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Sunday, October 28, 2012

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Switched On: Tablets and tradeoffs

Posted: 28 Oct 2012 03:07 PM PDT

Switched On: Tablets and tradeoffs


Switched On: Tablets and tradeoffs
This week saw the debut of two ARM-powered tablets by old rivals. One eschews traditional desktop input methods; the other embraces them. One occupies the high end of pricing in its class; the other is competitive with the market leader. One had the engineering goal of fitting in one hand; the other comes with a kickstand for being set on a desk or table. But perhaps the biggest contrast between the iPad mini and the Surface RT approaches is how well they take advantage of the hardware and software momentum of their predecessors.Continue reading Switched On: Tablets and tradeoffsFiled under: Tablets, Apple, MicrosoftSwitched On: Tablets and tradeoffs originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Oct 2012 17:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

IBM Labs develops 'initial step' towards commercial fabrication of carbon nanotubes

Posted: 28 Oct 2012 11:20 AM PDT

IBM Labs develops 'initial step' towards commercial fabrication of carbon nanotubes


IBM Labs develops 'initial step' towards commercial fabrication of carbon nanotubes
Commercialization of carbon nanotubes is one of the holy grails of next-gen computing, and IBM thinks it's made crucial steps toward making this a reality. This isn't the first time that we've heard such a claim, of course, but IBM's considerable resources will make this particularly interesting. The specific problem it's been tackling is placing enough semiconducting nanotubes together to be useful in commercial chips, with current attempts being more in the hundreds, rather than billions that would be required. The new approach uses ion-exchange chemistry that allows controlled placement of nanotubes at two orders of magnitude greater than before, with a density of roughly a billion per square centimeter. To achieve this, the nanotubes are mixed with a soap-like substance that makes them water-soluble. Next, a substrate comprising two oxides and a hafnium oxide "trench" is immersed in the soap-solution, which results in the nanotubes attaching to the hafnium oxide canals with a chemical bond. Simple when you think about it! IBM hopes that as the materials and method are readily accessible now, that industry players will be able to experiment with nanotube technology at a much greater scale. Though, as we've become accustomed, there's no solid timescales on when this might realistically unfold.Continue reading IBM Labs develops 'initial step' towards commercial fabrication of carbon nanotubesFiled under: Science, AltIBM Labs develops 'initial step' towards commercial fabrication of carbon nanotubes originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Oct 2012 14:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Poll: Scant demand for Microsoft's Windows 8

Posted: 28 Oct 2012 11:20 AM PDT

Poll: Scant demand for Microsoft's Windows 8


Poll: Scant demand for Microsoft's Windows 8
Microsoft bills Windows 8 as a "re-imagining" of the personal computer market's dominant operating system, but the company still has a lot of work to do before the makeover captures the imagination of most consumers, based on the results of a recent poll by The Associated Press and GfK. The phone survey of nearly 1,200 adults in the U.S. found 52 percent hadn't even heard of Windows 8 leading up to Friday's release of the redesigned software.

Iterations: “It’s Delicate, But Potent”

Posted: 28 Oct 2012 10:35 AM PDT

Iterations: "It's Delicate, But Potent"


Iterations: "It's Delicate, But Potent"
very now and then, I'll get sucked into the distracting, immersive, emotional habit of flipping through pictures online. Rifling through albums can stop time. It's disorienting, like stumbling upon an old photograph in your drawer, the type of visually arresting trigger that takes you back through time. For me, I keep a small cigar box full of all my old photographs, dating back to childhood. They're all warped now, fading in color. I keep the box tucked away under the bed, forgetting about it because I know going through it would take me places, some good, and maybe some not so good. Maybe you've heard a song that triggered a memory locked up in the corner of your brain. Maybe you run into someone from your past in real life, and you just stop in place. Or, maybe you see a photograph that ties it all together, jarring and powerful. If you've watched Mad Men, you'll no doubt recall the famous carousel scene at final episode of the first season, a classic moment where Don Draper talks about a consumer product, based on photographs, that had the rare chance to create a sentimental bond with people.

