because you can save as many files as you like! There is a downside. As far as I can tell by searching through the feedback forums is that the size limit for individual files is 100 MB. I hate limitations! But it’s a LOT better than the 10 MB limit email puts on us, right?

Personal Drop Box

GoAruna also has this nifty feature that allows you to set up a drop box where others can come by and upload a file to you. Tight! Someone else have a file that you need? Have them send it to your personal space without having to offer them access to everything. Many possibilities here, right? Can help in a pinch!

Send Files (even securely)

There are two ways to send files: choose a file you’ve already uploaded…

…OR send a file quickly from the front page without signing up for an account.

When you send a file, you are actually emailing a link to someone to click and download the file. Here’s an example of the email they will receive:

If I were you, I’d give them a heads up just so they know what you’ve sent them. People get suspicious when strange links to unknown files end up in their email!

Now that you know a bit about what GoAruna has to offer, let’s take a run through to see just how easy it really is to use! Once you sign up and sign in, click “upload file”

The next step will become obvious when the “upload file” window pops up — click “browse” to choose your file.

The next step is waiting… with patience. Depending on the file’s size, this could take time.

And that’s about all it takes! Very easy to do! See, you don’t REALLY have to be a geek to send large files! You can pretend to be and tell the receiver of your files how difficult it was and that you wouldn’t recommend them trying it. That wouldn’t be honest though, would it?

What do you think of GoAruna? What other ways do you have for storing and sharing large files on the Internet? We’d be grateful to learn!

Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section!

New on Twitter ? Now you can follow MakeUseOf on Twitter too.

Related posts

BlackBerry Bold 9700 now on sale to all at AT&T: $200 on contract

Darren Murph — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:06:00 +0000

T-Mobile (along with a number of overseas carriers) have had RIM's BlackBerry Bold 9700 for some time now, and while we knew that the handset was shipping to those who AT&T considers "special" and "irreplaceable," the rest of the collective masses have simply had to sit on the sidelines and wait. Thankfully, that whole bout with patience is over, as the Bold 9700 is now available to order directly from the operator's website for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and your John Henry on a 2-year agreement. So, anyone forcing Santa to come early this year, or what?

[Thanks, Ry]

BlackBerry Bold 9700 now on sale to all at AT&T: $200 on contract originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | AT&T | Email this | Comments

How Augmented Reality Browsers Stack Up For Navigating London

timothy — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:40:00 +0000

We've mentioned the tantalizing possibilities of augmented reality here several times, including Microsoft's stab (using scene recognition) at an information overlay for cell phones, and some display technologies that could make a Terminator-style information overlay on the real world possible without even looking down at a screen, including both glasses with microdisplays and contact lenses. An anonymous reader points to this two-part review of several cell phone apps, in which the writer has "tested several mobile augmented reality browsers and their ability to find places to eat and function as a tourist guide by identifying tourist attractions in London," writing, "This is the first review I have seen where all the browsers have been compared together; what's interesting is all the browsers use different data sources, and so either miss popular locations or give the wrong location."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

New attack fells Internet Explorer

IDG News Service — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:09:09 +0000

A hacker has posted attack code that could be used to break into a PC running older versions of Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser.

The code was posted Friday to the Bugtraq mailing list by an unidentified hacker. According to security vendor Symantec, the code does not always work properly, but it could be used to install unauthorized software on a victim's computer.

"Symantec has conducted further tests and confirmed that it affects Internet Explorer versions 6 and 7," the company wrote on its Web site Saturday. "We expect that a fully-functional reliable exploit will be available in the near future."

Security consultancy Vupen Security has also confirmed that the attack works, saying it worked on a Windows XP Service Pack 3 system running IE 6 or IE7. Neither company was able to confirm that the attack worked on Microsoft's latest browser, IE 8.

Symantec did not report that the attack is being used by cyber-criminals, but because Internet Explorer is so popular, this type of code is highly coveted by hackers. If the software does pop up in online attacks, it will put pressure on Microsoft to rush out an emergency patch, ahead of its regularly scheduled Dec. 8 security update. Microsoft could not be reached Saturday for a comment on the issue.

Together, IE 6 and IE 7 command close to 40 percent of the browser market.