Boxee hands out free Boxee TVs to its most eager cloud DVR fans

Posted: 28 Oct 2012 09:04 AM PDT

Boxee hands out free Boxee TVs to its most eager cloud DVR fans


Boxee hands out free Boxee TVs to its most eager cloud DVR fans
If you like the idea of the Boxee TV, you'll be glad to hear that Boxee is handing units out like so much Halloween candy... as long as you live in the right areas, that is. Those who've signed up for product notifications and live in the cloud DVR coverage areas of Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Washington, DC can get a free Boxee TV just by filling out a survey. They'll even have the privilege of getting their units ahead of everyone else. Boxee hasn't said if any new sign-ups will qualify, though it can't hurt to try the source link and potentially get a welcome treat.Filed under: Home Entertainment, HDBoxee hands out free Boxee TVs to its most eager cloud DVR fans originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Oct 2012 11:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Verge | Boxee | Email this | Comments

Inhabitat's Week in Green: 30-foot-tall 'BUCKYBALL', diatoms and zombie pumpkins

Posted: 28 Oct 2012 07:33 AM PDT

Inhabitat's Week in Green: 30-foot-tall 'BUCKYBALL', diatoms and zombie pumpkins


Inhabitat's Week in Green: 30-foot-tall 'BUCKYBALL', diatoms and zombie pumpkins
Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. In one of the week's biggest green architecture stories, Inhabitat reported that Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill unveiled plans for Chengdu Tianfu District Great City, China's first self-sufficient, carless city. Singapore also unveiled the world's first commercial vertical farm, Facebook's green cred got a boost when it was announced that its Prineville Data Center in Oregon achieved LEED Gold status, and architecture firm HNTB won a contest to redesign Los Angeles' Sixth Street Viaduct with a gorgeous high-flying ribbon bridge that promises to be one of the hottest new pieces of urban infrastructure in the US. In another exciting West Coast development, the San Francisco Planning Commission signed off on Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects' 61-story Transbay Tower. And at Madison Square Park in New York, Leo Villareal created a 30-foot-tall "BUCKYBALL" geodesic dome sculpture with pulsing LED lights.Continue reading Inhabitat's Week in Green: 30-foot-tall 'BUCKYBALL', diatoms and zombie pumpkinsFiled under: MiscInhabitat's Week in Green: 30-foot-tall 'BUCKYBALL', diatoms and zombie pumpkins originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Oct 2012 10:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Official: Firefighters will test Renault Twizy as emergency support vehicle in P...

Posted: 28 Oct 2012 06:02 AM PDT

Official: Firefighters will test Renault Twizy as emergency support vehicle in Paris


Official: Firefighters will test Renault Twizy as emergency support vehicle in Paris
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Renault The Twizy can be adapted to a variety of situations, from wall art to music video attention getter. Eurocarblog, for example, has a new story about a Twizy decorated in such a way that it is, "blatantly inspired by the work of Pablo Picasso," in order to take part in a Milan exhibition dedicated to the painter. But Renault's latest suggestion for the odd little electric vehicle (EV) is one we really didn't see coming. This week, Renault offered firefighters in Paris the chance to test out a Twizy that had been "adapted to firefighters' needs." That means that the minimal back seat was taken out and replaced with emergency equipment, specifically "two fire extinguishers, two oxygen tanks, a fire suit, a helmet and a first-aid kit." Starting in November, the prototype will be used for an eight-month period as a support vehicle, "for early interventions ahead of the arrival of more consequential lifesaving equipment." In other words, the ER-ready Twizy can flit in and get the rescue started, without pesky things like doors getting in the way.Continue reading Firefighters will test Renault Twizy as emergency support vehicle in ParisFirefighters will test Renault Twizy as emergency support vehicle in Paris originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sun, 28 Oct 2012 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

German robot arm learns ping-pong as it plays humans, might rival its masters

Posted: 28 Oct 2012 06:02 AM PDT

German robot arm learns ping-pong as it plays humans, might rival its masters


German robot arm learns ping-pong as it plays humans, might rival its masters
We like to tell ourselves that learning by doing is the best strategy for improving our skills, but we seldom apply that philosophy to our robots; with certain exceptions, they're just supposed to know what to do from the start. Researchers at the Technical University of Darmstadt disagree and have developed algorithms proving that robot arms just need practice, practice, practice to learn complex activities. After some literal hand-holding with a human to understand the basics of a ping-pong swing, a TUD robot can gradually abstract those motions and return the ball in situations beyond the initial example. The technique is effective enough that the test arm took a mere hour of practice to successfully bounce back 88 percent of shots and compete with a human. That's certainly better than most of us fared after our first game. If all goes well, the science could lead to robots of all kinds that need only a small foundation of code to accomplish a lot. Just hope that the inevitable struggle between humans and robots isn't settled with a ping-pong match... it might end badly.Filed under: Robots, AltGerman robot arm learns ping-pong as it plays humans, might rival its masters originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Oct 2012 07:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink New Scientist | University of Texas (PDF) | Email this | Comments