The flaw lies in the way Internet Explorer retrieves certain Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) objects, used to create a standardized layout on Web pages. For the attack to work, the hacker would have to lure a victim to a Web page that contained maliciously encoded JavaScript, Symantec said. This technique has emerged as a favorite way for hackers to install their malicious software on computers in recent years.

"To minimize the chances of being affected by this issue, Internet Explorer users should ensure their antivirus definitions are up to date, disable JavaScript and only visit Web sites they trust until fixes are available from Microsoft," Symantec said.

Sewell’s DisplayLink-enabled USB-to-DVI / VGA / HDMI adapter does 2,048 x 1,152

Darren Murph — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:20:00 +0000

It's been a hot minute since we've seen a totally useful display adapter from Sewell, but the outfit's latest is certainly worth a gander if you've been yearning to push high-def signals through USB. The Minideck USB-to-DVI / VGA / HDMI (video only) adapter utilizes the DisplayLink DL-195 chip, which provides support for resolutions as high 2,048 x 1,152, so 1080p and 1,920 x 1,200 LCD monitors are well taken care of. Best of all, this thing doesn't require a Core i7 rig to operate, so your 5 year old corporate laptop should be plenty to handle the rigors of powering a 24-inch LCD via a dusty old USB socket. It's all yours right now for $99.95.

Sewell's DisplayLink-enabled USB-to-DVI / VGA / HDMI adapter does 2,048 x 1,152 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Sewell Direct | Email this | Comments

A Friend’s Tweet Could Be an Ad (Brad Stone/New York Times)

Techmeme — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:00:14 +0000

Brad Stone / New York Times:
A Friend's Tweet Could Be an Ad — Tuesday was another typical day for John Chow, blogger and Internet entrepreneur in Vancouver, British Columbia. Mr. Chow treated his 50,000 Twitter followers to a photograph of his lunch (barbecued chicken and French fries), discussed the weather …

UAVs Go Green With Fuel-Cell Powered “Ion Tiger”

timothy — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:23:00 +0000

Hugh Pickens writes "Increasingly, the military is deploying unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, as eyes in the sky to scan the ground for targets and threats, especially for missions that are too dangerous for manned aircraft. Now Live Science reports that a new robotic spy plane called 'Ion Tiger' will harness alternative energy to make it more covert and longer lasting than battery-powered or engine powered UAVs. A 550-watt, 0.75 horsepower hydrogen fuel cell will power the Ion Tiger with four times the efficiency of a comparable internal combustion engine and seven times the energy of the equivalent weight of batteries. When Ion Tiger took flight on October, it exceeded any demonstration of electrically powered flight so far, flying 23 hours and 17 minutes. 'And it carried a 5 lbs. payload to boot — enough to carry, say, a day-and-night camera,' says researcher Karen Swider-Lyons, head of the alternative energy section at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington. 'No one has come close to flying 24 hours with a significant payload before.' Another big advantage is the Ion Tiger's reduced noise, heat and emissions. 'Think about lawnmowers or chainsaws — they're really loud,' says Swider-Lyons. 'It's hard to spy on people when they know you're there, so you had to fly them at high altitudes to keep them from being heard.'"

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Apple to release iPod Touch with camera this Spring? (Examiner)

Techmeme — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:15:00 +0000

Examiner:
Apple to release iPod Touch with camera this Spring? — We have heard from an inside source who claims the camera version of the iPod Touch 3G will be released this Spring. The source confirms to us that the iPod Touch 3G with camera had actually been planned for release this past September, but had problems passing quality control.

Atlona’s HDAiR wireless USB-to-VGA / HDMI adapter gains audio, usefulness

Darren Murph — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:31:00 +0000

Remember that HDAiR adapter we reviewed with exceptionally high hopes earlier this year? Yeah, it wasn't exactly the dream device we wanted, but it seems as if Atlona may have just remedied the primary gripe we had against it. The all-new HDAiR wireless USB-to-VGA / HDMI adapter is essentially the same one as before, but this time audio is involved. In response to widespread demand for the feature, the outfit has added the ability to output audio in both 3.5mm analog, as well as embedded on the HDMI output. This one's also compatible with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7, and it's still using the tried-and-true UWB protocol to sling content. If you managed to hold off on the first guy, this one's available to order now for $219.