US Navy tests first 11-meter missile-firing sea drone (video)

Posted: 28 Oct 2012 03:00 AM PDT

US Navy tests first 11-meter missile-firing sea drone (video)


US Navy tests first 11-meter missile-firing sea drone (video)
Advances in unmanned military tools and vehicles have come on leaps and bounds, but, until now, we haven't seen a weapon firing drone operating in the seas. A recent test taking part offshore near Maryland saw several missiles launched from a new remote-controlled inflatable-hulled ship. While the Navy has used drones before for mine clearing and other defensive tasks, the small boat (similar to that pictured above) is the first experiment to involve true offensive capabilities. The almost zodiac-like craft has been an ongoing project over recent years, and contains a fully automated system which the Navy calls a "Precision Engagement Module" which uses an Mk-49 mounting with a dual missile launcher manufactured by Rafael. The hope is that such vehicles could patrol the coastline, or serve as a first defense against pirates, and other such small, fast-moving seafaring dangers. If you want to catch it in action, head past the break for the video, but don't be fooled. While it might look like a series of misses, the Navy claims this is just a trick of the camera angle, with all six missiles apparently making contact.Continue reading US Navy tests first 11-meter missile-firing sea drone (video)Filed under: Robots, TransportationUS Navy tests first 11-meter missile-firing sea drone (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Oct 2012 05:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Wired | Rafael | Email this | Comments

Charizard 3DS XL burns through Japan's Pokémon Centers in December, snag one if...

Posted: 28 Oct 2012 12:44 AM PDT

Charizard 3DS XL burns through Japan's Pokémon Centers in December, snag one if you're lucky


Charizard 3DS XL burns through Japan's Pokémon Centers in December, snag one if you're lucky
Nintendo is notorious for releasing awesome limited edition hardware abroad, but here in the US of A, we tend to get the short end of the joystick. Case in point, the house that Mario Miyamoto built is releasing a Charizard-themed 3DS XL on December 15th in Japan for ¥18,900 ($237). Available exclusively at Pokémon Center stores, aspiring buyers will need to complete an order form and win (yes, win) a drawing for a chance to purchase one of these beautiful monsters. Winners will have from December 15th through January 14th to claim and purchase their prize. As for you unlucky entrants, you'll have the opportunity to indulge in one of America's favorite pastimes -- buying Nintendo collectibles online at an extremely high markup.Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds, NintendoCharizard 3DS XL burns through Japan's Pokémon Centers in December, snag one if you're lucky originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Oct 2012 03:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Joystiq, Kotaku | Pokemon Japan (translated) | Email this | Comments

Nokia Lumia 822 and HTC 8X show up in Verizon colors, get pegged for November 8t...

Posted: 27 Oct 2012 10:28 PM PDT

Nokia Lumia 822 and HTC 8X show up in Verizon colors, get pegged for November 8th release


Nokia Lumia 822 and HTC 8X show up in Verizon colors, get pegged for November 8th release
The Verizon-flavoured Nokia Lumia 822 hasn't exactly been camera-shy, nor has it been coy about its imminent arrival, but the details on price and availability have, as yet, not been pinned down. That is until now, according to a tip-off at WPCentral. The candid shot shows the Nokia next to an HTC 8X -- both with Verizon livery. The word is that the Lumia 822 will run you $99 at launch, while the HTC 8X will want command $19, both with a contract. The same source claims that these will launch on November 8th. Just in time to get that first killer app then.Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, HTC, Nokia, VerizonNokia Lumia 822 and HTC 8X show up in Verizon colors, get pegged for November 8th release originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Oct 2012 01:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | WPCentral | Email this | Comments

Ask Engadget: best Skitch replacement?

Posted: 27 Oct 2012 08:57 PM PDT

Ask Engadget: best Skitch replacement?