Continue reading Atlona's HDAiR wireless USB-to-VGA / HDMI adapter gains audio, usefulness

Atlona's HDAiR wireless USB-to-VGA / HDMI adapter gains audio, usefulness originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Atlona | Email this | Comments

Twitter.com traffic down? Seesmic Web is +30%/month (Loïc Le Meur/Loic Le Meur Blog)

Techmeme — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:25:10 +0000

Loïc Le Meur / Loic Le Meur Blog:
Twitter.com traffic down? Seesmic Web is +30%/month — There are many reports that the traffic from Twitter.com would be going down. We see the opposite on the app side, at least for Seesmic. Seesmic Web is growing very strong as you can see the number of Tweets posted growing.

Saturday Night Special [Saturday]

Foster Kamer — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:15:00 +0000

We've survived through another wonderful, crazy Saturday. Seriously: crazy kids, crazy rock stars, crazy politicians, and just straight-up crazies. Glad we made it out okay. Here's your SNL open...

Saturday Night Special [Saturday]

Foster Kamer — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:15:00 +0000

We've survived through another wonderful, crazy Saturday. Seriously: crazy kids, crazy rock stars, crazy politicians, and just straight-up crazies. Glad we made it out okay. Here's your SNL open...

Brazilian Breaks Secrecy of Brazil’s E-Voting Machines With Van Eck Phreaking

timothy — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:11:00 +0000

After the report last week that Brazil's e-voting machines had withstood the scrutiny of team of invited hackers, reader ateu writes with news that a hacker has shown that the Linux-based voting machines aren't perfectly safe; he was able to eavesdrop on them (translated from Portuguese) by means of Van Eck phreaking.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

All John Mayer Interviews Now Lead to the Same Conclusion: He’s (Probably) a Date Rapist. [American Psychos]

Foster Kamer — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:15:00 +0000

No, seriously. John Mayer songs are great! Have you listened—like, really listened—to "Daughters"? That's a song. But why does John Mayer think it's awesome to give rapey quotes? It's...

All John Mayer Interviews Now Lead to the Same Conclusion: He’s (Probably) a Date Rapist. [American Psychos]

Foster Kamer — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:15:00 +0000

No, seriously. John Mayer songs are great! Have you listened—like, really listened—to "Daughters"? That's a song. But why does John Mayer think it's awesome to give rapey quotes? It's...

Purported Motorola Droid prototype turns up on eBay

Donald Melanson — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:47:00 +0000

Wishing you could get a Motorola Droid and stand out from all your Android-toting friends at the same time? Then you might just want to consider bidding on this "limited edition" Droid prototype that just turned up on eBay, which has a reasonably good chance of being an actual Droid, and a slight chance of being an actual prototype. If the seller is to be believed, however, this particular Droid is one of only five produced, and is different from the standard issue Droid in a few respects -- including a chrome bezel instead of a black one, silver buttons instead of gold, and some "enhanced LED lighting" on the front buttons. It also apparently works just fine, and is ready to be activated. Willing to take the chance? Bidding starts at $485.

[Thanks, Kaptix]

Purported Motorola Droid prototype turns up on eBay originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | eBay | Email this | Comments

Sarah Palin Now Pissing Off Everyone : Fans Boo Her, Martha Stewart Calls Her “Dangerous” [VideUhOh]

Foster Kamer — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:15:00 +0000

Evil Twin-spawning Sarah Palin isn't catching any easy breaks lately. Should she? Better ask her fans who, oh wait, are now booing her. And when Martha Stewart calls you out, damn, you know you've...

Pinball Machines Were Sneakier Than You Think [Retromodo]

Chris Jacob — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:00:00 +0000

There's a great read over at Cheap Talk about how digital pinball machines changed the industry, back when there still was an industry. They were big tables where you flick a ball around, but they...

GrandCentral Web site to jump the tracks

Michelle Meyers — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:52:00 +0000

Google on December 31 will shut down site for GrandCentral, which it acquired and reworked into Google Voice. Users should back up old messages now.

Originally posted at News - Wireless

And the Bony, Terrifying Hand of Black Friday Beckons [Consumerism]

Foster Kamer — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:30:00 +0000

I will refuse to acknowledge this season's hot trend in toys, electric Chinese hamsters, with anything but the following: 1. These forty words. 2. #WeHateYourKids. 3. Sigh. 4. #RichardGere. That is...