Ask Engadget: best Skitch replacement?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Benjamin, who feels a little let down by the most recent changes to Evernote's image-sharing software. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "Hi guys. I'm a graphic designer who, until recently, used a desktop app called Skitch to quickly share images with clients. I loved being able to just click and drag a portion of my desktop, click "share" and have it uploaded in a seconds. Of course, Evernote has screwed with it, so now it won't default to keeping my pictures private (not so good for the clients, or my reputation) and the new layout hides the sharing feature in a stupid drop-down menu. Frankly, a really useful piece of software has been ruined, so can you suggest a replacement?" We feel your pain Benjamin, even if we did have to slice out your more colorful descriptions of Evernote from your e-mail. A site favorite has been ruined by the changes, and as such we're on the hunt for an alternative. Jing, from TechSmith lets you share screenshots and even record video on your desktop. Slingshot is a Mac exclusive that'll set you back $3, but uses the cloud service of your choice (Dropbox, Imgur etc) Of course, this is the moment where we turn it over to our amazing commenters, who we hope will share the skinny. You never know, maybe some enterprising indie dev has already created the program to replace that hole in our lives -- friends, head down below, grab the candle and bang on.Filed under: Internet, SoftwareAsk Engadget: best Skitch replacement? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Oct 2012 23:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Cinefy Lets You Add CGI Special Effects To Your Awful, Shaky iPhone Video

Posted: 27 Oct 2012 08:12 PM PDT

Cinefy Lets You Add CGI Special Effects To Your Awful, Shaky iPhone Video


Cinefy Lets You Add CGI Special Effects To Your Awful, Shaky iPhone Video
Welcome to the future, where you can essentially make a movie with believable special effects right on your smartphone. Cinefy, an app that just launched on the App Store, makes this possible.

Nexus 4 priced at £390 by purported Carphone Warehouse in-store display placard

Posted: 27 Oct 2012 08:12 PM PDT

Nexus 4 priced at £390 by purported Carphone Warehouse in-store display placard


Nexus 4 priced at £390 by purported Carphone Warehouse in-store display placard
Oh, Carphone Warehouse -- it just can't seem to keep what it knows about the LG / Google Nexus 4 under lock and key. Just days after briefly listing the phone on its website, purported in-store displays for the yet unannounced device have leaked out to Android Authority. While essentially of the details are the same as what we saw last (1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4 SoC, 8MP cam, 12-hour talk time rating, etc.), the listing reveals that the "sim-free" phone itself will sell for £390 (about $504) -- previously we'd only seen the per-month pricing at 31 euros, which is also found here. There's no mention of that October 30th sale date this time, and it would seem unlikely now given that Google's had to indefinitely postpone its NYC-based Android event for the 29th due to hurricane Sandy. For now, you can get more details from the source link below.Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Google, LGNexus 4 priced at £390 by purported Carphone Warehouse in-store display placard originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Oct 2012 22:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Android Authority | Email this | Comments

Mobile Miscellany: week of October 22nd, 2012

Posted: 27 Oct 2012 05:06 PM PDT

Mobile Miscellany: week of October 22nd, 2012


Mobile Miscellany: week of October 22nd, 2012
If you didn't get enough in mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This past week, T-Mobile announced the price and release date for the Optimus L9, carriers were announced in Canada for the ATIV S Windows Phone and ZTE released a low-priced Android smartphone for Virgin Mobile in the UK. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of October 22nd, 2012.Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of October 22nd, 2012Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung, LG, T-MobileMobile Miscellany: week of October 22nd, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Oct 2012 19:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | | Email this | Comments

Official: Smart highways can charge EVs, give weather warnings

Posted: 27 Oct 2012 03:35 PM PDT

Official: Smart highways can charge EVs, give weather warnings


Official: Smart highways can charge EVs, give weather warnings
Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Europe/EU Gotta love those Dutch folks. Designer Daan Roosegaarde is teaming up with Heijmans Infrastructure to dream up smart highway lanes that not only give drivers weather information by "glowing" but will eventually be able to help recharge electric vehicles. Presented at Dutch Design Week this week, the "glowing" concept involves using a special paint on highways that will glow at night for as long as 10 hours and will allow drivers better safety by, for instance, illuminating ice crystals on the road. That advancement may be on Netherlands highways as soon as next year. Additionally, the designer is proposing the installation of induction coils in some Dutch highways. Those would be able to wirelessly charge electric-drive vehicles while they are in motion. Which, while not the only time we've heard of something like this, would be really cool. Check out the press release from Roosegaarde and Heijmans below.Continue reading Smart highways can charge EVs, give weather warningsSmart highways can charge EVs, give weather warnings originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Sat, 27 Oct 2012 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments